NETBEEP

Syntax

NETBEEP delay, pulses

Location

FLEXYNET (DIY Toolkit - Vol Y)

This command allows you to send signals through the QL’s network ports - if you plug a pair of earphones into the network port (instead of a Network lead), you will be able to hear the sound generated - this can even work alongside the QL’s BEEP command to provide the QL with rudimentary polyphonic sound. In fact, some of the Spectrum emulators for the QL use this feature to provide the QL with Spectrum-like sound.

The first parameter tells the command the length of the delay between pulses sent to the Network port - the higher the delay, the lower will be the pitch.

The second parameter tells the command the number of pulses to send to the port - each pulse will send an electrical signal through the network port (equivalent to turning a switch on and then back off).

You can also use this command (in conjunction with NETPOLL on other computers in the Network to test the speed settings for Flexynet) - simply send a series of bytes over the Flexynet (using NETBEEP) and check that they have been received correctly at the other end by using NETPOLL. If the bytes are incorrect, you may need to increase the delay.

NOTE

The units used by both parameters are quite arbitrary and therefore some experimentation may be required.

CROSS-REFERENCE

Refer to the Appendix on Networks to find out more about Flexynet. See NETPOLL which allows you to read signals sent through the network ports. NETRATE allows you to alter the speed of the Flexynet and NETREAD / NETSEND can be used to read and send multiple bytes.