Vol.4 No. 3
TIEX-STHCLRIR USERS CLUB AND I MED
TIMES A
ANNUAL NEMEERSHIP FEE,
NEVELETTERS BRE EXCHANGED, FREE OF CHARGE,
WITH OTHER TIPEX-SIMCLRIS USERS GROUP:
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CAN BE REPRINTED,
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E
Attention: SINC-LINK Editor
TORONTO. TIMEX-SINCLAIR USERS CLUB
P.0,Box 7274 Stn. A, Toronto MSW 1X9
EXECUTIYE OFFICERS
PRESIDENT:
TREASURER:
TAPE LIBRARIANS:
PUBLICATION AND THE AUTHOR F HU ORY
SINC - LINK
SINC LING IG ñ PUBLICATION OF THE TORONTU
š
YEAR. COPIES OF THE NEWSLETTER ARE
BLDG EACH FOR NON-MEMBERS, CLUB MEMBERS
RECETLE A FREE COPY AS PART OF THE Saa,
at
TH THE Pi Bu NORE A i
TORONTO TIMEX - SINCLAIR USERS CLUB
LENSLOK DESCRIPTION........
MAY/JUN 1986
NEWSLETTER INDEX
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE...... PG
PASSWORD ROUTINE... eee PG
CONTROL CODES,.............PG
ZX81 TIPS,...... e.o... ......P.G
SINCBITS,.... aoaaa... eO PG
ZX81 RESOURCES... PGS
QUILLing ON THE QL.......PG
BOB'S NOTEBOOK.... eee PG
TS2068 TIPS...... een eO PG
TS2068 WITH AN EXERCYCLE...PG
LARKEN USER NOTES,.,....... PG
ZX81 SCREEN ADDRESSING.....PG
2068 SCREEN ADDRESSING.....PG
THE HACKER'S ESCAPE........PG
MURPHY'S LAWS... . eese see FG
DISK DROPPINGS...... es PG
TS2068 KEYBOARD LAYOUT.....PG
NOVELSOFT AD...............PG
PG
George Chambers (416) 751-7559)
14 Richome Court Scarborough, Ont MIK 2Y1
Charles Urban
"Robert Rosenzweig,
Brian Milne
PAPER LIBRARIAN: John Burns
HOUSE CHAIRMAN: Help Wanted!!
ACTIVITY DIRECTOR: Help Wanted!!
LIAISON OFFICER: (Out-of-Town Members) George Chambers
NEWS EDITOR: John Roach
P. 0. Box 7274 am A Toronto, Ont., MSW IX9
£
GD EDS seh. OY Su ee CIS: c T N
PAGE 1
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE CONTROL CODES
BY Barry Lindstrom
This September will mark the near completion of our l
4th year of club operation, It was in November 1982 The 2068 has a series of control codes that can
that our club had it's beginnings. A lot has happened be easily used by the BASIC programmer, They are
in that time. The club has grown from an original listed in the owner's manual on pages 239 and 240,
dozen members to a current membership of about 130. and deal with the screen display.
Where the club was originally composed of members
from the Toronto Area, we now have about 55 members They can be used in two ways. First and
living outside of Toronto. In that time also we have easiest, is to use them in the CHR$ statement; to
built up an extensive paper and tape library 4n the Change the paper color to RED, for example, you
club. Our newsletter has grown from it's initial 6 would print CHR$17 + CHR$ 2. Notice that 17 is the
pages to the present 14 or 16 pages. We have moved character code for "PAPER CONTROL" and 2 is the
several times in that period. number of RED (on your keyboard). You could even
assign these to a string variable for convenience:
What does the future hold for us? For one thing, Let A$ = CHR$ 17 + CHR$ 2, followed by a PRINT A$
there is a move in the works, Present indications are would do the same thing.
that the new premises of the North York Memorial
Centre will be ready in January. Coupled with this is The second way to use them is in a DEF FN
an indication that the rent will rise by $20. This statement. If I had names or -some other
may mean an increase in dues, or else a change in information stored in string variables and
premises. I sometimes wanted them to "FLASH" when I printed
One other troubling aspect is the difficulty in them, I would have DEF FN D$(NS) = CHR$ 18 + CHR$ 1
getting members to take an active role in the club + N$ + CHR$ 18 + CHR$ 0 somewhere early in my
operations. This problem is of course common to all program, The CHR$ 18 deals with "FLASH"; CHR$ 1
organizations, However in the case of a self-serving turns it on, and CHR$ O turns it back off again, To
organization such as ours, if there is a lack of use it, print FN O$("HELLO"), or what ever the
interest in participating in the club operation it message is.
brings into question the merit of the club's
existance. : If you are careful you can combine quite a few
Keep this in mind when the September annual meeting of these contro! codes in a string variable (or
with it's election of officers rolls around. Offer function). Just remember to turn off any functions
your services. you turned on,
The following demonstration program shows each
of the control codes that can be' used.
