vLA81 - ZX81 ULA Replacement

Name: vLA81 - ZX81 ULA Replacement
SKU: 17536
Price: 38.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.75 (8 reviews)

(8 Reviews)

The vLA81 is a plugin replacement for the ZX81 ULA

Designed by Charlie Ingley in New Zealand

2019-07-24T03:37:42.495Z-vLA81_Tindie.jpg

2019-07-24T03:37:42.495Z-vLA81_installed.jpg

2019-07-24T03:37:42.495Z-vLA81_switch.jpg

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The vLA81 is a plugin replacement for the ZX81 ULA

Charlie Ingley Shipping Policy:

UK Customers please note: Due to Tindie not collecting VAT for UK customers at checkout I am unable to ship to the UK from this store. I do however have an alternate sales channel that does sell directly to UK customers. Please contact me on sales@vretrodesign.com for more information.

New Zealand buyers only! Please be aware that the Tindie prices do not include GST. This will add 15% to the listed price (not including shipping which has GST already included). As a GST registered company, resident in New Zealand, I am legally required to collect GST on purchases within New Zealand. I will contact you upon purchase with details on how the GST amount can be settled.

Note that I do have an alternate sales channel that does sell directly to NZ customers with GST collected at checkout. Please contact me on sales@vretrodesign.com for more information.

Review Breakdown

Average Ratings

Product: (5.00)

Documentation: (4.75)

Shipping: (4.75)

Communication: (4.50)

David | March 25, 2022

Simple to use. vLA81

The vLA81 is simple to use and works perfectly. CONS: It has round pins that don't fit well in the socket on the board.

Brad | March 20, 2022

Preventitive measure

Due to how notorious the ULA's are for failure, i decided to get the vla to have one less thing to worry about failing in my TS1000. IT has worked perfectly so far, and I would highly recommend anyone with a zx81 or ts1000 get one even if your ULA is working fine! Just be careful if you need to remove it, there's not an easy way to grip the chip to pull out of the socket, along with the sockets themselves having an iron grip on the chips, and i accidentally broke a pin off my VLA in doing so. I was able to solder it back on, but do take your time if you need to remove it.

Shipping took a while to the US, but that's not the fault of the seller at all.

Glyn | March 17, 2022

Delivery to Germany within two Weeks - amazing!

So, the delivery was incredibly fast - Thanks, but what is the use of fast delivery - I need a working ULA!!

It took a couple of tries - I had already made a composite conversion, so I did not need the porch selection, did not yet make the memory Mod, so leave that alone! Wasn't sure if switch one should be off or on - it should be on!!!!! It works!! My goodness, this 40 year old display piece just came back to life!!

Thanks so much!! I will now replace the broken membrane keyboard, 'cos it's worth it now!!

Goran | Nov. 11, 2021

Received fast, Works great!

Thank you for this replacement vLA81 - ZX81 ULA. What used to be a useless home computer, Sinclair ZX81 with a defective ULA, is now usable again.

Jeff | Nov. 9, 2021

Works Great!

The ULA in my Timex/Sinclair 1000 was failing and this fixed it. It was a simple install, just plugging it into the IC socket in place of the original chip.
NTSC composite video and cassette i/o are working fine.
Highly recommended as a simple fix if your ZX81 or ST1000 has a bad ULA.

Harry | March 30, 2021

Nice upgrade for the ZX81

Since the original ULAs for the ZX81 are getting scarce I was looking for a modern replacement. I was pleased to find that not only is this a replacement but an upgrade to the original ULA.

The ability to switch between the older an newer ULA modes as well as video output levels by simply flipping a switch increases the usability even further. Overall well worth the price.

Lance | March 26, 2021

My ZX81 lives again!

I performed a composite video mod ( which worked ok) and I was able to see that some keys were dead- I ordered a new membrane keyboard and still had the same issue. Thankfully, I found this ULA replacement - it fixed the missing keys and greatly improved the video! Very nicely done- thank you!

Gilles | Feb. 4, 2021