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yann64andClaude Opus 5.5 de19014649 Content with the complete media download (15,344 files) 
228 files were never archived; see docs/not-recovered.md in the extraction repo.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01YDRjtmAiNpo5mK5N3d7QwZ
2026-10-13 16:47:19 +02:00

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---
title: Sinclair ZX SPECTRUM 128
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Home Computer
origins:
- United Kingdom
years:
- '1985'
cpus:
- Zilog Z80 A
params:
name: ZX SPECTRUM 128
image: /media/museum/photos/sinclair_spectrum128_1.jpg
company: /companies/sinclair
company_name: Sinclair
specs:
- label: NAME
value: ZX SPECTRUM 128
- label: MANUFACTURER
value: Sinclair
- label: TYPE
value: Home Computer
- label: ORIGIN
value: United Kingdom
- label: YEAR
value: '1985'
- label: END OF PRODUCTION
value: '1986'
- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
value: Sinclair Basic 48k and Sinclair Basic 128k
- label: KEYBOARD
value: Same as the Spectrum+
- label: CPU
value: Zilog Z80 A
- label: SPEED
value: 3.5469MHz
- label: RAM
value: 128kb
- label: ROM
value: 32kb (16k 48k Basic + 16k 128k Basic)
- label: TEXT MODES
value: 32 x 24
- label: GRAPHIC MODES
value: 256 x 192
- label: COLORS
value: 8 with two tones each (normal and bright)
- label: SOUND
value: 3 channels, 7 octaves (Yamaha AY-3-8912)
- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
value: 320 x 150 x 45 mm
- label: I/O PORTS
value: Expansion bus, Numeric Keypad, RS232 / Midi Out, Video RGB, Tape (1200 baud)
- label: POWER SUPPLY
value: External PSU, 9v DC, 1.85A (centre polarity = -ve)
tabs:
- photos
- hardware
- software
- emulators
- links
- docs
photos:
- title: ZX SPECTRUM 128
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/photos/sinclair_zxspectrum128_top1.jpg
- title: ZX SPECTRUM 128
subtitle: ''
text: Ian Gledhill
image: /media/museum/photos/sinclair_zxspectrum128_left1.jpg
- title: ZX SPECTRUM 128
subtitle: ''
text: Thanks to Ian Gledhill for this picture
image: /media/museum/photos/sinclair_zxspectrum128_right1.jpg
- title: BOX
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/photos/sinclair_zxspectrum128_box1%5B1%5D.jpg
- title: BOX
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/photos/sinclair_zxspectrum128_box2.jpg
hardware:
- title: DISCOVERY SYSTEM
subtitle: ''
text: 'The Discovery system uses the new Sony 3.5'''' diskette to save in full safety the programs and data of the Spectrum or Spectrum+. The diskette has a capacity of 180 KB and a second drive can be installed. The commands of the operating system are similar to those of Sinclair Microdrives. The case includes a power supply and various Spectrum expansion connectors. In short, a lot of hardware qualities, but an incomprehensible defect: the data transfer speed is slower than Microdrives, whereas a disk drive is able to be ten times faster than a tape reader. Discovery did not meet success, certainly for this reason, but also because of its high price, not compatible with the Spectrum''s young users'' purse.'
image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_fddiscovery_1.jpg
- title: INSIDE DISCOVERY
subtitle: ''