PASSWORD ROUTINE Unfortunately, the “CURSOR UP" and "CURSOR DOWN”
codes do not work for me. If you figure out how to
By using the commands "ON ERR" and “GOTO" it is use them like the others, please let me know! !
possible to set up a password routine that is, if not
unbeatable, at least very tough. In the listing This article was reprinted from the TAS BAM Users
below the "ON ERR" command, which treats both “STOP” Group newsletter KEYBOARDS VOL.4 NO.1; JAN/FEB 1986
and "BREAK" as errors, sends the computer back to
line 30 if there are any errors. The program cannot
be broken into or stopped, unlike if only the "INPUT"
command was used. For added protection a "FOR/NEXT"
loop and "NEW" command has been added, This allows
for only three attempts at the password before
erasing the program. The password can be any stráng.
ZX81 TIPS
When using the first program line for entering
machine code, PEEKing the address 16511 will show the
number of characters in the REM line. If there are
10 ON ERR GO TO 30 more than 256 characters in the line (a rare
20 FOR xsl TO 3 occurance) then enter PRINT PEEK 16511 + 256 * PEEK
30 INPUT "Password please";a$ 16512.
40 IF a$s"QTS" THEN GO TO 100
50 PRINT "Incorrect, try again"
60 PAUSE 60: CLS Use the following line in your program to prevent an
70 NEXT x accidental screen memory overflow error.
80 NEW
90 LIST IF PEEK 16442 < 4 then CLS (or SCROLL)
100 PRINT "You are now past the Password"
PAGE 2 SinceLink May/Jun 1986
SincBits
Tan Robertson
Compuserve 72147,3401
UPDATES: Has anyone tried to return a 2068 (board
only) io Timex, Little Rock, for repair? Vell I have, orly to
have it returned, with a note saying that they DU NOT REPAIR
2088's any aore?! Several of cur club members have returned
cosplete units to Timex, along with $30.00 (US), and have
received refurbished units in return, The bottom line must be
that they do NOT fix individual boards, but that they 20 replace
one complete computer with another! I would appreciate feedback
an this watter. “Complete Units? seans that you sest send back
everything that case with the computer, when you purchased it,
If you have been putting off buying a colour composite video
sonitor, you should look at the NEC sodel 1C-1225-NA, presently
being sold by "Computers For Less" for $199.00 [equivalent to
$149.00 US). Just remember, that if you use your computer
primarily for text, that a colour composite video is HOT for
you. The text readability is not very good. But, on the other
hand, if you use your computer for games, art work, etc., then
it is GREAT, Now for a couple of interesting items gleaned troa
the July issue of Sinclair User. It seems that when Amstrad
bought the Sinclair Computer rights, that the purchase did not
include Portugal amd the Eastern Bloc countries, Timex Portugal
has the rights to them and has just closed a deal with the
Polish goverament for the supily of 800,000 TC2068's and 300,000
FDD 3000 twin 2* disc drives (these are the 3° drives soli by
Zebra Systems), The other item concerns production of the first
‘Austrad Spectrue’, to be called the Spectrum Pius Twa,
tentatively scheduled for release this Autumn (whenever that
is). it will have a built-in cassette recorder amb quite
probably - a proper keyboard. Sir Clive has already established
a Seperate company, called Anamartic, to continue working oa his
vater-scale chip project.
. SPECTRUM: Ta ay last columa I was very
enthusiastic about a recently aquired Spectrum utility called
"Supadrive’. dell, since then I have been lucky enough to
purchase a similar utility called "M/DRIVE DOCTOR 3.0° troa
Pipe Systems, 151 Millbridge Rd., Dollis Valley Vay, Barnet,
Herts, U.K. It has 13 commands which enhance your s/d cospetiag
pleasure. This is a 9.5 out of 10 product. Another such (highly
rated) product is "MULTIFACE 1°, from Romantic Robot, which not
only saves “any’ program at the push of a button, but also
allows you to goto basic and add pokes, revise, etc. I have beer
lucky enough to be able to borrow one to experinent with and can
report that not only does it do all the things claimed, but that
it is also compatible with both the BETA and the KEMPSTON DDI's.
If you do à Jot of word processing you should consider a program
by Seven Stars Publishing, 34 Squirrel Rise, Marlow, Bucks SL?
JFN, U.K. The program is called TASPRO. When merged with Tasword
TT it allows your 80 column printer to print out text with
identical spacing between words on each line, It sells for $8.00
ippunds sterling), which includes airsail, There is also a
version for Tasword III, They also have just released a program
Called "Qualitas", which is supposed to allow your 80 colusa
printer to print out in NLO. More on that in Wy next column, You
PAGE 5
aust tell them which printer you will be using, for amy program,
when you order, Cameron Hayne, our member in Oxford (UK), has
just finished his Basic Compiler, which he calis 'TIMACHINE',
and I can report from first hand experieace - "THAT IT BLOWS
AWAY ALL COMPETITION FRON ANY OTHER SPECTRUN COMPILER. — When
Cameron gets it marketed (he is currently negaciating with 2 UK
software houses), it will be considered A MUST BUY item.
