To: 999 (all members)
From: K5B (David J.MacGraw.)
Subject: BeeBug Magazines
The 512 Forum articles by Robin Burton
published by BeeBug form a valuable
source of information on the 512 CoPro.
I am compiling a detailed index for the
whole series which might be included in
a future 8BS issue (Editor permitting).
EDITOR... yes!
To: 999 (all members)
From: K8F (Stuart Angell)
Subject: HELP Music Hard/Software
Has anyone out there got or knows
where I can possibly get hold of any
of the following music hardware and
software.
1.EMR MIDI track editor software.
2.EMR SCOREWRITER software.
3.Hybrid Technology MUSIC 2000
MIDI interface.
4.Hybrid Technology MUSIC 4000
Keyboard for M5000 synth
I am also keen to hear about any MIDI
related Hard/Software that was
developed for the BBC MASTER computer.
If anyone knows if EMR Ltd are still
going and how to contact them I would
like to know their new telephone
number.
Also, does anyone know if the AMPLE
music clubs known as MUSIC CITY or the
AMPLINEX club are still in existence?
ANY HELP MUCH APPRECIATED
TELE 01494 862636
PS: Anyone selling the AMPLE
PROGRAMMERS GUIDE?
From K8C Arthur Adams, 125 Hall Lane,
Upminster, Essex. RM14 1AU
Tel: 01708-226137
HELP!
I have a couple of books which go into
great detail of the intricacies of the
8271 disc controller, but does anyone
know of any similar books which go into
the fine details of the 1770? I would
like to purchase such a book, but even
details, or, better, a loan, would be
very much appreciated.
Thanks.
From: K4U (Chris Robbins)
Subject: Useful Contact
A useful and very helpful source of
information, assistance, repairs,
parts etc in the St. Albans area is :-
Phil Bates (Barnfield Computers)
42 Barnfield Road
St. Albans
Herts
Tel : 01727 852418
He's a one man business, working from
home, repairing everything from humble
Beebs to PCs. He can also supply bits
and pieces both new and secondhand,
including complete PC systems, and has
done a lot of work for schools.
He's helped me out on several
occasions both with my Master and with
PCs, and is definitely worth trying
for anybody that lives in the area.
To: 999 (all members)
From: D3L (STEVE MASON)
Subject: XB24-10 SHEET FEEDER WANTED
CAN ANYONE HELP WITH LETTING ME KNOW
WHERE I MIGHT OBTAIN THE ABOVE ITEM AT
A SENSIBLE PRICE.
THE SERIAL NO. IS SF10 DM2.
PLEASE GIVE ME A RING ON 0121 550 7268
THANKS TO ALL.
To: 999 (all members)
From: D5B (Jon Ripley)
Subject: 8721 emulation
Users of the 1770 drive controller
as used on the B+ and Master 128, will
have noticed times when games meant
for the BBC B refuse to load and also
that many BBC B disc utilities also
refuse to work properly.
These difficulties are caused by the
copy protection techniques used on
some games which directly access the
8721 drive controller. Other programs,
like the disc utilities, for example
were written for the 8721 controller
and are therefore incompatible with
the new 1770.
The 1770 does support some of the
features of the earlier 8721 but is
largely incompatible if programmers
try to access the controller directly.
However, all is not lost. Version 2.20
of DFS (and later versions) provide an
extra 8721 emulation mode which in
most cases should cure any
compatibility problems.
To select the 8721 emulation mode
press Z-Break (or CTRL-Z-Break).
To deselect 8721 emulation mode press
D-Break (or CTRL-D-Break) which
restores the default 1770 DFS.
Also, whilst in 8721 emulation mode,
INKEY-256 (system identification) will
return the value -1, which is returned
by a normal BBC B. This was included
because many programs use this call to
check which computer the program is
running on.
I hope this is of help to someone.
To: 999 (all members)
From: D5B (Jon Ripley)
Subject: Visual compactness...
Ever wondered what your computer is
doing when compacting a disc, well
here's your chance to see... (If you
have a Master or a B+ and are using
ADFS)
Enter the following...
MODE 128
This selects shadow mode 0, use mode
131 if you want a more colourful
display.
VDU23,1,0;0;0;0;0;
This turns off the flashing cursor
which is essential to avoid the
unlikely circumstance when your disc
might be corrupted.
*FX113,1
This tells the computer to display the
screen in main memory, you will not be
able to see what you are about to
type.
*COMPACT 30 50
This finally instructs the computer to
use the screen memory as a workspace
when compacting your disc.
When it has finished either press
Break, change Mode or enter '*FX113,0'
to restore the screen.
To: 999 (all members)
From: D5B (Jon Ripley)
Subject: More messages...
If you, like me, send in lots of
messages to the magazine you will have
noticed the imposed 25 message limit.
There is no reason, aside from
available disc space and lack of
inspiration, that more messages
couldn't be added.
To be able to have more messages, load
the 'SendMes' program and change line
850 to: (ba% is the maximum number of
allowed messages.)
850ba%=50 (for 50 messages...)
And enter SAVE"SendMes" to save the
altered program to disc.
The program can now be 'RUN' or
'CHAIN'ed as usual.
