Re-Runs Wanted
Dear Editor, As a newcomer to your magazine, having seen only two issues thus far, may I make the following suggestion? When you have the space, could you publish the index of your back issues? This would enable newcomers like myself to purchase back issues with articles of interest. Also, I have briefly seen a book with the title SyncWare News Volume 1. Would it be possible to publish the index, price, and ordering information if it is still available?
Gerd Breunung
B.C., Canada
Gerd- A comprehensive index of the back issues of SWN might be of interest to many people. Unfortunately, such a list is not available at this time, nor would it fit in this column. Be looking for it in a future issue of SWN.
Yes, SyncWare News Volume 1 is still available. It deals exclusively with the ZX81/TS1000 computer and contains Lprint Hints, Reviews, a Data Acquisition Program, Tyd-byts, a Math Development Program, Hardware Projects, and much more! The complete, bound, volume #1 is available from Thomas B. Woods, P.O. Box 64, Jefferson, NH 03583 for $16.95. Non-US residents, please write for special ordering instructions.-ed.
Hi-Res Debate
Dear Editor, The idea of high resolution graphics for the ZX81 (see SWN 11/86, pg.13) is amazing even if not new. The program I bought, SW-HI-RES by Nissim Elmaleh is now 3 years old. It draws beautiful curves, scrolls, can generate a character set and probably more if I spent some time with it. It also works well, at least the demo program looks good, without ANY hardware modifications! Unfortunately, it will not print out through the Memotech Centronics I/F. Until it or Wilf Rigter‘s program can do that they are both useless as far as I am concerned. Apparently there are people who are satisfied with a pretty screen and printout to a T/S printer.
R. Arthur Gindin
Monroe, WI
Arthur- I agree that WRX16 is amazing, but disagree with your comment that it is “not new.” WRX16 is TRUE high resolution. “SW-HI-RES” and at least four other similar packages are what I prefer to call “quasi-hi-res.” Exact bit patterns are not possible with this approach. Furthermore, because of the extensive data manipulations required, it is also comparatively slow.
Getting “big printer” copy of quasi-hi-res screens is very involved, if not impossible. WRX16, however, uses a true bit-map, so getting screen dumps to your big printer via the Memotech (or any other) interface is simplicity itself. Proceed as follows:
1. BREAK operation of your program when the desired screen has been built up. NEW the computer.
2. LOAD Peter McMullin‘s big-printer version of SINC-ARTIST. (Available from Peter McMullin, 2340 Queen St. East, Toronto, Ontario M4E 1G9, Canada.) Configure it for your interface and printer. (NOTE: This works only with C. Itoh or Epson compatibles, but NOT Gorilla Banana because it only uses 7 vertical bits.)
3. Escape to BASIC from SINC-ARTIST using the SAVE function followed by ENTER only.
4. Transfer the contents of the high-res display file (8192-14336) into A$ (which has been previously DIMensioned, ie. DIM A$(6144).) This can be done by placing an LDIR uploader somewhere in low memory, by using the high memory version of HOT Z, or even with a simple BASIC PEEK loop such as:
100 LET S=8192
110 FOR N=1 TO 6144
120 LET A$(N)=CHR$ PEEK S
130 LET S=S+1
140 NEXT N5. Return to SINC-ARTIST using GOTO 6. Go to the print menu and dump your screen to your big printer.
See my “DUNGEON OF YMIR” ad, and other upcoming ads, for actual examples of printouts made using this approach. I have available “THE HI-RES PRIMER FOR THE ZX81” that covers many questions regarding hi-resolution on the ZX81/TS1000. Readers interested in a copy of this booklet may order it directly from me at SILICON Mountain.-Fred Nachbaur
User Group Forming
Calling all Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa ZXers… Bill Heberlein is interested in forming a Timex User Group in his area. Others with similar interest should contact him at:
Bill Heberlein
[address omitted]
Milwaukee, WI
A Day Late, A Dollar Short
Dear Editor, Thank you for your kind review of my book entitled Assembler Routines for the Z80. Unfortunately, the publishers, Century Communications Ltd., after a merger with Hutchinson, decided to cease publication of all computing books last August and remaindered all stock to Nigeria. Furthermore, I have what attempts I could to search out any available remaining books that may have been gathering dust on the shelves of computing bookshops, but to no avail.
I would, therefore, be grateful if you could print a suitable apology on my behalf in the first available issue in order to avoid disappointment to your readers.
