MAR 90

Vancouver sinclair Users SFOoup

NeXT Meeting:

TAIS TSB Escocia sea 2 MEETING MINUTES........... 2 MEETING DATE .............0000 3 JACK"S WORDMASTER......4 BILL JONES SEZ... 6

VINCE'S MC ARTICLE....... 8 HARVEY'S ARTICLE......... 9 SEWARD'S 1000 PROG.....12

ZXAppeal is a monthly oe NEWSBITS............. ie newsletter put out by the ea See ee eeeee sees eeeeeeeeeeseee 18 Vancouver Sinclair Users Group. SM APES 19 For more information on the ZXWORD SOLUTION..........20

group and ZXAppeal see the backcover.

INSIDE: -Harvey - Jack -Bill -Vince -Seward -& Ken

PHIS ISSUE contain

Hi. Nice to see ya. Have a good winter? Howdya like the snow? Hope you got some computin' time in while snowbound. Anyways, this month we got a whole mess a good stuff for ya so settle back and hold on: Vince L. is back with a further installment of his well regarded MC series; Harvey T.'s along with another of his highly informative “Playing withs”; Bill Jones of UPDATE Magazine wrote me a pretty good analysis of the Cambridge Z88 and has allowed me to share it with the rest of you; Jack Dohany has finished his upgrading of WORDMASTER to U.S. version 1.08 and his descriptive announcement is within (This is one of the best programs written to really put the 2068 through its paces and any serious TSer's library should include this program); Ken A. has contributed what we in the Editor's chair hope to see turn into a regular submission - a column of just plain interesting stuff; we complete the 2068 program from last month. Lastly we include the notice from the S.M.U.G. group about their SINCLAIR COMPUTER EXPOSITION to he held in Milwaukee,

Wisconsin early June. IIS

SoS SSCL eC LCL AAA AAA AAA AAA A AAA AA AAA AAA AAA AAA RARA

January 10/90 Minutes

-by your humble scribe

Upon entering the second floor board room, we were greeted with the sight of a 2068 Larken DD and Ramdisk system and a KayProFour set up. At 19:20 the firebells started to ring, not an auspicious omen. At 19:30 there were 17 intrepid spirits ready to brave the rigours of computer orphanhood. It quickly transpired that the minutes of Nov/89 were in error. [See Dec/89 Page 4: Substitute Marie for Mario] (Your humble scribe is an omnivore; crow having been eaten, the meeting continued.)

Gerd told of receiving a PROM 8 eprom burner as a hand-me-down from his work. He passed around the instruction manual. If anyone needs to get some eproms blown, give Gerd a call.

Rusty Townsend was away in Las Vegas so there was no VP report. 2

Rod Humphreys, the Treasurer, was back from gallavanting about Mexico in November and Chicago in December. He had the Larken disk interface and LK-DOS eprom card for the club 2068 system. These items cost the club $152.26. They were duly presented to Harry Slot who is

doing the greater part of the librarian duties at

present.

We had a couple of visitors from Kelowna, John and Brendan Regan. John just got a QL and he was full of questions. He was seen later talking to Harvey. Louis Montminy also brought a friend, Fred, to carry the KP4.

Gerd also passed around a Casio portable computer, more like an overgrown calculator actually. This thing had a 2K battery-backed ram pack with a program which was dedicated to adjusting racing car camshafts.

Rod, the Editor, discussed the Post' office in fine and glowing terms. He is cutting it real close with the weight per letter allowance. He wants articles! Write!

Harry Slot of the Hardware SIG reports that he is dabbling once again; the house building being about done. He has been playing with an Eprom burner board, as well as a 32K battery backed memory board for the TS1000.

It was about this point that Gerd could hold back no longer the story of his debut as an electronics garbage picker. It seems some store nearby his workplace threw a bunch of ‘rare and priceless’, i.e. not IBM compatible, electronics junk into a dumpster which our valiant leader espied. Needless to say, to be a Sinclairite is to be cheap and the junk did not remain long in the dumpster.

Gerd has the book library if you want something. Harry now has the TS2068 and the TS1000 software libraries, but I imagine it will take a while before he gets it all organized and a list published. Bill Rutter donated the remains of his setup, which he did not sell, to the club. For this generous act he received a round of applause and many good wishes.

The meeting dissolved into demos. Louis with the KP4 at one end and Rod with the Larken system at the other. Amazingly, we all seemed to know why we were there...

Feb 9/90 Minutes

-by your ‘umble scribe

We appear to have entered the strange meeting zone - just down the hall from the twilight zone (across the hall from Clive). It was raining cats & dogs at meeting time on top of which some kids were having a dance upstairs at the community club so we were back downstairs in the old room. The backgroud noise level was high. At any rate, it was decreed by Rod H. fiat that this month the folks present were to be called stalwart souls. There were 14 at 19:35.