Cameron has a 2068 version presently being marketed by our own
neighbourhood software house - Novelsott, 106 Seventh Street,
Toronto, Ontario NBV 384, The price is $20.00 (US) or $25.00
cem, i
2068: If you have been thinking about ordering
a Kempston compatible joystick from the U,K., make sure you
order one which has a 46 pin connector (same as the 2X81/751000)
aad NOT the 56 pin connector commoh to the Spectrum. Chances are
the 56 pin model will not work with the 2069. Cheetah and Datel
both have such aodels tor sale. The other way around this is to
order one of the "Kampston Compatible’ IF's from either JOHN
DLIGER (you aust have his expausion board), Zebra Systems or
Russell Electronics. Latest on the John Oliger Disk Drive
Interface (DBI). Version 1.22 of his BOS, called SAFE 00S,
includes screen copy to printer (80 columa or 2040) and allows
the user to exit to basic by pressing the NMI button and then
pressing 'C*. John says that both he and Ray Kingsley are
presently working on a ‘full blown" business type DOS for his
DDI. I have been busy putting ay JLO expansion board system in a
metal case, in order to reduce RFI and to improve it's
appearance. The case contains the 2 boards for the DDI, printer
IF and Kempston joystick IF. 12 aiso has LEDs and switches on
the front, with joystick and disc connectors sxounted on the
bark. One of the switches on the front is to select ose of twn
Eproms acunted on Dan Roman’s eprom/enulator board. The case is
painted to match the 2068, and connects to the 2048 via a 2* 44
conductor ribbon cable, which has gold connectors at each end.
All connections on this system are gold, for reliability.
Remember that the JLO DOI is compatible with the 2068 while it
is in the Spectrum node. You should see some of those Spectrum
games and Attworr, version 1.1, im colour! Remember, I aa the
guy that used to say “COLOUR IS MOT REALLY NECESSARY FOR THE
2068",
TS1000/ZX81: Just a reminder that some very
resarkable software/hardware items are available from Frei
Nachbaur, Silicon Moustain Computers, C-12, Mta. Stm, Group Box,
Nelson, BC VIL SPI, Canada. Write for a Catalogue, but include a
large SASE. When ay JLO video upgrade was working (before the
Wuch-dreaded-static-zap] I was running Fred’s JÜ-BASIC and can
say fros first hand experience that this is indeed an
experience. Fred also sells fully assembled/tested video
upgrades for those not so dedicated to the soldering iron,
Another great new item is the LARKEN DDI, from — Larken
Electronics, R.R.12, Navaa, Ontario K4f 1H9, Carada. It comes as
either a single drive or a double drive controller. It sells tor
379.00 plus $4.00 for the drive cable and 55.00 shipping (us
funds). There are either 2 or 3 club aembers running this system
and the two that I know of are VERY HAPPY about their purchase,
When ordering specify that you require either the single drive
or the double drive DDI.
Sine-Link May/Jun 1986
peep QIIIA RESOURCES — se
*H BY PETER MCMULLIN
Y
I must confess to be = ane of the culprits behind the
lateness af this issue. The demands of ay “real job” and
other obligations have dett ae with virtually zero tiae for
computer activities over the past several weeks.
Things look a little better for the rest of the year,
though (I have same holiday tiae coming), and we should be
back on schedule by the Sent-Oct issue.
2058 USERS TAKE NOTE:
single topic in this aonth’s
computer, too!
Mill wonders never cease! Every
1X81 Resources applies to your
LARKEN DISK SYSTEM
After using the Larken for a couple of sonths now, I
must say it meets or exceeds all expectations. The DOS
(131-LDOS) is certainly the sost sophisticated available for
the 7381, but its operation is simple, logical, and well
documented. LDDS lends itself extresely well to user-written
003 utilities f amaged-track recovery, etc. The ability
Save k Load BASIC, ARRAY, ar CODE files up to 47K long
es Winner, providing programeed data manipulation
fore possible. The DOS commands & disk
to the 2088 version, so CODE written on
81
or daa
BASIC
toa winner, pr
ilitisz never je
3 iCal
r
IDENT E
ed on a 2088 Larken disk aay be loaded by 4
he sale “tise:
stam has been 100% reliable without exception,
d
24, is ür di db delivered, it remains an
B oaplets review, discussion af the
À i a comparison with the AERCO
loup in an upcoming issue. The s
n Electronics, RR&2 Havan, Ont
m
EFROM. SERVICES PROGRAMMER
I recently received a sample unit of the EPROM SERVICES
ROBRAMMER HK.i, sent tor evaluation by club meaber Larry
fhavari 5 at Ottawa, fint.
er using this device, i decided I liked it enough to
order one for myself, Although the unit is costly ccapared
pragraamer, the features justify the price.
