--- title: "CRAGIST User Group Articles" id: 71914 type: "computer_media" slug: "cragist-user-group-articles" url: "http://localhost/computer_media/cragist-user-group-articles/" markdown_url: "http://localhost/computer_media/cragist-user-group-articles.md" published_at: "2026-10-20T14:25:38+00:00" modified_at: "2026-10-20T14:25:38+00:00" author: "David Anderson" featured_image: url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/A-side.png" excerpt: "Cassette of 1989-90 user group text files from Cedar Rapids, Iowa: CRAGIST newsletters, an article index, an MSDOS disk-reading article and RMG Enterprises catalog pages." category: - name: "Archived Media" slug: "archived-media" taxonomy: "category" url: "http://localhost/category/archived-media/" post_tag: - name: "Downloadable" slug: "downloadable" taxonomy: "post_tag" url: "http://localhost/tag/downloadable/" - name: "TS 2068" slug: "ts2068" taxonomy: "post_tag" url: "http://localhost/tag/ts2068/" model: - name: "Timex/Sinclair 2068" slug: "ts-2068" taxonomy: "model" url: "http://localhost/model/ts-2068/" indiv: - name: "Donald Lambert" slug: "donald-lambert" taxonomy: "indiv" url: "http://localhost/indiv/donald-lambert/" - name: "Richard Matejovic" slug: "richard-matejovic" taxonomy: "indiv" url: "http://localhost/indiv/richard-matejovic/" genre: - name: "Editorial" slug: "editorial" taxonomy: "genre" url: "http://localhost/type/editorial/" media_type: "Cassette" programmers: - name: "Donald Lambert" slug: "donald-lambert" taxonomy: "indiv" url: "http://localhost/indiv/donald-lambert/" - name: "Richard Matejovic" slug: "richard-matejovic" taxonomy: "indiv" url: "http://localhost/indiv/richard-matejovic/" download_url: "https://archive.org/download/timex-sinclair-software-archive/CRAGIST%20User%20Group%20Articles%20%281990%29%28Lambert%2C%20Donald%29%28TS2068%29%28US%29%28Cassette%29.zip" mediadate: "1990" images: - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/A-side.png" - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/B-side.png" - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Articles-scaled.jpg" related_content: - id: 24794 title: "CRAGIST (Cedar Rapids And Greater Iowa Sinclair Timex)" type: "usergroup" url: "http://localhost/usergroup/cragist-cedar-rapids-and-greater-iowa-sinclair-timex/" - id: 39266 title: "CRAGIST Newsletter" type: "periodical" url: "http://localhost/periodical/cragist-newsletter/" media_type_tags: "Editorial" --- # CRAGIST User Group Articles Holds about forty word-processor text files rather than programs. [Donald S. Lambert](http://localhost/indiv/donald-lambert/) of the CRAGIST user group (Cedar Rapids And Greater Iowa Sinclair Timex) recorded them on this cassette in February 1990 from his disks. Side A holds his cover letter, an article by Richard Matejovic on reading MSDOS text disks, Lambert’s cross-referenced index of articles in his files, and the text of CRAGIST newsletters #1 to #4 from 1989. The rest of side A and all of side B hold the pages of RMG Enterprises’ disk-based catalog and its monthly updates from 1989. The files are saved as TS2068 `CODE` blocks. The newsletter and index files load at address 46927, as MSCRIPT files, and the RMG pages load at 33280, as Tasword files. The cassette carries a printed label reading “CRAGIST USER GROUP, C/O Donald S Lambert, 3310 Clover Drive S.W, Cedar Rapids, Ia 52404” and a handwritten “Start #1 tape”. The cover letter is addressed to Paul Holmgren, President of SNUG, and says the material would probably need more than one tape. ## Files on the Tape - `0214ho.Cl`: cover letter from Donald S. Lambert to Paul Holmgren, President of