FlashFloppy - new firmware for Gotek drives, open source - Page 40

BarryB · 12 February 2018, 16:33

Anyone put this internally in a Spcctrum +3? Seen the external mods but wondered if anyone has done an internal cable mod for a Gotek and what the cable looks like!

idrougge · 12 February 2018, 17:35

Shouldn't that be much like the Amstrad CPC mods?

wmsteele · 12 February 2018, 23:44

I have done this many years back, followed a cable diagram on cpcwiki, power cable needs modified as well.

Amiga1992 · 12 February 2018, 23:54

I've done a CPC 6128 but not a +3, supposedly they are the exact same. Yes the +12V and +5V are inverted, you gotta flip it. Be careful with that or you can burn the USB connected to the Gotek (I did this with an A500) or the Gotek itself.

ch40s_engineer · 13 February 2018, 16:02

Hi guys,

I bought a bunch of 0.91" OLED Displays from China, but the current ones are not marked "GND VCC SCL SDA" but instead "GND VCC SCK SDA".
The FF wiki just says that the marking of the pin headers should be like the first example. so is this just an alternate name for the same signal or is this signal compatible? if not, is there any way to modify it to match SCL?

best, Chris

BarryB · 13 February 2018, 16:38

I just want to remove the +3 drive and put the gotek in place using the existing cables if possible, if I have to make a cable that's no problem, just need a link/diagram of what to wire up!

jurassicman · 13 February 2018, 16:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by ch40s_engineer

Hi guys,

I bought a bunch of 0.91" OLED Displays from China, but the current ones are not marked "GND VCC SCL SDA" but instead "GND VCC SCK SDA".
The FF wiki just says that the marking of the pin headers should be like the first example. so is this just an alternate name for the same signal or is this signal compatible? if not, is there any way to modify it to match SCL?

best, Chris

Hi Chris I was looking for one of them on Ebay and I've always read "SCL" on the pictures. Have you bought a bunch of OLED 0.91" 128x32 IIC I2C?

UPDATE:
I've just noticed that the one used by wmsteele says "SCK" so I think you're golden...

and BTW if you want to sell one I am willing to buy it!

Amiga1992 · 13 February 2018, 17:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarryB

I just want to remove the +3 drive and put the gotek in place using the existing cables if possible, if I have to make a cable that's no problem, just need a link/diagram of what to wire up!

All I find is the CPC 6128 diagrams, I am not 100% sure they apply to the +3, but I kind of remember that it does.

Here's a guy putting an HxC inside a 6128:
https://www.retrohax.net/amstrad-cpc-6128-hxc-mod/

Google thoroughly before you burn something up. If the +3 also has the power connector inverted, you have to make sure you don't fry something up by plugging it normally.

A lot of people choose to add it externally, though:
http://randomkak.blogspot.com/2013/0...-spectrum.html

[edit] Here, search for "(iv) Internal 3.5” A: drive on Spectrum +3" and it will say the process is the same as the Amstrad 6128:
https://www.secarica.ro/index.php/en...plus3-hardware
In red, it does say the power connector is inverted. So be wary.

ch40s_engineer · 13 February 2018, 22:13

alright, checked and they work just fine 👍
as it turns out the two displays in my possession are defective so I thought those SCK OLEDs simply don't work at all. thanks for your answers

BarryB · 14 February 2018, 10:22

Yep, seen similar info when googling before but never sure if it's +3 compatible so thanks for the info and warnings, i'll see what i can blow up over the weekend

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akira

All I find is the CPC 6128 diagrams, I am not 100% sure they apply to the +3, but I kind of remember that it does.

Here's a guy putting an HxC inside a 6128:
https://www.retrohax.net/amstrad-cpc-6128-hxc-mod/

Google thoroughly before you burn something up. If the +3 also has the power connector inverted, you have to make sure you don't fry something up by plugging it normally.

A lot of people choose to add it externally, though:
http://randomkak.blogspot.com/2013/0...-spectrum.html

[edit] Here, search for "(iv) Internal 3.5” A: drive on Spectrum +3" and it will say the process is the same as the Amstrad 6128:
https://www.secarica.ro/index.php/en...plus3-hardware
In red, it does say the power connector is inverted. So be wary.

Amiga1992 · 14 February 2018, 15:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarryB

Yep, seen similar info when googling before but never sure if it's +3 compatible so thanks for the info and warnings, i'll see what i can blow up over the weekend

The last link is +3-specific and should be safe to follow. Fear not!

I kinda miss my +3, now that Goteks exist, it would be great to have one. Alas, I never ended up using it much, like any of my Amstrads, so letting them go was the right choice.

