The next-generation cartridge that brings your ZX Spectrum to life — unlocking Wi-Fi connectivity, new apps, and limitless possibilities for retro gaming and creativity.

Hardware & Compatibility

Spectranext plugs directly into your ZX Spectrum 48/128/etc expansion port and includes pass-through support for other cartridges. It's fully backwards compatible with the original Spectranet, making it a drop-in replacement that preserves all existing functionality while adding new capabilities.

No complex setup required—just insert the cartridge and start using modern networking on your vintage hardware.

Wi-Fi & Modern Internet

Spectranext uses Wi-Fi instead of Ethernet, bringing your Spectrum into the modern era. It does networking much like Spectranet, but automatically decrypts encrypted (HTTPS) traffic so client programs for websites become possible.

Unlike the original Spectranet which only supported TNFS, Spectranext can mount and load files directly from HTTP(S) websites, opening up a world of modern internet services and content.

Development Tools

Spectranext includes a small temporary filesystem (RAMFS), allowing developers to upload programs directly into the device—almost like programming Arduino. No external server required for development and testing.

The device features an onboard debugger (GDB stub), enabling physical debugging of real hardware with stop, continue, step, breakpoints, and memory inspection. Spectranext itself can be disabled, so the debugger can be used to debug 100% native programs running on real hardware.

A USB port provides quick program testing and logging capabilities. Programs can emit logs to a terminal instead of the screen, making development and debugging much easier.

Tight integration with modern toolkits like z88dk means you can use familiar development tools, and the z88dk debugger can directly debug programs running on Spectranext.

Documentation. https://docs.spectranext.net/

Blog. https://blog.spectranext.net/

Roadmap. https://spectranext.net/roadmap.html