The MOST Broken Computer? The 1986 Sinclair Spectrum+2

[@intthis]

I'd like to thank Tom Evans for introducing me to this channel. I love it here. This place is amazing.

[@integerofdoom69]

Marketing wizards they are.

[@mannye]

Introductions to this channel is the best thing Tom Evans has ever done for audio.

[@networkg]

I would also like to thank Dumb Evans and on a more positive vibe, Lou Rossmann, for introducing me to this channel.

[@br549-c4q]

Yep, me2. That's what brought me here, as well. If Mark was in my town, I would buy old gear just to have this great guy mend it...

[@freemind9734]

🤣

[@domobject]

Everyone is rightfully commenting on how delightful and skilled Mark is, but what stands out to me is the storytelling, camera work, and editing. Closeups on damn near every relevant component, screw, and meter or scope reading. Component spec sheets, illustrations, and explanations exactly when needed. Good pacing with minimal sidetracking and ranting. I love it.

[@remaincalm2]

This is the first video of Mark's that I've seen and I noticed exactly what you described - it stood out as being a very well planned and edited video.

[@Krmpfpks]

It’s a LOT of work to make a video like that. He must have the patience of an angel. I am so happy he shares all of this.

[@WilfredZweverink]

You're absolutely right, but it's so well done you hardly notice, because smooth..

[@yuglesstube]

The human soldering machine

[@mikebartlett6356]

"This thing's dead. With a capital F" Brilliant!

[@csours]

F

[@Eerie_98]

Right?! I need this on a T-shirt!

[@paulmichaelfreedman8334]

I am assuming the capital F is referring to Sir Sinclair's colourful language back in the day? Or did he simply mean "F..ked" ?

[@philgallagher1]

What I came to say!!

[@2010gtoner]

I nearly posted what you already did lol

[@rossmanngroup]

The sad part is that we go through donor boards for stuff released 6 months ago the same way you go through donor boards for something released 40 years ago.

[@hellcoreproductions]

Slayed me with "That's the first copyright message I've been pleased to see"!

[@laurensbrantsen]

haha right??

[@MrVsbt1]

😂

[@G-ra-ha-m]

This Spectrum is no good!! Where are the plastic standoffs? Wot no tantalums?! No multiple PCBs? Everything is so neat and well laid out - horror, it must sound terrible :D

[@jregns]

@@G-ra-ha-m actually it did! 😜

[@5pr1nk57]

Yeah that tickled me! 😂

[@nickbenke3306]

In the 80's I did agency work, one placement was at the Amstrad factory in Shoebury, Essex. Two of us were given FIVE HUNDRED of these spectrums to dismantle, separate the components and pack them in boxes. We started Monday and had the job done by 3pm Friday. They were so impressed I was offered a permanent position by Amstrad but had to decline. Apparently, previous temps didn't last longer than a day. Great vid as always, there really is nothing you can't sort. Bravo!

[@grahamwalpole]

OMG, I forgot Amstrad had a factory in Shoebury, I must admit, I thought it was an MOD cover for top secret surveillance and military intelligence.

[@philrob1978]

Hey Nick - sorry if I'm being a bit thick here, but why were Amstrad making you dismantle 500 of them? The Amstrad built Speccys sold until the early 90s. Am I missing something?

[@nickbenke3306]

@@philrob1978 At that time there was a worldwide shortage of semiconductors.

[@philrob1978]

@@nickbenke3306 Ah, that makes sense now! Ta for clarifying

[@Adrian_Finn]

I've been a big fan of this extremely addictive channel from very early on and was actually frustrated that his genius wasn't finding a wider audience, boy how things have changed. Well done mark, so pleased for you. Please never stop.

[@anthonyobrien3841]

I'm so delighted to have found your channel. I'm in my 50's and always loved taking things apart ( and not always getting them back together). Big fan of vintage audio also.

[@TalynWuff]

Grateful for Rossman pointing me this way, this is the sort of content I miss from his channel, good to see here.

