Today we present to your attention an interview with Sergey Zonov and Andrey Larchenko.
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ZX-Format: - Sergey, please tell us when your passion for computer technology began?
Sergey Zonov: - It probably began when the first domestic microprocessors of the 580 series appeared, when the first publications allowing one to assemble their own computer came out. This was in 1980-81. When I was in my final years at the institute, I became interested in digital technology and, as a consequence, microprocessor technology. At that not-so-distant time, all of this was quite exotic, everything was unusual and therefore very interesting. I had to read 2-3 books on microprocessors, which were published at that time, to tatters. I dreamed of assembling my first computer, or rather, not so much the computer itself, but to implement some of my projects based on a contemporary microprocessor (with a capital letter) that I invented as an avid radio amateur. But from the very first steps, I faced a lack of knowledge in microprocessor technology and programming basics. In addition, there were completely absent even the most primitive debugging tools. And then, as if by chance, a wonderful series of articles appeared in the magazine "Radio" about the Mikro-80 computer. Quickly assembling my computer based on Mikro-80, I gained a unique opportunity at that time to practically grasp the basics of programming in codes, then in assembler, and later I managed to master the most popular and still living operating system CP/M, adapting it to my computer. All of this brought both knowledge and invaluable experience as a circuit designer and programmer.
ZF: - How much time did it take you to develop your very first ZX Spectrum scheme?
S.Z.: - Time flew quickly, and 1986 came. Here and there in conversations with friends and colleagues, the words ZX Spectrum, Sinclair, etc. appeared. They talked about the most unimaginable possibilities of this computer, about the excellent graphics in the most interesting game programs. And then I finally managed to see the first scheme of one of the analogs of this foreign wonder. Now it seems funny to even remember it. But it was this that served as a push for many years of searches, research, and development. Having assembled the first, then the second, and the third computer, I managed to significantly reduce the number of microchips during the research (whether I wanted to or not, I had to think about it when all these computers were manually assembled on prototype boards using MGTFS). Initially, I managed to reduce the scheme to 50 ICs, then to 45, and finally to 41-42 cases. During this time, about 10-15 computers were assembled. By this time, the scheme, as it seemed then, was brought to perfection, and the question of developing a printed circuit board arose. And so, in the summer of 1987, when I was "resting" on vacation, I dedicated a month and a half to manually laying out the printed circuit board. Since I was personally engaged in the layout of the board and could correct the scheme during the work, rearranging gates in the microchips, etc., I managed to achieve a very successful design. At that time, when my machine was being born, there were already several variants of computers - Moscow, Novosibirsk, Krasnodar, etc. Each of these variants had its own advantages and disadvantages. I believe that the main thing is not so much the scheme of the computer itself, but the overall result, which consists of several points: simplicity of the scheme, beauty of the layout, high repeatability, and ease of setup. It is precisely all of this together that ensured that this variant of Spectrum-compatible computers gained the widest distribution in the vastness of the CIS. With all its existing shortcomings.
ZF: - What happened next? For example, why was your next variant called "Composite"?
S.Z.: - A year passed after the appearance of my first board, it became increasingly popular, and someone managed to establish a more or less mass production. Of course, various minor defects inherent in this board began to "surface", which would have been impossible to detect if the computer had not been popular and was not "tested" by thousands of users. Therefore, in the summer of 1987, the scheme was slightly corrected, and the board was re-laid. The template of this new board, just like the very first board, was distributed to everyone under the honest word in exchange for a template to return 20 clean boards made according to this template. In exactly the same way, the template was passed to people who, as it later turned out, represented the cooperative "Composite". Well, the cooperative, as it should, began to stamp these computers under the brand "Composite", hence the name of my second board.
ZF: - Sergey, why didn't you engage in computer production back then, at the peak of the ZX Spectrum's popularity?
