Since we are stuck with BASIC, how else can we do this faster still ?

Why not read and save it into XRAM,

Find MTOP, and move it back by 1k or so.

then read your data and save it in a loop like this :

10 MTOP=mtop-1000

20 c:=Mtop

30 for d=c to c+1000

40 read data:xby(c)=read data

50 next

Now you have a ram buffer that can be displayed at your leisure.

Add a port bit toggle in the loop and see if its anywhere near fast enough for the job.

Hans is right. Get into assembler FAST !!

Steve