text: |-
**(1)** Metallic case.\
**(2)** Centronics parallel printer connector.\
**(3)** Spectrum expansion connector.\
**(4)** Discovery to Spectrum connector.\
**(5)** EPROM memory chip holding drive management routines and OS commands.\
**(6)** Sony 3.5'' disc drive. A double side, single density version.\
**(7)** A strange location for the power transformer, under the disk drive and not protected against magnetic fields.\
**(8)** This empty socket receives a 2 Kb. RAM chip when a second disc drive is installed.\
**(9)** 6821 Circuit, in charge of disc drive control.\
**(10)** Each disc drive uses an internal RAM area to avoid using Spectrum RAM.\
**(11)** Atari standard joystick connector.
image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_fddiscovery_ins.jpg
- title: INSIDE WAFADRIVE
subtitle: ''
text: |-
**(1)** The Wafadrive unit includes two specially designed cartridge drives.\
**(2)** Each cartridge drive has its own motor and electronic control system.\
**(3)** The Wafadrive offers three expansion ports. Unfortunately, they are not compatible with the Spectrum ones and need special cables.\
**(4)** Centronics parallel printer connector.\
**(5)** Spectrum expansion connector for additional peripherals.\
**(6)** 8 Kb. EPROM holding operating system and Basic drives commands.\
**(7)** The Wafadrive is connected to the Spectrum expansion port. It also uses the computer's power supply.\
**(8)** Power Leds.
image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_wafadrive_2.jpg
- title: WAFADRIVE CARTRIDGE
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_wafadrive_3.jpg
- title: CHEETAH JOYSTICK INTERFACE
subtitle: ''
text: Thanks to Peter James for the picture
image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_cheetahjoyinterf_1.jpg
- title: KEMPSTON JOYSTICK INTERFACE
subtitle: ''
text: |-
Peter says:\
I'm not sure if this was the first joystick interface for the Spectrum but it defined a standard that was never displaced. Most games carried the words 'Kempston joystick compatible' Says it all really! They later revised the interface to offer 2 joystick connectors
Thanks to Peter James for the picture
image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_kempstonjoyinterf_1.jpg
- title: DK'TRONICS SPEECH SYNTHESIZER
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_zx-spectrum_dktronics-speech_synth_1.jpg
- title: MAGECO MONITOR
subtitle: ''
text: It cost 75fr in january 85 (France).
image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_dessas.jpg
- title: VTR VOCAL SYNTHESIZER
subtitle: ''
text: 470fr (France, january 85)
image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_vocal.jpg
- title: CURRAH SPEECH
subtitle: Vocal synthesizer
text: Just type on the keys and the Spectrum "speaks" with two tones, high and low. There is also a sofware support.
image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_vocal2.jpg
- title: CHEETAH SPECDRUM
subtitle: ''
text: |-
About the Specdrum, Peter says:\
This was the most fun add-on I ever bought for the Spectrum. You had to connect it to a phono input on a stereo amp, load up the software and away you went. You could enter the rhythm in real time or step time and it had 8 sounds it could play at once. The sound was perfect and still sounds good today. They released some extra drum kit sounds to expand the Specdrum's sound library, Afro Kit and Electro Kit are the ones I remember and purchased. I don’t think any Spectrum should be without this Add-on, it rocks!!
Price: About £30 around 85-86
Thanks to Peter James for the picture
image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_specdrum_1.jpg
- title: ALPHACOM 32
subtitle: ''
text: 'Alphacom 32 is the well-known and the cheaper printer for the Spectrum, offering exactly the same features as the ZX Printer : full Spectrum characters set, 32 char. / line and silver plated thermal paper. Alphacom 32 uses its own power supply. june 84 price : 181 -E- (France).'
image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_alphacom.jpg
- title: FLOYD 40
subtitle: ''
text: 'Floyd 40, from the manufacturer Shiva Marketing, doesn''t seem to be very reliable with its very thin plastic case and its wooden paper axis ! However Floyd features are better than Alphacom ones: use of white thermal paper more readable and less expensive, only one cable to connect it to the Spectrum (power and data) and better printing quality. Moreover, Floyd 40 has larger characters set and printing options : double height and width, text printing in the four directions and more advanced and accurate graphic abilities (5 x 7 dots head). On the other hand, the printing is rather slow and the print width doesn''t exceed 8 cm.'
image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_floyd40_1.jpg
- title: ZX-81 THERMAL PRINTER
subtitle: ''
text: |-
This is a small thermal printer (of very poor quality !). It can print all the graphical characters of the Spectrum and can print 9 lines of text per inch. It was possible to make a hard copy of the screen thanks to the "Copy" command.
This tiny thermal printer can also be used with the ZX-Spectrum.
image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_zx81_printer.jpg
- title: ZX THERMAL PRINTER
subtitle: Box
text: ''
image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_zx81_zx-printer_box_1.jpg
- title: RGB OUT
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_zx-spectrum128_video-rgb_d.jpg
- title: ZX INTERFACE 1
subtitle: ''
text: |-
This interface offers an RS232 connector, a Microdrive connector and a network socket to connect up to 64 Spectrums !
This marvel cost 895fr in june 84 (France).
image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_intrfc1.jpg
- title: MICRODRIVES
subtitle: ''
text: |-
Sinclair Microdrives for use with the ZX Interface 1. Up to 8 microdrives can be connected.
