You do not need "modedefs.bas" in Pic Basic. It is part of it, sorta.

You also said the chip tries to talk so that is a good sign, IT IS ALIVE

Any way.
From the data sheet.
http://www.speechchips.com/downloads...eet_prelim.pdf
For example, the pistol shot sound is 253. Create a string with text and include the
value 253 somewhere in it. The text will be read back and the gunshot sound will
play. In a string constant in C, the value can be either octal or hexadecimal and is
preceded by an escape character.
Octal Value Encoded in String “This is a gunshot\375”
Decimal Value Encoded in String “This is a gunshot \xFD”
The two byte commands (volume, pitch, etc.) will only pass through correctly if the
second byte is a non-text character. Otherwise the TTS256 will process the second
byte as text and incorrect data will be sent to the SpeakJet. Two byte commands
can be sent without this restriction by placing the TTS256 in pass through mode.
So.
Code:
serout 7, T9600, ("at your command\15")
or try the example
Code:
serout 7, T9600, ( “This is a gunshot \xFD”)