S.Z.: - Well, probably because I had neither the desire (not very interesting from a creative point of view) nor the financial means to engage in the production of my computers. I continued to work on the ZX Spectrum theme, but only for myself. The Spectrum 128 variant appeared, then the variant - the analogue of Spectrum 2+. At that time, various interface options for the TR-DOS system began to appear on the market, the first programs adapted for this system. With each passing month, there were more and more of them. And it became clear, at least to me, that no matter how bad this system was, another system, even the one that was installed on branded Spectrum +2 and +3 (and this is the +3DOS system), would not appear in our poor country. In this sense, the IS-DOS system is rather an exception to the rule, which confirms this rule. Although it has its own problems, despite all its advantages. Therefore, I abandoned the idea of repeating the computer compatible with ZX Spectrum 2+ and 3+ in its pure form. I wanted to create something like another computer "hit", but already at the contemporary level, taking into account all the information, knowledge of all the subtleties of the ZX Spectrum's operation, such as port FF, or the duration of the INT signal and its timing relative to the frame sync pulse. An integral part of such a computer was to be the Beta-Disk interface and 256 Kb of memory, a music processor, and a printer interface. The scheme of such a computer was again born through long experiments and the release of a dozen experimental variants that allowed me to practically test the circuit design solutions. And in the summer of '91, again during vacation, I manually laid out the first board of such a computer, which was named "Scorpion ZS 256". Again, thanks to the manual layout of the printed circuit board, I managed to achieve very high indicators in terms of repeatability, simplicity of mass production, etc.
ZF: - Did Scorpion initially have 256 Kb of memory?
S.Z.: - Yes, it was initially laid down, and moreover, 256 Kb turned out to be cheaper in terms of production costs than 128 Kb. And I am still surprised why our developers did not make the 128 machines "256 kilobyte".
ZF: - Perhaps they simply did not know what to do with the remaining 128 Kb. By the way, where did you get the standard for memory distribution, or rather, the port addresses and the distribution of bits in them responsible for the extended memory?
S.Z.: - Undoubtedly, this question arose for me, since at that time there were no computers with 256 Kb of memory. And I decided not to introduce any new ports compared to existing computers - Spectrum +2, +3. These were 128 machines, but they had ports 7FFDh, 1FFDh. Separate bits of these ports controlled RAM and ROM in them. In particular, port 1FFDh controlled the page switching of RAM, the formation of the strobe for the printer, and the motor of the disk drive. Everything that could be preserved from these machines was preserved in Scorpion.
ZF: - And the shadow monitor?
S.Z.: - From the very beginning, there was a thought that, since 48 Kb of the ROM is actually used out of 64 Kb, and 16 simply disappear, it would be good to have additional built-in software in the computer, accessed by the Magic button. An example of such a system at that time was the "Hobbit" computer. Therefore, it was initially laid down that pressing the Magic button would switch the ROM banks. And then Andrey Larchenko appeared.
ZF: - And how did you appear, Andrey?
Andrey Larchenko: - I don't even remember how I appeared.
S.Z.: - We collaborated, communicated...
A.L.: - ...I was near the "Young Technician" store on Krasnoputilovskaya street, a wonderful "market - bazaar". It gathered exactly on Saturdays, regardless of whether it was moved to Monday or not. Moreover, people came there who were somehow connected to radio electronics. And not only to sell or buy something, but also just to exchange opinions. There was no other place like that at the time. After the market, we would scatter in small groups to nearby cafes, it was a kind of ritual. The information hunger at that time was very great, and the "bazaar" was one of the few outlets. It was then that someone jokingly or seriously called it a club. By the way, the Business Club "Yunona" is a reflection of that very "bazaar". Let me try to remember how I got there. Around the 8th grade, I became very interested in two things: chemistry and radio electronics. This was in 1982. In the field of radio electronics, digital technology seemed particularly attractive (we didn't know anything about microprocessors at that time). But at that moment, chemistry took the upper hand, and I learned about a subject called programming only in my first year at the Leningrad Technological Institute. And although I graduated from the institute, programming ultimately won. My main knowledge in both programming and "hardware" I gained at the physics department, where there was a wonderful team of NIRS laboratory staff and remarkable machines of that time, "Electronika-60". Somewhere around 1987, our department got the first homemade "Spectrum". One of the students brought it to show. Naturally, the whole team literally "rushed" to replicate this design. To be fair, it should be noted that it was the Novosibirsk version of the Spectrum on a huge board with a "bunch" of deficit parts. It was then that I accidentally met Valera Volykhin, with that very Spectrum serving as the reason. Valera has an amazing ability to introduce everyone to everyone. He "pulled" me into the "bazaar", and there I met Kolya Rodionov and Sergey Zonov. However, it was still far from the "Scorpion". It so happened that as soon as I saw the first computer in my first year, I couldn't live without it. I did all my course works and my diploma work somehow on the computer. Looking ahead, I will say that even the statement "I request to be dismissed at my own request" was printed on a laser printer; in our institute, this was perhaps the first case. And since I was already "spoiled" by such convenient devices as disk drives, the appearance of any disk system for the ZX Spectrum acted on me like a red rag to a bull. The thing is that the TR-DOS "hardware" appeared, but as always, there were no descriptions. And for about a month, setting everything aside, I managed to "gut" the system and write those three precious sheets with a more or less detailed description of internal calls and system variables. My God, in how many underground and official publications I saw information from those sheets (with meticulously repeated mistakes). Based on the obtained information, my first program for the Spectrum appeared: a tape-disk copier AM-Copier, and a little later - the MOA Service shell. By the way, I estimate my abilities quite modestly, and therefore I feel a bit shy about signing programs with my real name.