[@SlartiMarvinbartfast]

There's a real treasure trove of repair videos on this channel, Mark not only really knows his stuff but he's a decent guy too.

[@silverXnoise]

RIYL: CuriousMarc, MarcoReps, MikesElectricStuff, UsagiElectric, ElPasoTubeAmps, TomTekTest, GeerlingEngineering, SaveItForParts, ImsaiGuy, Glasslinger

[@micksmixxx]

@@silverXnoise Thank you for the recommended sites. 👍

[@8bits59]

@@silverXnoise don't forget Mr. Carlson!

[@dm1943]

Absolutely incredible that you can take a device that’s almost 40 years old and service it. Back in the 60s and 70s if the TV wasn’t working you would take all the tubes out, go to the drugstore, plug them in the tube tester and find the replacement. Today the TVs cannot be repaired. Today you take a device into the store and they say there’s nothing we can do. Companies like Apple are creating more electronic waste with devices that are absolutely impossible to service. I have personally been able to replace batteries and make other repairs in MacBook pros and iPhones up to about 2018. After that point they’re impossible to service. Hats off to you Mark you are a master of repair.

[@tommeier4659]

never heared of this before. In which country were you able to test tubes in a drugstore? USA?

[@dm1943]

@ Canada and also in the USA. Giant console with a stock of new tubes in a cabinet. Do a search for “drug store tube tester” and they are images and stories.

[@joelfazzi7163]

@@tommeier4659 USA, they had tube testing machines in many grocery stores! As a kid, I used to take tubes from our TV and test them, I fixed our TV a couple of times.

[@8bits59]

@@tommeier4659 That was quite common here in the US, chain drugstores would have some common tubes laying around in stock for convenience. Tube testers were basically standard equipment anyplace that sold tubes, with some exceptions. They'd have your standard 12AX7, 6L6, maybe some 0A3s, maybe some 6C-type stuff. Anything less standard than that and you'd have to go to something of the likes of a Radio Shack.

[@rickyhils]

@@tommeier4659 Yes. Very common to see at the super markets in the 1960s

[@king_ofgames3650]

Everybody, get up Mark has posted

[@petern3363]

Hooray!

[@cymaz100]

🎉🎉🎉

[@philgallagher1]

Isn't it brilliant to see all the support Mark's been getting from the community. I bet Tom Evans wishes he'd never heard of him!!

[@cfpradiocreationsfredetpie8120]

Yes i’m in. Really nice video and so interesting.

[@ss54.]

Yeah, be quick before Lord Sugar takes it down.

[@pedrosmith4529]

You have to be the nicest guy on youtube. Thanks Tom Evans again for helping me discover you.

[@Tetsaraku]

I get a strong feeling that when Mark finishes his awesome repairs for the day and pops into the pub for pint on the way home, there is not ONE person there who is not happy to see him.😊

[@HansDelbruck53]

I imagine he never has to pay for a pint.

[@BenyCK]

Alll bar Tom Evans

[@WOFFY-qc9te]

Looking at the jobs on the white board I don't think he has time for a beer.

[@davidhunt240]

🤣 Tom "Streisand" Evans...

[@HansDelbruck53]

@@BenyCK Tom Evans charges 25,000 for a simple amplifier. He can buy his own Guinness.

[@johnnyfairweather2506]

Hi, I’m a new subscriber to your channel. This is exactly what I want to see on a channel. A video of a repair to a retro console/computer. Including, diagnostics and testing. I’ve seen many repair videos with all that mentioned above all squeezed into a 15-20 minute video. I prefer to watch from start to finish in at least 45-60 minute vid. Keep up the excellent work!! ☺️👍

[@AdamF1972]

Omg! The patience this man has is outstanding!! I’d have given up way before. And that tape deck after all the repair work. Just brilliant!!!

