ZX Spectrum +2A

This is definitely not a real Spectrum. Spectrums +2 and +3 are Amstrad computers sold under Sinclair brand. It's similar to ZX Spectrum 128K: It has 128K of RAM, advanced sound circuit, 48K BASIC compatibility mode and boot menu which allows to load software without BASIC typing.
As ZX81 and Spectrum 48K were good to show that programming is not a magic, +2 was introduced to show that user may just put a tape, select "LOAD" and run the software.

Manufacturer	Sinclair / Amstrad
Origin	UK
Year of unit	1988
Year of introduction	1986
End of production	1990
CPU	Z80A
Speed	3.5MHz
RAM	128K
ROM	64kB
Colors:	8x2=16
Sound:	3-channel AY-3-8912
OS:	128K BASIC 48K BASIC
Display modes:	Text: 32x24 Graphics: 256x192


Media:	Built-in tape recorder.
		Power supply:
		6-pin DIN female at the computer: 1,2 - +5V DC, 2A 3,4 - +12V DC, 200mA 5 - -12V DC, 50mA 6 - Ground
I/O:	2 * Joystick System bus RF RGB Sound output One serial with MIDI function Second serial port (AUX) Centronics-like printer conn.






Possible upgrades:	Not known, but possible.
		Accessories in collection: Sinclair joystick Sinclair Magnum light gun
Software accessibility:	Easy (TOSEC, Spectrum 48K compatible)

My unit comes from an "action pack" which contained +2A, Sinclair Magnum light gun and a set of tapes with "007: James Bond" games. These packs were sold mainly in UK.

The main difference between +2 and +2A was case color and tape recorder buttons (in +2 labels were printed on keys, in +2A/B they're above keys).
The differences between +2A and +2B are very small - they're result of moving production to China and changing technology.

Contents:

Starting:

It's a very simple computer - it displays a semigraphical menu allowing you to select what you want to do. You can load a tape without typing Basic instructions (Loader), use a new BASIC (yes, you have to type complete BASIC instructions, no one-key typing), use calculator (which is like you put everything you type on PRINT statement) or go to more or less compatible ZX Spectrum 48K Basic.

Recording media

It's a Spectrum. You do everything like in an original ZX Spectrum when recording tapes. The same file formats, the same players, sometimes their settings differ.

To bypass using of tape, you can use a car cassette adapter - it works, I checked it, but you have to carefully tune the volume to the point in which it works.

Pinouts:

RGB Video:

1 - +12V
2 - GND
3 - Audio out
4 - /Composite sync
5 - +12V
6 - Green
7 - Red
8 - Blue

Composite sync is TTL, but RGB is analogue.

Joystick (I'm not sure about this pinout):

1 - n.c
2 - Common
3 - n.c
4 - Fire
5 - Up
6 - Right
7 - Left
8 - Common
9 - Down

AUX connector:

1 - GND
2 - OUT_0
3 - IN_4
4 - OUT_1
5 - IN_5
6 - +12V

These are I/O lines of AY-3-8912.

RS232/MIDI connector:

1 - GND / Midi return
2 - TxD
3 - RxD
4 - DTR
5 - CTS / Midi data out
6 - +12V

Printer:


COMPONETS	SOLDER
1 - STROBE 2 - D0 3 - D1 4 - D2 --[KEY]-- 5 - D3 6 - D4 7 - D5 8 - D6 9 - D7 10 - nc 11 - BUUSY 12 - nc 13 - nc 14 - GND 15 - nc 16 - GND 17 - nc	1-8, 10, 15 - GND All other NC.

Links:

http://www.worldofspectrum.org - ZX Spectrum archive.
http://alistairsserver.no-ip.org/public/spectrum/schematics/ - ZX Plus schematics
http://k1.spdns.de/Vintage/Sinclair/86/ZX%20Spectrum%2B2A%2C%20%2B2B/ - A good vintage computer site with many useful informations.