Re: [Ql-Users] .co.uk domain, where to register?
Urs Koenig wrote: Questions: 1) Is there an official .co.uk domain name registrar or is any company allowed to sell .co.uk domain? 2) If there's more than one (which I assume), which one would you propose. There's no official .co.uk registrar. Personally, I'd recommend either http://www.123-reg.co.uk (simple, cheap) or http://www.easyspace.com (more expensive, but more comprehensive than 123reg). In either case, you can just set your domain to the IP address of your host using the control panel of either company. Cheers, Ade. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Today.
Popular Computing Weekly magazine ordered one on the day they were announced (probably while they were at the press office). Although they didn't get one of the first 80-odd (the hand delivered ones?), they did get an FB ROMmed device. I've just picked up a bunch of old PCW mags which document from launch to arrival (I don't actually have the official report of the launch unfortunately); if anyone is interested in the articles, I can scan them put them on a website. I guess what I'm most surprised to have forgotten (although, in my defence, on January 12th 1984 I was in fact only 10 years old), is just how MUCH excitement the QL announcement created - and just how much disappointment the long long delays caused. You have to wonder if - had Sinclair waited 3 months (and hence lost out on announcing the world's first sub-£1000 (let alone sub-£500) 32-bit computer) - whether the QL would have had the same massive excitement and, being a fully working machine by now, have REALLY set the world on fire, instead of being comparatively restricted to those of us who saw a bloody clever thing when we saw it... (in fairness... it was my Dad who spotted its potential, I'd have probably been happy with anything that called itself a computer...) Cheers, Ade. -Original Message- From: ql-users-boun...@lists.q-v-d.com [mailto:ql-users-boun...@lists.q-v-d.com] On Behalf Of Urs Koenig (QL) Sent: 12 January 2013 17:32 To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Today. Gerhard Plavec wrote: As I remember, after that, QL was not available for a long time... Do you know - just for fun - when the first QLs were puchased to normal people and when the first Apple Macintosh were ? Yes, first customers had to wait a long time for their QLs to arrive. Reference http://www.qlvsjaguar.homepage.bluewin.ch/QLchronology.html: End of April 1984 the first batch of 89 QL's were shipped to customers by car (SST). During May and June 1984 the backlog was reduced and towards autumn enough working QLs were available resulting in High Street stores stocking the QL. IIRC the original Apple Macintosh (128K) was available the day after its launch! Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macintosh_128K)writes: The sales of the Macintosh were strong from its initial release and reached 70,000 units on May 3, 1984. Grüsse aus Luzern, Urs ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Sinclair QL running a qualification test for a space component
You could always re-create the setup outside of your lab (with any sensitive items removed), with a black QL, as a photo-op...? -Original Message- From: ql-users-boun...@lists.q-v-d.com [mailto:ql-users-boun...@lists.q-v-d.com] On Behalf Of Francois Lanciault Sent: 23 November 2012 12:23 To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Sinclair QL running a qualification test for a space component The QL is sitting outside the chamber... The servo controller is connected directly on the back of the QL and long leads are going from the controller to the test setup through an opening in the thermal chamber. The chamber is also purged with nitrogen. It is real QL hardware, i.e. SuperGoldCard + Aurora + Minerva but in a PC case. What stand out is the 5 1/4 floppy drive and the two 3 1/2 drives :-) No I can not takes photo, but anyway a photo would have been nice if it was a standard black QL, An ugly beige box sitting next to an old thermal chamber is not as sexy. François On 2012-11-23, at 04:23, Tony Firshman t...@firshman.co.uk wrote: Wolfgang Lenerz wrote, on 23/Nov/12 09:17 | Nov23: On 23/11/2012 07:13, Francois Lanciault wrote: . But it did work. I closed the door and set the temperature to -50degC. Hi, was the QL in the chamber, too, or outside and just connected through a serial lead? Yes that was a mite ambiguous. It *must* have been outside I think. Incidentally what QL was it? I do hope it was a black box. Tony -- t...@firshman.co.uk http://firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 Skype: tonyfirshman TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Posts
This is the first message I've seen since 23rd October...? Loads since 23rd September... -Original Message- From: ql-users-boun...@lists.q-v-d.com [mailto:ql-users-boun...@lists.q-v-d.com] On Behalf Of Bryan Horstmann Sent: 29 October 2012 12:01 To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: [Ql-Users] Posts I haven't been getting any posts since 23rd September; I feel sure that everyone hasn't gone to sleep!! Bryan H ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Fwd: Quanta Web site down?
