SINC-LINK
Vol.7 No . h Nov-Dec ? 89
SINC-LINK IS A PUBLICATION OF
THE TORONTO TIMEX-SINCLAIR USERS
CLUB AND IS ISSUED 6 TIMES A
YEAR. COPIES OF THE NEWSLETTER
ARE $1.50 EACH FOR NON-MEMBERS.
CLUB MEMBERS RECEIVE FREE COPIES
AS PART OF THE $20.00 ANNUAL
MEMBERSHIP FEE. A NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY IS AVAILABLE
FOR $12.00.
NEWSLETTERS ARE EXCHANGED, FREE
OF CHARGE, WITH OTHER
TIMEX-SINCLAIR USERS GROUPS.
PLEASE CREDIT THIS PUBLICATION
AND THE AUTHOR IF YOU COPY .
MATERIAL.
THE CLUB MEETS ON THE FIRST
WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH AT
FOREST HILLS COLLEGIATE
INSTITUTE, 730 EG LINTON AVE. W. ,
TORONTO .
SEND CORRESPONDANCE TO:
Attention: SINC-LINK EDITOR
TORONTO TIMEX-SINCLAIR USERS
CLUB, 14 RICHOME COURT.
SCARBOROUGH, ONTARIO,
CANADA M1K 2Y1
TORONTO TIHEX-SINCLAIR
USERS CLUB
A NEW COVER, A NEW CLUB
EXECUTIVE, A NEW BATCH
OF ADS AND MORE GOOD
READING THAN YOU SHOULD
BE ALLOWED TO HAVE FOR
ONLY $1.50 OR LESS.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS:
PRESIDENT
TREASURER
SECRETARY:
ACTIVITIES:
TAPE LIBRARIAN ZX81 :
TAPE LIBRARIAN 2068:
TAPE LIBRARIAN QL:
PAPER LIBRARIAN:
NEWSLETTER :
LIAISON OFFICER :
( Out-of-town members )
RENE BRUNEAU ( 531-9749 )
BILL LAWSON ( 444-8772 )
GEORGE CHAMBERS ( 751-7559 )
RENE BRUNEAU ( 531-9749 )
LYMAN PAQUETTE ( 482-4479 )
RENATO ZANNESE ( 635-6536 )
HUGH HOWIE ( 634-4929 )
JEFF TAYLOR ( 244-8583 )
JEFF TAYLOR ( 244-8583 )
GEORGE CHAMBERS, 14 RICHOME COURT ,
SCARBOROUGH, ONTARIO, M1K 2Y1
( 416-751-7559 )
TORONTO TIMEX-SINCLAIR USERS CLUB
14 RICHOME COURT, SCARBOROUGH, ONTARIO, CANADA M1K 2Y1
Presi dent ^ s Message
Welcome to another year of Timex-Sinclair computing and a new
executive. As the new president of the Toronto Timex-Sinclair
Users Group, I would like to thank the Past President, Jeff
Taylor, on behalf of the club for his gui dance and enthusiasm
over the past year in making our club better. Jeff remains as
Newsletter Editor so we can expect more of the same this year.
As a general member of TTSUG and later as part of the executive,
I have recieved many benefits from belonging to and participating
in club activities and I hope to be able to continue in the
footsteps of people like George Chambers and Jeff Taylor in
fostering group support in the club= In the past year we have
seen an increase in membership through distribution of the news
letter and there is growing interest in the club for such
diverse things as telecommunications, synthesised music, and
hardware projects. Special interest groups are a direct result of
this and will ensure that our club remains healthy for as long as
we can get together.
PARTICIPATE ! It's the only way that you can ensure that your
computer will be supported.
EDITORIAL
We've got a new club executive ! It isn't much different from
the last one but there have been a few significant changes.
Rene Bruneau takes over from me as club president. Rene has
been the activities director as well as the ZX81 tape librarian
so you know that he is an avid club booster in addition to being
the resident 2X81 hardware expert.
Lyman Paquette replaces Rene as ZX81 tape librarian. Lyman is
a relative newcomer to the club so it's good to get some fresh
enthusiasm into the executive. Lyman has this one quirk though,
he collects old slide rules (remember those dinosaurs?) so he
should fit in here quite well. Welcome.
I have inherited the paper library from Greg Robins. Greg has
had a bad year healthwise so I have eased him of this load.
Greg, thanks for arranging and cataloging all our books and
newsletters .
To the rest of the executive, congrats and welcome back. I am
looking forward to your new ideas, to help improve and expand the
club in the coming year.
NEWSLETTER
This issue we have made a few changes. The most visible is the
new graphic on the cover. Thanks go to Hugh Howie for his
version of the Toronto skyline. Hugh produced this beauty on his
QL with the EYE-Q graphic program.
You should also note that we are presenting advertisements of
a few reliable and deserving TS vendors. If you know of a
supplier that you feel should get more recognition drop us a
letter and/or a sample ad.
TIDBITS
I will be hosting a telecommunications seminar (with a little
help from my friends) on Wednesday, November 8. with demos for
the ZX81 . the TS2068 and the QL . Space is limited (my tiny den)
so please let me know if you are planning to attend and I'll
find more lawn chairs (no kidding).
Hugh Howie is having a QL seminar on Wednesday, November 15,
with a demo on networking and a speech by Mike Ferris on QL
programming. Again. If you plan to attend, let Hugh know ahead
of time.
Has anyone received their digitiser from the SMUG group? I
ordered the bare board and software back on March 16. 1989 and
have yet t© receive anything. Drop me a card to let me know of
your success (or not). That's all for now.
SINC-LINK
BOB S
NOTEBOOK
ANOTHER DISK RENAME ROUTINE
In the last issue of Sine-Link, you probably saw a nay of renaming a Larken disk using the utility 'Disk Doctor'
which appears on the club's Omnibus disk. Here is ay pet version for doing this chore; this appeared first as a utility
for the old original LDOS system and I have since adapted it to the LKDOS systems with which most club members are by
now very familiar.
Type in the listing and check it carefully. SAVE it by a <G0 TO 480>.
This program provides a quick V easy way to give a disk a new naie and what is wore the name can be quite long,
up to around 500 bytes. If you. are going to give a disk a complex name, you can set it up by using the word processor
Mscript. See the notes below for more details.
Here is the listing and there are some explanatory notes at the end.
100 CLEAR : BORDER 7: PAPER 7: INK 9: CLS
110 CLEAR 43400: RANDOMIZE USR 100: OPEN #4,,dd1
120 RESTORE 400: FOR i=0 TO 119: READ val: POKE 44000+i,val: NEXT i
140 LET trac=439Q0: LET settrk=44000: LET load=44006: LET save=44009
150 INPUT 'drive? (0-3) ';dr
160 PRINT #4: GO TO dr
170 as : POKE trac.O: RANDOMIZE USR settrk: RANDOMIZE USR load
180 PRINT : PRINT ' '; FLASH i," Enter Disk Name'
190 PRINT 'Press STOP (SS 'AM to end name ENTER for new line': PRINT
200 PRINT 'Disk Name :
210 LET aF54500
220 LET a$=INKEY$: IF INKEY*=" THEN 60 TO 220
230 IF CODE a$=0 THEN GO TO 220
240 BEEP .02,1
250 IF CODE a$=12 THEN PRINT CHR$ 8?CHR* 32JCHRS 8?: LET m=*-l: GO TO 300
260 IF CODE a$=226 THEN POKE m,Q: GO TO 320
270 POKE »,C0DE a$
280 PRINT PAPER 6?a$?
290 LET >=»+l
300 IF INKEY$<>" THEN GO TO 300
310 GO TO 220
320 POKE m,0: BEEP .1,20: BEEP .1,20
324 REM GO TO 325 after BREAKing to load Mscript Name
325 GO SUB 370: INPUT 'Ok to save to catalog (y) ?'? LINE a$: IF a$=V OR aS=,Y' THEN RANDOMIZE USR settrk: RANDOMIZE
USR save
330 INPUT 'l=more 0=menu '|m
340 IF mm THEN 60 TO 150
350 IF NOT am THEN PRINT #4: GO TO 4: PRINT t4: NEW
360
370 BEEP .05,10: BEEP .05,10: INPUT ■ Disk must have write protect removed OK? '; LINE a$: RETURN
380 STOP
400 DATA 195,249,171,195,7,172,195,27
401 DATA 172,195,56,172,195,75,172,243
402 DATA 205,98,0,201,58,100,0,251
403 DATA 201,205,239,171,58,124,171,50
404 DATA 29,32,205,126,0,24,237,205
405 DATA 239,171,58,124,171,50,29,32
406 DATA 205,129,0,58,29,32,50,124
407 DATA 171,24,217,205,239,171,175,50
408 DATA 32,32,205,123,0,58,32,32
409 DATA 79,6,0,33,112,32,17,80
410 DATA 195,1,0,20,237,176,24,188
411 DATA 205,239,171,33,80,195,17,112
412 DATA 32,1,0,20,237,176,205,120
SINC-LINK 3
413 DATA 0,24,169,205,239,171,42,144
414 DATA 171,78,35,70,24,158,0,0
480 CLEAR i PRINT #4: SAVE 'diskna.Bl* LINE 100
Notes!
Line 120: Pokes into memory, starting at address 44000, the 120 byte machine code routine which loads the directory
(catalog) to a buffer area for editing and then saves it back to disk when editing is done. The code is at lines
400-414. This poking will take i few seconds.
Line 150s Prompts for drive number.
Line 170? Pokes the track nueber zero (ie, the directory track) into address <trac> (43900). Calls the routine at
<settrk> (44000) which puts the disk drive head on the indicated track. Calls the load routine at <load> (44006).
Line 180? Prompts for Disk Naie. There is root for up to 20 characters on the first line! after that full 32-character
lines may be entered. Use ENTER to start a new line at any time. If you are entering CAPITAL letters, do not hold the
CAP SHIFT down while pressing the space bar. If you do, you'll get an ERROR tessage <L BREAK into program). You could
try CONTINUE then ENTER to resume; but I find it best to start over. The characters will be displayed on screen on
yellow PAPER and you may back up using the DELETE key. As I indicated at the start, you could enter a complex name by
designing it earlier using Nscript and then when you get to this point, BREAK into BASIC and load the Hscript file into
address 54500* Use <PRINT #4: LOAD •name.CT* CODE 54500>; then <S0 TO 325> will save the buffer to disk. Try it! It's a
great way to fancy up your disk names.
Line 250: Does the backing up as you use the DELETE key. Notice that the variable <■> which is an address counter or
»arker is decreased by one for each DELETE key press.
Line 260: Responds to the use of the STOP key (Symbol Shift and <A>); pokes a zero into the next byte to act as an
end-of-name marker (ie <m> mentioned in Line 250).
Line 325: You are reminded to remove the write protect sticker from the disk and then prompted to press <y> to start the
save. Code routines at <settrk> (44000) and <save> (44009) are called and the edited directory is transferred from the
buffer to the disk drive.
Line 330: You have a chance to do more or quit to menu.
Line 350: This is written to load the Ramdisk Autostart; if you want it to do something else, you must change this
line.
Line 480: Here's the place to save the program.
Finally, here is a small sample of a fancy disk name using the technique described above. Start with a line feed to skip
the 20 character first line.
**********««***«**#********
« WXYZ SOFTWARE 1989 ft
« WORKSPACE NUMBER 4 **
«**«******«***#*#*****»***
Bob Mitchell Willowdale Ontario 890919
SINC-LINK
LARKEN NEWS
by GFC
One of our members has sent me an
item (below) that will be of
interest to all Larken system
owners. It is an advert that
appeared in the classified section
of the October 1989 issue of MODERN
ELECTRONICS magazine. Larry is
branching out into a new field, as
you can see. Good for you, Larry!
CAD-CAM X-Y-Z Drilling/Routing
Machines 24* x 24' x 5* or larger, RS-232
Interface, $1200 and up. Larken Electronics,
RR Ifl, Navan, Ontario, Canada K4B 1H9.
NEWSNOTES
The Vol.3 Iss 4 of VISTA, the newsletter of
the Vashon Island T/S Association has some
interesting information about the TS world,
which is worth reprinting. Here are selections
from it. gfc
MA catalog from G. Russell Electronics
(R.D. #1, Box 539. Centre Hall, PA 16828).
Some of you that have been around the T/S
world awhile will recognise "G.R.E. " as the
company that brought out the Winky Board and
the Romswitch, just to name a few of their
products. I am glad to say they are still in
the T/S market, with a catalog full of goods
for the 1000, 2068, and QL. Included are
Spectrum ROMs and EPROMs ($10.95. 2/$ 19. 95 •
free shipping), all three Hi-res TS-1000
games, Rocketman, Fortyniner, and ZXtricator
($5.95. 2/$8.95. 3/$12.50), ZXLR8 Fastload for
$10.50, Winky boards, and even some parts
specials and books. If you can't wait, call
them at (814)364-1325 and order something.
"From Electro Associates of Michigan, (P.O.
Box 312, Lathrop Village, MI 48076) comes word
of 3" MAXELL brand "AMDISK III style" disks,
10/$40 plus $2.50 s&h, for those of you
needing 3" disks. Send cheque or money order
or call (313) 533-8797 for quality discounts.
"DISKW0RKS (1-800-456-3889) offers bulk
5.25 and 3.5 inch disks as well as name
brands, and they accept VISA, MC, and COD
orders. Disks are offered in quantities of 50
and 100 though, so "group buys" would probably
be the only way to go there. I don't normally
need 100 disks, even if they are only 21 cents
apiece ! !
"C0NSUMERTR0NICS (2011 Crescent Drive, P.O.
