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Looking for a SP0256-17 — Parallax Forums

Looking for a SP0256-17

georgedbgeorgedb Posts: 21
edited 2015-03-15 06:24 in General Discussion
Trying to find this chip, just for fun. I know (and have) all numbers can be generated with the SP0256-AL2 as well, but as a collectioner, I'd like to use this one as well.
Anybody has (or knows) one for a fair price?

Comments

  • lanternfishlanternfish Posts: 366
    edited 2015-01-18 13:51
    http://www.speechchips.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=3
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2015-01-18 19:07
    George, hoarders of a feather flock together! I have exactly one in my collection (not for sale) of vintage speech chips. Ken Lemieux of speechchips might be able to help you, although he's getting out of that business. Once his stock goes, he may not restock. I got mine off Ebay for a fair price, if you really want one, set up an Ebay email notification for that part and wait for it to come to you.

    I guess you haven't received my 3.12 crystals yet?

    BTW, Ken made a modern DSP version of the SP0256+CTS256, no crystal required. Just $17, works great, highly recommended! Also don't wait to get one as Ken wants to sell the business. http://www.speechchips.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=22
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2015-01-18 21:01
    In a related story, suddenly SP0256-AL2 chips are a dime a dozen from China. Fakes?

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/1pcs-SP0256A-AL2-SP0256A-SP0256AAL2-DIP-28-/251278598778

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/5pcs-SP0256A-AL2-SP0256A-SP0256AAL2-DIP-28/261218825001

    3.12 crystals are still rare though. Only one bulk seller, if you need 25 pieces: http://www.ebay.com/itm/CRYSTAL-XT3-12-3-120-MHZ-HC-49-OSCILLATOR-NEW-LOT-QUANTITY-25-/151040740451?
  • VIRANDVIRAND Posts: 656
    edited 2015-01-20 10:35
    I used to have one. It needed an external serial rom it usually came with (SPR016) to get its full vocabulary, otherwise you'd get weird noises if you tried to make it say anything beyond "thirteen".
  • georgedbgeorgedb Posts: 21
    edited 2015-01-20 13:51
    I think many SP0256-AL2's were produced back then, for all kinds of devices. And there are only a few fans like us... I can't imagine these are fakes.

    Harder to find (not as hard ast SP0256-17), but I got a few, are the UAA1003 (speaking clock, very funny chip, as it needs the segments of LED displays as input). I only have the German version, there seems to be a French and an English version as well. With a muliplexing display, you need to add all kinds of latches...
    erco wrote: »
    In a related story, suddenly SP0256-AL2 chips are a dime a dozen from China. Fakes?

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/1pcs-SP0256A-AL2-SP0256A-SP0256AAL2-DIP-28-/251278598778

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/5pcs-SP0256A-AL2-SP0256A-SP0256AAL2-DIP-28/261218825001

    3.12 crystals are still rare though. Only one bulk seller, if you need 25 pieces: http://www.ebay.com/itm/CRYSTAL-XT3-12-3-120-MHZ-HC-49-OSCILLATOR-NEW-LOT-QUANTITY-25-/151040740451?
  • georgedbgeorgedb Posts: 21
    edited 2015-01-20 13:55
    ;-) I did, see PM.
    I'll set up such a notification
    erco wrote: »
    George, hoarders of a feather flock together! I have exactly one in my collection (not for sale) of vintage speech chips. Ken Lemieux of speechchips might be able to help you, although he's getting out of that business. Once his stock goes, he may not restock. I got mine off Ebay for a fair price, if you really want one, set up an Ebay email notification for that part and wait for it to come to you.

    I guess you haven't received my 3.12 crystals yet?

    BTW, Ken made a modern DSP version of the SP0256+CTS256, no crystal required. Just $17, works great, highly recommended! Also don't wait to get one as Ken wants to sell the business. http://www.speechchips.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=22
  • blittledblittled Posts: 681
    edited 2015-01-21 04:05
    I believe the links Erco mentioned are fakes. The chips show they are made by Microchip when they were made General Instruments. Microchip did start from people from General Instruments but I believe that was after the SP0256 was made.

    Edit: I stand corrected. It appears Microchip made the SP0256-AL2 and General Instruments made the SPO256-AL2. Notice the difference that one is the "0" version and the other the "O" version. :)
  • VIRANDVIRAND Posts: 656
    edited 2015-01-22 13:17
    I think the SP0256 sounds a little better with a 3.579545 crystal which is very common.
    Since it seems not critical it could probably variably clock with an astable flip flop too.
    Just don't expect it to sing.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2015-01-22 14:38
    The world is rife with those 3.579545 MHz colorburst crystals, very easily found. But besides the frequency being off, I think there was a stability issue if you used them. Gordon?
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2015-01-22 15:42
    Yes, it can lock up with the color burst crystals. At least that has been my experience. Under software control you could periodically reset the thing, I suppose. Results may vary depending on the actual vintage of the chip. There were several, made over the years.

    You could try this page for odd-frequency crystals. No 3.12 MHz that I can see, but a few that are closer than the 3.58. Price is a little high, but if they work, they work.

    http://www.surplussales.com/Crystals/Crystals-2.html

    If you're not going after the retro thing, there are still Speakjet and -- sometimes -- Babblebot (nee Soundgin) chips available. Neither requires a crystal.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2015-01-22 17:00
    Look no further, I've become a 3.12 xtal hoarder. Plenty in stock, $2 each. Tips accepted!
  • RDL2004RDL2004 Posts: 2,554
    edited 2015-01-28 13:33
    While looking for something else, I ran across these yesterday and remembered this thread.

    http://www.bgmicro.com/CRY3120.aspx
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2015-01-28 18:17
    80 cents! They're undercutting me! Of course, there's that $6 shipping fee.

    My stockpile of $2 crystals will trickle down over the next decade. Got any friends who need one, georgedb?

    Want to stock up and become my first international warehouse? :)
  • georgedbgeorgedb Posts: 21
    edited 2015-03-15 06:24
    I'm afraid the majority of my friends don't know what an xtal is ;-)
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