Changes at SWN
There are a few changes coming to SyncWare News that we want to tell you about. As most of you probably know, I have been publishing the “News” for quite some time–three years to be exact–and I am getting tired. To preserve a lot of things, not the least of which includes a long healthy future for the newsletter AND my sanity, I am going to take a break. I am stepping back, releasing the reigns, giving myself a much needed change of scenery, etc. etc.
Jeff Moore, our editor and the person we can all thank for drumming up the fantastic mix of articles which appears each issue, has received a promotion. He will take over my responsibilities as publisher. But don’t worry about him letting the job of editing the “News” go astray. Through the most extraordinary luck, we have found the perfect person to take over as editor: who else, but Basil Wentworth. I wanted Basil to write this column but when I called him two days before press time his wife Jocelyn said he was off having his head examined and wouldn’t be able to get it in on time so you’ll have to bear with me while I tell you what it all means.
What it Means
First of all, it means we’ve got fresh blood and that’s good. Not because we like blood, but because we like freshness. Under Basil’s able editorship, we’ll continue with all the good stuff we’ve seen in the past, and Basil’s new perspectives can only enhance our quality even more. The only thing we’ll have to watch out for is Basil’s penchant for puns. If he’s not careful, he’ll turn SyncWare News into a journal of North American humor and we’ll all split a gut from laughing so hard and forget about our computers. But seriously, SyncWare couldn’t have found a better editor. The first time I stumbled into Basil was when he purchased my old ZX Pro/File program and he sent me a list of grammatical errors he found in the manual. Problem was, his list was longer than the book! Since that first encounter, we have shared many experiences. I am proud to call him a friend, and I know SyncWare will benefit greatly from his knowledge of both writing AND computers.
Secondly, it means that Jeff Moore, as new head honcho, will have his hands full while he learns how to take people’s subscription money (that was my job). Don’t worry, he’s honest to a fault. Jeff has many things going for him as he takes the reigns. In my list, he comes second only to my wife, Adele, in the “organizational skills” department. The lack thereof has been the greatest of my many flaws. With Jeff in charge, we can all expect to see every issue come out on time with no mix-ups. Well, perhaps before we stick our necks out too far, we should revise that last statement: We will try to have every issue come out no later than…. After all, we have a tradition established. Just because we’re going through a few minor changes doesn’t mean we have to get radical!
Speaking of not changing, SyncWare’s two ace technical wizards, Fred Nachbaur and Tom Bent, are remaining in the same capacity. No changes there.
Now the important part: where to send your money for subscriptions, renewals, back issues, and charitable contributions: All business is now conducted from the Louisville office. Orders and change of address notices should be sent to:
Jeff Moore, Publisher
SyncWare News
602 South Mill Street
Louisville, OH 44641
Please read the above paragraph again. It is very important. I realize that a few of you don’t actually read the “News” and just like to send your money in so you can look at the pictures. We will be changing our address at the post office so mail will be properly forwarded, but it may cause delays, and Lord knows, we don’t need any more of them! So write to Jeff. Give him a pat on the back and a few words of encouragement. And tell him what you like and dislike about SyncWare News. He needs to know.
As for myself, I am still playing with my computer and certainly still writing. You have definitely not seen the last of me. But I have been at the focal point of SyncWare for long enough. It’s time to step down and let somebody else have a turn. We are indeed fortunate to have Jeff and Basil’s talent available to carry on.
The US Snail
Recently we received a letter from a fellow who felt our Technical Editor, Fred Nachbaur, had given him the run-around, the cold shoulder, and ripped him off. The writer felt that he hadn’t gotten a response as quickly as he thought he should. The fact of the matter was, their correspondence had crossed in the mail.
The reason we’re bringing this up is to remind our readers, especially those not living in the US, or as in this case, someone in the States writing to Fred in Canada, the Postal Service can be very slow when it comes to international mail. As an example, on several occasions Fred has sent packages to the Editorial Offices in Louisville, Ohio, that have taken more than six weeks to get here. Neither of us can explain the problem, but we suspect that Customs Agents on one or both sides of the border have enjoyed playing with our software.-ed.
MIDI Data
An article written by D. M. Gualtieri was published in the “Computer Music Journal”, Vol. 10 No. 3, describing the hardware for an output-only interface between a Centronics printer port and a MIDI network. The interface was described as using commonly available ICs and was estimated to cost around $25 to build. Back issues of “CMJ” can be purchased for $8.50 from MIT Press – Journals Dept., 55 Hayward St., Cambridge, MA 02142.
On the software side (the above deals only with the hardware), R. Moog published an excellent exposition of MIDI codes in the “Journal of the Audio Engineering Society” (vol. 34 no. 5). A reprint of this article is available from The Audio Engineering Society, 60 E. 42 St., New York, NY 10165-0075, for $3.
Dear Editor, I would be interested in seeing as much published from the British assembler routines as possible in SyncWare News.
