yann64andClaude Opus 5.5
b274874139
1,289 discussions, 9,527 archived comments; pages no longer carry the comments themselves. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com> Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01YDRjtmAiNpo5mK5N3d7QwZ
722 lines
35 KiB
Markdown
722 lines
35 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: Sinclair ZX SPECTRUM +3
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categories:
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- Computers
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types:
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- Home Computer
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origins:
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- United Kingdom
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years:
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- '1987'
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cpus:
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- Zilog Z80 A
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params:
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name: ZX SPECTRUM +3
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image: /media/museum/photos/sinclair_zx-spectrum-p3_1.jpg
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company: /companies/sinclair
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company_name: Sinclair
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specs:
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- label: NAME
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value: ZX SPECTRUM +3
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- label: MANUFACTURER
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value: Sinclair
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- label: TYPE
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value: Home Computer
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- label: ORIGIN
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value: United Kingdom
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- label: YEAR
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value: '1987'
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- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
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value: 48K Spectrum BASIC (compatibility mode) and 128K Spectrum ZX+3 BASIC, integrated with +3 DOS
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- label: KEYBOARD
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value: |-
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Full-stroke keyboard, QWERTY, 58 keys, arrow keys\
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TRUE VIDEO, INV VIDEO, DELETE, GRAPH, EXTEND MODE, EDIT, CAPS SHIFT (x2), CAPS LOCK, SYMB SHIFT (x2), BREAK
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- label: CPU
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value: Zilog Z80 A
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- label: SPEED
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value: 3.5469 MHz
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- label: RAM
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value: 128 kb (8 x 16k pages)
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- label: ROM
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value: 64 kb (4 x 16k pages)
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- label: TEXT MODES
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value: 32 x 24
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- label: GRAPHIC MODES
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value: 256 x 192
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- label: COLORS
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value: 8 with two tones each (normal and bright)
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- label: SOUND
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value: 3 channels, 8 octaves (Yamaha AY-3-8912)
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- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
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value: 440 x 174 x 50 mm / 1,65 kg
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- label: I/O PORTS
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value: UHF PAL TV port, Serial interface (RS232) port, Parallel Printer port (8 bit), Auxiliary interface port, RGB Monitor (and PERITEL TV) port, MIDI output port, Two Joystick ports, Audio Out/Cassette port, Second Disk Drive port, Expansion I/O port (full Z80 bus)
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- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
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value: |-
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3'' Hitachi Floppy Disk Drive, single sided (40 track, 9 sector, 512 bytes/sector), CP/M compatible structure\
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Volatile RAM Drive
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- label: OS
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value: +3DOS
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- label: POWER SUPPLY
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value: |-
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External PSU (5V @ 2A, +12V @ 700mA, -12V @ 50mA)\
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Same as Spectrum +2A/B PSU
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- label: PRICE
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value: £249 (UK, 1987)
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tabs:
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- photos
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- adverts
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- hardware
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- software
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- emulators
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- links
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- docs
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forum_thread: 232
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photos:
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- title: SPECTRUM +3
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/sinclair_zx-spectrum-p3_2.jpg
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- title: TOP VIEW
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/sinclair_zx-spectrum-p3_above.jpg
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- title: FDD CLOSE-UP
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subtitle: ''
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text: This is a 3'' disk-drive, just like the Amstrad CPC-664 and 6128.
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image: /media/museum/photos/sinclair_zx-spectrum-p3_disk_1.jpg
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- title: LEFT SIDE
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subtitle: ''
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text: There are two joystick plugs (Sinclair Interface 2 standard) and a reset button.
