VISTA

NEWSLETTER -

VOLUME 4,

MUNBER 2

CH-B1

T/S-1BBR T/5-15B88 T/S-2BEB

> Welcome to the LATEST edition of the VISTA News letter. I am alad To be enthusiastic about my Sinclair computer again-- I have been a victim of “Hobby Burnüut” for the last year or so. The trusty 2868 hasn’t exactly been ignored, as I have been using it To write letters and Keep track of my other interests, but the computer itself ceased being the hobby and became a tool: one I used every day, like the micro- Wave oven. And how many of us a are curious about our microwave? The old cliché about familiarity breeding contempt came true, at least tTemporarily-- I Just gave uP on computers. So what got The fire going again? A number of Things; for example, an MS- DOS machine at work I don’t quite understand, which drove me back To the user-friendly world of TYS computing, A new gadget from England called "VideoFace” that opened up a whole new world of uses for the computer. A stack of software on The desk that, when sorted through, let me see there was a lot of things I had yet to learn about MY bax, of chips. A call from a fellow T/Ser, Bob Swoger, who answered my questions and gave ne some new enthusiasm about the hobby. find Finally, all the other T/S editors out there who Kept me on their mailing lists even though I didn’t hold up my end of the bargain--I owe you a BIG Thank Yout The fire never went out, but it took all those things and more to get it burning again. The biggest THANKS of all should go To the readers of This little newsletter-- I’ve gotten a lot of support and an incredible amount of patience from people who, given the past history of things in our hobby, had every right to think VISTA was gone for good. Well, it’s not gone, nat by = lang shot, and I hope te Koop produeing como Thins= „orthuhile to our hobby. So,

even though the Sinclair “wor kd" is growing smaller, I think it’s béneficial to remember that as our world shrinks, it brings those of us that are left closer together. Thanks, everybody.

-n FORY fF LFA, Ez

SUAP & SHOP EXPLOSIVE DEALS!

FOR SALE: One GANESHATE joystick interface.» This item plugs into the 2065 cartridge port and provides the Spectcum— emulated 2668 a “Kemps ton— Compatible” joystick port. If you have a Spectrum emulator and enjoy video games, this is the joystick adapter to hawe--— almost every Spectrum game has a Kempston joystick setting. Larken disc systems have the joystick port built in, but a F you don’t have LEDOS, you may need this. $10 postpaid, or Call Tony Willing at (206) 567- 4115 with trade offers.

ENE ee

As of December 1, 1991, Tim Yard and I have turned over our public domain software Library over to TYSNUG, the T/5 North American User Group, an effort headed up by Don Lambert. We took this STAEN eC parE? due to Lack of interest i Library, especially the T/5-180% section. Tim and I hoped that the library would be better publicized and more readity |. available through a nation-wide source, and that this source could come up with a solution to our tape-dubbing problems, i1.€., a quicker and more reliable. method. Any further inquiries for tapes should be directed to:

T/SNUG cro Don Lambert 1381 Kiblinger Place Auburn, IH 46706

This does not mean we are done collecting software-- we stilt carry LKDOS copies of all the discs, and I am beginning a neu set of 5SCREEN$ and RLE files to, complement the PIXEL PRINT PLUS! discs still in our collection. If you are interested in LKDOS Copies or any of the PIXEL PRINT Programs, please send a SASE and we wall be glad to assist you.

Page 1 VISTA

= meat HARDWARE ©: y REVIEWS /

Romantic Robot UK Ltd. 54 Deanscroft Avenue London NHS BEN England (@81) 260-8876 <881>208-4875 FAX

PRICE: £259.95 (about #57)

The VideoFace module for the Spectrum Cand 25062) computer is a composite video interface that Flugs onto the edge connector at the back of your computer. Hith this interface and the included software you can capture any composite video signal, digitize it, and SAUE it as a SCREENS on disc or tape. Composite video Signals are most commonly found on VCRs and camcorders, at an RCA jack marked "video out". So, any image on television or video tape is available for display on your computer, including movie scenes, cartoon characters, or family members-- the sky*s the limit (see examples in column 2)

