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Sinclair ZX Spectrum +2

Spectrum+2

Back in the day, you were either team Commodore, or team Sinclair. A few of you were team Amstrad, but they were weird.

Originally I was team Commodore Plus/4, until I got a Spectrum 128 "Toastrack". Now I could finally play the same games as everyone else

If you're not in the UK, then you may have missed out on the Spectrum, although there were clones available in other countries, most notably Russia

Sinclair started out with computers as Science of Cambridge with the MK14, which was a bare bones computer, or just a PCB with a keypad and a few external connectors. Then one year later the ZX80 was launched. The company was renamed Sinclair Research to coincide with the ZX81

Then in 1982 the ZX Spectrum was launched, as a 16K RAM model, then a 48K RAM model. The Spectrum + came in 1982, which was the same hardware in a new case. Finally the Spectrum 128 model was launched in 1985. Known as the "Toastrack" due to it's large heatsink on the right hand side of the machine. This was the last Sinclair ZX Spectrum model before Amstrad bought Sinclair Research, I used to have one of these.

My Spectrum is the first Amstrad released model, which is a Spectrum 128 with a built in tape deck, and a slightly modified ROM.
There was a Spectrum +2A model released afterwards, this had a black case instead of the grey case mine has, and some hardware mods.
The last models were the Spectrum +3 and +3B, this had a 3 inch floppy drive instead of a tape recorder built in



That's enough rambling, lets have a look around my Spectrum

Spectrum+2 Spectrum+2 Spectrum+2

From the top of the machine you can see the keyboard, the Amstrad models omitted most of the keywords from the keys, making typing programmes in 48K mode tricky at best.
On the back of the machine you can see the heat vent, 9V power socket, an expansion I/O port, this was not compatible with earlier Spectrums. A RS232/MIDI and keypad sockets. A RGB monitor connection. Finally the RF out and sound out sockets.
The bottom of the machine just has the serial number, and "07" stickers, and an embossed logo

Spectrum+2 Spectrum+2

The right side of the machine is empty, but the left side has a reset button and two joystick ports, these are not Atari compatible. Joysticks of the time had two plugs, a black one and a grey one, the black one was Atari compatible, referred to on the Spectrum as "Kempston", and the grey plug was for the Spectrum +2/3, or the Sinclair joystick interfaces for the earlier models.

Spectrum+2 Spectrum+2 Spectrum+2

Here is a closer look at the keyboard and tape deck



Now lets take a look at the software I got with the machine

Spectrum+2 Spectrum+2 Spectrum+2

The software speaks for itself, but here are a couple of "blank" cassettes I also received

Spectrum+2 Spectrum+2 Spectrum+2

Hmmm, I never heard of Yashima UFO cassettes before, also note the red tape cassette label

Spectrum+2 Spectrum+2

If you're wondering, User programs claims to contain the above programmes, I wonder what Tonysname is?

Let's fire this beauty up then...

Spectrum+2

It took a little while to get the modern LCD screen tuned into the Spectrum's RF output, but we got there eventually, you can see the Amstrad models have a red power LED

Spectrum+2 Spectrum+2 Spectrum+2

It works, fantastic! I was expecting some issues, like perished rubber belts in the tape drive.

Spectrum+2

Update

I couldn't resist buying this cheeky little Horizons cassette for £1.99, and of course I had to try it out almost immediately...

Horizons cassette Horizons cassette Horizons cassette
Horizons cassette Horizons cassette Horizons cassette
Horizons cassette Horizons cassette Horizons cassette

I had to use my Raspberry Pi powered Spectrum to help with the keywords

Horizons cassette


Software updates

I found a job lot of Mastertronic cassettes on Facebook Marketplace

Spectrum

Universal Hero

Spectrum

Lap of the Gods

Spectrum

Z

Spectrum

The Empire Fights Back

Spectrum

Skips Action Biker (Clumsy Colin)

Spectrum

Bullseye

Spectrum

The Curse of Sherwood

Spectrum

Milk Race

Spectrum

S.O.S.

Spectrum

Xcel

Spectrum

Kickstart 2

Spectrum

Kobyashi Naru

Spectrum

Level 5

Spectrum

Venom

Spectrum

Speed King 2

Spectrum

Hyperbowl

Spectrum

Kickstart 2 (Duplicate)

Spectrum

Mindtrap

Spectrum

Terminus

Spectrum

Raw Recruit

Spectrum

The Oracle's Cave

Spectrum

Kane


More updates

Spectrum Spectrum Spectrum Spectrum

A Protek Joystick Interface (Kempston I think?)

Spectrum Spectrum Spectrum

Another Spectravideo 318-102 (Quickshot II) joystick

Spectrum Spectrum

A Spectrum PSU, but the lead has been cut off, no idea why

Spectrum

Original cassette and RF leads

Spectrum

Mad Martha II

Spectrum

Sheer Panic

Spectrum

Roulette

Spectrum

E.T.X.

Spectrum

Earth Defence

Spectrum

Horace and the Spiders

Spectrum

Horizons Software starter pack (Duplicate)

Spectrum Spectrum

Blank cassette apparently containing Earth Defence, Spectra Probe, and BMX Racers

Spectrum

Cyrus IS Chess


For more retro hardware check out my online museum here



© 2020 IWH Software (Ian Hill)