Yep! the perfect storm of Tech and popular food stuffs to promote innovation. haha Thank goodness they did ... thanks to Paul Jenkinson. Top notch episode as usual. :)
Interesting to see Basicode again. It was pretty well known here in the Netherlands, but with the Spectrum's relatively low popularity over here, it's no surprise this version seems a little sub par. I suppose the lack of a native 40 column mode really hinders performance. Anyway, there were 2 later revisions: Version 3 which added bitmap graphics, and Version 3C which added colour. Later, a CD was released with 60 basicode programs on it (30 per stereo channel). Basicode even made it into the communist East Germany, with programs released on audio record.
I got a CD-ROM ( well actually a audio ROM) with all of the basicode programs from Klaas Roberts from Philips, who was in the original basicode team. It appears to be the first cd rom ever. (Green/orange box)
Your attempts with Microdrive reminded me of how we had to persevere with the Spectrum. If a game didn't load we just adjusted the treble or volume til it worked! No taking it back to the shop or emailing someone. If a key didn't work (thanks Daley Thompson) then a bit of gaffer tape helped underneath the keyboard. Don't ask me how I can't remember. What great memories your channel helps me recall. Thanks Paul. 👍👍
The "April Fool". They did a simular thing for the ZX81, but it reported it was turn basic to machine code - i was gutted when it did the same as the one you showed! Good memories
zzap64 did a similar one. It was a small basic program with a ton of machine code data statements that purported to speed up the cpu. Took ages to type in just to see `april fools` on the screen. I think the data statements were just filling the memory with random numbers or something totally pointless. Made me laugh back in the day.
Lovely to see my name appear at 13.14 "Program by Dr. I..Logan July 1984" I remember a single visit to the BBC in London and writing a short loading program for the Spectrum 48K. However, BASICODE was never really a success in the UK - and I was not involved any further. Recently, I donated all my Sinclair computers and books to 'RMC - The Cave' at Stroud - so they have a good home now. It is amazing how they get 40 year old electronics to work even after 40 years. I do recommend everyone tries to visit .The Cave'.
Great to see another quality episode. I do so look forward to these at the end of the month. I must admit I had never heard of Basicode or The Chip Shop but shows what we as computer users were putting up with in terms of software sharing in the 80's. Looking forward to the next series
Thanks for this, I thought I'd made the transmission of computer code over radio up. My clock radio alarm was set to Radio 1 and would spring into life early in the morning to get me up for my paper round, on Saturdays I'd wake up to the soothing sounds of a computer program loading but as it didn't sound like my Spectrum I didn't think it was for me. But now I know thanks to your coverage of Basicode.
The BASIC editor only allows you to enter line numbers from 1 to 9999; however the BASIC interpreter itself supports line numbers outside that range. Presumably the BASICODE translator constructs the BASIC program directly in memory.
@@gwishart That would make editing the higher lines impossible as they would not be recognised. I have just done an experiment on my original 48K Speccy. After line 9999, I ended up with line :244. and yes, the colon was part of the line number. LOL.
@@frankowalker4662 After a bit of research, it looks like the BASICODE translator program includes a 6.5k BASIC extension. This allows for several additional features that wouldn't normally be allowed in standard Sinclair BASIC programs, including: * Support for 42 column mode. * Line numbers up to 32767. * No syntax checking when entering program lines. * Multiple letter string variable names and functions eg. IN$, NAME$, FN LEFT$() * Multiple letter array names eg. AS(4) * No string slicing using the S$(start TO finish) syntax, they're replaced by functions for LEFT$, MID$, RIGHT$. * Array indices start at zero, not one. ie. DIM A(2) defines an array with three elements, A(0) to A(2) * DIM supports multiple array definitions in a single statement. eg. DIM BD(2), EF(5) * String arrays are now dynamic in length. eg. DIM B$(5) defines an array of six variable length strings, rather than a single fixed length string of five characters. * CLEAR has two parameters, with the second one determining how much memory space to reserve for string variables. * NEXT supports multiple variables. eg. NEXT A,B is equivalent to NEXT A: NEXT B
Never heard of BASICODE back in Poland, even though I do remember recording radio broadcasts. I don't remember if they were binaries or BASIC, but I quickly abandoned it because of transmission errors and the software was not what I expected (a that young age I probably expected it would be retail games...)
