thealteredemu Posted June 22, 2024 Report Share Posted June 22, 2024 Forgot I ordered this, has taken a few months to be delivered. I just wanted an all in one with screen, it’s pretty nice, not perfect, key response isn’t as good as I’d want, though I could fit my own membrane, I’ll see how it goes. The device came with an SD installed and was surprised to see it has a huge amount of legit games already on there, nice surprise Anyone else got one of these nifty units? J 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thealteredemu Posted June 22, 2024 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2024 Was surprised to see it also had HDMI out which will prove super handy, built in joystick ports etc. I mainly got this unit as my missus likes the old skool adventure games and via emulation often prove a pain without a spectrum keyboard. J 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnparker007 Posted June 22, 2024 Report Share Posted June 22, 2024 1 hour ago, thealteredemu said: Was surprised to see it also had HDMI out which will prove super handy, built in joystick ports etc. I mainly got this unit as my missus likes the old skool adventure games and via emulation often prove a pain without a spectrum keyboard. J Nice all in one unit! I liked Valkyrie 17 as an adventure game for the Speccy [ Arcade Simulator ] Pre-alpha installer: https://tinyurl.com/2kcrkprh | Donation info: https://tinyurl.com/yzvgl4xo [ Community Drive ] The drive: http://tinyurl.com/yckze665 [ Fruit Machine Database ] Initial google sheets (WIP): https://tinyurl.com/2c5znxzz [ Fruit Machine ROM Archive ] The archive: https://tinyurl.com/3jhzbueb [ Fruit Machine Settings/Tests Guide ] https://tinyurl.com/yuebw8b5 [ MAME (fixes/improvements) ] Commits: https://github.com/johnparker007/mame/commits/master/?author=johnparker007 [ MFME Launch ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/MFMELaunch [ Oasis ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/Oasis [ Sound ROM Editor ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/SoundRomEditor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Posted June 22, 2024 Report Share Posted June 22, 2024 Want one NOW Seriously though, how is it to use? You mention the key response being an issue - how does it compare to an original machine? Wondering if it is worth adding to my collection of Sinclair hardware and Spectrum programming books. More importantly - can it cope with playing my version of Spectrum Pong - written several years ago when I had a bit more time on my hands S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thealteredemu Posted June 22, 2024 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2024 Ooh, could you upload it I’ll give it a go. I’m sure it will handle it. I think it’s built on the Omni128 board, I haven’t taken a look inside. It has dip settings at one side which I assume it mode select, 128k roms etc. I tried to run some 128k demos but I believe it’s in 48k mode. Going to have a good go over the weekend and see what’s what @johnparker007 Never played Valkyrie 17, will have to check it out J 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thealteredemu Posted June 22, 2024 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2024 I ordered mine from a company called Retroradionics. It worked out being fairly cheap. $236 including shipping. Very well packaged, I did have to fit the screen but it is super simple just 4 screws, uses existing ones from base of case J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thealteredemu Posted June 22, 2024 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2024 Theres also a turbo button at one side, it was already pressed in and I couldn’t understand why games where super fast lol. Do I read instructions…. No I don’t J 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
logopolis Posted June 22, 2024 Report Share Posted June 22, 2024 9 hours ago, thealteredemu said: Was surprised to see it also had HDMI out which will prove super handy, built in joystick ports etc. I mainly got this unit as my missus likes the old skool adventure games and via emulation often prove a pain without a spectrum keyboard. J The Hobbit was a game I spent hours playing as a kid. Another interesting adventure game was Jewels Of Babylon. Then there was Lords Of Time where you had to travel inside that grandfather clock! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jabbathehut Posted June 22, 2024 Report Share Posted June 22, 2024 Looks cool but is it an emulated spectrum or an actual spectrum with just some modern bells and whistles added on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnparker007 Posted June 22, 2024 Report Share Posted June 22, 2024 4 hours ago, thealteredemu said: Theres also a turbo button at one side, it was already pressed in and I couldn’t understand why games where super fast lol. Do I read instructions…. No I don’t J Nice, sounds like it has a turbo function like the Next! Would recommend running Stunt Car Racer and some of those very early 3d games like Driller, there was a bunch on that Freescape engine - they are all much improved with an overclocked Speccy [ Arcade Simulator ] Pre-alpha installer: https://tinyurl.com/2kcrkprh | Donation info: https://tinyurl.com/yzvgl4xo [ Community Drive ] The drive: http://tinyurl.com/yckze665 [ Fruit Machine Database ] Initial google sheets (WIP): https://tinyurl.com/2c5znxzz [ Fruit Machine ROM Archive ] The archive: https://tinyurl.com/3jhzbueb [ Fruit Machine Settings/Tests Guide ] https://tinyurl.com/yuebw8b5 [ MAME (fixes/improvements) ] Commits: https://github.com/johnparker007/mame/commits/master/?author=johnparker007 [ MFME Launch ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/MFMELaunch [ Oasis ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/Oasis [ Sound ROM Editor ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/SoundRomEditor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnparker007 Posted June 22, 2024 Report Share Posted June 22, 2024 6 minutes ago, jabbathehut said: Looks cool but is it an emulated spectrum or an actual spectrum with just some modern bells and whistles added on. I believe it's based on the Harlequin arch, so a real Speccy, not an emulator. But with modern conveniences built into the new design https://github.com/DonSuperfo/Superfo-Harlequin-128 [ Arcade Simulator ] Pre-alpha installer: https://tinyurl.com/2kcrkprh | Donation info: https://tinyurl.com/yzvgl4xo [ Community Drive ] The drive: http://tinyurl.com/yckze665 [ Fruit Machine Database ] Initial google sheets (WIP): https://tinyurl.com/2c5znxzz [ Fruit Machine ROM Archive ] The archive: https://tinyurl.com/3jhzbueb [ Fruit Machine Settings/Tests Guide ] https://tinyurl.com/yuebw8b5 [ MAME (fixes/improvements) ] Commits: https://github.com/johnparker007/mame/commits/master/?author=johnparker007 [ MFME Launch ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/MFMELaunch [ Oasis ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/Oasis [ Sound ROM Editor ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/SoundRomEditor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jabbathehut Posted June 23, 2024 Report Share Posted June 23, 2024 Thanks. I am tempted but i know i will probably use it one or twice and then it would gather dust. Does anyone know if this website is still alive. It hasn't been updated for ages but there are still links to click on it to buy. https://recreatedzxspectrum.com/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thealteredemu Posted June 23, 2024 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2024 Yeah spot JP. There is an HDMI port but it’s not active, maybe a future option. Still I literally only want it as a stand alone thing the attached screen is decent to be fair J 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thealteredemu Posted June 23, 2024 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2024 2 minutes ago, jabbathehut said: Thanks. I am tempted but i know i will probably use it one or twice and then it would gather dust. Does anyone know if this website is still alive. It hasn't been updated for ages but there are still links to click on it to buy. https://recreatedzxspectrum.com Think they still have stock at Retroradionics. I just checked I ordered mine April 15, so around 8 week turnaround, they are built to order I believe. I tried UK based places but was told they couldn’t get them, I took a punt with these guys in the end, glad I did. I did contact a guy I’ve purchased from in the past ZX Renew, he said he’s find out but never got back to me, I suspect he also gets them from where I purchased from. J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thealteredemu Posted June 23, 2024 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2024 https://retroradionics.com J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jabbathehut Posted June 23, 2024 Report Share Posted June 23, 2024 Thanks its a different device its a bluetooth spectrum keyboard.A cheaper option but potentially achieves the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thealteredemu Posted June 23, 2024 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2024 They have repro Toastrack cases coming soon after fundraising, they look awesome, I will be getting one for sure, such an iconic case with the heatsink J 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnparker007 Posted June 23, 2024 Report Share Posted June 23, 2024 34 minutes ago, jabbathehut said: Thanks its a different device its a bluetooth spectrum keyboard.A cheaper option but potentially achieves the same. This bluetooth keyboard project was by Steve Wilcox (Elite) - I'm normally a fan of software folks from the Speccy era, but he ripped me off £5k for R-Type mobile ports back in the day And probs some royalties too - so not a fan lol I also believe there is input latency with the bluetooth anyway (with some Speccy games needing precise 'pixel perfect' input), though to be fair I've read it's a pretty good physical copy of the original on a cosmetic level. Though for just an accurate collector piece you'd be better trying to source a clean original 48k unit. [ Arcade Simulator ] Pre-alpha installer: https://tinyurl.com/2kcrkprh | Donation info: https://tinyurl.com/yzvgl4xo [ Community Drive ] The drive: http://tinyurl.com/yckze665 [ Fruit Machine Database ] Initial google sheets (WIP): https://tinyurl.com/2c5znxzz [ Fruit Machine ROM Archive ] The archive: https://tinyurl.com/3jhzbueb [ Fruit Machine Settings/Tests Guide ] https://tinyurl.com/yuebw8b5 [ MAME (fixes/improvements) ] Commits: https://github.com/johnparker007/mame/commits/master/?author=johnparker007 [ MFME Launch ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/MFMELaunch [ Oasis ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/Oasis [ Sound ROM Editor ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/SoundRomEditor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnparker007 Posted June 23, 2024 Report Share Posted June 23, 2024 42 minutes ago, thealteredemu said: They have repro Toastrack cases coming soon after fundraising, they look awesome, I will be getting one for sure, such an iconic case with the heatsink J A Harlequin in a new build toastrack case, now that is nice I still have my toastie I bought a few years back [ Arcade Simulator ] Pre-alpha installer: https://tinyurl.com/2kcrkprh | Donation info: https://tinyurl.com/yzvgl4xo [ Community Drive ] The drive: http://tinyurl.com/yckze665 [ Fruit Machine Database ] Initial google sheets (WIP): https://tinyurl.com/2c5znxzz [ Fruit Machine ROM