MAY - JUNE »93 VOL 11-3
TORONTO TIMEX-SINCLAIR USERS CLUB
MAY- JUNE '93 VOL 11-3
S ISC -LINK IS A PUBLICATION OF
THE TORONTO TIME! -SINCLAIR USERS
CLUB AND IS ISSUED 6 TIMES A
YEAR. CLUB MEMBERS RECEIVE FREE
COPIES AS PART OF THE S20.00
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEE.
NEWSLETTERS ARE EXCHANGED. FREE
OF CHARGE. WITH OTHER
TIMEX -SINCLAIR USER GROUPS.
PLEASE CREDIT THIS PUBLICATION
AND THE AUTHOR IF YOU COPY
MATERIAL.
THE TS2068 & ZX-81 GROUP MEETS
ON THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EACH
MONTH AT 14 RICHOME COURT,
SCARBOROUGH. ONT. 7PM START.
THE QL SIG WILL HEET WEDNESDAY,
11 AY 18TH AT 586 ONEIDA DRIVE,
BURLINGTON, ONT. 7Pf1 START.
JUNE DATE TBA.
SINC-LINK IS
ON SINCLAIR
COMPUTERS.
PRODUCED
AND TIMEX'
SEND CORRESPONDANCE TO,
Atzenziom SINC-LINK
TORONTO TIMEX -SINCLAIR
CLUB. 14 RICHOME
SCARBOROUGH. ONTARIO,
CANADA M1K 2Y1.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS :
PRESIDENT
TREASURER
SECRETARY
ACTIVITIES:
QL CONTACT:
NEWSLETTER:
LIAISON OFFICER:
( Out-of-town
ENTIRELY
SINCLAIR
EDITOR
USERS
COURT,
MM
2
TORONTO TIHEX-SINCLfllR
CLUB
USERS
( Area Code 416 )
RENE BRUNEAU ( 531-9749 )
BILL LAWSON ( 444-8772 )
GEORGE CHAMBERS { 751-7559 )
LOU LAFERRIERE ( 820-3725 )
HUGH HOWIE ( 634-4929 )
JEFF TAYLOR ( 244-8583 )
GEORGE CHAMBERS, 14 RICHOME COURT,
SCARBOROUGH, ONTARIO M1K 2Y1
( 416- 751-7559 )
TORONTO TIMEX -SINCLAIR USERS CLUB
TORONTO TIMEX-SINCLAIR USERS CLUB
SUMMER'S COMING 1995
INDEX VOLUME 11-3
Page 2 - Club Stuff
Page 3 - This Page
Page 4 - Editorial
Page 5 - Larken Disk Index (2068)
Page 6 - Want Ads, Multiplying by 2
Page 7 - QLips - Super Disk Indexer ( QL)
Page 8 - Gil Parrish Writes (ZX81 & 2068)
Page 9 - ZX Resources - A to D Converter (ZX81 & 2068)
Page 11 - Did You Know? continued (2068)
Page 15 - TS2068 Programming Tip (2068)
Page 16 - Computer Junkies
Page 17 - Gil Parrish Writes More
Page 19 - Freenet Plugs Ottawa In
Page 21 - ZX Resources - RS232 Revisited (ZX81 & 2068)
Page 23 - Super Disk Labeller ( QL )
Page 24 - An American Spectrum
SINC-LINK
3
EDITORIAL
Well, the newsletter is definitely late this time. It's partly my
fault because I've been so busy at work (overtime ad nauseum). As
editor I tend to be a little proprietary about Sine-Link ("It's MY
newsletter and I'll get it out when I'm good and ready'.") so
offerers of help tend to get their hands bitten. I am mellowing a
little, though, and Pres Rene Bruneau will take a crack at
producing the July - August issue (1*11 be watching him like hawk).
As I said, I am partly to blame for the delay but the other
reason is that in the last couple of months we have seen a marked
decrease in the number of letters/articles coming in. Why is that?
We have more out-of-town members than ever but we're getting less
material from them. Surely we can't have discovered everything
about our computers. There must be something you've found that you
haven't seen published, so why not write about it.
Give it a try and I'll try to be more on time, editorially-
speaking. 'Nuff said.
RHODE ISLAND UPDATE
As mentioned last issue, here is more info on the QL-fest being
held in Newport, Rhode Island.
The get-together will be at the Salvation Army Building on
Memorial Boulevard, Saturday June 5th. Show times are 1 PM to 6 PM.
Contact Bob Dyl of IQLR for more info (401 )-849-3B05.
Our own Hugh Howie has reserved a display table for the Toronto
Timex-Sinclair Users Club. Hugh will be manning the table, possibly
with one or two out— of— town members, handing out lots of
promotional stuff about the club and also running an elaborate
demonstration of the QL's abilities.
Hugh expects to meet lots of new faces, including some U.K.
software and hardware vendors, generate new memberships, attend all
the pre- and post-fest talks and dinners and find time to run his
demonstrations. Whew, he'll need a week to recover. Watch for his
impressions and articles of the fest in the next issue.
BAD NEWS FOR NESQLUG
Just prior to publishing, Hugh phoned to inform me that the
Director of the New England Sinclair QL Users Group, Ernest Wider,
died suddenly on May 31st. Our condolences to his family and
NESQLUG.
SO LONG, SINCLAIR USER
Courtesy of out-of-town member, Robert Shade, I have included an
article on the TS2068 lifted from the pages of the last issue
(March 1993), of Sinclair User magazine from the United Kingdom.
This article might explain how a few U.K. vendors (ie Doctor Dark,
PRISM PD, etc.) found out about some of the clubs on this side of
the pond. Sorry to see another Sinclair-related publication fold.
To my knowledge, only Your Sinclair remains in publication in the
U.K.. Thanks for the info, Robert.
That's all for now ... J.T.
SINC-LINK
INDEX. B1 By George Chambers
TS2068 Larken
In our TS2068 Larken library, buried in Disks #02 "OMNIBUS" and Disk
#33 "PULL-DOWN (Menus) OMNIBUS" is a utility called " index. B1 ". It is
designed to maintain an index of the contents of any collection of Larken
disks. One simply feeds the disks into the program, one by one, and it
reads and stores the contents of the disks. One can then search, sort, and
print out the contents to screen, TS2040 printer, or to a large printer.
The program was written by Bob Mitchell some time ago.
A later refined version (VI .11) is found on Disk #47 "UNIQUE PROFRAMS",
and the refinements described in this article are applicable to this
version. Ask for this disk.
When Bob Mitchell wrote this program he incorporated within it the
ability to detect whether the selected printer, TS2040 or large printer,
was ON or OFF; and to display the cond it ion on the screen.
The problem with this feature was that not all printers supplied the
same signal info as the Fastext 80 used by Bob. And if the signal for the
ON cond it i on was not the one Bob had incorporated in his program, one
could not continue with the PRINT feature of the program.
There is another feature of the program which may be customised to your
part icular needs. Many disks contain an AUTOSTART file and/or a "menu"
file. An option was provided which allowed these two filenames to be NOT
printed out. Later, I expanded the feature to include two more f i lenames
to be s im i lar 1 y excluded from the pr intout ; f i lenames "taswi", and "help".
The program listing below does not provide for changing the AUTOSTART
filename, since it is so univerdally used.
The method used to make these changes is to POKE them into the
appropriate addresses in the " index. Cc" code. The following listing will
do this task. All you need to do is determine your printers' ON/OFF codes
and enter these values in the var tables.
And to enter any changes in the f i lenames .
To determine the printer ON/OFF signal codes, run this short program:
10 PRINT AT 10,10;" "; AT 10,10; IN 127
20 PAUSE 10: GOTO 10
Switch your large printer into it's OFF and ON (ready to print) modes.
Write down the values, and then enter these values into the variables
LPOFF and LPON in Line 150 of the listing.
Change the IN 127 in the above listing to IN 251. This will check the
2040 printer. Probably this will not need changing, but if it does, then
do the same thing. Record the values and place them in variable TSOFF and
TSON in Line 160.
150 LET LPOFF =127: LET LP0N=108
160 LET TSOFF =126: LET TS0N=56
170 LET a$="menu": LET b$="help": LET c$="help": LET d$="tasw i" : REM
Words you may replace
200 POKE 35484, LPOFF: POKE 35570, LPOFF
210 POKE 3551 6, LPON: POKE 35602, LPON
220 POKE 33426, LPON: POKE 33526, LPON
230 POKE 33394, TSON: POKE 33494, TSOFF
300 LET x=34207: FOR n=1 TO 4: POKE (n+x), CODE a$(n): NEXT n: REM To
replace "menu" with your word.
