--- title: "Printer On/Off Detection Programs" type: "article" slug: "printer-on-off-detection-programs" url: "http://localhost/article/printer-on-off-detection-programs/" markdown_url: "http://localhost/article/printer-on-off-detection-programs.md" published_at: "2026-03-13T23:38:43+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-13T23:38:44+00:00" featured_image: url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20230809-041332.jpg" excerpt: "Two short TS2068 BASIC programs using machine code REM statements and USR calls to detect whether the TS2040 printer is currently on or off, printing a corresponding status message. Program 1 uses POKE 26516,73 and tests USR 16514 against 16383; Program 2 (with FLASH) uses a similar approach with CLS reset. Practical safety check before…" category: - name: "Timelinez" slug: "timelinez" taxonomy: "category" url: "http://localhost/category/periodicals/timelinez/" post_tag: - name: "BASIC (programming language)" slug: "basic-programming-language" taxonomy: "post_tag" url: "http://localhost/tag/basic-programming-language/" - name: "Machine language programming" slug: "machine-language" taxonomy: "post_tag" url: "http://localhost/tag/machine-language/" - name: "TS 2068" slug: "ts2068" taxonomy: "post_tag" url: "http://localhost/tag/ts2068/" - name: "Type-in program" slug: "type-in-program" taxonomy: "post_tag" url: "http://localhost/tag/type-in-program/" model: - name: "Timex/Sinclair 2068" slug: "ts-2068" taxonomy: "model" url: "http://localhost/model/ts-2068/" indiv: - name: "Linda Banta" slug: "linda-banta" taxonomy: "indiv" url: "http://localhost/indiv/linda-banta/" publication_r: id: 21571 title: "Timelinez" type: "periodical" url: "http://localhost/periodical/timelinez/" authors_r: - name: "Linda Banta" slug: "linda-banta" taxonomy: "indiv" url: "http://localhost/indiv/linda-banta/" volume: "2" issue: "9" issues_articles: - id: 38807 title: "Timelinez v2 n9" type: "issue" url: "http://localhost/issue/timelinez-v2-n9/" pages: "5" pubdate: "September 1984" archive_link: false --- # Printer On/Off Detection Programs Two short TS2068 BASIC programs using machine code REM statements and USR calls to detect whether the TS2040 printer is currently on or off, printing a corresponding status message. Program 1 uses POKE 26516,73 and tests USR 16514 against 16383; Program 2 (with FLASH) uses a similar approach with CLS reset. Practical safety check before running programs that would crash if the printer is off when called.