s opposed to the JLO unit, which is memory aapped, the
F/5 programaer is completaly cart qaspa: The programmer,
like the iLi, is a aale card peripheral designed to plug
into a motherboard, It aeasures approx. Jaw + 3,0°R, with
à 28 pin lero Insertion Force socket. An 8-pole MIP switch
next ta the ZIF socket for the EPROM persits selection of
Intel type 2718, 2722, 27228, 2784, 27128, and Tl type 2316
& 2572 PRONG
rogrammer is centred around an 8255 PIA chip,
giving port- mapped control of all EPRÜM pins. fn onboard
switching bocst-regulator provides the 21V or 25V
programming voltage without the need for a separate power
supply. Switching af the programming Vp is done
automatically under software control, Eproms say be inserted
ar removed safely without powering down, peraitting several
EPROMS to be propraased without having to power down i
reload between each one,
PAGE 4
SINC-LINK VOL.4 NO.3 MAY-JUNE H6
E/8 PROGRAMMER, cont.
The truly remarkable part is the software. iK (1191) ar
1.5K (Spectrua/2088) in length, the MC software is avalisi
in 11E-i?7K or 21E-X7K versions far the 2221, and
ar a2¥-43.5K versions for the Spectrum aor
2088.
a li-option Menu provides choices af; #7037
à in EPROM with code to be prograasec-
possibla te averwrite a programmed EPROM), #COMFARE
af EPROM with an area af genory), #COPY (an area
inta memory), #CLEAR ian area of aeaory to F
{see later}, *CLEAN icheck that EPROM
{program another EPROM, came parame
s a af EPROM), M DUMP (hex iis
EIER [lets vou check before RETE;
her performing a PROGRAM, or any af th
ations, parameters aust De ente d
starting address in EPROM, sn
in hex adeciaal forgat, hen PROGRAMM Ë
tion is made of EPROM type, parameter
rogram takes over. First, the parane
ity. Then the EPROM is TESTed to
55 sfully progragmed. If all is weli,
5 Si ha an and programming
gragramaing, each byte is C
necessary, and if so, up tn
it. & varify is ns
yerification/retry fails, t
with a report af the ae
aborted at any tise, with à
de prograsa@ed.
monu n
I have found the EPROM SERVICES Progr
convenient and reliable, The capability of
EPROMS with none af the complications
apmory-mapped prograaser is alzo a defini
socket, switching flexibility, sel: ta
fancy software, as well as the ahility to
the run" makes this a very impressive uni
doesn’t come tor free, though.
ite m i sells ar 92 , from EFRON šE
3 WEDBEXODD DRIVE, LEEDS Loe !EF, ENGLAND.
MODified Shapes For T75
This programming feature is adapted (weil OK,
from the article “MGDitied Shapes for JBM’, i
1984 issue, written by Paul 4. Carlson, This
discuss the backoround, and cover 1 af 4 er
create nifty geometric patterns.
The program listing provided here wi
1X81/T81000 with Qliger/T] Video and ili
JOBASIC or PEXL-ATR. it will alsa run on the
reduced colour resolution.
The object of Hr, Carlson's article was to illustra
sone interesting uses of the MOD (Modula) command in I
BASIC,
n
te
ne
Fun on n
48, | bt with
Sinc-Link May/Jun 1986
cont.
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F
QUILLing ON THE QL
by Harry and Larry Sadler
R.R. #3 Kingston, Ont. K7L 4və
nad a Qu for 140 months
now and thought cther users
and perhaps other Members
considering a Qt might be
interested in my experience so
far 。 This commentary will be
restricted to QUILL as word
processing is the main use I
have made of my system . For
the record, my system is
configured with a JIL te green
monitor, and a Smith-Corona
L-10d0d daisy wheel, friction
Feed, 12 cps printer . The
printer isn't Fast but it does
For my prime purposes -
correspondence .
I have
I have been able to use four
other word processors:
WordStar, VolksWriter,
Multimate, and Word Perfect .
VolksWriter is simpler to use
but less powerful . The other 3
are more powerful but harder to
learn and to use - On a
performance per dollar basis,
QUILL wins easily .
QUILL has the feature that all
the format intructions are
Filed with the document . This
gives rise to the opportunity
to creat a standard format to
liking that is different
From tne default format . For
example, I like block Format .
The default Format gives a
paragaraph indent of S spaces,
left margin at solumm 18, right
at column 70, top maragin of 5,
bottom margin of 3, and it is
set to print page numbers . I
your
prefer, margins at columns 5
and 75, no page numbers, and
with a top margin af 1 line . I
single sheets so I can set
use
my top margin at my
convenience 。 Using a top
margin of 1 line ensures that
the print head will locata.to
the left maragin for the first
line to be printed . These
PAGE 6
changes ars made with tha
Design command . With the
format that I like defined, I
then save the blank document
(with the new format set) in a
document I call Setup . Thus to
start a new document, I simply
load my saved file called Setup
and begin my text . IF I am
keeping the new document, I
give it a new name when saving
it to the microdrive .