I would also be interested in the idea mentioned some time ago of publishing separately the things that never made it into SWN such as contest entries, etc. A compilation like SWN Vol. 1 with new stuff would be pretty interesting.
I like the illustrations added to recent issues. They add a nice bit of color to an already classy publication.
Mel Richardson
Windsor, Ontario
Mel, Our Journal may yet someday become a reality, although we’re a bit afraid such an undertaking might result in a publication that would be priced too high to generate enough sales to be worth the effortt. How do the rest of you feel about this? How much would you be willing to pay for something similar in size to the SWN Volume 1?
Tom Woods has been our artist in the recent issues. He was beginning to think no one noticed or cared. Your comments have caused one problem though. It’s awfully tough to face a New Hampshire winter when one can’t find a hat large enough! Just kidding Tom!- ed.
Word on MemoNotes:
Fred Nachbaur has announced that it is highly unlikely that there will be any more formal issues of MemoNotes. He feels that there isn’t enough interest at present to justify the time and expense of producing the newsletter. MemoNotes subscribers haven’t been left out on a limb, however. Fred invites subscribers with any additional questions to write to him directly for personalized handling of any questions you still may have.
Border Wars
Dear Editor, I am writing in regard to the upper screen ‘tearing’ problem described in T. J. Morley‘s letter that appeared in issue 4:5. I have suffered through the identical problem ever since I got my 2068 several years ago. I have tried every adjustment on both the 2068 and the Sears TV/monitor, but the problem is still not corrected. Last week I determinedly tried again. I finally did away with the tearing problem, but was left with a choice of washed out INK colors or an acceptable black INK with the whole spectrum of colors rolling through only the INK portion of the screen. At the present moment, I have made adjustments to allow the latter, but as I type this letter, all the characters on the screen are ALIVE. But they are readable.
My solution for the last several years has been to routinely avoid the use of colors 1, 2, and 3 in my own programs. In the programs that I have purchased, I have managed to track down the codee using or assigning colors 1, 2, and 3, and have changed these to colors 4, 5, and 6. If necessary, changing the colors to use only 0 and 7.
I do have two additional observations on this problem that were not menntioned in either Morley’s letter or your commentary. One is that the problem seems to be basically of contrast between the chosen BORDER and PAPER colors. Colors 0, 1, 2, and 3 work fine by themselves or contrasted with colors 4, 5, and 6, but colors 0, 1, 2, and 3 cannot be contrasted with each other. Colors 0 and 7 contrasted as PAPER and BORDER start the screen rolling which no adjustment of the monitor will stop.
The second observation is that hooking the computer output to the TV input of the Sears TV/monitor, rather than the monitor input, completely solves the problem–no tearing of the screen at all. Unfortunately, this sacrifices the benefits of monitor use.
Lou Dooley
Ocala, FL
Serial I/O Ports
Dear Editor, I recently wrote to Protecto Enterprises asking if the Big Blue Printer they advertise could be used with a Timex TS2068. Their reply stated that if the computer had an RS232C Serial Port and can be adjusted properly, the printer would work. I could not find an RS232C serial port in the TS2068 Technical Manual.
Do you know if this printer can be used with my TS2068?
Earl F. Swallow
Manchester, CT
Earl, The TS2068 does not, as you have discovered, have an RS232C port. This means that you need a “printer interface”. Serial interfaces for the TS2068 are supplied by Byte-Back and Aerco. The Sinclair “Interface I” also has a serial port, if memory serves me correctly. Parallel interfaces are supplied by more manufacturers, including Byte-Back, Aerco, and Tasman.
Beside the appropriate interface, software is required to run it. The TS2068 is nice in that it boots its command vector tables into RAM where they can be changed. This means that suitable ‘interface driver software” can be loaded into high memory, making the BASIC LPRINT, LLIST, and COPY command direct output to the “big printer” interface instead of the TS2040. Even with this software you might have trouble with programs that are not made to handle a printer other than the TS2040.
My recommendation would be to go with a parallel interface and printer. That approach is usually “plug-n-go”. With a serial interface, there are many parameters that must be adjusted and/or met for the thing to work, which can sometimes be extremely difficult to do.-Fred.
Spectrum PRODUCTS
Dear Editor, I currently own a ZX Spectrum (the ‘real’ one from the U.K.) along with a ZX Interface I and a ZX Microdrive. I am interested in locating a vendor who handles the Microdrive cartridges (I understand they are identical to the type used for the QL) as well as Spectrum hardware and software. Can you make a recommendation?
Petrus Hu
Ames, IA
Petrus, The fist name that comes to mind would be Curry Computer, PO Box 5607, Glendale, AZ 85312-5607, (602)978-2902. They carry a complete line of hardware and software for the Spectrum and the QL. You also might like to contact some of our other advertisers and those listed in the Support column.-ed.