David Barrow
West Yorkshire, Great Britian
Editor’s note: While the book is no longer available, Mr. Barrow has given us permission to reprint certain portions of it. If there is suitable interest in us doing this, we will consider it for future issues of SWN.
ZX Clone?!
There is currently being marketed a ZX81/TS1000 clone under the name of the PC8300. Several readers have sent us info and/or inquiries about this ‘new’ computer.
Based on information we’ve gathered so far (we haven’t actually had our hands on one yet), this is what we’ve learned.
It is an import from the Far East.
It is being marketed in this country through mostly surplus vendors for anywhere from $19.95 and up.
It features an internal 2K of RAM, a real mechanical keyboard, reverse video, 8K ROM BASIC/OP System, Z80A @ 6.5 MHz, graphics, sound, TV or monitor mode, joystick IF, and cassette data storage. Also included are the necessary power pack, cassette, and video cables.
RAM my be upgraded to ? (assume 64K max.) with RAMPACK Upgrades which are purchased separately.
A Color Pack is available to allow use with either a color TV or monitor.
The ads claim the computer will run all pre-recorded tapes for the Sinclair ZX81 and Timex TS1000.
We have been told that if a ZX81/TS1000 program makes use of any ROM calls, the program is NOT compatible with the PC8300. Hence, it’s possible that your MC programs either won’t work at all, or will need to be rewritten.
We’re currently testing this unit at Silicon Mountain, and will have a complete report as soon as possible. Any readers having any information about the PC8300 they’d like to share may do so by sending it to the Ohio Editorial Office.
2068 Space Bar
Dear Editor, If you’re keeping a list of names of people who have had trouble with the TS2068 space bar, add mine. However, I’ve found another way to live with the problem.
Since I graduated directly from the ZX81 to the TS2068, I automatically started using the BREAK key instead of the space bar. It works like a charm…
Basil Wentworth
Bloomington, IN
Bug Alert
Dear Editor, Thank you for publishing my review of WINKJET I in SWN 4:4. However, somehow the phrase crept in “Included is a program called Typalot…”
Typalot must be ordered as a separate program from WIDJUP Co. Please advise your readers accordingly.
Robert D. Hartung
Huntertown, IN
Robert- Oops, my face is red! I checked my source disk and the manuscript was correct. I suppose during one of those late night editing sessions, as I nodded off at the keyboard, my fingers decided to lead a merry life of their own. My apologies to the WIDJUP Co., you, and any readers I may have inconvenienced.-jm
Replacement Power
Dear Editor, Through some experimentation which I won’t go into here, my TS2040 printer power transformer was destroyed. Do you know where I can replace it? Radio Shack carries a transformer (273-1512) rated at 25.2 volts at 2.0 amps. Is that close enough to the 24V at 1.2 A of the original? Is there another place I could try? Should I try Alphacom?
William Frank
Benwood, WV
William- There’s nothing ‘special’ about the voltage regulator in the TS2040 printer. It has a large heat sink, so it should be able to handle the slight overvoltage the Radio Shack transformer will deliver to it.
E.A. Brown, G. Russell Electronics, or Zebra may have an exact replacement transformer if you want to try them. However, it will probably be for a premium price.-jm
Display Trouble
Dear Editor, Ever since the 2068 first came out, have tried to get a monitor that would work correctly with it. I started with a $600 Mitsubishi. The top 2 to 4 character lines in the monitor mode tore to the left. Nobody knew what to do, including Mitsubishi. Over the years, I have tried several others. All of them had the same problem. After reading in SyncWare News, SUM, and the CATS Newsletter about the Sears TV/Monitor and the Magnavox 80 monitor, I decided to try again.
I installed a CMOS RGB circuit and proceeded to buy the Sears TV/Monitor. The same problem occurred in both the monitor AND the RGB mode. To insure the problem wasn’t in my computer, I even tried another TS2068. The results were the same.
I tried adjusting VR1 in my computer and found that I could almost eliminate the tearing problem with the 10K pot set to the full 10K ohms.
“Aha!”, I said, “If 10K ohms is good, then 20K ohms should be better.”
I chipped out the 10K pot and installed a 20K pot in its place. Even with the pot set to the full 20K, the tearing continued to occur. I took back the Sears unit and purchased a Magnavox 80. Once again we encountered the same problem. It isn’t quite so bad in the monitor mode (actually, it’s almost acceptable), but the RGB mode is terrible.
