What would it take to get a Speccy/Atari ST to work in the US?

[AB Positive]

Basically I imagine there would be two problems:

1) PAL/NTSC issues... since the ST was sparse and the Times version of the Speccy near non-existant I figure UK versions are easier to find. I have a commodore monitor however I'm unsure if they're cross-compatible... is it possible to get a PAL computer to run in NTSC somehow?

2) Power - this is more simple as just a convertor to make the plug fit is sufficent yes?



With a brief dalliance in emulator form, I've found quite a few enjoyable games on both systems (Damn that Jet Set Willy for being so difficult...). Are there easy setups for us Yanks to get going on these?

[blue lander]

Just hook them up to a 15khz RGB monitor and you won't have any NTSC/PAL issues. I've hooked up a British Spectrum, Amstrad CPC 464, Acorn Electron, and an Acorn Archimedes to an American NEC Multisync II monitor with no problems whatsoever.

[Bojay1997]

Why bother importing an ST? You can still get new or like new US model STs from Best Electronics or B&C or just spend a little time on Craigslist or Ebay and one is bound to pop up fairly cheap.

As for a Spectrum, I have a late model +3 that I imported from the UK in the mid-90s. I just use a voltage converter and I have an RGB monitor that displays in PAL and NTSC that I use to connect to it, as well as most of my other PAL consoles and systems. It works quite well.

It is not, however, just as simple as making the plug fit. If the voltage is not converted, you will literally destroy your computer.

[icbrkr]

You could also get a Timex Sinclair 2068 and an 'emulator' cart, which is basically a Spectrum ROM on a cartridge - but good luck finding the last part. Supposedly you can swap out the main ROM in the 2068 and it will run as a Spectrum, though only about 95% compatible (good enough for most things).

[AB Positive]

Atari ST - US issued so yeah I guess there's no problem there. N/m that...

Speccy though... wouldn't it be easier to obtain a real Spectrum? I have a commodore 1701 monitor - any chance I could run it through that?

[blue lander]

I don't think the TS 2068 had 128k of RAM or the sound chip that later Spectrums had, did they? Considering how expensive and incompatible the 2068 is, I'd seriously recommend just getting one of the Amstrad built Spectrums and going the RGB route.

[icbrkr]

I don't think the TS 2068 had 128k of RAM or the sound chip that later Spectrums had, did they? Considering how expensive and incompatible the 2068 is, I'd seriously recommend just getting one of the Amstrad built Spectrums and going the RGB route.

I don't think many games took advantage of the 128K. Like the C128, they were programmed for the lower machine (ie, 48K Speccy). Expensive? Well I guess. I paid $5 for one of mine and $10 for the other.

I do believe the sound chip is the same actually but it was just a thought.

[Mayhem]

Nah, there's quite a few 128k game versions out there for the Speccy, a lot more compared to what was written for the C128.

[icbrkr]

Nah, there's quite a few 128k game versions out there for the Speccy, a lot more compared to what was written for the C128.

Now I'm curious - you know of a website listing them? Maybe it would be worth importing one.

[blue lander]

Lots of games have enhanced music when played on a 128k based system. The only one I can think of the top of my head is one of the later Monty Mole games.