Copy Link
Add to Bookmark
Report
Syndicate ZMagazine Issue 003
_____________________^^^___________
Zmag/A\zine Hot Atari News
March 19, 1986 and Reviews
Publisher Bruce Kennedy
Asst. Editor Clinton Smith
___________________________________
--------------------------------
Downloads by Radio
ANTIC ONLINE ANT-2180
--------------------------------
Presently, computer-to-computer
communication is confined to the
telephone network. Millions of
computer owners find that it is
increasingly expensive to utilize this
network to satisfy their
communication needs.
I am advocating the establishment
of a Public Digital Radio
Service, permitting computer owners to
communicate by radio. An
infinite number of local area radio
networks would be interconnected
into a national packet radio network.
This would allow computer
owners to exchange messages, bulletins
and other information by radio
at no cost.
The FCC feels the petition might
have merit, but if they do not
receive a significant response from
computer owners, they will
conclude that the public isn't
interested in this service. If you
feel that computer owners should have
a communicatons alternative,
please show your support. by writing
to the Federal Communications
Commission, Washington, D.C. 20554.
Don Stoner, W6TNS 6014 E. Mercer
Way Mercer Island, WA 98040
-----------------------------------
Trak Drive Problem?
ANTIC ONLINE ANT-2181
-----------------------------------
November, 1985 issue of Antic.--ANTIC
ED
ON WRONG TRAK?
A few weeks ago, a
not-so-briliant friend of mine jammed
two
diskettes into my once-great, Trak
AT-D2 disk drive. Obviously, the
drive no longer works. It acts as
though there is no disk in the
drive, except for when it reads the
first sector after about five
minutes. None of the local shops know
how to fix it and American TV
says it can't be done. I would really
appreciate any help to trak (ha
ha) down someone who can fix it. I
don't want to throw away a $400
drive.
Jason Knapp Fresno, A 746,1331
@(According to Computer Support, an
official Atari repair center,
even before Trak went out of business
over one year ago the company
did not furnish necessary schematics
and parts to independent repair
outlets. If your drive requires a
proprietary part, such as a chip,
no repair shop will be able to fix it.
You may be in luck, however.
Computer Support says it sounds as if
you simply have an alignment
problem which can be fixed.-- ANTIC ED
---------------------------------
New BBS List
ANTIC ONLINE ANT-1061
---------------------------------
Temple, Texas ACE says it
is trying to maintain a
complete and updated list of
Atari BBS numbers nationwide.
The # is (817) 778-2505.
Sysop James Wesolowski is on
CIS at 74206,1464.
----------------------------------
CHROMA, XL/XE, and 1702
----------------------------------
8/19 - Here's suggestions
about accessing chrominance
monitors (Commodore 1702) on
the Atari XL/XE. Matthew
Ratcliff (75756,2710) says,
-I send the composite video
to the composite chroma input
at the back of the 1702. It
even gives you a sharper
picture than that of just the
video at the front of the
monitor. No problem.- Ray
McGoldrick (76556,710)
observes similiar results.
-----------------------------------
MORE CHROMA
-----------------------------------
As reported p.6 Feb Antic with diagram:
Regarding Antic'S December, 1985 I/O board: Lthere is a solution for the lack of chroma output on the 800 XL. The chroma output is at the e
e at the junction of R67 and R68. The other side goes to pin 5 on the monitor connector. YOu will have to extend the 200 ohm resistor by
m
e
ans of an insulated wire. The Chicagoland Atair Users Group get credit for this solution.
Johnny Borden
Oak Lawn, IL
R67 R68
______^^^^_____._________^^^^^_____
|
|
|
|
|
>
> 200 OHM RESISTOR
>
>
|
| TO PIN 5
| ON MONITOR
| CONNECTOR
V
-----------------------------------
Atari JACKINTOSH
The Macintosh look-alike
from January 28 Inforworld
downloaded from Windy City BBS
-----------------------------------
Let'S step back a little more than a year and see what Jack had in mind for us then:
-----------------------------------
Atari announces (6) new computers and a long list of peripheral hardware, and all a rock bottom prices.