SINC-LINK
5
±00 LET x=3H256: FOR n=1 TO POKE (n+x), CODE b$(n): NEXT n: REM To
replace "help" with your word
500 LET x=3U-299: FOR n=1 TO 5: POKE (n+x), CODE c$(n): NEXT n: REM To
replace "taswi" with your word. Note: this word is 5 characters in
length.
***************************
WANTED,,,. A Larken disk system, preferably turnkey, with drive (s) and drive
power supply, for the TS2068. Must be the current version LKDOS v,3.
Also wanted, a 9V, 1 amp Power Supply suitable for use with the TS1500,
Drop a line to George Plondke, 243 Berkely, Elmhurst, IL 60126,
WANTED.,., Sinclair Adventure Users and User Groups' fanzines, tapezines, etc.
Are you interested in Adventure- type Spect rum/TS2068 games?
Please drop a line to DOCTOR DARK, c/o Adventuresof t , 16 Montgomery Avenue,
Bieth, Ayrshire, Scotland, KA151EL
MULTIPLYING BY TWOS Rene Bruneau
Here is a quick programming trick that I learned to convert
binary numbers to decimal. Starting from the most significant bit
( MSB) - the one on the extreme left - multiply it by 2 and add
the result to the bit to the right, then multiply the new result
by 2 and add to the bit to the right, continuing the process
untill there are no more bits to process.
Example: 1001010 = 74
1
2
+
0 =
2
2
2
+
0 =
4
4
2
+
1 =
9
9
2
+
0 =
18
18
*
2
1 =
37
37
2
+
0 =
74
Because you double and add to the right, the arithmetic is simple
and can be done in your head - no need to go looking for a
calculator or conversion tables. Besides you can always impress
your friends and fellow programmers with your computer-like brain
maybe --.
6
SINC-LINK
Q L I P S
by Hugh Howie
SUPER DISK INDEXER
Recently I came across something we could
all do with. A program to help us keep
track of our disks, and what is on those
disks . This program is called SUPER
DISK INDEXER, written by Imre
Dominik, and available from Dilwyn Jones
Computing at the very modest cost of
£12.00 and worth every penny.
The program will keep track of all your
disks and cartridges by setting up a
database of the contents of your media.
You don't have to type very much as the
DISK INDEXER reads the contents of your
disk or cartridge direct into the
database .
You can then use DISK INDEXER to search
for a title anywhere in the files.
The first thing to be done is to put your
disks in order and give each one a
number, and writing that number on the
disk itself. Load up DISK INDEXER and
follow the simple instructions. Yes it
does take time to do all this, but the
hardest, part is getting your disks in
order, and swapping them in the disk
drive. The reading is doen so quickly you
are kept busy.
This program requires at least 256K extra
memory, but as most of us now have that,
it is really no hardship.
Can handle up to 999 disks with up to 480
files to each disk - now how many files
is that? Of course if you run out of
space then you can start up another file
under a different title. Have you got
that many disk/files? How do you keep
track of that number without an indexer
to help you?
It is time you had this little beauty, I
have foound it of real value in tracing
down exactly where a certain file is.
I would not be without it. Now here is
what Dilwyn Jones has to say about it in
his catalogue .
DISK INDEXER
A really easy to use aid to indexing your
floppy disks and cartridges. Sets up a
database of the contents of your media
(reads the contents directly from the
disk or cartridge, you don't have to type
it all in) and can handle thousands of
filenames on up to 999 media (subject to
amount of free memory) . You can then
search, sort (filename or disk number
order) and print the contents of the
media. Can't remember which disk that
file is on? Search for it using Disk
Index - if you know the filename, do an
"exact" search, if you don't do a "vague"
search. Easy to update the database if
the contents of a disk is changed. Works
with numbered disks - you simply write
the number of the disk on the label and
enter it when asked by the program as it
reads the directory automatically. Can
give you lists of disk contents, lists of
unused numbers and so on. This program
will really help you to get your disks
organised! Super Disk Index needs at
least 256k extra memory on a QL. NB can
only handle up to about 480 files per
disk, so the current version may not be
adequate for cataloguing ED disks if you
pack them with larger numbers of files!
Ideal for cataloguing lower density disks
and microdrives. Ideal companion program
is our Disk Labeller program, described
elsewhere in this catalogue.
DISK INDEXER (on disk or mdv) ... £12.00
Dilwyn Jones Computing. 41 Bro Emrys ,
Tal-y-bont. Bangor. Gynedd. UK. LL57 3YT
Yep, that's Wales, and he takes plastic.
SINC-LINK
7
Gilliam Y. Parrish
Route 1, Box 705
Beggs, OK. 74421
USA.
April 5, 1993
Mr. George F. Chambers, Secretary
Toronto Timex Sinclair Users' Group
14 Richome Court
Scarborough, Ontario M1K 2Y1
Canada
I mentioned last time that I had made an offer for a 3 00
baud modem/serial interface from Byte-Back's "Make David an Offer"
sale, but hadn't heard anything. Well, the package came in the
mail the other day, and believe me, it was worth the wait. I had
asked David Leech in my order if I could get copies of both 2068
and 1000 terminal programs (assuming he normally provided such
software with the modem), since I had both 2068 and 1000 (1500)
units. Mr. Leech did indeed send both 2068 and 1000 tapes, not
only for terminal operations but also for utilizing other serial
devices like a printer with the serial interface. He replied in
the letter accompanying the order that the modem was intended for
use with either a 2068 or a 1000 unit, but not both, and had to be
hardware configured for the appropriate model. However, since I
apparently wanted to use it with both kinds of units, he had added
a switch for me so I could change back and forth! I had also
mentioned in my order that, when I had gotten a parallel printer
cable from him a few months earlier, I had not known to request
1000-specif ic software to accompany it, and as a result he had sent
only the software to have the cable work with my 2068. In his
package, Mr. Leech tossed in the 1000 parallel cable software and
the instruction sheet! This is clearly service well beyond the
call of duty; the T/S world is going to be losing not only a vendor
but a true T/S enthusiast when the Mr. Leech's closeout is
completed. For people who want to get some of the remaining
goodies, his address has changed very recently; it is now: 53 6
Long Terrace, Leesville, SC. 29070 (USA) . I'd strongly urge anyone
with a need for a peripheral/ interface to get an order in now!
Re: Timex/ Sinclair Computers
Dear George,
Sincerely,
Gil Parrish
SINC-LINK
ZX8
ANALOGUE "to
1 RESOURCES
DIGITAL CONVERTER
Rent Bruneau Hay 1992
s analogue to digital converter is a simple design based
.. the ADC0804. It will convert voltages up to 5v into a
fori that your computer can translate and display for you.
In the present configuration, a LH335 is used to convert
temperatures froi 0 to 100 *C to a voltage that the ADC can
sample.
CONSTRUCTION:
Loading the components on the PCB is straightforward. Hake
sure that CI and C2 are installed correctly and note that
pin 1 of U3 faces pin 1 of Ul and U2. An address block (P2)
allows you to tap the board to port 191 or 127. The
temperaiure probe is assembled using the LH335 mounted in a
Bic pen tube. Seal the ends with epoxy or silicon sealer to
protect the connections to the LH335.
CALIBRATION:
To calibrate the ADC, you will need a thermometer, a glass
of ice and water, and a glass of freshly boiled water.
Tor a 2068, use the following procedure:
Enter the following program:
10 OUT 191,0
20 PRINT AT 0,0: ' '
30 PRINT AT 0,0; IN 191
40 GOTO 10
On running the program, place the LH335 in the ice
water and after a couple of minutes, adjust RV1
until you read 0 on the screen. This is your
minimum temperature setting. Now, place the probe
in the hot water alonq with the thermometer and
wait for the readings to stabilize. Adjust RV2 to
match the reading on the thermometer. Recheck the
probe readings in the ice water and repeat the
calibration until you are satisfied.
For the ZX81, you have to install a small machine code
routine to provide the IN and OUT commands. Use the same
procedure as above to calibrate the ADC.
Load the following:
1 REM 12345678901234567890
10 FOR X = 16514 TO 16524
20 INPUT A
30 POKE X, A
40 PRINT X}' PEEK X
50 NEXT X
At the prompt enter these values:
62, 0, 211, 191, 201, 219, 191, 79, 6, 0, 201
Replace lines 10 - 50 with the following:
10 RAND USR 16514
20 PRINT AT 0,0; 1 '
30 PRINT AT 0,0; USR 16519
40 GOTO 10
Once the ADC is calibrated, you can embelish the program,
adding all the bells and whistles you want.