Keith, If it's of any use to you, I self-fund a virtual server with Daily.co.uk. I have 2 internet forums (listerengine.com and modelenginemaker.com), as well as using it to host my own photos and stuff. I would be quite happy to add Quanta to the list of hosted websites, there would be no charge ever (happy to sign a contract to that effect); the whole server only costs £100/year, I'm happy to pay that just to have somewhere reliable to keep my photos. It is a LAMP server, so any common content management system will run on it just fine, e.g Joomla or Drupal. Drop me a line if you want to take this further, a...@qluser.org. Cheers, Ade. -Original Message- From: ql-users-boun...@lists.q-v-d.com [mailto:ql-users-boun...@lists.q-v-d.com] On Behalf Of Quanta Webmaster Sent: 19 October 2012 20:38 To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: [Ql-Users] Fwd: Quanta Web site down? ... The committee decided that moving to a cheaper platform was a good idea and I have now been tasked with finding a service to use (I know there are plenty around so will be feeding back my thoughts to the committee). It was also agreed that the new site will be mainly static so the committee will not be making much effort in updating the site (though we will use a different CMS system we can make updates as required. [snip] ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] The Gilpins...
email has been hacked... Does anyone have their phone no. to let them know (assuming they don't already?). Cheers, Ade. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Where has Knoware gone?
pjwitte wrote: Like reading my bloomin obituary ;) No, Im alive and QLing, though not actively developing stuff (for the time being). Knoware is down as I dont have a host. Tested hosting it on an old laptop via DynDNS, but could get it to reliably wake up via internet, and didnt think it worthwhile keeping runing 24/7. Now the laptop's dead :( Im thinking of getting a cheap-to-run netbook or something, and might try again. Let you know if or when I get back online. In the mean time, if you need anything, and know what you need, let me know. Per, I have a virtual server which is hosting some other stuff 24/7, I'd be quite happy to host your domain as well if you like, totally FOC. I don't have a control panel on it, so it's all Linux command line stuff, if you can handle that, you'd be welcome. Drop me a line off-list at a...@qluser.org Cheers, Ade. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Where has Knoware gone?
Tony Firshman wrote: Per, I have a virtual server which is hosting some other stuff 24/7, I'd be quite happy to host your domain as well if you like, totally FOC. I don't have a control panel on it, so it's all Linux command line stuff, if you can handle that, you'd be welcome. Drop me a line off-list at a...@qluser.org ... but he probably would not need to use the command line, as he could (S)FTP in I am sure. I usually turn FTP off when I'm not using it, otherwise it's a honey pot for hackers :( I could probably install a free copy of Plesk come to think of it. The hosting provider has an option to do that during setup, it might mean shuffling other stuff about, no real hardship there. Cheers, Ade. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Fw: query
Rich Mellor wrote: I did speak to Peter Graf about this a couple of years ago - and he said that [an SD card microdrive cart] would just be too expensive a solution, even if it were feasible. I can see why that would be - there'd be some complex high precision engineering required, and you'd only sell a few dozen of them at best, even if you could set the price at something the hobby world is likely to stand - and after all that, how many QLs still have decently clean read heads, after X miles of MDV cart has passed through them. IMHO, a far better - and much easier - approach would be to make an SD card drive which plugged into the microdrive expansion slot appeared as MDV3,4,etc. I can't imagine the logic is that difficult, and I suspect an Arduino could bit-bash it with ease. Not sure if that's a new idea of if something already exists? (the QL-SD card project that Dilwyn mentioned?) Cheers, Ade. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Jan Jones
Geoff Wicks wrote: As far as the technical side is concerned the problem with a pdf file is that we will need it to be searchable and include the illustrations. Perhaps the people who did the QL Today pdf archive could help. From a tech point of view, this is much less difficult than it used to be. If you have the MS Word document already (which presumably has already been OCR'd and typo-checked), then provided the headings are in heading styles, you can use Libre Office Writer to create a fully searchable bookedmarked PDF. The best solution would probably be an e-book. I would certainly be prepared to pay a tenner for that, so that if it oils the works, we can offer Jan Jones royalties. Moi aussi - although I already own a copy of the paperback so in theory don't need an e-book; but how many of us are sat in front of actual QL hardware, in the same place/time, these days? All the more so if the Raspberry Pi ever gets a QL emulator... (and, indeed, if the RPi ever actually gets delivered!) The one downside to an e-book is... once released, you forever lose control of it. It would be the last reprint; and I suspect Quanta will have to find a way to fund JJ a one-off royalty. I sincerely hope it's possible, because the book is brilliant (not much of a thriller, admittedly) and having an e-copy would be very useful. Cheers, Ade. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] UK Postal Increases