Micro-tape Capacity: 80k\
Speed: 5k/s\
Average access time: 3,5s\
Integrated power supply (through computer)\
Micro-tape price: 79fr
940fr (June 84)
image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_microdrive.jpg
- title: INSIDE A MICRODRIVE
subtitle: ''
text: |-
**(1)** Tape driving roller.\
**(2)** Read/write magnetic head, basically the same as a standard tape recorder.\
**(3)** Read/write protection switch.\
**(4)** Cartridge housing.\
**(5)** Power led.\
**(6)** Extension connector allowing up to 8 microdrives to be serial connected.
image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_insidemdv_1.jpg
- title: INSIDE A MICRODRIVE CARTRIDGE
subtitle: ''
text: The support used in the cartridge is a videotape of 2 mm in width, and 8 meters in length. The video support was chosen for its biggest mechanical resistance. In running mode, the full tape length is covered in about 7 seconds and the information is transferred at 6 Kb. per second (1.5 Kb./sec. for a standard cassette). The recording is made simultaneously on two parallel tracks with a density of 200 bytes per centimeter. The information is organized in sectors of 512 bytes. Any program can be stored or loaded in 15 sec. Maximum. Each cartridge can store up to 100 Kb, but only 85 - 90 are available for the user.
image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_insidecartmdv_1.jpg
- title: ZX INTERFACE 2
subtitle: ''
text: |-
This interface offers 2 joystick plugs and 1 cartridge slot.
It cost 351fr in june 84 (France).
image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_intrfc2.jpg
- title: CARTRIDGE
subtitle: ''
text: |-
Sinclair Cartridge for use with the ZX Interface 2. Very few cartridges were produced (less than 10).
It cost 185fr in june 84 (France).
image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_cartridge.jpg
- title: NUMERIC KEYPAD
subtitle: ''
text: |-
This numenic keypad can be used with the Spectrum +2 and Spectrum 128.
Thanks to **www.zonadepruebas.com**
image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum128_keypad_2.jpg
- title: NUMERIC KEYPAD
subtitle: plugged into the Spectrum 128
text: |-
Notice that the keypad is plugged into the front of the Spectrum 128.
Thanks to [ZX-Spectrum 128 keypad's site](http://www.fruitcake.plus.com/) for this picture
image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum128_keypad_1.jpg
screenshots:
- title: SPANISH SPECTRUM 128
subtitle: Boot screen
text: The Spanish version of the Spectrum 128 boots directly to the 128k Sinclair Basic. There is no "boot menu" as the UK version has.
image: /media/museum/software/sinclair_spectrum128es_ss.gif
- title: UK SPECTRUM 128
subtitle: Boot screen
text: |-
The UK version introduces a nice "boot-up menu" where you can choose the different operating modes of the Spectrum 128 :\
\- TAPE LOADER to directly load a tape without typing any Basic instructions\
\- 128 BASIC is the new version of the Sinclair Basic\
\- CALCULATOR acts as a real calculator (the optional numeric keypad is useful here)\
\- 48 BASIC is the old Spectrum Basic left here for compatibility\
\- TAPE TESTER is a simple program to test the communication with the external tape-recorder (this option will disapear from the +2 models)
image: /media/museum/software/sinclair_spectrum128_ss.gif
- title: DAN DARE III
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/software/dandare3.gif
- title: DOUBLE DRAGON
subtitle: ''
text: A bit messy...
image: /media/museum/software/doubledragon.gif
- title: DUN DARACH
subtitle: ''
text: The guys are walking so smoothly
image: /media/museum/software/dundarch.gif
- title: ELITE
subtitle: ''
text: The mythic space game ! The father of all other space-games such as Wing-Commander.
image: /media/museum/software/elite.gif
- title: FANTASY WORLD DIZZY
subtitle: ''
text: One of the many games based on the egg-man Dizzy.
image: /media/museum/software/fantasy-world-dizzy.gif
- title: GAUNTLET
subtitle: ''
text: Conversion of the classic arcade game
image: /media/museum/software/gauntlet.gif
- title: GUNFRIGHT
subtitle: ''
text: 3D isometric western game. A must-have !
