Byte-Back Co

Leesville, SC 29070

Owner(s): Jerry Minchey, David Leech

BYTE-BACK started producing peripherals for the Sinclair computer in 1981.

Their first product, a relay controller, was used by customers to control and automate projects.

The original owner closed the company in the mid-1980s. David Leech, a former employee, purchased the company and continued to sell existing inventory.

In the late 1980s, Leech introduced multifunction controllers for the IBM PC.

Products

Analog-Digital Module

With the addition of the A-D module, the BB-1 or BB-68 can read analog signals. The A-D is a single channel successive approximation device. It can read an analog signal on 5 different scales: <0 to .25v, 0 to .50v, 0 to 2.75v, 0 to 5.00v and 0 to 10.0v.

TS 1000 TS 2068

BB-1 Control Module

8 independent relays with LED status indicators and 8 TTL inputs with Schmitt trigger buffers. Single POKE to change/latch each relay. Read all 8 inputs in a single PEEK. More than one BB-1 can be attached to the computer. The BB-1 was used for:

ZX80 ZX81

BB-68 Controller

TS 2068

Byte Back Keyboard

Upgraded keyboard with full-size space bar and two shift keys.

TS 1000

M-16 Memory Module

Stackable with Sinclair RAM or other M-16 modules to 48K.

ZX80 TS 1000

M-48 Memory Module

48K RAM module.

ZX81 TS 1000

M-64 Memory Module

Low power, no extra power supply required. Area from 8-16K can be switched out in 2K increments to accommodate memory-mapped peripherals, EPROMs, etc.

TS 1000

MD-1 Modem

Includes RS-232 port.

ZX80 ZX81 TS 1000

MD-2B Modem

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.

ZX81 TS 1000

MD-68 Modem

300 baud. RS-232 port.

TS 2068

Parallel 1000

Interface to Centronics parallel interface printers. Driver translates Timex/Sinclair code to 80 column ASCII and sends printer via USR calls to simulate LPRINT, LLIST and COPY.

TS 1000

Parallel 2068

Interface to Centronics parallel interface printers. Driver software supports LPRINT and LLIST. High resolution screen copy program supports multiple printers.

TS 2068

Real Time Clock

Clock module with battery back up. Logic signal output with LED status indicator can be used to control external devices based on time independent of the computer. DIP switches allow mapping of the module to the 8-10, 10-12, 12-14 or 14-16K areas of memory.

TS 1000 TS 2068

RS-232 for 2068

Connect serial devices to the TS 2068. Driver software supports LPRINT and LLIST.

TS 2068

RS-232 Module

Connect to RS232 printers and terminals. USR calls simulate LPRINT, LLIST and COPY commands.

TS 1000

SpectraTERM 1.30

300 baud terminal program for the 2068, for use with the Byte-Back MD-68 modem.

TS 2068

UM-16 16K RAM Pack

“Ultimate memory” RAM pack. Battery backup, reset switch, PROM/ROM socket.

TS 1000

UM-64 64K RAM Pack

64K RAM pack with additional features. 8-16K area selectable in 2K increments. EPROM socket for 2K/4K. Battery backup (6 AA batteries) powers RAM pack and computer for up to 30 minutes. ROM-RAM transfer: copy Timex ROM into the 0-8K area of RAM, flip a switch and operate out of RAM. Switch that only resets 16-32K

