To : 999
From : 483 (Daniel Shimmin)
Re : Health of 8BS
As the 8-bit world collapses around us
(or, to be more precise, it finished
collapsing about six months ago),
8-Bit Software appears to be stronger
than ever. We apparently have 68
"active" members (more than double the
number there were when Chris took over
from me), and seemingly hundreds (?)
of casual users of the PD pool.
Thus, we're now the second biggest
8-bit library as far as numbers of
customers are concerned, and, with
well over 150 disks in the library,
have the second biggest selection of
software as well. And of course the
disk magazine etc. provides all the
advantages we've been crowing about
since the late 1980's.
Apart from this, we're also by far the
cheapest - when reading the news of
the "price increase" for members
ordering TBI software on new disks, it
occurred to me that the new price of
54p a disk (yes, that's what it is)
for PD software is less than HALF the
price of ANY other library. Even for
non-members, we undercut other
libraries by anything between twenty
pence and one pound per disk.
Sorry if that sounded rather
over-effusive, but I felt the point
ought to be made. As one criticism
(and encouragement) to members, we
could certainly do with more programs
just now - perhaps the enthusiasm for
text has gone a little too far (not
that I myself write too much, of
course!)
To : 999
From : 483 (Daniel Shimmin)
Re : Diary/Appointment program
A large number of problems have now
become apparent with this program, and
I am abandoning (unfortunately,
perhaps permanently) its development.
I would advise people not to use it to
store information of vital importance,
although I am still using it myself.
If anyone can work out what is wrong
with it I would be very grateful.
To : K2G + 999
From : 483 (Daniel Shimmin)
Re : BBC/PC disk compatibility
The BBC "B" and Master 128 were not
designed to read PC disks. However,if
the disk controller chip is capable of
reading a particular density of disk
format, it is possible (but complex)
to program it to do so.
For example, Alan Blundell produced a
program to read 360K 5.25" PC disks on
a Master 128 (is there a copy in the
TBI pool Chris?). Also, it is
sometimes suggested that it would be
possible to write a program to read
720K 3.5" PC disks. Any such program
would probably be very useful.
To : 999 + 3WU + 2J3
From : 483 (Daniel Shimmin)
Re : linking machines
The Tube cannot be used to link
computers together. It is designed to
allow you to link additional
processors to your existing computer
to accomplish special tasks, e.g.
advanced programming, extra
speed/memory, emulation of other
operating systems.
Processors available (second-hand)
include Z80 (64K, for running CPM),
80186 (512 or 1024K PC emulator),
32016 (512 or 1024K 32-bit
programming), 6502 (64K, the original
second processor to speed up your
Beeb), 65C102 (the same but for Master
128 and twice as fast), ARM-2 (or
maybe ARM-1, an Archimedes processor,
which was unusual in using keyboard
input from the Beeb but a direct video
link for speed of graphics), and 68000
(the same as used by Apple Macs and
old Amigas, but this processor was
only used by Acorn themselves).
The usual way to link computers
together for data transfer or other
purposes is a serial link. Both Beeb
and Master 128 have RS423 ports for
this purpose, and leads are not too
expensive.
As for software to control the
process, I'm not too sure, though I
suppose the Kermit transfer software
available as PD (is there a copy in
the TBI pool Chris?) might be useful,
as might the Terminal Emulation
software on the Master 128, though
this is more for use with linking to
mainframes etc. EDITOR... yes
The other method of linking Acorn
computers together is Econet, which is
a more complex and expensive
undertaking. The basic idea is that
all the computers (up to 255 in each
network, and you can link more than
one network together!) are connected
together by cabling, and can either
pass messages between themselves, or
(more often) send data to a central
fileserver (using either floppy or
hard disks), where it is stored in a
similar way to a floppy disk (except
all the machines can access it at
once). The system looks very much like
ADFS to the casual user, apart from
the enhancements such as security
features (and a considerably larger
tree structure!)