SNUG, dated 02 14 1990. It explains that the material is being copied from disk to tape, mentions a Tasword file set up for an A&J printer interface, and covers cheap 43256 RAM chips and surplus EPROMs bought locally. It also promises a file at the end of the tape on running a Tandon 40-track drive with the ZX81 Larken controller, but that file is not on this tape. - `MSDOS.C1`: “The Trials and Tribulations of Reading a MSDOS Text File Disk!” by Richard Matejovic. It describes getting an AERCO disk system on a TS1000 to read MSDOS-format text disks, building on a program by Mark Wahl of SINCLINK, with the debugged BASIC listing. - `indexa.Cc`, `indexd.Ci`, `indexj.Cl`, `indexm.Cn`, `indexo.Cp`, `indexq.Cz`: Lambert’s Index of Hard Copy, a cross-referenced index by subject and author of Sinclair magazine articles, manuals and construction projects in his files. It covers SYNC, CTM (Computer Trader Magazine), Syntax Quarterly, Radio-Electronics, Popular Mechanics and others, in sections A–C, D–I, J–L, M–N, O–P and Q–Z. - `nwl#1p.C1` to `nwl#1p.C5`: CRAGIST Newsletter #1, January 8th, 1989. Meeting report, then Lambert’s battery backup power supply for the TS1000 using a gel-cell battery, steering diodes and two 7805 regulators, with current-draw figures, a battery run-time test logged on the TS2040 printer, and charging notes. A second, longer two-part version of the same newsletter (`nwl#1p.C1`, `nwl#1p.C2`) follows. The end of one part repeats some index entries. - `nwl#2p.C1`, `nwl#2p.C2`: CRAGIST Newsletter, February 12, 1989. Meeting report (a TS2068 with Larken disk interface, 40- and 80-track drives and SnapShot NMI save), then a long article on taking cassettes apart and building a wooden jig to make single-program tapes. - `nwl#3p.C1`, `nwl#3p.C2`: CRAGIST Newsletter March/April 1989 #3. Meeting report (a working ZX80 is shown), testing surplus disk drives, aligning drives and the Larken interface’s stepper trimmer, drive jumper settings, and a meter-based LOAD AID for cassette levels based on articles by Gary Hearn and Frank H. Bouldin in CTM. - `nwl#4p.C1`, `nwl#4p.C2`: CRAGIST Newsletter May/June/July 1989 #4. Local classified ads, notes on disk drive servicing, fixing a faulty RAM board by adding decoupling capacitors, and setting RAMTOP for Larken AUTOBOOT programs. - `@rmg-1`: the introduction to RMG Enterprises’ disk-based catalog, from Rod Gowen, explaining the section codes QL, TSH, TSS and GHW. - `@ql-1`, `@ql-2`: RMG catalog pages for the Sinclair QL and QL software, with prices effective February 15, 1989. - `@tss-1` to `@tss-5`: RMG Timex/Sinclair software pages. They include Executive Workshop titles, the CLONE tape copier, books such as T/S Manuscript, Zerbo Software titles, and Larken disk utilities. - `@tsh-1`: RMG Timex/Sinclair hardware, starting with complete Larken disk systems. - `@ghw-1`, `@ghw-2`: RMG general hardware, including printer accessories, Mac-Inker and ribbons, and Vendex, Amstrad and Packard Bell PC systems. - `@cnsn01`, `@cnsgn0`, `@cnsgn3`: RMG consignment lists of used Timex/Sinclair and QL items for sale. - `@nws1n2`, `@readm1`: RMG Update News for October and the “Welcome” read-me for the October disk issue of RMG Catalog Updates. These carry news on Mountaineer Software, Zebra Systems and WMJ Data Systems, and instructions for reading the pages with Tasword. - `@uql/bk`, `@uhw010`: RMG lists of used QL products and used hardware, including refurbished TS2068s, Memotech add-ons and Byte-Back modems. - `@oct89`, `@dec129`: RMG’s October pre-holiday and December Christmas sale pages. - `@flash1`: header only. The recording ends before the data block.