SYNTAX
Serving Timex-Sinclair
Personal Computers
A PUBLICATION OF THE HARVARD GROUP
VOL.5 NO.2 ISSN 0273*2696 FEB., 1984
IN THIS ISSUE
MONEY TALKS; TIMEX LISTENS
8K Programs
Keyboard Scanning.5
Multiple Keys.8
Pause Without Flash....9
Timex withdrew from retail sales of home
computers and will employ their resources in
other product lines.
SINCLAIR TO CONCENTRATE ON QL IN US
TS2068 Programs
Syntactic Sum.7
Advanced Video Modes...4
Classified Ads.10
Hardware Review
MD-2 Modem.4
Machine Code.4,5,7,9
New Products and
Services.3
News
Timex Withdraws.1
Future ZX/TS support...1
Syntax Will Continue..10
Program Improvements
Firstloader.2
Syntax Errors.2
Users' Groups.2
Utilities.....4,5,7,9
Vendor Report.1,2
Index of Advertisers
Byte Back Co.7
Nigel Searle announced that Sinclair
does not plan to re-enter the US market with
ZX81s or Spectrums. Talks with distributors
(to follow QL mail order) are proceeding.
KEY SUPPORT OPERATIONS WILL STAY
SoftSync announced its intent to keep on
selling its existing line of TS programs.
SoftSync, 14 E. 34th St., NY, NY 10016
Byte-Back announced changes to the MD2
modem to make it compatible with all machines
and provide both originate and answer tones.
See review, this issue, for more details.
Microsync Services will keep offering
service agreements for ZX/TS machines at
$10/yr. Write them at 162R Marlboro St.,
Keene, NH 03431 for details.
Profile 2068 is available now with brief
operating instructions. You will get all the
detailed, 100-page documentation later at no
extra cost. $29.95 ppd. Thomas B. Woods,
POB 64, Jefferson, NH 03583
Tom Woods asserted whole-hearted support
and will start "new, interesting products."
Timex Vice President of Marketing and
Sales, C. Michael Jacobi, announced that
"Consumer warranties will be honored and out-
of-warranty service will continue."
Banta Software intends to continue sales
of their Timex-related programs.
Robert Schiller of Kopak says their new
version of Hi-Res Word Processor allows 80
column printing. He also announces a sale on
Timex and Softsync software for the ZX/TS (4
cassettes for $20) with a large selection.
SYNTAX will continue (see story p.10).
1
SYNTAX ERRORS: Ohm's ZXLaw,
Dec.83, line 390, should read:
390 PRINT "POWER (P)=";(V**
2)/R;" W"
PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS
You can stop Firstloader before it
translates by POKEing 45013,201.
This stub leaves the ZX/TS bytes in
high memory, starting at 49277. To
restore the translator, you simply
POKE 45013,205 and then enter the
command RAND USR 45 013. This trick
lets you examine the original data.
VENDOR REPORT
Address complaints about Frog
Software or Sinclair Computing to
Regional Chief Inspector, Northeast
Region, 1633 Broadway, New York NY
10097 Attn: Mail Fraud Division,
212/974-8501.
Mindware advertised a Monitor
program to use with ZX/TS machines
in SYNTAX Dec.83. They inform us
the program doesn't work and isn't
available anywhere.
Pegasus Microsystems will fill
all outstanding orders but stopped
accepting any after January. They
will shift their business to other
machines and stop selling retail.
Memotech continues to support
the TS1000 although they are
getting out of the Timex business.
SYNTAX received a complaint
about Roger Valentine's book. The
Timex-Sinclair 2068 . published by
John Wiley. Wiley told us that an
independent reviewer, using a 2068,
checked the complaint by choosing 5
programs at random and they ran
without change. Ignore references
to a 16K Timex 2 000, the programs
work on 48K 2068s. Watch out for
graphics, they differ. Wiley used
advance versions of Timex manuals
to check the book and some problems
exist because of late changes in
the machine. If you note problems
in this book, write to Wiley Press,
John Wiley & Sons, 605 Third Ave.,
NY, NY 10158. They will reply to
your inquiry and use your input to
correct the next printing. If you
consider buying this book, satisfy
yourself that you will be able to
repair minor problems.
C-20 Magazine stopped publish¬
ing and has issued refunds for its
undelivered issues.
Starburst Software ceased pub¬
lication of ZX/TS software and gone
out of business on Feb. 1, 1984.
We received another complaint
of non-delivery by Kopak Creations,
dated Feb.12 '84, amounting to $40.
