has anyone loaded a game from an android phone (using playZX) to a real 48k spectrum?
I tried with all the settings and the sound turned up to 100% but got nothing.
playing tap through audio cable from phone
Re: playing tap through audio cable from phone
Issue 6A, works just fine* but...
1) Likely your phone does not have enough power. Assuming, of course, your phone has 3.5mm jack. Mine doesn't and different USB audio dongles gave different results, too. Some of them were not strong enough, I had to try 3 of them to find the one that works. That's the part I can understand and measure with oscilloscope
2) I have better results with mono audio cable. I do not understand that part because it's not stereo-to-mono cable with just one channel connected but a regular mono lead. For whatever reason it works much better than a stereo cable for me. Two channels combined, more current delivered??? Isn't stereo supposed to do the same, just combining signals at the Speccy's end? Anyway, that what helps me.
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Re: playing tap through audio cable from phone
Standby alert “There are four lights!”
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb
Looking forward to summer later in the year.
Re: playing tap through audio cable from phone
Oh, indeed, I did read those but somehow I forgot the explanation. A picture worth a thousand words, they say. So here are some pictures. It made it clear to me, hope someone else finds them useful. This is the original socket I removed from my 48k 6A, with the stereo jack to the left and TRRS (stereo + mic) to the right. RED is the tip — signal for mono, L+ for stereo. GREEN is the ground/common/sleeve — ground for mono, R+ for stereo. YELLOW and ORANGE aren’t really interesting in the context of Speccy because they are not connected to anything. Just in case YELLOW is sleeve/ground for mono, stereo and TRRS.
As we can see, stereo cable provides no ground connection and links right channel to Speccy ground. No wonder it doesn’t work
As you can see, they are exactly the same (Speccy’s tip is a tad longer).
As we can see, stereo cable provides no ground connection and links right channel to Speccy ground. No wonder it doesn’t work
ASCII version, in case picture disappears:
Code: Select all
Speccy | Mono | Stereo | TRRS
-------+--------+--------+------
SIGNAL | SIGNAL | LEFT | LEFT
GND | GND | RIGHT | RIGHT
N/C | | GND | GND
N/C | | GND | MIC
Just in case, here is the original Speccy cable (grey) and the modern mono cable (black).
As you can see, they are exactly the same (Speccy’s tip is a tad longer).
Re: playing tap through audio cable from phone
A lot of people suggested getting a stereo to mono cable. Cos I'm using a modern tape recorder which probably outputs a stereo signal.
Im going to try that, then if it doesnt work i'll buy an old school tape recorder that outputs mono.
Im going to try that, then if it doesnt work i'll buy an old school tape recorder that outputs mono.
Re: playing tap through audio cable from phone
I made a little 9v amp with a 555timer and a few caps that could I powered from a splitter cable off the PSU. Using that fixed all my woes!
Re: playing tap through audio cable from phone
is that using an 80's tape recorder? or a modern one.
My modern tape recorder works better when I lower the volume. When I play sound through the speaker on full volume its very loud.
I can get the spectrum to accept the Program:(game name) thing when the border is red and blue...
but any normal loading after that when the border is blue and yellow seems to always fail. This is on a low volume setting.
A high volume setting doesnt work at all.
Re: playing tap through audio cable from phone
I had to learn a bit of electronics for my recent radio exams (I'm still rubbish though). How does a 555 oscillator act as an amplifier? You don't mean an LM386 audio amplifier do you?
Re: playing tap through audio cable from phone
Hi,
I can't remember exactly, was about 15years ago I made it, on a bit of perf board. I still have it so I'll find it later and take a pic.
I also added a little speaker and you could play music through it or use it as a small speaker for the spectrum.
It was probably a bit like this...
I can't remember exactly, was about 15years ago I made it, on a bit of perf board. I still have it so I'll find it later and take a pic.
I also added a little speaker and you could play music through it or use it as a small speaker for the spectrum.
It was probably a bit like this...
Re: playing tap through audio cable from phone
Thanks very much @Jbizzel,
I've only ever used 555 timers for flashing lights! I will certainly research that.
Much appreciated
I've only ever used 555 timers for flashing lights! I will certainly research that.
Much appreciated
Re: playing tap through audio cable from phone
It works/worked really well.
I went from having all the issues described in this post above, to having reliable discussion
I went from having all the issues described in this post above, to having reliable discussion
Re: playing tap through audio cable from phone
Just loaded commando from tape successfully.
Hopefully that doesn't mean most of my tapes are too old to be read.
Has anyone observed what percentage of games load after 40 years?
Hopefully that doesn't mean most of my tapes are too old to be read.
Has anyone observed what percentage of games load after 40 years?
Re: playing tap through audio cable from phone
Re: playing tap through audio cable from phone
I load games using an stereo cable and the option to invert channels in PlayZX. Zero issues, no hacks.