Using block format (Left
maragin and Indent margin at
the same column} has created
one interesting problem . IF
you go to a new paragraph and
want to indent a faw spaces,
the cursor will not move . It.
will respond to characters
other than the spacebar and you
can tab into the new
paragraph . My guess is this
semi-lockun happens because
QUILL expects a text character
as the first character from the
Indent Margin . This is logical
in mest cases but not when
using block format . Another
problem of getting the cursor
te go where you want it is when
I am using a right margin
greater than 80 columns .
Sometimes the cursor drops down
a line instead of proceeding
accross the former maximum
screen width . I suspect
something isn't quite rignt as
it doesn't happen all the
time . I get around it by using
the left cursor key from the
line below where I was working
and had the trouble .
All in all, QUILL is very
good . I have sent a few
suggestions to Sinclair
Research for the next version of
QUILL. It will be intersting to
see what happens next.
Here's looking forward to
trials & tribs and solutions!
you
Sinc-Link May/Jun
1986
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1:11 197 ,128,218,27,323,12,225,43
i26 ,254,.,47,4:98,12,£204,45,520,15,2Z
54.3296 .48,4,254
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S.24,.221,25,254.170c,.,252.54,.24,.,2Z22.
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igo TOP
288 SAVE "CDOHPHCTOR"U: VERIFY UU
Speaking or few
Lins tc th nf
Larian users
REHDOS mau iti
First an ta it
With anotine the
MERCI camma 3.
BE = = th re
Pree Far ine
Then cati it using RANDOMIZE USR
22728. This if ®MGSt üUsefrui when
ucu arg irying ito Save one oF
uour nbragrams to disk that hat
some cade Gr data reziding above
22808. if Pace if tight, it iz
here that COMPACTOR may come if
handa,. freeing up the necessary
bytes.
Disk HMEenuz,.
When ZI bUiid 3 menu for sach oF
fü dizkz, I tru to zdd a routine
in &ach of the programs on that
dizi that mili asutomaticatiu
return in Lhe menu ror another
SELECTION; eg. if the program
hat a Suil option that results
in a STOP action, inen replace
t iin something like
This is fairiu £284 to accompi-
ish in BASIC bui noi 50 &azu in
marching language. Se far I have
been able io rætur oniy the
LOGS Leubaoard input: röuting from
Within azczembiuy ianguage cade.
Larry Kenny talks abcUT the DOS
checking the ¥SLue in addrez-
22622 and if it iz 255 then ihe
action is az described above.
Perhaps zomeone Wiii Anau the
£giuti:iün to this Gre.
So far, it ha erformed wv
meti. X have sa¥ed it i80
Leaving gut the Laga uh:
frustrating on tape. i paw
two games into machine code
excellent rezuitrz. Gtrers
Lude a fautine të r&giocaie
to another start address
Severai calcuisiing rout:
which move aiong waru quit
Sa ii seems thet Cameron
Come up With a Farsi rete ut
ity program. Conarztz të himi
SGavina arrays to Disi.
Be sure 1o usg ong of the RAH
WEeresians nr LEGS when you are
ifuing io Save and Lead arrautz,
iii th the Eprom DOS, arraus must
be Located first in ine vari-
bis afea and if they move is
a different incationhn When re-
GiMENnSioned during running, ines
cannot be Lacatad. The ati
LDOS ES mii find the arrays na
Matter where they afe.
i Aisa, the other LDGS S giliw the
U£t& OF Farisble namez to ident-
if the text being zavyed. Saving
an array tš with a name n pres-
12S iy derined zz "lipz" wouid
require a iine: LET ng\a"ts"4ng+
w Rx” then a Line, 529: SANDOM-
IZZ USRA 26720: REH cave na.
Bob Miicheili Juna 1386.
IS 2068 TIP
To change the amount of time needed to hold down a
key until it repeats, POKE 23561,X, where X may be a
value between 1 and 35, Intially, on power-up the
value will be 35. Each lower value will speed up by
1/60th of a second the interval untilthe key repeats
To change the amount of time between consecutive
repeats, once the key starts repeating, POKE 23562,X.
X will equal a value between 1 and 5. The lower the
number the quicker the response will be.
TS 2068 SCROLLING TIP
The address 23692 is used by the computer to store
a value used for SCROLL control. POKEing a number
from 1 to 255 into this address will cause the
computer to scroll that many ines + 21 on the
Screen,
PAGE 7 Sinc-Link May/Jun 1986
USING THE TS 2068 WITH AN EXERCYCLE MACHINE
by Fred Schakel — ! "»
The object of the whole experiment was to play a game
on a computer (2068 or 2X81) and exercise at the same
time.(I am in need of both!!) By combining an
exercise bicycle, a joystick, and a 2068 with a
special program, I proved that this is very possible.
My exercise bike already had a magnetic sensor on
it, so | wired it in parallel with the FIRE button on
my cursor joystick, The program displays a crude map
of the subdivision that ! live in, with a bicycle at
my home, and several places of interest labelled as
follows:
CTC --- Canadian Tire
MALL -- Shopping Mall
MOM --- Mother's place
A & D - Angie and Dwight's place
PK ---- Park
CLN --- Cleaners
MAC --- Mac's Milk store
H ----- My home
The blue area is the river
A machine code routine senses the bike speed
through the FIRE button, by reading the bit on the
zero key. This is much quicker than with BASIC,
Even if the bike is stopped with the magnet on the
switch, it recognises that the wheel is not turning.
