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MB03+ Ultimate: Difference between revisions
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The '''MB03+ Ultimate''' is a compact all-in-one interface, made by ''LMN128'', that replaces an assembly of more than 13 single hardware and system add-ons. It is compatible with many popular sound, graphics and memory expansions and also with several modern storage interfaces. The MB03+ '''''is not''''' a self-running ''FPGA'' computer, such as the ZX-UNO or the NEXT. | The '''MB03+ Ultimate''' is a compact all-in-one interface, made by ''LMN128'', that replaces an assembly of more than 13 single hardware and system add-ons. It is compatible with many popular sound, graphics and memory expansions and also with several modern storage interfaces. The MB03+ '''''is not''''' a self-running ''FPGA'' computer, such as the ZX-UNO or the NEXT. | ||
This interface provides graphic, sound and other hardware enhancements, even for [[ZX Spectrum 16K/48K|basic ZX Spectrum model]]. It imitates a lot of combinations of small single interfaces joined together to the computer and improves some functionalities of software, e.g. displays the ''Gigascreen'' without flickering. The basic concepts of the device include the possibility of using modern PC peripherals with an old 8-bit home computer. Operating systems in the MB03+ support standard PC FAT-formatted media: [[:wikipedia:SD card|SD card]] cards and [[:wikipedia:CompactFlash|CompactFlash]] cards. The MB03+ works with | This interface provides graphic, sound and other hardware enhancements, even for [[ZX Spectrum 16K/48K|basic ZX Spectrum model]]. It imitates a lot of combinations of small single interfaces joined together to the computer and improves some functionalities of software, e.g. displays the ''Gigascreen'' without flickering. The basic concepts of the device include the possibility of using modern PC peripherals with an old 8-bit home computer. Operating systems in the MB03+ support standard PC FAT-formatted media: [[:wikipedia:SD card|SD card]] cards and [[:wikipedia:CompactFlash|CompactFlash]] cards. The MB03+ works with PC USB mice and keyboards that support the [[:wikipedia:PS/2 port|PS/2]] protocol and it can be also connected to LCD TVs and PC monitors with [[:wikipedia:HDMI|HDMI]] input via an universal digital video output connector. | ||
All development and production of the MB03+ is a hobby | All development and production of the MB03+ is a hobby project on non-profit basis. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
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The story of the MB-family interfaces goes to 1990, when the '''AP-01''', a ZX Spectrum compatible computer was created by Slovak coder and designer ''Róbert Letko'', named ''MDV''. The computer consisted of various peripherals and supporting circuits: 8255, 8251, Z80-CTC, Z80-DMA and also with a floppy disk drive. Almost the same progressive equipment had an interface made by Slovak coder ''Slavomír Lábsky'' (''Busy''): WD2797 and Z80-DMA chips, 64KB battery-backed additional RAM, two 8255 with six parallel ports, memory LED maps and connectors for two disk drives. And so the name "'''MB'''" came from nicknames of the authors - MDV and Busy. | The story of the MB-family interfaces goes to 1990, when the '''AP-01''', a ZX Spectrum compatible computer was created by Slovak coder and designer ''Róbert Letko'', named ''MDV''. The computer consisted of various peripherals and supporting circuits: 8255, 8251, Z80-CTC, Z80-DMA and also with a floppy disk drive. Almost the same progressive equipment had an interface made by Slovak coder ''Slavomír Lábsky'' (''Busy''): WD2797 and Z80-DMA chips, 64KB battery-backed additional RAM, two 8255 with six parallel ports, memory LED maps and connectors for two disk drives. And so the name "'''MB'''" came from nicknames of the authors - MDV and Busy. | ||
Around 1996 the '''MB-01''' was substantially improved to the '''MB-02'''. Then two Moravian Speccy-fans, ''Last Monster'' and ''Blazko/systems'', associated in the ''8bc group'', made a new [[MB-02+]] with a RTC chip, a bigger RAM up to 512KB, a booting EPROM and 4 disk drives. About 90 MB-02+ units were produced and delivered mainly to Germany, Austria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Poland. After years, the design of the new MB03+ continues with the same philosophy of expanding the old good ZX Spectrum computer for modern times, in an effort to overcome the limitations that arise with new chips and modern peripherals when connected to older circuity of a 8-bit home computer. | Around 1996 the '''MB-01''' was substantially improved to the '''MB-02'''. Then two Moravian Speccy-fans, ''Last Monster'' (aka LMN128) and ''Blazko/systems'', associated in the ''8bc group'', made a new [[MB-02+]] with a RTC chip, a bigger RAM up to 512KB, a booting EPROM and 4 disk drives. About 90 MB-02+ units were produced and delivered mainly to Germany, Austria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Poland. After years, the design of the new MB03+ continues with the same philosophy of expanding the old good ZX Spectrum computer for modern times, in an effort to overcome the limitations that arise with new chips and modern peripherals when connected to older circuity of a 8-bit home computer. | ||
==Basic hardware== | ==Basic hardware== | ||
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The MB03+ is internally expandable (incl. every type of RAM), through two expansion sockets. | The MB03+ is internally expandable (incl. every type of RAM), through two expansion sockets. | ||
The hardware design meets the requirements of the [[ZXI standard|ZX Interface standard]], that is, as a ZXI™ compliant device, the MB03+ is inter-operable with other compliant interfaces without conflicts. | The hardware design meets the requirements of the [[ZXI standard|ZX Interface standard]], that is, as a ZXI™ compliant device, the MB03+ is inter-operable with other compliant interfaces without conflicts. It shares a common range of ZXi ports with the '''eLeMeNt ZX''' computer and also several ZXi ports with the famous ZX-Uno family. | ||
== Connectors and buttons == | == Connectors and buttons == | ||
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* Z80-DMA | * Z80-DMA | ||
* ''K-Mouse'' interface (3 buttons supported) | * ''K-Mouse'' interface (3 buttons supported) | ||
* PC keyboard | |||
===Graphics enhancements=== | ===Graphics enhancements=== | ||
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* [[ULAplus|ULA+]] colour palette | * [[ULAplus|ULA+]] colour palette | ||
* '''HiRes Colour''' graphic (HRC) of 512*192 pixels and 64*48 attribute cells | * '''HiRes Colour''' graphic (HRC) of 512*192 pixels and 64*48 attribute cells | ||
* '''HiRes Indexed Colour''' graphic (HRXC) with 32 indexed colours | |||
* 3 types of '''Gigascreen''' graphic mode | * 3 types of '''Gigascreen''' graphic mode | ||
* '''KeyLayer''' (Transparent) graphic mode | * '''KeyLayer''' (Transparent) graphic mode | ||
* '''Radastan''', ZX-Uno based graphic of 128*96 pixels with 16/256 (ULA+) colours | |||
* legacy TV scan-line mode (7 levels) | * legacy TV scan-line mode (7 levels) | ||
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==Emulation== | ==Emulation== | ||
The MB03+ is emulated | The MB03+ is emulated in the '''LnxSpectrum emulator''', that provides most functionalitites of the interface (except the General Sound IF) and can be used as a powerful software development studio for both LMN128's hardware. | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||