How to Load a Program

General Chit Chat about Sinclair Computers and their Clones
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TMAOne
Posts: 212
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2012 6:56 pm
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

How to Load a Program

Post by TMAOne »

There has been much discussion of late upon the perils of loading a decades-old Sinclair ZX81 program from cassette tape, and the best volume control setting etc. to use. I humbly feel that the following method, developed after years of research, yields the most consistent results:
  • Invent a time machine.
  • Go back to 1982 and use the highest quality tape you can afford.
  • Come back, and sacrifice a lamb upon The Stone of Sinclair.
  • Connect all cables and position the tape in the recorder.
  • Bow three times to the East.
  • Click your ruby slippers together and repeat: "This time it will work, this time it will work,..."
  • Set your tone and volume control to where they were 35 years ago that one time when this file loaded back properly.
  • Secure the RAM pack to the motherboard with cross-beams, bailing wire, hotglue, and duct tape.
  • Enter LOAD "" and press New Line.
  • Immerse the computer, (especially the LM7805), and RAM pack in liquid nitrogen.
  • Close your eyes and hope as you press PLAY.
  • Discover to your horror that you missed and hit RECORD and PLAY.
  • Exhale deeply, and go play Doom on your 486 laptop.
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1024MAK
Posts: 5101
Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2011 10:56 am
Location: Looking forward to summer in Somerset, UK...

Re: How to Load a Program

Post by 1024MAK »

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Mark
ZX81 Variations
ZX81 Chip Pin-outs
ZX81 Video Transistor Buffer Amp

:!: Standby alert :!:
There are four lights!
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb :!:
Looking forward to summer later in the year.
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gammaray
Posts: 590
Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2016 2:44 am
Location: Texas

Re: How to Load a Program

Post by gammaray »

:D
5-TS1000,UK ZX81<-Sheelagh, US ZX81, 2-TS1500/KDLX , 3-TS2040 printer, 2-TS2020 cassette decks, ZXPAND+AY, ZeddyNET, ZXBlast, UDG, ZX8CCB, AERCO, BUILDS/REPAIRS ZX Spectrum, ZX80 Minstrel, ZXMAX48 v1 v2, 2-TS-2068, ROM, 16kRAM
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Ed in SoDak
Posts: 24
Joined: Thu Jul 24, 2014 1:03 am

Re: How to Load a Program

Post by Ed in SoDak »

I built this loader circuit. Copy it exactly and you can't fail!
:mrgreen:
-Ed
Attachments
ZeddyTapeLoadCircuit.jpg
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XavSnap
Posts: 1940
Joined: Sat May 10, 2008 4:23 pm
Location: 'Zx81 France' Fb group.

Re: How to Load a Program

Post by XavSnap »

Thanks Ed in SoDak,

Do you plan to rebuild this "Loading-failure exhauster" ?
:ugeek:
Xavier ...on the Facebook groupe : "Zx81 France"(fr)
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Ed in SoDak
Posts: 24
Joined: Thu Jul 24, 2014 1:03 am

Re: How to Load a Program

Post by Ed in SoDak »

Yes, certainly! I see from Ian's post I must wire in a pair of Ruby Slippers. How could I have missed that? :shock:
-Ed
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