Beginner Questions

I have a ZX Spectrum, bought 1984.

The keyboard gave up a long time ago.

I built a matrix of wires, the horizontal ones lifted up by small pieces of foam plastic, from a table tennis racket, by the way.

Under it all I placed a picture of the keyboard somehow, so I could orient myself. Each contact point between a horisontal and vertical wire is a key on the keyboard. When I touch a wire I push it down one millimeter so it comes into contact with the wire under it.

The rubber pads lift the wire again if I don't push it down too hard, so it works quite well. Occasionally I need to move a wire when it gets stuck but it is good enough for playing a little with this old museum piece.

The first thing you need is a big picture of the keyboard. I have a vague memory that I cut a picture of the keyboard into horisontal strips and moved them slightly in relation to each other, so the pictures of the keys would fit better into a perpendicular matrix. The key rows on the Spectrum are placed diagonally over each other.

Attach the picture to a base plate, wood or metal, or pcb board material.

Lay out bare copper wires in a matrix, fix them with glue and prop up the horisontal wire between each key with some flexible material.

Thanks, Roger. I think I might be able to do that.

Ralph Glatt

Hi Ralph, Sincus (Timex club in NY is still avtive) and some members have spare XZ81's. Email me directly and I will provide a contact for you. Dave