We've heard that Timex Town
Software, Omnitronics (Z-dubber),
and Jameco (keyboard conversion
kits) plan to drop Timex-related
lines. We also hear that Z-West
newsletter stopped printing.
ZX/TS USERS' GROUPS
To check for a local group that's
not listed, or to announce a new
group, call 617/456-3661 or write
SYNTAX, RD 2 Box 457, Bolton Rd.,
Harvard, MA 01451. Send SASE for
name of group in your area.
Clinton, CT: Southeastern
Connecticut TS User's Group meets
at Hull Library. Contact Gary
Cummings, 203/669-2342.
New Haven, CT: Sinclair Study
Group, c/o Chris Baldwin, 16 Lewis
St., New Haven, CT 06513.
Collinsville, CT: New group
forming, contact David Dubay, 28
Claire Hill Rd., POB 78, Collins¬
ville, CT 06022, 203/673-7069.
Stamford, CT: New group, contact
Barbara Karp, 139 Downes Ave.,
Stamford, CT 06902, 203/359-2124.
Memphis, TN: Memphis User Group,
Correction: Andy Boles, 2059
Pennel Cove, Memphis, TN 38116,
901/346-0890.
Butler, WI: New address for
Sinclair Milwaukee Users Group Ltd.
(SMUG), Box 101, Butler, WI 53007.
2
NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
TS-INTERCOM, a special interest
group on CompuServe, allows ZX/TS
users with ZCOMM software and a
modem to exchange programs and
information. Contact TS-INTERCOM,
1908-715 Don Mills Rd., Don Mills,
Ontario, Canada M3C 1S4, 416/424-
1895, CIS ID 70261,166.
Pheonix Enterprises (1780 N. DuPont
Hwy., No. 17, Dover, DE 19901 ,
302/734-0179) announces T/S COUNT,
an accounting package ($29.95), and
OPERATION PHEONIX, a strategy game
using music and hi-res color
graphics ($19.95). Both written
originally for the 2068 but avail¬
able for the ZX/TS at $20 and
$14.95, respectively.
D. Lipinski Software (2737
Susquehanna Rd., Roslyn, PA 19001)
offers CHECK-B, a comprehensive
check book program for the TS2068.
$20 price includes cassette and a
free update when Timex releases a
new mass storage device for 2068s.
Textwriter 2000 TS2068 word-
processor prints standard or full
width pages on TS2040 (two column
output). Includes full editing,
reformatting, word wrap, tab stops,
and block moves. $18.95 cassette
from Robert Fingerle, 39639
Embarcadero, Fremont, CA 94538.
A&J Micro Drive, a reworked Entrepo
(formerly Exetron) stringy floppy
works with CAI Instrument's wafers,
but incorporates an improved oper¬
ating system including program
chaining and MC SAVE/LOAD. For
ZX/TS, $149.50 from A&J Micro
Drive, 1050 "I" East Duane Ave.,
Sunnyvale, CA 94086, 408/732-9292.
Maples Enterprises (688 Moore St.,
Lakewood, CO 80215) introduces
Harmonium, a 4 voice ZX/TS sound
board kit utilizing normal com¬
ponents + $9 sound chip. Sche¬
matic, doc. and suppliers list, $5.
ACZ General Ledger 2.000 comes with
a comprehensive instruction manual,
binder, and cassette for TS2068 at
$39.95 + $1.50 P&H. Designed to
meet the accounting needs of a
small business, the program pro¬
duces printed reports on the TS2040
including journal, ledger, monthly
and YTD income statements, balance
sheets, trial balances, and a chart
of accounts. Interfaces to CARDCO
numeric keypad ($44.95 + $1.5 0 P&H).
From Cottage Technology, 5720 W.
Little York, Suite 178, Houston, TX
77091, 713/448-7058.
JK Audio is back in business (POB
3295, Escondido CA 92025-0580,
619/741-5132) and offering the JK-
500 series of interfaces for the
ZX/TS. Features include 2 16-bit
I/O ports, real time clock, ADC,
and 8K nonvolatile RAM, in many
different combinations, from
$125.95 to $174.95 (bare board
$49.95), + 3% P&H (US), 8% (for).
HS-1 High Speed Interface connects
two ZX/TS machines together, using
one for computing and one for dis¬
play. Results in steady display
while running 5.5 times faster than
SLOW mode. $98 assemb., $78 kit,
from Interface Design, POB 151,
Rexford, NY 12148.