One may think that this should give a repeating
"zero" key press, but this is so only in BASIC.
Getting away from the technicalities, the pink
locations on the map represent goals to reach. When
you reach one of them, points are awarded. It is
also capable of letting you know when you go off the
road or in the river. Steering is by left and right
on the joystick, and you need to be moving in. order
to turn.
My plan is to involve obstacles such as
pedestrians, trains, cars, puddies, etc. On the
hardware end of it, I want to use an I/O port that
will drive a motor which increases the tension on the
bike. This would simulate going up and down hills.
I have included the program for you to try. ( Just
tap the zero key, and steer with keys 5 and 8 at the
same time. It takes quite a few taps on the zero
key to move ahead, depending on your speed. I will
continue with the software and hardware development
of thís project, but anyone is welcome to help out.
I can supply further information on the machine code
for anyone who wants it, j
An easy way to convert the speed signal from an
exercycle to the 2068 is with a simple magnet and
reed switch, Mount the magnet near the edge of the
wheel. Put the reed switch on the cycle frame so
that, as the wheel turns, the magnet passes close by
the switch without touching it. Wire the reed switch
leads to the two contacts on the fire button of the
joystick. The joystick port can now read the speed of
the wheel similarly to a tachometer.
| cont'd on next page
PAGE 8 Sinc-Link May/Jun 1986
Fred wrote to me about this project, and I thought
it was so interesting it should be put into the
newsletter. I am sure Fred would like to hear from
anyone out there so [ take the liberty of giving his
address. Fred Schakel, 181 Seawood Ave. London Ont.
Noy 188 George Chambers
LARKEN USER NOTES
These helpful tips on LARKEN DD operation have been
supplied tọ us by Larry Kenny.
~ If you have CRC errors usually on the inside
tracks of your disk, the problem may be that the
variable resistor on the controller board needs tọ be
adjusted slightly. This adjustment is to compenate
for variations on the pulse widths of the "read data"
on different disk drives. (This trimmer resistor is
near the 74L500 on the controller board).
Remember where the adjustment is initially set
because it should only have to be moved a small
amount, If it is a single-turn trimmer then you
should only have to turn it less than 1/4 turn in
either direction. If it is a 10-turn trimmer (metal
screw) then you should only have to turn it 1 or 2
turns.
- The CLEAR 61000 command before entering the LDOS
is usually not necessary if you are in the TS2068
mode. The Spectrum has to have RAMTOP changed by a
CLEAR command because the 280 stack is there and it
has to be moved to make room for the LDOS, It is a
good idea, when saving programs on the Spectrum, to
always have RAMTOP set in a standard place (e.g.
61000), This way you won't have to remember a lot of
different CLEAR commands when loading. After the
program loads it can set RAMTOP to where it needs it.
- If your program uses UDG's (user defined
graphics), you must make sure that the EPROM 1s not
in the top of memory (shadowing the UDG's memory
area) by doing an OUT 84,0 command.
PAGE 9
- If you have a very large BASIC program (extends
past 61000) that you would like to put onto disk, an
easy way is to save a copy of LDOS16 to tape. Then
Toad in your large BASIC program. If it is an
auto-run BASIC program, to stop it, MERGE it instead
of loading it. Then add these lines to the program
in an appropriate place.
9000 LOAD "LDOS16": RANDOMIZE USR
16384: REM save “Sigprg.81"
9010 GOTO (start) (or RUN)
Then type GOTO 9000 (or wherever you put it) and
it will load LDOS16 off the tape, and then save the
program to disk. I
= To load the big program, you can't directly use
the EPROM DOS because the top of the program will
overwrite the LDOS, so you need a BASIC loader.
e.g.
10 QUT 84,64: RANDOMIZE USR
63488: REM save "Basloa.B1"
20 RANDOMIZE USR 63488:
REM Toad "LD0S16.C5*
30 RANDOMIZE USR 16384:
REM load "Bigprg.B1*
This program when run will
auto-run mode.
save itself in
- Note that with Sinclair BASIC you cannot put an
active command in a line after a REM statement. e.g.:
RANDOMIZE USR 63488: REM save "xxxxxx.Bl": RUN
The RUN following the REM statement will be ignored.
- If you would like to print your directory on the
printer, you can use the LPRINT USR command instead
of PRINT USR when entering the LDOS. You won't be
able to see what you are typing until you press
ENTER,
- Sometimes within running programs, you may get a
"NO FILE" error; maybe because you changed your
program or disk name. The best way to return to your
original program is to keep pressing ENTER until the
"scroll ?" prompt, then BREAK it. This method is
preferable because if you were going to load a code
program and then jump to it after it was loaded; if
the LDOS came up with "NO FILE* and you typed "EXIT",
the program would crash.
