Search found 224 matches

by smurphboy
Sat Dec 16, 2023 12:20 pm
Forum: ZX Spectrum Next
Topic: UK units dispatched!!!
Replies: 26
Views: 1417

Re: UK units dispatched!!!

Mine turned up, unannounced other than a warning that a Yodel package was on its way. Luckily next door were in and signed for it.

Not opened it yet (I've got a KS1 machine already), but looking forward to spending some time with both machines over the break.
by smurphboy
Tue Jun 06, 2023 7:47 pm
Forum: Other Retro Stuff
Topic: Are amiga games bad?
Replies: 77
Views: 2191

Re: Are amiga games bad?

... Other than lemmings and worms I cant think of any classics. ... Late to this but I have to defend the Amiga... For me, the Amiga did the thing that the Speccy did, it redefined what was expected of games. Look at the early Ultimate games that proved an 8-bit could do arcade quality games, look ...
by smurphboy
Sun May 07, 2023 11:12 am
Forum: Announcements
Topic: Undrium - A Tribute to Underwurlde
Replies: 9
Views: 482

Re: Undrium - A Tribute to Underwurlde

luny wrote: Sat May 06, 2023 10:22 am Annoyingly brilliant work. ;)
Isn't it though. All the little things are right... annoying ;-)
by smurphboy
Mon May 01, 2023 7:48 pm
Forum: Announcements
Topic: The Spectrum Show 128
Replies: 2
Views: 181

Re: The Spectrum Show 128

As ever, a great watch. What is the theme music at the end? It sounds familiar to me.
by smurphboy
Sun Apr 30, 2023 4:07 pm
Forum: Preservation
Topic: Test Match (+3)
Replies: 3
Views: 135

Re: Test Match (+3)

Oh I quite like this... I might have to get into this properly...
by smurphboy
Fri Mar 17, 2023 8:26 pm
Forum: Brand new software!
Topic: Coming soon: Speccy Soccer
Replies: 7
Views: 539

Re: Coming soon: Speccy Soccer

BiNMaN wrote: Fri Mar 17, 2023 11:12 am time to get the konix speedking out.... :D
Zipstick FTW ;-)
by smurphboy
Sun Mar 05, 2023 4:31 pm
Forum: Hardware
Topic: Buying a used Microdrive - any tips?
Replies: 8
Views: 292

Re: Buying a used Microdrive - any tips?

If I can find a working one then that is ideal, if not, just the case is worthwhile to fit something like a microdrive emulator.

Thanks for the advice on the cartridges. Sounds nasty
by smurphboy
Sun Mar 05, 2023 12:57 pm
Forum: Hardware
Topic: Buying a used Microdrive - any tips?
Replies: 8
Views: 292

Buying a used Microdrive - any tips?

I'm thinking of getting into Microdrives... any tips on what to look for / avoid when looking on ebay?
by smurphboy
Mon Feb 06, 2023 3:54 pm
Forum: Hardware
Topic: Essential add-ons for a Toastrack 128k
Replies: 20
Views: 581

Re: Essential add-ons for a Toastrack 128k

There's far more to it than that - the +3 is radically different from earlier machines in several ways, and I'm not sure you could easily add +3 compatibility to them. The Spectrum Next manages it, though. It does and it doesn't... it still can't handle general .dsk files as it doesn't implement th...
by smurphboy
Mon Feb 06, 2023 3:06 pm
Forum: Hardware
Topic: Essential add-ons for a Toastrack 128k
Replies: 20
Views: 581

Re: Essential add-ons for a Toastrack 128k

Basically, the vDrive recreates the Microdrive experience as closely as possible without the massive weak link in the chain - the physical cartridges themselves. I love it. That is quite a persuasive argument. It's just a shame that +3DOS has no virtual implementation I can see, I suspect the drive...
by smurphboy
Sat Jan 21, 2023 9:26 am
Forum: Preservation
Topic: Software Program CD
Replies: 5
Views: 150

Re: Software Program CD

I asked around in amateur radio world and it is thought it might drive this:

https://worldofspectrum.net/pub/sinclai ... OPoort.pdf

and is based on the work of this Danish inventor:

https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Soelberg
by smurphboy
Fri Jan 20, 2023 10:31 pm
Forum: Preservation
Topic: Software Program CD
Replies: 5
Views: 150

Re: Software Program CD

Ahhh, looking in memory it references that it drives a CX81-RTY. Can't seem to find a reference to it on Google, so I'm asking in a radio Discord...
by smurphboy
Fri Jan 20, 2023 10:26 pm
Forum: Preservation
Topic: Software Program CD
Replies: 5
Views: 150

Re: Software Program CD

Spot on. RTTY is still used today by radio amateurs. Not just on HF either, a few people use RTTY on VHF and higher.