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image: /media/museum/photos/sinclair_zx-spectrum-p3_side-l.jpg
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- title: RIGHT SIDE
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/sinclair_zx-spectrum-p3_side-r.jpg
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- title: 'RIGHT SIDE #2'
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/sinclair_zx-spectrum-p3_side-r_2.jpg
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- title: REAR VIEW
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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From left to right :
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\- External disk B bus\
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\- Printer bus\
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\- PSU (DIN plug)\
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\- Expansion I/O bus\
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\- RS232/MIDI out socket\
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\- AUXiliary socket\
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\- Video RGB out (DIN plug) - RF TV out - Tape/Sound output
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image: /media/museum/photos/sinclair_zx-spectrum-p3_rear_1.jpg
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- title: SPECTRUM +3 AND CPC-6128
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subtitle: ''
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text: Here we have a Sinclair Spectrum +3 next to an Amstrad CPC-6128. They look quite similar (shape, 3'' disk-drive, 2 joystick plugs on their left side). They are obviously related !
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image: /media/museum/photos/sinclair_zx-spectrum-p3_cpc6128.jpg
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- title: 'INSIDE +3 #1'
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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An Amstrad hardware design in a Sinclair case
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**(1)** Sound output jack plug\
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**(2)** TV aerial UHF modulator\
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**(3)** RGB output DIN plug\
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**(4)** Quartz used to generate the internal clock frequency\
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**(5)** AY-8910 Sound generator chip (3 voices, 8 octaves, white noise)\
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**(6)** 2 x serial/Midi ports connectors\
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**(7)** System and Basic interpreter ROM chips\
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**(8)** Z80-A microprocessor (here a Mostec version)\
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**(9)** External power supply unit DIN connector\
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**(10)** ROM used by the F.D. controler chip (11)\
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**(11)** Z80 FCD. Floppy disk controler of the Z80 family chips\
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**(12)** Second 64 KB RAM bank (2 x 4464 chips)\
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**(13)** Amstrad gate array specialized circuit in charge of various I/O: Joysticks, video, printer, serial ports, keyboard...\
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**(14)** First 64 KB RAM bank\
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**(15)** Keyboard connectors\
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**(16)** Reset switch\
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**(17)** 2 x joystick connectors
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image: /media/museum/photos/sinclair_spectrum%2B3_inside_1.jpg
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- title: 'INSIDE +3 #2'
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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**(1)** Bus / Expansions connector\
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**(2)** Parallel printer connector\
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**(3)** "Issue 2 - Copyright Amstrad 1987"\
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**(4)** Second external F.D. unit connector (could be an Amstrad CPC unit)\
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**(5)** Internal 3" F.D. Drive
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image: /media/museum/photos/sinclair_spectrum%2B3_inside_2.jpg
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- title: 'BOX #1'
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/sinclair_zx-spectrum-p3_box_2.jpg
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- title: 'BOX #2'
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/sinclair_zx-spectrum-p3_box_1.jpg
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adverts:
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- title: UK ADVERT
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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November 1987
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Special Spectrum offers before christmas period. Packages including a Sinclair joystick and 6 games.
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Advert said:\
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The new Sinclair ZX Spectrum+3 is a real hero because it helps you to be one.\
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The fantastic 128K memory gives you the power to outsmart the most sophisticated ennemy...\
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...But the real hero is the person who buy it...
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image: /media/museum/pubs/sinclair_spectrumplus3_pub_1.jpg
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hardware:
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- title: PRINTER SOCKET
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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User's doc says :
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"The +3 may be used with any Centronics compatible parallel printer. You will require the AMSOFT PL-1 printer interconnecting lead unless you are using an Amstrad DMP range of printers (!).
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Although there are only 34 terminations at the +3's printer socket, the pins are numbered 1..17 and 19..35 (with 18 and 36 non-existent) for equivalence with the Centronics socket on the printer itself.
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A serial printer should be connected to the RS232/MIDI socket at the back of the +3."
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image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_zx-spectrum-p2_printer-socket_d.gif
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- title: DISK-B SOCKET
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subtitle: ''
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text: 'User''s doc says : "The AMSTRAD model FD-1 may be added to the +3 system as an additional disk drive. To connect the FD-1 to the +3, you will require the AMSOFT DL-2 disk interconnecting lead."'