image: /media/museum/software/gunfright.gif
- title: IKARI WARRIORS
subtitle: ''
text: As good as Commando !
image: /media/museum/software/ikari-warriors.gif
- title: IK+
subtitle: International Karate +
text: 3 players fight
image: /media/museum/software/ikplus.gif
- title: ALIEN 8
subtitle: ''
text: Excellent isometric game
image: /media/museum/software/alien8.gif
- title: ANT ATTACK
subtitle: ''
text: Avoid the giant ants and save the girl in this 3D maze
image: /media/museum/software/antattack.gif
- title: ARC OF YESOD
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/software/arcofyesod.gif
- title: ATIC ATAC
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/software/aticatac.gif
- title: BACK TO SKOOL
subtitle: Skooldaze ?
text: ''
image: /media/museum/software/backtoskool.gif
- title: BOMBJACK
subtitle: ''
text: Classic game !
image: /media/museum/software/bombjack.gif
- title: BRUCE LEE
subtitle: ''
text: One of the best game ever
image: /media/museum/software/brucelee.gif
- title: CHASE HQ
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/software/chasehq.gif
- title: CHUCKIE EGG
subtitle: ''
text: Who never played this ??
image: /media/museum/software/chuckie-egg.gif
- title: COMMANDO
subtitle: ''
text: Excellent conversion
image: /media/museum/software/commando.gif
- title: DAILEY'S THOMPSON DECATHLON
subtitle: ''
text: The best olympic game on the Speccy
image: /media/museum/software/dailey-thompson-decathlon.gif
emulators:
- title: EightyOne
url: http://www.chuntey.com/eightyone/
platform: Windows
text: Excellent emulator emulating nearly all ZX computers (80, 81, Spectrums, Timex, etc.). As well as emulating the machines themselves, numerous addon cards are supported, including hi-res graphics, custom character sets, sound and colour cards.
- title: GLECK
url: HTTP://GLECK.EMUUNLIM.COM
platform: Windows
text: Spectrum emulator. Runs on Windows 95 and up, and requires DirectX. Includes a debugger, and emulates also some Southamerican clones
- title: RealSpectrum
url: http://www.ramsoft.bbk.org/realspec.html
platform: Windows
text: complete and innovative Spectrum emulator for DOS and Windows
- title: Spectaculator
url: http://WWW.SPECTACULATOR.COM/
platform: Windows
text: Spectaculator emulates the 16K/48K/128/+2/+2A Spectrums and some additional hardware.
- title: SPIN
url: http://www.worldofspectrum.org/emulators.html
platform: Windows
text: Spectrum emulator running on any version of Windows from '95 onward up to and including XP
- title: Warajavo
url: http://www.void.demon.nl/warajevo/index.html
platform: Windows
text: an excellent bosnian emulator for PC compatibles by Zeljko Juric (DOS)
- title: Warajavo
url: http://www.void.jump.org/warajevo/
platform: Windows
text: an excellent bosnian emulator for PC compatibles by Zeljko Juric (DOS)
- title: X128
url: http://www.void.demon.nl/x128/
platform: Windows
text: Spectrum 48 / 128 / +2 / +3 Emulator
- title: X128
url: http://www.void.jump.org/x128/
platform: Windows
text: Spectrum 48 / 128 / +2 / +3 Emulator
- title: Z80 - The PC Spectrum Emulator
url: http://www.accessone.com/~mcoward/z80.zip
platform: Windows
text: Perhaps the best emulator for PC compatibles
- title: ZX-32
url: http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Bay/9932/
platform: Windows
text: Great Win32 Emulator. Very stable, very fast.