Timex/Sinclair Ideabook demon¬
strates how to solve problems with
50 ready-to-run programs for the
ZX/TS. By David Ahl, softcover,
150pp., $8.95 from Creative
Computing Press, 39 E. Hartover Dr.,
Morris Plains, NJ 07950.
Adropos Technology (1071-A Avenida
Acaso, Camarillo, CA 93010, 805/
482-3605) announces SIN-16, a 16K
RAM ($25.95 + $4 P&H), Dr. Floyd, an
Eliza like program, Graphics Pak 1,
five programs for drawing and
saving graphics, and Wordplay, five
game programs for teaching liter¬
ature and grammar ($12.95 ea or $25
for all 3, plus $2 P&H), all for
ZX/TS machines.
3
HARDWARE REVIEW
Product: MD-2 Modem
Machines: ZX/TS 2K or 16K
From: Byte-Back Co.
Rt 3 Box 147, Brodie Rd.
Leesville SC 29070
803/532-5812
Price: $149.95 Assem.
$119.95 Kit
Byte-Back continues their
tradition of fine products for the
ZX/TS with the MD-2, an originate
only direct connect modem with
software for ASCII translation,
program and text upload/download,
and printing (RS2 32 or TS2 04 0).
Since the introduction of the
MD-2B, Byte-Back no longer sells
the MD-2. The MD-2B can originate
or answer via a hardware switch,
but in all other respects is an MD-
2. None of the modems answer the
phone or dial. Byte-Back has
upgrade kits from MD-2 to MD-2B.
They also sell a TS2068 Modem with
identical features, same price,
under the name MD-68. You can get
a kit allowing you to switch your
MD-2 or 2B to a MD-68 at will.
ZCOMM, the software provided
with Byte-Back modems, comes on
cassette with a 2K RAM version on
one side, and a 16/64K version on
the other. Both versions are
recorded twice with different
recorders to ensure the tape will
load. It seems a sturdy program.
Several times during testing
the modem I thought I had uncovered
a bug in ZCOMM, but it turned out
to be a feature: when storing text
from the phone line into program
memory, ZCOMM's stores the bytes in
memory. When memory fills, the
system appears to crash. Actually,
it munches the text for a while
(over a minute) and turns it into
REM statements. This way, you can
store an entire conversation in
memory, then SAVE or LLIST it.
For a sturdy product with
better support than you'll get from
Timex, get the MD-2B.
a
RECIPES FOR 2068 ADVANCED VIDEO
Your TS2068 can display lines
of 64 characters, more detailed
color, or a completely separate
display file. We show you how to
activate these functions and plot
hi-res (512x192) points.
First, use program 1 to move
system variables out of the area
used by DFILE 2, change video mode,
and clear DFILE 2. Timex supplied
this machine code. LOAD & RUN it;
use p.248 of your 2068 manual to
choose video mode. (Mode 62 gives
the best 64 col. display.)
Now use program 2 to accept
Y,X-pairs and plot on the 64-column
screen. Prior plots aren't erased.
Hints: G=file number (0-1)
K=high digits, character line (0-2)
I=scan line in character line (0-7)
J=low digits, character line (0-7)
H=character position in line (0-31)
S=dot position in character (7-0)
POKE 01GK Kill JJJH HHHH,SSS
Binary: High byte Low byte,Data
KEYBOARD SCANNING
Your 2068 uses ports to scan
its keyboard, as do all Sinclairs.
Each uses the same addresses, but
the data differs.
As you know, Sinclair uses the
CPU to scan its matrix keyboard.
Forty keys, arranged as 8 half-rows
of 5 keys each, provide all the
functions. Additional keys simply
connect parallel to a primary key.
From the ZX/TS schematic, we
know that the 5 lines KBD0-KBD4
connect vertical columns of keys—0
connecting SHIFT, A, Q, 1, 0, P,
ENTER, and SPACE; 4 connecting V,
G, T, 5, 6, Y, H, and B. You'll
find this pattern from Z to SYMBOL
SHIFT, X to M, and C to N.
Each half-row connects to one
ADDRESS line of the CPU. As you
see in Figure 1, the half-row
connects to A8-A15 (via a diode).
When Z80 processors execute a
port command—IN or OUT—the lines
A8-A15 contain a number from one of
the registers. The instruction IN
r,(C) reads the port number held in
C, places the data read in r, and
puts register B on address lines
A8-A15 during the read (see p. 254
of the Zilog programming manual).
If r stands for register A, this
assembles to ED, 78 (237, 120
dec.) — just what you find in the
Spectrum at 0296H (662 dec.). C
contains the port address FE (254).