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image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_zx-spectrum-p3_disk-b_d.jpg
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- title: RGB VIDEO OUT
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_zx-spectrum-p_video-rgb_d.jpg
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- title: JOYSTICKS SOCKETS
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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User's doc says :
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"*We recommand that you use the Sinclair SJS range of joysticks with the +3. Other types of joystick (eg. Atari) will not operate directly, as their connecting plugs are wired differently.*
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*There are two joysticks sockets at the left-hand side of the +3. In general, games use the JOYSTICK 1 socket.*
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*If a program offers you a choice of joystick types, then choose the INTERFACE 2 (or SINCLAIR) option, as the +3's joysticks circuitry is designed to work exactly like the INTERFACE 2.*"
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In fact, very quickly, Atari joysticks adapter leads were sold !
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image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_zx-spectrum-p_joysticks_d.jpg
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- title: TAPE / SOUND SOCKET
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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User's doc says :
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"*A sound signal is available from the TAPE/SOUND socket at the back of the +3. This is a 3.5mm jack socket producing 200mV pk-pk at approximatively 5 Kohms impedance.*
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*A point to note is that the level of sound produced by the BEEP command is set to be the same as that of all three channels of PLAY running at the same time. In practice, this means that BEEP will sound quite a lot louder than PLAY (which may cause problems if sound levels are critical).*"
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image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_zx-spectrum-p_tape-sound_d.jpg
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- title: RS232 SOCKET
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_zx-spectrum-p_rs232_d.jpg
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- title: TAPE LEAD
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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User documentation says :
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"Programs may be loaded from, or saved to tape instead of disk. To connect your cassette unit to the +3, you will require a suitable interconnecting lead, wired as above..."
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image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_zx-spectrum-p2_tape-sound_d.jpg
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- title: MIDI SOCKET
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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User's doc says:
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"*Although the +3's MIDI socket shares the same socket as the RS232, you will need a different lead for it. The lead should be connected into the "MIDI IN" socket on your synthesizer, drum machine, etc. There is no provision for the +3 to receive MIDI data - it can only act as a source. No setting up of the MIDI is necessary before use (except the inclusion of the Y parameter within the PLAY command to turn it on).*\
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*Using the MIDI interface will not disturb the RS232's baud rate setting.*"
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image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_zx-spectrum-p_midi_d.jpg
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- title: AUXILIARY INTERFACE
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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User's doc says :
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"*The AUX (auxiliary interface) socket supports two input lines (pins 3 and 5) and two output lines (pins 2 and 4). The I/O lines are driven by 1488 and 1489 line driver chips which are, in turn, connected to the I/O lines of the AY-3-8912 (see the manufacturer's data sheet for this device). Basically, register 16 of the AY-3-8912 controls eight I/O lines; the bits are designated as above.*
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*Using software control loops, the I/O lines could be driven as a second RS232 port (in the same way as the RS232/MIDI socket is driven using bits 2, 3, 6 and 7). Alternatively, the I/O lines could be used to drive, for example, a robot or some other external device.*"
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image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_zx-spectrum-p_aux_d.jpg
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- title: EXPANSION BUS
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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User's doc says :
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"*The +3 can connect to a very wide range of peripherals via the EXPANSION I/O socket at the back of the machine. Although this socket is much the same as on the old-style Spectrum 48k, there is no guarantee that a device which can run correctly on a Spectrum 48k will run on a +3. You should, therefore, before you purchase any expansion device or add-on, verify that it will work with the +3, and not just with a 48k Spectrum.*"
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image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_zx-spectrum-p_expansion_d.jpg
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- title: DISCOVERY SYSTEM
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subtitle: ''
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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.'
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image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_fddiscovery_1.jpg
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- title: INSIDE DISCOVERY
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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**(1)** Metallic case.\
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**(2)** Centronics parallel printer connector.\
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**(3)** Spectrum expansion connector.\
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**(4)** Discovery to Spectrum connector.\
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**(5)** EPROM memory chip holding drive management routines and OS commands.\
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**(6)** Sony 3.5'' disc drive. A double side, single density version.\
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**(7)** A strange location for the power transformer, under the disk drive and not protected against magnetic fields.\
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**(8)** This empty socket receives a 2 Kb. RAM chip when a second disc drive is installed.\
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**(9)** 6821 Circuit, in charge of disc drive control.\
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**(10)** Each disc drive uses an internal RAM area to avoid using Spectrum RAM.\
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**(11)** Atari standard joystick connector.
