A4000 and Chinon FB-354

Turran · 31 May 2013, 10:48

Ello.

Recently acquired another A4000 with the Chinon FB-354 floppy, jumpered as DS0. It is connected by a single twisted floppy cable.

The amiga seems to think there is a floppy in there all the time.
Start amiga without floppy = Workbench icon is "DF0: unreadable"
Insert a floppy = It shows up fine, but does not go away when I eject it (looks like its still inserted).
After ejected, the normal "You must replace disk blabla" does not appear, instead if says read error, as it thinks its still in there.

First thing I though was the disk detection "switch" on the floppy. However, I've verified it works with a multimeter. I do not have to press it far for the multimeter to start beeping (connection) and show no connection when unpressed.

When connected to the amiga, I can also force the floppy engine to start seeking by pushing down on the disk detection switch, very slightly.

So my question is, what else can cause the amiga to think there is a floppy in there? Should the floppy cable really be twisted in an amiga? Can it be the cable itself?

What is your experience?

Thanks!

Turran

Edit: tried another twisted cable, same thing.

roy bates · 31 May 2013, 11:49

try some switch cleaner on the little switches in the front of the drive.push them down a few times to see if they spring back,youll see why.

is it hooked up before the twist?

Turran · 31 May 2013, 13:03

The switches work fine sadly. nothing wrong there.

Its hooked up after the twist.

roy bates · 31 May 2013, 13:14

did you test the switches?

try before the twist.

Turran · 31 May 2013, 13:27

Yes, I tested them, as I wrote in the first post =)

There is only one connection on the cable, so cant test before.

However, I did open my other A4000 to have a look at that cable. Its twist is different. I tried that cable in the non functional A4000 and it works fine!

So can someone explain what the difference is? Well, I see the difference, but why are there two different twists?

This is the non functional cable. I also had a brand new one from a PC that I tested with, with the same twist. No go!

http://www.grandis.nu/images/Floppy_cable_Not_OK.JPG

This one was in my other A4000 and it works fine.

http://www.grandis.nu/images/Floppy_cable_OK.JPG

Edit:
I modified the non working cable. It now works too. Leaving this picture if it helps someone.
http://www.grandis.nu/images/Floppy_...t_OK_FIXED.JPG

Cymru · 31 May 2013, 16:34

You can see why on a pin out of the drive; needless to say that PC cables need to be modified to be Amiga cables and it does take a few minutes of time.

Jope · 01 June 2013, 11:03

The non working cable would probably have worked if you'd have jumpered the drive as DS1.

31 May 2013, 10:48	#1
Turran Moderator Join Date: May 2012 Location: Stockholm / Sweden Age: 49 Posts: 1,571	A4000 and Chinon FB-354 Ello. Recently acquired another A4000 with the Chinon FB-354 floppy, jumpered as DS0. It is connected by a single twisted floppy cable. The amiga seems to think there is a floppy in there all the time. Start amiga without floppy = Workbench icon is "DF0: unreadable" Insert a floppy = It shows up fine, but does not go away when I eject it (looks like its still inserted). After ejected, the normal "You must replace disk blabla" does not appear, instead if says read error, as it thinks its still in there. First thing I though was the disk detection "switch" on the floppy. However, I've verified it works with a multimeter. I do not have to press it far for the multimeter to start beeping (connection) and show no connection when unpressed. When connected to the amiga, I can also force the floppy engine to start seeking by pushing down on the disk detection switch, very slightly. So my question is, what else can cause the amiga to think there is a floppy in there? Should the floppy cable really be twisted in an amiga? Can it be the cable itself? What is your experience? Thanks! Turran Edit: tried another twisted cable, same thing. Last edited by Turran; 31 May 2013 at 11:06.

31 May 2013, 11:49	#2
roy bates Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: birmingham Age: 55 Posts: 2,827	try some switch cleaner on the little switches in the front of the drive.push them down a few times to see if they spring back,youll see why. is it hooked up before the twist? Last edited by roy bates; 31 May 2013 at 11:58.

31 May 2013, 13:27	#5
Turran Moderator Join Date: May 2012 Location: Stockholm / Sweden Age: 49 Posts: 1,571	Yes, I tested them, as I wrote in the first post =) There is only one connection on the cable, so cant test before. However, I did open my other A4000 to have a look at that cable. Its twist is different. I tried that cable in the non functional A4000 and it works fine! So can someone explain what the difference is? Well, I see the difference, but why are there two different twists? This is the non functional cable. I also had a brand new one from a PC that I tested with, with the same twist. No go! http://www.grandis.nu/images/Floppy_cable_Not_OK.JPG This one was in my other A4000 and it works fine. http://www.grandis.nu/images/Floppy_cable_OK.JPG Edit: I modified the non working cable. It now works too. Leaving this picture if it helps someone. http://www.grandis.nu/images/Floppy_...t_OK_FIXED.JPG Last edited by Turran; 31 May 2013 at 13:44.

31 May 2013, 16:34	#6
Cymru Registered User Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Dorathea/AT Posts: 376	A4000 and Chinon FB-354 You can see why on a pin out of the drive; needless to say that PC cables need to be modified to be Amiga cables and it does take a few minutes of time.

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31 May 2013, 13:03	#3
Turran Moderator Join Date: May 2012 Location: Stockholm / Sweden Age: 49 Posts: 1,571	The switches work fine sadly. nothing wrong there. Its hooked up after the twist.

31 May 2013, 13:14	#4
roy bates Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: birmingham Age: 55 Posts: 2,827	did you test the switches? try before the twist.

01 June 2013, 11:03	#7
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,861	The non working cable would probably have worked if you'd have jumpered the drive as DS1.

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