To: 999 (all members)
From: K2B (Colin Culpitt-Smith)
Subject: Z88 Users - useful aid
If you would like to have proof that
your mains adaptor REALLY is powering
your Z88 - as opposed to just hoping -
then I have a very simple mod to the
adaptor suitable for anyone with
modest electronics experience. If you
have none, then I will adapt it for you
for only `3 inc return postage. With
my mod, your adaptor will light a red
LED whenever the Z88 is switched on,
and doesn't simply show that the
adaptor is powered from the mains.
This way you know the Z88 is being
mains powered and saving your
batteries. Ring me for details on 0738
812186 anytime.
To: 999 (all members)
From: K2B (Colin Culpitt-Smith)
Subject: Z88 & WordWise+ users
Have you ever wished you could convert
text files prepared on a Z88, for use
with WordWise+? That is, without lots
of boring and slow editing & deleting
etc! I've written a program that uses
the WW+ language, and it edits out all
those %codes, extra spaces & returns
etc, and converts a messy layout into
a normal WW+ layout - all at the press
of a key! If you would like a copy,
please send me a disk with your
typical Z88 text file(s) on it, and
I'll send you my program, customised
to suit your text files. Please ensure
the Z88 file(s) are not converted for
the BBC, & not saved as Plain Text on
the Z88 - i.e. exactly as originally
typed, complete with all Z88 codes &
commands etc. Send disk with sae to:-
35 Muirmont Crescent, Bridge of Earn,
Perth, PH2 9RG
NOTE: only OK for WWplus, not WW!
From: K5B (David J.MacGraw)
Subject: Using ViewSheet with ADFS.
A tip for using ADFS linking files:
The root-like structure of an ADFS
directory only permits the downward
referencing of ViewSheet linking files
e.g. 'V.VS1' where 'V' is sub-ordinate
to the current directory. This is a
disadvantage where several Sheets need
to access a common set of figures e.g.
component costs, operator rates etc.
This isn't a problem with the DFS as
all directories have a parallel level.
By changing 1 byte in the ViewSheet
rom, linking files can be 'above' the
Sheet, or even in the Root directory
of a more complex structure.
ViewSheet vB1.0 (as supplied with the
Master 128) is part of the 'MegaRom'
but can be copied onto a separate
27128 Eprom and used in a cartridge,
'*UnPlugging' the original image.
Alternatively, it can be run from
SWRAM, provided it can be made 'read-
only' after loading, as the image is
written to during use causing a crash!
The byte to change is at offset &2979
and is the 'V' of the 'V.VS' filename.
Altering this to '^.VS' accesses files
'above' the current level and '$.VS'
accesses linking files in the Root.
From: K5B (David J.MacGraw)
Subject: More SWRAM in a Master.
Master 128 cartridges will accept RAM
chips as well as Eproms and can thus
be used to add more SWRAM. The chips
can be either 6264 (8K x 8) or 62256
(32K x 8, only 16K of which is used)
or equivalent CMOS byte-wide chips.
The Master *SR commands only recognise
positions 4 to 7 (the cartridge slots
being 0 to 3) so a utility rom such as
ADU by Pineapple Software needs to be
used to make best use of this feature.
To: 999 (all members)
From: K4A (KEVIN HALLAM)
Subject: HELP
Does anyone know how to solve the
chessboard riddle in the adventure game
Mirror Of Khoronz as I haven't got a
clue how to solve it.
To: 999 (all members)
From: K6N (BRIAN RAW)
Subject: MODEM'S
At last I have got my modem working.
The fault was so simple I'm almost
ashamed to admit to it.But for the
benefit of anybody else who may be
having trouble I shall.
From past articles on connecting two
computers via the serial port I
naively assumed the cable connection to
be the same for modem connection.
But I have since learnt otherwise,this
form of connection is not called NULL
MODEM for nothing.
The correct method for connection is
simply straight through see diagram
tx---------------2
rx---------------3 25 pin D-type
rts---------------4 socket
cts---------------5 RS232 standard
gnd---------------7
Once done my modem was happy to work on
default setting 8N1 at 1200 baud.
What next?
To: 999 (all members)
From: K8X (Eric Lane)
Subject: Modem help
I have picked up a modem which I would
like to use with my BBC B,description
as follows
QUATTRO BULL oak tree
emblem
6 LEDs DSR TXD RXD DCD DTR OH
6 Push switchs DATA ANS TEST AL RCD
LOAD 4 2 1 SET
DIAL
This is the front panel lay out.
The rear panel is as follows
MAINS cable PHONE cable PHONE socket
HEADPHONE socket DTEInterface socket.
