I just use sna and z80 files and they load straight away

Which version are you all using??

[SOLVED]

This is on version 1.7

In the configuration menu choose:-

computer model and select zx spectrum 128kb

Then press enter on tape loader on speccy screen
(screen goes to a white screen with tape loader at the bottom in a black bar)

Then in main menu go to open file and select tape.

Go back into main menu and select option rewind tape and now it should load the tape the old fashioned way.

Enjoy