[@Ron-y1b]

More than I ever had doing that work. I still remember the cold sinking feeling and the blinding fury. I don't think I was truly suited for that career . The tongue in cheek references to copyright and the strip of cardboard, simply a savage sense of humour 👍👍👍👍

[@laser-sj]

Came here because of the Tom Evans bullcrap and love this channel already ! 😎

[@RSCuber]

Be careful, I heard Tom Evans used a Sinclair once! (Also fantastic video as always)

[@davidhunt240]

It does have a discrete regulator and the date code might have been sanded off 🤣

[@dnetech5464]

Beat me to it i was thinking something very similar 😂

[@batmandestroys1978]

Even a Amstrad is a better built than his junk preamplifier!

[@TassieLorenzo]

@@batmandestroys1978 We kid, yet the Amstrad computers were quite good while the Amstrad hi-fis were quite bad. I wonder how or why the computer division ended up being funded and equipped to actually make decent products, yet the hi-fi division not? Did Sugar accidentally put competent engineers in charge who took the opportunity to spend company money on real R&D and make real products, or did the directive to actually make decent companies come from the top? The pre-Sinclar computers were funded by the capital raised from floating Amstrad on the stock exchange in 1980, so did that capital allow for real R&D which the hi-fi equipment never had? But even if there was no money for R&D, did the Amstrad company not have a conscience that the hi-fi equipment was junky and far overpriced for the quality? 🤔

[@CEverett55]

I heard Tom Jones used a Sinclair twice!

[@samhostettler]

Not sure if you’ll see this but after I watched a bunch of your videos, it really helped me get into the mindset of things being fixable. I recently bought a bit of musical equipment that broke almost immediately. Instead of being sad and returning it etc. I got out my soldering iron and fixed it and got back to making music. Thank you for your great videos!

[@nudebaboon4874]

If this video doesn't show why the recent support he's had is thoroughly and well deserved, then I don't know what will. Excellent work Mark, from the big L down south.👍

[@chrissmith7069]

Fantastic 🎉 at the load up screen I felt like I was 14 again.😂❤

[@adeharris4457]

The ZX80, ZX81 & this spectrum was what got me into games & computers I'm 51 now & still love gaming & building pc's. That loading sound brought back so many memories for me, thank you!

[@jregns]

Me too, ZX-81 and Spectrum 48k though! We're same age actually! ☺

[@robotmad]

Me too I was waiting for the load error at the end. LOL

[@FoobsTon]

I loved them too. But when the hormones kicked in I moved onto girls. 40 years later...I need a hobby.

[@ShootfishProductions]

The patience of a saint, I would have binned it early on. Great work.

[@grahamwalpole]

I was about to say the same, I've taken my share of tape decks apart, WD40 and cotton swabs, but I'd have given up after the first 5 minutes after the reboot failed. His methodology and patience is reassuring, cathartic and educational - but how he didn't pull his hair out is astounding- must have been heavily edited :~!

[@clippo111]

Wow, as a person who doesn't know his buses from his capacitors but grew up with commodore 64, 16, spec 48k, 128 & Amiga's found this great, always interested in learning more was amazed with your persistence Mark well done 👏👍🏼

[@danielgustavo]

I'd like to thank Tom Evans for introducing me to this channel. I love it here. This place is amazing........

[@ChipperMega]

Thanks for saving a speccy from the dump. Great videos.

[@simonbaxter8001]

Those bits of "cardboard" get everywhere, Mark!

[@RandomUserName808]

I was just about to mention that as well 😀

[@Ogma3bandcamp]

@@RandomUserName808 What was it?

[@adalbertus777]

@@Ogma3bandcamp Better to find it out on your own. Who knows if that piece of cardboard isn't copyrighted, patented, trademarked or god-only-knows what else protects it from public eyes. But here's a clue, the odds are it might be a relict of some alien technology that last has been seen in a very expensive audio gear, which Mark was tinkering with.

[@menotyou8369]

@@adalbertus777 That's almost a thousand dollars worth of cardboard!

[@tenmillionvolts]

Haha. I was wondering what it was. Now I get it.

[@cprgreaves]

The most fascinating hour of my life this year. Where were you when I needed you 37 years ago? I could never find the seventh, thirteenth and thirty-ninth screws when they were needed to go back in!!!

