Computer code broadcast on kids tv in 80s

[Miserablegit]

thought I might get a better response here rather than on TV thread.
I remember, as a child in the 80’s, one of the Saturday tv programmes broadcast computer code (the squawks and squeaks of the old tape-based systems) for viewers to record and then load into their computer. Can’t recall if it was for spectrum, c64 or BBC.

Does anyone else remember this?

[droopsnoot]

I have a vague memory of a programme that had a go at something like that, but no memory of any of the details. I may be thinking of this, and there's no mention of them transmitting anything like that: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Computer_Program...

Edited by droopsnoot on Tuesday 6th February 10:54

[ZedLeg]

Not what you're looking for specifically but I found this article about a similar event in Finland pretty interesting.

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/201...

[snuffy]

I'm sure there was a TV thing (could well have been The Computer Programme), where they had a little flashing square on the screen and you stuck something over it on your set and that send some code. Mostly likely for the BBC micro.

[Miserablegit]

There is this- at 3mins in
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jeKWMXuSGCc

But the one I remember was much lower key - I’m sure it was childrens tv on a Saturday and there was no reel to reel visible.

[eps]

Following the Ian McNaught-Davies link from above wasn't it this one? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro_Live

They used to cover 'all' microcomputers in terms of OTA software, sometimes it was for your micro, sometimes not.

https://clp.bbcrewind.co.uk/757dc7395d1b569dbe57a9...

They may well have had a magazine or similar which supported all the different microcomputers. There was also Input magazine I think, I used to have a few copies of that, but basically it covered the popular micros of the day. Sometimes you were lucky and sometimes you just got a dull piece of BASIC which did very little.

[Miserablegit]

Many thanks all- perhaps I misremembered and it was one of the above.
I had every issue of input but sold them all to buy a Raleigh Mercury “racer”.

[eps]

or this as well? Radio.. https://retrocomputingforum.com/t/over-the-air-bas...

[WrekinCrew]

Every Friday the beeb put a new BBC Micro program on Ceefax; either a game, graphics demo or some sort of utility.
You could download it if you had the teletext adapter, or painstakingly type it in manually.

[SO27]

Miserablegit said:

Many thanks all- perhaps I misremembered and it was one of the above.
I had every issue of input but sold them all to buy a Raleigh Mercury “racer”.

Still got my Input mags

[eps]

In the ring binders!!

[Hanslow]

Miserablegit said:

Does anyone else remember this?

Yes. They definitely broadcast ZX Spectrum software as I recall recording it first onto VHS I think and then onto tape subsequently. I can't remember what it actually turned out to be but I think I only caught one or two broadcasts in total. I think I got my speccy around 1983 or 1984 so would certainly have been around mid 80s broadcast.

I've still got my two home computer course binders kicking around somewhere.

[littlebasher]

I remember getting a game on a flexible record once, possibly free with a computer magazine.

[TonyRPH]

Miserablegit said:

There is this- at 3mins in
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jeKWMXuSGCc

But the one I remember was much lower key - I’m sure it was childrens tv on a Saturday and there was no reel to reel visible.

That looks like Basic (or a derivative of) - quite popular with the Commodore 64 etc. etc.

Most of the programs were stored on audio cassettes until floppy disks came along.

[jfdi]

snuffy said:

I'm sure there was a TV thing (could well have been The Computer Programme), where they had a little flashing square on the screen and you stuck something over it on your set and that send some code. Mostly likely for the BBC micro.

I recall building a circuit board with my dad for this with bits from maplins, plugged into the BBC micro, I'm guessing the serial port. It had a light sensor that you fitted into a sucker then stuck it to the screen in the corner over the flashing square. Can't remember what the broadcast code did but I do remember being very underwhelmed by it.
I'm sure I binned my 4 folders of input magazines before I moved out.

[shed driver]

Didn't the BBC send data via the ceefax service?

SD.

[eps]

shed driver said:

Didn't the BBC send data via the ceefax service?

SD.

Yep and radio and probably via a magazine + tape.

I think - having skipped through one of the above links, they had their own basic, which then got translated to specific basics on the various machines. I'm sure I used to have a poster with all the various basics compared..!

[blackscooby]

TonyRPH said:

Miserablegit said:

There is this- at 3mins in
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jeKWMXuSGCc

But the one I remember was much lower key - I’m sure it was childrens tv on a Saturday and there was no reel to reel visible.

That looks like Basic (or a derivative of) - quite popular with the Commodore 64 etc. etc.

Most of the programs were stored on audio cassettes until floppy disks came along.

My Commodore VIC20 had plug in cartridges that were (at the time) a revolution in my eyes.

[supersport]

I have a vague recollection of them broadcasting programs before tv started in the morning, you would record them on to cassette with a microphone.

[eps]

blackscooby said:

TonyRPH said:

Miserablegit said:

There is this- at 3mins in
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jeKWMXuSGCc

But the one I remember was much lower key - I’m sure it was childrens tv on a Saturday and there was no reel to reel visible.

That looks like Basic (or a derivative of) - quite popular with the Commodore 64 etc. etc.

Most of the programs were stored on audio cassettes until floppy disks came along.

My Commodore VIC20 had plug in cartridges that were (at the time) a revolution in my eyes.

So did the Spectrum, via Interface 2, but few and far between games/software on those. Plus the infamous micro drives, which were nothing more than mini cassettes really as they contained tape, via Interface one and a Microdrive of course.