Drawer 537, Alamogordo, NM 88310) sends word
that their "Disk Service Manual III" ($25) and
"Disk Drive Tutorial" ($20) manuals are
available and ready for anyone who cares to
service their own drives, or just figure out
what makes them tick. They also offer a
"Printer and Plotter" repair manual for $15.
"Ribbon Relinking" ($8) and many other books
on subjects ranging from stealth technology to>
higlv-output wood-burning stoves. If you want
a look at these or any other of the "secret
agent" style books they offer, call
Consumertronics at (505)434-0234, or their
order line, 1-800-752-7701.
(Consumertronics also advertise these wares
in Computer Shopper. . .gfc )
"Finally I have about 14 pages of goodies
here from RMG Enterprises, 1419 1/2 7th
Street, Oregon City, OR 97045, (503)655-7484.
Suffice it to say Rod GOwen has a little of
everything for the T/S enthusiast, and if you
haven't had the chance to order anything from
RMG, please do so — RMG is the largest dealer
left in the T/S business that I know of, and
we need to support him so that he can support
us. Among the goods he has for sale are disk
drive power supplies for $13*50 (plus $3
shipping), Larken 2068 software package • ~s
which include the Larken Disk Editor and .ae
MAXC0M BBS package, lots of used printers,
Memotech products, disk drives, and LOTS of
books and software at low, low prices.
"Rod is now distributing his packed catalog
as Tasword II files on 2068/Larken disk, so
those of you with LKD0S systems can print out
your own catalog and get some public domain
software he's including on the disks as part
of the deal. Give ROD a call soon-^ find out
for yourself, because there are bargains in
Oregon City.
FOR SALE! FOR SALE! FOR SALE!
2 - ZX81 Computers
2 - 16K memory modules
1 - Goldstar TV (modified to provide
a monitor capability)
All for a nominal price.
Contact Tom Bradley
Box 793
Lenox, MA 01240
Note.. Tom is not a TTSUC member » GFC .
***#***♦*******
2 - Amdek 3" disk drives in a case
w/built-^in power supply)
20 - 3-inch disks
$120 or best offer.
Contact Greg Lloyd
127 Mammoth Hall Road,
Scarborough, Ont. M1B 1P8
phone (416) 292 0348
*********************
1 - Byteback modem (for the TS1000/ZX81 )
with software & documentation
Contact Art Johnson
13 Winstanley Cresc.
Toronto, Ont. M1B 1N3
phone (416) 282 8430
*#*******■*■»***♦**•*■»■***
Update Magazine
1317 Stratford Ave.
Panama City, FL 32404
904 871 3556
News and New Products
SINC-LINK
5
QL LIBRARY
In a recent issue of SINCJJNK, a list of our
QL Library was sent to the QL Interest Members.
It is also available to might-be QL'ers on
request.
This should be enough to get something going.
More will be added as I find time, and as
material comes in. As a start it may not be
much, but I feel that with the assistance of
the members, more will be coming. I still have
some material to be added, and this will be
notified in the columns as it comes available.
When you take on a job and you don't know what
you are doing, it can be frustrating at times,
but I have enjoyed it very much. The main
problem I came across is finding out which
media is most suitable for a given programme.
I use Microdrives and Disk. I also use a 14"
RGB Monitor, sometimes a TV, as many of us
still do. Now this is where the trouble
starts. I get along fine with some small item
on RGB, then when I try it on a TV, it just
don't work all that good. There is just not
enough space on a TV to give a full display.
TOOLKIT II is handy for switching TV/MON, but
there is also a small item in the library which
will do this for you. To compound the problems,
I use a 512 Expansion, and then I find that
something was made for the unexpanded QL. Take
the game SANTA for example. Run it on TV,
everything comes up roses, ( Fir Trees I should
say ) but use the expanded QL and what you get
is a lot of fancy accented letters. The address
is wrong ! By the way, if any one knows where
Santa is let me know, I have a lot of goodies
to ask him for.
Some of the material I have will just not work
on TV. OK in TV mode, but not in Monitor Mode.
Makes an interesting exercise.
Sometimes it is fine in Colour, but no good
in B & W, the colours come up in close shades
of grey. I have tried to use material that
works on everything, but that is not always
possible. So I try to give an indication of the
best method.
Some items will have a little bug, and as I am
no programmer, I cannot often find the beast.
This is where all you folks out there can help.
If you find one of those bugs, let me know, and
I will pass the info along to everyone else and
also amend the Library accordingly. If you
require assistance, ask me, the worst that can
happen is that I don't know, ( thats the good
part ) but at least there will now be TWO
people working on the problem. Get the idea ?
Another thing I would very strongly recommend
to the QL'er who does not have an expanded
memory. Get one as soon as possible. The extra
cost is more than repaid by the sheer joy of
what can be accomplished. So many programmes.
So many Games. The whole expanse of the QL is
broadened by this one little item. Ask Santa.
( I believe " Home Address, Anywhere." is a
good place to start. )
Now I don't know whether the Upper Brass in
the Club will agree with me or not, but I
strongly advise the QL'er to get a hold of
UPDATE. This magazine has a lot of good stuff
in it for the QL'er. (also for other Sinclair
Users) It comes out four times a year, and is
full of goodies. I would just love to be able
to use their QL MAGAZINE material in Sinc_Link.
Are you listening Bill Jones ? You too Bill
Cable ? Pity Quantum Levels is down the chute,
they were excellent also. What happened ?. By
the way, don't forget your old pal Daddy Sine.
The guy who got you all started in this.
Sincjjink is one way to keep in touch with all
the other Sincers - ( skuse me - just got back
from a fishing trip - Lost a 4 foot Muskie -
Caught a 4 lb walleye - stacks of 4 inch perch.
Worms at 15 cents a shot - and you think life
is tough ? One worm, one sunf ish,one worm------
go buy a computer, its cheaper. ) EH ? Uh huh.
For the cost of 5 worms you could buy 1 floppy.
You know the old saying? You gotta Sine or
Swim? Well I feel that I am swimming, so lets
get some material in here, we need it, and if
you have something you can be sure that someone
somewhere is in need of that little tid_bit you
are keeping to your self. Send it in. We need
it. And if you have a problem, lets share it,
thats how we survive. Sharing information.
A Library is only as good as the material it
contains, and is of no value if no one uses it.
A Library must have fresh material coming in,
and is only as good as the material sent in.
Please help. Use our facilities. Give us your
expertise. Can we be of assistance ?
Please ?
Hugh H.Howie.
QL Librarian.
P.S.....
George says the above applies to the other Club
Libraries also. So git goin folks, an thet
me ens 0. . . By the way, I went up to the cottage
last week and caught a 45 inch Muskie , ... I
did. . . I did. . . I did. . .
QLIES
Here is a neat little one_liner to give you a
Directory of your Cartridge or Disk.
Open #3 , serl: dir #3, radvl_
The ports and drives can be altered to suit
your setup. Try it.
H. H. H.
SINC-LINK
3 COLUMN PLUS!
by Steve Spalding
In the WINTER 87 issue of the
Pixel Print Press was a 4 para-
graph item about customizing
Pixel Print to make a 3 column •
printout. Stan suggested making
the double size option into a
center column. I'd like to sug-
gest the following changes to
the 2 column program to give you
a 3 column version that still
includes the double size option.
We' 11 set up a new c o m m a n d o n
the main menu called TOGGLE, or
TAB if you prefer. How are we
going to squeeze a new com m a n d
into the machine code? Easv, ue
don't ! We steal one that's "on the
m a in men u a lread y . Wed o n 1 1
REflLLV need the QUIT command, you
c a n b r e a k t he program by select-
ing the Graph ics command and
then using SH IFT + BREfiK.
The new command w i 1
"toggle" between the o
h a v i n g a C enter col u m n
Right col u m n p r i n t o u t
to the Printer menu. I
Quit on the main menu
see T>C or T > R telling
option is set. Center
Simply set the Toggle
going to the Printer m
i n g a Left or D o u b 1 e S
is the same as before.
1 let us
pt ion of
or a
when we go
nstead o f
you will
you which
o r Rig h t .
before
enu. Print-
ize co lumn
t ii e:
DETR I L_S -
1 . LO fl D y o u r c u s t on i z e d v e r s i o n
of Pixel Print. PLUS!
2. Qu it to BASIC
3 . M a k e the f o 1 1 o w i n g P 0 K E S :
POKE 33463,34 - T
POKE 33464,62 - >
POKE 3 3 4 6 5 ; 6 7 - C
POKE 33 4 6 6, 3 2 - space
POKE 3367 S , 8 4 - m a k e menu see T
POKE 3572 1,67 - set Toggle for C
The next three POKES are for the
column TAB positions. You will
h a v e to e x per iment with y o u r
p r inte r to s e t these.
P 0 K E 3 9 57 0, r. LEFT column
example: on m y printer n = 4
P 0 K E 3 9 5 7 1 , n 2 CENTER c o 1 u m n
example: on my printer n 2 = 3 O
POKE 39 57 2, n 3 DOUBLE SIZE
e x a m p 1 e : o n m y printer n 3 = 5
Look in your Printer manual to
get the next number to poke.
POKE 39593, n4
Sets Dot Density
to 120 d.p.i.
4. Add these 2 lines of BASIC.
3000 IF PEEK 33465=67 THEN POKE
33465, 82: POKE 3572 1, 82: POKE 3957
1, n5: POKE 3 5 598, 32: POKE 35599,82
: POKE 35600, 105: POKE 35601, 10?-
POKE 3 5602
GO TO 200C
104: POKE 35603, 1 16:
3010 POKE 33465, 67: POKE 357 2 1,6
:POKE 3 9 571, n 2: POKE 35598,67:
POKE 3 5599, 101: POKE 3 56 00, 1 10:
POKE 356 0 1, 1 16: POKE 3 5 602,10 1:
POKE 3 5603, 114: GO TO 2 000
Please note that in LINE 3 000
the n u nber y o u are p o king into
address 3 9 571 < n 5 > , is the TAB
v =u 1 u e for a RIGHT column. With rn
P r o gram it w o r k e d o u t t o be 56.
In LINE 3 0 1 0 y o u are p o king n 2
into the same address for the
CENTER column TAB pos it i o n .
You can now SAME the
3 CO LUMN Pixel Print
something like:
c u s t o m i z e d
P LUS! us in 9
SAVE "PP+3"LINE 9 000
S A E " P P + 3 c o d e " C 0 D E 2 9 5 00, 1 1 8 00
Don't forget
name in LI N E
to match the
t o change the file-
9 000 of the BAS IC
new CODE filename.
G e 1 1 i n q the best n u m b e r
LEFT, CENTER, and RIGHT t
take some fiddling with
e a s i e s t w a y to come u p
best v a lues ma y be to p
s o m e n u m b e r s and print
columns. You can then g
and change them in the
a rid re S A V E o n c e y o u 1 re
with the lay o u t .
s f o r
a b s w
. The
th
k o
m e
ba
O Q
t i
W 1
i c
s o
o
pr
s a
t
i 1
th
o u t
te
ck
ram
s f i
he
1
ed
The 3 co lumn
g i v e s y o u a
lets y o u p u t
page than be
one sma 1 1 pr
c a u s e t h e v e
same as be f o
t a 1 has been
SCREENS, icon
c o 1 u m n will
e d from n o r m
You might 1 i
1 3 y o
d i f f e
5 0';
r e .
1 e m
i c a
bu
o m p
t c
s 1
. An
it
to
o b
rt
r e
be
a 1
ke
ut
re
m o
B
, G
1
t
r e
i 9
y w
n
nt
r e
e
R A
he
th
th
ht
ay
0 t
1
o
ad
PH
1 9
e
ed
at
1 v
o n
0 o k
n e
1 C S
ht
h o r
a n
a r
d i
t r y
ly
b
a c
ed
i s
i z
s t
i
u t
h
of
B e -
t h e
0 n -
1 n a
o r t -
t .
0
0
0
0
QL
0
J
We carry ALL hardware and software lines tor the Sindair QL.
We also cany the Z88.
WRITE FOR FREE CATALOG
Sharp's, Inc.
Rt. 10, Box 459
Mechanicsville, VA 23111
(804) 746-1664 or 730-9697
Also calculate the TAB for the
RIGHT col u m n , we'll need it s o o n .
SXNC-LINK
7
TO 1 OOP V ± ci€=?c3 E>*~ ± ver
Many circuits have been published
within these pages and elsewhere for
hookipg up your TS1000 to a monitor to
get rid of the " Crawl ies" associated
with VHF television. The following
circuit was published in the book
"Build A Microcomputer — Control led
Robot" by B. C. Taylor of Budget
Robotics & Computing and is an
improvement on the circuit developed
by Mike Lord in his Explorers Guild,
The components are easy to obtain and
can be assembled with point-to-point
wiring or on a small piece of VERO
board. When installed, it allows you
to use both a TV and a composite
monitor at the same time (ideal for
demonstrations) .
Tl 2N2221
D1-D3 1N4148 or 1N914
CI O.luF Poly capacitor
Rl 33 ohms, 1/4 watt Resistor
R2 100 ohms, 1/4 watt Resistor
SI RCA phono socket
Small guage stranded wire
Coaxial cable (an extra
monitor cable cut in two
can substitute for the RCA
socket and cable)
When mounting the circuit inside the
computer case, take extra care to
prevent electrical shorts from
occur ing that might damage the
computer. Wrap the circuit with tape
or mount it so that it does not touch
any metallic surfaces.
INDEX. Bl
A Printer Fix
by G. Chambers
On the Club Larken Disk #2 (OMNIBUS) there ip
a program called' "indexO.Cm'*. It is a TIME
MACHINE^compiled version of a Basic program.