- title: MacSpectacle
url: http://little-bat.de/zxsp/download/mac_spectacle/manual.html
platform: Apple
text: One of the most powerful Spectrum emulator
- title: ZX Spectrum
url: http://www.komkon.org/~stiles/emulation/zx/index.html
platform: Apple
text: ''
- title: ZXSP
url: http://little-bat.de/zxsp/download/zxsp_mac/zxsp_mac.html
platform: Apple
text: Emulator for PowerMac
- title: Ian's ZX Spectrum page
url: http://www.comlab.ox.ac.uk/oucl/users/ian.collier/Spectrum/
platform: Unix / Linux
text: the official page of xz80, the emulator for XWindows
- title: Ian's ZX Spectrum page
url: http://www.comlab.ox.ac.uk/oucl/users/ian.collier/Spectrum/
platform: Unix / Linux
text: the official page of xz80, the emulator for XWindows
- title: xz80
url: http://www.comlab.ox.ac.uk/oucl/users/ian.collier/Spectrum/
platform: Unix / Linux
text: ''
- title: xzx
url: http://www.mfltd.co.uk/~dnh/xzx/xzx.html
platform: Unix / Linux
text: an other emulator for Linux computers
- title: xzx
url: http://www.zx-spectrum.net/xzx/
platform: Unix / Linux
text: an other emulator for Linux computers
- title: ASp
url: http://www.greew.freeserve.co.uk/ASp.html
platform: Amiga OS
text: ''
- title: Spec128
url: http://members.tripod.com/~JoeKelleher/Spec128/
platform: RISC OS
text: Emulates a Spectrum 128 for the Acorn
- title: HOB Java Spectrum emulator
url: http://www.twinbee.org/hob/
platform: Other platform
text: Fascinate yourself for hours with this portable Java Spectrum Emulator.
- title: Java On-Line Emulator
url: http://www.zxspec.freeserve.co.uk/java.html
platform: Other platform
text: Plays games on-line !
- title: PocketClive
url: http://pocketclive.emuunlim.com/
platform: Other platform
text: Spectrum 48k and 128k emulator for PocketPC !
- title: QAOP
url: http://wizard.ae.krakow.pl/~jb/qaop/
platform: Other platform
text: Qaop is a ZX Spectrum emulator Java applet
- title: Sinclair Spectrum Emulator 1.1
url: http://www.palmtop.nl/ce/hpc_spectrum.html
platform: Other platform
text: Handheld PCs and Palm-size PCs running Windows CE 2.0 or higher
- title: TEZXAS
url: http://tezxas.ticalc.org/
platform: Other platform
text: ZX Spectrum emulator for TI 89 and 92 calculators !
- title: ZX68
url: http://zx68.8k.com
platform: Other platform
text: Emulator for various 68000 based machines. First version is released for PalmOS
- title: FUSE
url: http://fuse-emulator.sourceforge.net/
platform: Multiplatform
text: Fuse (the Free Unix Spectrum Emulator) is a ZX Spectrum emulator for Unix and MacOS X
- title: SPEC
url: http://WWW.METHEDRINE.DEMON.CO.UK/spec.html
platform: Multiplatform
text: Spec is a Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48k emulator for the PC. There are two different versions, Spec (freeware for DOS) and SpecX (Shareware for Windows 95/98/NT4).
links:
- title: CRASH, the on-line edition
url: http://www.crashonline.org.uk/
text: Site dedicated to the old well-known magazine
- title: DOCUMENTATION
url: http://www.madhippy.com/8-bit/index.php?machine=sinclair
text: Classic 8-bit Computers / lot of on-line documentations for Sinclair computers. USEFUL !
- title: DOCUMENTATION
url: http://www.worldofspectrum.org/documentation.html#manuals
text: World of Spectrum's documentation page
- title: DOCUMENTATION
url: http://www.void.jump.org/ZXSpectrum128Manual/
text: Spectrum 128 on-line manual
- title: Good Old Games
url: http://speccy.altervista.org/
text: ZX games and screenshots
- title: Las Spectrum y TK en el Uruguay
url: http://WWW.Z80.UY.TC
text: The story of the ZX Spectrum line and TK line in Uruguay, South America
- title: Number Cruncher
url: http://www.8bit-museum.de/
text: This german website has an excellent Sinclair section
- title: Planet Sinclair
url: http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/sinclair/
text: THE site to visit ! Everything you need.
- title: Sinclair Nostalgia Products
url: http://surf.to/zx
text: Lot of speccy stuff here and long list of clones
- title: Sinclair ZX Hardware Website
url: http://www.xs4all.nl/~echorod/zx/index.htm
text: Features designs to build your own Sinclair computer
- title: Software Records on Vinyl
url: 'http://www.kempa.com/blog/archives/000053.html '
text: These records contained computer programs as part of the audio.
- title: Speccy.com.ar
url: http://www.speccy.com.ar/
text: Argentine blog dedicated to the Spectrum
- title: Speccyalista
url: HTTP://WWW.SINCLAIR.HU
text: Hungarian Sinclair page
- title: Spectrum 128 keypad
url: http://www.fruitcake.plus.com/
text: A very complete site about this famous keypad !
