Why did sinclair not add an option for NTSC output

[Crayon21]

I know the main motive was cost, but not a lot of families in NA could afford a C64 and would chafe at a TS1000, so it would've been nice to have the option of a American version of the Spectrum. So why didn't this happen, scratch that, why do i need to convert PAL to NTSC? Why not just have an internal switch that toggles both? wouldn't be that expensive

[1024MAK]

It’s a bit more complex. PAL and NTSC colour encoding are different requiring different crystals and in some cases different encoding chips (depending on which chip type was used). Plus the timing of the vertical and horizontal elements of the display are different. So changes inside the ULA (different counters) are needed.

Making one universal design would cost more.

Sinclair did make a NTSC version of the ZX Spectrum, but could not sell them in retail stores due to the FCC regulations.

Mark

[msch]

Sinclair did make a NTSC version of the ZX Spectrum,

see here:
https://faqwiki.zxnet.co.uk/wiki/NTSC_Spectrum

[Sinclairs-great]

Is Europe or Britian and Ireland pal or NTSC

[1024MAK]

Most of Europe including the U.K. (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and the Republic of Ireland uses/used PAL. France uses/used SECAM.

See the Wikipedia article here.

Mark

[Crayon21]

It’s a bit more complex. PAL and NTSC colour encoding are different requiring different crystals and in some cases different encoding chips (depending on which chip type was used). Plus the timing of the vertical and horizontal elements of the display are different. So changes inside the ULA (different counters) are needed.

Making one universal design would cost more.

Sinclair did make a NTSC version of the ZX Spectrum, but could not sell them in retail stores due to the FCC regulations.

Mark

That reminds me...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sdn56xf1EwU