Date: Sat, 17 Feb 2001 12:21:26 +0000
From: Russell Marks <russell.marks@ntlworld.com>
Subject: Re: ZFST?
To: compiler@escomposlinux.org

> > It won't be very quick, but it should work. :-)
> 
>  Here in Spain we want to use the Spectrum on the next EUSKAL PARTY
>  and CAMPUS PARTY. Last party we left a +2A running RAGE and ILLUSION
>  (http://www.escomposlinux.org/sromero/spectrum/specsoft.html , see
>  the photo at the end of the page) and people liked it a lot.
> 
>  This time we'll chat using the spectrum :))

Great stuff. :-)

> > TAP makes more sense than TZX for something like this, I think. I've
> > attached a copy.
> 
>  Thx a lot.
>  You can see all on:
> 
>  http://www.escomposlinux.org/sromero/spectrum/hardware/zfst.txt
>  http://www.escomposlinux.org/sromero/spectrum/hardware/zfst01.zip
>  http://www.escomposlinux.org/sromero/spectrum/hardware/zfsttap.zip
>  http://www.escomposlinux.org/sromero/spectrum/hardware/russell01.txt
> 
>  :)
>  Anyway, I load it and I get nothing (no cursor, and so on).

Whoops... yes. I messed up, sorry. :-) I've sent a copy of the current
version (zfst02.zip), which contains a fixed zfst.tap.

>  Someone tried to create a tap file on which I see the cursor..

That sounds right - though I'd prefer it if you used my TAP, now that
it works. :-) If you want to check it's working, do extend-edit then
s, i.e. press caps-shift+sym-shift+1, then s. It should pop up a small
`XMODEM send' window.

> > It might be a good idea to ask on comp.sys.sinclair, though - I've
> > never wired up such a cable myself.
> 
>  I do not have access to c.s.s. (too much "Robocop is easy" messages :),
>  but I'll try to ask using the university newsserver. Anyway, if you

Ok - if you really can't access it, let me know and I'll ask for you.

>  I'll email you when finished, in order to allow you to see the
>  jpeg files of happy people using their spectrums on Internet :-)

Ha! I look forward to it. :-)

BTW, I had a brief look at your spectrum page and while my Spanish is,
um, non-existent :-), I saw this:

>   * [15-02-2001] Emulador de terminal para Spectrum                      
>     He conseguido ponerme en contacto con el autor de ZFST (Russell Marks)
>     el cual me ha enviado amablemente un fichero .TAP con su Emulador de
>     Terminal para Spectrum directamente reproducible en cinta, y utilizable
>     por tanto en +3, +2 y +2A (o en cualquier otro Spectrum con Interface 1
>     para salida serie).                                               

You seem to be saying it'll work on the +2 there - it won't. Strictly
+3 and +2A only, I'm afraid. [1] And it definitely won't work with the
Interface 1 serial port.

-Rus.

[1] Though I did do a rough 128/+2 port a while back, which I could
probably tidy up if there's any interest.