Hardware Restoration and Troubleshooting
James Martin shared his experience reviving a Timex Sinclair 2068 after 37 years in storage. He’s using a 14-inch monitor with built-in VCR for the authentic vintage setup. The main issue he’s facing is missing pixels on certain letters when running basic commands like PRINT. The group suspects it’s likely a hardware problem, possibly stuck bits in RAM causing partial data corruption. Despite trying various troubleshooting steps including soft resets, the problem persists. Several members offered to help with spare parts from their collection of broken units.
Cassette Players and Accessories
The discussion turned to finding reliable cassette players for the TS2068. Members shared experiences with various models including the Timex 2020 and General Electric variants, noting that prices have climbed to $40-50 these days. There was an interesting story about how Timex originally chose their cassette player – apparently it came down to a casual recommendation from a Radio Shack employee who suggested the Realistic Minisette-9.
The group also helped decode some green-labeled commands on a ZXpand keyboard overlay (like CONFIG and CAT), explaining how the ZXpand modifies ROM behavior and changes how certain keys function.
TS2060 Project Update
Jeff Burrell provided an update on the TS2060 project, which aims to modernize the TS2068 with contemporary features. The board includes memory expansion, joystick inputs, VGA output, dual sound chips, Wi-Fi, USB keyboard support, SD card storage, and a real-time clock. He demonstrated the system booting into a special ROM and running game cartridge files. The project is still in development, with Ricardo contributing to firmware work.
There was also discussion about the 2068’s unique “bright black” color that doesn’t exist on the original Spectrum, and how the PicoVideo firmware could be adjusted to disable it for more authentic color reproduction.
VCF Midwest 2025 Planning
Much of the meeting focused on coordinating for the upcoming Vintage Computer Festival in Chicago this September. Several members have registered for tables to create a dedicated Timex Sinclair section. They discussed logistics like table arrangements, load-in procedures, and parking at the venue (which is undergoing construction with a new entertainment complex).
Technical Discussions
Phil Barry brought up the Sinclair QL and its CP/M capabilities, leading to conversations about the QL’s 68008 processor and various expansion cards. Members also shared memories of wafer drive storage systems used with Spectrum and 2068 computers.
David Anderson shared an interesting find – property maintenance databases from the 1980s created by community member Willie Jones, containing detailed repair records that provide insight into practical business applications of these early computers.
Ongoing Projects
Jeffrey Kuhlmann described his work on a cartridge-based BASIC interpreter that interfaces with a custom five-key joystick keyboard inspired by telegraph keyboards. The project involves Z80 assembly programming and uses tools like Z88DK and DOSBox for development. He’s interested in collaborating with others on software refinement and cartridge burning processes.