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!

For vLA81 - ZX81 ULA Replacement

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!

For vLA81 - ZX81 ULA Replacement

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.

David | May 31, 2021

Simply awesome

For vDrive ZX - Microdrive Hardware Emulator

Very easy to install and it works perfectly, formating emulated cartridges, with the amazing amount of 127KB, simulating up to 8 microdrives, works like a charm with Multiface One, and it's very similar to the original microdrives without the annoying motor noise. Thanks for this jewel.

Sasa | May 12, 2021

vDrive ZX is great!

For vDrive ZX - Microdrive Hardware Emulator

Thanks man, for such special device! I am looking to test and use it as soon as i fix my IF1. I'll definetly shop again here.

Ivan | May 4, 2021

Top Notch produt

For vLA82 - Spectrum 48K ULA replacement

Top notch! New air breath to Speccy 48K! Excellent product! From New Zealand to Croatia less in 3 weeks! Tnx Charlie I. 😉

Regards Ivan

Harry | March 30, 2021

Nice upgrade for the ZX81

For vLA81 - ZX81 ULA Replacement

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!

For vLA81 - ZX81 ULA Replacement

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!

Finn | Jan. 28, 2021

Thank you for another great spare for the ZX .

For vLA128 - Sinclair 128K/+2(Grey) ULA Replacement

Recieved my order in the mailbox today . Fine quality as usual , thanks for adding new life to "stranded" ZX Spectrum's.

Finn | Dec. 12, 2020

Order delivered

For vLA82 - Spectrum 48K ULA replacement

I have just recieved the package . It didn't take long to get here, distance considered, and is the usual high standard product as the other items bought from you .

Thank you for making it possible to keep the amazing ZX Spectrum alive .

Regards

Finn

Marta | Nov. 5, 2020

Awesome.

For vDrive ZX - Microdrive Hardware Emulator

A wonderful piece of hardware that strives for compatibility with ZX Microdrive. It has a nice toolkit for handling MDR images, and works perfectly with my ZX Spectrum 128K.

The finish is really professional and clean, and the documentation is very good.

A great purchase.

Zoltán | Oct. 15, 2020

One ZX Interface 1 saved thanks to vLA1

For vLA1 - Sinclair ZX Interface 1 ULA Replacement

Shipping was unexpectedly fast to Hungary. The documentation was very straightforward and to the point on how to replace the ULA in the IF1. After replacing the faulty ZX IF1 ULA with vLA1, my ZX Microdrive magically started working. I also tested it with a vDriveZX (not inside a case yet) and it also worked nicely.

Milos | Sept. 22, 2020

Works like a charm

For vLA128 - Sinclair 128K/+2(Grey) ULA Replacement

The chip helped me to salvage one of my vintage ZX Spectrums without me having to cannibalize the part from a working computer. All the effort and the research that went into this is much appreciated!

Dimitrios | Aug. 20, 2020

The perfect ULA for a ZX Spectrum

For vLA82 - Spectrum 48K ULA replacement

I rebuilt a ZX-Spectrum from the scratch and while all parts can either be bought, replicated (ROM, coil) or replaced with modern solutions (RAM), there's still one thing that only vLA82 can replace: ULA. I bought Charlie's vLA82 because it's as near as possible to the original looking at size, but also supports all versions of ZX Spectrums. It worked flawlessly and Charlie was very helpful, when I forgot to populate one resistor on my PCB... The circuit is quite efficient, because vLA82's surface never exceeded 39° C (surrounding temperature 27° C). Shipping was very fast and the parts very good packaged. I hope that vLA82 will be long available!!

Steve | Aug. 1, 2020

Superb Upgrade

For vDrive ZX - Microdrive Hardware Emulator

5min to install and works like a charm. Using the Microdrive is great again. My best ZX Spectrum upgrade.

Jean-Claude | Feb. 29, 2020

Work great!

For vLA128 - Sinclair 128K/+2(Grey) ULA Replacement

Good quality product as always, good packaged and fast delivery. Used for toastrack and +2. Works perfectly. Thank you!