- title: Spectrum Screenshot Heaven
url: http://members.tripod.com/ssh_web/
text: Excellent ! Plenty of speccy screenshots here.
- title: Speecy.CZ
url: http://www.speccy.cz/
text: Nice site with a lot of games, demos, maps, screenshots, cover arts, music, etc...
- title: Steve's Spectrum Page
url: http://ireland.iol.ie/~sjones/
text: Steve collects speccy games and accept requests
- title: Tape Loader Home Page
url: http://perso.club-internet.fr/jgibart/spectl/spectl.html
text: Utility to transfer your zx tapes to the PC
- title: The Incomplete Spectrum ROM Assembly
url: http://www.wearmouth.demon.co.uk/
text: Spectrum ROM assembly text file. Very useful if you want to create your version of the Spectrum Operating System
- title: The Ocean Experience
url: http://www.theoceanexperience.cjb.net/
text: A look into one of the biggest games developers of the 80's and 90's
- title: The Tipshop
url: http://www.the-tipshop.co.uk/
text: A central archive for all Spectrum and SAM games hints, tips, cheats, maps, hacks and pokes. Impressive!
- title: The World of ZX-Spectrum
url: http://www.worldofspectrum.org/
text: This is it. The site you MUST visit first :-)
- title: Virtual TR-DOS
url: HTTP://ZX.DA.RU
text: Belarussian ZX-soft archive (in Russian)
- title: Your Sinclair, a celebration
url: http://www.yoursinclair.co.uk/
text: Tribute to one of the best Spectrum dedicated magazine
- title: z00m's Speccy corner
url: http://zoom.czweb.org/
text: DOCUMENTATION, PICTURES, emulators, AY CHIP
- title: ZX Download page
url: http://zxfiles.hut2.ru/
text: The very best of new ZX Spectrum games both Europe and ex-USSR
- title: ZX Forever
url: http://www.zx-f.ru/
text: Full with new Russian ZX Spectrum games (lots of them are in English language)
- title: ZX Spectrum Games after 1993
url: http://tarjan.uw.hu/zx_gamez_after_93_en.htm
text: Nice article referencing ZX Spectrum games released after 1993!
- title: ZX Spectrum in the 21st Century
url: http://tarjan.uw.hu/zxclones_en.htm
text: Nice info about a lot of ZX Spectrum clones and hardware
- title: ZXSPECTICLE
url: http://www.worldofspectrum.org/zxspecticle/
text: News, Reviews, Interviews and the A to Z top ten games
- title: Web Wiz CAPTCHA
url: http://www.webwizcaptcha.com
text: Sinclair computers
docs:
- title: ZX SPECTRUM BASIC PROGRAMMING
url: http://www.1000bit.it/support/manuali/sinclair/zxspectrum/start.htm
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/sinclair_zx-specrtum_basic-programming.jpg
text: |-
[**ZX SPECTRUM BASIC PROGRAMMING**](http://www.1000bit.it/support/manuali/sinclair/zxspectrum/start.htm)written by Steven Vickers
 compiled/archived by Chris Owen / Tiziano Garuti\
 type of document : HTML\
 source : [1000Bit](http://www.1000bit.net/)
- title: ZX SPECTRUM INTRODUCTORY MANUAL
url: http://www.worldofspectrum.org/ZXSpectrumIntroduction/
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/sinclair_zx_spectrum_introductory-manual.jpg
text: |-
[**ZX SPECTRUM INTRODUCTORY MANUAL**](http://www.worldofspectrum.org/ZXSpectrumIntroduction/)written by Steven Vickers and Robin Bradbeer
 compiled/archived by Colin Woodcock\
 type of document : HTML\
 source : [www.worldofspectrum.org](http://www.worldofspectrum.org/faq/resources/documents.htm)
- title: ZX SPECTRUM SERVICE MANUAL
url: http://members.lycos.co.uk/eightbitula/48kinfo.html
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/sinclair_zx-specrtum_service-manual.jpg
text: |-
[**ZX SPECTRUM SERVICE MANUAL**](http://members.lycos.co.uk/eightbitula/48kinfo.html)written by Sinclair Research Limited
 type of document : HTML\
 source : [The Lil Old Sinclair Computer Technical Information Repository](http://members.lycos.co.uk/eightbitula/)
comments:
- author: john (Australia)
date: Tuesday 30th October 2018
text: |-
Spectrum 128 was designed in the UK but first made in Spain by Investronica. Sinclair didn''t sell it in the UK until 1986 because of an agreement with Lasky''s to shift all the remaining rubber and plus models first. However you could get Spanish 128s (which included a external numeric keypad) at all the major retailers in the UK from about August 1985. They cost about 200 quid - about the same as a Commodore 64 at the time.
