… or just watch our (Lamers) demo ok?!
<intro>
I’ve told you already, you need to watch it ;P
</intro>
The beginning
Back in the 80s, I was on a short trip with my parents and back then I already knew ZX Spectrum 48k. I was also a proud owner of an Atari 65XE but … being away from home caused some computer hunger. One day we were visiting my parent’s friends. I was quite a straightforward kid and two seconds after crossing a doorstep I asked our hosts if they have any computers. IIRC, they’ve replied that there is a computer that their son used to use so I can play with it. Long story short, this is how I’ve realized that Timex is a ZX Spectrum 48 clone of some sort but I wasn’t sure what are the differences … well no Google back then ;P
Fast forward to present times…
<click> … <click><click>………<click> … some time passes …
YaY! I’ve got Timmy! 😀
This unit to be precise …
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/KYKnjMh.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/azV3Bbe.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/VsumXwe.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/46qNHga.png)
Keyboard
The keyboard was a bit worn out. I couldn’t help much with fixing keycaps graphics because I don’t have the proper equipment to do it (YET!)
However, I was able to replace a keyboard panel as my friend Duddie from Retronics does exactly that part for Timex 😀
Currently, such panels are available through the Retrohax_DE division on eBay
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/3GxndZb.jpg)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/9bVd8cQ.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2IWuwvL.jpg)
The keyboard replacement panel was easily fixed in place and here is how it looked.
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/m9kinKw.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/kf9jbTO.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/RUdS2Y0.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/aQ4ARYe.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/uieWwA6.png)
Fixes
On the electronics part, there were quite a few minor faults to fix.
After powering on, Timmy outputted only the following:
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/9OvHwtw.png)
Most often this is caused by a dead Z80 chip which I’ve replaced along with its oxidated socket.
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/jEfsQCR.jpg)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/AjS5BFK.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/oS6Ctzc.png)
The video output was a bit different and confirmed that Z80 was dead indeed. However, there was something else fried too.
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/3FDOOPq.png)
With the help of schematics, I did some standard measurements and it all looked alright so I’ve moved on to another common fault which in the vast majority of cases is caused by a dead RAM chip.
I’ve de-soldered all RAM chips and installed sockets for convenience. Then, I replaced all chips as I had some spare but surprisingly, that didn’t fix the issue at all.
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/OqPlUB6.png)
I was like …
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/77po9T7.png)
My next step was to test everything with a DiagROM for Speccy/Timmy. I am using this amazing piece of code that was created by Phil Ruston of retroleum.co.uk
I’ve burned a BIN onto a Winbond W27c512 that I had in my drawer and inserted it into a freshly replaced socket on the Timex motherboard.
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/esUHQzk.png)
That worked right away so and everything tested fine so I was like … maybe this is a dead ROM after all?
A few moments later, I tested a freshly burned original ROM aaaaaaand…
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/SdSbudf.png)
BINGO! It werkz! YaY!
After all, it turned out that only CPU and ROM were dead as I’ve tested RAM and it was OK which is kinda uncommon.
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/aph2Q5r.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/9n3KOuh.jpg)
One last thing that had to be fixed was a red LED as it had a broken leg.
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Subl4F8.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/aK6b6Ue.png)
The end
I’ve put the whole machine together and now I am finally a happy owner of a working TIMEX 2048
The only thing I am planning for the future is to redo these worn-out keycaps. I’ve no idea when but I need to build a machine for that and I already have an idea lol 😀 … but there are tons of other projects that had to be finished first.
Anyway, this is the final result:
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/l5LwzPc.jpg)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/qrgRU9h.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/pNGfjnk.png)
Outro
If you want to get the retro gear I am manufacturing or hardware modules, please visit shop -> https://retrohax.net/shop/
Please support my work by commenting here and on our Facebook or Twitter pages.
If you want to donate a dead computer then drop me an email. Extreme cases are welcome. – Nobody donates anything. so don’t bother. Looks like only Youtubers get all goodies LOLOL ;P <– THIS IS NO LONGER TRUE! Cheers to guys from Brasil
The schematic has tiny bug – R43 is 15 ohm 🙂
Awesome.:)