If you were like most Timex/Sinclair 2068 users, you probably wondered if there was going to be life after the departure of Timex from the computer market. Although the picture looked rather bleak, there was still a ray of hope. Sinclair Research in Great Britain was stronger than ever, and their 48k ZX Spectrum had taken the number one spot in total sales (in England). Software and hardware support are short of amazing for this computer. The Timex/Sinclair 2068 is basically a Spectrum with a few additions like a programmable three channel sound chip, joystick ports, and memory bank switching. What Timex engineers also slightly changed was the ROM operating system. For this reason, most Spectrum software programs will not run on a TS 2068.
Doug Dewey, one of the founders of the successful Triangle Sinclair User Group in Carrboro, North Carolina, first pioneered a way to make the Spectrum software (and hardware) compatible with the TS 2068. He solicited the aide of the Timex Corp., who had plans for a Spectrum “emulator”, called the “Chameleon”. Using the Timex plans for reference, Doug Dewey successfully constructed an emulator that plugged into the cartridge port of the TS 2068. Dewey’s EMU-1 Spectrum Emulator sells for $60 (includes postage), and is basically a small bare circuit board with an EPROM that is programmed to imitate the Spectrum ROM operating system. For further information (and/or ordering), write to: Doug Dewey, 206 James St., Carrboro, N.C., 27510. We have contacted Mr. Dewey, and he is going to supply us with an EMU-1 for a review in this magazine, hopefully for our next issue. He also gave plans for a new board that he is developing that will allow a user to use both the Spectrum ROM and programmable EPROMS with a switch between the two systems.
Other enterprising individuals have also developed Spectrum ROM conversion kits for the TS 2068. Perhaps the most bare bones approach, is simply opening up the TS 2068 and directly swapping the TS 2068 ROM chip with a Spectrum ROM. Several suppliers carry the series three Spectrum ROMs, including: Pheonix Enterprises, Foote Software, E. McGhee, and the Long Island Sinclair Timex Group (Centerport, NY). Prices vary from $20 to $30. Another approach is Russell Electronic‘s “Romswitch“, that is reviewed in this issue. There is also some construction plans for a small board that fits inside the TS 2068 and includes a switch to activate the Spectrum ROM. It is available in the form of a reprinted article from Sinclair/Timex Users Magazine. For information, send legal size S.A.S.E. to: SUM, c/o 3224 NW 30th Ave., Gainesville, FL, 32605.
Available now to TS 2068 users is a huge inventory of software titles (over 5,000 strong), that are from Great Britain, where programmers have been busy at work since 1982, when the first ZX Spectrum hit the streets. Most of the programs are quite superb. Everything rom very useful business programs, to visually exciting arcade games, and some tasty utility programs also. Not only can you order them direct by mail from overseas, but many U.S. TS retailers are stocking up on Spectrum titles. As far as hardware add-ons go, this is still being explored. There are many fine peripherals for the Spectrum such as the Sinclair Micro-Drives, 80 column printers, voice boxes, and light pens. The question is just how many of these items will work directly with the TS 2068 (with Spectrum ROM), without modification. It should also be pointed out that a very small percentage of Spectrum software will not run on a modified TS 2068 for some underlying technical reasons. We will be discussing this topic further, along with a listing of compatible and non-compatible software, in future issues of Time Designs Magazine.
“TS 2068/Spectrum-Wares” will be a regular feature now in these pages. We feel that the TS 2068 has had a sort of “re-birth”, and has returned back to its roots, with an operating system originally developed by its parent company… Sinclair. We will keep you up-date with software and hardware reviews, and any news of interest in this area.