Dilwyn Jones wrote: I've just heard on the radio that it's to be called the Pie Tax and taxed at the rate of 3.1415926... % :o) Oh, boy, that went off at a tangent no matter which way you slice it. Cheers! Ade. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Test
Tony Firshman wrote: That reminds me of a shaggy dog story (slightly amended) as to why there was a dead person in the shower surrounded by empty shampoo bottles: 1 Wet hair 2) Apply shampoo and rub in 3) Rinse 4) Repeat The dead guy was a QL programmer. Surely in that case the instructions would have needed to be: REPeat Wet_Hair Apply_shampoo_and_rub_in Rinse END REPeat ? (line numbers ommitted because life's too short) Cheers! Ade. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Test
Tony Firshman wrote: On Jan 10, at 09:11 | Jan10, Ade Vickers wrote: Tony Firshman wrote: That reminds me of a shaggy dog story (slightly amended) as to why there was a dead person in the shower surrounded by empty shampoo bottles: 1 Wet hair 2) Apply shampoo and rub in 3) Rinse 4) Repeat The dead guy was a QL programmer. Surely in that case the instructions would have needed to be: REPeat Wet_Hair Apply_shampoo_and_rub_in Rinse END REPeat ? (line numbers ommitted because life's too short) Cheers! Ade. Pedant (8-)# (Pot calling the kettle black). The sad thing is, I really had to rack my brains to remember the repeat/end repeat structure... It's been far too long since I used SuperBASIC in anger. But yes, it was a bit of a pedant call, sorry (is there a sheepish grin emoticon?) Cheers! Ade. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Test
Tony Firshman wrote:
On Jan 10, at 13:12 | Jan10, Marcel Kilgus wrote:
Tony Firshman wrote:
Pedant (8-)#
(Pot calling the kettle black).
Tony
Why the sudden outbreak of testy emails ;-)?
Not at all - didn't you see the smile. It was a J O K E.
and the 'pot' comment was against *me* (8-)#
WSH!
That's the sound of Geoff's joke going right over your head ;-)
Nope - betweens my legs (8-)#
Oooh, that's a low blow
;-)
Cheers!
Ade.
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Re: [Ql-Users] QL2K on Windows 7
Norm wrote: a windows 7 rant Agreed! With bells on! My advice to Dilwyn is simple, if you ever want to stop effing about with Windows and having to rebuild your PC from the bits that survived a heave out of the nearest (open I hope) window, install Linux. I thoroughly advice Linux Mint 11 as it still uses Gnome 2. Ubuntu - much favoured by many - has gone over to Gnome 3 which is bloody awful. (Other opinions are available - but they are wrong!) You can switch Ubuntu back to ye olde view at the login screen, I've done that on my boxen and all appears well. Linux Mint 11 have everything you need to listen to music, watch DVDs etc. And run QPC. However, there are two things I've found it can't do: * Access floppy discs from within QPC. A tad irritating I admit, but as I don't have a floppy on my laptop, not too big a problem! * Play Blue Ray DVDs. Apparently the encryption used on these (to prevent you playing something you own when you go away for a few nights, for example) is such that bypassing it is a tad (a) difficult and (b) set's you up to be prosecuted. If your machine is powerful enough, you should be able to run a Windows virtual machine inside your Linux box; I don't know whether that would give you floppy access or not, or indeed bluray playing abilities; but it might be a solution to the problem at hand (ironic: having to run an emulator in an emulator). VirtualBox is a freely downloadable VM system (apt-gettable), also VMWare's VM Player is free for non-commercial use. Natch, you need an old XP licence (or a Win 7 Pro licence, which allows you to downgrade to XP). Cheers, Ade. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Help wanted
Lee Privett wrote on 13 April 2011 20:27: Can anyone tell me what character 181 is in the Sinclair QL character font is? It is not printed in the QL User manual, not the ones I have anyway I cannot find the character in the standard window fonts, symbol or wingdings I cannot find it in the world list of currency symbols either It looks like a backward S with emphasis on the start and tail, and a squiggly bit under the bottom curve The closest I found is the latin character called Tone two. Hopefully, this wiki link will work: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ƨ If not, google latin tone two click the wiki link with the backward S. It may not be the same, though, as there's no cedilla (which is what I must assume the QL font has), nor are the ends emphasised. Then again, it's quite hard to represent a character well in a 5x9 grid... and Sinclair (or, rather, the engineer responsible) is to be congratulated on just how well he (she?) managed it... Cheers, Ade. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Sir C on radio4
