Another year rolls around, SINCUS is another year older, it’s almost Thanksgiving time, and the Christmas shopping season is bearing down hard.
By the time this arrives, many will think perhaps that SINCUS NEWS was not gona make it, I had my doubts too! So many excuses for being so late, that I think I’ll save a few for the next time. Basically the SINCUS computer system has been on the fritz for about two months, and the cause of the problem MAY have been something as simple as the 2068 power supply hitting the rocker on/off switch on the power strip setting it in the middle position (almost on and almost off). I would get crashes, printer head resets, disc drive runs and gliches across the monitor screen without apparent cause. Everytime I took off a plug-on (like the modem or printer) the problem dissappeared for a couple days then return. Clyde and I heard the noise coming from the setup, and I’d swear it sounded like a popcorn popper and I’d yank the power supply cord out, and wait to see what smoked. But since the fixing of the power strip on/off switch, no more crashes, but minor screen distortion every now and then.
The Larken Cartridge arrived late in October, and with much trying to create the “Max-Dos” like Bill Jones, of Updates, we got “nos-gos”. The Oliger and LKDOS work seperate but side by side, but not together as Bill got his dual system to work. The other glich is that the LKDOS cartridge which was modified with a disable switch to the 74LS74 chip requires RAND USR 100 before each command, and it doesn’t recognize Print #4:Command and the demo disc will load a menu, but that’s it. So not only is it not able to work with the Oliger system, I can’t make Larken discs unless I take the ‘B’ board outa the Oliger interface. And to make the Larken discs, I’ll have to go back to tapes to make an orginial disc, not being able to copy the Oliger disc material to Larken discs. Well, I have a couple letters off trying to solve that problem. Meanwhile the offer of Larken disc material on Computus Interruptus, and Sincus News back issues is temporarily withdrawn. Anyone else out there try this with similiar results, let me know if you were able to solve it, or wait a while and I’ll let all know the outcome.In the October issue of Updates, Bill Jones was kind enough to give Sincus a whole page worth of attention. [I heard back from Bill Jones, and the big difference maybe the Oliger EPROM is of a different manufactorer and that could be the hang up. Well another letter is off to John Oliger for his thoughts on the matter.] He also referred to TDM’s newsletter contest, and some how we are rated number one. SINCUS NEWS tied for ninth place. I hope this rating of one newsletter over another doesn’t mean too much too many people, as you could subscribe to a highly rated newsletter one day, and be highly disappointed the next. The cure for that is to write an article, or start a series, or send in programs to be printed, and not only will the next issue have a brilliant article by a genius of an author, but you will become famous in timex/sinclair land.
For those who attend in upcoming months, COFFEE will be served. Thanks to Dave S. and his proposal, and Mr. Penney is bringing the cups, You can enjoy a brew while you warm up on a cold wintery eve for the next half year. Don’t forget the coffee Dave! John C. donated a joystick to the society computer system, it (the SINCUS system)grows every month. Don Lamen has submitted a very large article on the TS1000, and it will start in this issue and run thru the next couple. Lots of artwork with it. Plus Don puts in a bi-monthly article of TS1000 tips. Thanks Don, we all appreciate it. SINCUS sent in a check to become a group member of SNUG. We are encouraging any and all to send in to SNUG their support. In case you lost the address it is SNUG, 7515 Arbordale Dr.,Port Richey, FL 34668. Money back if they don’t get enough support. These guys are going to try to be a central clearing house for any and all programs, user groups and users and where to get what information. Hope they gotta disc or two!
Rest of the 1988 schudule-below; Vestal Library, 7p on Wednesdays. For 1989, it will be the 3rd Wednesday of each month, same time and place.