By using LD BC,portadd followed by
IN A,(C) we can specify portadd as
the 16 bit number to place on the
address bus during a port read.
Effectively, we get 16 bit port
addresses. Now let's arrange the
data from the Spectrum manual.
BC Register Scanned BC Register
Hex Dec n Keys Keys n Dec Hex
F7FE 63486 3 1-5 0-6 4 61438 EFFE
FBFE 64510 2 Q-T P-Y 5 57342 DFFE
FDFE 65022 1 A-G NR-H 6 49150 BFFE
FEFE 65278 0 CS-V SP-B 7 32766 7FFE
Note that register C always
holds FE, port 254, to read the
keyboard. Register B sequences
5
down if you use n as your guide in
reading the numbers in order. Add
8 to n and you'll find the address
line that connects to the half-row
scanned by that address. Another
table may help.
Line A8 A9 A10 All A12 A13 A14 A15
n 01234567
2**n 1 2 4 8 16 32 64 128
B 254 253 251 247 239 223 191 127
Bhex FE FD FB F7 EF DF BF 7F
Now let's look at bit patterns
on address lines for each B value.
B Rea
FE 254
FD 253
FB 251
F7 247
EF 239
DF 223
BF 191
7F 127
ADDRESS LINE
08 09
0 1
1 0
1 1
1 1
1 1
1 1
1 1
1 1
10 11
1 1
1 1
0 1
1 0
1 1
1 1
1 1
1 1
12 13
1 1
1 1
1 1
1 1
0 1
1 0
1 1
1 1
14 15
1 1
1 1
1 1
1 1
1 1
1 1
0 1
1 0
As you see, when B=254, only a
key connected to A8 could make a 0
on any of the KBD lines because all
other address lines equal 1. Since
the keyboard simply connects a KBD
line to an address line, you can
get a zero on KBD0 by pushing the
key that corresponds to both B=FE &
KBD0 (caps shift). You can make
zero on KBD4 by pushing V. If you
push both V & caps shift, both KBD0
& KBD4 go to zero, while all the
other KBD lines stay at 1. Push
more keys, get more zeros, up to 5.
Once I thought that KBDn stood
for KeyBoarD n; now I know it means
KeyBoard Data n. Those Data lines
take inputs and combine them into
number form using binary weights.
(D5 is unused; D6 is cassette in.
See Mather White's article (in this
issue) on multiple keys and you'll
see that D4 shifts to D5 in 16422.)
If we take all the combinations of
5 bits and arrange them in a table,
we can see the possible numbers. In
the table, # stands for a key with
no letter—a SHIFT, SPACE or ENTER.
Number D0
31 1
30 0
29 1
27 1
23 1
15 1
Binary Val 1
Dl D2 D3 D4
1111
1111
0 111
10 11
110 1
1110
2 4 8 16
Keypress
NO KEY
#AQ10P##
ZSW290L#
XDE38IKM
CFR47UJN
VGT56YHB
See that if you press no key,
all the data bits equal one and the
machine sees 31. Pressing one key
makes the corresponding bit equal
zero and subtracts the binary value
from 31 to generate the number in
the left column. If you read down
any column under the keypress
heading, you will recognize a half¬
row of your computers keyboard. On
the right side of the computer, the
keys read from right to left, just
what you expect when you look at a
ZX/TS schematic for the key matrix.
Well, what if you push more
than one key? Stay in one half-row
and you will generate the remaining
numbers. If you push keys in other
rows, the keyscan routine will sort
them as B takes different values.
Every combination of keys in a
half-row generates a unique value.
Pressing combinations subtracts the
key-values from the no-key value.
Although Sinclair machines do
not use this keyboard property, you
can see it with a simple program on
your 2068. If you enter:
100 PRINT AT 0,0;IN 65022:GO TO 100
you can press ASDFG half-row keys
in combination and see what values
result. Change the argument of IN
to 57342 and you move to the POIUY
half-row. Try each address shown
in the first table of this article.
Notice that the value depends only
on position in the half-row; half¬
row selection varies with address.
Now try this. With no key
pressed, and the preceding one-line
program entered, put a tape in your
recorder and play it into the
machine. Notice that the number on
your screen changes. As bits come
in from the EAR jack, D6 goes to 1,
and the number jumps to 95 (31
6
because no key is pressed plus 64
from the D6 line).
Spectrum computers differ
slightly in the values returned for
keypresses. But the differences
are regular and understandable.
