› ›

What kind of joystick?

treneirotreneiro
edited December 2010 in Hardware
Hi,
I've just bought ZX Spectrum +2 (grey), my first. Near the joystick socket is caption "USE ONLY SINCLAIR JOYSTICK .....". Socket is standard DB9. Can I connect to speccy ordinary Atari or Commodore SV QuickJoy, etc. ?
Second question: I loaded Knight of Lore. After screen of choice (keyboard, joystick, 1 player, 2 player....) I press O - start game - and game crash. Black or blue screen (I don't remember what colour is). Is +2 not fully compatible with zx spectrum/+ ? Maybe my +2 not fully efficient?
Sorry for my english.
best regards
Post edited by treneiro on

Comments

  • gtsamourgtsamour
    edited December 2010
    No you can't use an Atari compatible joystick on the +2 grey's port unless you get (or make) an adapter.

    Even then, in games you should have to select "Sinclair joystick" if available OR "redefine keys" and move the joystick to all positions to make the selections.

    In my opinion its beter to get a Kempston joystick interface and use any atari compatible stick with it.

    As for your second question, I dont know.... but i would expect from the grey to be compatible with 48k games.
  • Alien 8Alien 8
    edited December 2010
    Were you in 48K basic to load Knight Lore? It works on my +3 in 48K Basic, which, actually, I was quite surprised to discover.
  • treneirotreneiro
    edited December 2010
    No, I've only tried that in normal "Tape loader".
    Thank you, I'll try again. :smile:
  • Alien 8Alien 8
    edited December 2010
    treneiro wrote: »
    No, I've only tried that in normal "Tape loader".
    Thank you, I'll try again. :smile:

    I think you'll find it might work. Let us know how you get on. :)
  • treneirotreneiro
    edited December 2010
    :smile:
    I'm at work now. But today evening spectrum play will starts again ... :smile:
  • Alien 8Alien 8
    edited December 2010
    No problem. As for the joystick, personally I would use the built in Amstrad interface. All you need to do is get an adapter, or a joystick with both plugs attached. RWAP Software do the adapter. If you are any good at soldering apparently it is possible to adapt the socket on your +2 so that a normal atari joystick will work. I read somewhere here recently that pin 9 and pin 5 are swapped or something similar. Personally I'm not that keen on things that plug into the edge connector. I'ts quite a useful tool, but it is also rather an achilles heel for the spectrum. All it takes is to forget to switch the spectrum off before plugging or unplugging the Spectrum, and your Spectrum will be dead. Using the built in joystick sockets, this can't happen.
  • treneirotreneiro
    edited December 2010
    I can to work with soldering tools. I'm looking for scheme/diagram for SJS-1 interface now. Dear "specmen" - help me, please ! :D
  • Alien 8Alien 8
    edited December 2010
    treneiro wrote: »
    I can to work with soldering tools. I'm looking for scheme/diagram for SJS-1 interface now. Dear "specmen" - help me, please ! :D

    Have a look here:

    ftp://ftp.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/magazines/SinclairUser/Issue056/Pages/SinclairUser05600103.jpg
  • treneirotreneiro
    edited December 2010
    GREAT!
    And what you think about the realization of this scheme inside of +2? Real problem is to get the D9 connectors, specially male.
    Thank you very much.
  • spiderspider
    edited December 2010
    Your local electronics shop should have plugs / sockets ? :)

    "9 pin D-Sub" is what they are sometimes called. You will need plug / socket and 'hood' / cover.

    If you are not sure if you take a existing joystick in and ask for plug / socket they should be able to help. :)
    Please visit the JetSet Willy & Manic Miner Community
  • Alien 8Alien 8
    edited December 2010
    treneiro wrote: »
    GREAT!
    And what you think about the realization of this scheme inside of +2? Real problem is to get the D9 connectors, specially male.
    Thank you very much.