[@lordmagic]

It seems like issue with Tom Evans was blessing in disguise, you got tons of new followers and support of whole community :)

[@DrLoverLover]

Who is Tom Evans

[@steveh8658]

@@DrLoverLover Exactly.

[@JohnWiku]

​@@DrLoverLover What is Tom Evans?

[@mhoppy6639]

It’s gone way beyond the electronics community which is lovely. I’m a complete klutz with this stuff and hadn’t come across Mark before but the algo found me probs through my love of TechMoan and audio / recording / producing etc. mark is clearly a lovely chap who is doing this for the benefit of the wider community and for pleasure so I was disgusted to hear about Evans’s actions which will cost him big time. Mark’s now got a new follower and Mastergroove (what a shocking naff name) will no doubt suffer for this. Treat others how you would wish to be treated. Whether that’s through production of goods that you sell or simple daily interactions, Tim has learnt a harsh lesson that he should have learnt a long time ago. Carry on the great work Mark and I hope to learn at least a little something from these thoughtful videos. 🎉❤

[@mhoppy6639]

Edit - “Tom” has learnt a lesson. I hope.

[@Uncle-Duncan-Shack]

The sewing bobbins for copper wire is a lovely idea, imagine a lady finding copper being spooled on her sewing machine. That piece of cardboard that appeared on your bench, desecrating the narrative. 🤣 This was yet another top class repair and video, love it. Nice to see something that is the foundation of many peoples careers and fond childhood memories straightened out and put back into working order.

[@jonnusofjon]

"Dead with a capital F" love it, I'm stealing that!

[@lirong2]

The cardboard reference was hilarious 🤣 Thanks for taking me 40 years back to my Bar Mitzvah gift a ZX Spectrum 48K with those memorable loading sounds. I even remembered the TV socket.. only rich friends had the first Monochrome Monitors

[@adalbertus777]

Think I've just seen a relict of some alien technology lying down on Mark's workbench (see at min. 24:28). I'm glad that Mark took a proper care of it.

[@UserAccount-ThisOne]

mark is probably the only person on earth who could be given a piece of ancient alien technology found in deep space on a million year old wrecked ship and then come back a few days later with it working and looking like it was brand new.

[@inothome]

That is one expensive shim he left out!

[@gyrogearloose1345]

Good work Mark, with a Happy Ending! Very cool to see inside this old beauty, bringing me back to 1980 when I began in computing with Rockwell AIM 65. Thanks for sharing!

[@JFredick]

I really love the Tom Evans easter egg Mark. You are delightfully snarky.

[@paulsto6516]

It caused me to lol.

[@dougle03]

British sense of sarcastic humour..

[@TerpYaris]

"that's the first copyright message that i've been pleased to see" :D

[@damianintheuk]

Brilliant, I almost spat my coffee out!

[@thekingofming]

Eggs! The cardboard shim he moved out of the way, the comment about hindering right to repair. Mark has a good sense of humour

[@timnicholls6066]

What a rollercoaster ride! I really enjoyed this one and learned a huge amount too. Thanks Mark!

[@Stuart_Cox1969]

Nice one, on a side note, I'm happy to see all the support you have been getting from other You Tube channels regarding your video take down.

[@tristanzand]

Brilliant channel. You're the Hercule Poirot of faulty connections.

[@markhearsey4294]

After binge watching almost all of Marks videos, I’m super happy to see a new upload… Looking forward to all future content… All the sh#*e recently must have been rather testing..!!!

[@spazkong]

A true British engineer with skills that surpass the normal. Amazing stuff Sir. Impressed on behalf of the world!

[@alastairbarkley6572]

Way above my pay grade. Competence and remarkable patience. Admirable.

[@sergej45]

It was amusing back in the days. Yet 45 years later I'm just to tired of bad PCB's and lack of parts. I admire your nerves, good job.

[@barmalini]

You have no idea how many Sinclair clones I built from discrete logic gates back then. The only part similar to the original was the CPU, but it worked and it worked very well. It's good to see this computer come back to life, thanks Mark.

