Unipolbrit Komputer 2086

It's Timex Computer 2068 machine, assembled in Poland (in Unimor Gdańsk) by a joint venture Unipolbrit. There are some modifications to original Timex Computer 2068, and TC2068 is modified Timex/Sinclair 2068. All of these aren't much compatible with Spectrum.
In Poland, they removed a right joystick port and put parallel port there for better printer support. They also removed speaker and added monitor AV output with standard eastern DIN plug. Using monitor's speaker instead of in-case beeper for good AY sound chip was a good idea. There were some more expansions made on demand.
Unipolbrit was incompatible with Spectrum only at the ROM level. To make it compatible, Komputer 2086 was bundled with "Emulator ZX Spectrum" cartridge, made by S.P.M. Spektrum.

The "2086" is not a misspelled 68, as it is on the computer and all manuals. There are two interpretations of these digits. First: It's a marketing trick to make customers think about PC x86 speed and quality (or maybe even 80286?), which is probably not true because PCs weren't much popular in Poland when Unipolbrit started. Second interpretation is production start year - 1986.

Manufacturer	Timex / Unimor / Unipolbrit
Origin	Portugal / Poland
Year of unit	1986
Year of introduction	1986
End of production	?1988?
CPU	Z80
Speed	3.5MHz
RAM	48K
ROM	16K
Colors:	8
Sound:	3-channel AY-3-8912
OS:	BASIC
Display modes:	Text: 32x24 Graphic: 256x192x8, 512x192x2


Media:	Tape ROM Cartridge External FDD with controller.
		Power supply:
		A female DC Jack at the computer: 1 - +9V DC 1.6A unregulated 2 - Ground.
I/O:	Tape recorder RF out Video output Joystick port Parallel port






Possible upgrades:	As in Timex 2068

Software accessibility:	Possible (Timex 2068, Spectrum)

There were at least 3 versions of this computer:
- First version, very rare - with white plastic mechanical keyboard made in Poland, it was sold in Składnica Harcerska. Keyboard was a DIY kit, later these keyboards were used in some other equipment like Transled driver..
- Second version had TC2068 keyboard, but inside it was assembled by Unimor.
- Third version had TC2068 mainboard and keyboard, in Unimor they only put mainboard to casing, soldered parallel interface to mainboard points and it was ready. This version has Timex native main ROM, earlier versions have EPROM there, which has "Unipolbrit" welcome message.

Some versions probably have no parallel port nor right side joystick connector. Also, different output variants have been made - on the Unimor.pigwa.net fan site you can see version without parallel port, but with some strange RGB adapter and joystick ports.

There were at least 3 types of ROMs installed in Unipolbrit computers:
1. Original Timex ROM - in later models.
2. No-version - just "Unipolbrit Komputer 2086 - Model 1986" - it's probably the first EPROM, it is just like Timex ROM but with modified welcome message.
3. "Version 1.2" - one byte is different than in other roms, 0x20 is replaced by 0x28 at 0x6D.
By inspecting my Unipolbrit with no-version ROM, it has serial number 515. Its mainboard is professionally assembled, probably in Portugal, then ROM has been replaced in a poor workshop - solder flux can be seen. I think Unipolbrit just bought readily assembled mainboards, installed own ROMs (if they weren't too lazy, like in latest units with Timex ROM) and put them in casings. Speaker has been also removed in quite non-professional way as cutting traces can be seen.

The name Unipolbrit is a mix-up of UNImor, POLand and BRITain. Polbrit company produced disk drives for Spectrum and published some software on tapes.

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