EPROMS inside 9000-0450-0001/E
02-ON CSUM 4B63
900-0451-0001/E
Q2 STD HI CSUM 9579
900-0452-0001/E
Q2 STD LO CSUM 2E00
Can anyone supply information to help
me get this modem on line
To: 999 (all members)
From: L1M (Janny Looyenga)
Subject: Master <--> BBC
Read in the Advanced SWR book:
The differences: MASTER equivalent BBC
------ ---
PHX TXA:PHA
PHY TYA:PHA
PLX PHA:TAX
PLY PHA:TAY
STZ location LDA £0:
STA location
And I found some more:
BRA JMP
INA ADC £1
There are some unknown ones in the
QUIZ file which appeared on the ADFS
version of Issue 38.
TSB test and set bits
TRB test and reset bits
Who can help?
To: 999 (all members)
From: K3H (ALBERT SCHOFIELD)
Subject: TAPE TO DISC ON THE BBC B
Anyone who has used the cassette
filing system will be familiar with
control codes in the file names. These
appear as queries (?) no matter what
the control code is. Control codes
cannot be used in disc filenames as
they confuse the DFS. However, the
control codes can usually be dispensed
with when transferring files to disc
but occasionally a file will not work
without the control codes and this
causes problems when transferred to
disc. There are various ways of
getting round this, so to illustrate
one method I will give details of how
to transfer one such program to disc.
The program is ATOM SMASHER which is
in four parts :- ATOM-SMASH, INST???,
M/C???? and MAIN?. The file that
causes the problem is the third one
M/C????. The first file is a short
loader for the second file which is
really only a basic program with
protection so the first file can be
dispensed with and the second file
made listable by the following
routine.
Load the second file, INST???, from
cassette by using *LOAD""18E0 .
Then enter:- ?&227A=&FF to set the end
of file marker. If page is normally at
&1900 you should now be able to list
the file, otherwise set page to &1900
first. Delete line 308 which is
CALL&1790. Also delete line 310 which
is *RUN. Add the following line:-
5 IF PAGE<>&2000THEN PAGE=&2000:
CHAIN"INSTRUC" .
This is necessary to make room for the
next file to download. Alter line 760
which is CHAIN"" to 760*M/C. Add line,
770 PAGE=&E00:RUN
Now save the file to disc as INSTRUC .
The last two files are machine code
and load in below &1100 so they can be
combined into one file so that they
can be downloaded together.
To do this load the third file from
cassette with:- *LOAD""1900 . Then
load in the last file with:-
*LOAD""1E00 . Save it to disc with:-
*SAVE M/C 1900+F00 BBA 900 .
This file will have to be downloaded
to &900 so use whatever method you
prefer. By chaining INSTRUC the
instructions will be displayed but the
game itself will not work because the
control codes have not been entered.
You can prove this by cataloguing a
block or two of the third file from
cassette. Press BREAK and chain
INSTRUC . The game will now work.
To identify the control codes
catalogue a block or two of the third
file, M/C????, press BREAK and enter:-
*SAVE MEMORY 0 400 . This will save
the first four pages of memory. Then
*DUMP MEMORY and at location &3B2 can
be seen the file name and the three
control numbers. The fourth is just a
query. Make a note of the seven
numbers:- 4D 2F 43 98 80 8A 3F. These
can be poked into memory by adding an
extra line to the file INSTRUC just
before it loads the next file as
follows:-
756 !&3B2=&432F4D:!&3B5=&3F8A8098
See page 409 of the USER GUIDE.
It is possible that slightly
different versions of the game exist.
If so you will have to make allowances
for this. More next month.
To: 999 (all members)
From: K3F (Jacquetta Morris)
Subject: COMBAT LYNX BATTLE SIMULATION
GAME (DURRELL SOFTWARE)
CAN ANYONE HELP, PLEASE. MY SON HAS
THE COMBAT LYNX AIR TO GROUND BATTLE
SIMULATION, HOWEVER, HE IS STRUGGLING
TO FIND THE KEYBOARD CONTROLS FOR
THIS GAME.
IF ANYONE CAN ENLIGHTEN US, PLEASE
CONTACT: JACQUETTA MORRIS, 78 BLAKE
HILL CRESCENT, LILLIPUT, POOLE,
DORSET BH14 8QS
To: 999 (all members)
From: K6N (BRIAN RAW)
Subject: RGB SYNC SIGNALS
L.Roberts problem may possibly be
easily cured since both the vertical
and horizontal syncs are available on
the 6845 on pin 40 and 39 respectivly
Both give posative going TTL signals
pin 40 at 50 Hz
pin 39 at 15625 HZ
Though it does seem strange to me that
15625 / 50 = 312.5 lines per frame
I thought we were on 625 lines ?
Notice I came up with half this value
so maybe you should only take notice
of half this reply ?
Anyhow,if your monitor requires any
different to these which it might
you will have a few problems there.
Try contacting the manufacturer for
details before procceding further.
To: 999 (all members)
From: D2G (Neil Parry)
Subject: Watford 32K Rom/Ram Board
Please help me I am another one of
the 32K Rom/Ram board victims. Has
anyone got any idea of how I can use
it with the programs which need shadow
ram.