Glenn Read is squeamish about the Squamish highway (hold on, it gets worse) and was absent. Louis Montminy had a KP2 which he has accumulated. This month Guido Vieira had an Oborne and they were busy exchanging disks.

Gerd opened the meeting by informing us that he had acquired two full-height disk drives for the TS 1000 library system.

The Hardware SIG reports that contrary to previous reports, Harry Slot is still working on his house.

Rusty Townsend stood to tell us he had nothing to say, then proceeded to regale us with tales of his big win in Las Vegas. He also mentioned an upcoming computer show in Kent. This occasioned another discussion of the Great Canadian pastime of “bluff the border guard”. Look for an article on the Kent show.

Rod H. as Treasurer says we have about $1k.

Rod H. as Editor had nothing to say except “send articlesll”. Then Rod told us about innocently pointing out WordMaster to Jack Dohaney, and the resulting North American version which Jack has produced. Look for an article from Rod.

Gerd put on his most plaintive voice and.

pleaded for somebody to help H. Slot with the cataloguing of the software libraries. Vince Lee volunteered.

Marie Kendall innocently asked about cleaning dust out of computers and it kicked off a round of story telling. The consensus being that it was no problem for convection-cooled equipment, but that regular PCs and such with fans could use

periodic vacuuming. For intermittent flakiness possibly due to dust, a shot of contact cleaner works wonders.

Ken Grant demonstrated his homemade paper guide and printer-holder tray. Harvey passed around a newspaper clipping on the new AT&T Light Processor. Harvey also read a couple of excerpts from the QJump2 newsletter. Look for some excerpts reprinted by Rod H. Ken Abramson

passed around a downloaded article on the book “Mind Children: The Future of Robot and Human Intelligence” by Hans Moravec of Carnegie-Mellon University. Guido Vieira passed around a book (the title of which I have forgotten) on mind and machines, mimicking brain function with logic circuits. He is into Neural Nets lately.

The band got really loud upstairs & we adjourned early to individual shouting.

BOO OOO OOOO OOOOOOOOOKHIOK

...meeting date

if MAR /9@ |

13 | 14

SISO OOOO OOOO OOOO OK

3

Jack Dohany > 404-543-5309 435 Woodward Way January 1990 Athens, GA 30606

DESCRIPTION OF WORD-MASTER (USA version 1.08)

Word-Master is a software package written for the Spectrum by Paul Sneesby and Barry Parkinson, of PCG Software in England. The package is sold and supported in the USA by Jack Dohany. The USA version is designed to run on the Timex/Sinclair 2068 computer, equipped with any form of Spectrum emulator. The software is provided in pre-customized form for any 2068 disk system and printer interface. The software can also be used with cassette. Ordering information is on the reverse.

Word-Master is a full-featured "extendable" word processor, written entirely in machine code, with provision for BASIC disk access. The program uses a Tasword-like 64-column display... but there the similarity with Tasword ends. I’d like to discuss three main features which distinguish the program: file handling, graphics capability and extension programs.

File handling is what makes the other two features possible. Word-Master has a sort of integral ram-disk, which permits you to load as many files as there’s room in memory for... and there’s over 28k of file space! The files may be text, graphics, fonts, extension programs, or "page layouts". You can easily switch from one to the other,and you can link text files. The package includes numerous ready-to-use files.

Graphics capability: you can load a screen and easily "capture" all or part of it, automatically converting it into a "graphic file" suitable for inclusion by name in a text file. When the text file is printed, the named graphic is accessed from memory and printed along with your text. Of course, the printer must have graphics capability. You control the position and size of the graphic with commands imbedded in the text. You can include many graphics in a text.

Extension programs are utilities which, when loaded and selected, add powerful capabilities to the "core" word processor. A bunch of small utilities are included in the package. There are two large utilities which are extra-cost options: HEADLINER (a graphics processor), and TYPELINER (a fantastic desktop publisher). Both include a number of special fonts. The TYPELINER fonts are complex proportional "printer oriented" letter-quality fonts. There are two additional TYPELINER font-packs which are extra-cost options.

It’s difficult to describe how smoothly and elegantly all of this works together. Try it! You’1l like it! And if you don’t, you can get a refund.

ORDERING WORD-MASTER

To order (or pay for) WORD-MASTER, please fill out and return a copy of the attached registration form. When ordering, you need pay ONLY for WM itself ($18) and the $3 charge for shipping. You will receive the COMPLETE package with all options, customized for your equipment where possible.

