From the Spectrum 128K+ onwards all Spectrums were capable of generating RGB output via the “monitor” socket. This makes connecting them to modern televisions extremely easy. Unfortunately the earlier models only possessed a RF output. This produces the worst possible output and increasingly few displays can demodulate analogue television signals. Luckily the design of the Spectrum makes it very easy to convert the RF output in to a simple composite out.
Builds
The Dragon 32 (aka the Welsh Tandy TRS-80 Color Computer clone) has many features that were advanced for its time. Unfortunately amongst these are two analogue joystick ports. Capable of six-bit resolution on each axis they are quite nice, except for playing games with. The vast majority of Dragon 32/TRS-80 games were ports from other systems and designed for digital controls. Luckily it’s possible to create an adapter that allows digital controls to be used with the Dragon 32. Very luckily in fact; as it’s basically impossible to find a working Dragon 32 analogue joystick these days.
TG16 to PCE controller adapter; being used to connect a US Turbo Stick to a Core Grafx.
One of the mysteries of video gaming is why manufacturers insist on taking perfectly good Japanese games consoles and redesigning them for the US and (less frequently) other markets. One particularly puzzling example is the NEC PC Engine. A small and sleek unit in Japan, it doubled in size for the US release and became the poorly spelt Turbo Grafx 16. As well as enlarging the console, NEC also saw fit to replace the mini-DIN plug used by the PC Engine controller with a full sized (though thankfully still standard) DIN. This meant and adapter was required to use PC Engine peripherals on the TG16 and vice-versa. However while the former was produced and is still available; the latter seems either never to have been manufactured or it was made in such small quantities that none are available today.