COMPONENT LIST
74LS30
Ul
74LS27
U2
ADC0804
U3
LH335
U4
10UF
CI
10UF
C2
100N
C3
100N
C4
100K
Rl
680
R2
820K
R3
100K
RV1
100K
RV2
SIL-02
PI
SIL-04x2
P2
DIL-14
DIL-14
DIL-20
Transistor package
Electrolytic
Electrolytic
Polyester
Polyester
1/4 watt Resistor
1/4 watt Resistor
1/4 watt Resistor
Trimpot - 20 turn
Trimpot - 20 turn
Connector for LH355
Address block
Hisc. ZX81 edge connector, coax or twisted wire,
wire, BIC pen casing
jumper
SINC-LINK
ANALOG TO DIGITAL CONVERTER
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COMPONENT LAYOUT
10
SINC-LINK
continued from last issue
Dec
tiex
Ins tr-Dec
Remarks ( 5 )
1469
05BD
T f\ f Oil > VI
temp4
1472
05C0
PAT T 1 C1C
CALL. 1 0 J 0
1475
05C3
JR 1567
. 1 / "7 7
il4 / /
05C5
CP 67
C code
1479
05C7
JP NZ, 2299
ERR inval file
1 too
14B<£
05CA
LD HL, (23645);
ch add
1 AB3
05CD
LD A, (HL)
1480
05CE
CP 170
screens
1488
05D0
JR NZ, 1498
1490
05D2
LD DE, 16384
scrn address
1493
05D5
LD HL. 6912
1496
05D8
JR 1548
l Ays
05DA
RST 32
next char
1 ADO
lAyy
05DB
LK HL, (23645);
chadd
1502
05DE
LD A, (HL)
1 crtl
1 jUj
0 5DF
CP 58
1505
05E1
JR Z, 1541
1507
05E3
CP 13
ijuy
05E5
JR Z, 1541
TCI!
05E7
CALL 1026
evalu
1514
05EA
LD (8243), BC
temp4
1518
05EE
LD HL, (23645);
chadd
1521
05F1
LD A, (HL)
1522
05F2
CP 44
1524
05F4
JR NZ, 1536
1526
05F6
RST 32
next char
1527
05F7
CALL 1026
evalu
1530
05 FA
LD (8241), BC
temp 2
1534
05FE
JR 1555
1536
0600
LD HL, (8326)
;
totlen
1539
0603
JR 1552
1541
0605
LD DE, (8316)
despin
1545
0609
LD HL, (8326)
totlen
1548
060C
LD (8243), DE
temp 4
1552
0610
LD (8241), HL
temp 2
1555
0613
LD HL, (8241)
temp 2
1558
0616
LD A, H
1559
0617
OR L
1560
0618
JR Z, 1596
1562
061A
CALL 1635
1565
061D
JR 1596
1567
061F
LD HL, (8324)
var offset
1570
0622
LD DE, (23635);
prog
1574
0626
ADD HL, DE
1575
0627
LD (23627), HL;
vars
1578
062A
LD HL, (8321)
linenu
1581
062D
INC HL
1582
062E
LD A, (8322)
linenu (hi)
1585
0631
CP 255
1587
0633
JR Z, 1606
1589
0635
XOR A
icon
i jyu
n c 7 c
UO JO
LD (23618), HL;
newppc
1593
0639
LD (23620), A
nsppc
1596
063C
CALL 1013
endoln
1599
063F
LD HL, 23623
subppc
1602
0642
INC (HL)
1603
0643
JP 65
gtout
1606
0646
RST 8 ERR 0
1608
0648
LD HL, (8236)
start
loll
AC [n
Uo Ad
INC HL
1612
064C
LD (8236), HL
start
1615
064F
LD A, 249
1617
0651
CP (HL)
1618
0652
RET Z
1619
0653
LD A, (HL)
1620
0654
LD (8249), A
1623
0657
CALL 3807
nextrk
1626
065A
LD A, (8249)
1629
065D
LD HL, 8221
curtrk
1632
0660
CP (HL)
1633
0661
JR NZ, 1623
1635
0663
CALL 1084
ldbuf
1638
0666
LD A, (8224)
errnu
1641
0669
CP 25
1643
066B
JP Z, 2320
1646
uoofc.
LD HL, (8318)
;
lenth
1649
0671
LD DE, 5090
1652
0674
OR A
1653
UO / 3
SBC HL, DE
1655
n A77
JR NC, 1677
i a *; 7
0679
LD HL, (8318)
lenth
1660
067C
LD DE, (8241)
temp 2
1664
0680
OR A
1665
0681
SBC HL, DE
Dec
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1BUO
U / UD
iBuy
U / 11
loiu
n 7 1 7
U / 1 <£
1 Q 1 1
loll
n7i ■?
U / 1 J
1 Q 1 7
IB 13
nil c
U / 1 3
l a l A
IB 1 A
n 7 1 a
u / io
1 Q 1 A
IS lo
(171 fi
U / 1 0
1Q1Q
IB iy
fl7 1 R
U / ID
1 fi 70
loiu
n7i c
U / 1 vt
1 Q 7 1
lozi
ri7i n
U / IV
1 fi 77
10 i. i
(171 F
U / IE*
IB £3
U / i 1
1 B 7 7
18 i 1
(1777
U / tJ
1 B 70
is *y
(1771
U / «£3
1 O 7 7
1 0 3 i
H77H
i on
IB J J
f177Q
1 01 A
IB JO
077P
U /
1 B 7 7
IB J /
1BAU
U / J u
1 B k 7
IB A J
U / J J
1 BAA
0736
1849
0739
1852
073C
1853
073D
Instr-Dec
Remarks
JR NC, 1677
LD HL, (8318)
LD (8241), HL
JR 1702
LD HL, (8241)
LD DE, 5090
OR A
SBC HL, DE
JR C, 1702
LD (8241) , HL
LD A, 10
LD BC, 5090
LD (8318), BC
JR 1709
LD HL, (8241)
LD (8318), HL
XOR A
LD C, A
LD HL, (8318)
LD A, H
OR L
RET Z
LD A, C
LD HL, 8328
LD DE, (8243)
LD BC, (8318)
LDIR
AND A
RET Z
LD HL, (8243)
LD BC, 5090
OR A
ADD HL, BC
LD (8243), HL
JP 1608
CALL 1063
CP 244
JR Z, 1758
LD DE, 5968
JR 1778
LD DE, 6632
JR 1778
CALL 1063
CP 244
JR Z, 1775
LD DE, 4795
JR 1778
LD DE, 5717
JP 19
LD (8240), A
LD HL, 0
LD B, 100
CALL 1804
LD B, 10
CALL 1804
LD A, (8240)
ADD A, 48
RST 16
RET
LD C, 47
LD A, (8240) ;
INC C
SUB B
JR NC, 1809
ADD A, B
SRL (HL)
LD (8240), A
LD A, C
RST 16
RET
LD A, (8194)
CP 1
JR NZ, 1832
LD SP, 23550
PUSH HL
CALL 1013
XOR A
CALL 3268
LD HL, (23651)
LD (23653), HL
LD HL, (23698)
LD (23656), HL
POP HL
CALL 1922
; lenth
; temp 2
; temp 2
; temp 2
; lenth
; temp 2
; lenth
; lenth
; terap4
; lenth
temp 4
temp 4
1st byte inchanls
spec
del rec (2068)
del rec (spectrum)
1st byte inchanls
spec
insert (2068)
make room (spect)
tempi
d
; tempi
tempi
; tempi
; nmi flag
; endoln
; lprint
; stkbot
; stkend
; membot
mem
; print to
SINC-LINK
nane Dec Hex Instr-Dec
Remarks ( 6 )
name Dec Hex Instr-Dec
Remarks
1856
1859
1861
1864
1867
1870
1873
1874
1877
1880
1883
1886
1889
1891
1894
1896
1900
1901
1904
1907
1910
1912
1914
_1915
1918
1919
PRINTT01922
1924
1925
1926
1928
1929
1930
1931
1933
1951
1959
1974
1993
2013
Vserch 2031
2034
2036
2037
2039
2042
2043
2044
2045
2047
2049
2051
2053
2055
2057
2059
2061
2063
2065
2067
2069
2071
2074
2075
2077
2080
2081
2083
2084
2086
2088
2091
2092
2094
2096
2098
2101
2102
2103
2104
2105
2106
2107
ERASE 2108
2111
2113
2114
2117
0740
0743
0745
0748
074B
074E
0751
0752
0755
0758
075B
075E
0761
0763
0766
0768
076C
076D
0770
0773
0776
0778
077A
077B
077E
077F
0782
0784
0785
0786
0788
0789
078A
078B
"S
LD HL, 23611 ; flags
RES 5, (HL) ; key hit
LD HL, 0
LD (IY+38), H ; x ptr (hi)