After you receive the package and have a chance to evaluate the options, you can decide which of the options you wish to purchase. You can then fill out and send me a new registration form, omitting the EQUIPMENT section. You are expected to pay only for those options which you like and use. You need not return or erase unpurchased options. If you initially find you have no use for an option, and later find that you DO have a use for it, then you should pay for it at that time.

If you find you hate the whole thing, you can return the entire package and receive a refund of the amount paid.

WORD-MASTER PRICES

The price of the USA version of WORD-MASTER is about 20% bëlów the British list price, converted to dollars. The price ranges from $18 to $67, depending on which options you choose to purchase. ; My

DEDUCTIONS

If I owe you money, you may deduct the amount owed from what you pay for WM. Just make a note explaning the deduction on the back of the registration form.

NOTE: If you are already a legal owner of the British version, then you should pay only $5 for the USA version of WM itself, rather than $18. You should also pay for any options that were not purchased with your British version, assuming you wish to purchase them now. :

LOW ON FUNDS?

The complete WORD-MASTER package is rather expensive. You need not pay for it all at once. You can pay for it as ‘your budget permits.

SUPPORT

When you purchase software from me, you are entitled to one supportive phone-call or letter-reply at no charge. If you require further assistance I’ll be happy to provide it, but I’ll bill you for my time, at $5 per hour. However, correction of any errors on my part is always free.

AAAAAA NAAA AAA AAA ANA AAA A AAN

Two men were preparing to go hiking in Yosemite National Park. One asked the other why he was putting on a pair of running shoes instead of hiking boots. “In case we meet a bear,” he replied. “That's silly, you can'toutrun a bear.” “I don't have to outrun the bear, I only have to outrun you.”

UPDATE MAGAZINE

1317 Stratford Ave Panama City, FL 32404 January 25, 1989

Mr. Rod Humphries

2006 Highview Place Port Moody, BC, V3H 1N5 Canada

Dear Rod,

It was nice talking with you. Since you spent a chunk on the telephone call, the least that I can do is to reply in more detail about the Cambridge 788. I will also inclose the October 89 issue of Update, which is the first issue of the 1990 year. The issue year is confusing to same. Year issues start in October because October 87 was the first issue. We have the Chinese New year, the Jewish New year, and why not the Update new year, eh?

I have had my Z88 about a year. With so much desk capability; and my limited travels, I have not found a lot of use for it. That statement speaks for the Z88's very limited usefulness for desk top use, mainly because of its tiny screen display and lack of I/O for disk operation. There is a disk drive for ` the Z88, but it cost $375.00 and is quite mideaval, more like a fast cassette that we are accustomed to using with the old Sinclair's. The DOS only handles single side read write and has a maximum storage of 120K per side. But, the DD is battery operated, which has portability assets. And, there is a battery operated “Dicontex" printer, also small to match the portable motif. These three units make up a package to fit into a small briefcase.

The two ROM BASED softwares, Pipe Dream and Diary, are both excellent. Pipe Dream is about the equilivant of the QL's Quill. Diary is a combination software that one can use as a "Record" type program or for many other purposes. Both softwares integrates well with the memory management of the Z88. Since both are “in ROM" they are just there all of the time. You could think of these two softwares as just part of the operating system. And, the data previously created with the two programs are retained until a decision is made to clear. The whole Z88 memory is non-volatile. But, depending upon the cartridge memory installed, the battery life varies from a few hours to days. Also, the length of usage of a printer or disk drive would affect battery life. Even so, the Z88 protects memory very effectively. It "goes to sleep" and holds memory non-volatile even when there is insufficient battery power to operate the computer. It will appear to be dead, but with battery replacement the data will be there.

The Z88 is very limited without extra memory. Only about two or three written pages of data can be stored with the built in ram. I believe this is about 8K of FREE, but it could be a few K off. I bought a 128K RAM cartridge and a 32K EPROM cartridge with the computer. I also have the two LINK sofwares, PC LINK and QL LINK. The Link software consists of an Eprom cart for the Z88 and a diskette for the Linked computer. DATA File transfer is easy between the Z88 and the Linked computer, which makes the QL a DISK or Microdrive "interface" for the 288. "Create data on the road and then Store it to QL Disk upon return home". (Or to IBM Disk). I haven't done much of that, but my Son has with his IBM system. Data files can be input (after transfer) to the IBM Word Perfect, or to the QL's Quill.

I have used the Z88 and its parallel interface cable to print directly with my printers. The parallel interface is almost identical to that for the QL, a cable that hooks to the Z88, the opposite end having a small serial to parallel interface that hooks to the printer. I dont have a serial printer,

but would say that the Z88 would hook directly to one.

