Joystick Interfaces
Most joystick interfaces which connect to the Spectrum do so via the expansion port, are digital, and generally conform to the Atari D-type sockets and wiring standard. Exceptions to these are the joystick ports on the +2 and +3 Spectrums, which have D-type sockets but are wired differently and will only accept Amstrad SJS1 joysticks, and analogue joystick interfaces which interpret joystick movements as varying electrical resistances which have to be converted to a digital output with an analogue-to-digital converter.
Several standards for interpreting joystick movements exist, namely Kempston (IN 31); Cursor (keys 5,6,7,8); Sinclair (keys 1,2,3,4,5 and 6,7,8,9,0). "Programmable" joystick interfaces can be made to simulate any or almost any keypress which can be made.
Many joystick interfaces will also include other features such as ROM sockets and sound synthesizers. Only interfaces which were sold firstly as joystick interfaces, with other features being extras, are shown. In other words an interface such as Games Ace is primarily a joystick interface with added sound, whereas if a sound amplifier is listed with a joystick port as a feature this would be in the section for sound amplifiers.
Several standards for interpreting joystick movements exist, namely Kempston (IN 31); Cursor (keys 5,6,7,8); Sinclair (keys 1,2,3,4,5 and 6,7,8,9,0). "Programmable" joystick interfaces can be made to simulate any or almost any keypress which can be made.
Many joystick interfaces will also include other features such as ROM sockets and sound synthesizers. Only interfaces which were sold firstly as joystick interfaces, with other features being extras, are shown. In other words an interface such as Games Ace is primarily a joystick interface with added sound, whereas if a sound amplifier is listed with a joystick port as a feature this would be in the section for sound amplifiers.
Digital Joystick Interfaces
Features
Original Price
AGF Programmable
Joystick ports and rapid fire with ZX81 through port.
Atari joystick compatible. Clip on connections simulate any of the 40 Spectrum keys. Eight way movement. No software required.
Came with 'Video Graffiti' demo program.
£33.95*1
£26.952
£24.95*3
*included VAT + £1 p&p
£26.952
£24.95*3
*included VAT + £1 p&p
AGF II
2 joystick ports with a ZX81 through port. Came with 'Video Graffiti' demo program.
£9.952
£19.95*3
*+£1 p&p
£19.95*3
*+£1 p&p
AGF Protocol 1
Fixed interface for Protek/Cursor control.
£10.95*x19
*+£1 p&p
*+£1 p&p
AGF Protocol 2
Fixed interface for Kempston compatiblity.
£10.95*19
*+£1 p&p
*+£1 p&p
AGF Protocol 3
Programmable interface for any joystick which simulates keypresses. Custom cards store joystick-keypress information. Supplied with a custom cards and 10 quick reference cards.
£19.95*19
*+£1.25 p&p
*+£1.25 p&p
AGF Protocol 4
Programmable and fixed for AGF, Kempston and ZX Interface 2. Supplied with 5 custom cards and 10 quick reference cards.
Early models were recalled20 due to an unreliable Kempston mode.
Early models were recalled20 due to an unreliable Kempston mode.
£10.95*19
*+£1.50 p&p
*+£1.50 p&p
Bud Interstate 31
Kempston compatible. Auto fire switch. Reset button included.
£11.952
Cambridge Intelligent Joystick Interface
Programmable with rapid fire and full width through port. 1K on-board memory.
£34.902
(Price includes joystick and tape)17
(Price includes joystick and tape)17
Cheetah 48K/128K
Single port interface. For 48K and 128K models.
£9.7516
Cheetah Spectrum Joystick Interface
Accepts Atari style joystick including Quickshot and Kempston. This interface appears to have a similar style case as the Cheetah 32K RAMpack and the Cheetah SpecDrum.
£11.50* - No rear connector21
£12.75* - with connector which allows peripherals to be stacked up21
*includes VAT @ 15% and p&p.
£12.75* - with connector which allows peripherals to be stacked up21
*includes VAT @ 15% and p&p.
COMCON
by FREL Ltd
Programmable joystick interface by means of six jumper leads. Interface works in parallel to keyboard. Compatible with any add-ons.
