website/content/museum/timex-sinclair-2068.md

title, categories, types, origins, years, cpus, params

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
TIMEX / SINCLAIR 2068	Computers	Home Computer	U.S.A.	1983	Z80A	name image company company_name specs tabs forum_thread photos adverts hardware screenshots links related oc_id source 2068 /media/museum/photos/timex_2068_system_1.jpg /companies/timex-sinclair TIMEX / SINCLAIR label value NAME 2068 label value MANUFACTURER TIMEX / SINCLAIR label value TYPE Home Computer label value ORIGIN U.S.A. label value YEAR Fall 1983 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE TS 2068 Basic label value KEYBOARD Chicklet keyboard label value CPU Z80A label value SPEED 3.58 Mhz label value RAM 48 KB label value ROM 24 KB (16 KB + 8 KB Exrom) label value TEXT MODES 32 x 24 label value GRAPHIC MODES 256 x 192 (with 32x24 or 32x192 attributes), 512 x 192 label value COLORS 16 label value SOUND AY-3-8912 Sound Chip (same as 128K Spectrums) label value I/O PORTS Two joystick connectors, RF out, Composite video output, RGB video output, cartridge slot, tape-recorder label value POWER SUPPLY DVE power supply, 15 V at 1 Amp DC, and with the outside sleeve of the plug positive and the inside negative. label value PRICE US $199.99 (USA, 1983) photos adverts hardware software links 620 title subtitle text image KEYBOARD CLOSE-UP #1 /media/museum/photos/timex_2068_keyboard_1.jpg title subtitle text image KEYBOARD CLOSE-UP #2 /media/museum/photos/timex_2068_keyboard_2.jpg title subtitle text image ROM CARTRIDGES HOUSING /media/museum/photos/timex_2068_rightside_1.jpg title subtitle text image LEFT SIDE Left joystick connector and On/Off switch /media/museum/photos/timex_2068_letfside_1.jpg title subtitle text image REAR CONNECTORS **(1)** Right joystick DB9 connector\ **(2)** Expansion connector trap door\ **(3)** Composite video RCA connector\ **(4)** Tape recorder In/Out jacks\ **(5)** External AC power adaptor jack\ **(6)** UHF modulator output for TV set connexion /media/museum/photos/timex_2068_back_1.jpg title subtitle text image ROM CARTRIDGES /media/museum/photos/timex_2068_cartridges_1.jpg title subtitle text image MOTHERBOARD **(1)** Left joystick DB9 connector\ **(2)** Power switch\ **(3)** Loudspeaker\ **(4)** RF modulator for TV connexion\ **(5)** Sound generator chip AY-3-8912 from General Insrtruments (3 voices, 9 octaves and white noises)\ **(6)** External power supply unit connector\ **(7)** Keyboard flat cable connector\ **(8)** Tape recorder Ear/Mic jack plugs\ **(9)** RCA plug for a composite video monitor\ **(10)** Zilog Z80A processor\ **(11)** Spectrum ULA chipset made in USA by NCR\ **(12)** 6 x 4416 chips hold 48 KB of RAM memory\ **(13)** BASIC and operating system ROM chips\ **(14)** ROM cartridges connector and housing\ **(15)** Right joystick connector /media/museum/photos/timex_2068_motherboard_1.jpg title subtitle text image ULA AND SYSTEM ROM CLOSE-UP /media/museum/photos/timex_2068_motherboard_2.jpg title subtitle text image THE BOX /media/museum/photos/timex_2068_box_1.jpg title subtitle text image PROMOTIONAL PICTURE /media/museum/pubs/timex_2068_prm-pic.jpg title subtitle text image TIMEX SINCLAIR 2020 Tape recorder /media/museum/hardware/timex_sinclair_2020_1.jpg title subtitle text image COMPLETE SET Mounted at the back of the 2068 is the Bus Expansion Unit (TS 2060) which remained a prototype as Timex folded... It offered a maximum of 16MB of RAM (!), Serial and Centronic ports, disk interface and RGB monitor... On top of the Expansion Box Unit is the TS-2050 modem (300 baud). In fact the Timex Sinclair version never came out, but the original manufacturer, Westridge, released it when Timex disapeared. On top of the modem are two Microdrives (TS 2065) which also remained prototypes. At the left hand part is the TS 2080, a 80 columns 9 pin dot matrix printer (a redressed Mannsman Tally Spirit 80). Thanks to [Timex Computer World](http://members.fortunecity.com/johnnyred/home.html) for this picture. /media/museum/hardware/timex-sinclair_2068_perifs.jpg title subtitle text image TIMEX SINCLAIR 2040 Printer The TS 2040 was the rebadged US version of the ZX Printer that could be connected to all of the Timex (and Sinclair ZX-QL) systems. It used the same thermal metallised paper rollers. LPRINT and LLIST commands redirected output to the printer. COPY did a screen dump. /media/museum/hardware/timex_1000_printer2040_1.jpg title subtitle text image TIMEX SINCLAIR 2040 Box /media/museum/hardware/timex_1000_printer2040_box_1.jpg title subtitle text image WESTRIDGE 2050 Modem The TS 2050 Telecommunications Modem was designed for Sinclair Research by Westridge Communications CIE. At the same period first deliveries of this modem should occur, Timex went out of the computer business. Westridge which then had a large stock of unsold modems decided to release them with the 'Westridge 2050' name. The modem was compatible with TS100, 1500 and 2068 models. A specific software was delivered for each model. It used an Intel 8251 USART chip with 300 baud capability through a direct connexion to a telephone socket. /media/museum/hardware/timex_2068_modem2050_1.jpg title subtitle text image TIMEX FDD 3000 Floppy Disk Drive The Timex FDD 3000 was a Full Computer made by Timex Portugal. It could also be used as a Floppy Drive System for ZX Spectrum, TC 2048 and Clones, including the Timex 2068.\ It featured:\ Z80 Processor\ 64 KB RAM\ 2 x Serial Ports\ 2 x 3" floppy Disk Drives As it was a full computer it allowed to run CPM on it with Timex Computers acting as a terminal, or it could act as a Floppy drive system that kept the ZX Spectrum or compatible computer free because of the FDD own processor and RAM.\ On 'floppy drive mode' user ran TOS (Timex Operating system). Thanks to **Jose Pina Coelho** for the pictures /media/museum/hardware/timex_2048_fdd3000_s1.jpg title subtitle text image BOOT SCREEN Thanks to the [Unofficial Timex Sinclair 2068 page](http://www.timexsinclair.org/) for this picture /media/museum/software/timex_2068_boot_ss.gif title subtitle text image CRAZYBUG GAME CARTRIDGE /media/museum/software/timex_2068_cart_crazybug_1.jpg title subtitle text image STATES & CAPITALS CARTRIDGE /media/museum/software/timex_2068_cart_states_1.jpg title url text Timex Computer World http://members.fortunecity.com/johnnyred/ Very interesting site presenting all the Timex computers and more! title url text TS1000.US http://www.ts1000.us/ "TS1000.US, a tribute to the most unique and powerful small computer ever built!"... with docs, tips & tricks, software, info, etc. title url text Unofficial Timex Sinclair 2068 site http://www.timexsinclair.org/ The reference! Visit this excellent site. title url text World Of Spectrum http://www.worldofspectrum.org/documentation.html This page has a link to the TS 2069 Technical Manual & Sinclair Hardware Fact Sheet (plus many other docs) /museum/timex-computers-tc-2048 /museum/timex-sinclair-1500 634 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230605035710/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=634 2023-06-05