Two places in the program have a call for a
printer. The program checks to see if the
printer is ON. If the printer is not in place
or is not turned on the program flashes a
reminder to turn the printer on.
This is a neat feature, however it does
cause problems. It presumes the printer will
return values of 58 (small printer ON) and 237
(large printer on). My printer does not return
these values. Instead the responses from my
printers are 56 and 108.
The solution is to POKE new values into
eight addresses in the "indexO.Cm" code. The
POKEs in my case werei
POKE 32325,56 (old 58) small printer
POKE 32357,108 (old 237) large printer
POKE 32425,56
POKE 32457.108
POKE 34344,56
POKE 34376,108
POKE 34430,56
POKE 34462,108
To find out the correct code numbers for
your setup run the following lines 1
10 LET n * IN 251
20 PRINT AT 10,10," "{AT 10,10jn
30 GOTO 10
Experiment by turning the TS2040 printer on
and off. Then change the program 1 LET n s 12?
and do the same thing for the large printer.
Verify the addresses have the old numbers
shown above j then POKE in the new numbers and
re^SAVE the program. This will need to be done
with each copy of the program you happen to
have.
»*♦»♦**♦♦♦**♦**
New Lower Prices end NFW PROPUCTS!
n Announcing: PIX— FX
□ SPECTERM-64(TS-4.1) u
300/1200 TwiwwsJ Software for T/SZOM
On .« O. AFRnn. 1 .rw.r, o.ak or tap*.
Contest** with 2050 mod»m or atandard
RS-232e mod«a> with 2-SI/O (b.lowi.
Only S17.50 ♦ $2.50 S&H
□ Z-SI/O Bare Boards
RS-232e Sorwl tntarf.c. tor T/S2068,
With FREE ?t«0 or# Eiay to aaaawbt*.
Only $24.50 ♦ $2.50 S&H
[] MAX-C0M Software
100/1200 Tarmnal/BBS Soft war. for th.
T/S 206* with LARKEN (v ol D„k Sv.taia.
Only $25.00 * $2.50 S4H
LARKEN Disk Hardware;
} Um Disk Svsta
ivkjdai LARKEN Flow Disk Intartaca. LKDOS <v,3
jrtncxw. Uiwra«ns Manual ana UvOOS titan Duk.
Only $125.00 * $5.00 S&H
] [MB Turnkey" Systea
includ.i *»«r»thing abov* plua on. diak
drive, with caa*. powar tupplv and driv. caoic.
If, P^rtv to ftn, mat cormact to th* T/S2068.
Only $225 1 up ♦ $15 S&H
D.ai.n Y 0 if R O u N !vit.«i ''ALL
[ ] LXDOS Cartridge for QUGER Systea
?p»ciaHv confiour»d LKDOS (v 3) Cartndo. that
vorka with vour AO SAFE Desk hardwar*. tekdaa
Op.rattng Manual and LKDOS Utihti.a' Oiak.
Only $65.00 ♦ $3.50 S&H
Now YOU can tak. a T/S2068 tcr.ani and
cr.at. an aorta oi SPECIAL EFFECTS. Ulrap
vour SCJ around a alob.. ehans. p»rap«ctiv«.
maqrafv. rpouca. and mara. SCS plua mora, r" 'I
Clown CVnua. u«a «»»ooard or loyaock. Da* or.v*
compatible. ExcaHant documentation.
On tap-: $25.00 ♦ $2.50 S&H
On dia»k: $30.00 * $2.50 S&H
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hodeis, Printers and—
[ ] Avatex EOO<e> OOGV^EOD) $69
[ 3 Sa».ko.h« 180AI (100/20)..$159
C ] S*eko*na SL80AI (24 pm)..$335
[ ] Wor6Wara3 <CP/r-0-$4O ♦ $5 S&H
IneL Oafux. MicroPro US annual, ueeradaol..
[ 1 PC-Oraw<wJ)_Jn2 <• S2-5Q S&H
C.rou.t Bd d.a.gn p«> for T/S2068
C 1 DO IW Svaa=*»JSESO ♦ $3 S&H
110/220 AC : DC .12V 2.6A, «5V l.iA
C 3 SJ25" Dmi»*tmm-2&tt2J50 * S&H
Ua.d one*. PREMIUM QUALITY, qmrinletd.
sauattasesz wit wro «» r^TL?4 °°;
ee. prewar: SUOO. »a. aoftwarr. S2J50. (COO add
$3.50, CA add salea tax, Cana>d» doubt. SSHt
by Rene Bruneau
8
SINC-LINK
Continuad TiT—.w./'Si.-.ol.ir. Simoart is brouent to you by:
Ed Grey Enterprises
P.O. Box 4*2186. Insl.wood. CA 90306
Info » 213-759-7406 « Order
Ctll he fifty Mtr SBS k HCf/l (m-STWU)
HARDWARE REVIEW
Data-Skip VIDEOFACE
by Dan Pinko
I recently received Data-Skip's VIDEOFACE
Interface and Software and was so impressed
with this product I wanted the rest of the
| TIMEX/SINCLAIR world to know of its existence
so here is a short review of this product.
VIDEOFACE takes a video signal either from
a TV or VCR equipped with a VIDEO OUT jack and
transfers this signal into a digitized format
that can be used by the SINCLAIR SPECTRUM
(2068) Computer as a screen display. The
hardware part of the package consists of a
unit a little wider than the old ZX81 RAMPACK,
with a SPECTRUM through edge connector, a jack
located on the left side (for VIDEO IN
signal), a small variable control above the
jack and aproximately in the center of the
unit, and two LEDs n one red and one green.
The unit is designed to plug into the back
of the SPECTRUM computer, with the through
edge connector allowing you to connect the
SINCLAIR printer or the 2040 printer. I have
one of my TIMEX 2068 Computers connected to
the SPECTRUM INTERFACE 1 and MICRODRIVE
through one of the -TWISTER" boards that
simulates the SPECTRUM bus. The INTERFACE 1
has the standard SPECTRUM bus available at the
rear of the unit allowing me to plug the
/IDEOFACE directly into the rear of the
INTERFACE 1.
The VIDEOFACE requires the standard 1 volt
VIDEO signal that is found on all VCRs (the
signal from my TOSHIBA VCR works just great).
When the unit is powered up the green LED is
lit anytime there is a video signal present at
the input jack. The one variable control is
referred to as the "SLICE" control. This
determines the level of the video signal at
which the electronics either turns on that
specific screen pixel or turns it off. This
allows you to control the computer generated
screen all the way from a totally white screen
to an all black screen. The unit is I/O mapped
and the red LED only comes on when the unit
has been accessed.
The VIDEOFACE is manufactured in HOLLAND and
I was concerned whether the unit would work
wit8 the our TV system so before ordering the
unit I wrote Data-Skip and asked if it would
work with the NTCS TV system. They wrote back
saying that it should work and my experience
has proven this to be correct. European TV has
a higher resolution than ours and the only
problem that I have found (not really a
problem) is that the screen wraps around if
you use the cursor keys and scan the most
right and bottom of the TV image.
I was also interested in the electronics
inside the unit and wanted to know if the unit
could be plugged directly into the 2068, A
preliminary inspection shows that the unit
uses the following edge connections - DO to
D7, RD, IORQ, A7, A6, Al, AO, GND and +9v. All
of these signals except the +9v are located on
the same traces of the SPECTRUM and 2068
busses in reference to the SLOT location. The
+9v trace on the SPECTRUM is not used on the
2068 and the VIDEOFACE uses the +9v and a 7805
voltage regulator to power the unit.
The SPECTRUM was prone to overheating
?roblems and I assume the designers of the
IDEOFACE decided to add their own +5v so as
not to overload the SPECTRUM'S 5v supply. The
2068 uses a switching power supply and can
handle a greater load on its +5v supply so a
simple modification to the unit may make it
2068 compatable. I have NOT tried modifying
the VIDEOFACE but plan to in the near future
and will notify the newsletter as to the *
outcome.
The software that comes with the unit
consists of a short BASIC and machine CODE
program. The machine code is the work horse
portion of the program, controlling the
interface and displaying and storing the
digitized video signal in memory. The BASIC
handles the main introductory screen and all
SCREEN$ saving to Microdrive , Cassette or
Disk drives. It is easily MERGEd and changed
to handle any Disk drive system you may have.
I had no problems converting the software to
Microndrive or to my OLIGER disk drives.
The software works in SPECTRUM mode only and
is VERY GOOD. The VIDEO image is scanned 3
times a second, thus a slow moving or still
picture is not required and my experence with
the unit indicates that a usable image is
almost always available from most TV programs.
The software stores the last six digitized
screens in memory constantly updating them.
You can at any time stop the scanning and
review the last 6 stored screens, picking out
the best one. to save or send to the printer or
just watch a simple 6 screen animation show.
The speed at which the computer switches from
one screen to the next can also be controlled
over a wide range by using the 'F' and *S'
keys. Since the 2068 has a screen resolution
of 256 * 192 pixels the whole TV screen cannot
be displayed at one time, but by using the k
cursor keys (5»6»7 and 8) you can shift the
screen around locating the best view.
The unit does not color the picture - the
screen is black INK on white PAPER and the
actual SCREEN$ SAVE is a CODE SAVE of 6lkk
bytes leaving out the Attributes section. This
code can be loaded into any ART type program
and then modified and coloured to the user's
satifaction. I have noticed that the VIDEOFACE
prefers a colour video signal and produces a
screen picture with more shading than when
feed a black and white picture (this produces
a very high contrast picture but can produce
some interesting effects.
The unit comes with a very short, poorly
written manual, being translated from Dutch
into English and although helpful it is hard
to understand in some places. The software
makes up for this and once you load the
program, within a few minutes you will be
familiar with all the features.
I recommend that the source of the video
signal be a VCR because it allows you to
rewind and view the picture over again
adjusting the SLICE control until you have the
exact picture you want. I originally used the
direct signal from the TV but found that while
adjusting the SLICE control I would miss the
picture I wanted to save. By recording the
program and then using the VCR this was no
longer a problem. I did run into one very big
problem though - I got so enthusiastic about
SINC-LINK
saving screens that within the first hour I
had filled a 60 minute cassette tape with
SCREEN! dumps. After using it for a while you
learn to be more selective with what you save.
Having used this product for the last few
weeks I know that it was money well spent and
I will be using it for a long time to come
(not like some of the software I have
purchased and looked at once). If you have any
interest in screen displays either for
business or just for fun I highly recommend
this product. The possibilities are endless.
The price including AIRMAIL from Holland was
$93.00 (US funds) in December but this may
have changed because of the constant changing
dollar so please check with DATA-SKIP before
ordering your VIDEOFACE.
Their address ist
DATA-SKIP,
LANGE WILLEMSTEEG 12r,l4
2801 WC GOUDA,
HOLLAND
Is the OK JM ATE 20
the ULTIMATE
TS2068 printer?
USE W/AERCO PRINTER IXF? Yes, if
an IBM parallel Plug 'n Print cartridge is used.
OKI SO FEATURES? The GK I 20 can print in
WL8» draft, pica, elite, fine, double width, italics, sub/
superscript, i underline. Plain or thereal paper (tractor/
friction feed) or acetate transparencies can oe used.
COLOR SCREENS HARD-COPY? Yes!'
"COLOR COPY' supports FULL COLOR 'and b/w SCREENS due?s 4
8 PAINT I COPY* features Hl-MS fCD£ coloring and copying.
CUSTOM CHARACTER SETS?V*s, downline
loadable character sets of custoa cnaracters and graphics
can be designed and trans fered to an OKI 20. The utility
software 'OKI D.LC.G.' allows for easy design of custoi
char, sets and 'OKI D.L.P.S.' can transfer* a portion of a
SHEENS picture into a downline loadable character set.
OK IMA TE SO EXPENSIVE? No, the OKI 20
ft Plug 'n Print cart, are widely available for about 51 90.
Far a print saeple, info, on 2068 software for the OKI 20,
and a list of OKI 20 dealers/prices, send a LSASE to:
Johm McMichael ^^NEf
1710 Palmer Dr. [OKI MATE tC
Laramie, WY 82070 V SUPPOR T
A COUPLE OF WORKSHOP HINTS
LARRY CRAWFORD 357 REYNOLDS RD LONDON
ONTARIO CANADA N6K 2P8 (519) 657-9119
If you do any work with the innards of
your computer, it is prudent to keep
yourself grounded so that you won't zap
memory chips which are particularly
sensitive. A grounding strap is good
insurance but the commercial ones are
very expensive. You can make a good one
for less than $5.00. Take two 25x60 mm
pieces of conducting foam that ICs are
shipped in and sandwich a 12cm length of
lamp cord wire between them. Strip about
4cm of insulation from one end of the
wire and cement that end between the
pieces of foam with quick drying cement.
Try not to coat the bare wire completely
but be sure that the insulated part is
well coated. Clamp the sandwich
overnight. Tie and solder the protruding
end of the wire to a S-foot coiled
telephone cord. Attach the other end of
the phone cord to a grounding wire
through a 1 Meg resistor. The grounding
wire should run to a water pipe. Hang
the coiled cord on a hook under your
work bench or desk. To use it simply
unhook the cord and tuck the foam pad
into the top of your sock. The coiled
cord will be out of the way on the floor
but you can still wander around the room
without having to disconnect yourself .
Need a fine soldering iron to deal
with those microscopic traces on a PC
board? Take a foot or so of 12 gauge
copper wire and wrap it tightly around
the tip of your soldering iron. Leave
about an inch of the wire sticking
straight out from the tip and file it to
shape. It looks as ugly as sin but is
very effective. One source of 12-gauge
wire is house wire. Split the casing to
get the wires out and strip the
insulation from them.