The only publication support for the Z88 is the magazine "EPROM", a half page size bi-monthly from England. I subscribe to that through Sharps. The content of EPROM is shallow and it does not do much for me. I read between the lines of EPROM that programing information is not available from Sinclair, even in England.

I would use the Z88 as a desk top constantly, interfaced by the LINK software to the QL, if the Z88's screen was satisfactory. But with the better display already available on the desk, that would equate to self punishment. Also, there is so much more software capability of the QL that such use would not be advantageous. This leads me into a comparison of the 2Z88 and other Portable systems.

As usual, Sinclair produced the Z88 at a time when comparable systems were very high in price. Two years ago I looked at portable MS-DOS computers and found them to cost a minimum of $3500. Now Toshiba has a 640K MS-DOS portable, with disk drive, and a much larger fold-up screen, all for about $700. It loads and operates most MS-DOS software. Some other MS-DOS portables, Toshiba included, have built in hard drives and cost around $1800. It would be easy to sink over a $1000 into a Z88 and be left with vastly inferior capability. So, the only reason that I can see for one to buy a Z88 seems to be "Sinclair loyalty". Of course, another reason could be a "rummage sale bargain". If one could pick up a Z88 that is equipped with a 128K Ram cart for less than $350-- well, why not? Thats only half what a 640K, disk equipped, MS-DOS Portable cost.

Today the term "Personal Computer" means anything from Psion's calculator size computer to IBM's $6000 386 system with multi-megabyte hard drives. The trend, as I see it, is toward high capability portables for personal computing. The price structure for such portables vary over a great range, and the cost of portables is decreasing. The PC portables lend themselves to desk top use as well. The newer ones have excellent screen display, which really makes dual usage practical.

I was greatly disappointed that Sinclair did not develop a support system for the Z88. They really needed to "drop the other shoe", ie, produce such periphreals as a Monitor interface and a disk drive, plus software support. In fact, it is not possible to even get information support from Sinclair or their North American importer. It appears that the Z88 was not designed to be improved upon.

The Z88's "SAVE to EPROM’ is an interesting capability. This may have more future applications than is now present. The idea of "Chip Mass Storage" is before its time. Memory chips are just too expensive to use the Z88's "Eprom Save" concept. So, that side of the Z88's capability is not likely to be used very much. Sir Clive's prejudice against Disk Drives again kills a Sinclair Computer! And, thats how I see the Z88- A computer that is very useful for singular purpose of portability, over priced, under supported, no future, and one that will not induce a significant user group to form. Perhaps Sir Clive's next Computer will set the barn on fire (with a hard drive and a decent display)?

Best wishes to you and the Vancouver group.

Sincerel 7) = a hett erti ili Janes

3 a pr

en press

> =r

The keyboard is really

interconnecting switches. The locate whith Switch has been scaring the matrix. If none of are pressed, the scan returns a FFFFH. (UH is used to ifidicat number.) If a key if pressed,

representing the location is returned. _

The computer can be directed to: matrix by CALLing on the ROH located at 6288. The value will to register pair HL. The scan can obtained by peeking inte Yariables's “LASTLK’ when the operatino in the SLOW mode.

As part of its housekeeping chore, the

mE ROM's display routine also performs a keyboard scan. This if how the system knows Which keys have been pressed. It then stores this data in the System Variables LAƏST_E which we can access Simply by “peeking? into its Cation 4825H, 4@26H. Usine the register E

to perform this task will be an as you Will later see.

hat are the advantageous disadvantageous of these tuo ie

Execution time is much faster using L than using the ROM routine. However 3 Can only be used when the compute operating in the SLOW mode. The s does not generate a display and t does not generate a keyboard scan when operates in the FAST mode.

Now that we have the location code need to convert it to the key that represents. This is | accomplish

Loabing register pair BC with the then CALLing the ROM routine S?FEDH.

Character in BERON

b

pa ains the code, conti a the DECODE He can register A character pressed. A register can be used but this one the best.

Letis take a look at the SCRLL routine it is similar to the SCROLL routine ed in BASIC. The TU display if nothing more than a mirror image of the memory'z display file. Manipulating this ares Causes the same effects on the screen iDIR is a block move instruction with it

Gun “FOR NEXT’ loop. The BEC consecutive bytes are moved from HL to DE. This shifts all the bytes “one line",

The STACK is a “shelf”? in memory for temporary storage. When we left With the USR statement, a return Was automatically placed there. Thus we are ready to switch back, we use instruction RET which retrieves this bit number off of the “Shelf and uses aS a guide.

Other instructions also make use oF the STACK. CALLing a subroutine will place a return address, while its counterpart RETurn, remove it for its use. PUSHing a register pair places & copy oF its contents while POPFin3 removes. the copy from the STACK and place it to à designated register pair.

