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Homebrew add-on
Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2019 6:54 pm
by 26fb635
Hi, I fear I won't know the answer to my questions , without the use of a hammer. I obtained this item years ago with a ZX Spectrum. I remember thinking it might be a RAM expansion for the '81 (albeit homebrew). I cannot for the life of me get into this unit and it appears to be made of wood and is quite solid. I'm not sure how it was constructed!. Recently I plugged this into my '81 and the '81 just acted like an unexpanded '81. This might not even be for sinclair at all! or if it is it might be knackered. So has anyone come across such an item before?
Re: Homebrew add-on
Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2019 10:15 pm
by mrtinb
It looks more like a software dongle we know from the PCs printer port.
E.g. the software will not work without the dongle attached, hence a pirate copy of the software will not work, as it needs the dongle.
P.S. I've asked the administrators to move this post to the ZX81, because it has nothing to do with Lambda 8300.
Re: Homebrew add-on
Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 1:03 am
by 1024MAK
Just because it has a ZX80/ZX81 size edge-connector does not necessarily mean that it is for a ZX80/ZX81. Some ZX Spectrum joystick interfaces also used a ZX80/ZX81 size edge-connector...
I also think it is most likely a dongle for anti-piracy software protection. I take it that there are no markings on it?
Mark