Custom Speccys and the like.
hiya all
I've been tinkering with building a Super spectrum for some time now. The whole process had changed and grown and ended up nothing like what I had originally planned.
Originally the plan was to just put a hard drive onto my +3. I bought the fantastic +3e roms in readieness and downloaded oodles of documents. I have a 1.2gb IBM laptop hard drive I thought would fit snugly inside, but, after exstensive reading decided this is not the best way to go - instead opting to buy a ZXCF instead.
So, apart from the +3e roms, there's not much going on in the way of customisation.
Now, things have gone off in a different direction and this is where I could use some advice. I have aquired a very, very nice Sony single tape deck designed to be in a stacking system. After opening it up I discovered that it was pretty much a big empty box with the tape mechanics all taking up little room in the front-left hand corner. The thing is the size of a small desktop PC. So, this shell will easily fit the main board from a +3, the ZXCF and original 3" floppy drive.
The problem is the keyboard.
How can I connect a keyboard to the mainboard, or, ideally, use the empty +3 shell as a plug in keyboard neatly. Is there an easy way to extend the membrane leads?
if you see what i mean.
If I can do this, it should be a very nice desktop spectrum as I am already using a monitor from a PC200 with the +3.
any and all advice and thoughts greatly appreciated.
I've been tinkering with building a Super spectrum for some time now. The whole process had changed and grown and ended up nothing like what I had originally planned.
Originally the plan was to just put a hard drive onto my +3. I bought the fantastic +3e roms in readieness and downloaded oodles of documents. I have a 1.2gb IBM laptop hard drive I thought would fit snugly inside, but, after exstensive reading decided this is not the best way to go - instead opting to buy a ZXCF instead.
So, apart from the +3e roms, there's not much going on in the way of customisation.
Now, things have gone off in a different direction and this is where I could use some advice. I have aquired a very, very nice Sony single tape deck designed to be in a stacking system. After opening it up I discovered that it was pretty much a big empty box with the tape mechanics all taking up little room in the front-left hand corner. The thing is the size of a small desktop PC. So, this shell will easily fit the main board from a +3, the ZXCF and original 3" floppy drive.
The problem is the keyboard.
How can I connect a keyboard to the mainboard, or, ideally, use the empty +3 shell as a plug in keyboard neatly. Is there an easy way to extend the membrane leads?
if you see what i mean.
If I can do this, it should be a very nice desktop spectrum as I am already using a monitor from a PC200 with the +3.
any and all advice and thoughts greatly appreciated.
Post edited by ZX Beccy on
Comments
I have lots of piccys.. I actually have a website all ready to go with my comic strip, jukebox and spectrum pages on, i'm just waiting to get on-line at home then I'll upload it all.
The +3e roms are excellent and I highly reccomend investing in them if you have a spare +3 to play with. As I have no way of burning roms I bought the pre-burned chips for ?10 - worth every penny! ( although I've only tested the emulated version - not actuelly put them on my board yet )
Likewise, I'd love to see more custom speccy sites on the net.
Fingers crossed
I was wondering how your +3e hdd mod was coming along :)
Although I don't have the +3e roms yet, I did make the internal pcb by using laser printer transfer paper and etching the Copper filmed pcb...but with just ok results. Going to give it another go.
Sounds pretty interesting about the ZXCF, post pictures if you can.
I remember someone making some sort of extension to the keyboard w/pics but don't remember who or in what post :(
It must have been in the last 3 months tho...
My Arcade Cabinetl
http://user.tninet.se/~vjz762w/ZX_SPECTRUM_DIY_PROJECTS/zxcf.html
trust me, you will be impressed
as soon as I'm on the internet at home I'll be uploading it. Hopefully be up and running within a couple of months.... Been saying that since September, but It'll happen ;)
http://www.worldofspectrum.org/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=3881&forum=4
Thanks to Matgubbins I now know it's possible! Look!
http://www.angelfire.com/retro/carcass/keyb/keyb.htm
Oh wow!!
Sintech also do a thing called 'Proface AT' for plugging in a PC keyboard into a spectrum... funky
http://www.sintech-shop.de/home/spectrum-products.htm
[ This Message was edited by: ZX Beccy on 2004-02-19 22:46 ]
I've got a link to a website which has some good ones I'm sure most of you will be interested to see. Won't post it here because I don't want Beccy's thread to go off topic, so will post a new thread with it now.
http://www.vanpeebles.supanet.com/redspec1.jpg
http://www.vanpeebles.supanet.com/redspec2.jpg
http://www.vanpeebles.supanet.com/redspec3.jpg
The site was updated today, the new ZX Chrome has now a build-in +D interface. I'm only disappointed by the fact that the Kempston port has still only 5 bits. My 7 Bit Kempston Interface is able to read the additional mouse keys of a Amiga/Atari mouse.
Methinks building one of them is way out of my league though.... let's hope he's starts selling them!
Nick
Now thats an old post. Long ago project that one.
Simple answer is.. No. Never finished it. It carried on evolving and now i have a wonderful coolermaster case with a PC and a 128 speccy inside, switchable hard drive, tape deck, +3 floppy drive... it's coming along nicely. Just need the flat screen and keyboard adaptor.... also one of my wonderful speecy designer case badges too... they make all the difference to a custom project y'know.
really... they do :D
:lol: u never miss a chance.
[ This Message was edited by: swordheart on 2005-10-10 16:40 ]