Tony Firshman wrote on 07 April 2011 16:15: Tuesday 5 April Great Lives, 4.30 - 5.00pm, rpt Friday 11.00 - 11.30pm New series. Sir Clive Sinclair discusses fellow inventor Thomas Edison with Matthew Parris. Did anyone listen? You have another chance tomorrow. They kept raising the C5 - and he still thinks it was not a mistake. I remember David Batty (Sector software) doing wheelies in one round a fountain at a QL show in Bielefeld. I think he's right - it's not a mistake it was just 30 years too soon. A modern-day C5 would likely be more powerful, faster and have better range. In fact isn't the G-Wiz basically a slightly scaled-up C5? It'd be interesting to see what a C5 could do with a modern brushless traction motor, and some LiPo batteries... Not a mention of the QL - but he never seems to. Sadly, he does seem to regard the QL as a mistake. But what a mistake... it gave me hours, no, years of pleasure - and still does to this day (albeit in a much smaller scale way). Cheers, Ade. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QL game release! - TRON legacy light cycles 2D
Dilwyn Jones wrote: I am not quite sure I understand the background to this game Am I correct to understand that it was a public domain game written in 1986, but only just licensed for release? So where was the film taken, and what is Urs' link to it? It works fine in q-emulator :-) I gather it was a game written in 1986 by Martin Neuss. Originally published in a German QL magazine and I think subsequently in a German or Dutch (I forget which) user group library. Written in basic and code. Nice little front end judging by the video. It loads 32 screens to the screen so might not work unless screen is at address 131072, or if using QPC2 could perhaps use the screen shadow (QPC_QLSCREMU command?) Looks good in the video at least. Looks like there's versions for both network and standard floppy disks. I'm sure there was a text-based version published in QL World (or QL User... whichever). I recall typing it in, but it never did work properly. It was supposed to redefine the fount in order to display graphics, but that bit never seemed to work properly, and even if it did, the QL's lightcycle was about twice as fast as the player's, so it always won Happy days :) I'll have to see if I've still got it lurking on an old microdrive somewhere... Cheers, Ade. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Extremely rare example of a Sinclair QL with Dongle
Rich Mellor wrote: On 03/02/2011 12:49, Dilwyn Jones wrote: It was followed by FB which may never have left the factory - we know that Psion had to alter their boot programs to cope with the difference in the AT command in the FB ROM compared to later QL ROMs (they didn't bother checking for the earlier PM ROM). No-one else had to make this change or ever use it, so it looks as though by the time the public got their hands on the QL, the operating system was at least AH (which was soon followed by JM, JS and MG ROMs). I'm pretty sure I had an FB machine when they came out, as I remember the AT x,y problem quite clearly . Also, as I didn't find out about version PM until many years later (I remember Simon explaining about it), I'm sure it must have been version FB ROM which I had. That QL got returned within weeks for an update, but I don't know if the machine which came back was the same one as I first had, or a different computer. So, assuming that the old DJ memory chips are working correctly and I'm correct, FB must have been issued to some early customers. I guess some customers did have the FB ROMs - (interesting) The odd thing is that only the main 4 Psion packages ever made allowance for the difference in the AT command - presumably no-one else ever raised this with an issue with software producers, as all the machines were returned to Sinclair. Turbo and Q-liberator would have fun compiling the AT command if it was written on the FB ROM ! I'd always understood the order to be FB, PM, AH, JM, JS, MGx; I think I read that in an early edition of QL User. PM was supposedly never released. FB allegedly stood for Full of Bugs, AH for Angela's Holiday. Not sure about the others... I had an AH QL (s/n D06 IIRC) from new in about June or July 1984, if my beer-addled memory serves me correctly. Sadly, one of the soldered-on chips on the AH board has given up the ghost (which had some hand-soldered modifications), but the AH chips live on in another, newer, board. Cheers! Ade. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Season's greetings!