LD (IY+55), H ; flagx
LD (23563), HL; defad
INC HL
LD (23574), HL; strms+6
LD HL, 4927
LD DE, 5808
CALL 1046
LD HL, 23665
(HL)
23612
(HL)
RES 5,
LD HL,
SET 5,
LD SP, (23613)
POP HL
LD HL, 3865
LD DE, 4937
CALL 1063
CP 244
JR Z, 1918
PUSH HL
JP 65
PUSH DE
JP 65
LD A, 13
RST 16
LD A, (HL)
CP 46 ;
RET Z
RST 16
INC HL
JR 1925
Protect Error"
"CRC EE"
"U Disk Full"
File Not Found"
Wrong File Type"
Cat Data Error"
LD HL, (23627);
LD A, 128
CP (HL)
JR Z, 2096
LD A, (8247)
CP (HL)
RET Z
LD A, (HL)
AND 224
CP 224
JR Z, 2071
CP 192
JR Z, 2077
CP 160
JR Z, 2083
CP 128
JR Z, 2077
CP 96
JR Z, 2088
CP 64
JR Z, 2094
roms
flagx
line of prog
tvflag
clhs
errsp
GTfil
2068
spectrum
1st byte inchnls
spectrum
gtout
gtout
"T
"V
"X
07EF
07F2
07F4
07F5
07F7
07FA
07FB
07FC
07FD
07FF
0801
0803
0805
0807
0809
080B
080D
080F
0811
0813
0815
0817
081A
081B
081D
0820
0821
0823
0824
0826
0828
082B
082C
082E
0830
0832
0835
0836
0837
0838
0839
083A
083B
083C
083F
0841
0842
0845
<pointer @ 2494
<pointer @
<pointer g 2424
<pointer § 2127
<pointer (§ 2301
<pointer § 2320
vars
LD DE, 19
ADD HL, DE
JP 2034
CALL 2102
INC HL
JR 2034
INC HL
BIT 7, (HL)
JR Z, 2083
LD DE, 6
ADD HL, DE
JP 2034
JR 2077
LD A, 128
LD (8248), i
RET
INC HL
LD DE, (HL)
INC HL
LD D, (HL)
ADD HL, DE
RET
CALL 2158
LD A, 32
LD (DE), A
CALL 2444
CALL 2307
cmdck
; gtfil
; wprot
; indir
2120 0846 LD A, (8224)
2123 084B CP 10
2125 084D JR NZ, 2133
2127 084F LD HL, 1974
2130 0852 JP 1822
"2133 0855 LD HL,(8241)
2136 0858 PUSH HL
2137 0859 CALL 2711
2140 085C POP HL
2141 085D INC HL
2142 085E LD (HL), 254
2144 0860 LD HL, (8245)
2147 0863 INC HL
2148 0864 LD (HL), 249
2150 0866 CALL 3651
2153 0869 JP 1596
~2156 086C LD HL, 8226
2159 086F LD A, 32
2161 0871 LD B, 10
2163 0873 LD (HL) , A
2164 0874 INC HL
2165 0875 DJNZ 2163
2167 0877 RST 32
2168 0878 LD HL, 7151
2171 087B LD DE, 7308
2174 087E CALL 1046
2177 0881 LD HL, (23653)
2180 0884 DEC HL
2181 0885 LD B, (HL)
2182 0886 DEC HL
2183 0887 LD C, (HL)
2184 0888 DEC HL
2185 0889 LD D, (HL)
2186 088A DEC HL
2187 088B LD E, (HL)
2188 088C DEC HL
2189 088D LD (23653), HL;
2192 0890 EX DE, HL
2193 0891 LD DE, 8226 ;
2196 0894 PUSH BC
2197 0895 LD A, B
2198 0896 OR C
2199 0897 JR Z, 2203
2201 0899 LDIR
2203 089B POP BC
2204 089C LD A, 34 ;
2206 089E LD (DE), A
_2207 089F RET
2208 08A0 CALL 2156 ;
2211 08A3 LD HL, 8226 ;
2214 08A6 LD B, 7
2216 08A8 LD A, (HL)
2217 08A9 CP 94
2219 08AB JR Z, 2299
2221 08AD CP 46
2223 08AF JR Z, 2230
2225 08B1 INC HL
2226 08B2 DJNZ 2216
_0228 08B4 JR 2299
2230 0886 INC HL
2231 0887 LD A, (HL)
2232 08B8 PUSH HL
2233 08B9 LD B, A
2234 08BA LD HL, (23645);
2237 08BD CP 65 ;
2239 08BF JR NZ, 2248
2241 08C1 LD A, (HL)
2242 08C2 CP 228 5
2244 08C4 JR NZ, 2301
2246 08C6 JR 2280
2248 08C8 CP 67 i
2250 08CA JR NZ, 2263
2252 08CC LD A, (HL)
2253 08CD CP 175 ;
2255 08CF JR Z, 2280
2257 08D1 CP 170
2259 08D3 JR Z, 2280
2261 08D5 JR 2301
2263 08D7 CP 66
2265 08D9 JR NZ, 2299
2267 08DB LD A, (HL)
2268 08DC CP 202
2270 08DE JR Z, 2280
2272 08E0 CP 58
2274 08E2 JR Z, 2280
2276 08E4 CP 13
2278 08E6 JR NZ, 2301
2280 08C8 POP HL
errnu
"T File Not Found"
doserr
temp 2
zerO
temp6
savebf
prognm
next char
2068 !
spec > temio
roms
s tkend
stkend
prognm
gtfil
prognm
chadd
data
code
screens
B
line
SINC-LINK
indir
Fatal
movdr
nevet
Dec
Hex
Instr-Dec
2281
08E9
INC HL
2282
08EA
LD A, (HL)
2283
08EB
CP 94
228S
08ED
JR Z, 2299
2287
08EF
LD ( 23681 ) , A
2290
08F2
INC HL
2291
08F3
LD A, 34
2293
08F5
CP (HL)
2294
08F6
JR NZ , 2299
2296
08F8
LD (HL), 32
2298
08FA
RET
2299
08FB
RST 8 ERR 15
2301
08FD
LD HL, 1993
2304
0900
JP 1822
2307
0903
CALL 1212
2310
0906
CALL 1084
2313
0909
LD A, (8224)
2315
090C
CP 25
2318
090B
JR NZ, 2326
2320
Q91Q
LD HL, 2013
2323
0913
JP 1822
2326
0916
LD A, (8195)
2329
0919
CP 128
2331
091B
JR Z, 2343
2333
091D
LD A, (8326)
2336
0920
RRA
2337
0921
RRA
2338
0922
AND 3
2340
0924
LD (8202), A
2343
0927
LD HL, 8328
2346
092A
INC HL
2347
092B
LD A, 255
2349
092D
CP (HL)
2350
092K
JR Z, 2359
2352
0930
LD A, 250
2354
0932
CP ( HL )
2355
0933
JR Z, 2386
2357
0935
JR 2346
2359
0937
LD ( 8241 ) , HL
2362
093A
INC HL
2363
093B
LD DE, 8226
2366
093E
LD B, 9
2368
0940
LD A, 254
2370
0942
CP (HL)
2371
0943
JR Z, 2346
2373
0945
LD A, (DE)
2374
0946
CP (HL)
2375
0947
JR NZ, 2346
2377
0949
INC DE
2378
094A
INC HL
2379
094B
DEC B
2380
0940
JR NZ, 2373
2382
094E
LD (8245), HL
2385
0951
RET
2386
0952
LD A, 10
2388
0954
LD (8224), A
2392
0957
RET
2393
0958
LD HL , (8241)
2395
095B
LD DE, 8250
2398
095E
LD BC, 34
2401
0961
LDIR
2402
0963
RET
2404
0984
XOR A
2405
0965
LD (8224), A
2408
0968
LD HL, 8328
2411
0968
INC HL
2412
096C
LD A, 254
2414
0965
CP (HL)
2415
096F
JR Z, 2430
2417
0971
LD A, 250
2419
0973
CP (HL)
2420
0974
JR Z, 2424
2422
0976
JR 2411
2424
0978
LD HL, 1959
2427
097B
JP 1822
2430
097E
LD DE, 8226
2433
0991
LD B, 9
2435
0983
LD A, (DE)
2436
0934
LD (HL), A
2437
0985
INC HL
2438
0986
INC DE
2439
0987
DJNZ 2435
2441
0989
JP 2326
Remarks ( 7 )
WPROt
invalid file name
"V Wrong File Type
doserr
drvO
ldbuf
errnu
"X Cat Data Error"
doserr
dvsel
; totlen
; aspd
SAVE
Ssubr
; temp 2
; prognm
; temp 6
; errnu
; temp 2
; directory
; errnu
SMEM
"U Disk Full"
doserr
prognm
Dec
Hex
9 AAA
098C
9 AA7
098F
2449
0991
9AST
JL H J L
0993
0995
9 A 5 S
0997
0999
9 A CO
099A
9A <in
099C
9 Afi?
£. *4 V *.