[@SiaVids]

Was the ROM not similar too?

[@barmalini]

@@SiaVids not necessarily. The 16kB chips were too expensive and difficult to get, so I had like 8x2kB and later 2x8kB. Also we used to modify ROM a bit, to support turbo loader (2x the normal speed), and also weird things like ligth pen, "magic button" etc.

[@DixonSwe]

The skill and patience are just amazing

[@Eerie_98]

I came for the mending, I'm staying for Mark.

[@johnjohn-wt1vj]

When I come across a faulty printed circuit board, for some reason I can only locate a hammer in my tool box. I smile when Mark continually brings out specialised little tools when dealing with removing chips from the board. I am more a carburettor guy but I am now totally hooked into here

[@phrtao]

Stunning amount of care and attention lavished on this thing. I doubt anyone ever spent this much effort fixing any kind of spectrum or amstrad computer. As always mesmerizing to watch

[@davidhunt240]

Nah, this is par for the course, unfortunately. I do a lot of repairs on computers and Amstrad in particular have a lot of problems with broken traces around vias and the annular rings for the through hole components. It's easy to see with a microscope. I usually find two or three dead/dodgy RAMs in these no matter what other faults they have.

[@JohnDoe-mk4yj]

Mind-blowing! You got him back online again. Do the rest of the world already know you? Sorry, but I am VERY impressed. Yesterday and some additional few year ago, I was sitting there in front of and - No idea. Simpley no fridged idea. 10 or 12 aged and nothing in my head. That's the reason why I am so impressed..

[@AndersonFilippi]

I imagine that when Chuck Norris is sad he watches Mark videos to get a better day. Simply the best!

[@DerekWarner-x6s]

Mar says any one can be a repair expert, nooooooo I don't think so, this guy is amazing.

[@Douglas_Blake]

Okay ... I'm officially impressed, Mark. I used to fix these early computers and for sure I would have given up long before you did.

[@nineoneten]

Don't get stuck in the kitchen with Mark at a party ! Seriously useful channel 😍

[@joshuaalbright]

Studies have shown 100% of new-Mend-It-Mark-video days are GREAT days. Another incredible repair Mark - great work!

[@derekblake9385]

If any of us were stuck in space or needed some electronics fixed to safe our life’s. Mark is definitely the guy you need as a mate.

[@lacedj51]

You totally killed me at 24:28. That cardboard shim should appear in all your videos from here on. :D

[@stephaneneron]

Yep, It needs to be visible, changing place randomly from there to there :)

[@Vincent_Sullivan]

@@stephaneneron Just like the $100.00 bill Steve Lehto hides on his set. It is quite a sport among his viewers to spot where "Ben" is hiding!

[@DrLoverLover]

But why, you are dead now

[@ZesPak]

New here, can anyone explain the shim to me?

[@lacedj51]

@@ZesPak He made a video about repairing a 30 thousand dollar phono preamp, which of course was nowhere near that cost in parts. When opened and turned out to be derived from the example circuits you find in Integrated circuit datasheets. The box was poorly put together with cardboard shims. Then the owner of the company pulled a copyright strike on him, probaby to hide the scam. So the cardboard shim has become a running joke. You can see the original video on louis Rossmans channel. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJm5lpKppdp9h6ssi=7mmhkRkQuHPd9isr

[@kiavanfarnhill]

I don't often sit through a full 50 minute video on this platform. Wonderfully intriguing. You provoked a cheer when you were successful. This brings back fond memories. My tape deck went kaput back in the day. I don't remember any other issues..I was foolhardy to throw away my old Spectrum +2. Nowadays I'm confident I could (and would) have fixed it. The stupidity of youth! Well done for bringing this particular +2 back to life. You demonstrate a great deal of skill and knowledge. Salutations from Lancashire!

[@BarbaraPape-y4g]

Another labour of love from Mark. Who else would spend many hours trying to fix a retro computer made by two very dubious companies.