Agreed - Merry Christmas a prosperous new year to all! I hope ICL OPDing counts as QLing... otherwise I've done nearly none this year... -Original Message- From: ql-users-boun...@lists.q-v-d.com [mailto:ql-users-boun...@lists.q-v-d.com] On Behalf Of François Van Emelen Sent: 24 December 2010 12:07 To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: [Ql-Users] Season's greetings! Merry christmas to all of you! François Van Emelen ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Missing Sinclair QL Software Titles
Hi Rich list, Giga-BASIC I think I may have a copy of this lurking somewhere, it's not original (came to me with a QL I bought in about 1990), I will see if I can find it. No guarantees the mdv is still readable, of course... QL Artist - by Rodent Software Wasn't that one of the Progs? I'm pretty sure I had a copy of that too, but I had to type it myself? Probably my memory is failing me... or perhaps QL Artist was a compiled version? Anyway I'll see what I can dig up. Cheers, Ade. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] Old QL article
I happened to be poking around in my collection of old electronics magazines, and I happened across an article about the new QL - the magazine is dated March 1984, which would suggest the article was written sometime in January... So, I scanned it in case anyone's interested to see how the QL was first received... you can download it here: http://www.qluser.org/Hobby_Electronics-Sinclairs_QL.pdf It's quite big: 855k PDF for 2 pages; I can do another version with smaller scans if anyone's still on dial-up, just let me know. Hmm in August this year, I'll have had a QL for 25 years. How time flies... Cheers! Ade. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] ICL OPD with no real interest...
Hmm, I'd looked at it, decreed that Sutton Coldfield was too far away for me to go to pick it up. And, while it happens I will be in Birmingham on Friday, I will be long gone by the time the auction ends :( Besides, I already have an OPD - to get another one would just be greedy... Cheers, Ade. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Richard Kilpatrick Sent: 16 July 2008 22:38 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Ql-Users] ICL OPD with no real interest... The last of my QLish bits (until we reorganise and buy an as-new- boxed one for our proper collection) - I popped it on eBay and it's attracted one bid and few watchers. Since I listed with no reserve, I figured someone here might like the chance of getting it cheap. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ViewItemrd=1item=320273556352ssPageName=STRK:MESE:ITih=011 Whatever it ends at, that's it :/ Richard -- Tasty Other - Because Far Too Much in Life Makes Sense Music for download - coming soon (RIP MP3.com) G.A.S. http://www.dmc12.demon.co.uk/music/ Platform: PowerMac G5 2.0GHz Dual, 20 LCD, Logic, Hammerfall. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.5.0/1555 - Release Date: 7/16/2008 6:43 AM ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] HDD problems
David Tubbs wrote: I have a large suspect drive and in surfing for low level formatting info I chanced on the following, just had to share the thought. = Fixing a hard disk crash It's really not too difficult to fix your own hard drive, if the problem is a head crash, or the infamous Seagate stiction problem, if you know what to do. You will require #4/0 steel wool, Varsol, WD-40, a few hand tools, and about 45 minutes. First, you need a clean room, so make sure the garage door is closed before you begin. Move those old lawnmower parts off the bench. Disassemble the sealed unit and carefully wash all parts with Varsol. Bend the read/write heads out of the way and then disassemble the platter stack. VERY CAREFULLY buff the platter surfaces with the #4/0 steel wool. This will remove any existing data, level out any surface defects, and help to redistribute the magnetic media and fill in those pesky bad sectors that most drives have. Reassemble the platter stack, and using a .015 feeler gauge, bend the read/write head back to the platter surface, using the feeler gauge to set the gap. This is a slightly higher gap than the factory uses, but it reduces the chance of head collisions with any flotsam you neglected to remove. Give the head and platters a good shot of WD-40 and reassemble the unit. If your drive has a filter, replace it with a clean section of gauze pad. All that's left is to low level and DOS format the drive, and you're back in business. I haven't tried this yet myself, but my friend's wife's cousin's, sister-in-law's husband knows a technician who does it all the time. TF added: Maybe this was written on April 1st. I would use 2000 grade wet or dry and polishing compund (8-)# Tsk - this is all very silly advice. It really doesn't matter whether you use wire wool, wet'n'dry or even quality emery paper; the fact is you will be removing some of the magnetic coating from the disk, which will reduce it's effectiveness and life-span thereafter. So, after the initial rub-down with abrasive material (wire wool or wet dry), apply a thin layer of PVA glue to the entire platter, then sprinkle on a generous and even coating of iron filings (your local welding shop will have plenty to spare). When the glue has dried, rub down again, being sure not to expose any of the glue, then polish. Now turn the disk over repeat. If your disk has multiple platters, you must repeat this treatment on both sides of each platter... Once you've completed this, run a powerful magnet around the disk a few times to magnetise the iron filings, and make sure they're all pointing north (=0). If any are still pointing south (=1), then repeat the application of the magnet until done. Now re-assemble, format, job done - your disk will now last many years, especially now there's lots more magnetic material in it ;-) (PS: I'm not sure what Varsol is, but I'm reliably informed that petrol (super-unleaded if possible) makes a handy substitute, and at only £1.10/ltr, is cheap too) Cheers, Ade. No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.22.13/1375 - Release Date: 12/04/2008 11:32 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] qubide