Two Machines in the ST line of (Jackintosh).
The 130ST with 128k at a cost of less than 399.
The 520ST with 512k at 599.
They are both 16-bit computers, which differ only in memory size,boast of graphics capacibilities rivaling those of the $2,195 Apple Ma
c
i
ntos,
thanks to a version of Digital Research Inc.'S (GEM (Graphics Environment Manager) operating environment,which works with the TOS(Tramiel
O
p
erati
ng System.)
Like the Macintosh, Atari's ST line,which is driven by a two-button Mouse(the Macintosh has a one-button mouse),features windows that
c
a
n b
e enlarged
or contracted, pull-down memus, and icons.
The display even shows a trash can to dispose of unneeded files,another feature of the Lisa and Macintos.
As with the Macintosh,the Motorola 68000 microporcessor provides computing power to the Atari .The Atari ST line offers a built in MID
I
(M
usical Insturment Digital Interface)port,which will enable users to connect up to 16 instruments serially;a hard disk interface with a 1
5
M
eg dr
ive $399.(by June); RS-232 seial and Centronics parallel ports; and a 3 1/2- disk drive($99.00);a 5 1/2- drive($100.)
The ST machines will be sold with either Basic or Logo according to Craig Suko,Atari software design engineer.
Sig Hartmann, head of Atari's software efforst, vowed that there would be at least 25 to 30 software titles on the shelves when to com
p
u
t
e
rs are s
hipped in early April. Tramiel said that be the second half of the year ,Atari will be producing 200,000 ST units a month.
The 8-bit Computers are:
65XE (6502c cpu)64k memory,4 indipendent sound voices,built-in Basic,22 Graphics modes,256 colors,full-stroke keyboard w/graphic pri
n
t
e
d on the keys and a ROM Cartridge slot..Although more advanced,it will be offered at the same price as the 800XL less than $120.
130XE Exactly the same as 65XE except twice the memory for less than $200.
XEP is a Portable version with 64k memory that includes a 5-inch monochrome monitor,a 3 1/2- drive,and a ROM slot..
65XEM (Music Micro) which is the same as the 65XE except for its Amy chip...
This chip is so highly advanced that if you close your eyes,you can't tell if the music is coming from a piano or the computer,..the
X
E
M
should
retail for less than $150.00
Tramiel said tha typical Atari user is 16 to 26 years old. To saturate that customer base, the firm will begin a national school compu
t
e
r
program March 1. -Every educational instiution that is eligible under our program will receive computers at no charge to the school.
(Ed.) Well, not much happening at the school level, but keep an eye on those other promises......
...
Chicago Atarian Gordon Reiher has built his own portable Atari...we hope he will soon give us the details!
---------------------------------
Now here's what's happening with promises today, courtesy of Remote Atari BBS. (Jeff Williams)
NEIL HARRIS' TALK
AT SAN LEANDRO CA COMPUTER CLUB
2/4/86 By George
Langworthy
Neil Harris discussed a wide range of subjects covering 8 bit new
products, 16 bit products out or nearly out and future
products and
nonproducts. They are divided up into three groups below. The reporter's
comments and interpretation are in b
rackets[ ]. Otherwise the statements
are Neil's or a paraphrase.
Atari 8-Bit Product
s: 130XE
A $399 list package is being delivered through computer dealers and mass
merchandisers which include: 130XE, 1050 drive
, 1027 printer, cables, 5
software packages. Announced to Dealers at CES Las Vegas, January 1986.
[A real buy.] --- 3 1/2- disk drive prototype is floating around for
130XE and is likely to get out the door late this year. --- There is a
box for the 130XE with a parallel printer port and 80 columns in some
stage of development. No release date. --- No word about a 260XE but may
come out sometime. --- STAR RAIDERS game may be available in mid March.
--- PLANETARIUM by DELTRON coming out for 130XE around March 1. This has
won several best educational software awards for Commodore version. ST
version out mid-April to early May. --- Only new printer for 130XE will
be the dot matrix XM801. No release date. --- No hard disk for the 8 bit
line is planned.
