May June 1980 - Commodore Computers

MAY/JUNE, 198O. 4.
66 COMPUTE. I JUNE. 1980, ISSUE 4.
D Be R CASSETTE SYSTEM
D & R CASSETTE SYSTEM
Here's something that should be of interest to anyone
Here's something that should be of interest to anyone
considering adding another cassette drive to to their PET
system. D&R Creative Systems, PO Box 402B, St. St. Clair
Shores, MI 48080 is is now producing a cassette drive
with a built in in counter and several other features at at a
selling price that is is less than the Commodore C2N
cassette drive. The D&R S2545 Cassette System consists
of a self contained, epoxy potted interface module
and a Sanyo M2545A recorder. The recorder is is
specially modified to sense when the recorder buttons
arc pressed and operates identically to the {he PET cassette cassetle
drive with full program control. The cassette recorder
is is still fully warranted by Sanyo, even with the slight
modification.
The T he interface module plugs directly into the cassette
port at the rear of any model PET and fits flat
against st the back panel. Because of the physical size of
the interface module, it cannot be used with the
cassette interface that is located inside the PET. There
are four separate cables from the interface module
which connect to the recorder REM, EAR, MIC,
and added sense connectors. The sense connector is
located inside the unused battery compartment which
requires removing the battery compartment cover in
order to make the connection.
.
Besides the digital counter for normal program
indexing, the D&R Cassette system can locate locale pro prOM
grams audibly using the Fast Forward Cueing feature
of the Sanyo recorder. While the recorder is in the
Play mode, the Fast Forward button can be depressed
and you can hear the programs pass by the recording
head at the Fast Forward Cueing speed. It is very
head at the Fast Forward Cueing speed. It is very
Dr. Daley's software is proud to announce
the release of a package of our best se selling
$400, have been assembled into a single
Robert W. Baker,
15 Windsor Drive,
Atco, NJ O8OO4
easy to hear the 10 second leader at the start of
each program and simply count the programs as they
pass by to get to the desired program.
I recently tested a sample D&R Cassette system
on an older 8K PET and a new 32K PET. I
found no compatibility y problems with tapes switched
between the D&R Cassette system and three different
Commodore C2N drives. D&R Creative systems does,
however, warn ol of possible incompatibilities due to
head alignments of the Commodore drives since
Commodore has changed their cassette cassetle unit several
times since the PET was introduced. . Another thcr point
of interest is that the D&R Cassette Casselle system operates
with w the volume volumc and tone tonc controls of the thc Sanyo re rccorder
all the way up and does not require any
intermediate, intcrmediatc, special spccial settings. scttings.
The only disadvantage of the lhe D&R Cassette Casselle
system is that lhat the MICM anda EAR cables cannot both
be connected to the recorder at the e same time. You
must switch the cables to the Sanyo recorder when
must sw itch the cables to the Sanyo recorder whenever
you switch between reading or writing a tape.
This slight inconvenience seems a small price to pay
when one considering g the digital ita l counter r and Fast
Forward CueingC g features provided. Also, the Sanyo
recorder can still be used as a standard recorder
withw a built in microphone and automatic level control
for recording. rding. Thus, lh thee recorder could be used to
takc take notcs notes while workingg on a ncw new program. . All in
all, , the unit is very reliable and should be quite
attractive considering the features providcd provided at the
current price of $83 plus $3 shipping.