Improving Timex/Sinclair Tape Loading

[diskman]

Any life in this project still? Was anyone able to build a working one? I just placed a Jameco order to build one. Will breadboard it first.

[1024MAK]

Yes, I believe at least three exist. Lardo has one, I have one, and TMAOne has one.

Mark

[Lardo Boffin]

And it does indeed work! Thanks to Mark and Sir Morris!

I have just plugged it all in and done a quick test.

I have loaded Orbit from tape with a volume setting of 3 out of 10 with the dubber. Ordinarily in order to get this tape to load I need a volume of around 7. Edit - turns out I can load this one at just over 5 without the dubber, but still an improvement!

As soon as the data part of the tape started the LED lit up. As soon as it ended it went out. If nothing else this will tell you a load has failed if the light goes out and nothing is happening on the screen.

[1024MAK]

It has just occurred to me that I have never got around to posting up photos of the one I built using the PCB that was kindly supplied by SirMorris

I’ll try to correct that omission this weekend. But no promises.

Mark