Machine No-Key DDDDDDDD
Name Value 11 23 45 H
TS1000 63 11111100
TS2 068 31 11111000
SPECTRUM 255 11111111
SPECTRUM3 191 11111101
As Robert La Jeunesse pointed
out in SYNTAX (Oct.83, p22), you
need only use LD BC,portadd plus an
IN A, (C) to achieve register
indirect addressing on your ZX/TS
computer. For convenience, we will
also use RAND to convert decimal to
hex and store the result in the
system variable SEED (16434,5). (A
trick we learned from the June 1983
issue of the Sinclair-Timex User
Group Newsletter published by The
Boston Computer Society.) To get
the widest possible application of
this, let's set RAMTOP below IK and
use a routine that can run on a
ZX81, but make the machine code run
independent of location. This code
simulates IN for your ZX/TS.
POKE 16388,236;Set RAMTOP To 17388
POKE 16389,67
NEW
POKE 17388,237;ED LD BC,(nn)
POKE 17389,75 ;4B nn=SEED
POKE 17390,50 ;32 Address of SEED
POKE 17391,64 ;40 sys var (16434)
POKE 17392,237;ED IN r,(C) r=A
POKE 17393,120;78
POKE 17394,6 ;06 LD B,0
POKE 17395,0 ;00
POKE 17396,79 ;4F LD C,A
POKE 17397,2 01;C9 RETURN TO BASIC
Now use this BASIC loop:
10 INPUT N (n is a number from our
20 RAND N first table.)
30 LET X=USR 17388
40 PRINT AT 0,0;N,X
50 GOTO 30
Stock! MD2B Smart MODEM $119.95 kit
Assembled and tested $149.95
(MD68 TS2068 Version and upgrade avail)
•Originate and Answer
•Send text from memory
•Send/Receive programs
’Save text in memory
PRINT, Review, SAVE
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•RS232 Printer Port
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90 Day Warranty On All Modules. 10—Day Return Priviledge
SYNTACTIC SUM—TS2068
This program calculates Syn¬
tactic Sums for TS2068 programs.
The number returned by USR 65500
should match the one printed after
our program listings. The program
runs anywhere in RAM.
Syntax, Inc. hereby grants
everyone the right to use the this
program, to generate Syntactic Sums
and to publish them with programs.
Replication is strictly prohibited
without our written consent.
Michael S. Shaw, Enfield CT
Special thanks to Andy Boles & his
users' group, 2059 Pennel Cove,
Memphis, TN 38116, 901/346-0890
7
DETECTING MULTIPLE KEYS
INKEY$ returns the character
of the key currently being pressed,
returning the empty string for no
key and for multiple keys. But you
can use the system variables and a
few bytes of machine code to detect
multiple keys of your choosing.
Memory locations 16421 & 16422
store a keyboard matrix code for
the keys currently held down. Your
ZX/TS system calls these system
variables LAST_K; they have no
direct counterpart in Spectrum and
2068 machines.
Contents
KEY
of 16421
Bit=0
16422
Bit=0
ZXCV
0
SHIFT
0
ASDFG
1
AQ10P##
1
QWERT
2
ZSW290L.
2
12345
3
XDE38IKM
3
09876
4
CFR47UJN
4
POIUY
5
VGT56YHB
5
#LKJH
6
(# means shift,
#.MNB
7
enter, or break)
Both locations are all ones
(255 dec.) when no key is pressed.
When you push a key, one or more
bits in each system variable become
zero. For example, depressing B
makes bit 7 of 16421 and bit 5 of
16422 go to zero. All other bits
remain set to 1. So the contents
of these locations for B equal:
(16421)=01111111=127
(16422)=11011111=223
Only the SHIFT key works with
a different pattern—bit 0 of 16422
becomes 0 while all bits of 16421
remain 1. In typing, you use SHIFT
with another key, and the exception
permits the ZX/TS to allow one two-
key pair while rejecting other
combinations.
Thus, SHIFT B returns:
(16421)=01111111=127
(16422)=11011110=222
Use the following program to
see these patterns on your screen.
Compare the results to the charts
preceding.
When you run this program, hold the
key down until the first decimal
value prints.
Now we can construct a machine
code routine to detect multiple-key
presses. But first we will need to
choose a specific set of keys to
test for. Use the preceding charts
to see which bits should equal 0.
(Convert them to decimal if you
wish.) Now change all the ones to
zeros and all the zeros to ones.
(Subtract from 255 if you are using
decimal.) POKE these new values in
locations 16519 and 16523.