So the year 1990 came. Thanks to Rodionov, I got into the cooperative Fanny, which soon turned into the MP "Piter", and now it is quite a large publishing house "Piter-Press". However, the first book of this publishing house was our book with Kolya "ZX Spectrum for Users and Programmers". We wanted to bring all our "sheets" to some logical conclusion. The book was published in early '91. And it was then that Sergey Zonov approached me with his project of a new computer. The board was not yet laid out; it was soldered with wires on ordinary "Leningrad boards" (although it was quite common to call it "Zona"). Sergey suggested adapting the CP/M system to this board and thinking about the option of something that would work when pressing the Magic button.
ZF: - What were the first Scorpions like without the shadow monitor?
S.Z.: - They were the same as now, only without the shadow monitor. The Magic function was the same as in the 128. The shadow monitor appeared exactly a year later, the first version. And then the development of new versions began, the elimination of encountered errors, the embodiment of new ideas.
ZF: - Was the first monitor immediately with a debugger?
S.Z.: - Yes. All of this was conceived as a semblance of Hobbit, and in Hobbit, the main thing was the shadow monitor. And we wanted to have something similar on Scorpion, only better.
A.L.: - I am generally more interested in system programs, and a good and convenient debugger is the first thing. And not so much for "digging" into other people's programs, but for debugging my own. Once Kolya Rodionov brought a cassette with "fragments" from the Laser Genius package. There was only a debugger and, of course, no descriptions. But upon seeing the Monitor, I realized that this was exactly what I needed. And after the release of "For Users and Programmers", where we honestly wrote that we had not seen the complete package, a "Sinclairist" called us at the publishing house. It was Kirill Murzin, and he told us with surprise that he had long been using this package, had a distributive supply with a box and a description booklet. Naturally, a version adapted for TR-DOS immediately appeared. However, as good as the debugger was for working from RAM, it turned out to be just as bad for working from ROM. We had to rewrite literally everything, leaving only the reassembler block, ideas, and the appearance of the interface.
S.Z.: - When the first versions of the debugger were made, the problem arose - it was necessary to embed commands that would configure it.
A.L.: - And then we decided to divide the shadow monitor into two parts - the shadow debugger and the menu system that would configure both the hardware capabilities of the computer and something from the software aspects, the same printer interface. And since the mechanism for calling the debugger turned out to be quite convenient and small (the RST 8 command with a small number of parameters), we decided to expand the set of subprograms of the standard BASIC OS through this interface. We made, for example, disk functions independent of TR-DOS.
ZF: - And where are they applied?
A.L.: - First of all, by the monitor itself, as it should be "transparent" in relation to "standard" devices. And, secondly, an interface has been described that allows them to be called from user programs. For example, adapting tape programs to TR-DOS becomes easier.
...
ZF: - What was done with this machine in the future?
S.Z.: - Improvements, development of new versions of TM and Professional ROM, and of course, turbo mode. Initially, it was made on several microchips, but it was not technological, and then we decided to use modern element base - programmable logic chips from INTEL. One such chip can replace about 10 chips of the 1533 series, is an order of magnitude more reliable than them, and most importantly, it does not give those who previously copied our developments any chance to do so now. These chips have a bit of protection against copying, and the "hacker" has no chance to replicate our development except to invent exactly the same thing. And this, as the experience of the last one and a half to two years has shown, no one has managed to do so far. I think that is why those who continue to make "pirate" Scorpions often claim that the Turbo mode is not needed by anyone, that it works unreliably, etc. Don't believe this, and even better, ask someone who works on the Turbo board, and especially with the Professional ROM, what they think about it. In addition, today all our further developments of built-in software are carried out only for the Professional ROM, which works exclusively on Turbo boards. Therefore, my advice to those who are considering purchasing our board or computer. If you are buying our products not directly from us, for 100% certainty that the board or computer is genuine, it is best to purchase the TURBO option today. Moreover, since 1996, we will not produce non-Turbo computers and boards at all. And even better, contact us directly, especially since we actively send our products by mail across Russia, and the price when purchasing by mail is only 15% higher (for residents of the Far North and Sakhalin - 25%) due to shipping costs than in St. Petersburg. For detailed information on the ordering process, our current prices, and detailed technical specifications of our products, please send a written request to: 199048 a/я 083 Zonov S.Yu. or call one of our phones (812) 524-16-53, 251-1262, 172-6994.
