Feature Request: ability to save to "tape"

[bbosnjak2]

It would be great to have the ability to save-to-tape in the ZX81 core, for example to the second SD. Any format (e.g. P, TSZ, wav) would be satisfactory.

[sorgelig]

If there is HW addon for ZX81 similar to DivMMC on ZX, then i would look into implementation.

[bbosnjak2]

The ZXpand is such an addon, which I actually have for my physical zx81/ts1000. It also includes additional RAM, a sound chip, and a joystick port. But perhaps the DOS ROM and circuitry could be gleaned for inclusion in the core.

The hardware is available at https://www.sellmyretro.com/offer/details/40565 (batches are produced every so often once enough orders have been placed).

The software is available at https://github.com/charlierobson/ZXpand-Vitamins/wiki/ZXpand---Online-Manual.

[sorgelig]

hmm... looks like not an open hardware. No sources available. It seems uses modern MCU which won't fit MiSTer FPGA. DivMMC for ZX is simple addon with bare logic/ROM of the same age as ZX Spectrum.

[bbosnjak2]

I looked around for others, and only found one other (a modern ZX81 clone called The Minstrel), but again proprietary.

What about implementing the save audio? On the ZX-Spectrum core when I execute SAVE, I get the video/audio of the save. On the ZX81 core I only get a blank screen - no audio and no video flashing. The audio I could capture and convert to P. It would be a cumbersome round trip (load - save - load) but feasible.

I very much appreciate you engaging me in this Feature Request. Thank you for your time and consideration!

[sorgelig]

ok. i will look into audio output

[bbosnjak2]

This is curious: the sourceforge EightOne ZX81 emulator (probably the best there is, and supports pretty well everything, like printer, audio, etc.) includes software emulation of ZXpand (which it terms a "patched ROM").

https://sourceforge.net/projects/eightyone-sinclair-emulator/

Perhaps this opens some doors to code, perhaps even as a new and separate core?