    Glad it can help you. I'm not sure if this could be done inside the machine or not. I've not tried making the cable myself, I'm not much good with a soldering iron. Th ewebsite that I got the link from seemed to suggest it could be done internally, but the actual instructions seems to suggest it's a sort of adapter. Either way, it should do the job.
  • spiderspider
    edited December 2010
    I think its possible as an internal mod, although you would have to either cut tracks ( ! ) or desolder the existing socket and remount it again having attached a lot of wires to 'fix' it :-?
    Please visit the JetSet Willy & Manic Miner Community
  • RetroTechieRetroTechie
    edited December 2010
    spider wrote: »
    I think its possible as an internal mod, although you would have to either cut tracks ( ! )
    In general you'd want to avoid cutting motherboard tracks, but I think this is one case where it's warranted - it's a pretty elegant fix for this problem. Track cuts might be preferred over cutting connector pins, because the solder points help to provide mechanical strength to the connector (pins).

    If you go this route I suggest you clearly mark it on the outside, so that other users / future owners of the machine know it's been modded to Atari-style pinout, and don't make the mistake of plugging a joystick converter in that machine. :oops:
  • treneirotreneiro
    edited December 2010
    I think I make this mod outside the speccy. I must to visit my friendly electronic shop to buy proper connectors.
    Alien 8
    Knight Lore runs good from BASIC 48. :) thanks

    I make plans to make RGB-SCART cable to my new Spectrum +2. I found few diagrams, but they're not the same. Please show me proper one for +2 (grey).
    best regards
  • Alien 8Alien 8
    edited December 2010
    treneiro wrote: »
    I think I make this mod outside the speccy. I must to visit my friendly electronic shop to buy proper connectors.
    Alien 8
    Knight Lore runs good from BASIC 48. :) thanks

    I make plans to make RGB-SCART cable to my new Spectrum +2. I found few diagrams, but they're not the same. Please show me proper one for +2 (grey).
    best regards

    I think making it outside the Spectrum is probably better.

    Glad Knight Lore worked well. You should also find that Alien 8 works the same way.

    As for SCART leads, I cheated and bought my +3 Scart lead ready made form Data Serve Retro. It is very good. I understand there are a few differences between the exact type of lead for which machine. Not sure about the +2 grey. If I get a chance, I'll do some digging and see what I can find.
  • treneirotreneiro
    edited December 2010
    I think I found proper scheme for my +2:
    http://www.fruitcake.plus.com/Sinclair/Spectrum128/SCARTCable/Spectrum128SCARTCablePlus2.htm
    I have another question. I can load program in, for egz. tzx format from my pc sound card to Spectrum/Spectrum+. Is it possible with +2 ? (socket "sound" is present, but not work with the same Spectrum/+ cable - mono jack/mono jack).
  • Tom-CatTom-Cat
    edited December 2010
    treneiro wrote: »
    Hi,
    I've just bought ZX Spectrum +2 (grey), my first. Near the joystick socket is caption "USE ONLY SINCLAIR JOYSTICK .....". Socket is standard DB9. Can I connect to speccy ordinary Atari or Commodore SV QuickJoy, etc. ?

    Make yourself (or get one) an adapter from ZX Spectrum +2 to normal Atari joystick. Most games have an option to use Sinclair Joystick #1 or #2... for those that don't have that option you can use my hacked versions here :

    http://www.worldofspectrum.org/forums/showthread.php?t=28371

    TC
  • Alien 8Alien 8
    edited December 2010
    treneiro wrote: »
    I think I found proper scheme for my +2:
    http://www.fruitcake.plus.com/Sinclair/Spectrum128/SCARTCable/Spectrum128SCARTCablePlus2.htm
    I have another question. I can load program in, for egz. tzx format from my pc sound card to Spectrum/Spectrum+. Is it possible with +2 ? (socket "sound" is present, but not work with the same Spectrum/+ cable - mono jack/mono jack).

    No, the drawback of the various +2 models is that it is built in deck only. There are ways round it. You could get a cassette adapter as often used for MP3 players or portable CD players. You could then plug that into your sound card and put the cassette bit into the datacorder, and it should work. Alternatively there is a modification to change the socket so that it is like the one on the +3, ie Tape/sound. The advantage of a +3 is that you have floppy drive, but can also load by external tape.
Sign In or Register to comment.