ST Products; 520 AND 1040
Next revision of TOS in ROM will be out in summer 1986 or later. ---
There will be a patch in the hard disk boot program to take care of this
problem in TOS: after too many openings and closings of GEM windows, TOS
quits taking any more. --- 20 megabyte hard disk has been delivered to
developers; hardware fine. Cleaning up software as in #2. Should be
available late February or early March. --- JOUST in process for ST. No
release date. --- Unauthorized version of CP/M software emulator for ST
done in Germany that showed up in USA didn't work with TOS in ROM.
Running fine with Wordstar and Microsoft BASIC faster than Z-80. To be
released by ATARI probably in March. --- MS-DOS Emulator is a hardware
and software black box with an 8088 chip and 512K of memory. Plugs into
DMA port. Will list for about $200 without 5 1/4- drive and run faster
than a standard IBM PC. Because of hardware development needed, release
date not firm now. --- No tape drive backup for hard disk planned at
present. --- H & D Base clone of DBase II is a Forth language program
with DBase-like commands. Runs faster on ST than DBase II on IBM PC.
Out now. --- The DRI GEM vs APPLE controversy has no effect on ATARI, as
ATARI is a licensee of DRI. If there is a future problem, ATARI will
deal with it at that time. --- GEM PAINT, WRITE, CALCULATOR and DESKTOP
ACCESSORIES are still under development. No release date. --- BORLAND
has announced they will have TURBO PASCAL for the ST. [BORLAND San Jose
Mercury News display ad, Sunday, February 2, 1986 was for programmer and
engineer for CD ROM product development. Turbo Lightning improvement
could be retrieval -engine- for information placed on CD ROM disc.] ---
RISING STAR's MIDI program coming along. ATARI has first refusal on
VALDOCS software it might want. --- ACTIVISION's MUSIC STUDIO 16 channel
MIDI software to ship in February. With electronic keyboard and drums,
sounds like a full band. Other MIDI software due from HYBRID ARTS. ---
No SCSI adapator in works for ST line. --- OS-9 operating system in
development for ST. No release date.
Other Products Talked About But Not Officially Announced
AMY music chip proved to be too complex and expensive to develop for the
potential ATARI market. Turned over to SIGHT AND SOUND to develop for
synthesizer market, with ATARI retaining rights to computer market. No
release date. --- 1200 baud modem for ST under study but not under
development at present. --- In response to question about EXCALIBUR,
response was that ATARI was in advanced stages of negotiation with major
telecommunications network to revive APX for both public domain and low
cost commercial software. This will be ATARI's own SIG system. --- Bit
blitter chip for improved graphics and other information about rumored
products covered in BYTE March 1986 article, out in late February. Will
talk about products to be introduced at March Hanover Trade Fair, West
Germany. [Atari 520 ST reported by Atari and others to be best selling
microcomputer in Germany.] --- TT 32-it add on computer box to contain
memory management chip. It is designed to be a high-compute processor
system, a -VAX on a desk,- running some version of UNIX with
foreground/background processing. [32 bit internal and external processor
chip selection not made or not known by outsiders. Amount of memory not
known.] Release date not known. Very much guess as to price is $1,000.
[Reprinted from the March, 1986 issue of CURRENT NOTES: The Newsletter
for Atari Owners. CURRENT NOTES is published by the Washington Area
Atari Computer Enthusiasts, 122 N. Johnson Rd., Sterling, VA 22170
($15/yr). This article may be reprinted by any Atari user group
newsletter provided CURRENT NOTES and the author are cited.]
----------------------------------
ZBANNER
PD Utility offered by Clinton Smith
----------------------------------
THE ZMAG FILES ON THE DISK
MUST HAVE 8 CHARACTER FILENAMES
WITH THE FIRST 4 BEING ZMAG AND
THE TXT EXTENDER.THE PROGRAM ASKS
WHAT DRIVE TO USE.THE PROGRAM
WILL LOAD IN THE ENTIRE ISSUE IF
IT IS 160 SECTORS(SINGLE DENSITY)
OR LESS.IF IT IS OVER 160,AFTER
IT HAS FINISHED SHOWING THE FIRST
PART,IT WILL LOAD IN THE REST.IT
TAKES 6 MINUTES FOR A 160 SECTOR
ISSUE TO LOAD BUT IT WILL SHOW
FOR 54 MINUTES.
