My new baby!
Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2017 1:00 pm
Hi all,
I'm pleased to finally be able to announce the imminent arrival of a new member of the ZXpand family - ZXpand+
ZXpand was one of my original works from many years ago and as a result suffered from certain challenges in construction - mainly from the use of obsolete parts but also naive design decisions which made for a tiring build.
It was always my intention to move to more modern parts and finally this has happened. The new design uses SMD RAM and CPLD in place of the now less easily obtainable slim DIP RAM and GAL parts. As a bonus the board should run cooler due to reduced power draw.
100% hardware and software compatible with the original ZXpand, the plus point is the addition of on-board AY sound. The boards may well ship in 2 versions, one with and a cheaper one without the chip pre-fitted. Sound chips may be simply fitted at a later time, if so desired.
There is no plan for a joystick port as yet, simply because of board space and routing complexity.
The board layout is pretty much finalised and pending some tweaks and a period of severe punishment by a seasoned ZXpand punisher I believe it's ready for production. A realistic release date is mid to late April.
Price is estimated to be slightly higher than the existing ZXpand, but less than the combined ZXpand+AY.
I will still produce AY daughter boards for those with the original ZXpand. There will also be a very limited supply of Issue 3 boards available before then - but as I am reaching the bottom of the pile I thought this was the right time to produce a new generation.
Charlie
I'm pleased to finally be able to announce the imminent arrival of a new member of the ZXpand family - ZXpand+
ZXpand was one of my original works from many years ago and as a result suffered from certain challenges in construction - mainly from the use of obsolete parts but also naive design decisions which made for a tiring build.
It was always my intention to move to more modern parts and finally this has happened. The new design uses SMD RAM and CPLD in place of the now less easily obtainable slim DIP RAM and GAL parts. As a bonus the board should run cooler due to reduced power draw.
100% hardware and software compatible with the original ZXpand, the plus point is the addition of on-board AY sound. The boards may well ship in 2 versions, one with and a cheaper one without the chip pre-fitted. Sound chips may be simply fitted at a later time, if so desired.
There is no plan for a joystick port as yet, simply because of board space and routing complexity.
The board layout is pretty much finalised and pending some tweaks and a period of severe punishment by a seasoned ZXpand punisher I believe it's ready for production. A realistic release date is mid to late April.
Price is estimated to be slightly higher than the existing ZXpand, but less than the combined ZXpand+AY.
I will still produce AY daughter boards for those with the original ZXpand. There will also be a very limited supply of Issue 3 boards available before then - but as I am reaching the bottom of the pile I thought this was the right time to produce a new generation.
Charlie
. May the ZXPand+ have a long and successful life.