SunSpire · 18 February 2018, 00:43

Every time I check this thread some new progress has been made with the firmware, great work! A lot of people seem to adapt to the OLED display and rotary encoder modifications and new Gotek mounting frames have surfaced on Ebay (for instance 173118338141) that will let you mount the Gotek and OLED display in a neat-looking, non-destructive way. Really awesome, time to do these modifications myself, soon.

However, I really don't like the look of the rotary knobs being used most of the time, they stick way out of the case sideways and they get in the way for transportation reasons or dust covers. So I was wondering if something like the volume wheels found in oldschool Walkmans could be used instead? (see picture!) Of course it would have to rotate continuously without min / max positions. I've not yet found a matching product.

Such wheel would barely stick out of the case (it could be placed in the former floppy disk eject button spot) and I'd imagine it to look really nice. Worth a try? What do you think?

EDIT: Alternative idea: mouse encoder wheel??

kolla · 18 February 2018, 14:03

Great idea, like the wheel on a mouse, with built in button - just scroll up and down, and press to enter.

Fook42 · 21 February 2018, 21:01

Hello Keir,
i've just pulled the latest firmware via git (0.9.9a) and built it as usual.

but can you please bring back the "normal" font to the source? you didnt mention in the release-notes but in the git log that you are abandoning the 8x16/7x16 fonts.. which makes me sad as i was happy to have a readable font on my displays.
i also cut the gotek-housing to have the full OLED display visible - but now with the new font it only displays something on the top-left corner

...

PLEASE please bring back that normal font and let me choose via FF.CFG or via build-flag which to use..

Thank you

Keir · 21 February 2018, 21:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fook42

Hello Keir,
i've just pulled the latest firmware via git (0.9.9a) and built it as usual.

but can you please bring back the "normal" font to the source? you didnt mention in the release-notes but in the git log that you are abandoning the 8x16/7x16 fonts.. which makes me sad as i was happy to have a readable font on my displays.
i also cut the gotek-housing to have the full OLED display visible - but now with the new font it only displays something on the top-left corner

...

PLEASE please bring back that normal font and let me choose via FF.CFG or via build-flag which to use..

Thank you

Well the tip of master is not a release. You need to checkout the appropriate tag.

The 7x16 font is definitely gone, it was quite ugly. The 8x16 'vga' font... I could keep it I guess. But the new font is perfectly readable is it not?

You are correct that the tip of master no longer fills the display. I am just going to do the patch to increase characters per row to fill the display.

Looks readable to me

Anyone care to comment, or try the WIP firmware themselves?: https://github.com/keirf/FlashFloppy...54/ff-font.zip

Keir · 21 February 2018, 22:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarryB

Anyone put this internally in a Spcctrum +3? Seen the external mods but wondered if anyone has done an internal cable mod for a Gotek and what the cable looks like!

BarryB · 22 February 2018, 00:59

Ooh, nice pair of adapters mate

I'm going to do a similar thing by using a 26pin plug that has the ribbon cable already crimped on and the other end loose so i'm going to put a 34pin connector on the loose end with the relevant pins connected and make an 'adapter' too

The floppy power i'm going to unpin and reverse.

Keir · 22 February 2018, 12:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fook42

Hello Keir,
i've just pulled the latest firmware via git (0.9.9a) and built it as usual.

but can you please bring back the "normal" font to the source? you didnt mention in the release-notes but in the git log that you are abandoning the 8x16/7x16 fonts.. which makes me sad as i was happy to have a readable font on my displays.
i also cut the gotek-housing to have the full OLED display visible - but now with the new font it only displays something on the top-left corner

...

PLEASE please bring back that normal font and let me choose via FF.CFG or via build-flag which to use..

Thank you

For now I have put the 8x16 font back. 6x13 is now the default font, however, and the only font in the update bootloader.

I may also mark the 8x16 font as deprecated and solicit feedback more broadly on whether users care about keeping it. If I don't hear much feedback, it may yet go...

Mq · 22 February 2018, 13:00

I think there should be only one font, which can be small 7x16 or smaller if it is possible. It's good to fit more text on the screen (as lot as possible) when You use smaller fonts. But in the config file there could be an option to switch working area of the OLED display. It's very useful when You are fitting OLED display in the Gotek display window without modifying that window. And If You mount OLED display in another place, or You want to cut bigger window, then You can use all of the working area of the OLED display.

Keir · 22 February 2018, 13:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mq

I think there should be only one font, which can be small 7x16 or smaller if it is possible. It's good to fit more text on the screen (as lot as possible) when You use smaller fonts. But in the config file there could be an option to switch working area of the OLED display. It's very useful when You are fitting OLED display in the Gotek display window without modifying that window. And If You mount OLED display in another place, or You want to cut bigger window, then You can use all of the working area of the OLED display.