Only items at the top of the STARCK can

be acessed. This means that no matter how many items are stored, the last item placed are also the first item taken. And

whatever's placed onp the STACK must eventuallg be removed” to allow the designated RE Turn instruction to acess t address for BASIC.

There are tricks that you can play the STACK. In “Mastering M0", it was u as a pointer for printing Characters t the screen. Tre instruction “LD Sc,Hi

es nob exist. But it can be accomplished with two instructions, PUSH HL and then change a RET instruction by return

POF BC. You can even instruction into a “S0TO” manually changing the value of the address.

The EXIT routin then returns acoessed instructior address on tl is Cleared

con't on page 13

Playing with Electricity - Harvey Taylor - Jan 12/90 - (Updated Feb 23/90)

I have been collecting information on 9600 baud modems for a while now and I finally got around to making up the table below. I have used the manufacturer's data sheets for this info, so take it with a grain of salt. I have seen it said that some products support various protocols,

but I simply went by the data sheets.

Data Race Action 32 Data Race Action 1496 Data Race Rally 9600 Data Race VM 1

Fastcomm FDX 9696

Hayes Ultra

Hayes V-series Smartmodem 9600

Microcom AX/9624c Microcom QX/3296c Microcom QX/V.32c

Prometheus ProModem 9600 Plus

Racal-Vadic 9632PA Racal-Vadic 9632VP

Telcor 3238 Telcor 2938

Telcor 3264PC Telebit T1000 Telebit T2500

Telebit TrailBlazer Plus

USR Courier HST

USR Courier HST Dual Standard USR Courier HST/ix (for Unix systems) USR Courier V.32

Protocols:

/T/P/¥/3/3/2/2/2/2/2/2/1/1/ /P/P/P/P/4/4/P/T/Q/P/

Transmission

Error & Compression

EPETTT a AS 2 Be ea a G LAA. 1111111111801 2/31 I AAAA LALALALA SSMS LAA jy //f

/

11181 11111 Pel 12/11 /14/5/6/9/ /b/B/ / /M/ / / 1E/3/2/9/7/312/2/1/1/1/ 1 1 1 1 12121 1 1 1 /

/S/E/B/././././././.1.1e/e/ /[N/N/N/M/././A/F/R/A/ Chip

/B/P/B/V/V/V/IVIV/IV/IV/V/B/B/ /M/M/M/M/V/V/L/A/A/L/

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C1 = TMS32010 C2 = TMS32020 HST - (High Speed asynchronous Transmissions) is a proprietary US Robotics 9600 baud transmission protocol. [ 9600 and/or 14400 bps, asymmetrical modulation ("back channel" at reduced (300 or 450) bps) ] PEP - (Packetized Ensemble Protocol) is a proprietary Telebit 9600 baud transmission protocol. ("ping-pong") The TB+ also has "Protocol spoofing" to turn xmodem, kermit, - and UUCP G file transfers into streaming protocols. HAYES - a proprietary "ping-pong" 9600 baud protocol. LAP-B - Link Access Procedure Balanced ARQ - Proprietary Hayes Error Correction/Link protocol AFT - Proprietary Hayes Error Correction/Link protocol LAP-M - Part of V.42 Link Access Procedure for Modems * - Telcor has proprietary Error correction (Telcor CRC-16) £ data compression.

Bell 103: 300 bps, full-duplex, FSK encoding

v.21 : 300 bps, full-duplex, FSK encoding

Bell 212: 1200 bps, full-duplex, DPSK encoding

v.22 : 1200 bps, full-duplex, DPSK encoding

v.23 : 1200/75,75/1200 bps, full duplex DPSK encoding

V.22bis : 2400 bps, full duplex, QAM encoding

v.27 : 4800 bps, half duplex, tribit encoding

v.29 : 9600 bps, half duplex

V.32 : 9600 bps, full-duplex, Trellis encoding with echo cancellation 4800 bps (V.32 "fallback" speed)

v.33 : 9600, 12000, 14400 bps 4 wire leased line

FSK Frequency Shift Keying

DPSK = Differential Phase-shift Keying QAM = Quadrature Amplitude Modeulation Trellis is a modified QAM

V.42

A CCITT error correction standard much like MNP4. In fact, because V.42 includes MNP4, all MNP modems establish error-controlled connections with V.42 modems. Error correction technology copes with phone line imparments by automatically restrIn;mitting corrupted data. ALL U>S> Robotics high speed modems (Courier HST and Courier V.32) and the courier 2400e currently incorporate MNP and therefore V.42 compatible.