(Ed.)
THE TEXT OF THE MAGAZINE WILL SCROLL ACROSS THE SCREEN ONE LINE AT A TIME TIMES SQUARE MARQUEE STYLE IN GR. 2+16 PRINT #6.
THIS PROGRAM IS RUNNING AT SOFTWARE PLUS, AND IS USED FOR SENDING ANNOUNCEMENTS OVER THE TVs TO CUSTOMERS AT PEPPER PLUM'S PUB NEAR GOLF
MILL ON MILWAUKEE AT SANDERS RD.
--------------------------------
--
Ring Detector
Downloaded from Windy City BBS
DESIGN FROM SYSOP OF SKIDROW BBS
REPORTED BY BILL PRYOR
----------------------------------
There are only four parts required to
build a ring detector:
1) A phone wire to connect to your phone line. Plug in type is the best.
2) A joystick r
eplacement cable.
3) A 125 Volt AC relay. Radio Shack # 275-217B or equivalent.
4) A 22 MF or greater Capacitor of at l
east 100 volts.
5) Optional plastic box. DO NOT USE METAL.
Diagram
-------
Green
-----------------
7 >
>
PHONE Relay >
LINE Coil >
8 >
|+
= 20 MF
|
-----------------
N.C. 0
\ Orange
4 0--------------------------6
JOYSTICK 2
N.O. 6 0---------------------------8
Black
1) Connect the Green Phone Wire to pin 7 of the relay coil.
2) Connect the + end of the 20MF capacitor to Pin 8 of the relay coil.
3) Connect the Red Phone wire to the (-) end of the capacitor.
4) Connect the unit to the phone line and test to see that it responds.
5) REMOVE IT FROM THE PHONE LINE!!!
6) Connect the Orange Joystick wire to the Common Relay Contact Pin 4.
7) Connect the Black Joystick Wire to the N.O. Relay Contact Pin 6.
8) With a meter or circuit tester, check that no connection between the phone wires and the joystick wires. Cross Check all four wires.
9) Package up, to protect the unit and install in Joystick port 2.
10) Plug the Unit into the phone jack. You may need a Y-connector.
11) You are now ready to run your software.
Date & Time :03/03/86 05:18:51
Subject :RING DETECTOR
To :BOB JASKI
Sent by :WILLIAM PRYOR
NO THANKS TO ME IS NESSESARY.I WOULD NOT HAVE THAT PROGRAM IF IT WASN'T FOR THE SYSOP OF
-----------------------
------------
SKIDROW BBS(439-5873).
CALL 11PM TO 7AM
-----------------------------------
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE
THE SYSOPS I MEAN THAT DESERVE ALL OF OUR THANKS.THEY ARE THE ONES THAT TAKE THE TIME,TR
OUBLE,AND EXPENSE TO PROVIDE A GREAT SERVICE
TO US ALL.
Date & Time :03/03/86 04:59:02
Subject :RING DETECTOR
To :ALL
Sent by :BOB JASKI
I WOULD LIKE EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE WILLIAM PRYOR'S AND OUR SYSOP'S HELP IN FINDING THE INFO FOR
BUILDING A RING DETECTOR. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
THANKS ALOT
BOB JASKI
---------------------------------
A GUIDE TO MAGAZINES COVERING
ATARI COMPUTERS
BY TOM BARTELT
---------------------------------
Board :Windy City
Message # :63
Date & Time :03/03/86 03:26:
As a voracious reader and being
deeply interested in the ATARI
computer I have kept my eye open for
reading material on my favorite
computer. Over time I have compiled
the following list which I hope will be of use to anyone interested in
Atari
ATARI SPECIFIC MAGAZINES
A.N.A.L.O.G. COMPUTING
subscriptions:
P.O. Box 615
Holmes, PA 19043
mag. disk casset
1/2 Yr $72 $48
1 Yr $28 $130 $90
2 Yr $52
3 Yr $79
contents: programs and news
ANTIC The ATARI Resource
subscriptions:
P.O. Box 1919
Marion, OH 43306
1 Yr mag. $28 disk $99.95
contents: programs and news
ATARI EXPLORER / ATARI CONNECTION
subscriptions:
P.O. Box 3427
Sunnyvale, CA 94088-3427
6 issues $15 18 issues $39.95
contents:ATARI Corp.house magazine
ATARI USER
New magazine from Great Britain
No information so far
Hi-Res
Short lived , No information
ROM
Subscriptions:
ROM MAGAZINE
Box 160
Maple Ridge, B.C.
