iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 5h

I was lucky, I bought mine in the 80s before the prices went silly.

My incredibly expensive professionally calibrated tape winding device....

Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 7h

If the tape inside is a write-off, like one of my 3D Monster Maze tapes was, I went for the option of replacing the tape inside the cassette with half a C15. blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/07/3d-m...

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 19h

A text editor and a command line assembler. Because that's the way I have been doing it since the 80s.

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 29/09/2026

Sorry about that. I might be able to put together an upgrade kit, send me a DM if you are interested.

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 29/09/2026

I am afraid not, it will be versions shown on their site. The newer versions are on Tindie or direct from me.

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 27/09/2026

New blog post - A new multi-standard 9 way D joystick interface for the Minstrel 4th and RC2014. blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/09/tyne... This card can be configured as * Boldfield (Jupiter Ace) * ZXpand IO port (ZX81) * Kempston (ZX81, ZX Spectrum) standards Available as kit or assembled.

The new Minstrel Joystick V2.0 Multi-Standard 9 way-D interface for Minstrel 4th and RC2014.

Minstrel 4th the Minstrel Joystick V2 and ZIP stick

Paul Farrow's ZX81 Kong running on ZX81 BASIC for Minstrel 4th supports the Kempston interface standard.

David Stephenson's Zevious Seven running on ZX81 BASIC for Minstrel 4th supports the Kempston, Boldfield and ZXpand interface standards.

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 27/09/2026

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 25/09/2026

I don't know, but they're multiplying. (this one was something I built for @futurewas8bit.bsky.social blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2017/04/divm... )

Mysterious black box with 5 wires and three illuminated buttons.

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 24/09/2026

They are often my first choice, but recently the delivery has been getting worse. To be fair, that is more the fault of DHL who seem happy to destroy their brand by associating it with bottom of the league delivery services.

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 24/09/2026

On the positive side, they have real human beings doing support, and they were very helpful and have arranged the replacement part and suggested the alternate delivery options.

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 24/09/2026

All the bits I needed have finally arrived. Well, 90% of the bits. 5 bags of 2, one of which only had one part in. DHL had completely wrecked the other parcel. Luckily the parts inside were in IC tubes, so survived. I may consider the £15 delivery by UPS option next time I order anything fragile.

The chip in the bottom bag is singing "All by myself...."

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 23/09/2026

I am sure it didn't use to be this bad when they used Parcel Force, but not impressed by DHL eCommerce or Evri or Hermes or White Arrow or whatever they are called this week.

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 23/09/2026

Update: the order was indeed split into two. The parts I didn't need were dispatched at 2PM, the parts I actually needed were dispatched at 10PM. Both parcels have made it to the local depot and onto a van. It's now past midday, I am not expecting them to go out for delivery, but we will see.

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 22/09/2026

... Parts I don't really need get shipped separately. ... Parts I actually need get delayed and are shipped the next day. ... Parts I don't really need get stuck at delivery depot. ... Both parcels finally get delivered together, 2 or 3 days later. Usually covered in footprints or tyre marks. 2/2

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 22/09/2026

My experience ordering parts from a certain UK electronics supplier: Go to site, search for part number - not found Try half a dozen search terms until I find the part, with the exact part number I searched for before. Need to spend more to get free shipping, order so parts I don't really need. 1/2

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 22/09/2026

Happy Birthday to the Jupiter Ace. If you fancy a bit of Forth (or ZX81 BASIC, ZX80 BASIC or Lambda 8300 BASIC) with added RC2014 expansion and maxed out 51K of RAM, check out the Minstrel 4th. www.tindie.com/products/tyn... Message me direct if you want to order from outside the UK.

Minstrel 4th V4.52 with Forth keyboard overlay

Minstrel 4th with the new Multi-standard 9 way D joystick interface (Boldfield / ZXpand / Kempston).

Minstrel 4th keyboard overlays for Forth, ZX81 BASIC, ZX80 BASIC and Lambda 8300 BASIC.