8
For example to test for S f G &
A, you must decide which bits to
zero. From the preceding tables we
see these required zeros:
16421 16422
Letter Bit=0 Bit=0
S 1 2
G 1 5
All
So we need the following:
(16421)=11111101=253
(16422)=11011001=217
To get the values needed for
our program, we must reverse all Is
and 0s, bit by bit (complement the
number). You can do this using the
decimal values by subtracting them
from 255. Thus:
11011001=217
+ 00100110= 38
11111111=255
So we will use 2 and 38 as values
to put into our sample MC program.
Now use the following machine
code routine to test for a specific
combination of depressed keys.
Now enter:
2 PRINT USR 16514
3 SCROLL
4 GOTO 2
RUN
When you press the selected
keys, you'll see a zero on-screen,
otherwise you get 16514. So if you
use IF NOT USR 16514 THEN...instead
of IF INKEY$ = ...THEN..., you can
test for more than one key. This
extends your ability to write two-
player games or to make combination
locks for your programs.
Mather White, Rome PA
[Values stored in 16421 & 16422 are
related to the numbers we generated
in KEYBOARD SCANNING. Except for
the SHIFT key, the content of 16421
equals the B-register value that
scans a half-row. Bits 1 through 5
of 16422 equal the data line inputs
D0-D4. For the SHIFT key, 16421
holds 255, and 16422 holds 254.
Cassette input values do not
show up in these variables, despite
their appearance in keyscans.—KO]
PAUSE WITHOUT FLASH
PAUSE n makes your ZX/TS
display a screen for n/60 seconds
or until a key is pressed. If n
exceeds 32767, your computer waits
until you press a key. If that key
was down when the PAUSE began, the
computer ignores it—you must press
another. In SLOW mode, the screen
flashes at the end of the PAUSE.
You can avoid these problems
with the following MC routines. If
flash bothers you, use the first of
these in a 1 REM to control PAUSE
without flash, and without ignoring
keys already down when it starts.
Set this up with:
LET A=length of pause-1
POKE 16515,A-256*INT(A/256)
POKE 16516,INT(A/256)
AND start it with LET L=USR 16514.
If you simply want to wait for
a keypress, you can substitute this
code for PAUSE 4E4:
Mather Whits, Rome PA
You can use this MC REM loader to
get the numbers listed in Mather
White's articles into the REM
statements. Be sure to start with
line 1 containing as many X's as
bytes in the MC, then enter the
numbers one at a time. Stop with
STOP followed by ENTER.
9
SYNTAX IS NOT DONNE, NOR BROWNING
CLASSIFIED ADS
SYNTAX will keep on publishing
and actively seek to to identify or
provide support for Sinclair/ Timex
computers. We'll use our existing
resources—such as drop-shipping
capability—to help other suppliers
continue to support users.
If you must stop supplying the
products you developed, but want to
continue supporting your customers,
SYNTAX will accept documentation,
program listings, tapes, annotated
ROM listings—anything that would
help your customers—notes, partial
manuscripts, designs, PC layouts,
or even special parts.
Want to donate your mailing
list to suppliers who are going to
continue? SYNTAX will accept list
donations and make them available
to all suppliers existing as of the
donation date at the least cost we
can manage for distribution.
To conserve cash, SYNTAX will
print smaller issues until our ad
base rebuilds. You control this—
if you tell advertisers you saw
their ad in SYNTAX when you buy, we
get more ads. We use that money to
bring you more applications as well
as utilities, tutorials, hardware
projects, and machine code.
Those of you who save money by
reading a friend's copy (or illegal
copies) of SYNTAX, make advertisers
believe it costs more to reach you
in SYNTAX than in our competitors.
Suppliers count warm bodies per ad
dollar and compute bucks spent on
an ad per resulting sale. You sell
the ads. Products are advertised
where you tell vendors—by purchase
and referral—to contact you.
Within weeks, your free ride
stops. You'll see why brand x is
in XXXX. Ask not for whom the bell
tolls, it tolls for thee, ad buyers
and readers who believe big outfits
stay in small markets. ECC & Timex
quit on you. Whither XXXX?
SYNTAX was made for thee! The
best is yet to be, The last of this
for which the first was made.
Reach thousands of ZX/TS users—for
just $9/line! Send your typed copy
(35 characters per line) with check
or MO to read us by the 15th to be
published in the next issue exactly
as typed. No fractions or cent
symbols. Include your phone No.
SYNTAX Classified,
RD 2, Box 457, Harvard, MA 01451
GET THE WORKS NOW AND SAVE
Get The Works II and take,
absolutely FREE, your choice of
three valuable products for your
ZX/TS. See our ad on back cover.