[@Jesselovespinball]

I’m really glad Mark is finally getting the recognition he has always deserved. He is without a doubt a very talented individual. Not only that , he’s just an all around great guy ! His smile and attitude is infectious and I look forward to every video he posts. Normally I watch each one at least twice ! Thanks Mark !

[@MrMersh-ts7jl]

Congratulations on the massive bump and subscribers. Crazy how the attention got you but I'm glad that it did. You deserve it

[@rjm2k1]

Had a +2 as.a kid, it went in for warranty repair due to the eject button not working and came back with a boot loop. Back in it went and back it came even worse. In the end after much arguing with the shop (large retailer) I ended up with an ex showroom unit instead. The patience and experience shown here bringing this +2 back to life is clear. Fascinating to watch and seeing the game finally load took me back about 40 years!

[@nathangriffiths6218]

I had one of these, much nostalgia! My very first computer. I admire the incredible patience Mark has in diagnosing these problems! It makes me very happy to see one of these brought back to life :)

[@carpemkarzi]

Love discovering this channel. As a child of the ‘60s, a causal tinkerer and techie this channel is heaven. The only bad thing is I have now watched all the videos. May have to rewatch a couple. Oddly enough I was introduced to this channel (like I assume a few) when iFixIt posted the ‘offending’ repair, I was on iFixIt as I was replacing the battery in my kids Switch. Cheers Mark and thanks for the great videos and at times a nice walk through all the tech I grew up with.

[@captiveimage]

Fabulous! Such skill, and what tenacity! Does audio and 'puters too. Guys a national treasure.

[@telstardk]

His patience is amazing. Don´t know if he sometimes turn off the cameras and shouting out profanities, but also the editing of these videos must take hours. I found Mark because Techmoan mentioned him on his channel and i was sold immediately. Thank You Mark. ❤

[@grahamwalpole]

Ditto. If I had done this, it wold have turned into Faulty Towers in a few minutes....

[@shonen84]

Brilliant! That’s 50 minutes I’m very grateful to have spent being entertained and informed! Thanks as always, Mark

[@1234cabking]

Wow, who need's a time machine when you have a fantastic channel like this to bring back memories from the 80's. Loading up that cassette and hearing them load up tone's definitely brought back my teen years.

[@bernardgarrett3897]

I had a ZX Spectrum, 48K but had no idea there was a model with inbuilt cassette player. It was such a pain loading a programme via the cassette. For me it had a 33% chance of loading the game properly first time. As others have said, I found your channel because of Mr Rossman

[@PyroBrit]

I had a zx81 and my mates had zx spectrums. One of my memories is using a tiny screwdriver to adjust the head alignment on the cassette desk to get the best output and different games cassettes sometimes required different head alignments. We would all adjust that head by ear until we thought it sounded right. Those were the days. Insert cassette and make a cup of tea or read the cassette liner.

[@Yorgos2007]

This is a +2 version, already designed and built by Amstrad (after Amstrad Plc had bought Sinclair's computer division in April 1986). The obvious basis of this compact built-in-datarecorder design is Amstrad/Schneider CPC 464.

[@Blazzde]

The biggest games with longest loading times had the worst success rates. Batman was a pain. I distinctly remember some other long-loading game always failed right near the end until eventually I got it to work *once* ever. Left the Speccy on 2 or 3 days straight after that. Jealous of the rich kids with their floppy +3s. Also good psychological practice for the art of blowing into NES cartridges and crossing your fingers those loaded. Kids these days have it too easy. Loved the vid Mark, really takes me back to opening my 128k, marvelling at the innards and not daring to touch anything. And the sounds and those tape loading borders... oh my. Glad you persevered and got her working.

[@lewbeetham]

I know nothing about any of this but I'm inquisitive and I found my new favourite channel thank you!

[@simonnoble2345]

Tape sounds with blue and yellow borders brought back all the memories of the "Will it load" tension lol

[@grahamwalpole]

Lol! - But what was the error? toggling the volume to about 6.8 solved it most times.....