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 20/09/2026

New blog post - Continuing with the ZX81 repairs, this time I turn my attention to the rather tatty case and membrane. blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/09/zx81...

ZX81 case and membrane in need of some TLC.

I don't know why the membrane was covered in tape?

The final result, not bad, from a distance of several hundred yards.

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 20/09/2026

New blog post - Continuing with the ZX81 repairs, this time I turn my attention to the rather tatty case and membrane. blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/09/zx81...

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 18/09/2026

Another ZX81 repair in 4 photos. This is the second board, and was covered in more detail in this weeks blog post. blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/09/zx81... Tune in on Sunday to see part 3, covering restoration of the case and membrane.

Broken ZX81 board with three flaky sockets and a soldered in RAM chip.

Testing with known working original chips.

Finished board with 16K RAM upgrade and EPROM ROM replacement, switching regulator and a heatsink on the ULA.

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 18/09/2026

That is assuming the voltmeter on the PSU is accurate, it is just as likely to be out as any of the others.

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 14/09/2026

Ah, the classic "Keyboard error or no keyboard present" ... "Press F1 to continue" combination.

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 13/09/2026

New blog post - The second ZX81 board repair. blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/09/zx81... This time with an internal 16K RAM upgrade, an EPROM ROM replacement and a switching regulator 7805 replacement.

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 13/09/2026

I did look into implementing that in logic as part of the Minstrel 3 design. I think I had it working, set via a DIP switch. It didn't make production as the board was too full and I needed to simplify things, so it got removed from the final version as I was going for ZX81 compatibility.

Minstrel 3 prototype V3.1 DIP switches, 7 is "Turbo Disable"

ZX81 issue one and Minstrel 3 V3.5.2 I think, the first production boards.

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 13/09/2026

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 09/09/2026

A ZX81 repair in 4 photos. Or if you want more details (and another 38 photos), you can check out the full blog post. blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/09/zx81... Part 2 is up on Patreon now if you can't wait (and/or want to support the creation of more of this stuff) www.patreon.com/tynemouthsof...

Broken ZX81 board with three empty sockets

New sockets fitted (and damage from a previous repair fixed.

Testing with Minstrel Expansion Bus for power, Minstrel keyboard, ZX81 membrane, and known working chips including a ULA in a ZIF socket.

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 06/09/2026

New blog post - The first of a series of ZX81 repairs - blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/09/zx81... I couldn't find any of my ZX81s, but I did find a box with three "untested" boards. They can't all be broken, can they?

K cursor ready with Minstrel ZXpand II banner.

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 06/09/2026

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 01/09/2026

I thought Tripods series 3 was still out to competitive tender...

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 01/09/2026

Where does the new Minstrel ZXpand II fit, compared to the other? * Minstrel ZXpand - SD, ZXpand Joystick, Kempston Joystick - Needs external ROM + wire * Minstrel ZXpand II - SD, ZXpand Joystick, Kempston Joystick, Overlay ROM * ZXpand / ZXpand+ - SD, ZXpand Joystick, Overlay ROM, RAM

Minstrel ZXpand, Minstrel ZXpand II, ZXpand+

Minstrel ZXpand II plugged into Minstrel 3

No replacement ROM and wire to jumper block is required.

Can also be used with a ZX81 or TS1000, but an internal RAM upgrade is recommended. e.g. https://blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2017/10/zx81-internal-16k-ram-reversible-version.html

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 30/08/2026

New blog post - Introducing the new Minstrel ZXpand II - SD card and joystick interface for the Minstrel 2, Minstrel 3 and a ZX81 or TS1000 with an internal RAM upgrade. blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/08/mins... Shipping worldwide, but as per last week, please contact me if you are interested.

The Minstrel ZXpand II with horizontal pin header connection.

The Minstrel ZXpand II with vertical pin header connection, plugged into a Minstrel 2 with 4K BASIC.

