Works like a charm – also with a Spectrum clone, but you have to invert the order of the cables at one of the connectors IIRC. I had a number of the PCBs manufactured (but I used different keycaps) and use them with inexpensive keychron switches.
I have a couple of the Memotech keyboards, and for the time they were excellent [1]. I picked up one of David’s ZX key keyboards a couple of years ago and it’s also great. He has a fun read about the adventure of building this keyboard [2].
Looking on the internet, Was there another variant of the xz81 that had chicklet keys instead of the membrane keyboard ? I only remember seeing the membrane one in Canada. Perhaps I am mis remembering?
Also. Is this to give new life to an otherwise ailing machine ? I cant imagine modding a vintage working machine with this. Does that make me a purist snob ?
You can build your own ZX81 replica, there are several projects available and all components are still available since the replicas replace the Sinclair ULA with a bunch of regular 74-series TTL ICs. We used the ZX81plus38 for a soldering course with our students, this works very well:
[1] https://www.timexsinclair.com/product/memotech-keyboard/ [2] https://www.zx81keyboardadventure.com/2019/02/zx-key-externa...
Also. Is this to give new life to an otherwise ailing machine ? I cant imagine modding a vintage working machine with this. Does that make me a purist snob ?
You can build your own ZX81 replica, there are several projects available and all components are still available since the replicas replace the Sinclair ULA with a bunch of regular 74-series TTL ICs. We used the ZX81plus38 for a soldering course with our students, this works very well:
https://github.com/mahjongg2/ZX81plus38
There's also a Sinclair Spectrum clone, the Harlequin, which is also quite simple to build.