I really like your show, it brings back memories and provides interesting information. I had a ZX Spectrum as a kid. Now, some time ago I bought a Spectrum 48k with Interface 1 and Microdrive. In the past I only had a tape recorder, so this is my first contact with Microdrive. Hence my question, how to copy a game from the cassette to the Microdrive? Greetings.
Ah, the nostalgia associated with tuning into Radio 1 on 1089MW. Those of us living in Fife had to wait until 85 or 86 before we were treated to Radio 1 on FM with it's less "muffled" sound and stereo playback.
Wow this episode is epic. I'm not even done watching it (I'm at 30 minutes in), but I wanted to thank you for taking me once again on a trip down memory lane, and showing me stuff I would have been able to waste many many hours on as a kid back in the 80's... I know you don't have a huge following, but I think your following is probably quite happy 😀
Hi Paul! Nice to see your show, as always. - Just today I received an Interface 1 and I'm looking forward to restore the microdrive cartridges I have. Similar to you I've collected a bunch of them. Have you tried to FORMAT the cartridges and check if they work OK? - Several years ago I tried this and my experience was that they were working pretty fine... THNX 4 the info.
Bruce Lee - if you lie down, Yamu and Ninja can't see you and run off looking for you (often into the traps), and sometimes just attack each other out of frustration. One of my all-time favourite games.
My guess on the microdrive carts is that the felt pad was too high/strong, and may have actually slowed the tape down by pressing the tape too hard to the head. When this started to relax after several tries, then the carts could be read.
Another great episode and season to boot. I feel your pain with Microdrives as while I have many and re-felted every single one, they are one of the most unreliable pieces of magnetic media I have ever used. I do use them with a Multiface to store snapshots of programs that are in memory, a bit like an embryonic version of save-states and they are extremely hit and miss. The Multiface also increases the capacity of Microdrives to 100k as opposed to the normal 84k. I think the issue with the Microdrives was how the tapes stretched over use due to the speed they ran at. It's something one of the original design engineers pointed out during a recent documentary. I was not aware of the Bruce Lee update! As a fan of the original, I shall have to seek it out.
Great Episode! Loved the in depth feature for the cross platform basic! Like an early virtual machine! I remember vaguely as a kid the programs being broadcast but never knew you needed the Basicode software
I'm a fan of the MicroDrive even though it didn't really light the world on fire, it's speed and size was very cool for the era. I'm just slowly trying out 8-tracks, still need a player heh, but new felt pads are definitely needed for my vintage media.🙂 With history like this I can see why people payed a lot for business computers and software since you can't have speed or tech support problems with customers left waiting.😐 Sweet modern hardware unit you have there, definitely a convenient option. I've been doing old school methods mostly for the experience aspect of things I never tried but definitely with platforms I know well the modern quality of life improvements are appealing.😉
Great episode. Nice to see the wrapup of the business use. I ran a business on a commodore 64 for years and this has me thinking about an integrated business program for the Spectrum. Utterly useless now but could be fun to write.
Hah! Yes! I got caught out by that april fool back in the day. I typed it in with a friend while at school. We were so excited then felt very foolish when it popped that message up :)
I always think of this as a "Sunday" programme, not a Saturday one. Saturday, just has too much happening with it for this to be a priority. Sunday - when things quieten down, is when this sort of programme is best seen (the day to enjoy hobbies).
Good episode , as usual! I think i mainly used iterface1 as a propup to ease typing, as cartrides was kinda hard to get in sweden at the time, and quite expencive to order from UK.
I tried Basicode back in the day as well. Using the Speccy had little issues for me, but the screen size was a hindrance. The worst machine to get it running on was the C64 as the C2N tapedeck didn't like the radio recorded code tapes.
I have all the basicode programs from the tape in tap version, before and after "translation". I wrote it here before but I guess it was deleted because I put the web address in it. So no idea how to share it. The problem with ZEESLAG basic is that READ reads DATA but it is the wrong type for the variable. Basicode runs a lot better at 14 MHz like on a ZX Spectrum Next.
Yes, TH-cam doesn't like url's, even if you obfuscate it. What I did is put the url in my About screen of my TH-cam channel. And yes, Basicode was quite popular in the Netherlands (as opposed to Sinclair micros...), probably because Hobbyscope was such an interesting radio show! Those were the days!