Canada V2X 7G1
10 issues produced (at least)
Extinct?
MULTI-MACHINE MAGAZINES ATARI
BYTE
subscription:
P.O. Box 597
Martinsville, NJ 08836-0597
1 Yr.$21 2 Yr.$38 3 Yr.$55
Industry wide information
COMPUTER SHOPPER
subscription:
407 S. Washington Ave.
P.O. Box F
Titusville, FL 32781
1 Yr. $18
Lots of adds information
good short programs
COMPUTE!
subscription:
P.O. Box 10954
Des Moines, IA 50340
1 Yr. $24 2 Yr. $45
disk subscriptions coming
News and programs
CREATIVE COMPUTING
subscription:
ceased publication Dec 85
News and programs
FAMILY COMPUTING
subscription:
P.O. Box 2508
Boulder, CO 80321
1 Yr. $15.97 2 Yr. $26.97
programs program reviews
general information
HOME COMPUTER MAGAZINE
subscription: (10 issues/yr)
P.O. Box 70288
Eugene, OR 97401
magazine disk or tape
1 issue $3.50 $4.95
1 Yr.(10 is.)$25.00 $49.95
2 Yr. $45.00
programs programming tips
reviews
SOFTSIDE
subscription: extinct
programs information
disk version had special progs.
-----------------------------------
THE 256K 1200 XE
Compuserve Download Files
-----------------------------------
This file will contain any useful information that pertains
to the 256K memory upgrade in DL3 - FREDD.XMO. Anyone with
something to add, leave me a message and I'll put it in.
BOB WOOLLEY [DAD] [75126.3446]
A. 2/04/86 The new 256K ram chips can retain their data for
an amazing length of time after power is shut off. If you
don't wait long enough before you power on again, the OS does
a half-hearted warm start and you hang in limbo. Ten full
seconds is usually long enough.... Be patient!
B. 2/04/86 On a 1200XL - If you replaced the OS ROMS with 28
pin devices, you can choose between two different OS's with
the TV CHAN 3/4 select switch. Solder a wire between the top
of W6 (just to the right of U12 - remove the W6 jumper),
through a 1000 ohm resistor to the bottom of the black bodied
inductor, L14 (between cartridge slot and modulator). Use
27128 EPROMS - Burn $C000-$DFFF of OS #1 into $0000-$1FFF and
$C000-$DFFF of OS #2 into $2000-$3FFF. This EPROM goes into
U12. Burn $E000-$FFFFof OS #1 into $0000-$1FFF and
$C000-$DFFF of OS #2 into $2000-$3FFF. This EPROM goes into
U13. Now you can select which OS boots on power up with the
channel select switch!! Sort of a Junior RAMROD.
C. 2/4/86 The 1200XL modification runs BASICXE just like the
130XE - without the DOS 2.5 RAMDISK. If you boot ATARI BASIC
under DOS 2.5 without the ramdisk, POKE 4838,163, go to DOS,
and write DOS to the disk, you will be able to run BASICXE
and the DOS 2.5 RAMDISK at the same time.
HAPPY HACKING - DOWN WITH PIRATES
---------------------------------------
ZMAGAZINE MARCH 19, 1986
CHICAGO EDITION (C)BRUCE KENNEDY 1986
---------------------------------------