THE FAR SIDE
By GARY LARSON 1
10
SINC-LINK
frmaat ... OK. now .... Who i rtt Drama of
trMoucmr
> I s the OK /MATE 20
| the ULTIMATE
| TS2068 printer? le^^
I ^/SF H/AERCO PRINTER ISF? Yes, if
an IBM parallel dug 'n Print cartridge is used.
OKI £Q FEATURES? T>» OK! 20 can print in
mj, *-aft, pica, tiitt, fine, axalt »idth, italics, sub/
suxrscnpt, I underline. Plain or theml paper (tractor/
friction feed) or acetate transpanneies can bt used.
COLOR PRINTING POSSIBLE? Ves!'
Color printing is possible and »ith 'COLOR COPY' sof taare,
FULL COLOR black t »hite SCREENS copies are possible.
CUSTOM CHARACTER SETS? In, awnline
loadable character sets of custom characters and graphics
can be designed and transfered to an OKI 20. The utility •
softvare 'OKI D.L.C.G.' allow for easy design of custoe ',
char, sets and *0KI D.L.P.G.* can transfer* a portion of a "
SCREENS picture into a dowiline loadable character set.
OH I MATE SO EXPENSIVE? No, the OKI 20
I Plug 'n Print cart, are aideiy available for about $180.
for a print sample, info, an 2068 software for the OKI 20,
ana a list of OKI 20 dealers/prices, send a LSASE to:
John McMichael ;
♦♦♦ 1 710 Palmer Dr. 1
♦♦♦ Laramie, WY S2070 ♦♦♦ t,
XCCCCCCCCCCXCCCCCtXCCi^^
A tboc FAST LOAD oecaArxna
system! Check out thcsc
rcrruQes, . .
-Only 1536 i>ytes long ano
OELOC4T AtLC 4NYMHEQC kETWCEN
31800 4no 64000!
-TSS068 Atto Sccctqum 48K-
como/»ti»le!
-H4M0LES ALL ST4N0400 I/O
COMM.4NOS.
-ClOeoCQ FLICKER COLORS
SELECT -4&LE. ( AfW COLOR AT ALL'.)
-New COMMANDS SUCH At NO f*ESS/4GE
aho HE/OER RE/CePI
-&a\jo batzs raon 1500 uo to 3300
-Uses a PRINT «4: I/O comm^no
E+FRST ....$2.95 ppd
Unleash the poher of vour
printer with this software
P4CK40C. . .
8 PROGRAMS ANO OVER 150
OR4PHIC OESIONSt
TVE L/C€LEP. T5-E C.450 M.4XEP,
TVE 6/t*ER PRINTER. TVE PRESS,
TVE C/CEND.4P, TVE VE/CER.
QUICK SCREEN ano TVE CREATOR
AQK JUST HHAT VOU NEED TO H4KE
VOUR PRINTER COME TO LIFE!
IOMES ON 2 T4PES IN A HIGH
14.ITY VINYL 4L&UM. Incluoes
SUPER* INSTRUCTION MANUAL.
Very USER-FRIENDLY !
The Print Factory... 35 ppd
Com
QU.4
Hlso available Iron BY1E FUO
First Cl><ss Form II.... 122.95
The D. US. V2.0 (LKDOS). 132. 95
The Voice 12Z-~S
The Print F4CTORy. ...... Ice 95
2+F.-ST (F4ST L040) J22.9S
ZX81 1ST CL4SS PR0QR4HS. 112.95
BYTE POEP. H^a4ZiNC. . .
1 Issue ( s>4ck/ current) . . * 15. 99
6 Issues CO
12 Issues 155.00
First Cl4SS P4Ck mo.00
Best Of Aqcacz G4mes. . . . *££. 95
Best Of Business *S5r2i
Best Of Bo4ho Q4mcs $22.95
OEMO T.4PE/C4T.4.0G «3. 00
U.S. FLtOS ONLY. .4ll prices
INCLUOE SHIPPIHO/H4NOLINa
CH4HGE3.
mm LAEKEH ELECTRONICS
mm LKDOS SOFTWARE
— MAXCOM — 300/1200 baud Terminal / BBS
- Complete communications S/W for the LKD0S-206B
- 300 oaud Kith the 2050 or Full L200 baud with
no missed characters. U200 requires Z-SI0)
- 64 column Terminal Mode with IBM Graphics
Auto dial, Macros .direct to disk buffer.
- Powerful Remote user BBS with fast responce
Auto answer, Xmodem 128/512,1024, Message bases
Muiti window, Direct access to drives and more.
- Direct modem to disk' Xmodem lets you transfer
files over 100K in length ( eg: NMI saves etd
Price : M9.95
Sequential / Random Access Files
- This ram based LKdos extension allows you to
create / access large disk based data files
OPEN* CLOSE* PRINT* INPUT* and INKEYS* basic
commands are used .
Price : S9.95
LARKEN DISK EDITOR
- Edit any byte on a disk, Reformat single tracks
- Read disk headers , Change disk parameters etc
Price : $15.00
LKDOS SHARE-WARE DISK (Original programs r^red)
- MULTI-TASKING Tasword. Lets you be printing
file from disk while working on another. fierce cm
- ART-STUDIO patch for LKdos. MC cassete routines
converted to disk. _ r^m
- spec-term 64 LKdos overlay. Save Basic or Code
Transfers to disk with no messing about.
Price : *6-00
<AU software requires LKDOS cartridge Price: $65)
Time Designs Magazi lie presents I
Mike's QL 'Hot Tips' |
An edited compendium of the best of £
Or. Mike de Sosa's articles and reviews For |
Time Designs plus new material by the author It
of Taking tt>» Quanta* Ltapi 7t>A Last Uertf On
the Sinciair QL. * S
■
flwa 1 1 ab 1 e on floppy disk or flicrodrive cor tr idoes . i
Shipped by First Class toil w i thin one ueek ol order. 8
On one 721* 5.23" floppy disk .
On luo Ml 5,25' floppy disks .
On om llil 3.5' floppy disk . .
On sii fiicrodrivt csr tr idoes . .
. J 19.53 » S t H
. I 20.95 ♦ S I H
. I 22.95 ♦ S I H
. I 37 .55 » 5 t H tJ
t Still ivoilobje froi Tiie Designs at t 25 PPO.
tt Printout the 'Hot lips' and then use the flkrodrive
cortridget for other purposes.
ftvo stable only froi
RDE!
liie Oesigns fligozine
25722 Hull !ood
Cotton, Oregon 97017
U.S.A.
Telephone; (503) 824-2658
VISA and MASTERCARD orders accepted
SINC-LINK
11
QLIPS
Does the QL Multitask ? NOT QUITE.
Back to the old tale that the QL is a
Multitasking machine. A true Multitasking
unit, is one which is capable of performing two
or more tasks at the same INSTANT. The QL does
not do this. No, it does not. What it does do,
is perform a number of tasks in a strict
routine of importance.
Now, having got that off ray chest, I have
probably peeked your interest a little, and you
are now asking how I came to that conclusion,
and the answer is simple, by observation.
I have Task_master, and I use it a lot, it is
one of the MOST programmes for the QL'er. The
only snag with it is that it requires at least
256K of extra memory. If you have that, and
you use the four Psion programmes, then you
should have Taskmaster. This one little
programme is worth the money it costs, and
repays itself very quickly, by the time it
saves you and the convenience in switching from
one programme to another, and not having to
reset to do so. This is also plugged as a
Multitasking piece of equipment. But once
again, it is NOT. No Sir.
What happens is this, both with the QL and with
Taskmaster, when you run a programme, and
switch to another, the first programme "is held
in limbo, until such time as you return to it.
It then starts up again where it left off when
you switched programmes.
At a recent meeting of the QL Section, I asked
this question, and was able to demonstrate what
was actually happening. If anyone would like to
see how the demonstration was made, then drop
me a line and a Disk/Cartridge, and I will give
you the low_down. that is providing you have
Taskjaaster of course. ( I can give you the
Demo, but I cannot give you Taskjaaster).
The demo will show a screen of five windows,
each with a little ItsyJJitsy thing running.
Some of you may have seen this demo before.
The window across the top of the screen shows a
QL blurb extolling its virtues. The top left
window displays a scrolling of lines of Decimal
numbers.
The top right window gives you a display of
filled ellipses being added to the window.
The bottom left window has a display of a sine
curve being drawn. And the bottom right, a
scrolling display of catch phrases.
Now remember you have Taskmaster running, and
it is only a matter of pressing ALT+1 to go
into Quill, and work there for a while. When
you press ALT+1 to go to Quill, look at the top
left display, and make a note of the line
number showing as you switch. Then when you
return a few minutes later, observe the line
number now showing. Bet you it is the next in
sequence from when you left.
This just goes to prove what I said at the
beginning. The QL is capable of handling a
number of tasks at the one time, taking each
task in rotation. But it is NOT capable of
performing a number of tasks at the same
INSTANT. This also applies to Taskmaster.
Each programme is allotted a space in the QL
and the QL will switch from one task to another
so quickly as to give the impression they are
all working at once.
Similarily, if you send something to the
printer, and continue working in another
programme, the printer spins away merrily while
you work, but soon stops although the document
may not be complete. What has happened is that
the printer buffer has been emptied. It may
appear on the surface that the QL is doing two
tasks at once, but not quite.
This is what I found, and if anyone has any
other ideas, or explanations, I am sure we
would all like to hear of them.
One snag to my argument.
There is also a sixth window displayed, which
shows the date/time which is set when the Demo
is first setup. Now this date/time display
goes on while the others stop. WHY ? ? ?
Want to try this? If- you have Taskmaster or
some other means of switching from Superbasic
to Quill or any other programme, then drop me a
line and a formatted disk/cartridge, and I will
send you this demo, which really is very good.
Menu driven. Very interesting, and I am sure
it will give you some ideas of your own.
No... Not you Mama, Sit down ! ! !
H.H.H.
WOOJD AND W I NT3 COMPUTING
Bill Cable : RR 2 Box 92 : Cornish, IH 03745 s S03 075 2216
Business and Educational Software for the QL
DBTutor : An ARCHIVE based learning shell. This program allows users to
set up databases to learn any subjects they wish. It works well with
any topic that can be typed in. Many interesting drills can be done to
help learn the material including : flasbcard, type in answer, reverse
question and answer, score keeping, print nlssed questions, selected by
subject, keys, or word occurence. Parents can sat up drills for their
children. Students can use It to learn languages or any school subject.
QL users can use it to help learn computer related topics. The material
can also be printed out in test or complete form. Long after the
material has been entered it can be quickly reviewed. OBTutor uses the
power of ARCHIVE without requiring the user to know anything about
ARCHIVE. It is all menu driven. Comes with a detailed 25 page manual
and many sample databases. I have a version that works very well on
unexpended QLs also. Order dlrecty or send SASE for a list of other
software available. <5 1/4 DSDO disk S24.93 or 2 MOV 428.93)
/
SINC-LINK
I recently added a NEC FD1035
3.5* floppy disk drive after
seeing it mentioned here in the
newsletter. Cost: $63 + s&h from >
TIMELINE INC. It is a 1 megabyte
drive which formats out to 164
tracks with the LARKEN FDD I/F.
This is the second 96 tpi drive
I've added to the LARKEN FDD
I/F. The first was a 5.25'
Tandon TM101-4A which formats
out to 160 tracks, and which I
am also pleased with.
But there are advantages to the
3.5" like a more durable housing
and compact size. Sleeves are
not required for the 3.5s disks
due to the closed design. The
NEC is quiet, the Tandon is
noisy. There is no noticeable
difference in LOADing or SAVEing
time between the two. The NEC
formats out to 164 tracks (0 -
163), the Tandon formats out to
160 tracks (0 - 159). The built
in write protect on the NEC is
a definite advantage.
The only disadvantage with the
NEC is the higher cost of disks,
for which I have found a source
S $.59 each from MEI in bags of
25. Labels are $1.53 for 53.
I purchased 25 of these and have
had 1 bad block and a little
trouble formatting a feu of them
from tracks 158 thru' 163. I'll
be watching for those CRC
errors. I also purchased a box
of 10, 3M double side 1.0 MB
brand diskettes and had no
trouble at all in formatting
them to 163 tracks.
The connection to the FDD I/F
was a bit more complicated than
the Tandon.
THE CONNECTION
To begin with the fd i/f cable
connection to the drive used a
different type of connector than
the Tandon (or the Amdek 3'
which is the same as the
Tandon). The NEC uses a 34
position header connector with
.1" spacing (IDS 34). The Tandon
uses a 34 position edge card
connector (IDE 34). The NEC is
pin for pin compatible with the
Tandon. Radio Shack carries
these (#276-1525).
The power connection also uses
a different type of connector
than the Tandon. It is a single
row 4 position MODU type
connection with ,1" spacing. I
just happened to have a 10
position connector which I
trimmed down to 4 positions. I
do not know the best source for
the power connector. The power
connections were not defined in
the included documentation, but
a toll-free call to TIMELINE
INC. gave te the power supply
connections. The included
documentation was sparse but it
does show how to configure the
drive using jumpers. I spliced
the new connector into a
standard floppy disk drive *Y*
connector. The +5 volt return
and the +12 volt return are tied
together shown as ground.
Here is the power connection
layout.
TOP j I I I I
REAR 7 1 EI +5 GHD +12
ADDENDUM
I spied another highly rated
3.5' floppy drive, a FUJITSU
drive. $59 + sh. from AMAX. Ad
in Computer Shopper magazine.
