The TS-Pico includes a ZX Spectrum ROM! You don’t need a Twister nor ZX Spectrum ROM cartridge to run ZX Spectrum software on your TS 2068 with the TS-Pico.
What is the TS Pico?
The TS Pico is a modern expansion platform for the Timex/Sinclair 2068. It comes with software that lets you load and save from/to digital media. It plugs into the back of your TS 2068, works with your tape recorder, other digital devices, and gives you ultra-fast load and save.
At its heart, it’s a Raspberry Pi Pico, 512K Flash ROM, 512K RAM, an SD card slot and supporting circuitry that connects to your Timex/Sinclair 2068.
It can be a lot of things because you can program the Pico in MicroPython. Talking to it from BASIC or machine language is as simple as an OUT/IN statements.
The TS Pico comes with a custom version of the TS 2068 ROM, on the Flash ROM, that enhances the TS 2068 BASIC with new commands that will let you load, run and save existing and new software.
How Does It Work?
The TS Pico extends the Timex/Sinclair 2068 BASIC LOAD and SAVE commands with a special prefix that sends commands to the Pico processor.
LOADing a File
The TS Pico supports .TAP files, a very common file format for the ZX Spectrum and TS 2068. TAP files are faithful re-creations of the data stored on a cassette tape and, like a cassette tape, you have to put the TAP file in the “player.” We call this “mounting the TAP file.”
Next, you use the standard TS 2068 LOAD command to load programs or files stored in the TAP file.
The following commands will mount the Spacewar TAP file and load the game:
LOAD “tpi:spacewar.tap”
LOAD “”
Modern Features
The TS Pico includes commands to:
- view the contents (directory) of the SD card
- view the contents of a TAP file
- move forwards and backwards in the TAP file
- switch to different ROM images
- use the on-board static RAM
How many devices can my 2068 support?
At the very least, the original 2068 power supply can run the TS Pico.
The John Oliger disk drive system used a similar expansion bus and supported up to 4 cards with the standard 2068 power supply. Since your 2068 power supply is now 40 years old, you may want to consider replacing it with a modern switching power supply.
Expansion Bus Options
You’ll need an expansion bus to use the TS-Pico with your Timex/Sinclair 2068. If you don’t have one already, please add one of the options below to your cart.
The expansion board features an external power connector and jumpers that let you select which power source is applied to each slot (TS or external) as well as for the pass through connector. Between the slots are jumpers that facilitate passing the /BE signal forward to a special, unused slot pin.
The expansion board features an external power connector and jumpers that let you select which power source is applied to each slot (TS or external) as well as for the pass through connector. Between the slots are jumpers that facilitate passing the /BE signal forward to a special, unused slot pin.
See the TS Pico in Action
| Version | TS Pico and Expansion, TS Pico, TS Pico PCB and all parts, PCB and ROM, Bare PCB, Expansion board, Expansion PCB with all parts, Expansion PCB |
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