Replacement for the ULA in a 16K Ram Pack
Replacement for the ULA in a 16K Ram Pack
Would anyone have the wiring diagram and parts list to replace the 1H035E ULA in the Sinclair 16K Ram Pack issue 3?
Re: Replacement for the ULA in a 16K Ram Pack
Issue 3 wiring diagram
parts list is:
- 1H035D Ferranti ULA
An alternative to the ULA is to use several ICs. Which is what Issue 1 and Issue 2 did:
The downside was: to fit inside the pack it used an entirely separate board:

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Re: Replacement for the ULA in a 16K Ram Pack
In another topic on here, a member worked out that the ULA does not in fact fully replicate the whole counter and multiplexer circuitry shown in the issue 1 and 2 boards. Instead it only provides a subset, the Z80 providing the remaining address bits for refresh. In the issue 1 and 2 design, the counter is providing a guaranteed refresh address for the DRAM chips.
Another point is that most third party RAM packs completely dispensed with a refresh address counter. It having been found that it was not necessary. They just have a single logic chip for address decoding and DRAM control lines, two multiplexer chips for the 14 bit to 7 bit switching, and of course the eight DRAM chips. This part of the reason that they could undercut Sinclair with a lower price.
Mark
Another point is that most third party RAM packs completely dispensed with a refresh address counter. It having been found that it was not necessary. They just have a single logic chip for address decoding and DRAM control lines, two multiplexer chips for the 14 bit to 7 bit switching, and of course the eight DRAM chips. This part of the reason that they could undercut Sinclair with a lower price.
Mark
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Re: Replacement for the ULA in a 16K Ram Pack
i was delighted to find those old magazines online by clicking on the schematics. i love old magazines, i often spend hours reading everyday electronics magazines from the 70s and 80s online.
"Mittler zwischen Hirn und Händen muss das Herz sein."
("The mediator between the head and hands must be the heart.")
Metropolis 1927
("The mediator between the head and hands must be the heart.")
Metropolis 1927
Re: Replacement for the ULA in a 16K Ram Pack
Yes, I get "sidetracked" when researching some ZX81 technology or software, and end up examining a totally different article from the magazine ... 