If you are using the compressed
version 'SendMes' you will need to
change the value of y% in line 770
instead and use a different method to
save the program.
Load SendMes and enter:
OSCLI"Save Temp "+STR$÷TOP+"+1C3"
This saves part of the program to disc
as it will be corrupted when you alter
the program.
Now alter the value of y% in line 770
to the number of messages that you
wish to use.
Now enter the following commands:
OSCLI"Load Temp "+STR$÷TOP
This reloads the part of the program
that you saved earlier.
OSCLI"Save SendMes "+STR$÷PAGE+" "+STR
$÷(TOP+&1C3)
This saves the altered program to
disc.
OSCLI"Delete Temp"
This removes the temporary file as it
is no longer needed.
The program can now be 'RUN' or
'CHAIN'ed as usual.
If you want to use the Check Message
utility or the ASCII to Messaging
system utility (both on TBI-00) it is
advisable that you also change these
programs as well to avoid confusion and
possible corruption if you are using
more than 25 messages.
In the Check message utility,
'ChckMes'. Change the value of q% in
line 480 to the number you used when
changing the 'SendMes'.
In the ASCII to Messaging system
utility you will need to change the
value of max`mesg% in line 480.
To: 999 (all members)
From: D5B (Jon Ripley)
Subject: Hard Drives on a Master
I am thinking of upgrading my BBC
Master 128 to include a hard drive.
In the last issue in the article on
ADFS the author said that the largest
hard drive can be 512 megabytes,
drives of this size can be obtained
for around £100. (I really only want
240Mb of storage...)
However, no commercial hard drives are
available for the BBC at the moment
and the ones that are available are
hugely overpriced.
Can anyone help me with information
about the following...
What types of hard drive can I connect
to my Master?
What interface will I require and
where can I obtain such interfaces?
Will it be able to use it with my twin
5¼ drives?
How much will it all cost?
And all the other questions associated
with hard drives and BBC's.
If anyone out there has connected a
hard drive or knows how to please get
in touch.
My address is: 37 Ceylon Place,
Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 3JE.
Or phone: 01 @3 721091 (Anytime)
To: 999 (all members)
From: L1R (Roberto Di Giuseppe)
Subject: COMPACTs link
I am trying to join two Compacts.
I have considered using the ECONET
which may be present in my machine but
appears to be missing the ROM.
I think that the ECONET solution, would
probably be too expensive for me.
I have put an RS232 kit into one of the
Compacts. If this is going to work, I
could buy another RS232 kit for the
other Compact
I have seen in the BBC catalogue some
software that may work with this
(Kermit). Could an 8BS member help me?
Best Wishes from Italy
EDITOR.....
Rob asked me to correct the grammar of
his message. I hope I have got over the
idea of his plea.
To: 999 (all members)
From: D5M (JIM BOULDING)
Subject: WANTED.
I am a relatively new member of 8BS
and I would like to know if any member
has or knows where I can get a copy of
the game JET BOOT JACK as I knocked my
copy of the desk without realising it
and my loopy Alsation stood on it and
destroyed it,Any reasonable price will
be paid also any postage incurred.I am
not on the Phone but can be reached at
96 Blackden Walk, Wilmslow, Cheshire
SK9 2EZ
To: 999 (all members)
From: D6F (JOHN CRANE)
Subject: HELP.
I have a little package on disc, called
"Me and My Micro". Which is a series of
games to introduce beginners to Basic
programming.I've no longer got the
manuals and in any case rewriting
programs for my own use is not my
strong point. There's a game with this
called "Pairs", which is a simple
matching game for youngsters. My 4 yr
old son loves this, but has a little
difficulty with the numbers.Thus :-
1 2 3
4 5 6
The numbered squares are laid out on
screen as above. However I would like
them arranged as below to match the
keypad on my A3010.
4 5 6
1 2 3
Me and My Micro originally came
on tape for the BBC/Electron and
others, I've just copied it to disc,so
I can run it via BBC emulator on my
A3010.
Can anyone who has it tell me what
lines need altering or adding and what
exactly I need to type. Or
alternatively if I send someone a copy
can they do it for me.
My address
JOHN CRANE (D6F), 34 ST ANDREWS WALK,
HARROGATE, NORTH YORKSHIRE, HG2 7RL
(NOTE I ONLY HAVE ADFS OR TAPE)
To: 999 (all members)
From: 3WU (Fred Price)
Subject: Pixy 3 Plotter HELP!
Last year I obtained a Mannesman
Tally Pixy Three Plotter with a
plotter program manual but no disc
with it. I have advertized for BBC
control discs but with no avail.
I got hold of some APPLE II discs,
amongst them were two discs of Apple
Plot General Plotting Programs.
Is it at possible to convert the
Apple programs to a working BBC format?
OR can I get hold of a control disc
for some other make of plotter.
I have been in contact with
Mannesman and they can't help me. The
the company that did the program has
moved or closed.
I will be obliged if someone can
assist me with this one and contact me
at:
8 Orchard St, Pallion, Sunderland City,
Wearside, SR4 6QL
Or ring me on 0191 567 9135
PRESS SPACE