Editing ZX Interface 1 (section)

== Network ==
[[Image:Zx interface 1.png|thumb|[[ZX Spectrum]] peripheral ZX Interface 1]]
[[Image:Sinclair QL rear view (brighter)(filtered).jpg|thumb|{{nowrap|[[Sinclair QL]]}} rear]]
The device offered two network ports, allowing up to 64 ZX Spectrums to be [[Network topology#Daisy chain|daisy-chain]]ed using network leads up to {{convert|3|m|0}} long. The network, called '''ZX Net''', used a bidirectional wire with a proprietary [[Carrier Sense Multiple Access|CSMA]]-like protocol. Data could be sent or received at {{nowrap|100 kbit/s}} either to or from a numbered workstation, or broadcast to all nodes, allowing one machine to act as a server.

Station number 0 is used to indicate broadcast. Data is transmitted in packets, each a maximum of 255 bytes long; the packet and the header are protected by a checksum. Character transmission uses 1 start bit, 8 data bits and 1 stop bit (the common 8-N-1 configuration).

Main commands:<ref name=miman>[ftp://ftp.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/books/MicrodriveAndInterface1Manual.pdf worldofspectrum.org - Microdrive and Interface 1 manual]{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, 1983, file date</ref>
:FORMAT "n";<station number>
:SAVE * "n";<station number>
:LOAD * "n";<station number>

Select for example 1 as the address of the first computer (station number):<ref name=miman/>
:FORMAT "n";1
:SAVE * "n";2

Select 2 for the second computer address:<ref name=miman/>
:FORMAT "n";2
:LOAD * "n";1

Which will then transfer the program from "1" to "2".

Other commands:<ref name=miman/>
:CAT # Lists the file and directory contents of unit #
:LOAD * "m";1;"name" # Loads the program "name" from "microdrive" unit 1