To : 999 + K1H
From : 483 (Daniel Shimmin)
Re : Master 512
If you're looking for a Master 512 I'd
recommend looking round for old (or
even current) issues of Acorn
Computing (The Micro User) and BBC
Acorn User, as there were hundreds and
hundreds of 512's for sale a year or
so ago, and I'm sure no-one will have
bought them.
For example, I was offered a Master
512 (i.e. normal 128 but with 512
board) for only three hundred pounds
(this would obviously be a lot less
now). The person in question was
unwilling to sell the 512 board
separately, and perhaps many other
512-sellers will feel the same, but if
you point out that if they insist on
selling the complete unit they will
never get anything, while if they sell
just the 512 board to you they will at
least get fifty or a hundred pounds,
they may well see sense.
To : 999 + 20G
From : 483 (Daniel Shimmin)
Re : Acorn Video, PhraseE
Interesting to see the news about
Acorn's advertising video, it's always
nice to know what they're up to now
even when I have no intention of
buying one of the machines (yet).
Thanks also for the excellent PhraseE
program which I found very amusing,
though I'm afraid I wasn't very good
at all at working out the answers. Is
there any chance of 8BS users seeing
the Solinet version with the different
puzzles?
To : 999 + K2R
From : 483 (Daniel Shimmin)
Re : errors when copying programs
If a message like "PLOT-LOCAL-BASIC"
appears it is a fair bet that it is
not a genuine error message but simply
the result of the computer getting
extremely confused. In other words, an
error has definitely occurred, but
there's no way of knowing what it is;
most likely something going wrong in a
machine code program (it is very
unlikely to be a problem with one of
your !BOOT files).
The problem of how inexperienced users
can copy programs of various sorts to
create disks with their own choice of
software on, rather than the choice of
the compilers of the original disks,
is an extremely vexing one, as it is
one of the most vital tasks, but not
one the Welcome Guide covers very well
(OK so Copyfiles is all very well, but
what if something goes wrong?).
If anyone is short of topics for
articles, this would be an ideal one.
Or I may try to write something myself
at some point in the future.
To : 4TK + 999
From : 483 (Daniel Shimmin)
Re : Choice of computer, older users
The choice of a new computer system is
always confusing when there are so
many options available. Assuming that
you are going to stay with Acorn
rather than opting for a PC,
Macintosh, Amiga etc. (probably wise
if you are not especially
technically-minded, as any entirely
new computer system is going to
involve at least a certain amount of
new complexity), there are a few
points to consider.
(i) A BBC B will obviously be easiest
to use if you've used one before, as
well as being cheap, but may not have
all the facilities that might be
desirable.
(ii) For the non-technically-minded
user, a Master 128 is functionally
very similar to the BBC B, but has
extras in terms of built-in software
and more memory. If you dislike
learning a new filing system (ADFS),
you can simply configure your Master
to always start up in DFS, and never
bother with ADFS at all (except
perhaps to take advantage of the 8BS
ADFS version).
If on the other hand you want to use
some of the excellent facilities ADFS
provides, many of the commands are
just the same as DFS so it isn't too
difficult. In the same way, you can
ignore the extra bits of software
provided in the Master (View, Edit
etc.) unless you actually want to use
them. All your old disks and most of
your old software would be usable.
(iii) Users who are not planning to
add complex peripherals to their
BBC's, but just want computer, monitor
and printer, may well be better off
going for a Master Compact since it is
smaller and (presumably) cheaper (see
my explanation of this a few issues
ago).
The disadvantages are firstly that
they only (I think) take 3.5" disks,
and secondly that to use DFS you need
to load in a ROM image from disk
(although this only takes a few
seconds and is easily explained).
(iv) A Master 512 is essentially a
Master 128 with a processor from an
early PC (+ memory chips etc.) on an
add-on board inside, along with a few
bits of application software. Not
really recommended for those who want
to keep things simple, but good for
using old business software, or keen
programmers.