099E
9 Afi«>
09A1
9 Afifi
09A2
9Afi7
09 A3
9 AfiQ
09A5
9A7n
09A6
9A79
09A8
9A71
09A9
9A7S
09AB
9A77
09AD
24 78
09AE
9 Ann
09C0
9A R1
09B1
9ARA
09B4
9 Aflfi
4400
09B6
9 AR7
09B7
2489
09B9
9AQ1
Z 7 ±
09BB
9 AQ 1
09BD
9AQA
09BB
2497
09C1
9 cnfi
09C4
09C7
9 *.nfi
09C7
9 inQ
09CD
£. J J. fa
09D0
It! A
09D2
09D5
7C7fl
fa 3 fa U
09D8
09DB
9 «; 9fi
nqnR
95.9R
09B0
9 5.9Q
09E1
9 9
t J 0 fa
09E4
7C11
4 J J J
09E5
9«; ^
U7D /
? «; ifi
& J Jv
09E8
09EA
4JJ"
09EB
9 s.An
09EC
9 ^ A 9
09EE
9 ^ A A
09F0
09F2
09F5
09F8
9 «; 5. t
£ 3 3 J
09F9
09FB
9 ■» 5,7
ADD /
09FD
09FF
9 Sfi9
0A02
0A03
9 ■ififi
£•7 WW
0A06
9 570
0A0A
9 5,7 1
fa J / 1
0A0B
9 5. 7A
0A0E
7C7S
0A12
95R1
0A15
95RA
(Jul
0A18
9 5.R7
0A18
9 SQD
4J7U
0A1E
95. ci"?
0A21
9 SQft
fa J 7U
0A24
9 5QR
0A26
9fifl1
0A29
2604
0A2C
9finfi
0A2E
£. QUO
0A3O
9fi1 1
0A33
2612
0A34
2615
0A37
9fi1 s
0A3A
9fi71
0A3D
2623
0A3F
2626
0A42
2627
0A43
Instr-Dec Remarks
LD A, (8195) ; dvsel
CP 128
JR NZ, 2481
LD A, 71
OUT 7, A
IN A, 244
LD C, A
LD A, 240
OUT 244, A
LD HL, 32770
LD (HL) , A
LD B, (HL)
LD (HL), 0
LD A, C
OUT 244, A
XOR A
OUT 7, A
LD A, 240
CP B
JR NZ, 2494
RET
CALL 1212 ; drvO
IN A, 16
RRA
JR C, 2481
IN A, 16
BIT 6, A
RET Z
LD HL, 1933
JP 1822
CALL 2208
CALL 2444
CALL 2307
LD A, (8224)
CP 10
CALL Z, 2404
CALL 2711
CALL 3651
LD A, (8194)
CP 11
RET Z
LD HL, 8226
INC HL
LD A, 46
CP (HL)
JR NZ, 2532
INC HL
LD A, (HL)
CP 65
JR Z, 2598
CP 66
JP Z, 2792
LD HL, (23645)
LD A, (HL)
CP 170
JR Z, 2584
CP 175
JP NZ, 2299
RST 32
CALL 1026
LD (8243), BC
RST 32
CALL 1026
LD (8241), BC
CALL 2842
JP 2958
LD HL, 16384
LD (8243), HL ;
LD HL 6912
LD (8241), HL ;
JR 2578
CALL 2623
LD A, (8248)
BIT 7, A
JR NZ, 2621
LD HL, (8241) ;
INC HL
LD (8241), HL ;
CALL 2842
JP 2958
RST 8 ERR 2 ;
LD HL, (23645);
LD A, (HL)
CP 288 ;
"S Protect Error
doserr
cmdck
wprot
indir
errnu
nevet
zerO
savebf
nmi flag
prognm
save an array
B
save basic program
chadd
screens
save a screen
code
err 15 invalid f n
next char
evalu
temp 4
next char
evalu
temp 2
temp 4
temp 2
temp 2
temp 2
variable not found
chadd
data
SINC-LINK
13
name Dec Hex Instr-Dec
zero
2629
2632
2633
2636
2637
2638
2639
2641
2643
2646
2648
2651
2654
2655
2657
2659
2662
2665
2667
2670
2671
2674
2677
2678
2680
2682
2685
2688
2691
2694
2696
2697
2700
2701
2702
2703
2704
2705
2706
_2710
2711
2714
2717
2720
2721
2723
2726
2727
2729
2730
2732
2733
2735
2736
2738
2741
2742
2744
2747
2748
2749
2752
_2754
2756
2759
2760
2762
2763
2765
2766
2767
2768
2770
2773
2774
2775
2777
2779
2781
2783
2784
2785
2786
2788
2790
_2791
2792
2795
2796
0A45
0A48
0A49
0A4C
0A4D
0A4B
0A4F
0A51
0A53
0A56
0A58
0A5B
0A5E
0A5F
0A61
0A63
0A66
0A69
0A6B
0A6E
0A6F
0A72
0A75
0A76
0A78
0A7A
0A7D
0A80
0A83
0A86
0A86
0A89
0A8C
0A8D
0A8E
0A8F
0A90
0A91
0A92
0A96
0A97
0A9A
0A9D
0AA1
0AA1
0AA3
0AA6
0AA7
0AA9
OAAA
OAAC
OAAO
OAAF
OABO
0AB2
0AB5
0AB6
0AB8
OABB
OABC
OABD
OACO
0AC3
0AC4
0AC7
0AC8
OACA
OACB
OACD
OACE
OACF
OADO
0AD2
0AD5
0AD6
0AD7
0AD9
OADB
OAOD
OADF
OAEO
0AE1
0AE2
0AE4
0AE6
0AK7
0AE8
OAEB
OAEC
JP NZ, 2299
RST 32
LD HL, (23645)
LD A, (HL)
INC HL
LD A, (HL)
CP 36
2667
(23681)
Remarks ( 8 ) name
; err invalid file naae
; next cha
; chadd
Dec Hex Instr-Dec
Remarks
; $
JR Z,
LD A,
CP 36
JP Z, 2301
LD HL, (23645)
LD A, (HL)
SET 7, A
AND 159
LD (8247), A
LD (23662), A
JR 2688
LD HL, 23681
CP (HL)
JP NZ, 230 1
LD HL, (23645)
LD A, (HL)
OR 192
RES 5, A
LD (8247), A
LD (23662), A;
CALL 2031 ;
LD A, (8248)
BIT 7, A
RET NZ
LD (8243), HL ;
INC HL
LD E, (HL)
INC HL
LD D, (HL)
INC DE
INC DE
LD (8241), DE ;
RET
CALL 2392 ;
LD HL, (8241) ;
LD BC, 11
ADD HL, BC
LD (HL), 249
LD HL, 8250
INC HL
LD A, 253
CP (HL)
JR NZ, 2726
INC HL
LD A, 249
CP (HL)
JR Z, 2756
LD (8241), HL
LD C, (HL)
LD B, 0
LD HL, 8328
ADD HL, BC
LD (HL), C
LD HL, (8241)
LD (HL), 0
JR 2732
LD HL, 8250
INC HL
LD A, 253
CP (HL)
JR NZ, 2759
INC HL
PUSH HL
POP DE
LD B, 21
LD HL, 8328
INC HL
LD A, (HL)
CP 255
JR Z, 2788
CP 245
JR Z, 2773
LD A, (HL)
LD (DE), A
INC DE
DJNZ 2773
LD A, 249
LD (DE), A
RET
LD HL, (23645)
LD A, (HL)
CP 202
; $
; chadd
; oldppc
; chadd
oldppc
vserch
temp 4
temp 2
movdr
temp 2
directory
temp2
temp 2
directory
; chadd
; line
2798
2800
2801
2804
2805
2809
2811
2814
2817
2821
2824
2825
2826
2828
2831
2832
2835
2838
2841
2842
2843
2846
2849
2852
2853
2854
2856
_2857
2860
2863
2866
2867
2869
2871
2874
2877
2880
2882
2885
2888
2891
2892
2895
2898
2901
2904
2907
2908
2910
_2913
2914
2917
2918
2919
2921
2922
_2925
2928
2931
2934
2938
2940
2943
2946
2949
2952
2954
_2957
2958
2961
2962
2965
2968
2970
2971
2974
2975
2978
2981
2984
2987
2990
2993
2994
2996
2998
3001
3004
3007
OAEE
OAFO
0AF1
0AF4
0AF5
0AF9
OAFB
OAFE
0B01
0b05
OB08
0B09
OBOA
OBOC
OBOF
0B10
0B13
0B16
0B19
0B1A
0B1B
0B1E
0B21
0B24
0B25
0B26
0B28
0B29
0B2C
0B2F
0B32
0B33
0B35
0E37
0B3A
0B3D
0B40
0B42
0B45
0B48
0B4B
0B4C
0B4F
0B52
0B55
0B58
0B5B
0B5C
0B5E
0B61
0B62
0B65
0B66
0B67
0B69
0B6A
0B6D
0B70
0B73
0B76
0B7A
0B7C
0B7F
0B82
0B85
0B88
0B8A
0B8D
0B8E
0B91
0B92
0B95
0B98
0B9A
0B9B
0B9E
0B9F
0BA2
0BA5
0BA8
OBAB
OBAE
0BB1
0BB2
0BB4
0BE6
0BB9
OBBC
OBBF
JRNZ, 2811
RST 32 ;
CALL 1026 ;
DEC BC
LD (23662), HL;
JP 2817
LD HL, (23621);
LD (23662), HL;
LD DE, (23635);
LD HL, (23641);
PUSH DE
OR A
SBC HL, DE
LD (8241), HL ;
POP HL
LD (8243), HL ;
CALL 2842
JP 2958
RET
XOR A
LD (8247), A
LD HL, (8241) ;
LD (8196), HL
LD A, H
OR L
JR NZ, 2860
POP BC
JP 1596
LD DE, 5090
LD HL, (8241) ;
OR A
SBC HL, DE
JR C, 2914
LD HL, (8243) ;
8328
5090
LD DE,
LD BC,
LDIR
LD HL,
(8243)
LD (8236), HL
LD DE, 5090
ADD HL, DE
LD (8243), HL
LD HL, 5090
LD (8238), HL
LD DE, 5090
LD HL, (8241)
OR A
SBC HL, DE
LD (8241), HL
RET
LD HL, (8241)
LD A, H
OR L
JR NZ, 2928
POP HL •
LD HL, (8245)
JP 3114
LD HL, (8243)
LD DE,
LD BC,
LDIR
LD HL,
A
HL
8328
(8241)
(8243)
LD (8236), HL
LD HL, (8241)
LD (8238), HL
LD A, 100
LD (8247), A
RET
LD HL, 8261
LD A, (HL)
LD (8249),
LD (8245),
LD A, 249
CP (HL)
JP Z, 2924
LD A, (HL)
LD (8221), A
CALL 3571
CALL 1135
CALL 3651
CALL 1084
LD A, (8234)
AND A
JR Z, 3064
LD A, 3
LD (8223), A
CALL 1121
CALL 3571
LD BC, (8238)
next char
evalu
oldppc
ppc
oldppc
prog
eline
temp 2
temp4
temp 2
temp2
temp 4
temp4
start
temp 4
temp2
temp 2
temp 2
temp6
temp4
temp 2
temp 4
start
temp 2
directory
temp 6
curtrk
trac
encdbf