I also purchased a Ccmpower 133
watt power supply from TIMELINE
(see current ad in Computer
Shopper magazine) which has
plenty of power for the drives
and +5 volts for peripherals
attached to the 2368. $12 each
with a minimum order of two. S&H
$9 including COD.
CONTACTS
TIMELINE, INC.
1490 U. Artesia Blvd.
Gardena, CA 98247
1-803-872-8878
213-217-8912
HEI/Micro Center
1100 Steelwood Road
Columbus, Ohio 43212-3972
1-803-634-3478
AMAX APPLIED TECHNOLOGY, INC.
3001-A W. Mission Rd
Alhambra, CA 91333
818-338-3828
SINC-LINK
13
FROM MEMBERS' LETTERS
Continuing with excerpts from Steven Gunhouse's
letters to me, (see last newsletter issue) here is a
discussion on joystick routines, and mouse-type
routines for the TS2068. Let's hear from you if you
enjoy these tidbits* I'm sure Steven would
appreciate it. G.F.C.
Oh, I stumbled across a rather strange problem. Anytime I
did an AUTOSTART program, I would not be able to read either
joystick. The usual SOUND 7,63 had no noticeable effect. It
turned out that I also needed to do a SOUND 14,255. I could
cause it to act up again by doing a SOUND 14,0. All this is
something that I don't see why it should be that way, but it may
be of interest.
That forces a slight modification of what I claimed the
BASIC equivalent of the STICK function is. This example should
demonstrates
1000 OUT 245,7: OUT 246,63: REM Equivalent of SOUND 7,63
1001 OUT 245,14: OUT 246,255: REM SOUND 14,255
1002 LET s=255-IN (256*p+246): REM Complement bits
1003 LET f=(s>127): REM Bit 7 = fire button
1004 LET s=s-128*f: REM Remove bit 7 to leave direction
1005 RETURN
For this routine, I have used p to stand for the player (1
= left, 2 = right, 3 = both). It returns with s the direction
information and f the status of the fire button.
For those so Inclined, the equivalent of the first 3 lines
in machine code is:
00: 3E 07 D3 F5 3E 3F D3 F6 3E 0E D3 F5 3E FF D3 F6
10: 3E Op. DB F6 2F 4F 06 00 C9
Naturally, either of these will work in either 2068 or
Spectrum mode. Sorry, writing a routine to give Kempston
results from the Timex joystick would take a lot more work, as
the direction information would need to be completely
rearranged.
A quick word about the simple drawing program I will send
on the disk - I have decided to send the disk by July sometime
whether or not I have completed my AERCO conversion project, but
I actually expect to have done so. But in the drawing program
where I pretend the Timex joystick is a mouse, you may recall I
was having difficulty with the CIRCLE, since it was too slow.
What I finally did was to draw an oval instead (officially, a 4
point ellipse, though not a true ellipse), and use a box to
indicate placement. In some ways, this is more elegant anyway,
and of course the box is a great deal faster in response than
either a circle or ellipse. When you use it, you will just have
to remember that when you release the button, it will draw an
ellipse inside the box it shows to indicate position.
I should say something about technique. I am sure you have
SINC-LINK
seen the utility EZ-Edit. It was interrupt driven, and required
a modification to the 2068 in order to work. Well, the original
author of Specword, though writing on a Spectrum, developed a
technique that should not need the modifications when converted
to 2068. I think I will describe this briefly; it is a
technique I use in my "mouse-emulated" joystick routine.
I presume you know about the different interrupt modes on
the Z-80. The 2068 normally runs in IM1, which means that an
interrupt causes a CALL to 0038 - if the interrupt is enabled.
EZ-Edit and other interrupt -driven software run in IM2, which
uses a table thattheoretically can occupy any 256-byte "page" in
RAM that starts at an even multiple of 256. When an interrupt
occurs, the bus is read for a 1 byte pointer to the location in
the table that holds the address of the interrupt routine.
If no device is set up to generate this 1-byte pointer,
then the bus just "hangs". On the Spectrum, since the bus has
pull-up resistors, this is equivalent to reading an FF, so it
will look at the last location of the table for the address of
the Interrupt routine. On the 2068, these resistors were not
included, so we have no way to predict for certain what byte
will be read.
The way around this problem is to make sure all of the
entries in the table point to a valid interrupt routine. The
easiest way to do this is to have all of the bytes the same.
Let me use Specword as an example. His table was set up to
start at 8000 hex (before I had to modify it). What he did was
fill the locations 8000 to 8100 (that's 257, sorry about the
error earlier) with 81 hex, and made sure his interrupt routine
started at 8181. Then, no matter what the data on the bus was,
it would still end up in the right place. Incidentally, his
interrupt routine was the type-ahead keyboard that I am so fond
of about the program. But the technique could be used for
anything that you wanted to that had to be interrupt driven,
such as my use of it so that the joystick movement is recorded
even when you are doing something else.
I should tell you how a mouse operates from the programs
point of view on some other computers so you will know what I
mean by a "mouse-emulated" joystick. In BASIC on the IBM or the
Macintosh, generally the following information is available
about a mouse: where it is now, the status of the button, where
it was the last time (or several times) the button was pressed,
and where it was the last time (or several times) the button was
released. And of course boundaries can be set on where the
pointer can go, etc. My joystick routine does exactly that, but
with the Timex joystick instead of a mouse. Of course, it is
not as exact as a mouse, and will always more than 4 seconds to
cross the screen, but that is all you can really expect from a
joystick. (256 clock-ticks to move 256 positions translates to
256/60 or 4 and 4/15 seconds).
Actually my use so far of it has been pretty trivial, but I
think you will still be impressed with it. For a routine in
BASIC, the drawing program is almost unbelievable. Of course, I
put the LKDOS Extended BASIC commands to good use, but of course
that also means the program is dependent upon LKDOS for 2 of its
commands - FILL and BOX. I should throw in some window commands
for putting text in the drawing, but that turns out to be
moderately complicated - a bit more so than BOX was.
I may write a version to avoid the use of LKDOS commands,
but it will not be quite as Impressive unless I do a lot of work
on it. Another project to work on later I guess.
PRINTER
LRRKEN LPRIMTS GRAPHIC CHRS
HS UNDERLINED RSCIX CHRS
S=sCode
E
^Graphics LT=RSCII
=======
~"Q"
^ H
Q 3 a BE
128 129
130
131
132 133 134. 135S
3
4
5 6 7 8 E
4-9 50
51
52
53 54. 55 56 S
mCTmmST
=== =
™ST
=================
136 137
138
139
140 14-1 142 143g
9
<
= > f e E
57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 E
BOB'S NOTEBOOK
J
PROFILE + 5
I alU
Insert
Over
Is
4.
Line
Line
S DEL
II
Erase
1
s Hell rllelfT
PRO-FILE+5
II
0
DEL
Q
u
STOP
Close
UK
E
%=
CHR
5rcti
auto
D
CHE
Srcti
Y
HflD
Close
Eec i
LC0nTl5T*MJL
u
UP-
DATE]
F
>TEF'| TO
Close Close
"4 II ill
conTLftDD
G
H
c
z
X
c
u
B
N
s
1
AT
Insert
EDITl
Phras*
K
u=Taiiy
\D=ElacK
Delete
M
in DEFP
2 lines in
.ENTER
(lane Bus
n/ cofv
or AUTO
J
SINC-LINK
R. H. MITCHELL
20 WILD BRIARWAY
WILLOWDALE, ONT.
M2J 2L2
Here are two cards fro* my
eardex box. I use the upper one
to decode a listing printed on
the wide printer via the LKDOS
printer code which shows graphic
characters as underlined ASCII
characters, eg, a solid black
square would be listed as 3 or
in my case on the Fastext 80
with no backspace feature as 3_.
The legend with inverted C, 6
and A drawjattention to the rows
containing the code values, the
graphics characters and the
ASCII characters respectively?
the code values for 5 and A are
given on separate rows.
The lower card depicts the 2068
keyboard aiith notes for use with
Profile +5. The cryptic notes
become apparent to the Profile
user, eg, the STOP token closes
a record, enters it into memory
and returns to main menu? STEP
closes but lets you continue
with the next record; TO closes
and lets you add a new record;
AND closes and lets you stay
with the current record.
It's hard to remember all these
variations unless you are a
frequent user of the program.
Some other explanations*. «CS+#
means Caps Shift plus number on
the top row. The back slash \ is
used with T for a math tally?
with D to do a block delete?
with S for a math summation;
with U to update a record. AT is
used to insert an EDIT phrase
previously set up at the main
menu (I use this to start every
entry with the same info, say,
newsletter number and date when
updating ly Sine-Link index). >=
does a character search and AUTO
option while > does one with a
CONTINUE option. Pressing ENTER
will do a name reversal of the
first line when used in the COPY
or AUTO lode. Using the period
(.) when defining the printer
set up will print two lines of
a record as one.
ZX81. TS1000 & TS1500 OWNERS!
A GRAPHICS MANUAL JUST FOR YOU
GRAPHICS A to Z
deals with graphic
technique!...
• In BASIC
• In Machine Code
• using a compiler
• with Memotech's HRQ
The manual contains over 80 listings, some in Basic.
some in Machine Code and each
'^^V^^BSbI a sc,een display sample. All
****** are ready to run. Each illustrates
innovative methods to pohsh your
programs with fantastic graphics.
Ever want to write programs with line numbers past
9999? . or design a new alphabet or new graphic
symbols? ... or switch complete or parts of the
screen instantly? . . It s all here and more in
Send'orders toTPaul Bintfhara
PO Box 2034. Mesa, AZ 85214
(please add $2 shipping)
Software far the
MAILBAG
Q.L. that real If narks
An address database you
won't believe. Labels,
Rotary files, Zip sort,
tickler file, many auto
features, & more . . . 23<5K
TAX-I-QL Spreadsheet for IRS tax
returns. 334K
QLASDLORD Manage 99 buildings or
units. Do Sched E. . 256K
419.95 ea pp on 5 1/4" DSOD
f+*2. 00 an microcartridge ;
AID The most comprehensive list
of independent North American
software for the QL.
Agents for 2X/TS""SIrIus¥are
4K Wordprocessor with
TS 2040 lower case printer driver
Orders, Catalogues <Si Dealer info
P.O. Box 3703, Boston, MA 02114
(01 7> '339-0330
VISA/MC ah
I
HEED
A
FRUITER?
UE CRN HELP!
*M8 can *u.a1» aane U* brands it lew
•rftes. Naats Ilk*! CITIZEN-STAR-ALPS
PANASONIC-OKIOATA-EPSON-SEIKOSHA
BROTHER AND MORE'
CHECK THESE OUT • ee»
PANASONIC KXI080I ONLY tl 73.80
PANASONIC KX1071 i ONLY II??.?3
STAR NXI000 MULTI-FONT ONLY «1 89.00
STAR NX1000 RAINBOW ONLY S237.73
STAR NX2<I00 21-PIN ONLY »33?.»3
?FI?glSA.3g:>>0AI ONLY tiZ9,?i
CITIZEN I20D — ONLY «I3?. 9 3
CITIZEN 1800
ONLY Si 75.00
Plt«se add «!3 each for sh. 4 Ins.
U» alse have MANY used printers In
stacH-wr M* tr cat I !
RMS ENTERPRISES
1MI? 1/2 7TH STREET
OREGON CITY, OREGON »70M3
303/«33-7«81 • N0ON-I0 TUE-SAT
PROMISE LAND ELECTRONICS
Dan Elliott, Owner
Servicing COMPUTER I ZED
electronic equipment
COMPUTERS / MOOOLES / PRINTERS / MONITORS
Sinclair QL TS-2068 TS-1S00 TS-1000
16K lUa Pack ZX-81
Coaaodora 64 VIC-20
Menotach Modulaa
C-16
Colaco AO All TI-99/4A Coaaodora 128
REPAIRS / UPGRADES / ASSEMBLING / TESTING
Writ* for pclctsi
Dan Elliott
Route I, Box 117
Cabool. MO 65689
Ph. (314) 739-1712 •vanlngs, Sunday - Thuraday.
Ph. (417) 469-4S71 w..K.nd».
ZEBU C* fittiaa n yj
Rttention Basic Programmers
(Zunts Extra Basic utilities)
in the EDIT line mode ZEBU gives
»•
lets you
th« longest
left or
Up ✓Cn arrow Keys,
z i >> to the end of
bas i c line.
*» Truncate CD IT line to
right of the cursor.
• Fast DELETE key corrects bug
that Tlmex left in the ROM.
• Restore the edit line at any
time.
• Delete all between colons
In the
IMMEDIATE or RUN mode
lines to form
bas i c
line.
• Join tu/o
one long
• Block move memory ( t_D IR )
from a basic command.
» 16 bit Pom t DOKE )
• Print a 16 bit Pee *
• Lit • virliblKa 16 bit peek
• Print basic length (bytes)
• Print 3 types of large text.
• List line or range of lines.
• Search basic lines.
» Electric INK auto ink rotate
• •• 1.7 new 2066 functions •••
sze.ee
ZUNK CUSTOM ELECTRONICS
4.8O0 East Cedar Lane
Norman, Oklahoma 73071
C4.es 1 366 8S9S
9
Bottle Cap
Software
■»r«main « -m
Graphi t-1
Ptrat in a itritt or Tsseea
Jnrprwuon Charting PraSriM
Personal Month lu Sinclair
Gaming usage par month
starting with vMiiw lsee.
aranttlt-i reetures:
3-Olmcns i ona I bar graphing.
i'li Points with connact
point* op t i on .
copies to TS2040, run uzt
printer uiy-Parco i/r , or othars
ui/your eustom driver.
_spuc acpecNa m<i/or d«tr<s.