Stephen | Feb. 19, 2020

Excellent add-on. Buy the vMap & QL-style case too.

For vDrive QL - Microdrive Hardware Emulator

Excellent addition to the QL. Completely solid state (SD) storage will extend the life of your software. Doesn't run much faster than a microdrive - that's because it uses the same interface. But the increased reliability makes up for this.
127K cap on image size is a limit of the original MDV design. But structure your banks of images properly, and you can make this work to your advantage. Imagine having 8 mounted microdrive volumes (mdv1_ to mdv8_) usable at once...

Make sure you buy the vMap device too. Greatly increases the flexibility of the vDrive for use with software that insists on accessing via mdv1_. And buy an all-black(NZ, pun - sorry!) microdrive extension cable from Charlie too - the Spectrum ones are fine, but multi-coloured.

And the 3D-printed case is lovely. Matches the QL perfectly. Nice, fine texture to the surface. In fact, if you have ZX microdrives, it would be interesting to see if you could recase them inside this enclosure. You'd need a longer extension cable, to reach the MDV port on the right hand side, of course. But it would be cool to see a few QL-style-cased vDrives and ZX Microdrives daisy-chained on the right-hand side of a QL.

Be aware that there are HM Customs and Royal Mail fees to be paid for, before the parcel is delivered. That was another £18 for me. And it delayed final delivery by a couple of days over a weekend.

Excellent comms with Charlie though. Fast despatch and transit from New Zealand to the UK. Took about 10 days.

Highly recommended.

Neal | Aug. 18, 2019

A cool little drive

For vDrive QL - Microdrive Hardware Emulator

This is a neat little drive, and a cost effective way to get an original QL updated to using a modern storage medium without making invasive changes to the system. People complain about the shipping time, but for me in the US it only took a week.

Paul | March 25, 2019

Great addition for those that use their Spectrums

For vDrive ZX - Microdrive Hardware Emulator

For me this is exact what I wanted. Solid convenient and reliable storage of my work. If you’ve read the website you’ll know that this is not just a single Microdrive it’s all 8! On top of that you can create “Banks” of 8, so the limit of storage is the size of the SD card - which in 1980s terms 32GB is unlimited.

It’s fully Microdrive command compatible *”m”;1;”MyGame”. So unlike other as solutions you can save as well - to me this was the most important factor. Finally the format on the SD card can be used on a pc and the file can be read by your emulators as well.

Downside you need your own microdrive case to put it in. It’s very slightly slower than the real microdrive - but only just.

I am very happy.

Liam | March 10, 2019

A 21st Century ZX Microdrive

For vDrive ZX - Microdrive Hardware Emulator

This is a brilliant piece of hardware, and a wonderful addition to any Sinclair ZX Spectrum with a ZX Interface 1. The unit is very well made, and easy to fit into an old ZX Microdrive housing. The supplied fitting and usage manuals are superbly clear, and easy to follow. The unit I received was very well packed, and was sent quickly via airmail.

Sir Clive couldn't have foreseen the development of the vDrive ZX, but this device gives 21st Century ZX Spectrum users all the joys and benefits of microdrives, without any of the difficulties! So, here we have the best of old and new - absolutely fantastic!

Tindie

Charlie Ingley

Overall Rating:

Review Breakdown

Average Ratings

All Reviews

Great replacement

Great replacement!!

Transaction and product very good!!!

Preventitive measure

Delivery to Germany within two Weeks - amazing!

Received fast, Works great!

Simply awesome

vDrive ZX is great!

Top Notch produt

Nice upgrade for the ZX81

My ZX81 lives again!

Thank you for another great spare for the ZX .

Order delivered

Awesome.

One ZX Interface 1 saved thanks to vLA1

Works like a charm

The perfect ULA for a ZX Spectrum

Superb Upgrade

Work great!

Excellent add-on. Buy the vMap & QL-style case too.

A cool little drive

Great addition for those that use their Spectrums

A 21st Century ZX Microdrive