SPECTRONICS is a SD/MMC card interface for ZX-Spectrum. First designed by Mario Pratto as DivMMC and project by Miguel Angel Rodríguez Jódar named DivTIESUS.
Is an independent design, compatible with the I/O ports and mapper used both in DivIDE and DivMMC, but adding more features like DB9 Kempston/Sega joystick port.
Features
- DivMMC compatible interface with 8 KiB of EEPROM and 128 KiB of RAM. Standard utils for EEPROM flashing, as provided by the ESXDOS team, are compatible with SPECTRONICS.
- Model autodetection. This means you don’t need to put a jumper, or flip a switch to change from using it with a Spectrum 48K and a +3.
- Tested with ZX Spectrum 48K issue 1, 2, 3, 3B, 4A, 4B and 6A. NEC and Hitachi ROM chips. Also tested on Inves Spectrum, Spectrum 128K (both english and spanish versions), +2 grey, +2A, +2B and +3. Also tested on Harlequin 48K. Compatible with TK90X also.
- It uses its own fast clock (25 MHz). It does not need the CPU clock at all.
- Rear expansion port continuation, allowing the user to plug another device. Note that ROMCS and other signals are not filtered.
- NMI button to call file browser in ESXDOS, and handy RESET button.
- Standard SD card slot or microSD slot.
- A single switch SW1 is used to indicate SPECTRONICS that the EEPROM can be flashed (JP2 equivalent) and the automapping feature is disabled.
- Visual LED feedback for SD activity.
- ESXDOS shadowing does not collide with all-RAM feature in +2A/B/3 machines. If the system is in all-RAM mode, ESXDOS ROM mapping is disabled.
- DB9 Kempston/Sega joystick port and can be disabled by S3 switch.
- Supported formats file DSK, SCL, SNA, TAP, TRD, Z80
Prepair
Format SD or SD-HC card with FAT32 (tested up to 32 GB).
Download SD card archive:
1 SD card zip archive whith ESXDOS 0.8.9 long filenames support
2 SD card zip archive whith ESXDOS 0.8.9 standart browser (whith support long filenames)
Unzip and copy the BIN and SYS directories into the root of SD card.
Create a directories with programs and games.
In zip archive 1 default NMI start with long filenames browser.
In zip archive 2 NMI start with short filenames keep your file names with the 8.3 scheme, or in a basic promt just type .browse and hit enter and long filenames compatible browser is load.
In standart or long browser use cursor keys for browse to directories (in rubber version use CAPS and cursor for long version). Press H to help screen.
You can also go to the ESXDOS.ORG site and download ESXDOS 0.8.9 zip file to your PC.
Connect
Switch off your computer.
Check that the rear connector doesn’t have bent pins and that the index tab is present.
Plug SPECTRONICS interface in the expansion port. See the following pictures:
Make sure the side switch is in the ON position (to enable ESXDOS). You only need to put it in the OFF position to update ESXDOS firmware.
Insert the SD card and power the computer. You should see the ESXDOS boot screen.
If you see that loading RTC.SYS gives you an [ERROR}, it is not RTC clock not present. Our archive contains a stub file that fixes the error.
If you can’t boot at all, or you don’t see anything similar to this picture, please refer to the Troubleshooting section.
Pressing the NMI button will take you to the file browser. The long filenames browser included with ESXDOS is very easy to use.
Press Caps Shift + H to help screen, for standart browser press H.
The boot screen will lead to the standard booting process. If you are using SPECTRONICS with a 128K machine, you will notice that now it boots like if it was a 48K machine. This is normal. There is no boot menu when ESXDOS is in use. In basic promt just type .128 and hit enter. In boot screen select 128 BASIC, type .ls to show file on SD card.
Reset
The device has a reset button, very convenient for versions of computers without a button. To completely clear the memory and reboot, hold the space bar and briefly press reset
Browser hot keys
Cursor Up – Move selection up.
Cursor Down – Move selection down.
Cursor Left – Move selection up a page.
Cursor Right – Move selection down a page.
ENTER – Select folder, auto start a .tap tape file, .trd disk file, .scl disk file (esxDOS 0.8.9 or higher required), .sna or .z80 snapshot file, .bas file or a .pzx file.
Caps Shift + P / Delete – Parent Folder.
Caps Shift + H – Show help screens (press any key to return to the browser).
Caps Shift + X / Break – Exit the browser.
Symbol Shift + X – Exit browser and reset.
Caps Shift + Q – Move selection to the first entry.
Caps Shift + A – Move selection to the last entry.
Caps Shift + S – Save a 48k / 128k .sna snapshot.
Caps Shift + K – Enter a POKE. POKEs are applied when you exit the browser.
Caps Shift + L – External command. Types the currently selected filename back into the BASIC prompt. (.dot command only)
Caps Shift + R – Show additional file information for the selected file – 8.3 filename and size in bytes.
Symbol Shift + R – Rename a file / folder. See ‘Renaming Files’ section.
Caps Shift + F – Find Mode. See ‘Find Mode’ section.
Caps Shift + U – Attach a .trd disk file to a unit (and .scl on esxDOS 0.8.9 and higher).
Symbol Shift + U – Eject an attached disk from a unit.
Caps Shift + I – Attach a .tap file to tape input.
Caps Shift + O – Attach a .tap file to tape output.
Symbol Shift + I – Eject tape attached to tape input.
Symbol Shift + O – Eject tape attached to tape output.
Caps Shift + E – Erase the selected file. Confirm with Shift + Y.
Symbol Shift + F – Toggle fullscreen mode.
Caps Shift + Z – Create a folder cache file. See ‘Folder Caching’ section.
Symbol Shift + Z – Delete a folder cache file. See ‘Folder Caching’ section.
Symbol Shift + 1 – 9 – Speed dials 1 to 9. See ‘Speed Dials’ section.
Symbol Shift + 0 – Create speed dial from the current selection. See ‘Speed Dials’ section.
Caps Shift + V – View the selected file as hex.
Symbol Shift + V – View the selected file as text.
Caps Shift + D – Creates a 8.3 filename directory. See ‘Creating folders’ section.
Symbol Shift + L – Lock out 128k memory paging (e.g. to run certain Ultimate Play The Game titles correctly).
Caps Shift + T: Browse the currently open .tap file in the browser. See ‘Tape Browser’ section.
Symbol Shift + C: Copy file to clipboard. See ‘File Clipboard’ section.
Symbol Shift + T: Cut file to clipboard. See ‘File Clipboard’ section.
Symbol Shift + P: Paste file from clipboard. See ‘File Clipboard’ section.
Joystick port
It’s a standard DB9 male connector for any Atari/Commodore wired joystick. It should also accept joysticks with integrated autofire (tested with SPECTRAVIDEO Joystick).
It can also work with Sega Megadrive pads (tested with 3 and 6 button pads) and Sega Master System pads. For Sega Megadrive pads, button B is main fire, and button C is secondary fire.
In software the joystick port configure as a Kempston joystick interface.
Troubleshooting
Modern lower-power CMOS version of Z80 known issue with out of spec Z80s found in Spectrums. External interfaces not working correctly due to weak signals, usually M1.