Status hanu Driven Peooram
requires uovstict or compatible.
Cassette version tasiiv changed
for your disk system. Lirmn
version is available.
Rlt Bottle Cap Software Is ss.ee
Plus si.aa »*{,. sand checks to:
Bottle Cap Software
1284. Brushwood Rve.
Cincinnati , oh Aoaa*
WieJ°^ "J Return
QU IK -1040-8
)V IWKT SDLIIW T/S mi Ucm T»i rr»«r.i in iitrici
INCLUDES: Form 104.0, 10-tOR & EZ ,
fl5tnm?ti? ♦Forms 2106, 24.4-1
LVlSTt.Mo rt?lf!ilition income Tax
iiiy'?hild care Credit Taxn
able Social Security, Earned In-
;,n,iIywi.S°i0 Compatible * More
THIS YEAR 5CH c and 5E Included!
On LU tOQ crn Postpaid
For TilTlPx^tnrlair ppsp ^0,,,^,
OUIK-104O is an "interview type'
program, it tui u calculate your
^e^ortumbe^o^^np^rs^ts^6
This pfwa vas desiwed tilth the tanwer in ifnd. It Is easy
for raj to accurately prepare your ow incce? tax return EYEN IF
TO! HAVE IEYEJ? OCHE IT BEFORE ! It is also sophisticated enough,
to be used to prepare returns for others, with or vithout exper-
ience, to Ideal teaching tool for tax and account ina students.
^f^^H Xl=,L- : 1F Y°U PURCHASED
OUIK-104.0 FROM fl*a*B*fl SOFT
TAKE a F"l L «in f>T*fTn'INT.
The 1987 ail-IMQ Is STILL AYAILASLE for Just 112 POSTPAID
Send CHEC or IWET ORDER (U.S. funds) fflid-Janrary Shipsent Oate
3-LdOSE
A
B
8
B jOFTF
HERB BOUERS, Sr
2S33 uoodshire Circle
Chesapeake, Vfl 23323
Phone: 304 437-5924
SINC-LINK
tt
p -o »■ m
i-3 S-.5
«• J» o ^> — »
3^-
UJ
ih2«.o! IS
Silir, Si
i_ ^ _ •
II— — • * •
3* * S i
CM k. M
** 2 **" £ "S a
** • o o
St- S-S---J5
• o —
kg ires: f
Si Js".*
B * • «a • i*
a s o»
Is:
r" w ■>
□ *• M « « O
3^ s-s^
17
PRINT FACTORY - by BytePower
a review - by Tom Skapinski
"PRINT FACTORY" by Byte Power. You may be
aware of Byte Power Tape Magazine, started in
Canada a few years back by Kris and Eric
Boisvert. Or you may not. Anyway they have
been producing software, games and utilities
for the TS2068for the last 3 years (and for
the last 3 or 4 issues , Spectrum Emulated
2068's).
During this time their programming skills
have steadily improved. Even early tapes had
good to very good stuff, both games and
utilities. I have been using their mailing
list program for about two years for our club
newsletters (LIST Long Island Sinclair Timex
Users Group). Also published were utilities
for the Larken disk drive system that I find
very useful. Back issues should be available
for about $6 each.
They are now producing utility softeware
sold separately from the magazine format. The
latest is PRINT FACTORY. If anyone is
interested in desktop publishing on the TS2068
then this set of programs is a must^have item.
The set contains 3 tapes of programs to do
desktop functions and contains special
programs to help with the main task. There are
things like "FIRST EDITION" to produce
posters, letterheads, newsletters, ads, etc.
This includes a graphic design file.
The "PRESS", which is a page maker that
handles screens instead of graphic designs,
can load and merge screens in the document,
and you can use four different Fonts and mix
them as you wish.
Also, there's "LETTER PERFECT", a
proportional printing word processor for
printers that do not have NLQ or redef inable
fonts. It can also load a cursive character
s© t#
There is a nifty "LABELLER" program that
is great for labels for such things as disks
or addresses. You can have a "Banner" printed
on large or small printers (TS2040).
Also, there is a "Card Maker", one that
really works.
These are the main programs. There are
also things to help you, such as "Quick
Screen" for the "Press"? the "File Keeper", to
produce your own custom libraries to be used
in "First Edition", etc. ; the "Translator", to
convert "Lemke" icons to Print Factory formats
the "Creator", which lets you manipulate or
create files s and 13 super sets of Fonts.
I hope this review is somewhat helpful.
The bottom line ist These are super programs
for our favorite computer. The only thing I
would have to say is, to get the most benefit
from these great programs you should really
have a disk drive. Then you will vhave to
convert them from tape to disk yourself.
BYTE POWER
1748 MEADOWY ALE AVENUE
PICKERING, ONTARIO
CANADA L1V 3G8
PRICE about $25 (US)
article by
Tom Skapinski
7 Atkinson Lane
Coram, NY 11727
**********************
QL - PRINTERS AND QUILL
Setting up a printer in Quill is not a
very difficult task. Although it can be time
consuming. You start by LRUN INSTAL_BAS from
the Quill mediae If using MDV then use that.
FLP or any other device you should convert
first. After LRUNing, the program will ask for
the device location. I am using disk so I used
FLP1 and pressed ENTER. Now it asks for type
of port. Standard serial (serl or ser2) or a
parallel or other non-standard port. I use
serl for my printer port. The program now
begins loading the Editor program so you can
change the printer driver codes.
After loading, the top portion of the
screen contains the Edit control keys and
their usage. The rest of the screen contains
the current printer loaded and other printer
types available. Using the UP/DOWN arrows,
move the cursor to the desired printer and
press ENTER. If you don't want any of the ...
pre-programmed entries choose OTHER. If you
choose OTHER, press F2 to start editing the
printer. Change the name to a meaningful one
or change the Port, Baud, Parity, Lines/page,
Char/line, and/or any of the control code
lines. Please note all necessary codes must be
placed in one line. For example if the control
code requires an escape code before the
control code, it must be placed be on the
line. If a number is to follow, it must be
there. Use commas to connect the codes. For
examples 27,61,0. The 27 is the escape code,
the 61 is a control code, and the 0 is a
modifier to the control code. Preamble r, This
is used to set up the printer prior to the
start of printing. Post-Gamble - What the
printer should do after printing is completed.,
The rest are self-explanatory except for
Translate. Translate codes go into effect when
the ASCII code is imbedded in the print line
where required. Whatever is first in the
translate string is the control code. When
that code is encountered the Translate will
take effect. If you use the ASCII code for the
then whenever is encountered that
translate series will take effect. You've got
10 of them.
Taken from the July '89 issue of SMUG bytes
No author credit given Retyped by G.F.C.
TIMEX COMPUTER FEST 1990
GOOD NEWS - There will be a T/S festival in
1990, thanks to the efforts of SMUG, the
Sine lairMilwaukee Users Group (P.O. Box 101,
Butler, WI 53007). The 1990 Sinclair Fest
will be held on June 1, 2, and 3, 1990, at the
Holiday Inn Wakesha in the Milwaukee area* The
hotel will charge a flat rate of $45 per room
with 2 double beds, and the hotel has an
indoor pool and restaurant facilities.
Tentative activities include a banquet dinner,
buffet style, displays, seminars, lectures,
vendors, and a SNUG meeting— Make your plans
now, and if you can possibly make it, GO. You
won't regret it.
From the Vashon Island S/T Assoc. (VISTA) n/l
18
SINC-LXNK
DISK DRIVE REPAIRS
One of our members, Donald Lambert, sent
me a three page article on his experiences
repairing Tandon disk drives that he then uses
on his Larken system. Donald has access to a
source of defective drives, and is therefore
encouraged to experiment with repairing them.
I have selected a segment of his article to
put in the newsletter. It follows below. If
any members is interested in the complete
article ask me for it. G. Chambers.
ce>ce=y
DRIVE REPAIR
by Donald Lambert
The first thing I did was check and reset
the speed of the drive motor. For that you
will need a flourescent light and a
small-bladed screwdriver, to turn the
adjustment screw in the potentiometer on the
board on the end of the drive. And you will
need a jumper, to go between the square pins
on the top of the board. A piece of insulated
wire with a flea-^clip on each end will do.
With the disk drive on the table, with the
top side up and the drive insertion door
facing you, you will find a square pin located
just 5/l6th inch to the left of the right-hand
board mounting screw, and about l/l6 of an
inch closer to you than the screw, and
labelled TP10 with the letters upside down.
Fasten one end of the jumper wire (with the
flea clips) to the square pin. Up at the other
end of the board is a row of connectors, and
the one labelled 11 will be directly in line
with the square pin TP13 which is 5/8th inch
this side of the connector. Fasten the other
end of the jumper wire, using the flea clip,
to that square pin. The purpose of the wire is
to cause the disk drive motor to turn on when
you turn on the power.
Speed is best set with a disk in the drive.
I set the speed before I connected the
interface cable to the drive. Now with the
drive power cord plugged into the disk drive,
turn the disk drive on it's side to expose the
flywheel of the disk spindle with the paper
and the bars printed on it. With the bars
exposed to a flourescent light, watch the
outer ring (60 cycle) and if the bars appear
to go either clockwise or counterclockwise
then turn the screw in the end of the
potentiometer on the back board (the motor
drive board). The bars may waver but unless
there is a definite movement in either
direction the drive speed is correct.
One word of caution
** IF THERE IS NO TERMINATOR RESISTOR IN THE
SOCKET LOCATED BETWEEN THE TWO IC's IN LINE
LEFT TO RIGHT WITH TP13, NOT ONLY WILL IT BE
IMPOSSIBLE TO SET SPEED BUT ALSO IMPOSSIBLE TO
SET THE TRACKING **
I had a drive that just seemed to want to
vary the speed and also would not take a track
adjustment until I realized the resistor was
missing. A word of cautions it might be safer
to wrap masking tape on the screwdriver blade
to insulate it. When the speed checks right,
remove the jumper between TP10 and TP13.
To reset the drive if the drive will not
read track 0 (the directory of files) you will
need a larger screwdriver (insulate with tape
to the blade and shaft) and an Allen wrench
size .109 or 7/64th of an inch. Turn the drive
over and you will see down near the disk
flywheel a pair of Allen screws which are
sealed on the side with green sealing
material.
Loosen the two screws and turn the drive
back right side up. On the back of the drive
above the disk motor board is a metal
projection that has a slotted screw head in an
oblong opening. With the drive door facing you
the slotted screw will be on the right side of
the metal projection. To the left and slightly
towards you is another Allen headed screw,
also with the green goop on the side of the
head. Loosen that screw and test with the
screwdriver to see if turning the screw moves
the metal a trifle. The screw only has about
180 degree adjustment. I had the best luck
adjusting by turning the screw to the most
counterclockwise position. The reason for
insulating the screwdriver is to prevent
touching the bare pins that stick out above
the adjusting screw.
Now, with the interface cable plugged in
and with the drive power supply plugged in,
select a disk SAVEd on a good drive (be sure
to use a copy in case something happens to the
disk). First, try to CAT the disk (I was using
the TS2068 and the Larken interface). When you
get an error, watch the metal slide and just
turn the screw enough clockwise so that you
just barely see it move. Then retry the CAT,
and repeat until suddenly the entire directory
is listed as it should.
I usually make one or two more very slight
adjustments, and then try to load a file at
the start of the directory, then one towards
the last of the directory. If both have LOADed
on a good drive and they LOAD on this one,
then power down and tighten the three Allen
screws. Then retry the CAT and the first
program and the last program. If they load,
then you have it reset. With the Larken and
the TS2068, on failure to CAT, you will get a
CRC error and then garbage for the directory.
Then, as you get close to the track with the
adjustments you might see one or two of the
first files named, then garbage j then suddenly
all files appear.
While the drives are rather mysterious (to
me) in how they work, it is rather more a
mechanical process to making these
adjustments. Of course other defects are
handled differently.
SINC-LINK WOULD LIKE
TO PUBLISH YOUR OWN
GRAPHICS & DRAWINGS,
SO SEND THEM IN NOW!
SINC-LINK
19
TIME DESIGNS Magazine ... .the latest.
The following is an Editor's column from
the Vol.3. #^ issue (Sept(?) 1989) of the
Vashon Island Sinclair Timex Association
newsletter, VISTA. Vashon Island is in
Washington state.
"EDITOR'S COLUMN— As you well know, I
started off last issue with a strongly worded
open letter to 'Time Designs' magazine and
it's editor, Tim Woods. Needless to say, it
hit home with a lot of T/S users, most notably
Tim Woods himself, as I received a two page
letter from him shortly after the VISTA
newsletter was mailed (late July 1989) • In
summary, Tim noted his lack of time to devote
to the magazine due to business interests] the
loss of his wife's help on the magazine
altogether] the literal mountain of mail that
accumulated during his absence, which is being
answered on a date-received basis j the
corruption of his subscription database filej
having not sent out renewal notices for ten
months, subscript t ions are not coming in; and
his general discouragement during which he
entertained thoughts of quitting. Tim then
assured me that the worst is behind him now,
he is working on another issue and plans to
continue for "few more years", and that he
believes we "will see a bit of improvement
from 'Time Designs' by this fall". He also
explained he would be in California helping
his brother move the week I would be in his
area, but I was welcome to drop by any other
time at my convenience. The final enclosure
was the latest issue of "Time Designs", Vol. 5.
No. I. I was disappointed that I would not
have the opportunity to talk with Tim Woods
and iron some things out, so I took the time
to write him, including suggestions and
opinions from all of you readers who have
written mej I also sent along a list of those
of you with missing issues. I have no idea if
this worked for any of you or not] I have
heard nothing more from Tim Woods, hopefully
because he is taking care of all his other
correspondence. I have seen the latest issue
of "The Plotter", the newsletter from the
CCAT/S group of Oregon City, OR, and they had
two small articles that may shed some light on
the subject • I will recount them verbatim.