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image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_fddiscovery_ins.jpg
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- title: INSIDE WAFADRIVE
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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**(1)** The Wafadrive unit includes two specially designed cartridge drives.\
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**(2)** Each cartridge drive has its own motor and electronic control system.\
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**(3)** The Wafadrive offers three expansion ports. Unfortunately, they are not compatible with the Spectrum ones and need special cables.\
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**(4)** Centronics parallel printer connector.\
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**(5)** Spectrum expansion connector for additional peripherals.\
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**(6)** 8 Kb. EPROM holding operating system and Basic drives commands.\
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**(7)** The Wafadrive is connected to the Spectrum expansion port. It also uses the computer's power supply.\
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**(8)** Power Leds.
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image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_wafadrive_2.jpg
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- title: WAFADRIVE CARTRIDGE
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_wafadrive_3.jpg
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- title: CHEETAH JOYSTICK INTERFACE
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subtitle: ''
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text: Thanks to Peter James for the picture
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image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_cheetahjoyinterf_1.jpg
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- title: KEMPSTON JOYSTICK INTERFACE
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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Peter says:\
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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
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Thanks to Peter James for the picture
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image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_kempstonjoyinterf_1.jpg
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- title: DK'TRONICS SPEECH SYNTHESIZER
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_zx-spectrum_dktronics-speech_synth_1.jpg
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- title: MAGECO MONITOR
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subtitle: ''
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text: It cost 75fr in january 85 (France).
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image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_dessas.jpg
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- title: VTR VOCAL SYNTHESIZER
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subtitle: ''
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text: 470fr (France, january 85)
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image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_vocal.jpg
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- title: CURRAH SPEECH
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subtitle: Vocal synthesizer
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text: Just type on the keys and the Spectrum "speaks" with two tones, high and low. There is also a sofware support.
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image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_vocal2.jpg
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- title: CHEETAH SPECDRUM
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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About the Specdrum, Peter says:\
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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!!
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Price: About £30 around 85-86
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Thanks to Peter James for the picture
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image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_specdrum_1.jpg
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- title: ALPHACOM 32
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subtitle: ''
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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).'
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image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_alphacom.jpg
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- title: FLOYD 40
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subtitle: ''
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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.'
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image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_floyd40_1.jpg
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- title: ZX-81 THERMAL PRINTER
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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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.
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This tiny thermal printer can also be used with the ZX-Spectrum.
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image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_zx81_printer.jpg
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- title: ZX THERMAL PRINTER
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subtitle: Box
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_zx81_zx-printer_box_1.jpg
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- title: ZX INTERFACE 1
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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This interface offers an RS232 connector, a Microdrive connector and a network socket to connect up to 64 Spectrums !
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This marvel cost 895fr in june 84 (France).
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image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_intrfc1.jpg
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- title: MICRODRIVES
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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Sinclair Microdrives for use with the ZX Interface 1. Up to 8 microdrives can be connected.
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Micro-tape Capacity: 80k\
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Speed: 5k/s\
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Average access time: 3,5s\
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Integrated power supply (through computer)\
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Micro-tape price: 79fr
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940fr (June 84)
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image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_microdrive.jpg
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- title: INSIDE A MICRODRIVE
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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**(1)** Tape driving roller.\
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**(2)** Read/write magnetic head, basically the same as a standard tape recorder.\
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**(3)** Read/write protection switch.\
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**(4)** Cartridge housing.\
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**(5)** Power led.\
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**(6)** Extension connector allowing up to 8 microdrives to be serial connected.
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image: /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_spectrum_insidemdv_1.jpg
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- title: INSIDE A MICRODRIVE CARTRIDGE
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subtitle: ''
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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.