= You may have a machine code utility or routine
such as a printer driver that you use with your BASIC
program. If you place it anywhere between address
23552 (start of system variables) and the address
of VARS, it will be saved with your program. This
also applies to any changes to the streams and
channels tables,
Retyped by George Chambers
Sinc-Link May/Jun 1986
ZX81 SCREEN ADDRESSING
by Mike Lemyre
The print position address is found at PEEK 16389
+ 256 * PEEK 16399,
If the program area is empty then this address *
I 16510.
If this address is POKEd with a character code then
the referenced character will be displayed at
position 0,0.
To print a line, POKE this address with the code
in increments of 1 to a maximum of 31.
The 33rd print position must hold code 118 page
number.
PEEK 16441 for the X value and PEEK 16442 for the Y
value to find the current print position.
To find the PLOT coeordinates:
PEEK 16438 for X
PEEK 16439 for Y
To calculate the address of the screen the
starting addres can be called X. For the sake of
argument we will call the starting point 0,0.
Each additional point will equal X + 1. The
maximum value to be added = 31. Each additional line
is 33 bytes from the previous line. An example is:
Let X = 16510, therefore line 1 would end at
16541 and line 2 would start at 16543. 16510 is the
equivalent address as the print at 0,0.
If a loop is used to fill the screen with digits
then the loop must have a counter to maintain the
correct parameters of the print position.
THE SCREEN ADORESS VALUES
0,0 0,31
1,33 1,64
2,66 2,97
3,99 3,130
4,132 4,163
5,165 5,196
6,198 6,229
7,231 7,262
8,264 8,295
9,297 9,328
10,330 10,361
11,363 11,394
12,396 12,427
13,429 13,460
14,462 14,493
15,495 15,526
10,228 16,999
17,561 17,592
18,594 18,625
19,627 19,658
PAGE 10
TS2068 SCREEN ADDRESSING
by Mike Lemyre
To print a digit on the 2068 you must PEEK 23684
+ 256 * PEEK 23685. This gives the starting addresss
of the display file and must be increased by
increments of 256 up until a value of 2048. To print
more than one digit you can increase the original
address after storing it in a register, thus it can
be referenced jater to allow the print position to be
altered.
TO PRINT A DIGIT ON THE 2068
10 LET nsPEEK 23684 + 256 * PEEK 23685
20 POKE n,255
30 LET n = n + 256
35 IF n>= 18432 THEN STOP
40 GO TO 20
PEEK 23688 gives the X value of the print position.
PEEK 23689 gives the Y value of the pront position.
Note that the print position 0,0 will have the
value of 33,24. Position 20,0 will have the value
of 33,3.
The screen address coordinates start at 0,0 in the
lower right hand, and end at 33,24 in the upper left.
Both the ZX81 and the 2068 have the same display
file layout.
10 LET n * PEEK 23684 * 256 * PEEK 23685
12 LET k = n
14 LET ç = O
20 FOR m = 1'TO 8
30 POKE n,255
40 LET n = n+ 256
50 NEXT m
52 LET c x c + 1
55 LETn *k*c
67 IF ¢>=20 THEN GO TO 95
70 GO TO 20
95 LET c = 0
100 LET k = k + 32
105 LET n =k
109 IF cz 20 THEN STOP
110 GO TO 20
Sinc-Link May/Jun 1986
WEST Y i
BUND URS |
Welcome to the Hackers Escape. A new column
featuring ways of going about making, back-up copies
of your precious software, and questions related to
making: back-up copies of programs. This colum is
FOR YOUR OWN PERSONAL USE and not for pirating
programs or distributing them.
There are four ways of going about making back-ups
of programs, and each has it's own advantages and
disadvantages. The first method of backing up a
program is tape-to-tape, Tape-to-tape is good for
making back-ups of those long programs that occupy
the whole memory. But on the other hand it is
practically useless for making back-ups of fastloaded
programs. This is usually due to incorrect head
alignment and/or improper cleaning of playback head,
erase head, pinch roller and capstan. [t is advisable
to use two recorders of the same make and model when
making tape-to-tape back-ups. Sometimes the copied
program will not even register on the screen, or
shows an R tape loading error after the loader
program,
Dubbing cords or attenuation cords are good, but
care has to be taken if the cord over- or under-
attenuates. What the attenuating cord does is take
the signal coming from the EAR jack of one of the
tape recorders and reduce it to a preset level
(depending on the capacitance of cord). This filters
out any excessive background noise. The signal is
then filtered, giving a sharper tone (again depending
on the cord make-up). The other tape recorder then
records the signal coming in the MIC jack.
Over-attenuationg cords tend to cut crucial data
signals that result in program errors. Under-
attenuating cords dull the sound and allow more noise
to creep in,
The second method of backing up a program is with
a tape copier. Tape copiers are very popular for
making back-ups of software. Care should be taken
when using a tape copier. The advantage of the copy
program is that it enables you to copy another
program by loading it into the computer, and
simultaneously sending it back to a second recorder
with a refreshed signal. Copiers are very error-prone
and should be used with great care, because the copy
made by the program may not work, or even load
correctly. Always use.a tape copier with the latest
features that cope with the software you are using.