THE FAR SIDE By Gary larson i
Late at night, ana without permission.
Reuben wouia often enter me nursery ana
conauct experiments in static electricity
* "TDM Magazine — as far as we know has
not published since Vole 5, No. 1, which
was delivered to some folks in May, both
by mail and at the CapitolFest. No one has
heard a word out of them since. Most
advertisers we have spoken to have given
it up as a "lost" cause at this point. We
have had dozens of calls and letters
concerning what is going on with them and
we cannot do much to help. We are always
sorry to see one of our supporters go "by
the wayside", but we are afraid that this
has happened".
* "If you will, consider Tim Woods' letter
I received in mid-July, (not included
here, and the following before you come to
a conclusion over the fate of 'Time
Designs'".
* ""Recently my wife and I had a nice
visit with the Ass't Editor of TD
Magazine. Stephanie assured me that the
magazine was viable and well. The major
problem is that a 1-man business has to be
set aside because of trying to make a
living, and to devote a lot of time to
running 'other family* business to keep
from losing the value of his fathers
estate. For sure this lapse of issuing
current editions of the magazine will hurt
renewal of subscriptions, assuming
subscribers start receiving the magazine
again.""
* Paragraphs from CCAT/S n/1
"There you have it-- the latest news from
both sides of the street. Draw your own
conclusions and keep in touch......"
GFC's note » The VISTA newsletter also
included a postcard from the Tim Woods,
received by the VISTA Editor, just as they
were going to press, to quote*
Anthony,
I have enjoyed your two most recent
letters. Please note that I have just verified
all of the names you passed along and have
sent their materials accordingly, (one of them
has moved twice and another person has not
sent in their renewal cheque). I really
appreciate your help. THe mailing list project
has been painfully slow but of course, very
necessary to our business. I have also taken
the time to complete issue 5-2. It is being
printed right now. Enclosed is a copy of a
Zebra ad, which you might want to pass on to
VISTA members.
Tim Woods.. TIME DESIGNS
Retyped by GFC
20
SINC-LINK
j Is the OK /MATE 20
! the ULTIMATE
I TS2068 printer?
^/gf W/AERCO PRINTER ISF? Yes, if
an IB* parallel Plug >n Print cartridge is used.
OAV FEATURES? The OKI 20 can print in
NU8, draft, pica, elite, fine, double width, italics, sub/
superscript, i underline. Plain or thermal paper (tractor/
friction feed) or acetate transparencies can be used.
COLOR PRINTING POSSIBLE? Yes!!
Color printing is possible and with 'COLOR COPY* software,
fVLL COLOR 'and black ft white SCREENS copies are possible.
CUSTOM CHARACTER SETS? Yes, downline
) loadable character sets of custo* characters and graphics
> can be designed and transfered to an OKI 20. The utility
I software 'OKI D.L.C.G.' allows for easy design of custom
J char, sets and 'OKI O.L.P.G.' can transform a portion of a 1
| SCREENS picture into a downline loadable character set.
OH I MATE SO EXPENSIVE? No, the OKI 20
ft Plug 'n Print cart, are aideiy available for about $180.
For a print sample, info, on 2068 software for the OKI 20,
ana a list of OKI 20 dealers/prices, send a LSASE to:
♦♦♦ John McMichael ♦♦♦ ;
♦♦♦ 1710 Palmer* Dr. ♦♦♦ I
♦♦♦
A true LO/O operating
system! Check out these
features. . .
-Only 1536 bytes long Aim
31800 4no 64000!
•TS2068 auo Spectrum
compatible!
H^NOLES A±. ST-4ND4RO I/O
cohkmnos.
Border flicker colors
SELECTABLE. ( XNY COLOR AT ALL ! >
-New commanos such as NO htSS/GE
and HEADER READER!
-D/iuo rates from 1S00 up to 3300
Uses a PRINT »M: I/O commano^^
Unleash the poher of your
printer hith this software
PACKAGE. . .
8 PROGRAMS AND OVER 150
GRAPHIC DESIGNS.1
THE L^CELER. THE CARD M.4<ER,
THE 5/NNER PRINTER. THE PRESS,
THE CALSI^DAR, THE (HE/OER, '
QUICK SCREEN and THE CREATOR
ARE OUST HHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE
YOUR PRINTER COME TO LIFE!
Comes on 2 tapes in a HIGH
yU.4_ITY vinyl album. Incluoes
SUPERB INSTRUCTION MANUAL.
Very USER-FRIENDLY!
The Print Factor y...$gg. 35 ppd
ciFRST.
.Sffi.35 ppd
Laramie, WV 82070 ♦♦♦ »>
rxxjoccccccwxxjorxcccxxxx)
Mso available Fron BY1E PUHER
First Class Fonts II. . . . 122.95
The D. U.S. V2.0 (LKDOS) . *32. 95
The Voice 137.95
IHE Print Factory $22. 95
2+F.4ST (fast load) $22.95
ZX81 1st Class programs. *12. 95
BYTE POWER Magazine. . .
1 Issue (back/current). .. tS. 99
6 Issues $32.00
12 Issues 155.00
First Class Pack *40. 00
6est Of /Ircade Games. . . . J22. 95
Best Of Business $22.95
Best Of Board Gahes 122.95
DEMO TAPE/CATALOG $3. 00
U. S. FUNDS ONLY. .4ll prices
INCLUDE SHIPPING/HANDLING
CHARGES.
y — — ei
Wm LAEKEH ELECTRONICS
■Ofli LKDOS SOFTWARE
— MAXCOli — 300/1200 baud Terminal / BBS
- Complete communications S/W for the LKDOS-2068
- 300 baud with the 2050 or Full 1200 baud with
no missed characters. (1200 requires Z-SIO)
- 64 column Terminal Mode with IBM Graphics
Auto dial, Macros ,direct to disk buffer.
- Powerful Remote user BBS with fast respance
Auto answer, Xmodem 128/512,1024, Message bases
Multi window, Direct access to drives and more.
- Direct 'modem to disk' Xmodem lets you transfer
files over 100K in length ( eg: NMI saves etc)
Price : $19.95
Sequential / Random Access Files
- This ram based LKdos extension allows you to
create / access large disk based data files
OPEN* CLOSE* PRINT* INPUT* and INKEYS* basic
commands are used .
Price : $9.95
LARKEN DISK EDITOR
- Edit any byte on a disk, Reformat single tracks
- Read disk headers , Change disk parameters etc.
Price : $15.00
LKDOS SHARE-WARE DISK (Original programs required)
- MULTI-TASKING Tasword. Lets you be printing one
file from disk while working on another. Aerco CPI
- ART-STUDIO patch for LKdos. MC cassete routines
converted to disk.
- Spec-term 64 LKdos overlay. Save Basic or Code
Transfers to disk with no messing about.
Price : $6.00
(All software requires LKDOS cartridge Price: $65)
(Prices $US ) (Send cash for values less than $20)
LARKEN ELECTRONICS, RR#2„NAVA|f ONTARIO, CANADA K4B-1H9
slime Designs Mag-azi ne presents J
| Mike's QL 'Hot Tips' |
I n £?,edited compendium of the best of I
« Dr. Mike de Sosa's articles and reviews Tor 8
I lime Designs plus new material by the author I
S •* Tik.iR9 M« StfMtea Leap: Tk& Last Herd On If
Available on floppy disk or Ificrodrive cartridges.
Shipped by Firsl Class toil uilhin one ueek of order.
On one 720K 5.23' floppy disk
On luo 369(C 5,25" floppy disks
On one 728K 3,5' floppy disk .
On six Microdrive cartridges .
. J 19,55 + S t H
. J 21. 95 * S I H
1 22.95 + S t H
J 37.55 ♦ S 4 H tt
t Slill ovailobje froi Tiie Designs at { 26 PPO.
tt Printout the 'Hot Tips' and then use the flicrodrive
cartridges for other purposes.
Available only froi
ORBE
n
liie Oesigns Hogozine
29722 Hull Road
Cotton, Oregon 97817
U.S. It. it
Telephone: (583) 824-2658 If
VISA and MASTERCARD orders accepted |
iuiiuiiiiuijiiiiiiiii»iiiiiiijuuiiiiiiiiiji,i1uiiiJauuuiiiii«uuuui1UuUU|Jl,lluullulluullullllBllllulI111J[
LU
DC
<
o
CO
DC
.1-8
& —
o in
V) <D
2 2 2 2 g 2
w ,S o
.= t- O
in \_
da £
I
H
ZX81, TS1000 & TS1500 OWNERS!
A GRAPHICS MANUAL JUST FOR YOU
GRAPHICS A to Z
deals with graphic
techniques...
• In BASIC
• in Machine Code
• using a compiler
• with Memotech's HRG
The manual contains over 80 listings, some in Basic,
some in Machine Code and each
with a screen display sample. All
are ready to run. Each illustrates
innovative methods to polish your
programs with fantastic graphics.
Ever want to write programs with line numbers past
9999? .or design a new alphabet or new graphic
symbols? . . or switch complete or parts ol the
screen inslanlly? . It's all here and more in
1APHICS A to Z.
ONLY $l5r
Send^rders to. Paul Bingham
PO Box 2034, Mesa, AZ 85214
(please add $2 shipping)
Software for the ql that really works
KAILBAG An address database you
won't believe. Labels,
Rotary files, Zip sort,
tickler file, many auto
features, St more. . . 256K
TAX-I-QL Spreadsheet for IRS tax
returns. 384K
QLABDLORD Manage 99 buildings or
units. Do Sched E. . 256K
319.95 ea pp on 5 1/4" DSQD
{+S2. 00 on microcart ridge;
AID The most comprehensive list
of independent North American
software for the QL.
Agents for ZX/TS SiriusVare
4K Wardprocessor with
TS 2040 lower case printer driver
Orders, Catalogues St Dealer info
P.O. Box 3763, Boston, XA 02114
(61? > "339-0830
VISA/KC ok
PROMISE LAND ELECTRONICS
Dan Elliott, Owner
Servicing computerized
electronic equipment
COMPUTERS / HO0ULES / PRINTERS / MONITORS
Sinclair QL TS-2063 TS-IS00 TS-1000
16K Ram Pack ZX-Sl
Commodore 64 VIC-20
Meraotech Modules
Coleco ADAM TI-99/4A Commodore 128
REPAIRS / UPGRADES / ASSEMBLING / TESTING
Write for pricesj
Dan Elliott
Route I, Box 117
Cabool, MO 65689
Ph. (314) 739-1712 evenings, Sunday - Thursday.
Ph. (417) 469-4S71 weekends.
ZEBU C« "KTWI ■* ?i
Rttention Basic Programmers
(Zunks Extra Basic utilities)
in th« EDIT LINE mode ZEBU gives
** Up/Cn irrouj keys, lets you
• zip to the end of the longest
• • Tr5ncaUnEDIT line to left or
r i ght of the cursor .
• Fast DELETE key corrects bug,
that Timex left In the ROM.
• Restore the edit line at any
1 1 me .
* Delete all between colons
in the IMMEDIATE or RUN mode
• Join two basic lines to form
one long line.
• Block move memory (LDIR)
from a basic command.
* IB bit Poke (DOKE)
* print a 16 bit Peek
•Let a variable =a is bit peek.
J Print basic length (bytes)
* Print 3 types of Urge text.
* List line or range of lines.
* Search basic lines.
• Electric INK auto ink rotate.
• *• 17 neui S«68 functions »»•
•20.00
ZUNK CUSTOM ELECTRONICS
4800 East Cedar Lane
Norman, Oklahoma 73071
14.05) 366 S595
BottU Cap
Software
Graph i t — 1
First in a scries or Tsao6B
inrprnation Charting Prog ranis
Personal. Month l« Sinclair
Gaming usage per nonth
starting with uuiw icee.
Or»phit-l features:
3-Olmens i one t bar graphing.
Plot data points with connect
poi n ts option.
Copies to TSS04.B, full sixe
printer ui/fler co I/F, or others
w/your custom driver.
SflUE SCREEN* and /or DRTfll) .
Status Menu Driven Program
requires Joystick or compatible.
Cassette version easily changed
for uour dist system. L»rk«n
version is available.
nit Bottle cap software is ts.ea
plus Sl.ee s*h. Send checks to:
Bottle cap Softiuare
1284. Brushwood Five.
Cincinnati, oh 4.5224-
MEM)
A
FRUITER?
UE CRN HELP!
RMG can supply amy tea brands at low
prices. Names like: CITIZEN-STAR-ALPS
PANASONIC-OKI DATA-EPS0N-SE1K0SHA
BROTHER AND HORE !
■»» CHECK THESE OUT! »■«
PANASONIC KXI080I ONLY ♦! 73.00
PANASONIC KXI<mi ONLY *1??.?3
STAR NX1000 MULTI-FONT ONLY S180.00
STAR NX1000 RAINBOW ONLY «23?.?3
STAR NX2100 24-PIN ONLY «33?.?5
SEIKOSHA SP-I80AI ONLY H39.95
CITIZEN 120D ONLY ♦I59.93
CITIZEN 1800 ONLY $175.00
Please add *15 each for sh. s ins.
Ue also have MANY used printers in
stock-Mr i tt or cal I !