The Minstrel ZXpand II with horizontal pin header connection soldered direct to a Minstrel 3.

The Minstrel ZXpand II with vertical pin header connections in a Minstrel Expansion Bus plugged into a TS1000 with an internal RAM upgrade.

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

This @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk blog blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/08/time... rekindled my interest in maze generation, and I delved into Eller's Algorithm which generates perfect mazes (weblog.jamisbuck.org/2010/1W2/29/...). Here's my Forth implementation - github.com/markgbeckett...

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 30/08/2026

There are a lot of homebrew games from the last 20 or 30 years which support Kempston or ZXpand joystick interfaces. And for any that don't the Minstrel ZXpand II can inject joystick movements as key presses into anything that uses INKEY$ to read the keyboard.

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 30/08/2026

Thanks to @chrisg.com for helping with that, it's all posh newfangled https links now.

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 30/08/2026

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 28/08/2026

blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/01/mins...

Minstrel joystick, Kempston compatible joystick interface for Minstrel 2, 3, ZX80 or ZX81 (via Minstrel Expansion Bus)

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 28/08/2026

No, not the Minstrel 2. There are some specially written flicker-free games that will run, but most graphical ZX81 games need NMI compute and display (slow) mode, which the ZX80 and Minstrel 2 do not have. You need a Minstrel 3, it runs nicely on there thanks to all the extra chips.

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Sinclair Research @sinclairresearch.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Brilliant repair walkthrough on a Minstrel 4th - the ZX81-compatible clone from Tynemouth Software. Tracks down a video display fault through clever debugging with the Lambda 8300 ROM. Love this kind of detective work! blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/0…

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 26/08/2026

I had to read that twice, the first time was "why would they sent datasettes into space?"

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 25/08/2026

It will probably end up being another of those things that doesn't end up being fully implemented for fully enforced, like the documentation and registration in every country, or the €3 per item type charge. But one day, one of these ill thought out rules will be the one that finally finished it.

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 25/08/2026

I'll probably get the quote wrong, but it was something like "Most people pay taxes. Rich people pay accountants. Very rich people pay lawyers. Very very rich people pay politicians."

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 25/08/2026

It amazes me that legislation like this keeps getting through and nowhere along the line do any of our alleged representatives consider how this might impact anything other than large corporations. All I can say is, if you want something from a small seller, buy it now, whilst you still can.

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 25/08/2026

I imagine "I installed <insert name of your favourite distro>, it just worked, I am happy" doesn't make a very interesting video.

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L Break Into Program @breakintoprogram.co.uk · 23/08/2026

Finally got around to reading this - an interesting write-up of an almost-working Minstrel and a sound explanation of the diagnostic process involved.

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 23/08/2026

No way I can comply with representation in 27 countries at my scale. It hasn't affected me yet, nor has the €3 charge. I am just trying to keep going as long as I can, dealing with the immediate problems as they occur. Maybe one of the marketplaces will step up to the mark and provide a solution?

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 23/08/2026

New blog post. I have quite a few posts written and ready, but all waiting on one things or another, so this is an update on the international shipping situation and the best way to order from me. blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/08/upda... (sorry, if it's a bit ranty and a wee bit political)

A pile of more parcels ready to ship. From July 2025, when it was a little easier to ship internationally that it currently is and as a result I was getting a lot more orders.

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16k should be enough for anyone 🇦🇺 @zx81keyboardadventure.com · 22/08/2026

Zevious Seven has now been release on Cassette by Cronosoft On Tape: cronosoft.fwscart.com/product/zevi... Digital Copy: zx81keyboardadventure.itch.io/zevious-seven #ZX81 #retrogaming #indiedev

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Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 21/08/2026

The big magnifier is essential these days. Ten years ago @futurewas8bit.bsky.social and I were running through all sorts of mods like these whilst working on the divMMC future. Don't think either of us would be doing things like that now. From - blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2018/01/desi...

divmmc future RC5 with bodge wires. (whatever happened to RC4?)

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