Always be aware of the single long 48K file types
that cannot be backed up manually. Make sure your
program can cope with false headers and headerless
files,
PAGE 11
The third method of making back-ups. This method -
is extremely unique and very easy to use. This type
is not software, but hardware, The interface TOTALLY
bypasses all types of copy-protection in the program,
no matter how heavily it is protected, What it does
is make a complete dump of the memory to tape,
without headers. After the SAVE, you simply load in
the software supplied with the interface, and convert
the headerless files to tape or to microdrive.
Finally the fourth method, You may call it a
method if you are the type that is ambitious and are
completely familiar with the computer. This method
involves manually breaking into the program, and
decoding the file of hidden machine code or hidden
program lines, This can be very tedious and stressful
if you are dissecting the program, but always keep in
mind that there are the other three ways of saving
programs,
If you have any questions relating to this or just
need help, write to Karim Rahamet, 101 White Oaks
Court, Pent-house #7, Whitby, Ontario, LIP lAl.
All questions will be answered by mail, or by phone
if given.
a RENI l i ilis S is Ë
MURPHY'S LAWS OF COMPUTING
People always remember the last mistake you made
He who hesitates is probably smart.
The one who does the least work always gets the most
credit.
The less a peripheral system costs, the more it costs
to fix,
Whatever happens, behave like you meant it to happen.
Confidence is the feeling you get just before you
fully understand the problem.
When you get to the point where you really understand
your system, it's probably obsolete.
As soon as you find that your computer is easy to
use, add some peripherals you don't understand how to
operate,
No matter what goes wrong with your carefully planned
database system, there's always someone who says they
knew it would.
It's only when you need to knock on wood that you
realize that the world it entirely made up of
aluminum and plastic.
Sine-Link May/Jun 1986
DISK DROPPINGS
by Greg Lloyd
Compuserve ID 76317,1461
In the previous column, [ looked at the bits of
hardware needed for the disk interface.
we'll look at the whys and hows,
This time
First to answer the Whys. Why not! Are you fed up
with the slow error-prone cassette system Sir Clive
It doesn't matter how
careful you are, everyone has lost a program or a.
bequeathed to his serfs?
file due to a tape glitch. I'm not saying you won't
lose any programs on disk, but you will know in a few
seconds if you have a problem, rather than a few
minutes on tape.
Since most of the software written for the 2068 and
Spectrum uses memory to the fullest, your Disk
Operating System should use little or no RAM, This is
the theory, but in practice there are few systems
that live up to this principle. You have to use your
noodle to develop ways of fitting tape-based software
into your disk system, I found that a header reader
program is a must for any memory-mapping. If you know
where all the pieces should be, you can fit them all
together when you save them on disk. A real plus of a
disk system is that you no longer have to be
concerned with RAM size. You can write programs that
use the disk as memory. IBM call this virtual memory
because if you have enough disks it can go on
forever.
Here's an example of how it is done. Imagine à
filing program that stores all the uses of a dead
EPROM chip in r$(1000,20). This could mean that you
are limited to 1000 records, holding 20 characters of.
data, When that is used, POOF! ERROR 4 OUT of memory.
But with our clever program that draws it's
information from the disk, you can have as many
records as you wish. The other uses of this technique
are for downloading those big files from Compuserve
(Groliers Encyclopaedia), or using your Word
Processor to write the Great White Northern Novel. It
is possible to wear out your disk drive and your arm
long before you reach the limits of this technique.
My system, from Larken Electronics, has the ability
to load and save an array of data or a block of code.
This simple fact can be used to implement the virtual
memory idea, Other systems allow the use of
sequential and random access files. This is one step
beyond saving and loading an array or code. It allows
the records to be stored and retrieved one after
another sequentially (sometimes slowly), or in a
partitioned block for easy access randomly (fast).
For a small file, sequential is probably best. Larger
files dictate the use of random access.
The only limits you have with your Disk System are
the ones you place there, If you let your
imagination go, your system can do anything you want
it to do. Ask someone like Peter McMullin (our
resident 2X81 Forever and Ever and Ever Person) if
you doubt me. 08/03/86
SG SN NL EL | LL NEC a NS TE SIDE EE A IE SB A TN EET EY
This is a page from the British ZX Spectrum manual, which is a
bit more informative than the TS2068 manual.
Did you realize
that the top row of the 2068 keyboard provides 77 functions!!!
Fred Schakel,
MODE SHIFT
Ink
Bn
Paper papar Paper
blue magenta
PAGE 12
London T/S Users Group.
Ink ink Flash Bien ink
yellow - white otf black
Sinc-Link May/Jun 1986
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PAGE 13 Sinc-Link May/Jun 1986
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Sine-Link May/Jun
PAGE 14
