Modding a Sinclair ZX80. A New-To-Me Old Computer. 

With the ZX81 being my first computer, I remember looking at the ZX80 as inferior and old news. These days, I can really appreciate it more for what it was, and the gorgeous aesthetic.

I appreciate the micro computers of the 8 and 16 bit era cheers.

The ZX80 was my first ever computer when I was 11. I was given the kit version as an xmas pressent by my folks. I spent 3 months putting it together, trying to make it work and finally succeeding. It taught me so much about computers, soldering and fault finding. Lovely to see one in receiving your skill and love.

Great video thank you. I have a ZX80 which I rescued from a house clearance (on the Isle of Man where I live) of a deceased gentleman who actually worked for Cambridge research in the 70's and early 80's. Amongst all the piles of Computer magazines, boxes of discs and wires, I rescued several spectrums, Wafadrive, OPUS, tons of Spectrum software, all working and a zx81 working. Then in a box of junk I found a PSU...ZX80 Power Supply it said on it... Dug a bit deeper and found a Sinclair Poly box, taped up. Undid the tape and like Howard Carter in 1922, I found wonderful things. A lovely ZX80 with manual, leads, and tapes. Couldn't believe it. Even better than that, I connected it up to my little 10" Bush B&W telly and it works perfectly. So whilst I really appreciated your video, I won't be doing that to my zx80! Cheers.

Here in Canada, the ZX80 came as a kit!! My friend got one, back in the day, and we soldered one up, and it worked!! Loads of fun! Thanks for the memories and for sharing

I remember making the zx81 back in the day. You could either buy it ready-made or buy a kit that you soldered together. I was cheap and did it myself. Nothing like modern-day electronics where you can't even see the parts you'r soldering.

Such a nice looking little machine

I can't speak for the C64's colour RAM, but when one of the RAM chips in my VIC20 decided to give up the ghost, the only 2114s I had lying around were the ones that came out of my ZX81 when I did the 16K upgrade, so replaced it with one of those as far as I can tell, it seems to work absolutely fine.

Great Video, One of my favorite electronic channels on RU-vid :)

Puts the heat sink back in the way. Classic! Haha

Nice job mate & have to say does look a lot better with the components fitting flat against the PCB, also where's the fun in taking the modulator casing off only once as it's not as if they're a pain lol. On my ZX81 my cock up while putting it back together was accidently putting the top of the modulator case on the bottom, which fitted fine no worries. However the top cover has a small cut in it so it fits round the connector (not needed on the bottom as the connector doesn't foul the cover)

Brilliant - love this sort of content!

Nice work. Loved the end of the vid (very Tarantino) but not as much as the finangling 😁😉

Oh Lee, you were a right "Pleb" this time :) proud of ya man.. all the same sh*t I do too lmao !🤣

Nice one Lee 😂 reminds me of that human league song "were only human born to make mistakes"😂 glad you left that in makes a good video🎉🎉

Brilliant video Lee, even better with the mistakes kept in. I had to laugh at the end, we've all been there forgetting to put the bottom back on the modulator. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

When I saw you putting the board in place before soldering the wires to the pcb, I was like Oh No. I was also wondering as RF Modules that I have seen all seemed to have a bottom metal cover as well. Great seeing the work, and how it looks without the back porch. Is that silicone insulated wire that you were abled to strip it like you did in the video?

Lovely video Lee. Loved the slideshow at the end.

Never had the pleasure of working on a ZX80, I have only ever seen pictures of them.

zx80 is one of the nerdiest retro

Muy buen trabajo.👍

Now, the question is am I brave enough to do this with my ZX80 :)

I am just wondering why you did not use the ferrite bead that is built in to the modulator housing to pass the 5v through ?

Its a really nice looking thing. I wish I had picked one up years ago when they were cheaper. At todays prices well no

19:09 Why did the screen flicker while typing on the keyboard?

That vice/pcb clamp thing looks useful! Where can I get that?

if you set the link in the zx80 for inverse video, white on black, a back porch mod isnt required ..😉

please dont 'gut'/remove modulators, you dont need to add composite/back porch, just fit it external to the modulator case, it wont be seen once the computer is cased up, the modulators are becoming rare and expensive to get 'new old stock', you can even rig them to feed composite and rf out simultaneously , so you can use the machine with either connection at will ...

Did I really hear you refer to an inductor as a variable capacitor?

Interesting video. I have to admit that I cringed every time you waved soldering iron over the ZX80 case. If it was me there would be 100% probability that iron fell off my hand and melt the case. You were lucky, though.