Qualcuno la conosce già? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hello I’m pleased to announce the launch of the Chroma 81 interface, a new multi-purpose interface for the ZX81. Its primary function is to allow the ZX81 to be connected to a TV via a SCART socket using an RGB connection to produce a picture that is sharp and bright. The Chroma interface plugs into the expansion port of the ZX81 and connects to the TV using a standard SCART cable. There is no need to make any modifications to the ZX81 since the Chroma interface only requires access to those signals available on the expansion bus. An exciting feature of the Chroma interface is its ability to add colour to the ZX81's display, with support for a palette of 15 colours and 2 colour modes. One mode provides an attributes file similar in concept to that of the Spectrum, giving maximum flexibility in creating a colour display but can only be used by new software developed to explicitly control it. The other mode allows colours to be assigned for each character in the character set, and then whenever a character is displayed it will be shown in its defined colours. The colour mappings are retained across a LOAD and so it is possible to load a game and for it to be displayed using the defined colours, i.e. existing games can be colourised! But the features of the Chroma interface don’t end there, as it also provides the following: - An onboard 16K RAM pack. - Additional 16K RAM that be mapped into the 48K-64K region, or the 8K-16K region. - Support for a user definable character set within the RAM located in the 8K-16K region. - Support for WRX graphics format, allowing true high resolution graphics. - QS Character Board emulation, allowing a user definable character set and operating with the range of Quicksilva games that supported the original character board. - A ROM cartridge socket that allows complete overriding of the ZX81 ROM, making it possible to run replacement operating systems or ROM enhancements, e.g. the Skywave FORTH ROM, the ComprocsysASZMIC ROM, the dk'tronics and Kayde Graphics ROMs. The socket is compatible with my range of ZXC ROM cartridges, including the recently released ZXC4 that contains a 4MB FLASH ROM (opening the potential to store 100s of games on a single cartridge for instant loading). - A Cursor joystick socket, with support for auto-fire joysticks. - An RS232 socket, which could be useful for connecting to a printer, modem or a PC (a ROM cartridge program is already available to allow loading and saving via RS232 from a PC). - Output of LOAD/SAVE sounds through the TV speaker(s). - A set of configuration switches to allow each facility to be enabled / disabled, ensuring maximum compatibility with all existing hardware, e.g. ZXpand. - A full width, gold plated rear expansion bus. - A reset button. The Chroma interface is constructed from a professionally made board that measures only 10cm by 10cm. You can see a photo of the interface and read further details about the facilities it offers at: www.fruitcake.plus.com/Sinclair/ZX81/Chroma/ChromaInterface.htm There are a few points worth being aware of before ordering: - The interface only outputs a picture in RGB format (not composite video or S-video). - The interface has only been tested with 50Hz models of the ZX81, i.e. UK and Europe. In theory it will work with NTSC versions but this has not been proven. - The interface has not been tested with any clones of the ZX81 and must therefore be assumed to be incompatible with them. - It is strongly recommended to use the 1.2A version of the ZX81 power supply. The original 0.7A version might not be sufficient if other devices or a ROM cartridge are to be used. If more current is drawn than the power supply can safely handle then it could overheat and pose a fire risk. - The SCART output accurately reflects the picture available from the RF output. Slight shimmering or bending of the top row of the picture will be visible if it occurs in the original RF output. - Flat screen TVs made by Panasonic do not appear to implement the SCART specification correctly and can result in the Chroma picture being shifted to the left or at worst being unstable and continually jumping horizontally. There may be other TV models that also do not display the picture from the Chroma interface correctly, but most makes appear to work ok. - The interface is fully compatible with the ZXpand SD card interface. - Flicker-free games originally developed for use with the ZX80 fitted with the 8K ROM upgrade may not display a perfectly stable picture due to inaccurate timings in the games. A TV tends to be far less tolerant of frame timing variations in a SCART signal than it is in an RF signal. - A SCART cable is not included. Almost all commercially available RGB SCART cable will be suitable, allowing you to select your preferred length. - A RS232 cable is not included. If your PC does not have a built-in serial port then a USB-RS232 adapter can be used. A standard 9-way non-crossover serial cable is suitable for use with the RS232 socket, and can be used to connect to a serial printer or a PC (although note that custom software must be created to control the RS232 port). - The ROM cartridge socket supports my ZXC4 ROM cartridge, which contains a 4MB FLASH ROM. The ZX Cartridge Creator utility (for Windows) can be used to program a single ZX81 ROM file only into a ZXC4 ROM cartridge using a Spectrum. It will soon also support the ZXC3 ROM cartridge. In the future, I will be enhancing the Cartridge Creator software to allow multi-program compilations (.ROM and .P files) to be constructed and downloaded to ZX81 using RS232, and then the ZX81 will program the data directly into the ZXC3 or ZXC4 ROM cartridge. - The Chroma interface is uncased (I hope to be able to offer a custom case in the future if economically viable). - The main logic IC and onboard 5V converter do get hot in use but this is expected behaviour. - Modern TVs tend to struggle to display the RF output from a ZX81. However, it is usually possible to obtain enough of a picture to prove that the ZX81 is operational. You should only connect the Chroma interface to a ZX81 that you are confident is in working order else damage may occur to the Chroma interface. The cost of the interface is as follows: - Chroma interface = 60.00 GBP - Postage and packaging (Signed For / Tracked delivery): - Within UK = 4.75 GBP - Within Europe = 9.75 GBP - Outside Europe = 11.15 GBP The easiest payment method is PayPal and my account is rainbow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I am able to provide ZXC4 ROM cartridges, which can be used with either the ZX81 or the Spectrum. Please email me if you would like price details. Full details of the ZXC4 can be found on my website. Regards Paul Farrow www.fruitcake.plus.com www.zxresourcecentre.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ E qui c'è anche un'interfaccia per lo Speccy che permette risoluzioni colore più alte: http://www.fruitcake.plus.com/Sinclair/Spectrum/Spectra/SpectraInterface.htm