SOLVE LOAD PROBLEMS! WINKY BOARD 2
cassette-computer interface also
helps programs for loading TS1000
tapes into TS2068 +MORE $20.95 assm
15.95 kitPPD Free catalog G.RUSSELL
ELEC. RDl-539 Centre Hall PA 16828
CRYSTAL COAST SOFTWARE: Educational
Entertaining and Practical Programs
Send for FREE catalog:
PO BOX 233, MOREHEAD CITY, NC 28557
PRO/FILE UPDATES : the newsletter
for ZX Pro/File owners. Get mods,
enhancements, and explanations as
they occur for $9.95/yr.
Get the PRO/FILE program for $16.95
VISA/MC welcome-Call (603) 586-7734
Tom Woods Box 64 Jefferson,NH 03583
*** THE DEFINITIVE TAX 1983 ***
Fr 16K ZX81/TS1000. EASY DATA ENTRY
AUTO-TAX COMPUTATION FOR EACH CHNGE
INCLS INCOME AVERAGING. For APR 84
List:5.95 Cassette:15.95 ** LQP
2365 Newcastle,Cardiff,Ca,92007 **
HOT Z-II FOR THE 2068
The best of the TS1000 machine
utilities has migrated to the
2068. Assemble, disassemble,
label, relocate, single step,
print/save listings with this
multi-purpose utility. HOT Z-II
is the way to learn Z80 code and
discover how the computer works.
Just $24.95 + $2 ph from Sinware
lO
FOR ADULTS ONLY ;Software Package,8
games,8-14K ea..Send $2 4.95 :R.Todd
206 Sheridan St. N.Easton,Ma.02356
SYNTAX is published monthly by a wholly-
owned subsidiary of The Harvard Group.
Syntax ZX80, Inc.
RD 2, Box 457, Harvard, MA 01451.
Telephone 617/456-3661.
12 issues, $29. Single issue, $4.
Publisher: Kirtland H. Olson
Editor: Eric K. Olson
Consulting Editor: Ann L. Zevnik
Technical Consultant: Kirtland H. Olson
© Syntax ZX80, Inc., 1984. All rights reserved.
Photocopying prohibited. ISSN 0273-2696
OUR POLICY ON CONTRIBUTED MATERIAL
SYNTAX invites you to express opinions related to any Sinclair or Timex com¬
puter or peripheral, or the newsletter. We will print, as space allows, letters discuss¬
ing items of general interest. Of course we reserve the right to edit letters to a
suitable length and to refuse publication of any material.
We welcome program listings for all levels of expertise, written in either Sinclair
BASIC or Z80 machine code. Programs can be for any fun or useful purpose. We
will test run each one before publishing it, but we will not debug programs; please
send only workable listings. Programs submitted on cassette can be tested more
quickly and with less chance of error.
In return for your listing, we will pay you a token fee of $2.00 per program we
use. This payment gives us the nonexclusive right to use that program in any form,
world-wide. This means you can still use it, sell it, or give it away, and so can we.
We will consider submissions of news and hardware or software reviews. Please
keep articles short (350-400 words). Again, we reserve the right to edit accepted
articles to suitable length. We will pay 7 cents per 6 characters, including spaces and
punctuation, for accepted articles.
When you send in articles for possible publication in SYNTAX, please include
the following information:
• How to operate the program, including what to input if it does not contain
prompts.
• Whether you can run the program over again and how.
• How to exit the program.
• The Syntactic Sum (program published in June 81;
send SASE for a free copy).
• What RAM size program requires.
• What ROM program uses (8K, 2068, Spectrum).
• For MC programs, what addresses must change to relocate the code and what
ROM calls are used.
We pay for this explanatory text at the same rate as we pay for articles in addi¬
tion to payment for the program itself.
If you want us to return your original program listing or article, please include
a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Otherwise, we cannot return submitted material.
Fill out the coupon below and mail to: SYNTAX, RD 2, Box 457,
□ My check is enclosed. □ Please charge my □ VISA
Make checks Payable to: □ Diner’s Club □ Mastercard
SYNTAX ZX80, Inc. □ American Express □ Access
□ Carte Blanche □ Barclaycard
Account number _
Exp. date _ Bank number (MC only) _
Signature _
Name _
Address _
*** TEXTWRITER 2000 ***
TS2068 WORD PROCESSOR. DOUBLE WIDE
PRINTOUT FROM TS2040. FULL EDITING.
WRITE FOR INFO. $18.95 CASSETTE.
