Yes, the arrays look right, I couldn't see clearly in the previous photo. Looking at the screen, ZW80 BBSJC suggests you have a problem on the A0 line, a short somewhere? (X=$61, but you see W=$60, A=$38, but you see B $39)

Check the manual, it looks like you don't have any of the DIP switches on, so there will be no clock.

New blog post - Speeding Up a Timebomb blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/08/time... Timebomb is a nice little VIC20 BASIC game, but the maze generation at the start was very slow, so I rewrote it in 6502 assembler. This one contains lots of hints and tips for VIC20 BASIC and 6502 assembler coding.

New blog post: Changes to international shipping rules mean I now ask you to contact me and tell me what you want (and which options) and your address and I will get you an accurate price. blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/07/game... If you want to know why, read on, otherwise give this one a miss.

New blog post - Updates to the PET ROM/RAM board, and the places I sell things. blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/07/pet-... Lots of new options, as well as Tindie, I am starting to list things on Lectronz, SmallRun and SellMyRetro, or contact me and order direct via PayPal or UK bank transfer.

New blog post - the repair of a Commodore PET 3032 board with no video output. blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/07/comm... Also a capacitor that is looking decidedly unwell.

New blog post - Testing a not-quite-a-ZX-Printer on a not-quite-a-ZX81. blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/07/test... But an Alphacom 32 on a Minstrel 3 or Minstrel 4th is close enough, and works impressively well.

The ZX81 is missing a \ character, which stops it doing the standard 10 PRINT maze program. The Lambda 8300 is based on the ZX81, but does have two diagonal black and white boxes. That turned out quite nicely, not optimised for speed or anything. From blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/06/lamb...

As well as Jupiter Ace Forth, the Minstrel 4th can also run * Enhanced Ace Forth with support for serial comms * ZX80 BASIC * ZX81 BASIC * Lambda 8300 BASIC * ZX-Forth * Microprossor MPF-I and I am sure more to follow github.com/tynemouthsof... www.tindie.com/products/tyn...

I think this is the relevant section. If block count > 10, decrease padding. If > 100, decrease padding again.

New blog post - Adapting Lambda 8300 BASIC to run on the Minstrel 4th. blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/06/lamb... Getting it running, loading and saving, making sounds, playing games and even a 10 PRINT maze. Happen to need an excessively long blog post to read? then this is the one for you.

It took me a while to work that one out when I was going through the Commodore directly listings. Sometimes one or two fewer spaces before the filenames to make up for the 1-3 character line numbers that are used to represent block count. blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2023/12/comm...

Lovely Minstrel 2 build by Electron Greg with added perspex covers and ZX80 logo. How are you going to customise your Minstrel 2? www.tindie.com/products/tyn...

New blog post - Reverse Engineering the ROM on the Lambda 8300, a sort of ZX81 clone. blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/06/lamb... It is sort of a ZX81, but with quite a few differences. Full disassembly on github if you are interested. github.com/tynemouthsof...

Any recommendations for some good ZX81 programs which are written purely in BASIC? Nothing generated by Z88DK or similar. Nothing with machine code in REM statements etc. I have been using Perilous Swamp as an example, as this is BASIC only and quite a good game, but I am looking for some more.

Every time I see this post in my feed, it reminds me of something.

Well, not to give any spoilers, but I did spend a lot of time loading and testing various versions of Zevious Seven by @zx81keyboardadventure.com and Altairis by @loudscotsbloke.bsky.social

New blog post - Improving Tape Loading on Minstrels Episode 4 - A New Hope blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/06/impr... Which tape loading circuit did I finally go for, and how well does it work? The new Minstrel 4th with this circuit is shipping this week. www.tindie.com/products/tyn...

I think this is one of the nicest looking breadboards layouts I have created. This was to test out a brilliant idea I had in this week's blog post. blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/06/impr...

New blog post - I've had this great idea to improve tape loading on the Minstrels, using a rather unexpected chip. blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/06/impr... Includes the neatest thing I have ever assembled on a breadboard. The new Minstrel 4th is now available to pre-order, shipping next week.

I tend to default to typing "KILL JESTER" when I get bored of a text adventure. I must have typed it into a dozen different games. Only one responded correctly ... (also honorable mention for "FIND LIGHTSWITCH" from watching too much @robbotron.bsky.social )

Maybe they forgot to put it into fast mode to do the thinking?

New blog post - Second part of Improving Tape Loading on Minstrels. blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/05/impr... This time looking at the circuits used on the BBC Micro / Acorn Electron and the Oric-1 / Oric Atmos.

New blog post - The first post in a series looking at improving tape loading future revisions of the Minstrel 2, 3 and 4th. blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/05/impr... See the end of the post for discounts on Tindie and Patreon that have both landed at the same time.

If you login in and have a UK account, it will show the prices in GBP. UK postage is for special delivery for larger items. Cheaper items go tracked 24.

I am told it is a bank holiday weekend. So why not have 10% off everything in my Tindie store - www.tindie.com/stores/tynem... DIY computer Kits and upgrades for ZX80, ZX81, Jupiter Ace, Commodore PET. Test tools, USB keyboard adapters, RC2014. Shipping worldwide, US orders with tariffs paid.

I am sold out of Minstrel 4th kits at the moment. I will have some more soon, but I do have one assembled version 4.28 board with full sockets and keyboard. I am open to reasonable offers if anyone is interested in a bargain.

Not directly, different width and number of pins, and different enable logic and write cycle timing. Could be done with an adapter board, with the appropriate extra logic. Could replace 4 of them with an adapter board with a 6116. But it's a but pointless when you can get 32K with a PET ROM/RAM.

New blog post - A PET 2001 repair and general advice on the 6540 ROM and 6550 RAM chips it uses. blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/05/pet-... Hint - the short answer is get a PET ROM/RAM board.

Does this count as a Commodore 128?