savebf
ldbuf
errnu
attempts counter
clrbf
trac
14
SINC-LINK
TS 2068 PROGRAMMING TIP
by George Chambers
The system variables stored at addresses 23552 to 23755 are used by
the computer to keep track of it's operat ion. Look in the TS2068 User
Manual, "Appendix D, System Variables" for a list and short description.
These stored variables offer quite a few programming poss i b i 1 it ies. This
article will describe an application for two of them.
The var iables being d i scussed are labelled SPOSN, and are located at
addresses 23688 and 23689. Together these two variables store the
current PRINT position; that is, where the next character on the screen
will be printed. The first address contains the column number, while^ the
second address contains the line number. Well, not the screen positions
as we understand them. We would get the screen positions by subtract ing
the PEEKed value in address 23688 from 2U- ( for column number), and in
address 23689 from 32 (for line number).
In my programming I did a Larken CATalogue, followed by a flashing
message 'Press a key for menu'. I wished to remove the message without
clearing the rest of the screen.
I could, of course, have simply had the program 'PRINT AT x,y;" ^
"i to wipe out the flashing message. But in this application
the message could appear on most any line; depending on the size of the
CATalogue display. I made use of the variables mentioned above.
Figure 1. is a listing of a short program to demonstrate the
possibilities. Let's discuss this listing:
LINE 5: We are ass ign ing a random number to each of var i ables a and
b. The numbers produced by the RND function will be a value always less
than 1.
LINE 10. The variables a and b are being used to print "george" at
random locations on the screen. The 'a*22' selects a random screen line
from 0 to 22. The 'b*26' similarly selects a screen column. (We have
used 'b*26', rather than lb*32', so that the "george" will be printed on
one line, i.e. it won't be wrapped around onto the second line. If this
happened it would require more complex programming to remove the
flashing 'george', and tend to obscure the model.
Note also the sem /-co 1 on at the end of 'george'. Without this
semi-colon the print pos i t i on stored in the variable would be .at the
start of the next line, and the 'covered' would always appear at the
beginning of the next line. Try it and see.
LINE 15 Pauses for a moment so you can see the 'george' is present.
LINE 20 Overlays the flashing 'george' with the 'covered' message.
Because of the way the system stores the informat ion we have to subtract
the PEEKed values from the screen size values of 2U- and 32.
Note the '-6' in the line. This is because what we have in the system
variable is the present PRINT pos it ion. But we want to start our
overlaid word 'covered ' six pos it ions back, to the start of 'george ' .
LINE 30 Self explanatory .
5 LET a=RND : LET b=RND
10 PRINT AT INT (a*22),INT ( b*26 ); "george" ;
15 PAUSE 30
To Z'uSE Yo:VsP:Eao2ToaV'"2-(PeEK **">-*'™.r~.
SINC-LINK
15
Especially for Junkies
by Hgk lo»ie
( Hey Ma! Sone-one has been talking about me - I am in the headlines! )
Are you a Junky?
Now don't get me wrong, there are all
kinds of junkies going the rounds .
There is the old fellow who used to go
round the neighborhood pushing his little
hand cart in front of with his cry of
"Rags - Bottles - Bones" Or does your
memory not go that far back? That guy
was called a Junky. He collected junk.
Some times he would be called a Scrappy.
Then there is that other junkie, the one
on the drug scene, but we are not
interested in that so we will let that
fly stick to the wall.
Now that there is another thing. Do you
know where that saying came from? That
was another oldie, from the time before
all those fancy bug killers in a bottle
where you press a button and the stuff
comes out with a phssst. It comes from
the time when we used the old fashioned
fly-swat; that was a flat piece of
something no matter what that was
attached to a stick about a foot or
fifteen inches long. When you smacked a
fly on the wall with that - splat! - the
fly stuck there! (the fly swat was also
great for juvenile discipline)
So you just let it stick there. After
all, can you think of a better way to
keep score of the 'bag' for the day, than
to count the "splats" on the wall?
To-day we have different kinds of
junkies, ourselves for example, we are
Sinclair junkies. We collect Sinclair
stuff till it is coming out our ears,
(watch it bub) and every time Old papa
Sine comes out with something new we all
rush out and grab it. ('cept the byke)
I am going to ask you to have a look at
your collection of program you have
stored away in all those shoe boxes and
drawers. Take 'em out. Now I don't care
whether it is Cartridges or Tapes or
Disks; treat them all the same. And this
is where things can become very
interesting, apart from puzzling.
Clear all that other "junk" off that &^e
table, and divide that table into three
equal sections . If you want to be sure
you have made the division properly, and
want to keep things looking neat and tidy
and not looking "junky", then draw a
pencil mark at the divisions. And label
the sections:- Lots. Sometimes. Never.
Now comes the interesting part.
We take all them programs and place them
according to your 'labels'. Those
programs you use a lot. Those programs
you use sometimes. Those programs you
never use.
How are you doing? Are the piles of
programs increasing evenly? Don't get
dis-heartened, keep at it, you are
learning. One thing you are learning is
that there is a whole stack of stuff you
NEVER use - and just take a look at that
pile- WOW!
Now look at the pile marked "LOTS"
Not too many what? Half a dozen? a few
more perhaps? Are there more than dozen.
Probably not.
The middle pile is a funny one; some of
the stuff in that pile could be in the
OFTEN pile, but a lot of it could also be
in the NEVER pile.
NOW - Who is the "junky"? You are.
I am. We all is! That's right, did you
ever think you could be called a "Program
Junky"?
Why do we spend so much time and $$$$$
gathering all that stuff (junk)? and
never use it.
