More Timex Sinclair

Time to crank up this old bucket of bytes for another fascinating month, as my fingers gingerly dance across the chicklet keys of my trusty 2068.

You’ll be interested to know, upon reviewing your mail over the past six months, here are some interesting results. 99% of you had very kind words (thank you)!

Half of the letters received, were from new users. I’ll repeat that-NEW users, looking for assistance. Fate (and $3.50 a month) has brought them here for that help. Obviously Timex no longer produces the 1000/1500/2068, but it’s kind of like every six months the country plays “musical computers,” and novice users keep acquiring them. More than ½ of that 48% are Amstrad users also wondering why Alan Sugar has forsaken them, or why SOS wants their first child.

Some of the mail received offered their advice and expertise for hardware projects, and software acquisition assistance. These are the letters that truly are invaluable. The tips and techniques that are so universal in appeal. Please continue to offer this information by writing to me c/o Computer Shopper. I keep a master log database of users and their area of expertise. As requests arrive, I often refer them straight to the experts- You! Those answers and explanations are also published regularly here in this article.

Happy Birthday to Ed Grey’s Grey Matter BBS. At the time of this writing, the BBS celebrates its first year on-line. In addition to the Time(X) Change BBS, also in the Los Angeles area, it is an excellent BBS for Time and CP/M- users. Grey Matter BBS (213) 759-7406. Time(X) Change BBS (213) 329-3922. Both are PC-Pursuitable.

Timex/Sinclair Telecommunication

A few years ago, Timex computers were a hardware upgrading project waiting to happen. Today, they communicate with banks, travel agencies, stock brokerage firms, libraries, and government operated BBSs. Though the use of the TS computer via modem is no startling news, there are new products out that make the communication link, and subsequent storage of information, easier.

Mterm is still widely used amongst TS users for BBS hookups. Its limitations are poor documentation and lack of buffer for up/downloading files. Mterm Il upped the ante with a 27+ K buffer for error check-free ASCIl file transfers, addition of macro keys to facilitate faster log-ons, and auto dial. Pioneer Kurt Casby, often written about in these articles, added the Xmodem option to file transfers. Utilizing CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check), for error checking, it added a new dimension to our telecommunication. Xmodem was much faster and precise than ASCII transfers. Kurt’s Loader V works with the Mterm Il software package, but still limited the user to 32 column displays. The Xmodem enhancement, and Schoenwetter 80 column printer utility could not coexist in the printer buffer area. It is possible to utilize BOTH programs, but not without a great deal of frustration and cassette switching. So far so good—or was it? The OS-64 cartridge, introduced by Zebra Systems. What made the cartridge unique was its ability to integrate printer utilities for 80 column printers. Early attempts to run Mterm II on the cartridge proved fruitless, so Zebra developed Zterm-64. When used with the OS-64 cartridge, it was the best thing since fondue parties.

Now you could take advantage of the Xmodem protocol, import ASCIl files from word processing files, and still use HEX if you choose. The inevitable price tag for the 64 column display was a 10K RAM loss for the resident programs in use.

Again, Ed Grey & Associates to the forefront of technology with the introduction of another terminal program. Initially, only for the Spectrum or ROM emulated TS/2068s, it was later modified for stock TS/2068s. It was actually a compilation of the “Best Of” of all previous innovations. A 31K buffer, Xmodem transfers, 64 column display, and full screen color control. Even better, it ran at 1200 baud! It also works with all commercially available RS232C interfaces. Through the use of the Overlay Loader, you can customize the program to use with a 2050 modem and no Z-SI/O board. Specterm-64 is a powerful program, now offering a full size printer driver, and may be used with the JLO or Aerco disk formats. Full on-line and phone support is available from Ed Grey, of Ed Grey and Associates. For those of you with the Larken Disk system, and LKDOS v.3, try the new Maxcom software from Larry Kenny. The hitch here is that Maxcom combines terminal and BBS software capabilities. Maxcom is compatible with either the Z-SI/O bare boards and RS-232, or the 2050 modem. File transfers of over 100K get dumped to disk, and of course Maxcom supports 1200 baud. Available from Ed Grey & Associates. (Address listed earlier.)

That’s a nice story Mike, but ya know, I own a TS/1000/1500 or ZX81, where is your sense of compassion? Try ZX-Term*80. Two years ago this month, a unique cooperative effort between several people got the pages of TS/1000 history flapping in the wind. ZX-Term*80 offers 40/60/80 column display, adjustable windows, menu driven, redefined upper/lowercase keyboard display, full sized printer support, Xmodem transfer, and supports the Byte-Back and Westridge modems. All comments on the program are of course excellent. The down side to the program is that it requires an NVM card (Non-Volatile Memory). Options include the Hunter board or Silicon Mountain/Larken SCRAM card. Zterm lists for $25, and the SCRAM card is $39.95.

Another pleasant surprise that arrived at press time, is that Ed Grey confirmed he is beta testing a digitizer for the TS/2068. If all proceeds as planned, it may be available for release before year’s end. By the way, as I originally mentioned earlier, the Grey Matter BBS has a massive selection of public domain software on-line for all TS computers, QL & Amstrad. I also highly recommend (for newer users who have not yet discovered) the Time(X) Change BBS, with lots of support and files for TS users.

An interesting letter arrived from EMC Technology Inc. John Steponick wrote to ask where he could purchase hard/software for the TS/1000 and ZX-81 computers. That in and of itself is not too unusual, yet they utilize the units at work to control automatic resistor trimmers. He goes on to add, “You wouldn’t believe what we have accomplished with these computers.” Specifically John is looking for 64K memopaks, RS232-Centronic interfaces and software to download Sinclair to IBM computer and vice versa. Hmmmm…… Write John Steponick, c/o EMC Technology, 1971 Old Cuthbert Rd., Cherry Hill, N.J. 08034; (609) 428-8802.

While on the subject of BBSs, here are two more five star numbers to dial for Amstrad PC1512/1640 owners to call. First is a mega-BBS called Rusty & Edie’s BBS, operating up to 9600. I like this BBS very well as it offers the serious Amstrad user a whopping 762 megs of online programs to choose from. Additionally, there are nine nodes and a huge selection of doors, including real time blackjack gambling for additional time online. Rusty & Edie’s BBS is free to all callers. (216) 726-2620.

Try the Database BBS at (201) 943-5419, another excellent selection when searching for a vast variety of games, utilities and applications.

Amstrad PCW series owners in- terested in obtaining directions for in- stalling a 54″ drive, contact Al Warsh. The Amstrad PCW Users SIG, 2751 Reche Canyon Rd 493, Colton, CA 92325.