Optron #28 08 июня 1999

Feedback - A few words about Optocouplers 27. On the applications of the Spectrum.

        A few words about "Optocouplers" | 27

{} B. Loskutnikov


  Read "Optron" | 27 - not bad. Especially interesting for me 
was an article about the history of "domestic" Spectrum. That's 
funny. I was surprised that all this happened early enough: I 
learned about Speke later for three years on those dates,

that appeared in the paper.

  In 1987, I vaguely heard something about
noncommutative imported household computer that is running 
through the TV. A "live" I saw the Spectrum in 1988, then came 
into our office to the graduates of Kharkov (from KHIRE, seems 
to be). One of these guys brought polusmontirovannuyu board and 
finished installation before my eyes.


  It should be noted that while in Moscow to complete 
radiobaraholkah Spectrum almost was not: the majority of

Sellers radio parts were simply not
course. Were isolated "vagrants" were sold for insane prices, 
German and very rare "native" processor. Therefore,

I was struck by an explosive change in the situation
- There was a sea of ​​sellers with fees,
bundle. Moreover, proposed in
abundance fees were "Leningrad" option.

  Well, in the 89-m in the markets had already been suggested
Sea of ​​options pay - and under the "dip" and under
"Planar" various modifications. Even
we have in office someone took the trouble to separate payment 
under the "planar" with a modified version of the scheme in 
Leningrad. 

  Thus, the first information about
Spectrum came to me from the Ukraine. Then
Spectrum began to spread from
Baltic Sea, which, again, confirms your
version. I am convinced that the spread
Spectrum has begun from Lviv: the first thing I saw - was it 
"Lviv" option.



  As for the "objections" to my article about
"Electrofishing, then repeat again: I do not
campaign for this device, and is not to say
it - absolutely harmless way of catching. I just do not agree 
with the legends of depletion of water through the 
"Electrofishing. 

  Methods of fishing gear and improved
the eyes, the load of fishermen of all stripes to
water is constantly increasing. Although the number of 
fishermen - the value is almost constant. So look for the 
reason: "why not bite? "


  Reasons, in my opinion, basically,
man-made. Where the fertilizer into the water fall, where 
diesel oil, where waste village water. The trouble is that 
household cleaning products now used everywhere, even in the 
most remote villages where no cleanup

facilities he has never been so "Tide", "Asi" and other 
"wonders of civilization" flow directly into rivers and ponds.


  And in the case Electrofishing paralyzing
factor for fish is the current, depending
of the voltage between the electrodes, their size and water 
resistance. Distance (usually the length of the boat) varies 
quite a small range. Water resistance depends on the reservoir. 
So it turns out - here you catch (current paralyzed), but 
somewhere where a lot of salt in water current can reach very 
high values, and the fish dies. But it is obvious: at low water 
resistance power consumption from the source will be very 
large, that will lead to a rapid discharge source

Power, not to mention the failure of
keys the transmitter. In addition, any
normal person, seeing the pop-up detail, to terminate such 
fishing. At least from the For reasons of economy the battery.


  The conclusion is simple - to competently operate. After all, 
every tackle major "part" - the head of the host. 

  By and large there is only one way, not harming nature: he 
caught a look and let me go. Once I searched the Internet sites 
on the word "fishing". Fell out a huge number of options, the 
majority - sites of foreign tourist companies,

organizing just such fishing - sat in
boat, left, caught sfotogafirovalsya,
dismissed. We do this as it is not accepted.



               From the Editor


  Now "Electrofishing is a subject of heated debate in 
ehokonferentsii FIDO SU.HARDW.SCHEMES. Therefore we decided to 
continue the discussion in the "Optocouplers. 



   On the "applications of"

            (Reader's letter)

{} Valery Ogo


  In "Optocouplers" | 27 I was interested in the mention of 
"applications of the Spectrum. In this connection I would like 
to share own experience.


  I work as a deputy chief designer of the project LAZ
(Lviv Bus Plant). Of course, our company, like most other
in Lviv, now in osovnom, idle
but, nevertheless, have all the time
execute all kinds of plans, orders,
orders, memoranda, letters, and
etc.