[@techbusiness5007]

Remember that you have a large community that supports you unconditionally. Never stop and even less for the bad intentions of those who cannot apply magic to each repair 😊

[@projectartichoke]

That desoldering iron is absolutely brilliant. Saves some serious time and avoids damage to chips and board.

[@ghwizz]

Crocodile Dundee moment - that's not a pair of soldering tweezers - THIS is a pair of soldering tweezers!

[@Okurka.]

It's also absolutely expensive.

[@DrLoverLover]

Yes we know

[@sw6188]

I just had a look at the price - $1000 NZD.

[@TheZaxanoid]

What is it? I was fascinated seeing how easy it seem to be....

[@robertgaffney2365]

stumbled on this advertised whilst watching a chess video. As a former Speccy 48k owner (would love to go back to those days!), the title got me excited. I wasn't disappointed - Mark is a genius - this stuff goes way over my head. I recently inherited an SNES and it does not work - I just wish I had his skills to get it going again. Well done Mark - I am now a new subscriber !

[@smashdalde9713]

I still go gooey over the OG zx with the rubber keys...I would love to return to the 80's too.

[@UnCoolDad]

Hopefully Sir Clive won't wake from the dead and copyright strike you 😂

[@jasona-EV]

Naw, because he doesn't make shoddy things 🤣

[@countzer0408]

Too soon 😂

[@djsherz]

That was Alan Sugar's baby by then...

[@reggiebacci]

Alan Sugar might still have him though... 😬

[@davidhunt240]

Lord Sugar has more sense 🤣

[@Distinctly.Average]

Just wanted to give you a big thanks. I used to be an electronics addict from a young child and even ended up working at mastercare for a bit. Repairing AV kit supported me through education. I then started working in IT for the last 25 years so didn’t really do any electronics. Your videos however have re-awakened my interest. I’ve dig out an old tech tropics scope and purchased a new rigol. Dusted of some old bench supplies and started playing once again.This week I am repairing my dads old reel to reel and then onto sorting the blown output on my guitar amp. Just wish I hadn’t given away my boxes of spares including over 100 new old stock valves I had. Oh, and thanks to Tom Evans for drawing my attention to your wonderful channel.

[@kristiantizzard7796]

Good to see that despite the fierce competition of the time Sinclair didnt feel the need to scratch off the component numbers.

[@JCWise-sf9ww]

I'm glad Mark has the patient to work on a computer. Why I like watching this channel for all the different things he fixes.

[@yammouni]

I just absolutely love this channel! Mark's experience really shines through in spades. Always so positive, even when the stuff he's working with is complete rubbish! Thanks Mark for making this content & for brightening our collective days - you're the BEST!

[@JustinGovender-ot4wq]

First of all I would like to thank mark for all the knowledge that he shares with us in every repair, Mark you are a true inspiration today I fixed a Telefunken amplifier tht -2204 which was destined for the scrap I followed the 3 step process ,the l.c.d came on by cleaning and removing the corrosion , also fixed up a couple of broken r.c.a lugs. Thank for giving us a opportunity to learn from you. God bless Mark 👏🙌

[@grahamwalpole]

Thanks for the heads up, just emptying the New Year bin and giving my amp another go after your comment and scouring Marks other works!

[@JockoFlocko]

You have got the patience of a saint! That's a job well done on something I haven't seen in ages since I was just a young lad. Ah the good old days, when you were able to actually fix electronic equipment fairly easily without a microscope and schematics were usually widely available. Great video Mark, have a very Merry Christmas!

[@Pittens]

This is true art! Im no electronic wizard but i do appreciate the skills and efforts in keeping my childhood components alive :-)

[@levendlicht]

That was quite some work! Didn't expect the traces to be bad though. Wonderful repair as usual. Ohh.. 24:27 Subtle as ever :)

[@jovetj]

I actually don't understand what that was he moved.

[@wildman1978101]

@@jovetj Its a cardboard shim.

[@Peter_S_]

@@jovetj If you watch Mark's most viewed video on the Internet, you may see such things. That shim retails for £125.50.