V.42bis

A CCITT data compression standard similar to MNP5, but providing about 35% better compression - thus better throughtput. To negotiate a standard connection using V.42bis requires V.42. Thus a modem with V.42bis data compression is assumed to include V.42 error correction. All U.S. Robotics high speed modems (Courier HST DUAL STANDARD, Courier HST and Courier V.32) and the Courier 2400e will incorporate V.42bis data compression by early

1990. Data compression increases transmission speed by reducing the number of bits to be sent. The file compressed by the transmitting modem and decompressed by the receiving modem. The sending and receiving systems must both use the same rules of compression and decompression.

X.25 is a DIGITAL packetised transmission standard for PDN's it will support multiple simultaneous sessions on Timenet, Telenet , and AT&T PDN the Hayes can use X.25 instead of V.32 under V.42bis as an option.

X.25 and X.75 modems are called PADS not MODEMS since they are Digital not MODulated.

The term PAD stands for Packet Assembler/Disassembler Trailblazer modems can chat at 19.2 kbps and can achieve an actual throughput of 18,000 baud WITHOUT COMPRESSION. This means that ARC files for example will be transfered at 18,000 baud.

References FidoNet HST conference comp .dcom.modems Usenet BYTE - Mar/83, Page 26; Circuit Cellar by Steve Ciarcia BYTE - Nov/85, Page 89; Circuit Cellar by Steve Ciarcia MIPS -Dec/89,Page 44; Fast Talking by William L. Rinko-Gay BYTE -June/89,Page 162; 4800 Bits, No Errors by S. Apike £ S.Diehl BYTE -June/89,Page 321; Modern Modem Methods by L.Brett Glass BYTE -Jan/89,Page 281; Whither the Modem? by J.H. Humphrey & G.S.Smock BYTE -June/88,Page 102; High-Speed Modems by J.H. Humphrey & G.S.Smock Computer Shopper -Feb/88,Page 9; Speeding along at 9600 Baud by Ted Drude Computer Shopper -Feb/90,Page 243; LightSpeed 9624E Modem by Ted Drude EXAR - XR-212AS Modem Design Booklet Texas Instruments - TMS99532 Data Manual CCITT Volume VIII.1 Series V Recommendations Understanding Telephone Electronics by TI Learning Centre (Radio Shack) The Theory and practice of Modem Design by John Bingham 1988

Wiley Interscience ISBN 0-471-85108-6

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Dept. C

SINCLAIR RADIONICS LTD es citen none, canonioce Build the Sinclair MICRO-AMPLIFIER

This microscopic amplifier, the smallest of its type in the world, out-performs amplifiers 20 times as large.

Power Gain—60dB (1,000,000 times).

Frequency Response—30 c/s to 50 kc/s+1dB.

Output Power—sufficient for any earpiece or small loudspeaker.

Simple to build using ordinary tools.

ACTUAL SIZE 2 ONLY Fxy xp Uses brand new micro-miniature components and micro-alloy

transistors.

Very low noise level. May be used as tape recorder pre-amplifier.

Free applications data supplied with every kit showing how to use the micro-amp in micro-radios and transmitters, and with high and low impedance pick-ups, microphones and stereo headphones.

2 8/6 plus 1/6 postage and packing Trade enquiries invited.

He WML E

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SOOO HIICOIIOIAK

Contributed by VSUG out-of-towner Seward Warner

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Ken Abramson sent in by way of the Froghollow BBS these interesting news items he picked up. Maybe we can persuade Ken to develop this into a monthly column.

Mesg: 310 Date: 13-Feb-90

Fldr: General Time: 22:06:35

Subj: NEWS Rply: None (BOT-EOT) From: Ken Abramson To: Rod Humphreys

Source: USA TODAY/Gannett National Information Network

AT&T REPORTS FIRST FABRICATION: Researchers at AT&T Bell Laboratories have reported the first fabrication and data

INKEY LD BO, [LASK]; us Int t i

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ap ies IT ; transmission using two new types of photonic

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CALL DCODE j PLAC semiconductor chips that use integrated optical

ERA 7 trl} ; i waveguides to pipe light from one optical device to the next.

SCRLL AT&T CREATES NEW CHIP: i

¡THIS ROUTINE UILL ¿Se ¡ROLL UP THE FIRST 223 j LINES ON THE SCREEN

The balanced heterodyne receiver PIC can replace all the discrete optical devices needed for coherent reception techniques with a single semiconductor chip. Only several millimeters in

. o. D

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¿REGS:BC, "ERE A TED size, it is capable of receiving light signals using

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LD DE,{SCRN}; SCREEN larger.