Puzzle:- — What to do with that junk —
I have the cure for you, and if you
follow my suggestion you will no longer
be a "program junky" and you will get
rid of all that "junk" gathering dust
where-ever it is stored.
Send it to me.
Bye ! 930126
SINC-LINK
Gilliam Y. Parrish
Route 1, Box 705
Beggs, OK. 74421
UJSA.
May 10, 1993
Mr. George F. Chambers, Secretary
Toronto Timex Sinclair Users' Group
14 Richome Court
Scarborough, Ontario M1K 2Y1
Canada
Re: Timex/ Sinclair Computers
Dear George,
I think I found a solution to my (possible) problem of
having too small a power supply for that ZX Printer. The manual
says the printer needs 9V, 1.2 amps; unfortunately, even the
"large" TS/ZX standard power supply is just 1 amp. My discovery
came in a second hand shop, in the form of the Mattel Aquarius home
computer. You may never have heard of them; they were discontinued
almost as soon as they hit store shelves ("One of the shortest
lifespans of any computer," according to COMPUTE i magazine). They
were a low-end model, with 4K, "chicklet" keyboard, sparse BASIC,
designed for cassette storage, etc. They utilized a one-key entry
of BASIC commands (actually, CONTROL + the needed key) just like
the TS/ZX, but they also allowed typing in the commands letter by
letter, a feature I appreciate. One unusual aspect of the model
was the printer port; the computer was designed for yet another
incarnation of the simple and cheap Alphacom narrow-paper thermal
printer (like the T/S 2 040) , but the connector is a single mini-
phono jack. How can a printer get all the signals it needs through
a single line?? Anyway, the computer had a cartridge port designed
to accept a couple of expansion boxes Mattel had waiting in the
wings (to add joysticks, extra RAM, improved sound capability, and
on the deluxe expander, disk drives) , and for that reason Mattel
may have given the model a larger power supply than it really
needed. The power supply, which does not disattach (and hence
can't get away from the unit in garage sales) states that it
produces 8.8VDC, 1.2 amps (as well as minor amounts of other
obscure voltages, being .15 amps of 16VDC, and .01 amps of -19VDC) .
A quick meter check reveals that amperage from the Aquarius unit is
indeed significantly higher (and even voltage is a tad HIGHER, not
lower) compared to a standard 9V, 1 amp supply. So, it's an easy
solution to lack of a 1.2 amp power supply to get an Aquarius, cut
off the power supply and cord, and install the right connector for
TS/ZX use; the proper wires to solder to the needed mini-phono plug
are clearly indicated on the unit (red to center, black to the
outside) . It's also a cheap solution: since these computers were
SINC-LINK
never popular, they might be $2-$3 if you happen to run across one,
and since nobody is actually using these things, you can likely
spot one up for grabs if you know to look for them. I picked up
two; I'm keeping an Aquarius intact for no particularly good
reason, and I've almost completed surgery on the other.
On a different topic, remember the "Hobbit"? That was
the Spectrum clone being produced in the former Soviet Union, that
was supposed to be "available for export" someday. Well, the day
has apparently come. I noticed in the April, 1993 edition of
Update! that the Hobbit is now available in the UK through ADB
Russian Services, 17 Stortford Rd. , Great Dunmow, Essex CMS IDA,
Great Britain. (I assume they must have touched all the legal
bases with AMSTRAD before they could sell it there.) It is
supposed to be fully 48K Spectrum compatible, but it has 64K RAM,
64K ROM, a QWERTY keyboard but with both Roman and Cyrillic
characters on it, built-in CP/M and FORTH as well as BASIC, and the
capability to handle either 5 1/4" or 3 1/2" drives as well as a
cassette. (I doubt the extra RAM will get much workout; as I
reported last year following my trip to the UK, the vast majority
of Spectrum software remains 48K compatible despite the sale of
many Spectrum units with 128K by AMSTRAD over the years.) The
Hobbit is £79.00 and the optional 5 1/4" drive is £59.00; that
translates to something like US $123.25 (CN $156.50) for the
computer and US $92.00 (CN $117.00) for the drive. The good old
T/S 2068, which can be picked up used for far less money and then
equipped with a Spectrum ROM, remains a much lower cost alternative
for North Americans who wish to try Spectrum computing — and isn't
it nice to have a computer that's so much in demand that it's still
in production in 1993, rather than one that was discontinued in
1984?
By the way, we had discussed whether I wanted to make my
new term of membership retroactive to when my last term ended in
'92, or to make it effective for the coming year. I asked to have
it started as of "now" (around the beginning of April) and not
retroactively, so I would be paid up for the coming 12 months. And
I think that's what you understood me to say, since you (correctly)
did not send past newsletters. However, whoever filled out my
membership card (your Treasurer? I can't make out the name) , which
you forwarded to me last time, apparently did not understand since
the card lists my term as 5/92 to 5/93 instead of 4/93 to 4/94.
Please don't let my membership expire on me again! !
Sincerely,
Gil Parrish
SINC-LINK
FREENET PLUGS OTTAWA IN
Starting today, anyone with a computer and modem
can connect with a network of databases - free
by Dominique Lacasse - Citizen business writer
Turn on, boot up, and dial out. "Community comput ing" is here.
As of today, Ottawa becomes one of only about a dozen cities anywhere
in the world to have a non-prof it , community comput i ng network. A phone
call to a single Ottawa number will plug anyone with a computer and a
modem into a network of data-bases and in format ion prov iders from around
the region, across the U.S., and ult imately, the world. Virtually
unlimited two-way information - free.
The National Capital FreeNet was to make it's public debut today with
a ceremony at regional government headquarters this morning.
it may not be an "e lectron ic highway", but Ottawa's FreeNet is a
crucial fork in the road to the E lectron ic Village, an interact ive public
library for the computer generation.
Ottawa's network is modelled on successful experiments in community
computing in the U.S. It was spearheaded by a group of parleton University
professors and the school's director of computing and information services
and is run entirely by volunteers.
After more than a year of planning, fundra is ing, and scroung ing,
Ottawa's FreeNet is now a reality, with a powerful host computer and 20
telephone lines to handle the expected rush. There are an estimated
100,000 PCs in households in the greater Ottawa region, and likely just as
many in bus i ness and government offices.
The network has already been running experimentally at Carleton for
several months and has met with wide acceptance. Ottawa's FreeNet has
about 1,000 registered users now and about 100 new applications are
received every day, accord ing to David Sut her land, National Capital
FreeNet chairman and director of comput ing services at Car let on.
"This thing has gained critical mass", says Sutherland, who only
recently decided to double the number of phone lines in time for today's
launch as donations and inquiries poured in. "It's had an overwhelmingly
positive public response."
Sutherland says he expects registrations to mushroom following today's
invitation to the public to join the network.
He says he expects the FreeNet will have at least 10,000 registered
users by the end of it's first year. In C leve land, Ohio, where the first
FreeNet was launched in the mid-80' s, there are more than 35,000
registered FreeNet users and tens of thousands more who occas ional ly use
the system as "guests " .
"We keep hearing we're in the information age", says Sutherland. "These
(networks) are the windows that will allow it to come into peoples
i ives. "
Ottawa's FreeNet, which runs on equ i pment donated by Sun M i crosyst ems
and Nepean-based Gandalf Data, already has a mix of databases, from
regional government agendas and tender documents and community group
bul let ins, to exotic items such as news reports from Radio Free Europe and
an "artificial intelligence" program on epilepsy from the Federal
Commun icat ions Research Centre.
And only recently, the (Ottawa) Citizen joined a growing number of
information prov iders exper iment ing with the system. The Citizen's FreeNet
offerings include brief guides to local sports, entertainment and
community events, as well as capsule reviews of movies, restaurants, and
w ines.
The Ottawa Public Library's catalogue is also available online through
the FreeNet and the library has installed three terminals at its main
branch that will allow people without computers at home or work to explore
FreeNet. D iscuss ions are also underway to put terminals in schools
throughout the region.
SINC-LINK
Ottawa's FreeNet also provides a gateway to other FreeNets, i nc lud i ng
C I eve land ' s and a new one in V ictor ia, the only other one in Canada.
Using Internet, a network that links researchers around the world,
FreeNet users can visit distant computer systems without incurr ing long
distance charges.
Being free has it's price, however. Because the network only has 20
telephone lines, users may find logging onto the system frustrating, even
impossible, at peak times. Sutherland says new lines will be added if
demand warrants and sufficient funds can be found.
Some government funding has been received and more is expected , says
Sutherland. The goal is to eventually have one full-time paid
adm in i strator to manage the network, as several U.S. FreeNets have done.
