Sinclair Spectrum 48k

I already have the Sinclair ZX Spectrum +2, Sinclair ZX Spectrum +3, and an Raspberry Pi powered Sinclair ZX Spectrum, but why can't I have the original Sinclair ZX Spectrum as well?

This one was listed as not working, but came with some peripherals that made the low price worth it



It is a typical issue 2 ZX Spectrum, with the "dead flesh" keyboard



The only ports are on the back, from the left they are, 9V power in, the expansion interface. Mic and Ear sockets for a cassette recorder, and the RF out to a TV, and that's it



This one came with the ZX Interface 2 which gives you a joystick port and a cartridge slot, and a pass-through for the ZX printer



This one also came with a switch that sits in-line with the power plug, and can be stuck to the computer by way of a sticky pad



Here it is all connected together



On powering up the machine (using the power pack for my +2, as this one didn't come with a power unit) I was greeted with the above screen and white noise, I think this means a RAM fault, tapping the keys affects the pattern on the screen though, so there is life in the machine

Software



This is the February 1986 edition of the 16/48 Computing magazine on a cassette, I've never heard of this magazine before



Here is the Spectrum with my Raspberry Pi powered Spectrum (top)


Hardware updates



I scored another rubber key Spectrum



And a Kempston joystick interface



And it works as well, although I forgot to do the usual BASIC test



Here are both of them together, just like twins




For more retro hardware check out my online museum here