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RET AT&T DEVELOPS NEW PIC:

AT&Ts new PIC is a single-chip transmission A Seto oss source for use in optical fiber systems i EXIT employing wavelength division multiplexing.

}_ THIS ROUTINE WILL END; ¡THE PROGRAM AND RETUR ¡BACK TO BASIC.

;SCREEN IS CLEARED. i ¡ALL REGS. ARE AFFECTED.:

This is a technique where a number of independent conventionally encoded optical signals of different colors can be combined onto the same optical fiber separated at the receiver using optical filters.

2

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TRIDENT MISSILES ARE LAUNCHED: Two Trident 2 missiles were successfully launched 20 seconds apart on Monday, ending

EXIT the U.S. Navy's three-year test of the weapons. The two 44-foot missiles were launched from the nuclear submarine Tennessee 200 miles off

SCAN gogg the Florida coast. The Trident 2 costs $26.5

ATLI dona million apiece; the U.S. Navy says it is more

LINEI goga accurate than the earlier Polaris, Poseidon and

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MARIETTA HAS LANTIRN DEAL:

Martin Marietta of Bethesda, Md. U.S.A., has a $194.4 million U.S. Air Force contract for 120 electro-optic targeting pods for the LANTIRN system. The targeting pods, mounted on F-15E and F-16 fighters, are advanced technology fire control systems used with navigational systems to allow 500 mph, low-altitude flight in total darkness.

FUN PRODUCTS PHONES GET SNAZZY:

Fun Products of Berkeley, Calif. U.S.A., has unveiled a new, snazzier line of telephones that feature sound effects, talking chips and new finishes. The firm last year introduced the trimline and desktop phones encased in clear Lexan plastics, with multi-colored internal parts and flashing neon lights. New feature: FunFX system, pre-programmed sound effects such as a laugh, scream or applause.

COMET MAY GIVE LIGHT SHOW:

Astronomers may get a real treat if the space shuttle delivers the giant Hubble Space Telescope into orbit in time for comet Austin, which will be six times brighter than Haley's comet. Its predicted trajectory brings it dramatically close to the sun and Earth, making it visible in April. The long-delayed telescope launch is scheduled for April aboard a shuttle.

IBM CREATES MEGA CHIP:

IBM Corp. has produced a computer memory chip capable of storing up to 16 million bits of information, four times the storage capacity of the most powerful chips on the market. The

16-megabit chip can store the equivalent of 1,600 pages of text on a surface smaller than a postage stamp. (From the USA TODAY Money section.)

SALAD BAR PROVIDES POWER:

With manure and salad bar scraps, researchers at the University of Maine are using the natural process of anaerobic digestion to generate electricity. In a “digester” tank, bacteria break down the organic matter and create a gas that is burned to spin a generator. It produces $8,000 worth of electricity a year.

AIRCRAFT TO SEARCH OZONE HOLE:

A pilotless, remote control airplane will fly over the ozone hole over Antarctica next year to help scientists gather information they otherwise could not obtain. Full of instruments, the plane will fly as high as 85,000 feet. Currently, manned flights can not go higher than 68,000 feet or remain in the ozone hole for more than a few days.

SPA CE-AGE SYSTEM TRACKS FIRES:

The U.S. Forest Service and NASA are devising the Firefly system to spot and track forest fires. Electronic gear aboard the aircraft will use new Global Positioning System navigation satellites. The image and the plane's location will be processed together in a computer on the aircraft and which will then be transmitted to the Forest Service's field computers.

SATELLITE SERVES AIR AND GROUND:

IDB Aeronautical Communications, a subsidiary of IDB Communications Group Inc., will join Teleglobe Canada Inc., a subsidiary of Teleglobe International Inc., in providing satellite aeronautical communication services.

The service uses the INMARSAT satellite system. Signals will be sent, received via satellite from terminals on the aircraft to and from six earth stations worldwide.

COLON CANCER STRIDES HOPEFUL:

Recent strides in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer - the second-most lethal form after lung cancer - will likely cut its death rate, which has barely budged since 1970. Some 110,000 new U.S. cases are diagnosed annually; 60,000 die in the U.S. yearly. U.S. scientists say surgery and the chemotherapy drugs fluorouracil and levamisole cut deaths by a third among late-stage patients.

APNEA AFFECTS MEN, BULLDOGS: i 5

One in five middle-aged men suffer the potentially fatal sleep disorder called apnea,

which stops breathing for a few seconds during sleep. University of Pennsylvania scientists say

bulldogs also have the disorder because like humans, they snore and stop breathing often while asleep. The team hopes studying the dogs will reveal ways to treat both men and beasts.