Rather than dropping it - which IS one way of making it work again, but a last resort I'd suggest this instead: - First check that it's not actually spinning up when you apply power. Assuming it's not: - Power down again, then grip the drive on the long edge between thumb fingers, and twist it back forth vigorously a couple of times. This should be enough to undo any stiction which is preventing the drive from spinning up. - Power up again as soon as you've put the drive back down... Assuming it spins up this time, then you're away - but beware, I'd consider the drive to be scrap from that point onwards. I once managed to keep an ailing drive going for nearly 6 months using that technique (the machine was left on 24/7; except when Windows decided to shut the drive down due to inactivity), but when it did die, it went most spectacularly - when the bearings finally failed completely. Cheers! Ade. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Dilwyn Jones Sent: 27 March 2008 23:22 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] qubide Quite correct (ahem) I'd forgotten the romdisq was there :-( The hard disk is dead though. It won't reformat via the qubide, though I haven't tried installign it elsewhere yet. I haven't tried Norman's suggestion of dropping it though will no doubt resurface to report on that one soon! -- Dilwyn Jones No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.22.1/1347 - Release Date: 27/03/2008 19:15 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] (no subject)
Hi Norman, The Trump Card will give you bags of extra memory (an extra 640k on top of the base 128k IIRC), the ability to plug in DD floppy disks (720k/disk), and the always-useful Tony Tebby Toolkit II (aka Toolkit 2, or TK2). If you're currently lacking any expansion on your QL, then a Trump Card is worth having for the disk interface memory. A Gold Card (or Super Gold Card, if you're one of the lucky few) will not only bring you bags of extra RAM (2MB or 4MB for GC or SGC respectively), a disk interface capable of driving DD, HD and ED drives (720K, 1.44MB (?) and 3.2MB per disk) - but most importantly it also replaces the CPU with (if I remember correctly) a 68020 or 68040 (GC, SGC) - or maybe it's a 68000/68020, I forget. At any rate, it goes a lot faster... GCs and SGCs are (rightly) considered the Rolls Royce of original equipment upgrades, before you get into the various QL-on-a-PC-card systems (sorry, can't remember it's name) and QL emulators. Other things you might find useful to expand/improve your QL: Minerva ROMs (which make many improvements over base QDOS); SuperHERMES which IIRC much improves serial i/o keyboard response (and also IIRC allows you to add an IBM type keyboard with relatively little aggro). Then there's QBIDE - a hard-disk interface; no longer manufactured, and I'd like one of those myself... Considering the relatively low level of sales Sinclair suffered (despite apparent evidence to the contrary on eBay - there's always plenty of QL stuff on sale there), it's remarkable just how much add-on hardware, and software, was - and in some cases still is - developed for it. Cheers! Ade. (using QLs since 1984!) -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 19 March 2008 00:45 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] (no subject) Thanks for all your advice, guys. I missed the Gold Card auction :( but I have seen this one http://uk.four.ebid.net/perl/auction.cgi?auction=1200854905-28140-8mo=aucti on for a Trump Card? I can see it isn't as much of an uprade as the Gold Cards, but is it worth having? Cheers, Norm Hello Norman (Cook) Welcome to the list. Exciting days lie ahead for you and your QL! Re your question - Is this (Gold Card) the sort of thing you need to beef up your QL? [Short] Answer: yes! But be aware that there is another and better version - 'Super Gold Card'. Is there a list member who can point Norman to the current web-pages of QL tech info - rather than me re-inventing the wheel for him? :-) Please. Have fun Norman(C) ... and, of course, all other #Normans hereabouts - and especially, do I like the 'kilter', of the newest web-site - just announced here ;-) Look forward to more @ same. Thanks. Regards to all John (in Wales) ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1331 - Release Date: 16/03/2008 10:34 No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1331 - Release Date: 16/03/2008 10:34 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Internet connection
