There has been some discussion here from time to time about a USB converter to use with ZX devices. We've had one here that we built quite some time ago using the FTDI FT232R chip. Several of the forum members have been using successfully it in Beta test and we finally got around to releasing it. There is more information on the USB-TTL adapter product page.
The second newly released product is a ZX Prototyping Kit. This kit makes it simpler to get a ZX-40 or ZX-40a up and running - almost as simple as it is for the ZX-24/a.
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- Don Kinzer
I have both of these circuit boards and did not run into any problems. They work as advertised. The USB converter is cheaper than most other ones that are compatible with ZBasic devices if you don't mind the fact that it is not enclosed.
Be careful on the two pairs of holes used for 0V and 5V. You need to use the one that matches the power busses on your breadboard (red on the left or red on the right). If you have breadboards with both orientations it might be safer to use female sockets (not supplied) and jumpers from the breadboard power bus to the circuit board.
At this point I should also mention that instead of using the '40 and '44 with the external support circuitry, it may be more productive to consider the ZX-24e/ZX-24ae devices. These devices expose all 32 I/O pins, contain all of the support circuitry including a socketed EEPROM, and fit into the space required for a 40pin DIP socket. They are pin compatible with their namesake ZX-24/Zx-24a devices and so can be used with the USB converter as well.
Be careful on the two pairs of holes used for 0V and 5V. You need to use the one that matches the power busses on your breadboard (red on the left or red on the right). If you have breadboards with both orientations it might be safer to use female sockets (not supplied) and jumpers from the breadboard power bus to the circuit board.
At this point I should also mention that instead of using the '40 and '44 with the external support circuitry, it may be more productive to consider the ZX-24e/ZX-24ae devices. These devices expose all 32 I/O pins, contain all of the support circuitry including a socketed EEPROM, and fit into the space required for a 40pin DIP socket. They are pin compatible with their namesake ZX-24/Zx-24a devices and so can be used with the USB converter as well.
Mike Perks
Two sources for SIP sockets are:mikep wrote:[...]it might be safer to use female sockets [...]
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- Don Kinzer