I admit that when I heard there was a new terminal program for the TS1000 computer, I was unimpressed. When I heard that it required additional hardware before it could be used, I experienced flash backs of my $60 venture with ZTERM and my TS2068! But, after using this program, I must say that no single terminal package for any Timex Sinclair computer has impressed me the way that ZX-TERM*80 has. It is a very sophisticated terminal program that is versatile and user-friendly. It is what everybody wants in a terminal program.
Beware! This program will not operate by itself. To use ZX-TERM*80 you must have a SCRAM board, a 16K RAMpack, and either a TS1000/ZX81 or a TS1500. No, a PC8300 cannot run ZX-TERM*80, even with the improved ROM from Fred Nachbaur. The SCRAM board is a non-volitile RAM that is used for the high resolutionf graphics. The Hunter Board can be used as a replacement for the SCRAM, but some hardware modification is required. The ZX-TERM*80 documentation explains how to perform the Hunter Board modification. Your TS1000 may also require a simple modification as well. However, since the TS1500 is an upgraded version of the TS1000, you need not perform any hardware modifications to it, to use ZX-TERM*80. You should realize that even though the TS1500 already has 16K of RAM onboard, it will still require a 16K RAMpack.
I will avoid trying to completely walk you through this program. Instead I will try to highlight the features and handicaps of this terminal package. The first and most important feature of any software package (as all MTERM users will testify) is the documentation. ZX-TERM*80 has an excellent documentation package. It is so thorough that when I first looked at the 42 page manual, I wanted to put it down and go straight into the program. I did however, find that reading it first saved me a lot of time and trouble when actually using the program. This manual is very user friendly and it carefully walks the novice through the program and into the world of telecommunications.
Hardware wise, this program is written to interface witn both the Westridge (TS-2050) and Byte Back (MD-2) modems. I was only able to test it on the TS2050. It uses the 2040 (and Alphacom 32) printer for hardcopies. However, a full size 80 column printer can be selected to work with the following printer interfaces: Aerco, JLO, Tasman, Memotech, Ener-Z Report Generator, or Eprom Services. The program was written with the consideration of adapting it to the A&J Micro Drives, or the Aerco, Compusa, and Larken floppy disk interfaces. For some of these devices, minor hardware and software modifications are required and the documentation addresses this subject. This software will allow for the use of a 64K RAMpack or additional NVM (non-volatile memory) devices that total up to 64K. This program will not work with the Mindware MW-100 printer or any 32K RAM that are fully decoded.
This terminal program is packed full of features that I never expected to find when telecomputing on a TS1000. These features include:
1. A high resolution display that allows upper and lower case letters.
2. Selectable display widths of 40, 60, or 80 columns.
3. Adjustable sized windows.
4. Xmodem file transfer protocol.
5. ASCII capture buffer.
6. Interface driver for continuous printing on an 80 column printer.
7. Easy back up of the software.
The screen display was the greatest selling point of this program. It can be configured for three windows which display user options in the top window, outgoing data in the middle window and incoming data in the bottom window. The top window contains the following user options: Save Toggle, Echo Toggle, Control, U/D Load, View Data, Modem Control, Display, and Initialize. The sizes of the middle and bottom window can ve easily adjusted while online. I personally preferred a narrow middle window and a large bottom window. You can also choose a single window configuration that shows both out going and incoming data, without displaying the user options. Of the two configurations, the three window one was my favorite. Another display option is the number of columns. The 40 column mode was easy to read. However, most bulletin boards operate greater than forty columns, and my display couldn’t provide justice to their clever screen displays. The 60 column mode requires the use of a monitor with the computer (no TV). Using a composite monitor, the 60 column display was very readable. In the 80 column mode, even with a monitor, I found the display to be too closely squeezed together on the screen to be readable. After using the 80 column display for 15 minutes, my eyes were tired and the effort of reading took away the pleasure of my telecomputing.
The keyboard has been defined as a true terminal keyboard. You have both upper and lower case letters, as well as all of the required punctuation (the available punctuation is # “) ( $ = + – >< * / ? ; : ‘ ^ ! _ [ ] @ & , . ). Please note that fifty percent of these symbols are not part of the normal TS1000 repertoire. There is no provision for a CAPS-LOCK mode (all capital letters) with this program. The keyscan can be modified offline by poking an address to make it scan as fast or slow as you desire. You will probably notice that there is no cursor, and therefore it is difficult to identify when you have typed a space. There is another POKE available that will cause three underlining dash’s to be displayed on your screen in place of a space. These dash’s are not transmitted to the host computer. All POKEs that are mentioned in this review are in the software documentation.
The online operation of ZX-TERM*80 is quite easy. There is not an “auto-dial” function in the software. Therefore, you must manually dial the host system and start your carrier when it answers. Due to the expanded symbology of this program, you are able to enjoy most of the text that is sent without all of those annoying blocks of garbage that were created on other previous TS1000 terminal programs, when they couldn’t identify an incoming symbol. File transfers are very easy using this program. I was able to do file transfers with a TS2068, an Apple, a Tandy 1000, and an IBM 386. All uploads and downloads are done in xmodem protocol at 128 bytes per block. During the transfer, your screen displays the data and provides alerts for when a bad block is transferred, before the block is repeated.
In conclusion, I believe that this is and will remain as the best terminal program for the TS1000 family of computers. The documentation is outstanding and the manufacturer’s support for their products, has an excellent record. The loading, setup and operation of the program are virtually selfexlplanitory. This program is a must for anybody who really wants to enjoy telecommunications.
ZX-TERM*80 is available from Silicon Mountain Computers, C-12, Mtn. Stn. Group Box, Nelson, B.C., V1L 5P1, Canada, and also from Grey and Clifford Computer Products, PO Box 2186, Inglewood, CA 90305.