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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
|
||
screenshots:
|
||
- title: SPECTRUM +3
|
||
subtitle: Boot-screen
|
||
text: |-
|
||
The Spectrum +3 introduces a new boot-up menu as the ROM as been re-written by Amstrad. Notice that the drives available are listed at the bottom of the screen (A: and B: for disk-drives, and M: for virtual RAM disk) :
|
||
|
||
\- LOADER to directly load a tape without typing any Basic instructions\
|
||
\- +3 BASIC is the BASIC 128 with +3DOS integrated\
|
||
\- CALCULATOR acts as a classic calculator mode\
|
||
\- 48 BASIC is the old Spectrum Basic left here for compatibility
|
||
image: /media/museum/software/sinclair_spectrum-p3_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.jump.org/warajevo/
|
||
platform: Windows
|
||
text: an excellent bosnian emulator for PC compatibles by Zeljko Juric (DOS)
|
||
- title: X128
|
||
url: http://www.void.jump.org/x128/
|
||
platform: Windows
|
||
text: Spectrum 48 / 128 / +2 / +3 Emulator
|
||
- 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: 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: 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: 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 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/)
|
||
related:
|
||
- /museum/czerweny-cz-2000
|
||
- /museum/czerweny-spectrum
|
||
- /museum/czerweny-spectrum-plus
|
||
- /museum/elwro-800-junior
|
||
- /museum/sinclair-zx-spectrum
|
||
- /museum/sinclair-zx-spectrum-128
|
||
- /museum/sinclair-zx-spectrum-2
|
||
- /museum/sinclair-zx-spectrum-480
|
||
oc_id: 222
|
||
source:
|
||
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230522171923/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=222
|
||
date: '2023-05-22'
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
The Sinclair Spectrum +3 is the successor of the [Spectrum +2](/museum/nano-sks-2500/), marketed one year earlier.
|
||
|
||
Just like the Spectrum+2 is a mix between the [Spectrum 128](/museum/sinclair-zx-spectrum-128/) and the [Amstrad CPC-464](/museum/amstrad-cpc-464/), the Spectrum +3 is a mix between the Spectrum 128 and the [Amstrad CPC-6128](/museum/amstrad-cpc-6128/). Indeed it has 3’’ disk-drive built-in the right-hand side of the case and a « real » full-stroke keyboard, just like the CPC-6128.
|
||
|
||
After the launch of the first Amstrad « Sinclair computer », the Spectrum +2, they redesigned the motherboard and the content of the ROMs to produce the Spectrum +2A/B and +3. They also made some internal changes on the bus and removed the keypad scanning routines of the Spectrum 128 and +2 (remember the keypad sold with the [Spanish Spectrum 128k](/museum/sinclair-zx-spectrum-128/)).
|
||
|
||
As on the Spectrum +2, two BASIC versions are implemented : the 48k BASIC to remain compatible with the original [Sinclair Spectrum](/museum/sinclair-zx-spectrum/), and the 128k BASIC which was already introduced with the Spectrum 128.
|
||
|
||
As with the others 128k models, and due to the limitations of the Z80 CPU which can only address 65536 bytes, the 128kb RAM is not directly usable (unless with bank-switching routines), but can be used as a RAM disk (drive M :).
|
||
|
||
So, the big change is the built-in 3’’ disk drive, exactly the same as the CPC-6128’s drive. The operating system is called +3DOS and was developed by Locomotive Software Ltd who also conceived the CPC Basics and OS. So, of course, the +3DOS is very close to the CPCs disk operating system. The Amstrad FD-1 external drive can even be used with the Spectrum +3 as a second disk drive by connecting it directly to "DISK B PORT" at the back of the system.
|
||
|
||
The Spectrum +3 is considered the ultimate Spectrum model, gathering all the good points of the previous spectrum machines : 128k, convenient full-stroke keyboard, 3’’ built-in disk drive, 128k Basic, RAM disk, many interfaces... But sadly it was launched too late, at a time where the ST and the Amiga were already fighting on the shelves. It was the last official Sinclair Spectrum model ever made. The **+2A** and **+2B** models vere launched a little later, but were just a revision of the +2 model already marketed.
|