[@menotyou8369]

Some cardboard shims might have fixed it.

[@TobyOnTube]

This video caught my attention since in 1986 I got a Schneider CPC 464 to learn Basic programming (snake). Watching this video was so delightful! Good old memories. You are very skillful! Loved it!

[@matthiastieben5761]

Definately the best repair channel on youtube! Always learning something and enjoying your superb sense of humor!

[@Yorgos2007]

36:27 What an optimism with the screws 🙂 I was already sure they would have to be removed again in a while 🙂Brilliant video, fantastic work!

[@simonsackett]

Bugger me! This is the first video of yours I've seen and it's such a pleasure to watch someone who knows what they're doing work on stuff! Well done!

[@GraemeSPa]

I admire the tenacity to tackle this repair. Many people would have consigned it to the scrap box for parts. It is worth watching in order to learn to never give up.

[@johnfitzpatrick2469]

Merry Christmas Mark from Sydney Australia. Interesting vintage computer, rebadged by many electronic companies in the late 70's-80's. Learning outcomes. * Identify repetitive functions, such as power input connection. * Tape deck belts and worn plastic gears. * Capton tape over trace jump wires (without shorting) very interesting . * Thermosetting plastic repair with iron. * Oscilloscope activity on chip pins and schematic comparison. 🎄📺⌨️

[@steveh8658]

Also from Sydney. I cut my teeth helping dad build two Aussie Microbee's that also used the Z80 chip. This was a wonderful test and repair job.

[@PieterBreda]

I love these videos. I don't have the foggiest notion what Mark is doing but he is so enthusiastic that I watch for this simple pleasure.

[@rolandrowland6992]

every time I look at this channel the subscriber count is up. No one deserves it more either. Proper legit guy just doing his thing..

[@DTGuitarTech]

You, sir, have the patience of an absolute saint. Many would have given up on that!!

[@johnallen8680]

The youth of today do not understand our pain of those yester years ! Great video as ever !

[@hellcoreproductions]

Not many games you buy today will work in 40 years!

[@womagrid]

I love this channel and my first computer was also a Spectrum 48k. On devices with SponsorBlock, I just get the first second or two of the intro, which is hilariously surreal. It's as if you've just come bounding out of the workshop and sprung into action because a new repair job has arrived.

[@paidburglar1384]

wow that loading sound lol, brings it back doesn't it. great stuff

[@EngineeringMindset]

Mark, KZbin randomly suggested one of your videos to me..... I've just watched about 4 of your videos and really enjoyed them, so I subscribed and look forward to seeing more. This is such nice wholesome content, well done to you. You're clearly very passionate about electronics and it shines through. Anyone who reads this, give mark a like and subscribe, let's help him get to 1M subs.

[@ace2029]

Hi Mark, thanks for this brilliant video. The 128k ZX +2 was my first computer and I still have very fond memories of it (except for the R Tape Loading Error which was a reasonably frequent visitor!). Awesome to see inside this machine and incredible to think how far the tech has come in a relatively short space of time. Thank you for your determination and bringing this one back from the brink, good to see :)

[@Craig1967]

Excellent video. I have been a tech for almost 40 years, and I learned a whole bunch in this video!

[@PTguitars]

Good to see you're back at what you do best, Mark. Cheers "This thing's dead. With a capital F" haha - brilliant

[@MrEtonmess]

Thanks for showing the game loading at the end. Those iconic chirps and flashing boarders are part of my DNA.

[@larswillsen]

Another breakfast while watching Mark fixing stuff 🙂

[@ahmcet]

I am glad that Tom Evans took down your video. I would never found you. Your channel is great. Thank you Tom Evans.

[@2Sorts]

I’ve always been amazed with how Mark doesn’t say ‘ah, fuck it’ before sweeping the whole lot into the bin and cracking open a beer while muttering about how nothing works any more 😂

[@rjones5296]

I love this guy being home sick with some unknown virus for the last few days. I think I’ve watched everything he’s posted. It’s the only ray of happiness in my miserable life right now.