In the late 1970s, computer hobbyists in Chicago set up the first public-access computerized bulletin board system (BBS). Inspired by physical bulletin boards in grocery stores and other public locations, bulletin board systems offered computer enthusiasts a way to communicate directly outside of user group meetings. Many BBSes provided an private user-to-user email system, open […]
Bulletin Board Systems Read More »
What Was CP/M? CP/M was a command-line disk operating system, initially developed for Intel 8080-based home and small business computers. Gary Kildall, who developed it, brought features and tools he’d used on mainframes and minicomputers to small computers with CP/M. CP/M offered a universal, consistent interface to between the hardware, operating system and software. Instead
CP/M for the Timex Sinclair 2068 Read More »
Two power supplies in the TS 2068 provide the 5 volts necessary for the computer’s CPU, ROM, RAM, SCLD, logic chips, and 12 volts for the video modulator. The primary power supply uses the LM78S40 switching voltage regulator to produce 5 volts. This voltage regulator has an op amp that drives the internal speaker. The
Upgrading the Power in Your Timex/Sinclair 2068 Read More »
This week I began reading and using “Timex Sinclair Color Graphics” by Nick Hampshire. I mentioned this book in my first blog entry. As a reminder, you can find a description and a pdf of the book here. As far as I can tell, all of these BASIC programs are available in the original version of the
Overview: Timex Sinclair Color Graphics, Chapter 1: “Colour Plotting” Read More »
I have not always been a fan of the Timex/Sinclair 2068 computer. Maybe this isn’t the best way to begin my first blog entry on David Anderson’s TimexSinclair.com website. Yet, that first sentence does show a bit of hope, don’t you agree? I haven’t always been an admirer of this relatively rare home computer from the
Timex Sinclair Color Graphics Read More »
In 2021, Neil Cohen sent a few TS 2068 computers in various states of repair. One computer had a home-brew RGB converter built inside and around the composite video output jack. Here’s what it looked like when I opened the case. I extracted the board, disconnected it and traced the circuit as best I could.
An RGB Converter for the TS 2068 in the Wild Read More »
In late 1983, an employee at an energy company submitted a request for improved performance maps for a gas compressor. The employee felt that the existing maps were inaccurate and prevented him from doing his job correctly. Keith Watson, a shift supervisor at the time, saw an opportunity to use his Timex/Sinclair 2068 to generate
Plotting Compressor Performance with the T/S 2068 Read More »
by George Green It’s been 39 years since I wrote the adventure game “The Trident” and submitted it to Timex for inclusion in their software collection. Back then, I had played all of the Adventure International games by Scott Adams, Zork, the Original (Colossal Cave) Adventure with all its various enhancements, to name just a
“The Trident” Adventure Game for the Timex 1000 Read More »
Without Clive Sinclair’s vision, none of this would exist. I am deeply in debt to his intellect, vision and inventions. Home computing pioneer Sir Clive Sinclair dies aged 81
RIP Sir Clive Sinclair, 1940-2021 Read More »
Daniel Roy’s interest in computers started in high school, where he encountered his first computer. It had a video camera attached to it and he had his photo taken. It was enough to get him hooked. Years later, he received a Sinclair ZX81 as a Christmas gift from his wife. Working late into the evenings,
Designing a Video Interface with No Prior Experience Read More »
Timex had several companies to work with in 1983 when they designed the replacement for the Spectrum ULA in the Timex Sinclair 2068. We know that Timex eventually selected NCR to make the SCLD in the 2068 that replaced the ZX Spectrum’s ULA. According to Rex Naden, VLSI Technology actively encouraged Timex to consider their
VLSI Technology SCLD Engineering Samples Read More »
