Spectrum QL

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Spectrum QL

The Sinclair QL (for Quantum Leap) is a personal computer launched by Sinclair Research in 1984, as an upper-end counterpart to the ZX Spectrum. It was aimed at the serious home user and professional and executive users markets from small to medium-sized businesses and higher educational establishments, but failed to achieve commercial success. The Sinclair QL uses a Motorola 68008.CPU with 32-bit internal data registers, but an 8-bit external data bus.

Setting up

  • Hardware:

In order to test the final result one can use a floppy-disk replace replacement or Qubide interface to load files from SD card.

Memory map

<syntax highlight> $00000 Onboard 48k Rom $0C000 16K Rom Cartridge $10000 Onboard I/O $18000 (R) RTC byte 0 / (W) RTC Reset $18001 (R) RTC byte 1 / (W) RTC Step $18002 (R) RTC byte 2 / (W) Transmit control $18003 (R) RTC byte 3 / (W) IPC link control $18020 (R) Microdrive/RS232c status / (W) Microdrive control $18021 (R) Interrupt/IPC status / (W) Interrupt control $18022 (R) Microdrive Track 1 / (W) Microdrive / RS232C data $18023 (R) Microdrive Track 2 / (W) Display control $18063 Screen Mode S---C-O- On Colordepth Screenpage $20000 Screen 1 Screen Ram $28000 Screen 2 / System system (systemvars*) $2847C System stack pointer* $28E00 Base of Common Heap* $2BC00 Free area* $30000 Running Programs Free area $37200 Basic area* $38000 User Stack pointer* $38000 Prog data* $40000 Add on ram (up to 512k) $C0000 Add on peripherals $E0000 Add on Rom (up to 128k) $FFFFF End of address space </syntax highlight>

Video display

The QL has 2 video modes, either 256x256 with 8 colors, or 512x256 with 4 colors.

To be added

Sound

The Spectrum QL has 2 channels of internal beeped sound, or AY support via the

Additional Resources