With our much loved BBC computer systems falling deeper and deeper into the realms of the obsolete, there comes the added problem of keeping our printer going. Supplies of ribbons are increasingly more difficult to obtain. I myself use a Centronics GLP printer, and at the moment it appears that CPC of Preston, Lancs. do still have supplies of ribbons for this printer. However, it doesn't take the Brain of Britain to work out that supplies will soon dry up leaving up well and truly up the creek without a paddle - and that's putting it politely!

With this in mind, I wonder if any readers have experimented at all with the possibility of re-cycling used ribbons with any form of 're-inking process' and, if so, what sort of success rate they have had, if any. If anyone out there has any ideas to share on this one, I'm sure that not only myself but many other readers could well be interested.

I have not tried it yet, but have been thinking along the lines of perhaps slowly winding the ribbon through the cassette whilst holding a small paint brush against it well charged with the type of ink used to recharge rubber stamp ink pads. Obviously the cassette would require to be gently held in a small vice, leaving one hand free to wind it through while the brush is held against it. Assuming that this did work I have no idea as to how long the ribbon would last for. I guess that the original ink used on these multi-strike ribbons is something totally different.

The views and opinions from readers on this subject would be interesting. Perhaps someone has done it simply and efficiently already.

NB. If anyone is having difficulty obtaining ribbons for their old printers, then CPC are well worth a try. Their address is CPC PLC, Component House, Faraday Drive, Fulwood, Preston, LANCS PR7 4PP. In addition to supplying various computers accessories and equipment, they also carry an incredibly large range of Television and Audio spares, and will supply Non Account customers on Pro-forma invoice. Their prices are very very reasonable.

I wonder too if any of our fellow members can make any comment or offer any advice on the following minor problem regarding joystick operation on the BBC Master 128?

Normally I use one of the Voltmace series of joysticks, which gives faultless operation, on the BBC Master or BBC B but I have just obtained a rather more complex joystick, which, according to the information on the original box, is BBC-compatible. Unfortunately, I do not have a copy of the User Instruction book. The joystick is a Robo System BITSTIK Y003 and, in addition to the red fire button, there are two other white buttons with functions I'm not sure of. Also, in additional to the normal function of the joystick level, the knob can be rotated through almost 360 degrees.

The problem that I have is that the basic functions of Left-Right-Up and Down all operate in reverse. So, for example, to move left, the stick has to be pushed right!!! I'm wondering if, perhaps like a conventional joystick, this one should be software controlled. Any worthwhile comments from a reader who has experience of this particular joystick would be much appreciated.

Looking at the internal construction of the unit, in addition to the left/right and up/down potentiometers, there is also a third potentiometer which rotates when the joystick lever is twisted. In the base of unit there is a small interface PCB which contains a few Rs and Cs and an Op-amp chip LM324, plus three presets marked X max +-, Y max +- and Z max +-.

If anyone can throw any light on this one, I will be delighted. Now for the real miracle: Does anyone have a copy of the handbook which may have been supplied with these Robo BITSTIKS? Help, help, help - beg, borrow, steal!!!

Ron Goad

For a while I had access to a re-inking machine which came with the proper ribbon ink. It was OK but the ribbons didn't last long.

I should caution you against the wrong ink though. When I was involved in servicing computer equipment (at the same time as I had access to that re-inking machine) I often came across print heads which had been clogged up by people using the wrong ink to re-ink their ribbons.

If I'm not using my printer for a while, I tend to take the ribbon out and put it into the fridge. I keep spare ribbons there as well.

This is a real problem though, especially as many newer printers won't work on our machines. I personally hate the word processor on my PD and prefer View. So far I still have a stock of ribbons that I bought a while ago.

Stocking up seems to be the answer.

On the joystick, I know the LM324 is a quad op-amp. The pin outs are 1: out 1, 2: -in 1, 3: +in 1, 4: +V, 5: +in 2, 6: -in 2, 7: out 2, 8: out 3, 9: -in 3, 10: +in 3, 11: gnd, 12: +in 4, 13: -in 4, 14: out 4

It will apparently work on 3V to 32V or +/- 1.5V to +/- 16V.

Hope that someone else can shed some more light on it.

Gus Donnachaidh, EUG #42

Ron Goad