RETROPIE on a Pi zero in a ZX spectrum case with rubber keyboard working

[Lgodinho]

Hello everyone,

Things evolved a lot and I decided to engage in this new project.
After giving myself a lot of trouble to make the Retropie software work with the ZX Spectrum keyboard script and a lot of ingenuity to get all the hardware to fit into the ZX Spectrum case.
I am proud to have succeeded this task!
Hereunder, some pictures of my ZX Spectrum case with the keyboard membrane connected to the GPIO pins of the Raspberry PI Zero.

[Nitrowing]

Good job

[oO cozy Oo]

Well done ! Nostalgia a wonderful thing

Goed gedaan ! Nostalgie een prachtig iets

[Lgodinho]

Mon ami, vous avez vu juste !
Les années 80 ! Quelles années merveilleux...

My friend, you are right!
The 80s ! What wonderful years...

[Lgodinho]

Project finished !
Some aesthetic and functional changes (addition of a USB sound card).

[Pegaz]

Project finished !

Nice job, indeed.
Do you use SinclairIan project as a base or plain Retropie with keyboard script ?
Maybe you can post a video so we can see it in action.
I haven't used RetroPie with the Pi Zero, so I'm wondering if you managed to reduce the boot time ?
On the pi3, its possible to speed up the boot process quite a bit, by turning off some unnecessary Raspbian startup services.
btw, for the resolution I recommend mode 19 (720p) 50hz as good compromise.
On a standard LCD TV, the scrolling is perfectly smooth.
With 1080p, the image is somehow too sharp and pixelated.
Alternatively, its possible to set mode 21 (576i) 50hz, which is a good option for various flicker free interlaced demos, gigascreen effects etc.

[Lgodinho]

I'm using plain Retropie with the keyboard script.
Regarding the zxscanner.py file, I've changed the one from the SinclairIan project
to get through the special button F1, F2... F10, and make the keyboard more functional in retropie emulators.
Reducing boot time is not essential for me! I'm still from the time when games were loaded in K7.
As for the resolution, I'm using a Gaming monitor as you can see in the above picture.
When I have time I'll make a small demo video for you all.

[Andre Leao]

Wonderful!

[Lgodinho]

In honor of the ZX Spectrum 48K !!!
The satisfaction of a dream come true...

[Lgodinho]

Hi friends,
Another step forward!
I've managed to put a raspberry 3+ into the case of a ZX spectrum 48K.
I've also improved the quality of the materials and the resistance of the various components.
Retropie works very well with the new hardware and now it emulates PS1 games as well and in the games menu of each emulator It's also possible to see the demo of each game with video and sound with fluidity.
What more can be said ! You can't stop progress...

[Lgodinho]

Hello Pegaz,
I took your advice given the limitations of the raspberry Pi Zero and upgraded to a Pi 3A+. I also set the resolution to 19(720p) 50hz mode for PS One games because my TV (Panasonic plasma) does not accept any other resolution mode with this emulator.
Now, I can also allow myself to have the video in the games presentation menu for all systems (ZX, C64, Arcade, NeoGeo, FBA, GBA, PSX and PC (DOSBOX)).
And, of course, now PSX and PC games work perfectly.
Attached, some photos of the upgrade in my prototype 0 (Black).
Regards,
Luis






Edited by admin

[Pegaz]

@Lgodinho

It looks great.
Just as I planned to do it myself a few years ago and I still have almost all the necessary parts to assemble whole machine.
Some other things just pulled me in a different direction, but I didn't give up, for sure.
Congratulations, good job indeed.

[Lgodinho]

@Lgodinho

It looks great.
Just as I planned to do it myself a few years ago and I still have almost all the necessary parts to assemble whole machine.
Some other things just pulled me in a different direction, but I didn't give up, for sure.
Congratulations, good job indeed.

Hi Pegaz,
Thank you very much for your answer.
You should do it. It's really a nice project and if you need help from me, don't hesitate!
Concerning the software (retropie with the script for the ZX keyboard), if you want, I can send you by post the image of my micro SD card (128GB).
Luis

[Pegaz]

Hi Pegaz,
Thank you very much for your answer.
You should do it. It's really a nice project and if you need help from me, don't hesitate!
Concerning the software (retropie with the script for the ZX keyboard), if you want, I can send you by post the image of my micro SD card (128GB).
Luis

Thank you for your kind offer.
In fact I tested the software part a long time ago, but then some other things occupied me and this mini project remained on hold.
There's so much going on in this retro scene, sometimes it's hard for me to focus on just one thing.

[Lgodinho]

Thank you for your kind offer.
In fact I tested the software part a long time ago, but then some other things occupied me and this mini project remained on hold.
There's so much going on in this retro scene, sometimes it's hard for me to focus on just one thing.

I understand !
For me, this project is more of a hobby and I do it at my own pace.
However, I intend to make a small production to give to some childhood friends and especially to my brother in memory of the good times spent together in the 80s.
I've already 2 prototypes, one black and one white, and the materials to build another 4 more.
The final model will not have neither the special button for the keyboard, nor the sound card since the PI 3A+ already has it.
Good luck to you,
Luis

[Lgodinho]

Project finished. The very limited production starts …
This is my first Retro Gaming ZX SPECTRUM Console (serial number: 01).
A few photos of same aspects of the assembly parts.



Material for the support:
4 x screws
4 x nuts
6 X washers
Attention ! It is necessary to cut off the excess metal from the two USB port fixings on the back of the board.


Material for membrane contacts:
Female/Male 'Extension' Jumper Wires - 20 x 6"
2 X Mini PCB
Keyboard membrane connector - 5 way type (Left side)
Keyboard membrane connector - 8 way type (right side)
8 X 1N4148 Diodes


Cut the male connections of the jumper wires to solder on the PCB boards and save the female ends of the wires to connect to the Raspberry GPIO's pins.
Please note the orientation of the membrane connectors and the position/orientation of the diodes (black line).


Material for this phase:
Micro SD Extension Cable - 45cm
4-Port USB Hub for Raspberry Pi


You also need:
Electrical silicone gun 12mm (to fix components)
Double-sided adhesive tape (to attach the USB Hub and Micro SD Extension Cable)
Insulating tape (to insulate the connections of the jumper wires to the GPIO)


Attention! Remove the plastic protections from the female connections of the jumper wires and insulate them before connecting to the Raspberry GPIO's pins in order to be able to close the ZX Spectrum case properly.
Of course! You also need to cut the upper and down part of the ZX case for the USB hub, the micro-SD and HDMI entries.
Enjoy !

[Lgodinho]

Regarding the connections between the keyboard membranes and the GPIOS pins, see the diagram below.