I have every desire to see any contribution which will encourage readers to use their Elk for computing and not solely as a games machine. As interfacing with the computer is part of this process, I feel that care is necessary in the presentation of information if this is to be encouraged.
Electron Workshop seems to me to be rather too casual and short of sound advice. For example, if readers cannot comprehend the very clear definition of an analogue interface given in the Plus 1 User Guide, I doubt whether they will benefit from the very helpful information given elsewhere in EUG!
To encourage anyone engaging in hardware experiments to resort to soldering in this day and age when the IDC (Insulation Displacement Connection) system is available is unwise. Plugs and sockets of this system are readily available from the major component suppliers, but you will not get a 15-pin 'D' type of any kind from Tandy!!
The only special requirement is the use of the correct gauge wire. The cheapest source of the correct size is 6-core telephone extension cable which, when stripped, will provide 1 metre lengths of differing colour coded wire for about 30p.
A tool for inserting the wire is readily available wherever telephone extension kits are supplied. It is a very simple device listed by Tandy at 69p. It may need trimming to suit the confines of a 'D' series connector.
An IDC system connector can be repeatedly used, unlike the solder type which will inevitably suffer from the repeated application of a soldering iron, especially if a heat sink is not used!
Messrs. Wilson and Furber of Acorn computers (who were responsible for the design of the Beeb) would, I am sure, be intrigued by the paddle/joystick reasoning for the analogue port.
Lastly, I am completely lost as to why "high quality sound" from a "modern stereo" should load a 'useless' tape. However, that's a big subject to be dealt with separately as others have made reference to the difficulties sometimes experienced in loading tapes. It begs the question - What is a worn tape?
1st September 1992