TS 1000

Articles

A Modem for the Timex 1000 or ZX-81TS 1000 Hardware review
Review of Byte-Back modem.
Add a Full Size Printer to Your SystemZX81 TS 1000
Overview of printer interface options for the TS1000/ZX81.
An inexpensive computer and interface for research in the behavioral sciencesMicroAce ZX81
The Sinclair ZX81 computer and Byte-Back BB-1 control module are very inexpensive devices that can be used to control equipment in a psychology laboratory. A simple program and description for interfacing the system to a Skinner box are presented.
Analog-Digital ConverterZX81 Hardware review
Use with the BB-1 I/O board. Converts at 2.5v and 5v to 8 bit values (0-255).
AutotapeTS 1000 Type-in program Hardware project
BB-1 8-Bit Input/Output Module KitTS 1000 Hardware review
Two Intel 8212 8-bit I/O port chips are the heart of the BB-1. Byte-Back’s module is compatible with both ZX and Timex units and neatly uses memory locations 32764 and 32766 to store input and output information.
Bits & BytesTS 2068
Bits and Bytes
Bits and BytesTS 2068
Timex Sinclair User has issued its first copy of Timex Sinclair Shopper. It is supposed to come out quarterly. In it there is a subscription form for Timex Sinclair News, the new name for Timex Sinclair User. The new owner of Timex Sinclair User worked with TS User and the former Timex Sinclair User became…
Bits and BytesTS 2068
Timex Sinclair User is dead; subscriptions will be filled with issues of K-Power.
Bits and Bytes
Byte Back MD-2 Modem KitTS 1000 Hardware review
Byte-Back M-64 Memory ExpansionTS 1000 Hardware review
Review of the RAM pack.
Byte-Back ModemTS 1000 Hardware review
Byte-Back Modem Shipments Delayed
Byte-Back will ship no modems for 4-6 weeks.
Byte-Back RS-232 and Tasword TwoTS 2068 Type-in program Hardware project
Compatibility of MachinesTS 1000 TS 1500 TS 2068
Compatibility of hardware with the TS1500 and TS2068.
Dear Editor
Battery-backed power; errors in printing floating point numbers; using VU-File with Qsave; Sinclair microdrive; overload the TS1000 stack with a simple program; good service from a vendor; thanks to fellow reader; Byte-Back RAM unit.
Experimenting With the Byte Back ModemTS 1000 Type-in program
How to program modem settings with the TS1000.
For Your SupportTS 1000 TS 2068
Hardware and software announcements from many vendors.
For Your SupportZX81 TS 1000 TS 2068 QL
Product announcements from G. Russell Electronics, Byte-Back, Variety Sales, Chia-Chi Chao, Larken Electronics, Sams, Fred Nachbaur, Lemke Software Development and E. Arthur Brown.
Highlights of the February MeetingTS 1000
Sue Mahoney reported on public library in Sub Oak, NY, that lends TS-1000 computers. Mike Coughlin led discussion on FORTH. Peter Nichols demonstrated Byte-Back modem.
Highlights of the September Meeting
Frank Kaplan from Compusa Corporation demonstrated a prototype of the FDC-101 floppy disk system. Jeff Parker demonstrated the Byte-Back MD1 and MD2 modems.
Key Support Operations Will Stay
Announcements of support from SoftSync, Byte-Back, Microsync Services, Thomas B. Woods, Banta Software, Kopak. Timex will honor warranties.
M-16 Memory ModuleTS 1000 Hardware review
Review of the RAM pack.
MD-1 Direct-Connect Modem and RS-232 PortTS 1000 Hardware review
Review of Byte-Back’s modem.
MD-2 ModemTS 1000 Hardware review
Review of the Byte-Back modem for the TS1000.
Modem and Serial I/OTS 1000 Hardware review
Review of Byte-Back MD-1 modem.
New Products and Services (Syntax v5 n11)
Tom Woods sells enhanced Mscript; Byte-Back offers new A/D converter; Tom Bent’s 8K ROM; Powerful Projects with Your Timex/Sinclair; D. Lipinski’s buyer’s guide; Spec-Tax; control your computer with brain waves; green screen monitors.
Product News
Catalogs from Silicon Mountain Computers, Byte-Back, JRC Software. Service manuals from Sams Computerfact. RAMEX discontinues support for 2068 and Millenia K disk systems.
Q & A
Byte-Back UM-64; One Chip Mods; “Delete” machine code.
Refining ZCOMMTS 2068
Rumors and More
T-S NewsTS 2068
Midwest Timex-Sinclair Computerfest coming. Byte-Back still in business. AN-TO Productions carries line of plastic keyboard overlays for the TS2068, for use with Tasword and MScript. English Micro Connection carries Spectrum games. Zebra Systems selling TS1510 cartridge doc and three cartridges. Applied Sinclair: Subroutines and Programs for the Mathematically Inclined available from Richard Booth. Hacksel Electronics…
T/S MODEMSTS 1000 TS 2068
Short article about modems available to TS users.
Telecommunicating With Your TimexTS 1000
Describes accessing various online services with a TS1000 and Byte-Back MD-2 modem.
Telecommunication NotesTS 2068 TS 2050
Resolving issues with the 2050 modem when used with 2040 printer. Byte-Back keeping up with 2068 modem orders.
The Byte-Back MD-68 ModemTS 2068 Hardware review
Timex TipsTS 2068
Tips for using the Byte-Back Modem with the TS 2068; calling machine code routines; using the OS-64 cartridge.
Tips on Buying Communications SoftwareTS 1000 TS 2068
ZCOMM 16/64K, Byte-Back Modem, Spectra Term mentioned.
TS-1000 I/O BoardTS 1000
How a user interfaced his TS 1000 to his train layout with the Byte-Back BB-1 interface board.
Turning Your Sinclair-Timex into a Smart TerminalTS 1000 Hardware review
Review of Byte-Back MD-1 and MD-2 modems.
UM-64 Memory ModuleZX81 TS 1000 Hardware review
Using bigger memories creates opportunities for greater losses in a crash. Byte-Back’s battery-back-up scheme cuts this risk. You’ll also get the possibility to have your operating system in RAM (all but the characters), compatibility with the TS1500, switch-selectable banks in the 8-16K area, an EPROM socket you can switch-select into 8-16K, and reasonable documentation from…
Using the Byte-Back ModemZX80 Hardware review
The Byte-Back modem is a fine device. It works well and actually does more than advertised. The instruction manual, on the other hand, in its attempt to furnish operating instructions, assembly instructions, and engineering data, is a bit sketchy. A description of the non-standard output on the RS232 board is not given nor is there…
Vendor ReportTS 2068
Byte-Back has nearly cleared up its backlog of 2068 modem orders; Ray Kingsley of Sinware believes that some of you may have purchased bootleg copies of an early version of HOT-Z with a bug in it; allegation of Gladstone copying software.
Vendor Report and NotesTS 2040
Norris Electronics is out of business; Byte-Back memory units might not work with TS2040 printer. Frog Software is distributing May-June issue of Sinclair Computing.
What's In Store: Byte-Back Modem (Timex Sinclair 1000/1500)TS 1000 TS 1500