Duncan wrote: Does anyone have knowledge of the netport serial to ethernet connectors at : I don't have direct knowledge of this device, but of a very similar one (the Cyclades TS-100). Could such a device be suitable to connect a Qx0 or an aurora or a Shermes modified base QL to a broadband router modem? Not directly - it would have to go through another computer first. Assuming this Netport device is similar in function to the TS-100 (and, reading the blurb, it is), it effectively puts out a telnet-style stream of data on an IP address. So, you'd still need a PeeCee (or Apple, perhaps) to read the input stream, and send out commands in a more internet-friendly manner. For example, you won't have any serial-side control over what IP port the serial device sends its data out on; so if you wanted a Web page, you'd have to use your PC to translate some serial command into Get me this address from Port 80 -- the PC would also have to handle the receipt of that page transmitting it back down the to the serial side. I guess what I'm saying is, it would be non-trivial :( Now, one thing I don't know about this Netport is whether you can run your own programs on it The Cyclades TS-100 runs on a tiny version of Linux; so, in theory, you could write the serial-net translation software in C, load it into the Cyclades, and it would do the job in one box. If you could do that with the Netport, then it would be possible. HTH! Ade. No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.518 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1319 - Release Date: 08/03/2008 10:14 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] new hard disk
Robert Newson wrote: I must admit, I was assuming Sinclair had used 1024 byte blocks on his microdrives - I may need to be corrected on that. Sinclair used 512 byte blocks/sectors on the mdvs. ^_^ Of course I'd forgotten that. It's been too long since I used a QL in anger -- even though I have one set up right here in the office :-/ So... My estimate of 3.5million MDVs is, in fact, wrong; it should be nearly 7million MDVs. Wow. Of course, formatting will remove a lot of that; if one assumes 50%, my original figure comes out conveniently accurate, for some inexplicable reason :) Cheers, Ade. No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.463 / Virus Database: 269.6.0/775 - Release Date: 24/04/2007 17:43 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] new hard disk
Robert Newson wrote: Ade Vickers wrote: ... Sinclair used 512 byte blocks/sectors on the mdvs. ^_^ Of course I'd forgotten that. It's been too long since I used a QL in anger -- even though I have one set up right here in the office :-/ So... My estimate of 3.5million MDVs is, in fact, wrong; it should be nearly 7million MDVs. Mdvs had a [theoretical] max capacity of 128K, though in practice, it was slightly less: I used to get around 220 sectors on a formatted cartridge giving about 110K. Mea culpa - a senior moment; I'd already converted it into K, instead of blocks. You're right of course - my original QL gave anywhere between 220 and 230 free blocks, generally; i.e. 110 to 115K approx. Cheers, Ade. No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.463 / Virus Database: 269.6.0/775 - Release Date: 24/04/2007 17:43 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] new hard disk
Norman wrote: [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Yes, I am toying with getting a 400GB hard drive ... I I wonder how many QL microdrives that is the equivalent of ? Using 400 * 1024 * 1024 * 1024 bytes and dividing by 110 * 1024 bytes we get a grand total of 3,813,003.6363 (recurring) microdrive cartridges. Except that a hard-drive kilobyte is 1000 bytes, and a megabyte is 1000 kilobytes... So, in fact, it's 400 * 1000 * 1000 * 1000 / (110 * 1024) = 3,551,136.3636 recurring That's nearly 250,000 microdrive capacities lost :) Cheers, Ade. No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.463 / Virus Database: 269.6.0/775 - Release Date: 24/04/2007 17:43 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] QLer ages
Tony Firshman wrote: Ade Vickers wrote: Possibly - but would a connector give up when the chip had been undisturbed for ~10 years? Indeed it could. Corrosion is likely on the exposed areas, and this chip gets pretty hot, so can migrate. OK. I'm pretty sure the CPU is ok, because it works fine in another machine. Is there a simple way to clean the socket which doesn't involve desoldering it? It is worth cleaning legs of the chip (hard rubber), checking pins are striaght, and then removing/replacing a number of times. I assume J1 (expansion connector) pins are OK? I think so - I will dig the old girl out of her box this afternoon and check. If it is the original membrane be *very* careful. Tails will break easily. I bet when (if) it starts up, some keys will not work! Not original - I've used 3 membranes over the last 20 years - I now have one of the new RWAP ones, so I'm hoping for years of trouble-free service from the keyboard from now on. Cheers, Ade. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.4/449 - Release Date: 15/09/2006 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] QLer ages
Hi Tony, Often motherboard faults can be repairable, especially ram. What do you see on screen when it tries to boot? When I get Random coloured snow, various screeches and whistles from the speaker, both microdrives spinning up down randomly, all constantly changing. The click-click when you push the reset button can still be heard (over the cacophany), but the net effect is nothing whatsoever changes. I've tried replacing all of the pluggable chips (not sure, but I may have dislodged the flying resistor which is parked somewhere near the roms, which was obviously a hardware patch), to no avail.- all chips work fine in another motherboard. a motherboard that is not simple to repair, I (like you) simply use a working m/b. Agreed, it is far simpler; but I would love to be able (one day) to say THAT is 100% my original computer (ok, barring whatever components needed replacing to make it work again!) [microdrives] The usual problem is the roller riding up. Never suffered that ever - and I was using nothing but microdrives until at least the early '90s (A 128k basic QL was my only machine from 1984 to 1992, when I expanded to 512k + a single 5.25 floppy drive - running on some weird interface which prefixed the drives fdk - so I had to mess around with *every* piece of software to make it use fdk rather than flp; until I found the command on my interface which allowed me to substitute flp in; then I had to alter all of my software *again* to make it use flp Happy days. Cheers, Ade. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.3/447 - Release Date: 13/09/2006 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] QLer ages - Membership numbers