(v) An Archimedes may seem somewhat
daunting when compared to the humble
BBC, but once you have spent a little
while getting to grips with the
different way of operating it, it is
perhaps more suitable for the
technophobes amongst us, as rather
than accomplishing an operation by
typing in a series of commands (which
you might forget or mis-spell), and
having to remember which numbers come
after them etc., most things are done
simply by moving the pointer around
the screen with the mouse and clicking
on things.
On the other hand, they certainly are
more complex, and so far as I know
there is no 8BS equivalent for the
Archimedes, although there are some
8BS members who would be able to help
you if you got stuck with your
Archimedes. Archimedes tend to use
only 3.5" disks, so any transfer of
old software would have to be with the
help of 8BS.
8BS has quite a few older users, and
also a fairly large number of users
who don't want to get involved in the
technicalities of their computers but
only to have fun with them. In fact I
think we have more "non-programmers"
than "advanced programmers".
To : 4TK + 999
From : 483 (Daniel Shimmin)
Re : Choice of printer
A dot-matrix printer is ideal for use
with a Beeb or Master, while an
ink-jet (some are only slightly more
expensive than a dot-matrix) would be
preferable with an Archimedes.
When choosing a dot-matrix,
twenty-four pin printers will give
considerably better printout quality
(sometimes indistinguishable from an
expensive typewriter), but nine-pin
printers still produce perfectly
readable results (I believe Chris uses
a nine-pin for 8BS catalogues), and
are often much cheaper.
To: 999 (all members)
From: K2Y
Subject: AMATEUR RADIO SOFTWARE
Has any nice fellow,(or lady), got any
software for ham use, such as :-
HF Receive RTTY, Morse, SSTV, or AMTOR?
Any Technical Software for Shortwave
frequencies would be great.
I would be very gratefull. And some
pennies waiting for you of course!
Cheers for now....... Melvyn.
73s to any hams?
88s to any lady hams?
To: 999 (all members) +2J3
From: K2Y (Melvyn Phillips)
Subject: INTRODUCING MYSELF
By the time you read this, it will be
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!". And if you made
any new year resolutions? Then I hope
they were the same as mine, that is,to
support.... "8-BIT SOFTWARE"!?
I've been into computers for the past
13 yrs. Way back in 1980, I was deep
into Amateur Radio studies and had a
fairly decent SHACK! (a radio room).
The only thing missing, was a COMPUTER!
How could I furnish my shack with one
of these giant calculating machines??
Whilst perusing through my magazine...
Practical Wireless, I came upon, what
I thought, was a MIRAGE!! Yes! there
it was....a centre page advert forrrr..
a ZX81!! What!? You say? Well, this is
it, the miracle of technology, the
machine that would change my life!
and it did. I've never been the same
since? I must admit though...as time
went on..........I became very sick at
the sight of an advert for something
called a BBC Model A? I became even
more sick, when I saw the price of this
`399! phew! that was some money in
those days. This was way out my league
as I had a wife a family to support.
The more I read about this machine, the
more tormented I became. I gave up in
the end, and settled down to studying
this tiny miracle from the stable of
our dear old, 'Sir Clive Sinclair'.
Well, as you can see, if your sums are
up to scratch, it's took me, THIRTEEN
YEARS! to get hold of a BEEB! At the
right price of course?
Well, here I am, and raring to go.....
I hope you are all going to make me
feel welcome, and offer me lots of nice
advice and free software,(JOKE!!!)
In closing, may I just say, how welcome
I've been made to the fold, by our very
own, 'Chris Richardson'.
Thank's Chris for the nice welcome.
To: 999 (all members)
From: K1Z ROY CROUCH
Subject: DATA COMMS.
IS ANYONE OUT THERE INTO DATA COMMS???
