From firmware version 1.3, the user does not need a special programmer to update the firmware inside the microcontroller. He only needs his Spectrum, the PS/2 interface adapter, and a working PC keyboard attached to it.

Maybe the most interesting hack is related to the posibility of changing the Spectrum program that is atomatically typed and loaded when Ctrl-Alt-F1 is pressed. In this article, which will be updated to reflect other available firmware hacks, I will explain how to do this.

What you will need:

• A binary file (.BIN) containing the firmware to work on. Available firmwares are in the download section.
• A hexadecimal editor / advanced file editor, or whatever tool you use to change bytes within a binary file.
• The source for the firmware update program. Available in the download section.
• The Z80 cross-assembler PASMO.
• Optionally, the OTLA utilities for generating turbo loaders from your TAP file.
• Not really needed, but the source code of the firmware you're hacking may ease things for a specific hack.

All these tools are freeware.