I am about to implement "display-type=oled-128x32-narrow" to specify smaller working area. That will give 18cpr (6x13 font). Full-width display gives 21cpr.

18 February 2018, 00:43	#792
SunSpire Registered User Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Germany Posts: 33	Every time I check this thread some new progress has been made with the firmware, great work! A lot of people seem to adapt to the OLED display and rotary encoder modifications and new Gotek mounting frames have surfaced on Ebay (for instance 173118338141) that will let you mount the Gotek and OLED display in a neat-looking, non-destructive way. Really awesome, time to do these modifications myself, soon. However, I really don't like the look of the rotary knobs being used most of the time, they stick way out of the case sideways and they get in the way for transportation reasons or dust covers. So I was wondering if something like the volume wheels found in oldschool Walkmans could be used instead? (see picture!) Of course it would have to rotate continuously without min / max positions. I've not yet found a matching product. Such wheel would barely stick out of the case (it could be placed in the former floppy disk eject button spot) and I'd imagine it to look really nice. Worth a try? What do you think? EDIT: Alternative idea: mouse encoder wheel?? Last edited by SunSpire; 18 February 2018 at 01:32.

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12 February 2018, 16:33	#781
BarryB Amigaholic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: UK Posts: 4,679	Anyone put this internally in a Spcctrum +3? Seen the external mods but wondered if anyone has done an internal cable mod for a Gotek and what the cable looks like!

12 February 2018, 17:35	#782
idrougge Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Stockholm Posts: 4,332	Shouldn't that be much like the Amstrad CPC mods?

12 February 2018, 23:44	#783
wmsteele Registered User Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Glasgow Posts: 128	I have done this many years back, followed a cable diagram on cpcwiki, power cable needs modified as well.

12 February 2018, 23:54	#784
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,645	I've done a CPC 6128 but not a +3, supposedly they are the exact same. Yes the +12V and +5V are inverted, you gotta flip it. Be careful with that or you can burn the USB connected to the Gotek (I did this with an A500) or the Gotek itself.

13 February 2018, 16:02	#785
ch40s_engineer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Cologne Posts: 74	Hi guys, I bought a bunch of 0.91" OLED Displays from China, but the current ones are not marked "GND VCC SCL SDA" but instead "GND VCC SCK SDA". The FF wiki just says that the marking of the pin headers should be like the first example. so is this just an alternate name for the same signal or is this signal compatible? if not, is there any way to modify it to match SCL? best, Chris

13 February 2018, 16:38	#786
BarryB Amigaholic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: UK Posts: 4,679	I just want to remove the +3 drive and put the gotek in place using the existing cables if possible, if I have to make a cable that's no problem, just need a link/diagram of what to wire up!

13 February 2018, 22:13	#789
ch40s_engineer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Cologne Posts: 74	alright, checked and they work just fine 👍 as it turns out the two displays in my possession are defective so I thought those SCK OLEDs simply don't work at all. thanks for your answers

18 February 2018, 14:03	#793
kolla Banned Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Trondheim, Norway Posts: 1,893	Great idea, like the wheel on a mouse, with built in button - just scroll up and down, and press to enter.

21 February 2018, 21:01	#794
Fook42 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: germany Posts: 67	Hello Keir, i've just pulled the latest firmware via git (0.9.9a) and built it as usual. but can you please bring back the "normal" font to the source? you didnt mention in the release-notes but in the git log that you are abandoning the 8x16/7x16 fonts.. which makes me sad as i was happy to have a readable font on my displays. i also cut the gotek-housing to have the full OLED display visible - but now with the new font it only displays something on the top-left corner ... PLEASE please bring back that normal font and let me choose via FF.CFG or via build-flag which to use.. Thank you

22 February 2018, 00:59	#797
BarryB Amigaholic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: UK Posts: 4,679	Ooh, nice pair of adapters mate I'm going to do a similar thing by using a 26pin plug that has the ribbon cable already crimped on and the other end loose so i'm going to put a 34pin connector on the loose end with the relevant pins connected and make an 'adapter' too The floppy power i'm going to unpin and reverse.

22 February 2018, 13:00	#799
Mq Registered User Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Poznan/Poland Posts: 73	I think there should be only one font, which can be small 7x16 or smaller if it is possible. It's good to fit more text on the screen (as lot as possible) when You use smaller fonts. But in the config file there could be an option to switch working area of the OLED display. It's very useful when You are fitting OLED display in the Gotek display window without modifying that window. And If You mount OLED display in another place, or You want to cut bigger window, then You can use all of the working area of the OLED display.

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