BECAUSE I COULD DO WITH A BIT OF ASSISTA
NCE WITH MY MODEM FIRST WHICH PORT DO I
USE FOR THE MODEM ON A BBC MASTER 128
I AM HAVING A FEW PROBLEMS WITH KERMIT
IS ANYONE USING THIS SYSTEM?? AND
FINALLY CAN ANYONE TELL ME ANYTHING
ABOUT E.MAIL AND JANET.BOTH OF THESE I
NEED TO HOOK UP TO FOR KERMIT COMMS.
NEWSLETTER ETC. AND THE LITERATURE LANCA
STER UNIVERCITY HAS SENT ME SAYS I NEED
TO LINK UP TO E MAIL AND JANET.?????
IN ANTICIPATION MANY THANKS.
To: 999 (all members)
From: K1Z ROY CROUCH.
Subject: MANUALS.
FOR SALE MASTER REFERENCE MANUALS
VOL 1 AND VOL 2 IN NEW CONDITION
THREE POUNDS EACH NOW POSTAGE IS 1.40
EACH SO IF YOU ARE INTERESTED I WOULD LI
KE 70 P TOWARDS THE POSTAGE.AND PACKING.
THAT MUST BE A FAIR PRICE EH.
THANKS.
To: 999 (all members)
From: KIR
Subject: SPELL CHECKER
WANTED: A GOOD SPELL CHECKER, COMPATIBLE
WITH WORDWISE+ AND BBC MASTER.
To: 999 (all members)
From: KIR
Subject: BBC MASTER SIDEWAYS RAM
Does anyone know a way of write
protecting software loaded into sideways
ram on the Master?
To: 999 (all members)
From: K2C
Subject: The Electron Computer
I have just put together an Electron,
Plus 1 and a Plus 3....a nostalgia trip
as it was my first computer and was
responsible for an enthusiasm that is
summed up by my family as obsessional
and I call pursuit of knowledge!
However the power supply which comes
with the Plus 3 to power the three
units is coloured BLACK, whereas the
basic mains adapter is coloured cream.
Sadly I am running the three units off
the cream one and the danger is that I
might blow the thermal fuse..irretriev-
ably, according to the manual. Anyone
got the BLACK mains adapter for the
Plus 3 for sale?
Is a game called "Croaker" available
on a 5.25 disc? Any offers? Will make
a 6 year old young lady very happy.
Another want is a book called "Computer
Projects for Railway Modellers" by
Roger Amos and Martin Cook, published
about 1985. Any offers.
'Phone Frank 0845 (Thirsk) 522241
To: 999 (all members)
From: 20G (Roy Dickens)
Subject: Info. on Shoppin program.
'Shoppin'is a simple text/gamble game.
I had collected a few minor moans to-
gether of sods law. Things that slow
you up when your in a hurry in a Super
Market. I was going to just send a text
list and ask 'has this ever happened to
you?'.Then I thought may be it could be
used in some sort of game. So after
lots of groping through manuals, lots
of trial and error and lots and more
lots of hours. Plus my wife in the back
ground saying a lot of times 'are you
still on that program?'.I finally came
to the end off 'Shoppin'!
So thats your lot! HAPPY NEW YEAR
To: 999 (all members)+2J3
From: 20G (Roy Dickens)
Subject: Programs too big for BBC
(LADDERS issue 31)
Chris stated that the 'Ladders' prog.
was too big for a normal BBC.
Would Chris or someone please explain
how a MASTER user can check that their
program submitted will work on a BBC?
I think it is all to do with 0E00 on
the MASTER and 1900 on the BBC or
higher with ADFS. Many thanks.
EDITOR.... As a general rule I write
programs with page at &1900 (It should
be &1A00 really to allow for a BBC with
ADFS but I dissuade members with BBCs
plus ADFS from using their ADFS as it
causes various problems for me).
Do not use shadow modes. So when
changing mode always use 0 to 7.
An excellent book that I use is the
Master Dabhand Guide by David Atherton.
It lists all the differences between
various machines. It also helps to have
one of each computer for the final
check!
Press BREAK for part 3