I might see how this works. It didn't appear to be making noise so maybe it's using serial.... RTTY uses 2125 hz and 2295 hz as the mark and space tones.
by smurphboy
Mon Jan 16, 2023 2:15 pm
Forum: Games/Software
Topic: The best Speccy game by MicroProse: vote
Replies: 12
Views: 349

Re: The best Speccy game by MicroProse: vote

If it counts for anything. I just lost my lunch hour on the 128k playing Gunship again. Three missions, training (easy although I almost fluffed the landing), SE Asia against 1st line troops and got my eye in for targeting, then full on Western Europe, Volunteer Hazardous Duty vs 1st Line troops and...
by smurphboy
Sun Jan 15, 2023 7:05 pm
Forum: Games/Software
Topic: The best Speccy game by MicroProse: vote
Replies: 12
Views: 349

Re: The best Speccy game by MicroProse: vote

I put a lot of hours into Gunship on the Speccy, both 48k, 128k and +3 versions. Loved Microprose Soccer too, the original Sensi Soccer! If you turn up the banana setting you can make the ball almost come back on itself if memory servers. But it has to be Gunship for me. Volunteer Hazardous Duty aga...
by smurphboy
Wed Jan 04, 2023 6:13 pm
Forum: Preservation
Topic: Sat Track
Replies: 43
Views: 565

Re: Sat Track

I have a relevant degree to this stuff, I have no excuse, I used to be able to do this maths!
by smurphboy
Wed Jan 04, 2023 2:39 pm
Forum: Preservation
Topic: Sat Track
Replies: 43
Views: 565

Re: Sat Track

Guesser wrote: Wed Jan 04, 2023 2:13 pm I wonder to at least get an approximation of passes could you make precalculated tables of position around the orbit against time that would let you still do the geometry for arbitrary location? 🤔
Have a read of that paper I linked too. There is a simpler method.
by smurphboy
Wed Jan 04, 2023 1:23 pm
Forum: Preservation
Topic: Sat Track
Replies: 43
Views: 565

Re: Sat Track

However, I think there is a way to make a speccy show you Sat predictions... you could even integrate GPS over the 128k serial port... maybe...
by smurphboy
Wed Jan 04, 2023 8:57 am
Forum: Preservation
Topic: Sat Track
Replies: 43
Views: 565

Re: Sat Track

That's the wrong word, but you know what I mean. Rotate the Earth under the orbit, but since we live on the surface it appears to twist west. No, that is the right word, it's called the precession of the ascending node. The node rotates relative to the Earth, but there are perturbations due to the ...
by smurphboy
Wed Jan 04, 2023 12:31 am
Forum: Preservation
Topic: Sat Track
Replies: 43
Views: 565

Re: Sat Track

If "ring up Ray and ask for a new reference orbit every so often" was good enough then, downloading the latest one from NASA every time you run the program ought to be plenty :D The TLE only gives you the position and orbit at a point in time, You have to project that forward in time, tha...
by smurphboy
Tue Jan 03, 2023 11:35 pm
Forum: Preservation
Topic: Sat Track
Replies: 43
Views: 565

Re: Sat Track

Calculating keplerian orbits shouldn't tax a modern computer like the speccy! :lol: Keplerian orbits aren't what you use, they only model two bodies (Earth and the satellite) and rapidly depart from the actual orbit. You need model it as a three body problem and estimate drag. This means numerical ...
by smurphboy
Tue Jan 03, 2023 10:10 pm
Forum: Preservation
Topic: Sat Track
Replies: 43
Views: 565

Re: Sat Track

Good luck converting TLE's into predictions in reasonable time ;-)

Although that wouldn't be 'as cheaty' - I should get my old text books out...
by smurphboy
Tue Jan 03, 2023 9:46 pm
Forum: Preservation
Topic: Sat Track
Replies: 43
Views: 565

Re: Sat Track

I might just make a front end to something like the n2yo.com API. Although I'd have to bridge https to http for the speccy.
by smurphboy
Tue Jan 03, 2023 12:13 pm
Forum: Preservation
Topic: Sat Track
Replies: 43
Views: 565

Re: Sat Track

My guess is that it doesn't have leap years quite right... so try + - 1 day and see if that is closer?
by smurphboy
Mon Jan 02, 2023 11:02 pm
Forum: Preservation
Topic: Sat Track
Replies: 43
Views: 565

Re: Sat Track

Nowadays you'd want ISS, SO-50, AO-91, AO-73 and QO-100, although QO-100 is pretty easy ;-)

Or the Weather Sats like Meteor-M2 or NOAA 19