• Please review our updated Terms and Rules here

New use for a Sinclair ZX Spectrum

vwestlife

vwestlife

Veteran Member
Joined
May 2, 2008
Messages
5,409
Location
central NJ
A friend on Facebook posted this with the caption "It's my work in progress door lock":

33uy0lu.jpg


It should be pretty easy to interface the Spectrum's number keys to that of a door entry keypad!
 
vwestlife said:
A friend on Facebook posted this with the caption "It's my work in progress door lock":

It should be pretty easy to interface the Spectrum's number keys to that of a door entry keypad!
Click to expand...
They were normally installed under the door, not on it... ;-)
 
The keyboard is a membrane type with a fragile type of ribbon cable, if that even is the correct term. While I haven't studied the signals, I'd think the keypresses are delivered in some matrix form. I know as much as a ZX Spectrum+ keyboard does NOT register the same keys as a ZX Spectrum 48K keyboard does. I once tried to mismatch them, but at best got gobblegook on the screen. Perhaps with an updated ROM chip I'd get expected behavior as the motherboards themselves seem to be identical.

If your friend finds the membrane is broken, there are replacements ones to buy from Europe but perhaps he'd rather rewire keys directly and if possible bypass the membrane if the keyboard is meant to be used in a different application than the computer itself.
 
carlsson said:
The keyboard is a membrane type with a fragile type of ribbon cable, if that even is the correct term. While I haven't studied the signals, I'd think the keypresses are delivered in some matrix form. I know as much as a ZX Spectrum+ keyboard does NOT register the same keys as a ZX Spectrum 48K keyboard does.
Click to expand...

No? I did a succesful braintransplant of my Issue 3 48K Spectrum motherboard to the +-case with keyboard available as a kit back then.
Merely a question of connecting the resetbutton and soldering in a resistor or similar. Worked well and without gobbledeegook.
ftp://ftp.worldofspectrum.org/pub/spectrum/technical-docs/ZXSpectrum+_UpgradeInstructions.pdf
 
Yes, I know. The above message was posted before you mentioned it. I might have another try, it might be my + keyboard itself that is botched. Anyway, for an application where only the keyboard is used, perhaps whether the membrane transmits the correct signals isn't cruicial.
 
carlsson said:
Yes, I know. The above message was posted before you mentioned it. I might have another try, it might be my + keyboard itself that is botched. Anyway, for an application where only the keyboard is used, perhaps whether the membrane transmits the correct signals isn't cruicial.
Click to expand...

My keyboard seems to be defective too. Just tested the Spectrum with my flatscreen and it works fine,
but not half the keys. Dunno if its something I did when I had a look inside recently or just from being unused for years.
Fiddling with it didn't solve the problem, so I guess it will go in the trash unless someone would like it for parts.
 
Mikael said:
My keyboard seems to be defective too. Just tested the Spectrum with my flatscreen and it works fine,
but not half the keys. Dunno if its something I did when I had a look inside recently or just from being unused for years.
Fiddling with it didn't solve the problem, so I guess it will go in the trash unless someone would like it for parts.
Click to expand...

Dont trash it. They sell new membrains for a 10 spot.
 
I swapped it once and the ZX Spectrum + case its living in now wasn't used enough
for it to be a worn membrane IMHO. Maybe the sockets on the board but I don't really want
to keep it anyway, so not too keen on throwing money after it. Want it?
 
Mikael said:
I swapped it once and the ZX Spectrum + case its living in now wasn't used enough
for it to be a worn membrane IMHO. Maybe the sockets on the board but I don't really want
to keep it anyway, so not too keen on throwing money after it. Want it?
Click to expand...

Wish I could take it. But after my heart attack I have not a dime to my name :(
 
I have a new use for my Spectrum: Throw it after the mailman.

Decided to get a new membrane after all from RWAP
and it showed up today in a size A3 envelope with the words "Please do not bend"
in big, friendly red letters. So guess what Einstein the Postie did?
Bent it double to get it through the mailslot. Since the slot is about 1 1/2 inch tall
he bent it properly too. Not enough to leave a sharp fold but probably not for want of trying.

Grrrrr.... hopefully RWAP will take it back. I won't open it till I get their advice.

Sorry bout venting here but it was that or going postal. ;)
 
Postman lives to goof another day as the membrane survived and all keys of the Speccy are now functioning again.
Got a swift reply with advice from RWAP-Software and they would have been quite happy to take it back if it was broken.

I shall now tempt fate and attempt to load one of my games the old fashioned way. As I recall that could be challenging too.

ADDENDUM... Or not since the ear socket has expired too... More parts to source and fix for lucky me. :)
 
Last edited:
See, what you were about to throw into the garbage bin (or have someone take off your hand for postage costs) has now turned into a challenging project for the start of the year.

Perhaps the original poster in this thread also will find a way to get his ZX Spectrum working well enough to not convert it into a door lock, although of course it is a matter of definition what "well enough" corresponds to... ;-)
 
Not really challenging. I found a tip on how to fix the ear port with a little selective force
delivered via a screwdriver. Works and loads now.
 
Borderline necroposting, but my Spectrum found a new home with another nostalgic computerphile, so all is well.
And my dads old slide rule will go to an american museum when I get around to it.
Anyone want to give a good home to my old HP-11C? :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top