£19.95*17
*includes VAT @ 15% and p&p
*includes VAT @ 15% and p&p
Custom Cables International Programmable Joystick Interface
Programmable joystick interface. Interface in programmed using a BASIC program loaded from cassette. Accepts Atari-style joystick.
£15.00*32
dk'tronics Programmable
Programmable with full width through port. Programming cassette supplied.
17 directional movement. Microdrive compatible
£22.95*4
*+£1.25 p&p
*+£1.25 p&p
dk'tronics Dual
Port 1 is Sinclair compatible. Port 2 is Kempston compatible. No through port. Atari joystick compatible
£13.00*4
*+£1.25 p&p
*+£1.25 p&p
Switchable Joystick Interface
from Datel
Switchable between cursor, Kempston and Interface 2. Accepts 9 pin joysticks including rapid fire.
£8.99*22
£14.99* - with Quickshot II joystick22
*Post free
£14.99* - with Quickshot II joystick22
*Post free
Games Ace
from Datel
Kempston compatible. Accepts 9 pin joysticks including rapid fire. Includes controllable sound through TV.
£10.99*22
£17.99* - with Quickshot II joystick22
*Post free
£17.99* - with Quickshot II joystick22
*Post free
Turbo Ace
Switchable Joystick Interface
from Datel
Switchable between cursor, Kempston and Interface 2. Accepts 9 pin joysticks including rapid fire. Includes controllable sound through TV.
£22.99*23
*Post free
*Post free
Dove Microtronix
Kempston compatible. Fits dk'tronics keyboard. For use with Quickshot or Atari joysticks.
£9.95*15
*Suggested Retail Price includes 15% VAT.
*Suggested Retail Price includes 15% VAT.
Downsway
Programmable, no through port. Atari compatible.
£25.952
£22.955
£22.955
East London Robotics
Bare board. Uses metal clips to make connections to small pins. No through port (except for Trickstick).
£19.752
Electrotech Programmable
Bare board. Contains 2K RAM for storage of joystick movement to keypress information. Appears to work only with supplied joystick (pictured).
£43.7033
Fox
Programmable with full width through port. Microdrive compatible.
Built-in memory stores up to 16 different key tops. Atari joystick compatible.
£34.952
£28.50*5
*includes p&p
£28.50*5
*includes p&p
Fuller
Full width through port
£19.952
Interceptor Micros
Bare board. Two Atari-style joystick ports.
£15.9526
Jiles Standard
Kempston compatible. Atari/Le Stick compatible. Eight directions can be programmed from BASIC. Free drawing program.
£10.95*2
*includes p&p
*includes p&p
Jiles Dual
Kempston compatible. Psion/Melbourne House compatible.
Also cursor key (5,6,7,8,0) and Sinclair (6,7,8,9,0) compatible.
Atari/Le Stick compatible. Eight directions can be programmed from BASIC.
Free drawing program.
Also cursor key (5,6,7,8,0) and Sinclair (6,7,8,9,0) compatible.
Atari/Le Stick compatible. Eight directions can be programmed from BASIC.
Free drawing program.
£13.95*2
*includes p&p
*includes p&p
Jiles II
Programmable, no through port. From the image this appears to be a bare-board (no case) model.
£24.956
Jiles III
No through port. Like the Jiles II model, this appears to be a bare-board model.
£19.956
Spectrum KC Interface
from Nidd Valley Micro Products Ltd
Kempston compatible.
without through extender £8.95*31
without through extender+joystick £16.90*31
with through extender £9.95*31
with through extender + joystick £17.90*31
*includes VAT and postage
without through extender+joystick £16.90*31
with through extender £9.95*31
with through extender + joystick £17.90*31
*includes VAT and postage
Kempston
No through port. Joystick directions decoded through I/O port 31 considered industry standard.
Image shows interface with Competition Pro Joystick connected.
Image shows interface with Competition Pro Joystick connected.
£14.952
£11.50*9
*Price includes VAT and p&p
£11.50*9
*Price includes VAT and p&p
Konix Preditor
Two joystick ports. Complies with Kempston, Protek, and Sinclair left & right protocols. Also comes with filtered sound through television, and composite colour video monitor port.
Fits ZX Spectrum and ZX Spectrum+.
