The Authoritative Website for Timex/Sinclair Computers
The Authoritative Website for Timex/Sinclair Computers
MODEMs and RS232 (serial) Interfaces
The 1980s was the decade when home computer users started to โget onlineโ in earnest. Business users, academics and select others had accessed corporate mainframe computers from home but home computer users were limited in what they could access.
That changed with the advent of bulletin board systems and consumer access to commercial computing service providers during off-hours. Compuserve and The Source, two major online systems, both became available to consumers at the end of the 1970s.
Connecting the Sinclair computers to external serial devices opened up the world of online services, bulletin boards and access to serial printers and other special serial devices.
Low-footprint card to replace original interface of Westridge/Timex 2050 modems. 26-pin header connects to modem and includes 8K EPROM socket. Through-connector for peripheral chaining.
An add-in expander for the Kradle, providing RS232 and printer/output ports, communication to modem or remote computer plus standard parallel output (8 bit) port with handshaking, hardware UART, software BAUD select, vectored interrupt capability. Requires no memory space; I/O mapped.
Works with any amount of memory on the 1000; with 64K will store 60 screens. Terminal software included. Prints to 2040 or any serial printer via built-in RS-232 port.
Interface allows the Timex to connect to serial printers and peripherals. The interface has two main modes of operation: BASIC mode allows you to use the range of functions supplied in the RS232 EPROM with an ordinary BASIC program. TERMINAL mode allows you to use your Timex as a terminal to another processor. The EPROM
Variable baud rate by software control. Upper and lower-case printout. Up to 120 characters per line with software control. Handshake facility. Output via 2 small jack sockets.
Output RS-232 ASCII through MIC port. Software is 280 bytes of relocatable machine code; provides printing of characters, strings, program listings, and screen copying. Plans and listing.
One of the most eagerly awaited accessories was the TS 2050 Telecommunications Modem. Timex announced a modem, scheduled for release in November of 1983, that was compatible with the TS 1000/1500, ZX-81 and TS 2068. The modem is also known as the Westridge 2050. Unfortunately, Timex exited the computer market before they received the first
Software and plans for building input and output ports which fit inside a ZX81 or TS1000. When used with an RS232/TTL level converter, can connect to most RS232C peripherals.
The Westridge Communications 2050 modem allows you to communicate through your telephone with other computers and information sources. With this modem and the included MTERM I cassette software, you can connect to other computers, bulletin boards and services like THE SOURCE, CompuServe, DOW JONES, and MCI MAIL. Features Prints displayed screens on the TS2040.
Serial interface compatible with the TS 2050/WC 2050 modem. Includes 25-pin RS-232 connector. Uses Intel 8251 USART, the same chip as in the Timex modem, and supports up to 1200 baud modems and 19,200 baud direct connections. Three versions were available: JLO for use with John Oliger disk systems, AERCO for use with the FD-68
Parallel and serial interface (Centronics printer and RS-232) on the same board. Supports LLIST, LPRINT and COPY; communicates at up to 9600 baud. On-board driver routines in EPROM.