Hi Paul, in this video you have a Citizen Swift 9 printer hooked up to your ZX spectrum - Would you mind explaining how this is all hooked and and what interfaces were used?
I explian it in the 1st episode of the series. 122. Also used the printer with various interfaces. Check my website for episode guides on things like Ram Print, PlusD interface, Kempston printer interface.
I wish they kept putting out software on the radio in the 90s and beyond. but i guess there are a lot of limitations with bitrate so more complex programs wouldn't work .but i am surprised its better than i thought it has sound. i thought it would be like a dumb terminal from the 1970s where you can't change characters once they are on screen.
Any plans to try out other types of utility software in the next series Paul? I had hoped that you would have started covering a fair amount of it in this series - not just a small portion of each episode, dedicated specifically just to business software and hardware alone (although I very much enjoyed it nevertheless). More utility software and hardware content in the future please! :)
Strange connection between Basicode and Inufuto: as I understand, Inufuto, a programmer from Japan, writes each of games as one base code in programming language called CATO and then compiles it for different 8-bit platforms including MSX, Sega Master System, ZX Spectrum, Apple II, C64, VIC-20, TRS-80...
I very much appreciate your summary of trying to run a business on a Spectrum -- a herculean effort of setup and documentation, and I appreciate it very much. Ultimately, I have to disagree with your assessment that it was "definitely" possible to run a business on an early Spectrum; most people buying business packages would not have the technical skill to modify them to work with a floppy disk drive. Also, the limitations of the various programs (32 columns in the spreadsheet, the inventory program no longer producing listings if there were too many stock items, etc.) don't seem much better than keeping track of various things on paper. Still, maybe a different assessment, such as using microdrive carts to avoid modifying code, or using programs written past 1985, might make the Speccy useful for actual business. (I do agree it is perfectly good for use as a word processor.)
There is something on using real older hardware... But, I just wouldn't use cassette tape anymore and I basically wouldn't use microdrive either... Don't get me wrong, I think it's important to "keep them alive". But getting a working microdrive cartridge today... Thank god, there are alternatives today. I need to get an PSU and virtual microdrive to my QL one day. Bought a refurbished QL a few years ago... Just the machine. Don't have PSU or anything else for it ;) Maybe one day... :) P.S. Bruce Lee, Spectrum version was always my favorite. Maybe, because I played it first, but after that the other versions didn't just make it for me. It's easy, I'm not good at platformers, but I constantly can play through Speccy version of Bruce Lee, something like 4 or 5 times in a single play... One other game, I still love, is Action Reflex. So good and addictive, still!
I find whoever it is that wrote those letters very annoying. "Dear Sir/ Madamn- please send me as much free stuff as possible as I am in the predicament of not ever wanting to put my hand in my pocket. THANKYOU VERY MUCH"
Never heard a more British tv program name than "The Chip Shop". Brilliant.
Yep! the perfect storm of Tech and popular food stuffs to promote innovation. haha Thank goodness they did ... thanks to Paul Jenkinson. Top notch episode as usual. :)
If i travelled back in time to the 80s. i would want to be in either japan or the uk.
You learn something new everyday. Even if it was from 40 years ago.
Cheers Paul.
Interesting to see Basicode again. It was pretty well known here in the Netherlands, but with the Spectrum's relatively low popularity over here, it's no surprise this version seems a little sub par. I suppose the lack of a native 40 column mode really hinders performance. Anyway, there were 2 later revisions: Version 3 which added bitmap graphics, and Version 3C which added colour. Later, a CD was released with 60 basicode programs on it (30 per stereo channel). Basicode even made it into the communist East Germany, with programs released on audio record.
I got a CD-ROM ( well actually a audio ROM) with all of the basicode programs from Klaas Roberts from Philips, who was in the original basicode team. It appears to be the first cd rom ever. (Green/orange box)
Your attempts with Microdrive reminded me of how we had to persevere with the Spectrum. If a game didn't load we just adjusted the treble or volume til it worked! No taking it back to the shop or emailing someone. If a key didn't work (thanks Daley Thompson) then a bit of gaffer tape helped underneath the keyboard. Don't ask me how I can't remember. What great memories your channel helps me recall. Thanks Paul. 👍👍
The "April Fool". They did a simular thing for the ZX81, but it reported it was turn basic to machine code - i was gutted when it did the same as the one you showed! Good memories
zzap64 did a similar one. It was a small basic program with a ton of machine code data statements that purported to speed up the cpu. Took ages to type in just to see `april fools` on the screen. I think the data statements were just filling the memory with random numbers or something totally pointless. Made me laugh back in the day.