  For example, in connection with the most
"Presidential summit" was originally
planned to produce 12 buses specially for this event. However, 
due to lack of funding, the matter ended with the LAZ convey to 
the city for temporary use two own bus. All this was 
accompanied by extensive correspondence and compiling all sorts 
of directions and action plans. 

  You can imagine what it would cost
insane bureaucratic roundabout, it is made on a typewriter! 
After all, with preparation of a document have to collect ten, 
and even more visas - and Approving each makes its own 
amendments. 

  That was when me and comes to the aid of my
Home Spectrum! I take the materials home and during the evening 
time to prepare documentation: when you have a blank

with all the "hats", graphs,
signatures, it is not any
labor.

  To this end, I use a text editor iS-DOS. Its ability to me 
quite enough - and this despite the fact that I have mastered

iS-DOS, God forbid, to 60%. I must say
that this system has become a truly "new
breath "for the Spectrum!

  Using the "Art Studio", I can picture all the necessary 
visual information to me - all sorts of images (eg, emblems, 
logos, For other symbols, as well as scheme - if necessary) 
and, using the package "LOTUS" no problem to combine graphics 
with text. 

  The basic package of iS-DOS allows me to prepare forms of any 
desired shape, zoom and print, a lot more. 

  I do a printout on devyatiigolchatom
dot-matrix printer, and with satisfactory quality.

  True, life has shown that it is time
expand memory with my Spectrum to, at least, 256K (I sechas - 
128K). Making the this, I was able to increase the iS-DOS'e

RAM-DISK, which, respectively, significantly
increase the speed of work with text files.

  And the modem would be nice to connect -
especially since, as reported by "Optron, y
Lviv spektrumistov is now "a gateway
in inernet "(although it seems to me,
provides significant opportunities and communication within 
ZXNet, and just two-way modem connection). 

  Of course, you could leave the Spectrum
for games, but for the prestige of "buy chtoto" cool ", but, 
sensibly arguing how to make sense? By "cool" models can be

classified as that class is higher than, although
would 382nd computer. But for what I could
apply it on the basis of their real
needs? For the same, with what
copes Spectrum?

  We have at work is a lot of "Pentium" -
so what good is something if there are no people who have 
mastered them properly? For example, a mere

transfer from one system to another (there was once such a 
need) had to spend more than a week.


  I think if people knew all
present real opportunities for the Spectrum,
that it does not require special
monitor (TV fairly) that he
to complete the work is enough of a drive, and he does not need 
a hard drive - then users Spectrum would have been much

more.

  And what we see? Spektrumisty "stew in their
own juice. "The printed periodicals -
only on the IBM PC.

  And the information about how the Spectrum could
help with housekeeping?
She, too, are practically absent.

  Nothing good can be said about
Spectrum help'ah: all too often,
compiled quite indistinct and illegible. Dummies, applying
Spectrum for work (and it is from them,
in theory, should consist of the overwhelming
the majority of users) is required
help, drawn up in their familiar
form of "Operating Instructions", which clearly lists a 
sequence of specific actions (eg, how to use the same one 
drive). How much time I have gone in vain, until

I do not understand how it is done in various
programs and editors - especially in
iS-DOS! In this case, such a statement must be
be electronic, and print. And it's not!

  Well, playing the application of Spectrum -
This, of course, a holy cause. So far I have
I keep about sixty magitofonnyh cassettes with games. 
Unfortunately, there is something for Soul virtually no time 
left. Is that - look fresh "Optron.

Incidentally, your newspaper, I discovered
themselves recently, but has already become a
fan: rewrote his full
Set to re-read all of it, starting with
the first issue.

  In conclusion, I stress again: I
personal experience that the Spectrum provides a set of man's 
most diverse and at the same time he desperately needed 
opportunities. It is only necessary to clear them know and be 
able to use them. 



               From the Editor


  This letter illustrates well the current state of affairs 
with the Spectrum: its use as a gaming computer gradually pales 
into insignificance, giving way to applied. More and more users 
are beginning to use Spectrum in its work (And not only 
"paperwork"). Editorial known case of effective inclusion 
Spectrum in the control line of sewing machines with numerical 
control. (This is practicing a company engaged in

manufacture of footwear - required a rather complicated control 
program). 

  Another promising applications of the Spectrum is its use as 
a means of communication. Growing interest readers Optron "to 
the problems ZXNet confirms it. In the future we

try to uncover more details about it.