15 Oct
1997
15 Oct
'97
2:16 p.m.
On 10/15/97 11:03:10 you wrote:
If I wanted to get a hold of a european computer, 220v, 50hz PAL with RBG,
then?
1) would it work an an RGB monitor.
2) if the machine just used a poweradapter like 9v, like the old atari's is
the 50/60hz thing that critical?
Im looking into a Spectrum128, or Russian Scorpion.
What do you all think?
I can share my personal experience.... I have a Spectrum +2 here in the United States.
It works fine. For power I use a small 110/220 inverter available from places like
Jameco and JDR. That allows me to use the original power supply. The Spectrums
also can work off a standard 9 volt wall wart. Some models use over 1 amp so its more like
a
wall brick. For video a normal RGB monitor like the Magnavox RGB-80 (Many Commodore
versions
1084,1902,etc) works fine. If you are a Sinclair fan, the video pinout is exactly the same
as
the Sinclair QL (8 pin din). The 50/60 Hz "thing" doesn't matter.
Please be aware there are very few Spectrums with RGB output. The +2 is one model. The
Spectrum 128 also is supposed to have RGB output but I have not seen one. I also have
seen regular Spectrums (48k and the Spectrum+) in use over here in the US. To do that
you need to convert the output to RGB. A product called the Spectrum RGB output module
by Adapt electronics does exactly that. Good luck finding one. Our local Sinclair group
has one.
After a lot of investigation it was determined that power supply voltages have to be right
on
the money for it to work. Another alternative is a DIY project that is posted on some
Spectrum
web pages. Good luck with the schematic and documentation (all in German!). I'd be
very
interested in your progress.
Don Walterman
dwalterm(a)ix.netcom.com