Description:
This manual describes the operation of ZXmore with the supplied firmware ZXmaster.
ZXmore is an 8 bit computer system which is compatible to many systems based on the Z80
processor, especially to the Sinclair systems ZX80, ZX81 and ZX Spectrum plus the CP/M
system developed Digital Research (*). Programs and data can be stored on and read from a
simple USB flash medium (USB drive).
It is possible to use a serial terminal via an optional USB/RS232 adapter or just use the inbuild
keyboard and connected monitor or TV to the video connector in 40 char mode. An USB flash
medium will also be used as disk drive to store and read data via CP/M.
The ZXmore is equipped with an inbuild keyboard with 40 keys, a video (RCA) connector for
use with monitors or a TV (composite video monochrome) and 2 USB host ports for connection
of USB mass storage devices and other peripherals. Original hardware modules for ZX80 or
ZX81 can be used via the build-in expansion port (slot edge connector).
The ZXmore has 512k flash ROM and 512k RAM which is divided into eight separate instances
with 64k ROM and 64k RAM which overlaps in the 64k address room. The border between ROM
and RAM can be moved in steps of 4k in any direction. The first instance (0) maintains all
other instances and deals with additional hardware like USB peripherals, video output and
keyboard input.
The other seven instances can be configured with different options and different operating
systems (firmware ROMs) which can be operated in parallel changed by keypress or even in
multitasking mode. Several systems or firmware ROMs can be used concurrently without
starting them new when they are switched. The memory layout can be configured individually
per instance and any additional driver can be loaded during startup.
The firmware ZXmaster handles the configuration and operation of all instances or operating
systems. The available ROM images to be used with the ZXmore are published under GPL or
CC (creative commons) and may be used freely by the user. These additional firmware ROMs
are not part of ZXmaster and ZXmaster is not based on these ROMs. ZXmaster can clone any
Z80 system and is not fixed on some special ROM as long as hardware drivers for dealing with
video display and keyboard are available or adapted.
More technical information on ZXmore, ZXmaster and available firmware ROMs to use or
supported are available in the appendix.
The manual refers to the first release 0.9 of ZXmaster with basic functionality which will be
improved with newer versions from time to time.
(*) The current available release 0.9 of ZXmaster supports only programs for the systems ZX81 and ZX80 and loading
programs from a USB flash medium. Further releases support saving program and data on USB as well as support of
ZX Spectrum with monochrome display and use of CP/M.
V1.9 - 06/2016
ZXmore & ZXmaster – user manual
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