FIRM, NIH TACKLE BRAIN DRUG:

CORTEX Pharmaceuticals of Irvine, Calif. and the U.S. National Institutes of Health will join in a brain protection research project. NIH chemisanalogs of the brain chemical adenosine, for development by CORTEX as drugs to limit the brain damage and memory loss associated with stroke.

WAVE OF PCs TO HIT MARKET

Beginning Thursday, a wave of PCs will hit the market that do away with computer codes, even keyboards. The electronic notepads or pen-based PCs recognize the printed word written on a computer screen and translate it to text. Experts say they will be ideal for those who shy away from PCs because of complexity or knowledge of typing. Price: $1,995-$6,000. (From the USA TODAY Money section.)

MICROCHIP IDENTIFYING PETS:

A microchip is replacing dog and cat ID tags. An ID number is encoded in the chip, which is the size of a grain of rice. The chip then is inserted under the pet's skin, between the shoulder blades at the base of the neck. Animal shelters and other agencies that care for stray pets then use a scanner to read the chip and determine the owner. (From the USA TODAY Life section.)

APPLE CUTS EMPLOYEES:

Citing slowing sales of personal computers, Apple Computer said it will lay off three percent of its work force, 400 workers, in two months. The news is no surprise: Apple said Jan. 15 that it planned an undetermined number of layoffs and other cost-cutting moves. Apple has been criticized for neglecting its traditional customers by not updating its low-priced Macintosh PC.

16

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Across Alexander's surname may have a familiar ring to it (4)

Report disc corruption giving information on data

record (10) Asteroids in remote southern setting (7)

Unit I’m also designing for a game style (10) Bob Geldof's program of famine relief? (4,3)

Visit Alicante to discover this type face (6) Comparatively higher (5)

Largish computer on board small car? (4)

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by Henry Howarth

s = ©

Signal fluctuation gives the deaf a problem (4)

In theory, they could be disjunct, null or universal (4) CHR$69+CHR$78 attempt access (5)

Supported by material of an explanatory nature (10)

Dedicated number cruncher (10) Angular academic achievement (6)

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Spectrum command to send out Facsimile machine (6)

3. Performed calculus oj

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S.M.U.6G. Presents

The 1990 SINCLAIR COMPUTER Exposition MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN

June 2 & 3 /Banquet Friday Night June 1 SEMINARS, DOOR PRIZES, SWAP SHOP, SOFTWARE, PERIPHERALS, HARDWARE, AND LOTS OF OTHER STUFF

Location WAUKESHA HOLIDAY INN (414) 786-0460

Hwy 18 194 Waukesha, WI 53186 There will be a SNUG meeting Saturday Night June 2, 1990

Ticket Information:

in advance at the door One day : $4.00 $ 5.00 Both days : $7.00 $ 9.00 Banquet : $16.00 $16.00 Limited seating Table : $25.00 (incld. 2 day badge) $25.00 Limited table space

Tables are 6 feet by 30 inches

For MORE INFORMATION contact

Bill Heberlein Neal Schultz 5052 N. 91st Street or call 7 - 10pm Milwaukee, WI 53225 (414) 353-4522 for RESERVATIONS mail to: Expo Reservations P.O. Box 101 7 Butler, WI 53007 S Detach and Mal NN A A A Name Phone(___) Address City State Zip Please reserve one day badge @ $4.00 each = $ Please reserve two day badges @ $7.00 each = $ Please reserve Banquet tickets @ $16.00 each = $ Please reserve 6' x 30" tables @ $25.00 each = $

I have included a check/money order for total = $

CANADA

ATLANTIC OCEAN

294+M00 O-7-OFD a

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The Vancouver Sinclair Users Group has been in existence since 1982. We are a support group for the owners and users of all SINCLAIR and TIMEX computers.

Prez:- Gerd Breunung PH#(604) 931-5509 V/Prez & N/L Publisher-- Rusty Townsend Scribe:- Harvey Taylor

Treaz. & N/L Editor:- Rod Humphreys

Our membership dues are only $15.00/year and may be sent to the Treasurer:

Rod Humphreys 2006 Highview Place Port Moody, B.C., V3H 1N5

Members of VSUG receive a monthly issue of ZXAppeal - our newsletter,

ZXAppeal accepts advertising. Our **PREPAID** rates are:

$10.00 — full page $8.00 — 1/2 page $5.00 — 1/4 page

ZXAppeal is distributed to approx 30 other T/Sinclair User Groups throughout North America as well as overseas via the NETWORK. NETWORK correspondence may be directed to the Editor at the above address.

Copyright of all articles appearing in ZXAppeal is retained by the author with the understanding that other T/S User Groups may reprint any article appearing in ZXAppeal provided credit is given to the author and VSUG.