In today's video, I am repairing some rare Issue 1 ZX Spectrums and bringing them back to life! Huge thanks to PCBWay for sponsoring this video. Check them out here: https://www.pcbway.com/

Working on a batch of original Sinclair ZX Spectrum Issue 1 computers requires a careful approach to preserve their history. I tackle several repairs across multiple boards, diagnosing a missing power rail caused by a faulty TR4 transistor and replacing a blown 7805 voltage regulator with a 7805.

I also step through the process of locating and replacing failed upper RAM chips on a delicate 32K daughterboard by tracking the CPU data lines. Finally, I perform a fully reversible composite video modification to bypass the RF modulator and improve the display output. These early serial number machines are incredibly rare, so my focus is strictly on getting them functional again while leaving the original aesthetics and components as intact as possible.

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If you'd like to help keep the lights on (and the tools plugged in), my Patreon is the best way to do it. Patrons get ad-free early access to videos, behind-the-scenes updates, and entry to a super secret Discord channel — plus my sincere gratitude, which is worth roughly what you'd expect.

▸ Patreon: https://patreon.morefunretro.co.uk/

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There's also the Retro Hardware Discord, where people who enjoy this sort of thing gather to talk about it. It's better than it has any right to be.

▸ Retro Hardware Discord: https://discord.gg/tsAbuAfqf9

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Second Channel: @morefunretro2