The 128 is a 48K system, the 80Kb above ramtop could be used as a ramdrive in BASIC, or swapped in 16K at a time in MC.
- author: Clumsy Colin (United Kingdom)
date: Tuesday 5th August 2014
text: Roger Jowett, what have you been smoking?
- author: Roger Jowett (Ulster)
date: Thursday 28th February 2013
text: |-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v$zsjTpFR0oYQ
please can anyone help lcd add hmpr bit 5$6 mode 3 interlaced with intra frame compression think gassman and naxtcross might be the only ones with a clue
- author: Krzysztof Wojdon
date: Monday 11th April 2011
text: Spectrum 128K memory was not organized in two blocks. It was top 16K of the regular addressable 64K that was used to switch into additional 64K of memory.
- author: Chris
date: Sunday 20th March 2011
text: |-
Robert Holliday posted a quest for spectrum FPGA. Have you seen this?
http://mikestirling.co.uk/2010/11/zx-spectrum-on-altera-de1-source-code/
Regards\
Chris
- author: Robert Holliday
date: Tuesday 1st February 2011
text: |-
Does anyone know of a single chip spectrum (ON FPGA) like the Altera DE0 board ?? or has anyone made a new speccy running on the eZ80. The eZ80 runs 50 times faster than a 4MHz Z80A !!!!!!
It would be a great project.... or even make a Sam Coupe running on an eZ80 !!
- author: Davey
date: Tuesday 1st February 2011
text: |-
Hi.
Does anyone know of a tape database for speccy software that I can download for free ?? I''m looking for audio files not digital ones, as I''m meaning to put the software onto floppy 3" disks !!
If anyone knows please post a message !!
related:
- /museum/czerweny-cz-2000
- /museum/czerweny-spectrum
- /museum/czerweny-spectrum-plus
- /museum/elwro-800-junior
- /museum/sinclair-zx-spectrum
- /museum/sinclair-zx-spectrum-2
- /museum/sinclair-zx-spectrum-3
- /museum/sinclair-zx-spectrum-480
oc_id: 35
source:
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230605224029/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=35
date: '2023-06-05'
---
The Spectrum 128 (code named Derby) is the successor of the [Spectrum +](/museum/sinclair-zx-spectrum/). It was made just before Amstrad bought the right to use the Sinclair name in computer products. So it can be regarded as the last "real Sinclair Spectrum".
The 128 is the first real evolution of the old [Spectrum](/museum/sinclair-zx-spectrum/). It has a lot of new features: 128kb RAM, a new sound chip (Yamaha AY-3-8912), RS232/Midi and video RGB outputs.
The Spectrum displays a menu when it is switched on:\
\- "Tape Loader" to run programs on tape,\
\- "Calculator" to enter operations without typing PRINT before,\
\- "Tape Tester" to test the input level of the tape recorder,\
\- "BASIC 48" and "BASIC 128".
The Spectrum 128 can use two versions of BASIC: BASIC 48 is just for the compatibility with the previous models and can't use the new features.\
The Basic 128 mode has a full screen editor and the user can enter the Basic statements letter by letter instead of pressing key combinations. It has new keywords to use the extended memory as a RAM disk (unless bank-switching routines are utilized) and to handle the new sound chip and the MIDI out socket.
Because there were still large unsold stocks of Spectrum+ in the UK, the Spectrum 128 was first launched in Spain where the Speccy was already very popular. It was sold there with an external numeric keypad to connect the main unit. This "spanish model" doesn't boot on a "start menu" as the UK version does (thus spanish 128k models are slightly different than later UK models). But even after being introduced in UK it had a short market life and was replaced with the [Spectrum +2](/museum/sinclair-zx-spectrum-2/).
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