Sinclair ZX Spectrum Next Vs ZX Microdrive - Does it work???
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 มี.ค. 2024
- So, you have a Sinclair Spectrum Next and an old Interface One and Microdrive - despite it really not being required due to the Next's SD/DivMMC interface it's an itch you need to scratch so join me in my quest to get new and old hardware to communicate.
Will it work?
Anyway in a clue if it worked or not here's a video that helped me sort it out: • ZX Interface 1 and 2 o... - เกม
Hi! - Possibly I have a "semi automated" version to activate ROM and the access to Interface 1. This COULD work, but I'm not sure...
1st step:
- Boot the Next into the common mode (NextZXOS)
- Write a tiny BASIC program containing the OUT commands
- Save it to the SD card - just save, don't run using SAVE "microdrive.bas" don't run it using LINE 10 or so
2nd step:
- (Re-) boot the next into the common mode (NextZXOS)
- Load the given Program using LOAD or the browser of the system
- Enter "Command Line"- or "NextBASIC" mode
- Enter command "SPECTRUM" when the program is loaded
- Type "RUN" to disable the features
3rd step (most important):
- Give me a hint if this does work for you... 😎
Thanks I'll give that a try at some point.
@@stevesretroloft Make it so...
The only reason I can think for doing this is to save the Microdrive programs to SD. But you can't because it's one or the other.
I suppose you could load from the Microdrive and save to tape as a workaround. Then go from tape to saving it as a .bas file when running in the Next mode.
I'm surprised: So when you run the Spectrum Next in 48K-mode, the Interface 1 is activated? Otherwise the Microdrice commands wouldn't be recognized. Is there a setting to boot without it?
I remember the Interface 1 making changes to the plain 48K Spectrum, that were not always wanted.
For example in "fuse" you can choose, if you want to emulate a plain 48K Spectrum or one with added Interface 1. Is that different on the Next?
The Microdrive commands (well the Key words) are in the existing Rom but aren't recognised as commands until the Shadow Rom is attached (Interface one). I know there were a few titles that mentioned wouldn't work with the Interface One attached, the Microdrive expansion pack had a note to that effect. With reference to booting without it, a power down of the device clears the settings that the 2 out commands run so that should do it.
With regards to Fuse, emulating the spectrum + interface one is probably easier as there's not much to complicate things, whereas the next as a hardware recreation (via the FPGA) also includes other interfaces (Not sure if the interfaces are emulation or h/w recreation) which in this maybe be causing a few clashes along the way. I suppose if you have the original hardware and plugged a number of physical interfaces in it might have a similar effect. Whether it can be addressed in a firmware update I'm not sure. There's probably a very small number of us trying to use the next with old interfaces as most of the functionality of these devices is more than replicated with the Next anyway.
I'm tempted to see if my Ram Turbo and Jet Pac works on it though - that's for another day.
The worst thing about the Microdrives was the dodgy cable. You only needed to jog it slightly and it would whir into action, corrupting your cartridge as it did so!
The cable being so short didn't exactly help things!
i wonder if its possible to connect a microdrive to the misterfpga and run it on a spectrum core
If you have the same expansion bus for the Interface one, then possibly?
Vdrive?
From what I know they emulate the Microdrive so would probably fail in the same way due to the shadow rom not being available (without all the fiddling).
@@stevesretroloft what a pity the if1 didn't have a coprocessor and an extra 16kb of video ram!
water bucket
I've not considered its water carrying capabilities to be honest.