Perhaps this might prove to be a clue to the problem. When I get a fairly good screen in the monitor mode, it’s usually with a yellow or lighter colored border. A blue border shows the beginning of tearing, and a black border is much worse.
T. G. Morley
T or C, NM
Mr. Morley- The problem you describe is common with the TS2068’s in composite video (or television). Though I haven’t actually delved into it in grat detail (I personally prefer the ‘Oligerized’ color TS1000), the problem appears to be because the sync level is too near the black level. As a result, it takes the monitor awhile to ‘realize’ that there are actually horizontal sync pulses there at all, and lock into them.
You shouldn’t have trouble with this, however, using a good RGB interface. The reason for this is that the sync and video are separated for RGB. If you’re considering upgrading to a disk drive, consider the AERCO which also has an RGB driver onboard. I’m not sure why your CMOS RGB driver isn’t working, all I can suggest is to find a way to get a stronger horizontal sync signal.
If you insist on sticking with composite video, just about your only recourse is to avoid dark backgrounds, and carefully adjust the horizontal hold to reduce or eliminate the tearing. On some sets, reducing contrast (and brightness if required) helps.
We’ll see that your letter is published. Perhaps one of our readers has something to add.-fn
Misc.
Dear Editor, I have several questions that perhaps you and your readers can provide answers for.
1) Although the Ramex disk system did not become the surviving disk system for the 2068, some of us still have it and would appreciate any support you could give, if nothing more than finding out who else owns the system. The biggest drawback I see with this system is its inability to allow bank switching, the use of cartridges, or memory expansion. If anybody has any fix for these problems, it would be nice to know about it.
2) After experience with VisaCalc, Appleworks, and Lotus 123, one of the most frustrating parts of TS2068 computing is the lack of a credible spreadsheet. Because of this, I wrote my own. However, since it is in BASIC, it is not exactly a Ferrari! I thought I had found the solution to my speed problems in the publication of TiMachine. However, a few problems exsist:
a. It is not compatible with my DOS. A problem which can be worked out with a little creative programming.
b. The author of the program choose to leave out a runtime for VAL. Since most of my programs use strings for data storage compression, the compiler is virtually useless without major overhauls of the programs.
c. The compiled version uses its own variable table and cannot read the BASIC variable table so no sharing of data between BASIC and MC can take place without duplication and messy transfer between tables.
Are the problems mentioned above inherent in compilers or are they just the author’s choice? Do you know of any solutions?
3) Is there a way to create new BASIC lines while in BASIC? I would like to write a complete BASIC line (including line number, etc.) in a string, transfer it to the area which checks syntax, add it to the proper location in BASIC, and return to the program without messing up the system variables irretrievably.
4) Two more routines would make the TS2068 truely useful, especially in business applications. Do you know if anyone has come up with a PRINT USING routine for right and left justification or a KILL routine to eliminate unneeded variables from memory to conserve space and to trigger the error trapping?
Thanks for your help.
Lyle Luzum
Calmar, IA
Lyle- Some of the questions regarding BASIC routines are really interesting. Alas, this job affords me very little time to ‘play’ at the keyboard.
Of all the compilers for the 2068 we’ve seen, TiMachine is probably the best of the lot. Even though a major rewrite of your program might be necessary, the features of TiMachine are worth it. Just remember, you don’t have to compile everything. A routine to get around the VAL, while long and slow in BASIC, is nothing once compiled.
Here’s your letter. Maybe some of our readers will come up with the routines you’re seeking and improve TS2068 BASIC for all of us.-jm
If Wishes Were Horses…
Dear Editor, I have the Oliger Disk system and I think it’s great, BUT…there are times when I ‘wish’ that somebody would announce the availability of their NEW PRODUCT: TS2068 HARD DISK SYSTEM.
John Constantine
Chapel Hill, NC
Romswitch & Big Printers
Dear Editor, I have a TS2068 with a ROM Switch for Spectrum, a Tasman CPI, and an Epson RX80 printer. I also have some pretty good programs for the Spectrum mode that would be terrific if there was some way to get them to print out on the Epson instead of just the TS2040 printer.
Anyone know of a big printer driver for the Spectrum mode TS2068?
George Cary
Coloma, CA
George- I contacted G. Russell Electronics, the best known ROM Switch producer to emulate the Spectrum on the TS2068. They said they believed there was software available, but were unable to give me a title. May I suggest Curry Computer or Peter McMullin?-jm