ZF: - Sergey, in all the books that were attached to the Scorpion, it is written that this board is protected.
S.Z.: - Yes. It was and still is. The first boards were protected by erasing the names of the microchips, and the scheme was kept secret. In addition, various protections were introduced related to linking the ROM number to the contents of certain RAM cells at the moment the power was turned on, and if this number did not match, the board would start behaving very strangely, for example, after a few minutes of power on, it would stop responding to the reset button, or unexpectedly damage a diskette, etc. Overall, in my opinion, under the conditions of our Soviet disregard for intellectual property rights, these protection methods justified themselves and allowed us to stay ahead of our competitors, although they undoubtedly created some inconveniences for some of our users. Today we have abandoned these protection methods and switched to those I already mentioned, namely, the use of programmable logic ICs that have a bit of protection against copying. All our latest developments are protected by such chips: Turbo board, Professional ROM, IBM keyboard and mouse controller, MIDI interface. They fully perform their protective functions, are absolutely reliable, and are also very technological.
ZF: - Tell me, how much time passed from the moment your computer was created to the appearance of the first "pirate" copies?
S.Z.: - I don't know exactly when the "pirate" copies of our computers first appeared. According to my data, it was in Ufa, about a year and a half after the actual release of our board on the market.
ZF: - How are the counterfeit computers noticeably worse than the originals?
A.L.: - First of all, the board differs in quality. In addition, the board can generally be "copied" one to one, but it contained things that are quite difficult to replicate without analyzing the topology of the circuit.
S.Z.: - Starting with the use of certain microchips of certain series. If other series of microchips of the same type are combined, then the board either does not work at all or does not work as it should. And most importantly, almost all pirate "Scorpions" show various consequences of the protections embedded in the ROM. In addition, by purchasing a "pirate" version of the computer, the user deprives themselves of the opportunity to gradually improve this computer, as all new developments will not work on it.
ZF: - Thank you. And finally, please tell us about your plans.
S.Z.: - The first item on the agenda is the repeatedly promised hard drive controller and ROM that supports operation with the hard drive. I won't name any deadlines, but the hardware part is already working, and for the software part - ask Andrey.
A.L.: - Well, about fifteen to twenty percent of the programming support for operation remains. If you remember how much effort was spent on it, it simply must appear. It is enough to say that a complete cross-emulator of the Scorpion computer on the IBM PC was written for debugging.
ZF: - And at what speed will the hard drive work?
A.L.: - The data transfer over the IDE bus is ten times faster than that of the disk drive, but at what speed it will actually work is still unknown. Of course, it will be slower.
ZF: - How will it look and how much will it cost?
S.Z.: - The controller is a board like the keyboard controller, and it will cost about fifteen to twenty dollars. But I repeat, it is essential that the board to which the controller is connected is Turbo with Professional ROM.
ZF: - Thank you very much for the interview, we hope it won't be the last. One more, you could say, personal question. You saw the first issue of our magazine. What do you think about it?
S.Z.: - What I saw, I liked. Not everything, of course, but that's purely in terms of design. You use different fonts; some I liked more, others less. But from what can be done on the Spectrum, it's quite good. In my opinion, the most important thing is that the magazine has its own identity. I would like the first issue not to be the last.
A.L.: - If you could make at least 40 characters per line and somehow get rid of the terrible inter-word spaces when aligning lines...
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Instead of an epilogue
As you may have guessed, the first issue was not the last, and this pleases us. As for A.L.'s last remark, we will not comment on it, although the urge to do so is strong...
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Contents of the publication: ZX Format #02
- IS-DOS
Announcement of a school-ready hardware-software complex by Iskra Soft and Peters, featuring a networked computer class setup on ZX Spectrum with IS-DOS.
- IS-DOS - Владимир Елисеев
Explanation of command line monitor and text editor restart in IS-DOS using mon.com utility as an example.