RUG ENTERPRISES
mi? 1/2 7TH STREET
OREGON CITY, OREGON ?70M5
303/435-7181 » N0ON-I0 TUE-SAT
Jon't File Your 1988 Tax Return
UNTIL. YOU Hf=»UE
QUI IK -104-0-88
Iht LmtSl stLLm T/J ttifS litem Tax Pro?™ in dwrici
INCLUDES: Form 1040, 1040A & EZ ,
Sen. O , B & R * Forms 2106, 24-4.1
Automatic calculation Income Tax
Liabi li ty ,Chi Id Care Credit Tax-
able Social Security, Earned In-1
come Credit *Multiple U-2 & 1099/
Entry * 2040 Compatible # More
THIS YEAR SCH C and 5E Included'
Oh l y $29 . 50 F&\&m&
For Timex/Sinclair 3Q6B Computer
ouik-104.0 is an "interview type"
program, it will calculate your
allowable IRAs , Interest and De-
ductions accurately, without the
use of cumbersome input sheets.
CPLCULRTION OF TAX LIABILITY AND
CREDITS IS PUTOMATIC! ' I
This prwai ras designed with the taxpayer in ilnd. It is easy;
for you to accurately prepare your own incoae tax return EVEN IF
Yd) HAVE SEVER OCHE IT BEFORE! It is also sophisticated enough!
to be used to prepare returns for others, Kith or vithout exper-
ience, to idea) teaching too) for tax and accounting students.
SPECIAL : IF YOU PURCHASED,
1987 OUIK-104.0 FROM A*B*B*A SOFT'
TOKF P. FULL »10 DISCOUNT. •
The 1987 fflK-IMO is STIlt AVAILABLE for Just $12 POSTPAID.
Send CHEK or rlOHEY ORDER (U.S. Funds) /Bid-January Shipment Date!
A
B
a
B5.PF.TE,
HERB BOUERS, Sr
2533 Uoodshire Circle
Chesapeake, UA 23323
Phone: 304- 4.37-5924.
SEPT/OCT 1989
Dear Outaofotown members Sept 8th
We had our September meeting last
night. I was somewhat pleased at having about
15 members turn up. I had rather thought it
would be a small night. We had two ZX81's set
up and a 2068 with a Larken system. And our
September newsletter was there for members to
pick up.
We presented a slate of officers for the
following year. Essentially the same persons
are candidates for the following year..
We managed to get a 22npage newsletter out
this time. We have to thank our several
contributors for that., Do keep up the good
work. It is very satisfying to be able to send
out good newsletters! How about those of you
who have not contributed. Take a crack at
it., We appreciate it.
Some of you may have noticed the mention of
our club in Michael O'Brien's "MORE TIMEX"
column in the September issue of the COMPUTER
SHOPPER. This came about because I sent a copy
of our newsletter to him, to soften comments I
made about his column. One of our members
liKened his column as "taking on a Flat Earth
quality at times". Rather apt, I thought, and
it paralleled my comments somewhat.
However, if nobody sends him any information
about the Timex scene how does he find out.
(Well, he could become our club secretary, and
he'd find out plenty!)
Dan Pinko has sent in a review of a Video
Digitizer unit that he bought from a place in
Holland. Paid about $93 US, and is mighty
pleased with it. He uses a "twistor" board to
interface it with his 2068. If any of you who
can't wait for the next issue of the news3
letter, I can send you a copy of his review.
In the newsletter there is an advert for an
AMDEK disk drive unit, by a former club
member, Greg Lloyd, who has switched to the
Atari. I used to have one of these units until
I sold it to our treasurer. Recently I have
tried this one out, and it is working well. I
was using it on my Larken system.. However
several of our members are using one like it
on their QL systems. The drawback to it is
that it uses 3 inch disks. These cost $4 to $5
each. It's single^sided also, though you can
turn the disks over. If you are interested,
you might drop him a line, and make a deal.
On the topic of 3rjinch disks I see an advert
in TS UPDATE by someone offering 3ainch disks
for about $4 each. I'll get that advert out
and put it in the newsletter.
I plan to put together a sheet of Timex
adverts much like we had the last newsletter,
and include it with this issue. I hope that it
proves useful and worthwhile. We do not take
paid adverts in our newsletter. Long ago we
decided that we did not need the hassle of
advert monies (aren't we pure!), so we never
went after it. We still have that philosophy,
but to me it does seem like a service to our
members to put out as many adverts from Timex
dealers as I can come across. Being the
secretary I come across many items like this
but I'm sure that many members have no way of
knowing what is out there. How else are you to
find out..
At least that's my thoughts. What do you
think? Is it a good idea?
In this current issue there is an excerpt
from a letter to me by one of our members,
Steven Gunhouse. Steven writes all this good
stuff to me, and I must confess that I put it
to one side, saying to myself, "I '11 look at
that' when I have time to concentrate on it".
The time never seems to come! I also put off
replying to Steven for the same reason, till
I'm ashamed. Anyway, I have enough stuff of
Steven's to go into the next one or two
issues. This month it is a little bit heavy,
with Larken DOS calls. There is some lighter
stuff coming j not too light, mind you. Steven
presents challenging material in his letter to
me. Anyone care to correspond with him?
I mentioned in my last missive that I had a
hard time finding a HCTntype chip to use on
a Larken cartridge with a Spectrum ROM. One of
our members, John Austin, drove over to BG
Electronics and picked up ten of them for me.
He says they are a gift to the club for all
the help we have been to him. So if any of you
are looking for 74HCT32P chips, drop me a
line. You can have one or two for the asking.
Thanks John.
Let me see. Hugh Howie, our QL section
leader, has provided me with a copy of the
club's QL library. I am sending a copy out to
every QL owner that I know of in the club. If
you do not get a copy, and want one, ask me
for a copy. Some of you may have a QL, that I
have forgotten about. I mentioned to Hugh, and
he concurs, that so far as costs go we should
operate in the same fashion as we do for the
other sections. That is, members should
reimburse us for our postage costs. There is
one important difference in the QL section
though. Take note of it. Seems that the QL, a
fine computer no doubt (would I dare say
otherwise?), nevertheless seems to be finicky
in it's use of disks/cartridges. Therefore we
ask QL owners to send in their formatted
medium, and Hugh will transfer program
copies to it and return them to you. Clear?
I mentioned in a previous n/l that it
would be best if you sent your requests for QL
stuff directly to Hugh. Much quicker, because
I do not have the facilities or familiarity to
be much help. Nevertheless I am still
concerned with the QL owners, and you should
feel free to write to me (also). I sort of
hate to lose touch with any of our out3ofatown
members •
Hugh also gave me some more material to go
out with the QL catalogue, but I thought it
was so good that it should go into the
newsletter, so that we could all see it. So it
should be in the next issue.
We have made up a catalogue of the 2068
Larken disk library also. I am sending a copy
of it to every Larken owner with this issue of
the newsletter. Again, if you do not get a
copy, my apologies, and ask me for a copy if
you want one. There are 1 5 disks listed in the
catalogue currently. I am working on a couple
more disk ideas. One on various calendars
programs 1 another on banner programs. Takes a
bit of time to do these up though. First one
has to cull through the tape library to find
them, save them to disk, then see just what
they are i eliminate duplicates. Then write a
bit of information about each of them for a
HELP section, and get them into the menu
loading routine.
I have another idea for a disk. That is to
collect all the articles that have been
published in our newsletter pertaining to the
.Larken system and place them on a disk.
One of the disks (actually a suite of
three disks) is the PIXEL PRINT PLUS program
that was donated to PD. Stan Lemke sent us a
complimentary copy on tape, and Steve Spalding
sent us a copy of his Icon and Masthead files*
I have combined them and modified them for use
on the Larken system. It is Disk #15 in the
2068 Larken library. An interesting program.. I
see where Bob Mitchell has a column in our
newsletter, which gives a good idea of what it
is about.
After one or two false starts I have
decided to handle the disks on the same basis
as tapes. That is, I will send out a copy that
you request and you are to make a copy and
return the disk to me. Along with our postage
costs, same as with tapes. It turned out that
making up disks was going to be somewhat of a
chore, and I certianly have other more
interesting things to do. How many at a time.
Welx, I'm a little bit relaxed about that. But
don't ask for all of them at one goj I don't
want to have to make up too many copies!!
Did you see the review of the Z88 in a
current issue of the (US) CONSUMER REPORTS
magazine. They treat the Z88 in a rather
cavalier way, I must say. But, if Sinclair
insists on walking his own path can anyone
complain if no one takes his products
seriously?
Richard Hurd, in SINCUS NEWS, reports on a
"Linger Board" from Jack Dohany. It is said to
be a RS232 video terminal board that emulates
quite a few popular terminals. It allows the
use of an IBM keyboard and composite of TTL
monitors for a 80 x 25 line display. There is
more but I shall have to get Richard to give
us more details. Hey, howcum you haven't
mentioned it to us yet, Richard?
Have any of our members ordered the program
THE PRINT FACTORY from BytePower? It has been
a long time coming since they started
advertising it. I wrote to them on behalf of
one of our members asking what was the holdup.
They replied promptly that they had had
programming difficulties in the Printer
routines, but that it was about ready to ship.
That was in March, '89.
LO and Behold, a week ago one of our
members reported receiving his copy after many
long months of waiting., I hope that we can get
a review of it for the next issue. It is a DTP
type of program. First reports are that it is
quite remarkable, though the documentation is
pretty sketchy.
Gossip has it that Jack Dohany is going to
take on the British DTP program WORD MASTER,
and adapt it to the American taste. Much the
same way as he worked over MSCRIPT to improve
it's operation. I imagine that would include
Larkenising it. WORD MASTER is primarily a
word processor, with companion software to
give it DTP capabilities. It is an impressive
program with solid documentation., How about a
6x8 inch, 100 page manual.
Bob Mitchell and I both have FASTEXT 80
printers so I fear that you are going to get
many of the programs on the Larken library
disks set up for the SCM Fastext 80. Well, you
will certianly be able to modify them for your
printer. An example of this is the PIXEL PRINT
disks.
. I recently received a document from Bill
Harmer.v It is one that he has written called
"Tips, Tricks, and Techniques Of The User
Group Masters"., It deals with the ZX81/TS1000.
It is about 26 pages in length, and as it's
title suggests, it is a compendium of
information about the use of the ZX81.,
If any of you ZX81 enthusiasts out there are
interested, I can get some copies made and
send them to you. The cost would be for
xeroxing and mailing, I would say about $2.50.
Now, I must warn you that all of Bill Harmer's
material suffers from severe wordiness,
i however you may very well glean worthwhile
ideas from his writing. In particular, persons
new to the ZX81 could well find it interests
ing.,
Bill is still revising his other manual,
the one on the ZX81 Larken system, so I have
not sent any of them out yet. I think Bill
will wind it up shortly (maybe by the next
newsletter), and I'll let you know then.
Let me see now. One of our members, Louis
Laferriere, has a cartridge which plugs into
the 2068 cartridge dock, for sale. It has the
markings "ENTER LENGUA" on it, and has an
EPROM (I think) mounted on it along with
another small chip and a small multirjswitch. I
suspect that it is a Spectrum converter for
the 2068.
Also he has a small black box to plug unto
the rear of the 2068. I suspect that this is a
-twister" board, a gadget that was designed to
allow Spectrum accessories to be plugged into
the 2068. Anyone that's interested, make an
offer.
I'm just collecting my thoughts together
now. I think that I am upnto^date with all my
mailings. If I'm not, or if you are waiting
for something from me, do let me know.
We have had a number of new members join
recently as a consequence of the TS UPDATE
mention of us, so I may have overlooked some
of you in the rush. As a matter of interest I
did a membership tally, and found that we have
75 members in the club currently, and 58 of
you are out^ofntown members. So you can see
that you are a significant part of the club.
I have written to Tim Wood with the names
of four club members who have not received
their newsletters, so if a copy appears
in your letterbox someday, let me know. Truth
to say, I suspect that Tim Woods lost his
subscriber list and doesn't know who to send
the magazine to. Thats what can happen when
you use a Sinclair product, don't you know
it!!
On that note I shall close off this missive.
Sincerely, George Chambers
TORONTO 7 I HEX -SINCLAIR USERS CLUB
September 23, 1989
14 Richome Court
S car- bor oug h ? On t „
Les Cottrell H1K 2Yi
108 River Heights Drive
Cocoa, FL 32922
Dear Les?
Glad to hear that you have your version 3 EPROM? finally!
Thanks for the return on the loaner EPROM. Also thanks for the
#10 for a xerox copy of Dr Logan's Spectrum ROM disassembly.
I am sending it separately? since the postage is less that
way. There is a printed matter rate that is cheaper than sending
i t a s a 1 e 1 1 e r r ate-
The copying mas $5.80, plus $2 . 90 postage = $8. 70 That leaves
y a u u i t h a c r e d i t o f a b o u t * 1 . 5 0 .
I'm enclosing a copy of the library disk #9,. It may not be
completed to my complete satisfaction, but it is not too bad?
anyway,, I may be able to get some more documentation for it?
later on,, If you are into graphics? ask me for another disk
which is not in the library^ one that contains Artist II and Art
Studio. And a bit more,, I have documentation for these but it is
..... vj.; on c|js[.:.u These are Spectrum programs but they have been
apted for the barken system,, No, I'll include it with this
package? the postage will be the same .
Regarding Pixel Print? I have recently obtained a program
which is designed to help you to create your own icons, it was
constructed by Stan ! emke to be used with the Icon Library
manager) etc- 1 shall tack it onto one of the disks that I am
sending you, It is called I Con- l *~&L (coN~L %C{
I I i s v e r y s i m i 1 a r t o t h e i c o n - m a k e r i n t h e G r e e t i n g C a r d
Maker that? was it Zebra?? used to sell.
3 h all c 1 ose now? Si n cer e I y ?
George Chambers
