[vcf-midatlantic] ZX81/TS1000 with a modern TV

[Bill Degnan]

Just to reiterate, get an original analog black and white TV.  The
Timex Sinclair TS100/ZX81 is not compatible with modern TVs.   These
computers do not generate a broadcast TV synch signal so even
kinda-old TVs will have issues with the Sinclair.  There is someone
who made an adapter for the ZX 81 in England, but then you have poss.
PAL/NTSC issues to deal with.

This was a topic of discussion a few times over the years in these
here vintage computer lists....you can search for these online.

Bill

On Mon, May 23, 2022 at 8:39 PM Glenn Roberts via vcf-midatlantic
<vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
>
> Ah, ok. I stand corrected. Apologies. Tx.
>
>
>
>
>
> From: Dean Notarnicola <dnotarnicola at gmail.com>
> Sent: Monday, May 23, 2022 7:06 PM
> To: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org>
> Cc: Glenn Roberts <glenn.f.roberts at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] ZX81/TS1000 with a modern TV
>
>
>
> I’ve yet to find a TV that can’t do ATSC and NTSC.
>
>
>
> On Mon, May 23, 2022 at 6:26 PM Glenn Roberts via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org <mailto:vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org> > wrote:
>
> I have no experience with Sinclair but didn’t they have a built-in RF modulator? That would put out an old style UHF or VHF signal that a modern digital TV can’t decode. I believe you’d need an older TV to test these…
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> > On May 23, 2022, at 5:54 PM, Dean Notarnicola via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org <mailto:vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org> > wrote:
> >
> > I’ve read that the ULA on some older TS and ZX units do not put out a 100%
> > proper NTSC signal, something do with the contrast. It may be that modern
> > TVs have issues, but CRT tuners can deal with it. Considering they are all
> > demonstrating the same behavior, these units may be fine.
> >
> >
> >> On Mon, May 23, 2022 at 4:32 PM Jeff S via vcf-midatlantic <
> >> vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org <mailto:vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org> > wrote:
> >>
> >> The K cursor is normal, and standard. The ZX81 does not have any kind of
> >> intro or status boot screen. If you're seeing the K, then unless there's
> >> something wrong with the keyboard, you should be able to see any numbers
> >> you type.
> >>
> >> On Mon, May 23, 2022, 4:21 PM Bob Shuster via vcf-midatlantic <
> >> vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org <mailto:vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org> > wrote:
> >>
> >>> So I have two (2) Sinclair ZX81s (US version - one is still an unbuilt
> >>> kit), and three (3) Timex-Sinclair 1000s.  I’ve connected them to a TV
> >>> using an RCA-coax adapter and tuned to the correct channel, but I get a
> >>> grey screen with the “K” cursor visible.  I’m unable to get past this.
> >>> This is for all four units.  They seem to tune in white momentarily then
> >>> switch to fuzzy grey - with the “K” still visible.  This was both on a
> >>> large 4K OLED set and a small HD LED TV, and I suspect they are just too
> >>> new to deal with the monochrome signal.  I don’t have a CRT TV to test
> >>> with, just old monitors (which of course don’t have antenna connections.)
> >>>
> >>> Any advice?  I’m selling these, so I’m not getting into modding them,
> >> just
> >>> want to confirm they’re working properly.
> >>>
> >>> Bob Shuster
> >>
>