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Re: Improving Timex/Sinclair Tape Loading
Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2018 3:46 am
by Danjovic
Thanks people for sharing this amazing project. I have routed a couple of boards for this project, being one for use with a box by Hammond, reference
1455C801 and AAA cells but can also be used standalone as it has mounting holes. I have used stereo jacks for input/output as such parts are very easy to find. The layout was drawn from scratch but the circuit was compared with the original several times.
Full sources are included (Eagle 6 and above) in the zip as well as a PDF with schematics, 1:1 view of the board and the components placement map with both values and references.
I hope you all enjoy and please whoever built it post the pictures here.
Best Regards
Danjovic
- Board for Hammond Box
- Board for Hammond Box and AAA clip holder
- Short PCB
- ZXTapeLoader.zip
- Schematics and PCB in Eagle and PDF
- (326.31 KiB) Downloaded 399 times
Re: Improving Timex/Sinclair Tape Loading
Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2018 6:37 pm
by TMAOne
That looks awesome Danjovic.
Lardo Boffin, do you have your prototype unit back yet? Have you had a chance to turn it loose on those tapes you can't get to load normally?
Ian
Re: Improving Timex/Sinclair Tape Loading
Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2018 7:50 pm
by Lardo Boffin
Sadly no and no. I will remind Mark at some point.
Re: Improving Timex/Sinclair Tape Loading
Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 8:08 pm
by TMAOne
(Poke.)
Re: Improving Timex/Sinclair Tape Loading
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 2:39 am
by gammaray
I am going to see if I can make a PCB for the people in the States before anyone else gets further on this...
Shipping is cheaper on the continent.
Re: Improving Timex/Sinclair Tape Loading
Posted: Mon May 06, 2019 3:18 pm
by Papalapa
The components density on the board is quite low so, most probably a smallest PCB can be done and installed into the ZX81 case, and the voltage taken from the ZX81 itself that will avoid the batteries use.
When I get my ZX8 repaired I'll investigate about this...
Re: Improving Timex/Sinclair Tape Loading
Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2019 5:52 pm
by TMAOne
That's a cool idea, but I'm not sure I'd want it inside the case. I use mine as a "sometimes" device for direct dubbing one tape to another, and the rescue of the odd tape that "just won't load". It might be possible to cram it in there; I'm just not sure it's worth the trouble.
Any luck with the PCB gammaray?
Re: Improving Timex/Sinclair Tape Loading
Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2019 8:35 pm
by TMAOne
I am concerned about our friend in Texas, gammaray. He was a regular poster on this forum, but hasn't posted anything since February. I hope he's all right. Does anyone know of a way to get in touch with him?
Of secondary importance I am saddened that this "project" (a kit so we could all build a working copy of the tape scrubber/dubber) seems to have waned in enthusiasm. I still have and use my 1-off prototype built in the 80's, and wouldn't trade it for a Nakamichi 1000. (Well, okay,... maybe.) It has "recovered" many an "unloadable" tape, and allowed me to dub perfect copies of C90's for friends wholesale without loading to the ZX81. It's a great little toy, but alas I may be doomed to be the only one who knows it. (Sniff.) If anyone wants to send a problematic tape to me here in Canada, I would gladly attempt to process it and return the result. But far nicer to actually have one in the weapons locker,...
Re: Improving Timex/Sinclair Tape Loading
Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2019 10:16 pm
by 1024MAK
Sorry, the delay is 100% my fault
. Far too many distractions coupled with rather a lot going on with my work life.
I’ll go poke myself with a ULA hot soldering iron
Mark
Re: Improving Timex/Sinclair Tape Loading
Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2019 11:20 pm
by Moggy
I'd pay top dollar to see that!!