It must be! This is RF on my telly. A bit soft but perfectly acceptable.

Other than the keyboard, which feels to be made from polythene, I’m quite impressed with the Enterprise. The graphics sub-system seems extremely programmable and, from the number of fast and seemingly easy Spectrum and CPC game ports looks to be able to handle both types of screen mode.

The original... but that's only in the 128. RAM boards these days are a tad smaller.

The final version of the "EXDOS Floppy Controller, Compact version" case and "floppy hat" printed, painted and put together. All the design files have been uploaded and published on Thingiverse for everyone to use.

I just lifted pin 1 of a 27C512 and bodge wired it to pin 17 on U6, which is right next door.

The case for the Enterprise EXDOS floppy interface card and “Floppy Hat” module which sits on top is complete. I’ll package up the designs snd publish them next week.

I'm building a floppy interface for the Enterprise... But I don't need everything on the board. I'm not going to power anything else, so out with the on-board high power buck regulator and in with a 1A Traco. The ROM is in the cartridge, so no need for that. Only going to use 1 Gotek so 1 '240.

After checking the chip temperatures with a thermal camera I thought it wise to add a few heat sinks as some were getting very toasty. Ori copper h/s not enough. The CPU coukd do with one too but there’s too little space above it. If the big ‘sink interferes with RAM upgrade I can remove it.

Something arrived from Egypt yesterday… A British micro from the mid-80s, the Enterprise 64. Fully working except for the keyboard membrane, so a temporary solution in place until the one from RWAP arrives. Replaced the ROM with the latest version, which includes BASIC.

Less than a week until #RefroFest2026 in Swindon. Saturday sold out but still spaces on Sunday. I'll be...

Which did I own, back in the 80s? ZX81, ZX Spectrum 16K (upgraded to 48K & + case) and QL. I still own the same ones today, with the addition of more ZX81s, Spectrums (48K & Toastrack) and a couple of QLs. The most influential to me and my fav was the QL. For the World it would be Spectrum 48K.

Two weeks to go until #Retrofest2026. Finalising floppy disk images for Gotek drives and re-testing set-ups. Oh, look, Ceefax tells me “Look Mum No Computer” didn’t win last night. What a pity. Nice chap.

QL News 2026… I’m getting machines ready for some quantum leaping at Retrofest2026 (www.retrofedt.uk) in Swindon at the end of the month.

Well.. I’ve got the cached, recreated Ceefax and virtual modem stuff up and running again on the Pi400 so the ICL One Per Desk can access it. Today I’m putting the Microvitec CUB monitor on test to check that it’s not in need of TLC. This will be used by one of the QLs.

The Camputers Lynx reproduction build case has finally been finished. Once I get my act together I’ll upload the designs to Thingiverse for anyone to use.

It's that two steps forward, one step back type thing with the Lynx 128 reproduction build. The RAM refresh issue had been fixed by injecting the Z80 refresh signal directly into the main RAM, ORing it with the other /CAS signal using a bodge. The case is nearly there, other than printing problem.

Seeing as I’m awaiting the delivery of faster chips I thought i’d get on with designing and printing the case for the Lynx recreation. This is the test print of the top used to refine any issues. Printed in brown as it uses about a 1/4 of a reel of filament & not enough grey left. Needs tweaking.

By the way, this is what ChatGPT's artistic imps thought the book cover art may look like. Not quite up to the original books' level but quite fun.

OK, not QUITE fixed. After running nested for-next loops for a couple of hours the program was corrupted. Given how close to working this is it's going to be very difficult to diagnose the issue. The timing is so close to working as it's probably a couple of nanoseconds or less out of spec.

Well, well... Lynx 128K "sit rep"... It's now working! It was very forgetful. Changed 4164 RAM (TI 150ns & 120ns): No change. Changed CPU: no change. Theory was that it was a refresh timing issue, being too slow. Tried 80ns (non-TI) 41256 chips to see if it made things worse... Fixed problem!

The last of the chips for the Camputers Lynx 128K reproduction build arrived today. The good news: It mostly works. The keyboard types and I can run BASIC programs. The bad news: It doesn't run for long. Seems to be a main RAM refresh issue as if active machine runs for longer before crashing.

A little progress on the Lynx 128K repro build. Discovered that the TEA1002 needs 12V so rejigged the power to take 12V in and use a buck regulator to generate 5V. The "3A" device gets very toasty at 1A. More sockets installed, but not the 7 pin DIN as it has wrong footprint. Oh, and sound works!

The Camputers Lynx 128K repro build is continuing. The factory bodge has been identified and implemented. (Nearly) all of the chips arrived yesterday and after a "D'oh!" moment with the ROMs was overcome the machine started working (mostly). The keyboard has been built, except for the 72LS145.

Camputers Lynx 128 repro build status: waiting on chips, crystals and caps. I have managed to do some testing using a signal generator, some bodge wires and a LS08 instead of an LS09 in one position. Clock and reset circuits working. Even had the CPU trying to run code from the ROMs.

Got as far as I can with the Camputers Lynx 128K without the deliveries from Mouser, eBay and Cricklewood Electronics. Clock circuit tested with a signal generator, all good, and no magic smoke. I still need details on the required bodge wire between IC61 & IC46. Not written up anywhere! Help!

Yesterday I received a nice package... a reproduction motherboard and keyboard PCB for a Camputers Lynx 128K. It's one of the "Board Folk"'s recreations. Today I started fitting all the sockets... but ran out of 14 pin and 16 pin dual wipe sockets. RS order in. Resistors this afternoon!

And finally the windows are done. Signs and other detailing left to do along with the lighting but the main structure is complete.

More work done on the station building. Office doors and windows complete. Waiting room window and door structures modelled and printed but too windy outside to spray the glue on to affix the gel glazing. Also slight issue with one structure. Still, progress (mostly).

Despite the cold sapping my energy and brain power I managed some progress on the platform building today. Removed the original brick paper which got damaged by the brown Sharpie. And fitted new. Finished off the office glazing. Used the 45 year old "Rail Blue" paint for the doors.

More work on the roof of the reproduction of Bedford station’s island platform waiting room and offices. The roof is starting to come together now.