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EAR connector on ZX Spectrum +2 possible?

-Micky-Micky
edited January 2010 in Hardware
Is it possible to put an EAR connector to the ZX Spectrum +2? I need this because I wish to play the software from the pc as wave file to the spectrum +2. On the ZX-Spectrum 48 k this is possible because it has a EAR connector.

I can put the EAR signal directly to the play cable from the datacorder? Or is another point better?


Micky
Post edited by -Micky on

Comments

  • kgmcneilkgmcneil
    edited January 2010
    I might be wrong here (often am!)(so feel free to jump on me), but I thought the +2 only had a sound out connection... I don't think it serves as a sound in for tape use... Which means that your going to have to do some jiggery pokery in order to send a signal from your PC to the speccy... You could use one of those audio cassette thingys from Velesoft (often found in car radio shacks):

    http://velesoft.speccy.cz/zx/audio_cassette.htm

    Or go for a fancy version like the Mp3 player type:

    http://velesoft.speccy.cz/zx/mp3_cassette.htm

    (Oh, and if you paste that into google, it will allow you to translate it to English)... Hope that helps...

    As for me, I have often wondered about the possibility of connecting the Speccy EAR piece to a radio, and the PC sound card output to a FM transmitter and thus sending the signal through the airwaves rather than down a cable... Sounds nice in theory, but I wonder how effective that would really be... Just a random thought.... ;)
  • -Micky-Micky
    edited January 2010
    Thanks, good idea!


    Micky
  • WinstonWinston
    edited January 2010
    At least on a +2A (and +2B?) it's not hard to modify them to have both EAR and MIC on the audio socket (in the same manner as can be found in the +3).
  • -Micky-Micky
    edited January 2010
    Winston wrote: »
    At least on a +2A (and +2B?) it's not hard to modify them to have both EAR and MIC on the audio socket (in the same manner as can be found in the +3).
    I can't find the point where I must solder the wire for EAR.


    Micky
  • rustyredlinerustyredline
    edited January 2010
    I done it onto the pin labelled play and a wire to the pin labelled ground. the pcb pins on the motherboard are where i done it although I think most people solder the wires onto the pcb itself.
  • WinstonWinston
    edited January 2010
    -Micky wrote: »
    I can't find the point where I must solder the wire for EAR.

    I'm sure it's been discussed before here, so it's worth having a search through this section of the forums, but in case it hasn't, it was recently discussed on foro.speccy.org (see the photos) - http://www.speccy.org/foro/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1674

    I don't have a grey +2 so I don't know if this modification is valid for that machine too.

    Here is my quick translation for that page:
    Connecting EAR/MIC in a +2A without making holes in the case (by mcleod_ideafix@foro.speccy.org)

    It's as simple as taking advantage of the audio connector that already exists in the +2A. This connector is a stereo connector - while in the +3 it is used for both EAR and MIC, in the +2 for some strange reason both channels are connected together, and it only works as the MIC output.

    I suppose that in the WOS forums there will have been discussion of this. However, I see that when someone proposes an independent EAR port it means you have to cut the machine's case. I don't say this is a bad thing, but this may be a cleaner form - converting the audio socket of the +2 into something we find originally in the +3 - audio plus tape port.

    With the Spectrum taken apart and the PCB on the table, this is the connector of which I speak:

    detalle_conector_audio_2a.jpg

    The only difficult thing in this modification is that you need to desolder the connector, since the track that connects the two channels is underneath the connector on the top side of the PCB, and the connector covers it. After desoldering it, you need to cut the track in this photo:

    detalle_pistas_conector_audio.jpg

    After cutting the track (check with a multimeter that there is no continuity between the two pads) you need to resolder the connector. The new connections are:

    detalle_parte_trasera_pistas.jpg

    Lastly, using a piece of fine wire, the connection marked EAR in the last photo must be soldered to the connection marked PLAY in this image:

    detalle_conector_cassette.jpg

    And there it is! If you use a cable with a 3.5mm stereo jack, the signals are as follows:

    pinout_jack_earmic.jpg
  • -Micky-Micky
    edited January 2010
    Mh, not bad but my motherboard is not the same as we can see on the pic. It is labeled: 0500 ISS3 AMSTRAD.


    Micky
  • -Micky-Micky
    edited January 2010
    rustyredline wrote: »
    I done it onto the pin labelled play and a wire to the pin labelled ground. the pcb pins on the motherboard are where i done it although I think most people solder the wires onto the pcb itself.
    I make this, but it works not. I can see only some stripes on the monitor. It seems that the signal is to low. Same signal works very well with my ZX 48 K.


    Micky
  • rustyredlinerustyredline
    edited January 2010
    On mine i have volume fairly high. if you can hear it quietly it may be that the ground wire is not right. also make sure that the ear wire is connected to the left and right part of your socket I used mono socket and wire. This very simple diagram :oops: shows how i connected wires to my socket


    http://img43.imageshack.us/i/zx2socket.png/
  • -Micky-Micky
    edited January 2010
    rustyredline wrote: »
    On mine i have volume fairly high. if you can hear it quietly it may be that the ground wire is not right. also make sure that the ear wire is connected to the left and right part of your socket I used mono socket and wire. This very simple diagram :oops: shows how i connected wires to my socket http://img43.imageshack.us/i/zx2socket.png/
    Can it be that the datarecorder wire must disconnected?


    Micky
  • rustyredlinerustyredline
    edited January 2010
    -Micky wrote: »
    Can it be that the datarecorder wire must disconnected?


    Micky

    disconnect it. mine is and it works, theres no light LED but it don't matter when you can turbo load games.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-lSrROQwSU
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