BOB FINGERLE, 39639 EMBARCADERO
FREMONT, CA 94538
MARINE & TROP. FISH PROGRAMS,Set up
feeding, maint.,all you must know.
2 cass. $13 ea.:KIDSMATH, add, sub,
mult, div. 1 to 3 digits:$9:HANGMAN
500 words,10 categ:$10:LITTLE BLACK
BK. mail & phone list:$7: ZX/TS 16k
all on cass. lists $3:CAJUN SOFTWAR
PO BOX 624, Chal., La., 70044
CASINO KENO - for TS1000 or TS2068.
A game for one or a room full. Mark
your tickets then watch the numbers
come up on the display - just like
the Casinos at Las Vegas. T/S 2040
Printer recommended or use printed
tickets supplied. SASE for printout
fact sheet or order CC44 for TS1000
or CC144 for TS2068. $17.95 + $2.00
P&H. Calif residents add sales tax.
MACSHAK SOFTWARE 73-312 IRONWOOD ST
PALM DESERT CA 92260.
GOLF HANDICAPPER computes USGA han.
for 46 players. 16K. $20 ppd. Per¬
sonal Computer Products 11200 Lock-
wood Dr. #307 Silver Spri. MD 20901
Harvard, MA 01451 0/0 ,
s2/84
YES! Please send me:
□ The Combination II (13 issues of SYNTAX and SQ
Winter 82-Summer 83) . . S39
□ The Catch-up II (SYNTAX Jan. 82-Jan. 84, SQ Winter
82-Summer 83, plus binder) . $77
□ THE WORKS II (SYNTAX Nov. 80-Dec. 83, SQ Winter
82-Summer 83, plus 2 binders) . $97
Q 12 issues of SYNTAX . $29
□ 3 issues of Syntax Quarterly (Winter 82-Summer 83) . . $25
□ 1 issue Syntax Quarterly □ Winter 82 ( □ Spring 83
□ Summer 83 . $9
□ 1 Binder . $9 □ 1 issue of Syntax. $4
Telephone orders call
617-456-3661
These offers expire 4/15/84 — SUBSCRIBE NOW.
City _ State _ Zip
Phone: Day (_) _ Evening (_)
□ My subscription number is: _
□ This is a new subscription
SYNTAX
THEIR LOSS IS TOUR GAIN
A major software retailer went belly up,
so we can bring you these great values!
Get THE WORKS now and take, absolutely
FREE, any three of these valuable
products for your ZX/TS computer.
Includes:
• THE WORKS II, our complete
collection of SYNTAX and SQ
through December 1983—three
years of our experience and
expertise for your ZX81/TS1000.
Plus your choice of any three:
• TS1016 16K RAMpak— upgade your
system or get a spare now! These
are becoming difficult to find.
• The ZX81/TS1000 Home Computer
Book —one of the finest books
about the ZX/TS, including
beginning and advanced BASIC,
machine code, memory maps, ROM
calls, code charts, and more!
• Vu-Calc, Frogger, or any of the
other Timex software packages
listed on our order form —
thousands of these sold at #10 to
#20 each!
Due to limited supply, we ask you to list
five preferential choices on the order
form. We will do our best to deliver your
> top three choices. Products may be
ordered seperately at the prices listed on
the order form. We pay all shipping for
THE WORKS and your 3 free products.
Shipping for additional products #1/item.
This offer expires 4/15/84, so order now!
Quan Code Item _ Price Amt
WRK The Works II plus any #97
three items below (only
one free RAM per order,
please). My preferences
for 3 FREE products are:
r i i i—r
_1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5 th _
I also want to purchase these products:
HCB The ZX81/TS1000 Home $9
Computer Book
RAM TS1016 16K RAMpak ITT
VUC Vu-Calc i6
0RG The Organizer #6 1
AMT Loan/Mortgage Amortizer #6
CHK The Checkbook Manager #6
CPN The Coupon Manager #6
CAR The Car Pooler #6
STP The Stamp Collector #6
STK Stock Option Analvzer #6
MAT Super Math #6
STC States and Capitals #6
CCC Chess and Chess Clock #6
BGM Backgammon and Dice #6
GAM The Gambler #6
CUB The Cube Game #6
GFT Grimm's Fairv Trails #6
We p£
WRK £
SYNTAX, RD 2 Box 457, Harvard, MA 01451
[] Check (payable to SYNTAX ZX80) enclosed
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TELEPHONE ORDERS CALL (617) 456-3661
THE
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GI^OLP
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PAID
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