Fits ZX Spectrum and ZX Spectrum+.
£18.99*30
*Price includes VAT and p&p
*Price includes VAT and p&p
Mikro-Plus
Joystick interface bundled with the 'Shadow of the Unicorn' game. Contains a ROM with 16K of the game burnt in. Overlays the current ZX Spectrum ROM area which allows games programmers to use the ZX Spectrum's full 64K memory allowed by the Z80A processor.
£14.9527 28
Micro-Pad
Programmable, no through port
£23.002
Page Computing
Programmable with rapid fire switch.
£26.0024
+£1 p&p
+£1 p&p
Pickard
from Success Services
The Pickard Joystick Interface is a rectangular black plastic box with 40 jack plug sockets arranged in a four by ten fashion. Five jack plugs connect to an one of these sockets to allow a joystick to simulate any keypress. A circuit board from the unit connnects to the keyboard matrix sockets inside the Spectrum. Requires power from the ZX Spectrum power supply unit.
Accepts Atari and Atari style joysticks.
Measures: 4.5 inches x 3 inches x 1 inch.
Accepts Atari and Atari style joysticks.
Measures: 4.5 inches x 3 inches x 1 inch.
£18.95*29
£27.502
* +postage & packing
£27.502
* +postage & packing
Protek Switchable
No programming required. No additional software. No through port.
Compatible with Protek (cursor keys), Kempston and Sinclair by changing switch position.
Compatible with Atari / Quickshot joysticks.
Compatible with Protek (cursor keys), Kempston and Sinclair by changing switch position.
Compatible with Atari / Quickshot joysticks.
£14.952
£19.958
£19.958
Rainbow Electronics Programmable
Programmable. Diagonal positions can be programmed to any keys.
Also has an internal amplifier which connects to Spectrum's EAR or MIC socket.
Through port optional for extra £2
Also has an internal amplifier which connects to Spectrum's EAR or MIC socket.
Through port optional for extra £2
£24.00*7
*+£1 p&p
*+£1 p&p
RAM Spectrum Interface
Kempston compatible. Fits ZX Spectrum and ZX Spectrum+
Microdrive compatible.
Microdrive compatible.
£9.95*10
* +£1 p&p
* +£1 p&p
Sinclair ZX Spectrum +2/+3 ports
from Amstrad
2 joystick ports fitted as standard to ZX Spectrum +2/+3 (Amstrad models).
Keypress simulation is the same as the ZX Interface 2 but only SJS1 joysticks are compatible with +2/+3 ports.
For a pinout diagram of this interface click here.
Keypress simulation is the same as the ZX Interface 2 but only SJS1 joysticks are compatible with +2/+3 ports.
For a pinout diagram of this interface click here.
n/a - Fitted as standard to +2/+3 models.
SMT Joystick Interface
Programable 9-pin joystick interface.
£24.45*13
* +50p p&p
* +50p p&p
Solidisk Joystick Interface
Kempston Compatible.
£8.50 (VAT inclusive)25
+£1 p&p
+£1 p&p
Stonechip
Programmable, no through port
£24.952
Thurnall
2 joystick ports. Programmable, no through port
£24.952
Analogue Interfaces
Features
Original Price
Midwich joystick board
(shown with analogue joystick)
Bare board. Two 6-pin DIN sockets. I/O mapped and uses the ZN499E A/D converter.
Also works with ZX81.
Also works with ZX81.
£17.20 (kit)14
£22.95 (assembled)14
£4.50 (joystick uncased)14
£22.95 (assembled)14
£4.50 (joystick uncased)14
ROM Cartridge Interfaces
Features
Original Price
RAM Turbo
2 joystick ports, ROM cartridge slot and full width through port.
Fits both ZX Spectrum and ZX Spectrum+.
Microdrive compatible.
Fits both ZX Spectrum and ZX Spectrum+.
Microdrive compatible.
£22.952
£18.50*10
* +£1 p&p
£18.50*10
* +£1 p&p
Sinclair
ZX Interface 2
2 joystick ports, ROM cartridge slot. ZX81 style through port only supports Sinclair ZX Printer.
