Minstrel Expansion Bus 4 Port Backplane

Name: Minstrel Expansion Bus 4 Port Backplane
SKU: 40199
Price: 30.00 USD
Availability: InStock

A four port host powered backplane for Minstrel Expansion Bus cards for Minstrel 2,3 and ZX81

Designed by Tynemouth Software in United Kingdom

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2025-10-07T13:44:08.804Z-Minstrel Expansion Bus with pin header angled.jpg

2025-10-07T13:44:08.804Z-Minstrel Expansion Bus with edge connector angled.jpg

2025-10-07T13:44:08.804Z-Minstrel Expansion Bus kit knolled.jpg

2025-10-07T13:44:08.804Z-Minstrel Expansion Bus with edge connector.jpg

2025-10-07T13:44:08.804Z-Minstrel Expansion Bus kit with edge connector knolled.jpg

2025-10-07T13:44:08.804Z-Minstrel Expansion Bus with pin header.jpg

2025-10-07T13:44:08.804Z-Minstrel Expansion Bus showing passthrough.jpg

2025-10-07T13:44:08.804Z-Minstrel Expansion Bus soldered in.jpg

2025-10-07T13:44:08.804Z-Minstrel Expansion Bus soldered in angled.jpg

2025-10-15T11:04:08.758Z-Minstrel Expansion Bus and cards on Minstrel 3 angled.jpg

2025-10-15T11:04:08.758Z-Minstrel Expansion Bus and cards on TS1000.jpg

2025-10-15T11:04:08.758Z-Minstrel Expansion Bus and cards on TS1000 angled.jpg

2025-10-07T13:44:08.804Z-Minstrel Expansion Bus with pin header and edge connector.jpg

2025-10-07T13:44:08.804Z-2x Minstrel Expansion Bus with edge connector.jpg

2025-10-07T14:23:02.489Z-Minstrel Expansion Bus Powered and unpowered.jpg

2025-10-07T14:23:02.489Z-Minstrel Expansion Bus Powered and unpowered showing passthrough.jpg

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A four port host powered backplane for Minstrel Expansion Bus cards for Minstrel 2,3 and ZX81

What is it? This is a board which plugs into the back of a Minstrel 2, Minstrel 3 or ZX81. It provides 4 Minstrel Expansion Bus slots and an edge connector pass through at the rear. You could even ge…

What is it?

This is a board which plugs into the back of a Minstrel 2, Minstrel 3 or ZX81. It provides 4 Minstrel Expansion Bus slots and an edge connector pass through at the rear.

You could even get two and add them together to get 8 expansion bus slots, plus the one on the Minstrel 2 or 3 itself and the passthrough edge connector.

The 4 slots and the rear edge expansion port are powered by the host.

There is also an powered version available:

Minstrel Expansion Bus 4 Port Powered Backplane

Why did you make it?

I am producing a range of expansion cards for the Minstrel single board computers, this allows up to four of those to be used, plus rear expansion for another module or even another 4 slot backplane.

If fitted with an edge connector, this can also be used with a ZX81.

What modules are available

Currently the following modules are available, more are being added. Let me know if you have any ideas or requests.

What options are there?

The standard kit includes the four expansion slots.

The base kits come with a pin header to solder direct to the edge connector on the Minstrel 2 or 3 to create a permanent installation.

Optionally an edge connector can be included which will allow the Minstrel Expansion Bus to be removed, and also to allow it to be used with a ZX81.

What it not included

No Minstrel Expansion Bus cards, or any of the Minstrel or ZX81 computers are included. Multiple units are shown as examples, only one is included.

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Tynemouth Software Shipping Policy:

Tracked shipping is recommended on international orders. Parcel will include full value declaration and may be liable to additional delays, tariffs or customs fees upon arrival. Please be aware of this before ordering, there is nothing I can do about it.