Sutherland says he hopes the FreeNet will "make the community work
better" by promoting the free exchange of information and ideas. He says
he hopes the network will make the use of information technology "part of
the county's culture, someth ing people are comfortable with for the rest
of their I ives" .
Logging on to FreeNet
You need a computer and a modem
to gain access to FreeNet. Use
these settings to connect:
Phone (613) 780 3733
Modem Sett ings: r
-Baud Rate: 2400, 1200, or 300
-Data Bits: 8
-Parity: None
-Stop Bits: 1
Important notice: Once
connection has been established,
you may have to hit the Return
or Enter key up to FIVE times.
Log on as "guest" the first
time. You can become a
registered user by following the
instructions available on-line
under the "Adm in ist rat ion"
menu.
This material was retyped from an article in the Ottawa Citizen.
One of our members, Jacques Croteau, writes, "I include an article in
the Citizen of Ottawa, about FreeNet. It seems wonderful, but I know only
one person who has succeeded in logging on... at 3 o'clock in the morning,
before it was advert ised 1 1 It seems very busy.
He also penned a note as follows: "New network in Ottawa. I hope you
have more success than me in reaching it. I have called about 50 times
without result . "
"(613) 788 3947 - This number was given on radio for the net work . ... bu
a I ways busy. "
SINC-LINK
RS 2 3 2 I/O Rev is i ted
Rene Bruneau
A couple of errors crept into the
schematic for the RS232 article found in
the last issue of Sine-Link. The revised
circuit diagram is shown below. I also
ran into difficulties sourcing the
9 .8403 MHz crystal and found that a
4.920 MHz crystal would work, but the
PCB had to be revised to get the proper
baud rates again.
r
C O o
2,2. oo
pq Hill
rJ Mill
£3 R£
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ouuuuuuuuuoouo
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618886
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COMPONENT LAYOUT
PCB LAYOUT
SINC-LINK
1/9.
LAS,kfE»0
PI
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PZ
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RS-232 CIRCUIT DIAGRAM
SINC-LINK
SUPER DISK LABELLER
Now this little thing I do not have, but I include it here just in case someone
wants to get it at the same time as SUPER DISK INDEXER, and as it is mentioned in my
QLIPS message in this issue.
SUPER DISK LABELLER
Print neat labels for your floppy disks, showing the filenames present on the disk
in columns, in small text, in up to 6 layout styles. You can edit and annotate the
text of the label, add headings and notes as required. The layout can be previewed
to the screen before printing. Filenames can be sorted into order, or grouped
(e.g. Quill "_doc" files together) for a neat, professional appearance. The printer
driver is fully reconf igurable for different label sizes and printer control codes.
Drivers are supplied for 9 pin and 24 pin dot matrix printers. Suitable for use with
our floppy disk labels on printer feed backing, and most disk label sizes. Can print
on label rolls up to 4 labels wide. One of our best selling programs, in fact,
everyone should have one, and no wonder! "A good, well thought out package,
representing excellent value for money" (QL World review, October 1991). Needs at
least 128k extra memory. Supplied with printed 20 page manual. Disk Labeller is an
ideal companion program for our Disk Indexer program described elsewhere in this
catalogue, so that you can both catalogue your disks and tidily label them too.
Don't forget about our quantity discounts available for buying more than one program
at a time!
SUPER DISK LABELLER (on disk) ... £10.00
Printer roll of 100 disk labels for use with above program £2.50
(no extra postage to pay if ordering at the same time as other items, or add £0.50
postage if just ordering labels)
SINCLAIR CLAN CREST
SINC-LINK
AN AMERICAN SPECTRUM
(THE TIM EX SINCLAIR TS 2068)
The Spectrum was launched here in Britain back in
the spring of 1982. It was a massive advance over
its' forerunner the ZX81 and, for the first time ever,
allowed affordable home computing.
It really was a complete breakthrough Up until then everyone
thought of computers as big mainframe machines with gigantic
reel to reel storage, only for use in government departments or
large bank head offices. The Spectrum, smaller than a hard
backed book and using standard music cassettes really did
bring the computer age home to a new generation.
Of course success is nearly always imitated. And the Timex
Corporation, who brought modern digital watches to the
masses with an affordable price tag decided the the time was
right to introduce the idea of a small home computer to North
America. Out of this desire and a partnership with Sinclair Re-
search here in old blighty a new machine, The Timex Sinclair
TS 2068 was born - well almost.
In 1983 the TS 2068 was launched with the familiar Z80A CPU
and the same overall operating system as the Spectrum - with
equivalent sound and processing abilities to the 48K version.
Yet there were differences which made the TS 8068 unique to
the US Market.
ADD - ONS
Because of the pace of computer develop
ment in the US the TS 2068 has had a
very wide range of peripherals and add
on features developed for it. Parallels
can be drawn between it and the
Hobbit • Russia's unofficial Spectrum
copy, made as a serious business
computer to compete at a much
lower price level with PCs and
4> thus equipped with facilities to
£&t** ■ . use PC disk drives, be
^ '""* . . linked up to PCs and run
complicated Databases and other
business software.
Although the TS 2068
>. ✓ . was primarily
designed
to run using tape loading and saving like our very own Speccy,
rather than developing a machine with increased memory cap-
acity like the 128K machine here, American and Canadian
boffins simply added on external RAM or linked it up to PC 3.5
or 5.25 disk drives allowing masses of extra memory.
Our contact in America, Bob Shade, who runs _a top photo-
graphy outfit in Philadelphia actually uses his TS 2068s to oper-
ate photographic equipment for complicated still work, among
other things. Also, because of the problems of Spectrum incom-
patibility Bob actually runs a Spectrum Emulator on his TS 2068
whenever he wants to run Speccy games or software. He, like
many other North American users have brought the machine far
beyond the realms of the simple kid's 'home computer' which
the Speccy is primarily viewed as here.
Unfortunately for the TS 2068 the pace of PC technology far
outstripped it and as these machines became more accessible
to the home market as the standard business/home machine (if
you use one in the office why not use it at home too) the popu-
larity of the Sinclair went out the window.
However, as well as communicating with similar machines the
TS 2068 can also reach out and touch several other computers
like the PC and Macintosh using MACIink and PCIink. This is
done by running programs on the host machine and connecting
it up to the TS, in a similar way to that described for
linking up Hobbits.
Although the TS 2068 has now
been out of production for quite a few years there is still a reas-
onably strong user group in both the US and more predominantly
in Canada. This user group produces most of the new software
for the machine and includes Bob Shade himself who has de-
veloped a label maker program to make his life easier in
the photography business. A Canadian company
a) which supports the TS 2068 with communications
/' devices, memory upgrades etc. is LARKEN ELEC-
/' TRONICS who have a bewildering array or peripherals
/ for the machine.
* USER GROUPS
Addresses to contact user groups for fanzines and
information are: Toronto Sinc-Linc, Editor, Timex-Sinclair
Users Club, 1 4 Richome Court, Scarborough, Ontario,
Canada M1 K 2Y1 . Also: Update Magazine PO Box 1095,
Peru, Indiana, USA 46970. They deal with Z88 (QL) and
TS 2068. Or: Long Island Sinclair Timex Users Group,
C/O Harvey Rait. 5 Peri Ln., Valley Stream, NY, USA 1 1581 .
And finally SLIX - Sinclair Information Exchange, C/O William
W. Miller, 6675 Clifford Drive. Cupertino, CA 95014-4530 USA.
Remember the Timex/Sinclair is not directly Spectrum com-
patible but there are a lot of similarities. If you want to find out
more why not write to one of the user groups. If you're a pro-
grammer why not investigate writing something for them?
Wow... The Speccy goes international)
24
SINC-LINK
TORONTO TIMEX-SINCLAIR USERS CLUB
Hay 14, 1993
14 Richome Court.
Scarborough, Ont. H1K 2Y1
Lbs Cottrei I
108 River Heights Drive
Cocoa, Fl 32922
Dear Les?
Th^vnS-- qou for the $20 cash for membership renewal , And also
•[■•hank uou for the next few Pages of the barken LKDOS disassembly. We are
psiftino a f*w paqes in each issue of the newsletter. One can have too
much of a good thing!! I arn still holding your most recent contribution
of the disassembly, since Jeff has eunough to go on for now.
Two of the items you asked for have been taken,, But I am sending the
» I !OUJ to Write your own adventure programs" book,, You may find it
. int-wpAHna,. 'Rut if you. are really serious about it, maybe you should
..,;,:,!,' me for "a copy of the Professional 1 Adventure Writer, a program put
out for the Spectrum,, It has very heavy documentation for it also, maybe
SO pages. or bo.
Sincerel y ?
George Chamber-
2-5
3
I r- \ 1/