This is the American version of the Spectrum. It has an additional 8K extension ROM, cartridge port, two joystick ports and AY-3-8912 sound chip with extra Sinclair BASIC commands to support these devices (STICK, SOUND). It was packaged in a hard plastic silver case with nonstandard plastic keys.

The TS2068 is Timex's re-engineered 48K Spectrum. It was released in Fall 1983 just before Timex Computer Corp folded in Spring 1984. A rogue arm of Timex in Portugal continued to sell TC2068s (same as TS2068) and TC2048s (an improved Spectrum) until 1989. They, of course, were only allowed to sell in non-Sinclair controlled marketplaces.

Timex recognized that a 48K Spectrum would not continue being competitive in North America for long without changes being made. They developed two computers that were to be North America's debut of the Spectrum. One was called the TS2048 and the other the TS2068. The TS2048 was basically a 48K Spectrum w/ Kempston joystick and the advanced video modes of the TS2068. The TS2068 was a completely different computer with the Spectrum as its roots. Timex decided to only sell the TS2068. When sales over Christmas 1983 were disappointing, they pulled the plug. Timex of Portugal, no doubt encouraged by the Spectrum's popularity in Europe, continued to sell the TS2068 and offered the TS2048 as the TC2068 and TC2048 in parts of Europe, notably Portugal and Poland. When Timex pulled the plug, they dumped all their surplus TS2068s in Argentina.

As for Spectrum compatibilty: The tape I/O is the same so you can load Spectrum tape files. Spectrum BASIC is a subset of the TS2068's BASIC, so you can run Spectrum BASIC programs. The TS2068's ROM is different, though, so you can't run Spectrum m/c that makes use of the ROM. Without the aid of a Spectrum emulator, you can run about 7% of the Spectrum's commercially available software.

The Spectrum emulator is really a Spectrum ROM on cartridge (there are other forms) that is bankswitched into the lower 0-16K region. The top 48K region is filled with RAM. To the software this looks exactly the same as a 48K Spectrum. There are a few hardware reasons for incompatibilities but using an emulator, you can reach 97% compatibility.

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Text taken from Sinclair Computer Hardware Factsheet.
Thanks Bob Johnson.