Lovely to see my name appear at 13.14 "Program by Dr. I..Logan July 1984"
I remember a single visit to the BBC in London and writing a short loading program for the Spectrum 48K.
However, BASICODE was never really a success in the UK - and I was not involved any further.
Recently, I donated all my Sinclair computers and books to 'RMC - The Cave' at Stroud - so they have a good home now.
It is amazing how they get 40 year old electronics to work even after 40 years.
I do recommend everyone tries to visit .The Cave'.
Thanks Ian. Every contribution helps, even ones that last a day😂
I love watching these, the nostalgia is always there. These videos take me back to being a kid in the 80’s when anything seemed possible! Thanks Paul.
Great to see another quality episode. I do so look forward to these at the end of the month.
I must admit I had never heard of Basicode or The Chip Shop but shows what we as computer users were putting up with in terms of software sharing in the 80's.
Looking forward to the next series
Thanks for this, I thought I'd made the transmission of computer code over radio up. My clock radio alarm was set to Radio 1 and would spring into life early in the morning to get me up for my paper round, on Saturdays I'd wake up to the soothing sounds of a computer program loading but as it didn't sound like my Spectrum I didn't think it was for me. But now I know thanks to your coverage of Basicode.
Love this channel. Fantastic show
What fun ! Those long winter evenings will just fly by !
16:45 The Spectrum line numbers only go up to 9999, how did they get this up to 11160 ?
That new game looks really great.
The BASIC editor only allows you to enter line numbers from 1 to 9999; however the BASIC interpreter itself supports line numbers outside that range. Presumably the BASICODE translator constructs the BASIC program directly in memory.
@@gwishart That would make editing the higher lines impossible as they would not be recognised.
I have just done an experiment on my original 48K Speccy. After line 9999, I ended up with line :244. and yes, the colon was part of the line number. LOL.
@@frankowalker4662 After a bit of research, it looks like the BASICODE translator program includes a 6.5k BASIC extension. This allows for several additional features that wouldn't normally be allowed in standard Sinclair BASIC programs, including:
* Support for 42 column mode.
* Line numbers up to 32767.
* No syntax checking when entering program lines.
* Multiple letter string variable names and functions eg. IN$, NAME$, FN LEFT$()
* Multiple letter array names eg. AS(4)
* No string slicing using the S$(start TO finish) syntax, they're replaced by functions for LEFT$, MID$, RIGHT$.
* Array indices start at zero, not one. ie. DIM A(2) defines an array with three elements, A(0) to A(2)
* DIM supports multiple array definitions in a single statement. eg. DIM BD(2), EF(5)
* String arrays are now dynamic in length. eg. DIM B$(5) defines an array of six variable length strings, rather than a single fixed length string of five characters.
* CLEAR has two parameters, with the second one determining how much memory space to reserve for string variables.
* NEXT supports multiple variables. eg. NEXT A,B is equivalent to NEXT A: NEXT B
Never heard of BASICODE back in Poland, even though I do remember recording radio broadcasts. I don't remember if they were binaries or BASIC, but I quickly abandoned it because of transmission errors and the software was not what I expected (a that young age I probably expected it would be retail games...)
I really like your show, it brings back memories and provides interesting information. I had a ZX Spectrum as a kid. Now, some time ago I bought a Spectrum 48k with Interface 1 and Microdrive. In the past I only had a tape recorder, so this is my first contact with Microdrive. Hence my question, how to copy a game from the cassette to the Microdrive? Greetings.
Multiface 128 or one mirage microdriver specmate
Ah, the nostalgia associated with tuning into Radio 1 on 1089MW. Those of us living in Fife had to wait until 85 or 86 before we were treated to Radio 1 on FM with it's less "muffled" sound and stereo playback.