The module itself is very sinple- a black RAMpack style case, with 2 LEDs on the front, an RCA Jack on the side, and a contrast adjustment knob on top. After attaching the interface and connecting the RCA Jack to a waiting VCR with a male-‘male Patch cord Cavailable at Radio Shack) you can LOAD the software from the supplied tape. This only takes a few minutes, and the program BASIC can be re- written to accomodate disc system commands. The software will auto-start, displaying a menu with 13 options. You wili also notice the green LED is lit if all is comected properly, meaning the device is receiving a video signal. Ey pressing "P" or "AQ" the scamming procedure begins-- the red LED lights and whatever is on the UCR/TV screen is being fed to your computer’s monitor. You can now adjust the contrast with the knob on the top for the best picture quality and SAVE a picture by pressing ees Toe The software actually will save 6 frames and you can page through these to SAVE the one you like. You can also use the arrow keys to adjust the picture Scan, as the VideoFace scans a smaller area than a whole TY screen; this means you can adgust and center your image if

you wish. After you have ended, the scanning process, you have a number of options other than Saving the images-— you can 90 hack to scanning, you can step through the six captured frames, COPY to a TS-204B printer (or an 89-column printer if you can supply the COPY program), or EXIT to the main menu. Another option is animation-- the six captured images can he run hy fast or slow in "flip-card" fashion, producing a form of motion. This is really a very Powerful tool, and if you modify the software for disc operation, it becomes a very fast method af building a Library of SCREENS saves,

Now the question arises; how to get one of these? Simply call them up and order it! They accept VISA card in England, and VISA will handle the currency exchange at the proper rate for you, "I paid $56.87 including air mail from England, and it came in about Z weeks, which is fine service from anywhere in the U.S., let alone overseas! lso remember that London is 8 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time, so calling in the early morning is a must. Mountain, Central and Eastern time zones can adjust accordingly (7,6, or 5 hours ahead}. If you need help placing an international call, get help from your long- distance carrier CATT, Sprint, etc.. They will be glad to help, as it’s money in their pocket! Figure on spending about +4 for the call, by the WAY. You will need to add "44" to the phone number also, as that is England’s country code. My whole phone number was Bii- Coverseas operator? 44-(CEngland? 81-¿(London suburbs) 260-8870 (their number). If you are interested, Romantic Robot has many other products available, such as an 8K printer inteface, 280 disassemblers, and toolkits. Actually, the phonet¥ISA method is a great way to get new and different items for your 2068 with Spectrum ROM. You can find phone numbers in recent British computer magazines and order as much as the budget will allow! I have done this quite a few times and have found that the service is fast and very cordial, and they always want to know how I found out about their product. Many are quite amazed that there are Sinclair fans still active in "The States"!

If you need aomething different for the computer, give England a

tru! —PG. 3- SAMPLE SCREENS!

Page =

the kids-- camcorder necessary

From a classic car show... to anything else you Like!

VideoFace from Romantic Robot

QUICKTIP #2--

To make your computer PRUSE indefinitely, waiting For any key to be pressed before going on, use:

PAUSE E PAUSE 4124

(TS-20665) (T5-19227

_>> aD

a DID YOU Kihirini

TS-148688 Schematics Roailable-- send d- SFE “to:

VISTA POS 1989 Vashon Island, WA

741 FLIEHT SIMULATOR PROGRAM —— AVAILABLE FROM:

BOB SUHOSEN (TBE 6371-7959 Home (TAB STE -BREB Work

Frosram written by Derek Fshton, sold over HEK copies in Europe.

Cost: $12 an S500 or o800 LKOOS disc. Fiy a Jet! iner!

Sams FPhotoracts-- Repair Manuals are available For both the T-“S5-1646848 and T’5S-2PBEBB, Complete schematics are included 35 wel! as 3 Wealth oF technical inFO, IC pinouts. photos, part numbers and substitute part numbers, josic charts and troubieshootins hints, THESE books are HiGhiy recommended For the user tempted to open up their BEEEBSIMNCLAIR,

Howard W Sams and Co. UAE West Band Street Indianapolis, IN UBERaSB8 1-H -4He8- 1267

INPUT & GOL PUT

fi TRPE#DISK SAVE ROUTINE by Geunge Chañbers. courtesy of SIMC-LIHK Heusilet ter

988 CLEAR: LET od=4: POKE 23558 ‚a PRINT AT 13,9; "SAVE ROUTINE SE EP ree Ss Diet key tó save: to EEK, or: ST kE So say e to tape": PAUSE @ IF INKEY $= “d THEN INPUT "Drive #7 “jdr: PRINT Hod: GO TO dr

9010 IF INKEY$="t" THEN LET od=s2 3824 PRINT Hod: SAVE (Your Prog) -51 LINE (START)

Finishing up this issue watt be a current TrS Vendor list, a must have for the die-hard T75 hobbyist. In the meantime, teep those disc drives spinningi!

DISTA OOB 199, VISADO, OF FEAT

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face! Ta TT | WRITE ME! Page 3 THE ENO!

A o ta LLL

ICON TRADES?