March 17, 2024 – Catweasel Utilities Updated to v4.10

Quentin Barnes has updated the Catweasel Utilities to v4.10

New to this release are:

  • Add -S option. This option allows the user to specify a minimum number of sectors per track and side. If that minimum is not reached during a read, it’ll trigger a retry.
  • Extend the -x and -X option argument syntax when specifying a track range to also allow giving sides.
  • Add partial support for RX02 in dmk2jv3.

The -S is a feature that I find to be a necessary evil. Many disks with issues can erroneously report an end of track data before all the retries are finished, and CW2DMK would then decide “Oh, OK – then this track is 7 good sectors” when it really is “7 good, 11 bad” that was just mishandled. With this, you can make a second pass that FORCES CW2DMK to keep re-reading until it either gets 18 good sectors or the retry count expires.

A ZIP file with the DOS, Linux, and Source Code can be downloaded here.

The main GITHUB can found at https://github.com/qbarnes/cw2dmk/.

March 1, 2024 – New TRS8BIT Newsletter

TRS8BIT – Vol 18, No. 1

Click to Enlarge

We have the first news of the 2024 competition from George Phillips. There are articles from Ian Mavric on replacing Co-Co 2 keyboard membranes, a very detailed account of the FB series of disk drives and looks forward to the 2024 T.A. Jim Adams hunts down the start of BASIC making, what is a ‘must go to’ guide. E.T. Fonehume creates a BASIC one-liner to print a 5×5 magic square using consecutive numbers. Juergen Buessert explains how to create a ‘WAV’ file from a DMK image. Vince Otten continues his series ‘Software Tools in BASIC’ with episode 3, ‘Open For Business’ and an article using ROM calls from TRSDOS. Tony G sends details of various pieces of hardware he created, ‘back in the day’. And, of course, there’s the regular features of ‘The Way We Were’, U.K. Ebay bargains, various finds from ‘Surfin the Net’ and finally, there’s a BASIC one-liner game for all you M2 fans. (Is this a first I wonder?)

Issue Information:

Date:
March 2024
Pages:
92

Table of Contents:

02
“Blurb (editorial Sounds Too Grand!)” by Unattributed
03
“2024 Competition Details” by Unattributed
05
“In Mav’s Workshop: Coco 2 – Replacement Keyboard Membrane” by Ian Mavric
12
“The Basic Family Tree: Ever Wondered How Basic Started? Find Out With This Fantastically Detailed Article” by Jim Adams
35
“5×5 Magic Square: A Basic One-liner Creating A 5×5 Magic Square’ Using Consecutive Numbers” by E.T. Fonehume
36
“Creating A WAV File” by Juergen Buessert
39
“Software Tools In Basic: Episode 3: Open For Business” by Vince Otten
57
“The Way We Were: What Were We Up To, Back In The Day?” by Unattributed
62
“In Mav’s Workshop: Mav Gives A Detail Account Of The FB Series Disk Drives Which Were Prolific Back In The Day” by Ian Mavric
73
“U.K. Ebay Bargains” by Unattributed
74
“Using TRS-80 Rom Calls From Trsdos: More Useful And Helpful Hints From Vince” by Vince Otten
79
“Real Hardware Made Back In The Day: Address Decoder, Midi Interface And Binary Coded Decimal Counter” by Tony G
85
“2024 Tandy Assembly” by Ian Mavric
90
“Surfin’ The Net: Super Items/ideas I’ve Come Across – Well Worth Checking Out” by Unattributed

February 25, 2024 – eBay Auctions to support the site

Two sets of auctions sold … So I will keep going …

Right now the following auctions are live.

  • Disk Editor Assembler (26-2202)
  • Disk Payroll (26-1556)
  • Disk Accounts Receivable (26-1555)
  • Disk General Ledger I (26-1552)
  • Tape Budget Management (26-1603)
  • Tape Assembly Language Tutor (26-2017)
  • Disk Accounts Payable (26-1554)
  • Tape In Memory Information System (26-1502)
  • Tape Videotex/Compuserve Information Service
  • Knights of the Desert: North African Campaign 1941-43 by Strategic Simulations Inc. (Tape)

February 23, 2024 – Model 4 for sale Local Pickup in Texas

A site visitor has a working Model 4 (or at least drive :0 does) for sale for $300 for local pickup. Unit does have a loose connection in the plug at the power supply that powers the CRT filament, although most of the time the connection is good as is. Probably an easy fix. Drive 1 works when in Drive 0 position, so perhaps there is an issue with the controller or cable for the :1 position.

Seller is located about 100 miles NW of San Antonio, TX a few miles off of I-10; and could meet in or around Kerrville, Texas if that’s better.

If this sounds good, please reach out directly to Brick Parrish at .

February 18, 2024 – Sacramento Tandy Users Group Newsletters

Eddie, of https://tandyshowcase.com/ has scanned some Sacramento Tandy Users Group newsletters!


Title: SACTUG
Issue: Vol 1 No 1
Publisher: Sacramento Tandy Users Group
Year: 1986
Size: 41,896,038
Pages: 8

Title: SACTUG
Issue: Vol 2 No 1
Publisher: Sacramento Tandy Users Group
Year: 1987
Size: 73,312,238
Pages: 10

Title: SACTUG
Issue: Vol 2 No 3
Publisher: Sacramento Tandy Users Group
Year: 1987
Size: 59,664,335
Pages: 10