Wow this episode is epic. I'm not even done watching it (I'm at 30 minutes in), but I wanted to thank you for taking me once again on a trip down memory lane, and showing me stuff I would have been able to waste many many hours on as a kid back in the 80's... I know you don't have a huge following, but I think your following is probably quite happy 😀
Hi Paul!
Nice to see your show, as always. - Just today I received an Interface 1 and I'm looking forward to restore the microdrive cartridges I have. Similar to you I've collected a bunch of them.
Have you tried to FORMAT the cartridges and check if they work OK? - Several years ago I tried this and my experience was that they were working pretty fine...
THNX 4 the info.
Bruce Lee - if you lie down, Yamu and Ninja can't see you and run off looking for you (often into the traps), and sometimes just attack each other out of frustration. One of my all-time favourite games.
Great channel , I'm relatively new to the zx spectrum
Basicode sounds like a great concept. Wasn't there a similar show that transfered software over TV?
I think BBC Micro Live did it over the TV.
I managed to get Kevin Toms Football Manager onto Microdrive; what a time saver.
My guess on the microdrive carts is that the felt pad was too high/strong, and may have actually slowed the tape down by pressing the tape too hard to the head. When this started to relax after several tries, then the carts could be read.
Another great episode and season to boot. I feel your pain with Microdrives as while I have many and re-felted every single one, they are one of the most unreliable pieces of magnetic media I have ever used. I do use them with a Multiface to store snapshots of programs that are in memory, a bit like an embryonic version of save-states and they are extremely hit and miss. The Multiface also increases the capacity of Microdrives to 100k as opposed to the normal 84k. I think the issue with the Microdrives was how the tapes stretched over use due to the speed they ran at. It's something one of the original design engineers pointed out during a recent documentary.
I was not aware of the Bruce Lee update! As a fan of the original, I shall have to seek it out.
Great Episode! Loved the in depth feature for the cross platform basic! Like an early virtual machine! I remember vaguely as a kid the programs being broadcast but never knew you needed the Basicode software
I'm a fan of the MicroDrive even though it didn't really light the world on fire, it's speed and size was very cool for the era. I'm just slowly trying out 8-tracks, still need a player heh, but new felt pads are definitely needed for my vintage media.🙂
With history like this I can see why people payed a lot for business computers and software since you can't have speed or tech support problems with customers left waiting.😐
Sweet modern hardware unit you have there, definitely a convenient option. I've been doing old school methods mostly for the experience aspect of things I never tried but definitely with platforms I know well the modern quality of life improvements are appealing.😉
Great episode. Nice to see the wrapup of the business use. I ran a business on a commodore 64 for years and this has me thinking about an integrated business program for the Spectrum. Utterly useless now but could be fun to write.
I can remember recording the takeaway back in the day.
Hah! Yes! I got caught out by that april fool back in the day. I typed it in with a friend while at school. We were so excited then felt very foolish when it popped that message up :)
My Saturday just got better
That notification never fails to put a smile on my face, and I was an Amstrad kid.
I always think of this as a "Sunday" programme, not a Saturday one.
Saturday, just has too much happening with it for this to be a priority.
Sunday - when things quieten down, is when this sort of programme is best seen (the day to enjoy hobbies).
The Basicode game shown at 14:42 looks like an arcade conversion of the Sega game Head On.
Amazing episode! 40 year old interface one and Microdrive working fine. I somehow doubt an ipad from today will still work in 40 yrs time. ;)
Good episode , as usual!
I think i mainly used iterface1 as a propup to ease typing, as cartrides was kinda hard to get in sweden at the time, and quite expencive to order from UK.
I tried Basicode back in the day as well. Using the Speccy had little issues for me, but the screen size was a hindrance. The worst machine to get it running on was the C64 as the C2N tapedeck didn't like the radio recorded code tapes.
Brilliant as always , I remembered that April fool program 😂
The trouble with basic is that it is sooo slow compared to machine code it might be interesting in an emulator or next/sizif where you can overclok!
I have all the basicode programs from the tape in tap version, before and after "translation". I wrote it here before but I guess it was deleted because I put the web address in it. So no idea how to share it. The problem with ZEESLAG basic is that READ reads DATA but it is the wrong type for the variable. Basicode runs a lot better at 14 MHz like on a ZX Spectrum Next.
