From: Bob Johnson
To: Sincnews@psg.com
Subj: At the keyboard
This is a special treat to post this, since I am typing away at this T/S 2068 keyboard. Yes, I am using Specterm-64 and have my 2050 modem modded into a serial port (RS-232) with a modem plugged into it. It is fun playing around with the emulators for old times sake, but folks this is the REAL DEAL!! I have every intention of keeping this system running into the next millinium and beyond. My setup includes two 800K drives with a Larken i/f, printer and serial ports, Kempston joystick port (part of the Larken card) and a couple custom ports I hacked into it, including a realtime clock. Okay, so I am being a bit of a showoff tonight, I will step off the soapbox and go now…
From: Bob Johnson
To: Fdavis@teak.holli.com
Subj: RE: AT THE KEYBOARD
If you are serious and really admire the fact that I have decided to keep the old machine alive, then I can send you a file in email that details what I have put into this system. This includes a custom loading screen. My “realtime clock” is one of those little stick-on clocks. I painted it silver and glued it over the center of the cart door. It looks like it is original equipment. It was inspired by having a Spouse who claimed I spent Too Much Time with my computer. I also have a Larken format shareware disk with some of my programs and SCREEN$. One of my most useful utilities is called Soundsmith. It is a program that uses color to display the sound chip registers so you can see which are related to each other. The contents of each register can be altered and the results can be heard. It is much superior to trying to type: SOUND 2,45;7,63;15,10;….and the alterations can be heard immediately. Anyway, if you are truly interested in this stuff, the ever shrinking community of keeping the real machines ALIVE, then let me know.
From: Bob Johnson
To: Fdavis@teak.holli.com
Subj: RE: AT THE KEYBOARD
I am attaching a GIF format picture of the T/S 2068 menu screen that I like to use. I determined that at the time about 90% of the time I used the computer I would use one of the programs shown on the menu. Fortunately, they all fit comfortably on an 800k disc, so I could insert the disc and power up. It would autoboot and present me with the menu. I would simply type the correct letter at the input prompt and it would whisk me into that program immediately. I have since updated the Mterm 2 and that selection is now Specterm-64. I also made the same type of disks for my sons, with their favorite software. One difference was that they had a menu that required them to type “writing”, “drawing” or “games”. Selecting games would result in another sub-menu with a list of available games, which must be typed in. Each boy had his own disc and didn’t have to use the old man’s disc. I wanted them to develop some keyboarding familiarity while having fun
This computer is still in operation, I used it to type that message the other night. I hinted at some custom hacks I have done. A simple one is that I brought the speaker signal to a jack at the rear of the case. The really elegant mod is that I brought the sound chip i/o port lines to a 9 pin connector at the rear. The SOUND command can read it as an input, or can output a byte, which is latched at the port until changed. Each line can directly drive an LED. Imagine the possibilities…
Let me know if the attached file makes the journey..
(Editors Note: I was never able to decode this file to see the picture, so I am including the next file which is of a similar bent – the effort to get computers like the Timex-Sinclair and the Spectrum onto the Internet on their own, not by means of an emulator or using an IBM to run Netscape, etc. I want to see them make it on their own. For those who do not know what TCP is…. it is the code used to allow a computer to be directly connected to the Internet, not via a terminal program or a BBS. This is for most folks the ideal way to do this. After this is accomplished you would still need a browser program to allow you to move around from place to place, as well as an email program to send and receive electronic mail. The ideas presented here are worth the time of some of you to check out. If I can be of help, drop me a letter or email. My time is limited, but I would like to help some. Frank Davis)
From: Bill_McBrine [e-mail address omitted]
Subject: Re: TCP/IP over a Z80 system
QUESTION
Hi there! Where could I look for TCP/IP, more specifically email details, and examples, to implement it in a non-PC environment, like say a Z80 based system?
Thanks in advance, My post didn’t get out before I think.
ANSWER
You can get ROMable source code from comp.sources.unix archives. Look for “TinyTCP”. It is a subset of the TCP commands, however. The IP part is easy, assuming you are using SLIP. There you go! TCP/IP that will probably run on a Z80! Just get a C compiler like small-c or zcc, and you should be flying in no time!
I’d like to hear what you plan on doing with TCP/IP on a Z80!! And if you get it running – Send me/us a line!!
TC,
=Bill=
* Bill McBrine #*# EMail: [e-mail address omitted] (other address pending)
Interests: Atari-8bit. Tandy 6000 (with 3.01.00) * [e-mail address omitted]
Robotics. Linux. Amiga News. Networking. User-friendly Data-management Systems.
Jacques Villeneuve: Pole Position in first career Formula-1 Race! Finished 2nd!