| An Unsolicited Plug for Dan Elliott's Repair Service |
Enthusiastic recommendation for Dan Elliott of Promise Land Electronics (Cabool, MO) for repair, upgrading, and custom building of ZX/TS computers. Reports fast service and very reasonable prices; cites a recent example of a TS2068 repaired for $25 that the sender had given up on. Provides weekend and evening phone numbers. |
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| Bug Fix for TimeMachine |
One-line bug fix for the TiMachine compiler for the TS2068: change the POKE value in line 106 from 32880 to 33880 to correct an error. |
Timex/Sinclair 2068 |
| Chaos Program #2 from Scientific American |
Second QL chaos program adapted from Scientific American, implementing a chaotic attractor with parameters a=2.24, b=0.43, c=-0.85, d=3.4. Colors plotted points based on distance moved between iterations (INK 7, 5, or 3 depending on distance thresholds). Uses POINT in a SCALE coordinate system with repeating REPEAT loop. Full SuperBASIC listing provided. |
Sinclair QL, Type-in program |
| Dandelion Doodles (Op Art for Pete's Sake) |
A short TS2068 BASIC program that generates random dandelion-like geometric patterns using INK, DRAW, and trigonometric functions. The program uses nested FOR loops to generate varying sizes, spoke counts, ink colors, and positions for each dandelion. A second ‘Just for Fun’ variant uses INPUT to accept x, y, and step parameters for generating continuous spirograph |
Timex/Sinclair 2068, Type-in program |
| Fast Banners |
TS2068 BASIC program reproducing the banner-printing section of Bob Orrfelt’s WP32 word processor, adapted for compilation with TimeMachine for much faster execution. Generates large horizontal banners in 1-inch or 2.5-inch letter sizes using LPRINT to the TS2040 printer. The listing handles user input for banner text, character bitmap extraction, and formatted output with proper acknowledgment |
Timex/Sinclair 2068, Type-in program |
| Improved TS2068 Internal ROM Bypass |
Detailed hardware design for replacing the TS2068’s HOME ROM and EXROM without opening the computer case, using the cartridge slot to intercept the bus enable (BE) signal. Three designs: HOME ROM bypass (Figure 1) using BE-driven suppression of ROMCS in combination with external ROM/RAM; EXROM relocation (Figure 2a) by physically remounting the chip with full |
Timex/Sinclair 2068 |
| Medicare Income Tax Calculator |
TS1000 BASIC program (approximately 2K) that calculates the Medicare catastrophic illness income surtax enacted for tax years 1989-1993. Supports all filing statuses (1-5), handles both-spouses Medicare eligibility and living-together scenarios, and computes taxes for each year based on legislated rate schedule (e.g., $800 ceiling in 1989, rising to $1050 by 1993). Displays a year-by-year table |
Timex/Sinclair 1000, Type-in program |
| Microdrives Shortages Coming |
Reports that Ablex, the sole manufacturer of QL microdrive tape cartridges, may cease production after 1989 due to unavailability of BASF magnetic tape. Recommends QL users convert to 3.5″ disk drives, citing four reasons: UK software increasingly ships on 3.5″ media, reliability advantages, reduced drive cost ($75-85 with media at $0.59 from MEI), and availability |
Sinclair QL |
| QL System Variables |
Reference guide to selected Sinclair QL system variables with addresses, sizes, and usage notes. Covers RAMTOP+1 (memory expansion detection at 163950), SCREEN_CTD (TV mode status at 163990), SCREEN_STATUS (screen activity at 163991), NET# (network number at 163995), REPEAT_DELAY (163986 word), REPEAT_FREQ (163952 word), and CAPS_LOCK (163976 word, noting a correction to a previous TimeLinez article). |
Sinclair QL |
| RMG Catalog on Disk |
Brief announcement that RMG now offers their complete product catalog on Larken-format disk using TASWORD III word processor, available for $3. Also announces a $12/year monthly disk mailing service with catalog updates and at least 3 public domain programs per year, ready to run. Combined order includes $60 in coupons. |
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| SincLink Newsletter June and July/August 1989 |
Two combined SincLink newsletter issues covering June and July/August 1989 activity. Includes file directory listings for Sn895 and Sn896 (Sn896_dir at approximately 193,386 bytes), newsletter exchange index for June (ScB906) and July/August (ScB907-8), SincLink subscriber list with renewal notices, and SincLink information page. Lists several print multiple-column and newsletter exchange items for both months. |
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| The Chaotic Return |
Corrected QL SuperBASIC chaos program responding to the challenge posed in issue 4. Replaces POINT with BLOCK for the physical coordinate system, and randomizes the value of r (r = 5 + 512*(r-3)) rather than sweeping sequentially, causing the full bifurcation diagram structure to become visible progressively rather than rendered one line at a time. |
Sinclair QL, Type-in program |
| The Latest from S.N.U.G. |
Summary of the S.N.U.G. national meeting held May 6, 1989, attended by approximately 35 members with Frank Davis serving as spokesperson in Mel Nathanson’s absence. Reports the confirmed election results for all five officer positions, thanks all candidates, and lists all candidates with withdrawn candidates removed from the tally. |
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| Z88 BBS Announcement |
Two-part announcement for the ZED-88 BBS, dedicated exclusively to Cambridge Z88 users and located on the US East Coast (703-968-9433, Northern Virginia). Part 1 previews the BBS with approximately 200 files planned and invites interest gauging before the August 1st official launch. Part 2 confirms the BBS is open in beta test mode with about |
Cambridge Z88 |
| Z88 to IBM or TS2068 Cable |
Wiring diagram for a homemade RS232 cable connecting the Cambridge Z88 (DB9 male) to an IBM PC (DB25 female), tested with PROCOMM software on the IBM. The cable also works for connecting the Z88 to the TS2068 via a Z-S10 interface (attached to the modem cable end), and for linking the QL SER2 port to |
Cambridge Z88, Sinclair QL, Timex/Sinclair 2068 |