Archive ] The archive: https://tinyurl.com/3jhzbueb [ Fruit Machine Settings/Tests Guide ] https://tinyurl.com/yuebw8b5 [ MAME (fixes/improvements) ] Commits: https://github.com/johnparker007/mame/commits/master/?author=johnparker007 [ MFME Launch ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/MFMELaunch [ Oasis ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/Oasis [ Sound ROM Editor ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/SoundRomEditor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jabbathehut Posted June 23, 2024 Report Share Posted June 23, 2024 27 minutes ago, johnparker007 said: This bluetooth keyboard project was by Steve Wilcox (Elite) - I'm normally a fan of software folks from the Speccy era, but he ripped me off £5k for R-Type mobile ports back in the day And probs some royalties too - so not a fan lol I also believe there is input latency with the bluetooth anyway (with some Speccy games needing precise 'pixel perfect' input), though to be fair I've read it's a pretty good physical copy of the original on a cosmetic level. Though for just an accurate collector piece you'd be better trying to source a clean original 48k unit. i actually have an original zx spectrum unit but how to connect it up to a laptop screen or standalone screen doesn't seem too cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dondplayer Posted June 23, 2024 Report Share Posted June 23, 2024 3 hours ago, jabbathehut said: i actually have an original zx spectrum unit but how to connect it up to a laptop screen or standalone screen doesn't seem too cheap. You can bypass the RF modulator and then you have a composite video signal. Back in the 80s I used to feed the composite video signal into a video recorder AV input along with the sound out the tape recorder socket and thus have the sound actually coming out the TV. 1 Your box will be CASHPOT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnparker007 Posted June 23, 2024 Report Share Posted June 23, 2024 3 hours ago, dondplayer said: You can bypass the RF modulator and then you have a composite video signal. Back in the 80s I used to feed the composite video signal into a video recorder AV input along with the sound out the tape recorder socket and thus have the sound actually coming out the TV. This is the way 1 [ Arcade Simulator ] Pre-alpha installer: https://tinyurl.com/2kcrkprh | Donation info: https://tinyurl.com/yzvgl4xo [ Community Drive ] The drive: http://tinyurl.com/yckze665 [ Fruit Machine Database ] Initial google sheets (WIP): https://tinyurl.com/2c5znxzz [ Fruit Machine ROM Archive ] The archive: https://tinyurl.com/3jhzbueb [ Fruit Machine Settings/Tests Guide ] https://tinyurl.com/yuebw8b5 [ MAME (fixes/improvements) ] Commits: https://github.com/johnparker007/mame/commits/master/?author=johnparker007 [ MFME Launch ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/MFMELaunch [ Oasis ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/Oasis [ Sound ROM Editor ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/SoundRomEditor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dondplayer Posted June 23, 2024 Report Share Posted June 23, 2024 Woaah that definitely is NOT the way I never even took the cap off the RF box, I just soldered a new wire to the video line on the outside (OK that was fiddly) and used a new output socket. Therefore you could choose to have composite or RF as you liked. There was some butchering though as I made a hole in the plastic (using the soldering iron lol) to add the new socket Your box will be CASHPOT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnparker007 Posted June 23, 2024 Report Share Posted June 23, 2024 1 hour ago, dondplayer said: Woaah that definitely is NOT the way I never even took the cap off the RF box, I just soldered a new wire to the video line on the outside (OK that was fiddly) and used a new output socket. Therefore you could choose to have composite or RF as you liked. There was some butchering though as I made a hole in the plastic (using the soldering iron lol) to add the new socket Haha I wasn't fussed about preserving the RF since it looks kinda dreadful... this also allows the RF to become the composite socket so you don't need to make the hole in the case 1 [ Arcade Simulator ] Pre-alpha installer: https://tinyurl.com/2kcrkprh | Donation info: https://tinyurl.com/yzvgl4xo [ Community Drive ] The drive: http://tinyurl.com/yckze665 [ Fruit Machine Database ] Initial google sheets (WIP): https://tinyurl.com/2c5znxzz [ Fruit Machine ROM Archive ] The archive: https://tinyurl.com/3jhzbueb [ Fruit Machine Settings/Tests Guide ] https://tinyurl.com/yuebw8b5 [ MAME (fixes/improvements) ] Commits: https://github.com/johnparker007/mame/commits/master/?author=johnparker007 [ MFME Launch ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/MFMELaunch [ Oasis ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/Oasis [ Sound ROM Editor ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/SoundRomEditor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thealteredemu Posted June 23, 2024 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2024 Yeah done a fair amount of those RF to comp mods. Wage RF is pretty bad, it’s easy to reverse if you wanted it back, I just disconnected the RF gubbins, some people remove the inners completely. I got rid of my Toastrack, is was mint but a local guy offered me a silly price that I couldn’t refuse I miss it though but a repro will look as decent I reckon. Who doesn’t love the Toastrack, I mean the Amstrad grey +2 is a decent machine but it just isn’t very iconic looking, I still have a little love for the +3 mind. Loved the disk version I had an Opus discovery for a while, that was nice if not a little chunky. J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts