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

[Sentrytv]

I am 99% sure that the ZX 81 or the TS 1000 has a standard RF modulator.
And yes it does I’ll put a black and white signal

Sent from:
My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device.

> On May 23, 2022, at 9:11 PM, Bill Degnan via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
> 
> 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
>>>> 
>>