| A Review of Spectrum Games |
Reviews of three ZX Spectrum games for TS2068 users: DK’Tronics ‘Spawn of Evil’ (3D star fighter cockpit perspective, alien invasion); DK’Tronics ‘Maziacs’ (maze game with treasure, guards, and swords — similar to TS1000 ‘Mazogs’ but without maze solution display at game end); and Activision ‘Pitfall II’ (rescue mission with scorpians, condors, bats, eels, frogs; sound |
Timex/Sinclair 2068 |
| Computer Calendar |
Meeting schedule for April and May 1986 for PUG, EBZUG, and SVSTUG, with Bay Area Computer Swap at the Cow Palace listed. Notes The Computer Show on KSTS Channel 46, Wednesdays 8-9 PM. |
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| Flying Horses |
A short BASIC program for the TS2068 related to graphic display or animation; described alongside notes referencing a ‘MINIBAR’ variant. The program appears to use DRAW, CIRCLE, and LET statements with trigonometric calculations. |
Timex/Sinclair 2068, Type-in program |
| Mid-West TS Computerfest Opens May 3rd |
Announcement of the Mid-West TS Computerfest at the Ramada Inn, Sharonville (Cincinnati suburb), May 3-4 1986: the first major Timex/Sinclair gathering since the ZX/TS Celebration in Boston (October 1983). Over 15 vendors confirmed including AERCO (FD-68 disc in CP/M mode), Zebra Systems (FD-3000 Portugal Disk with CP/M and Spectrum modes, WordStar and Microsoft BASIC on |
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| My Favorite Triangle |
A short TS2068 BASIC program using PLOT and DRAW statements to render an intricate ornamental triangle shape using angular calculations. Author notes it only works on the 2068 and is easy to follow but challenging to write from scratch. |
Timex/Sinclair 2068, Type-in program |
| Printing True Curves and Figures |
Explains why the TS2040 printer distorts screen drawings (rectangular vs. square pixel grid) and provides the correction: divide variable x-coordinates by aspect ratio A=0.82 (or multiply variable y-coordinates by 0.82). Eight program examples demonstrate the correction for diagonal squares, circles, and slanted equilateral triangles on both TS1000/1500 (PLOT/DRAW) and TS2068 (DRAW/CIRCLE statements). Editor notes full-size |
Timex/Sinclair 1000, Timex/Sinclair 2068, Type-in program |
| PUG Membership Information |
Describes the new PUG membership database file and explains the coding system on mailing labels (A=full member, N=newsletter-only, E=newsletter exchange, P/R=complimentary). Requests address/info corrections via Pat Morrissey (new secretary/treasurer). All membership checks now payable to C.P. Morrissey at 2000 Crystal Springs Road, San Bruno CA. Notes potential joint membership directory project with the other two |
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| PUG News |
March 16 PUG meeting report: strong new interest in telecoms spurred by cheap uncased 2050 modems (as low as $20); informal modem setup seminars held; Jack Dohany demonstrated completed MSCRIPT enhancements (compatible with all mass-storage devices and interfaces, keyboard options); Spectrum 128 available for hands-on play from Sunset Electronics (reviewed as two incompatible machines in |
Timex/Sinclair 2068 |
| QL Microdrive Formatter |
A short QL SuperBASIC program that automatically formats two microdrive cartridges (one in each drive) for a user-specified number of times. Repeated formatting removes ‘stretch’ from new cartridges and conditions the tape surface, increasing capacity and long-term reliability. Experienced QL users recommend formatting new cartridges 10 times. |
Sinclair QL, Type-in program |
| Sinclair Sold to Amstrad |
Brief news item: as reported on the front page of the Wall Street Journal (April 8, 1986), Amstrad Consumer Electronics purchased Sinclair Research Limited for $7.3 million. Sinclair was experiencing financial difficulties. Amstrad plans to begin manufacturing Sinclair computers when supplier contracts expire later in 1986. Sir Clive Sinclair returns to inventing. |
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| SVSTUG News |
April 1986 SVSTUG meeting notes: interest in ZEBRA Systems modem deal high (18 of 20 units from Ledra Systems worked); Bill Miller demoed Damco Wafadrive hooked to Spectrum; Terry Greenlee and David Gray borrowed Spectrums and Waferdrives loaned by A&J Microdrive to work on 2050 modem compatibility; Dan Mowrey brought copy of MTERM for SVSTUG |
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| T/S Repairs at Sunset |
Notice that Sunset Electronics (2254 Taraval Street, San Francisco) is now offering Timex-Sinclair computer repairs performed by Rex Lundgren (PUG member), described as the first repair service west of the Mississippi for T/S computers. Contact Sunset at (415) 665-8330. |
Timex/Sinclair 1000, Timex/Sinclair 2068 |
| Telecommunications Article Errata |
Corrections from the ZEBRA BBS SYSOP (John Ezike) to Ed Grey’s BBS article from the January 1986 issue: Zebra Systems is in Woodhaven Queens NY, not Long Island; Micro Systems BBS no longer supports T/S users; OMNI-NET BBS phone (718) 296-2385 is actually Zebra’s order line; MINI-BIN BBS does not exist — that number is |
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| TextWriter 1000 Enhancements and Errata |
Enhancements to the TextWriter 1000 word processor (by Robert Fingerle) to eliminate screen flicker and enable keyboard auto-repeat: add line 140 SLOW and modify line 175 to check for empty INKEY$. Also adds a multiple-copy print option: if user selects option 4 or 5, a prompt asks for number of copies, and a FOR/NEXT loop |
Timex/Sinclair 1000, Type-in program |
| Winter Doldrums, Rumors Mark Current QL Scene |
QL industry report for early 1986: steady trickle of QL sales; CompuServe conference active; Tom Bent (SyncWare News) argues QL superior to Atari ST with comparable investment; Sinclair US reportedly not answering phones; Mark Fendrick hints at improved US distribution deal. Miracle Systems Modaptor with QCODE terminal software enables RS-232 modem use up to 1200 |
Sinclair QL |