Yes, TH-cam doesn't like url's, even if you obfuscate it. What I did is put the url in my About screen of my TH-cam channel.
And yes, Basicode was quite popular in the Netherlands (as opposed to Sinclair micros...), probably because Hobbyscope was such an interesting radio show! Those were the days!
Great show thanks Paul.
I had no idea Basicode existed. I have been educated!
Any idea what the mark-up was on spectrum games?
600 to 2.400 ? did the Pound devalue so much since 80's? wow... when I visited UK in 2010 the pound seemed to purchase so much
Hi Paul, in this video you have a Citizen Swift 9 printer hooked up to your ZX spectrum - Would you mind explaining how this is all hooked and and what interfaces were used?
I explian it in the 1st episode of the series. 122. Also used the printer with various interfaces. Check my website for episode guides on things like Ram Print, PlusD interface, Kempston printer interface.
Should be episode 121 not 122!
Spring in Summer? Must've been filmed before the 21st.
30:49 "There's a Mega Drive, more or less." I don't quite understand?
It uses a megadrive av cable I think. Its a DIN plug to SCART cable and quite a few modern recreations of old machines use it as a video output iirc.
@@meetoo594 Ah, I see now. Thankyou for explaining.
I wish they kept putting out software on the radio in the 90s and beyond. but i guess there are a lot of limitations with bitrate so more complex programs wouldn't work .but i am surprised its better than i thought it has sound. i thought it would be like a dumb terminal from the 1970s where you can't change characters once they are on screen.
What was your BBS called? I was into them back in the day.
Any plans to try out other types of utility software in the next series Paul?
I had hoped that you would have started covering a fair amount of it in this series - not just a small portion of each episode, dedicated specifically just to business software and hardware alone (although I very much enjoyed it nevertheless).
More utility software and hardware content in the future please! :)
Strange connection between Basicode and Inufuto: as I understand, Inufuto, a programmer from Japan, writes each of games as one base code in programming language called CATO and then compiles it for different 8-bit platforms including MSX, Sega Master System, ZX Spectrum, Apple II, C64, VIC-20, TRS-80...
I very much appreciate your summary of trying to run a business on a Spectrum -- a herculean effort of setup and documentation, and I appreciate it very much. Ultimately, I have to disagree with your assessment that it was "definitely" possible to run a business on an early Spectrum; most people buying business packages would not have the technical skill to modify them to work with a floppy disk drive. Also, the limitations of the various programs (32 columns in the spreadsheet, the inventory program no longer producing listings if there were too many stock items, etc.) don't seem much better than keeping track of various things on paper. Still, maybe a different assessment, such as using microdrive carts to avoid modifying code, or using programs written past 1985, might make the Speccy useful for actual business. (I do agree it is perfectly good for use as a word processor.)
"Welcome to the Chip shop... And why not?"
Thanks for another excellent episode. Do you need more ideas for future shows?
Is that DJ Mark Page on the left hand side of barry Norman? 😮
Much more smoother
Nice to see the Remade Bruce Lee. Though I'm rather fond of the original.
There is something on using real older hardware...
But, I just wouldn't use cassette tape anymore and I basically wouldn't use microdrive either...
Don't get me wrong, I think it's important to "keep them alive". But getting a working microdrive cartridge today...
Thank god, there are alternatives today.
I need to get an PSU and virtual microdrive to my QL one day.
Bought a refurbished QL a few years ago... Just the machine. Don't have PSU or anything else for it ;)
Maybe one day... :)
P.S. Bruce Lee, Spectrum version was always my favorite. Maybe, because I played it first, but after that the other versions didn't just make it for me.
It's easy, I'm not good at platformers, but I constantly can play through Speccy version of Bruce Lee, something like 4 or 5 times in a single play...
One other game, I still love, is Action Reflex. So good and addictive, still!
I think bruce lee is actually a 2player game and player 2 controls green yamu unless you let go of joystik then computer takes over
7:58 Didn't expect to see Mark Page turn up on The Spectrum Show. Wish he didn't though, he's a right vile and unsavoury character 🤮
👍
I find whoever it is that wrote those letters very annoying.
"Dear Sir/ Madamn- please send me as much free stuff as possible as I am in the predicament of not ever wanting to put my hand in my pocket. THANKYOU VERY MUCH"