Image from 'Sinclair Special' promotional material depicts a ZX Interface 2 with 2 Planetoids cartridges,
one of which has been inserted into the unit.
Image from 'Sinclair Special' promotional material depicts a ZX Interface 2 with 2 Planetoids cartridges,
one of which has been inserted into the unit.
£19.952
Kempston Pro
Joystick Interface
3 joystick ports, ROM cartridge slot and compatible with ZX Interface 1.
Two of the joystick ports are Sinclair/Psion compatible, the third has a dual facility and can be either Kempston or cursor key compatible.
Two of the joystick ports are Sinclair/Psion compatible, the third has a dual facility and can be either Kempston or cursor key compatible.
£19.95*11
* includes p&p and VAT
* includes p&p and VAT
AGF Romslot
Not a joystick interface but just a ROM cartridge slot which is compatible with ZX Interface 2 software.
Includes 'Restart' feature and a full-width expansion port.
Includes 'Restart' feature and a full-width expansion port.
£9.95*12
* +50p p&p
* +50p p&p
References
1. "AGF advert", Your Computer, August 1983, p.862. Scott, A., author, The Spectrum Add-on Guide, 1983, p.20
3. "AGF advert", Sinclair User, November 1984, p.175
4. "dK'tronics advert", Sinclair User, November 1984, p.46
5. "Hardware News", ZX Computing, February/March 1984, p.86
6. Adams, Stephen, "Aiming to speed the response", Sinclair User, December 1983, p.72/73
7. "Rainbow's Spectrum Programmable Joystick Interface advert", Your Spectrum, February 1985, p.31
8. "Protek advert", Sinclair User, November 1984, p.42
9. "Kempston Micro Electronics advert", Sinclair User, November 1984, p.2
10. "We'll take you beyond the Spectrum, RAM advert", Your Spectrum, December 1985, p.8/9
11. "Peripheral Perfection - advert", Your Spectrum, No.9, November 1984, p.30
12. "AGF advert", Your Spectrum, No.9, November 1984, p.23
13. "SMT advert", Sinclair User, No.23, February 1984, p.6
14. "Joystick fits both Sinclairs", Sinclair Projects, April/May 1983, p.11
15. "Dove Microtronix - advert", Sinclair User, September 1984, p.100
16. "THE TOP PEOPLES CHOICE - advert", ZX Computing, June 1986, p.45
17. "At last... A joystick that works - advert", Your Spectrum, No.1, January 1984, p.32
18. "COMCON - advert", Personal Computer News, No.80, 29 September 1984, p.11
19. "Complete game control from AGF - advert", Your Spectrum, No.13, April 1985, p.7
20. "Call back for AGF Protocol 4 interfaces", ZX Computing, February/March 1985, p.11
21. "PERIPHERAL POWER - advert", Your Spectrum, No.18, September 1985, p.10
22. "SPECIAL OFFERS For Your SPECTRUM/PLUS/128K - advert", Sinclair User, No.55, October 1986, p.74
23. "... LET US BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS - advert", Your Computer, February 1985, p.98
24. "Programmable interface for rapid fire freaks", Sinclair User, September 1984, p.23
25. "TRUST SOLIDISK FOR GOOD WORK - advert", Sinclair User, September 1984, p.62
26. "SPECTRUM HARDWARE - Joystick Board Interceptor Micro's (sic)", ZX Computing, April/May 1983, p.28
27. "SHADOW OF THE ROM", Your Spectrum, No.19, October 1985, p.5
28. "Shadow of the Unicorn - The First Ever Mikro-Plus Game" - advert, Sinclair User Annual, 1986, p.63
29. "Control the action", Personal Computer News, Vol.1, No.11, May 20th-May 26th 1983, p.40
30. "Preditor. The joystick interface with more bite." - advert, Your Sinclair, Issue 4, April 1986, p.75
31. NIDD VALLEY MICRO PRODUCTS LTD (Slomo) advert, Sinclair User, Issue 46, January 1986, p.61
32. "Custom-built interface", Sinclair User, Issue 29, August 1984, p.31
33. "Gaming Aid", Sinclair Projects, Issue 6, October/November 1983, p.10
External Links
Video Graffiti at World of SpectrumLast Revision : 02/10/2024