Neil Riley wrote: Moving on and I'm asking purely out of interest, does anyone know the number of paid up QUANTA members and number of subscribers to QL Today. I used to be a QUANTA member, but it lapsed several years ago due to inaction on my part (oops). I've never subscribed to QL Toady (am I allowed to call it that, as a non-subscriber?), although I occasionally think I really ought to... Being the lazy (very very lazy) sort, combined with a memory comprised entirely of the holes you find in swiss cheese, I am forever not getting around to subscribing for these things. What would be really nice is if I could buy 5 years worth of membership/subs upfront, and have a dead easy website to go to if I need to change address, etc. Then I'd be more likely to join, as I'd only have to remember once every 5 years... I'm trying to guage the scale of the QL community. Pretty damn big for a computer that was considered to be a commercial failure, it seems to me. Cheers, Ade. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.3/447 - Release Date: 13/09/2006 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] QLer ages
Adrian (good name)/ Witchy wrote: Lurker time is it? :) Well, it's about time I had another shot at being involved... I just seem to run out of space/time just as my interest is rekindled. This time, I have a half-decent sized (for me) office, and some actual spare desk space! So I shall be getting a QL out to play with from time to time, just as soon as I've got the 3rd desk in here. Cheers, Ade. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.3/447 - Release Date: 13/09/2006 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] QLer ages
Robert Newson wrote: Ade Vickers wrote: ... Agreed, it is far simpler; but I would love to be able (one day) to say THAT is 100% my original computer (ok, barring whatever components needed replacing to make it work again!) Replacing m/b to get it working?... This broom of mine is the same one I bought 30 years ago; since then it's had 10 new heads and 5 new handles, but it's the same broom... ^_^ I 100% agree - this is why I'd like my original motherboard *repaired* rather than replaced... Otherwise, the only /truly/ original bits are the keytops, the bottom of the case and the ROM chips... Not the same thing at all. Mind you, my original does have a ceramic 68008, wheras all of the subsequent QLs I've picked up have the plastic cased version. Cheers, Ade. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.4/448 - Release Date: 14/09/2006 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] QLer ages
Malcolm Cadman wrote: Yes, Tony is your man for any QL repair diagnostics ... Ade, can you get to the forthcoming Quanta Show at Byfleet, Surrey, on 5th November 2006 ? The truest answer is I don't know. I am due to be going Newbury-way to see a Jaguar C-Type (not for me, sadly) sometime in early-mid November, but it's a long way from Merseyside to Surrey. If I can combine the trips, I'll be there. If I can't, I probably won't :( The last show I attended was in Chester, some time in the '90s. I recall briefly meeting some of my all-time heroes (e.g. Dilwyn Jones) there... Cheers, Ade. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.4/448 - Release Date: 14/09/2006 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] QLer ages
Tony wrote: Hrmm - not the usual stuff. Check that there are no bent (shorting) pins on the expansion connector. Definitely not - the plastic cover was still in place when it died. Could be a dodgy connection on the 68008 I suppose. That socket was very sub-standard. It had the sort of weak spring connectors that were on *all* the sockets of my UK101! Possibly - but would a connector give up when the chip had been undisturbed for ~10 years? Cheers, Ade. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.4/448 - Release Date: 14/09/2006 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[ql-users] Microdrives
Much to my annoyance, some of my 21 year old microdrives (it's actually their 21st birthday this month!) have begun to bite the dust. Or, rather, bite the foam: The little foam pad behind the tape is starting to disintegrate. Does anyone have a stack of dead cartridges (snapped/jammed/crinkled tape, just simply won't format, whatever) that they'd like to get shot of, so I can spend hour after happy our prising the little copper widget + foam pad out to renew my dying cartridges? I can collect from South Essex, or will pay postage, or swap interesting stuff (if I have any). I'm particularly hoping to resurrect my original black-label Quill 2.00 cart. Fortunately, the only one I've actually ruined is a silver-label Easel cart, which gummed up proper style when the foam let go (this is how I discovered the problem). Thanks in advance! Ade. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.8.11/45 - Release Date: 09/07/2005 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