Signed Why Me..!!
From: K8C (Arthur Adams)
125 Hall Lane
Upminster
Essex, RM14 1AU,
Tel.01708-226137).
Subject: WANTED
(1) ROM Cartridges for Master,
several.
(2) Loan or photocopies of full
instructions for ROMs Master,
Caretaker, Sleuth and Disc Doctor.
(Master ROM unstructions most urgent).
To: 15A/999 (Steven Flintham)
From: K5U (Simon Godfrey)
Subject: BT-approved modems (8BS£40)
Regarding your query on modems,
providing you use a short and high-
quality comms-lead, and a fast comms
program then you should be able to
connect your Beeb to a 14400 modem at
the BBC's maximum speed of 19200 baud.
The modem will then communicate with
the computer at this speed while it
communicates over the phone line at
a maximum of 14400 baud.
Many modems are not 'BT approved'
simply because it costs the
manufacturer so much to get the
approval from them. If you can find a
cheap modem that has been approved for
use in the USA then it should be safe
enough to use on a BT line as
(apparently) the U.S. standards are
higher than BT's.
The use of such a modem may however
infringe your license agreement with
BT. It's your choice - It could be the
difference between `90 and `140...
To: K8F/999 (Stuart Angell)
From: K5U (Simon Godfrey)
Subject: EMR MIDI ROMs Help (8BS£40)
I contacted EMR a couple of years ago
and they were still trading but were
concentrating on Archimedes products.
Last year I met someone from EMR at an
Acorn fair in Wembley. He told me they
no longer have any Beeb products
commercially available but he'd be
happy to supply me with software/ROMs
on a 1-off basis.
Their address was (and still is?):
Electromusic Research Ltd
14 Mount Close, Wickford,
Essex SS11 8HG.
Tel: 0702 335747 Fax: 0702 332370
To: 999 & OE7
From: K2V (Bill Jowitt)
Subject: MPG program Issue 38
Thank you Fred for your comments. I
also use a separate disc. I hope the
following will also help others.
Firstly, line 1205 in MPG2 should read
1205 G=GET : IF G=32 CHAIN "MPGmenu"
EXP1 is a fictitious car number for
demonstration, and C1 is a saved
screen.
The program is designed to accept the
last 3 digits of the mileometer
reading. Thus the 1000s are ignored.
This will fail if the vehicle can do
more than 1000 miles between fill-ups
(FULL to FULL). The program adjusts
where the mileometer reading passes
through XX000, ie "Previous mileage
900", "This mileage 100", will give a
reading of 200 miles. (See lines 510 &
520). The program is also designed to
give two places of decimals in mpg
calculations (see lines 550 & 720).
These must be switched off (lines 640 &
800) or dates, miles etc would be given
two places of decimals (eg 12.00
instead of 12).
BYE.
To: 999 (all members)
From: K2F (John Davis)
Subject:
I recently gave an Electron to a
local charity shop, but having read
Martin Wilson's paean of praise for
that machine in 8BS 40, I guess I
shoulda kept the Electron and given
them the Cray 1 instead.
I've only just discoverd - by
accident - what has probably been
known to everyone else on earth for
years: that you can create and edit a
!BOOT file as a VIEW text file, which
makes life a whole lot simpler,
specially when chopping and changing
the !BOOT file for VIEW itself. I feel
there should be town criers going to
every hamlet in the kingdom shouting
things like:"Oyez! Oyez! You can edit
a !BOOT file in VIEW! God Save the
King!" Never can find a town crier
when you need one.
To: 999 (all members)
From: K2F (John Davis)
Subject: HELP!
Thanks to Karl Tilbrook for his
advice about repairing the entrails of
a couple of ailing Beebs. The fact
that I then made a total hash of it is
beside the point...
In one of my small pile of boot sale
Beebs there is a load of ROM's 'n'
stuff which I don't have the foggiest
idea how to use. If anyone can help
with info/manuals/philosophical
thoughts on any one (or more) of the
following, I'd be very grateful, and
will of course pay the appropriate
amount plus postage:
1) ViewStore 1.0
2) ViewSpell 1.0 (I gather this also
needs a disc or two)
3) AMX Pagemaker-Plus 1.7
4) Watford 32K Shadow RAM 2.40
5) Acorn Speech System (Thanks to
Karl, I can get the words directly
from each key - sounding like Kenneth
Kendall on Valium - but nothing more.
Info/external ROM's/discs would be
welcome)
6) In another Beeb, there are still a
few mysteries with the Watford DDFS
1.54 T.
As Kenneth K. would say, being a bit
limited vocabulary-wise,"Thanks very
amount!"
5 Glebe Close,
Prince of Wales Terrace,
Chiswick, London W4 2EZ.
0181 994 0786.
PRESS BREAK