- IS-DOS
Introduction to IS-DOS system utilities, covering functions like help, user menu, file viewing, editing, and file operations.
- IS-DOS
Detailed description of the eliminat.com program for freeing memory from resident tasks and drivers, featuring interactive mode and command-line keys. Specific channel numbers allocated for task and driver types. Includes usage options and color customization.
- IS-DOS Window System - Владимир Елисеев
Exploration of IS-DOS window system restarts for printing text in windows and absolute screen coordinates. Examples of restart implementations such as lwt, adrwt, lenwt, prstr, str, and lnstr. Continuation to cover auxiliary restarts in next issue.
- Assembler
Introduction to assembly language basics, focusing on flags, arithmetic operations, and register manipulation. Discusses addition, subtraction, and complex operations like multiplication and division through examples. Highlights specific assembly commands and their functions for ZX Spectrum.
- Hardware
Discussion of hardware modifications for Scorpion ZS-256-Turbo, including the implementation of a Turbo/Normal switch. Pros and cons of software-based switching methods. Advice on soldering and circuit adjustments.
- Hardware
Discussion of a new music add-on for ZX Spectrum by X-TRADE and HACKER STINGER, called 'ZX GENERAL SOUND', offering high-quality audio and minimal processor usage.
- Hardware
Discussion on hardware innovations and marketing strategies, focusing on mouse and keyboard interfaces for ZX Spectrum. Critique of competitor's misleading advertising and analysis of serial versus passive mouse technology. Author questions necessity and cost of advanced features.
- Hardware
Discussion of hardware acceleration methods for ZX Spectrum, focusing on turbo-modes and their effects on performance and compatibility.
- Toys
Fantasy tale about magical creatures battling human intrusion. Main character recruits allies for a quest to restore the land's former glory. Challenges include finding tools, overcoming obstacles, and reviving companions.
- Toys
Review of 'Carrier Command' game, focusing on its strategic and simulation aspects. Includes detailed gameplay mechanics, controls, and objectives. Highlights strategies for success and unique features like managing resources and autonomous systems.
- Interview
Interview with Sergey Zonov and Andrey Larchenko discussing their experience with microprocessors and ZX Spectrum development, including the creation of the Scorpion ZS 256 computer.
- Information
Contact information and staff list of ZX-Format No. 2 (1995) including editor, coders, and designers.
- Information
Editor's address to readers of ZX Format, discussing the positive feedback, past errors, and the quest for a cartoonist, with future plans for the magazine.
- Information
Discussion on the new interpretation of the 'PULLDOWN' window menu system for ZX Spectrum, focusing on interface updates and user interaction enhancements.
- Information
Discussion about companies illegally distributing ZX Format, emphasizing the benefits of purchasing official copies.
- Competition
The article discusses the lack of participation in ZX Format's competition, detailing the rules and prizes, and encourages readers to engage with new ideas.
- Let's Relax
A humorous account of a software vendor's challenges dealing with clueless customers, illustrating the nerve-wracking nature of his job.
- Mailbox
Overview of hardware components and prices for ZX Spectrum enthusiasts with ordering details.
- Mailbox
Reader letters section in ZX Format #02 discusses reader feedback, addresses issues with ZX Format features, and offers future improvements.
- Premiere
Guide to Digital Studio v1.12, a music editor for ZX Spectrum, including features, menu navigation, and the use of Digital Studio Compiler.
- For Programmers
Exploration of tools that extend the standard Basic 48, including Renumber for Basic 128, Trace & Speed, Blast Toolkit, and ZXeditor, highlighting their functionalities and utilities.
- Various
History of Amiga computer models and their evolution from A1000 to A4000/60T with specifications and unique features. Explanation of technical terms and differences between chip and fast memory. Mention of new developments like AGA chipset and models for different needs.
- Miscellaneous
The article presents upcoming ZX Spectrum software releases and reviews game innovations like 'Adventures of Winnie the Pooh' and 'UFO 2: Devils of the Abyss'. It highlights features, creators, and technical requirements. It also includes announcements from SOFTLAND and Cracked Masters Group.
- Systems
Discussion of creating music with Instrument 3.01, focusing on digitized sound. Analysis of program's capabilities and conversion from ASC Sound Master. Instructions for composition and conversion.
- What's New
Review of new ZX Spectrum games entering the St. Petersburg market in late 1995. Detailed game descriptions, memory requirements, controls, and music/graphics evaluations. Highlights include Night Hunter, Extreme, Grell & Falla, and more.
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