Idea for Amiga floppy drive emulator - Page 2

rkauer · 01 November 2009, 22:28

The most expensive part is the PIC chip (~ £10) here in Brazil (without shipping).

Oh, and the PCB.

lolafg · 09 November 2009, 11:07

@ Zetro ,

if you have time , could you give us an info about how much this project could cost ?
Thanks .

Jeff_HxC2001 · 10 November 2009, 23:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by lolafg

@ Zetro ,

if you have time , could you give us an info about how much this project could cost ?
Thanks .

Here 2 simulations of price of the last version (not released yet):

Parts "High price" "Low price"
PIC18F4525 9 5
74LS38 1,2 0,6
74LS38 1,2 0,6
SDCard connector 2 2
LM317 1 0,6
HE10-34 0,8 0,4
HE10-14 0,5 0,25
Quartz 1 1
passif 3 1
push buttons 3 1,2
Lcd (optional) 8 8
PCB 6 6
Total parts price 30,7 20,65
Shipping ?? ??
Some profits 10-20e 10-20e
Final price ~50-60euros ~40-50euros

xybots seems to sell the prototype version for £55 here:
http://retrocomputermuseum.co.uk/for...p?topic=739.15

xc8 · 11 November 2009, 00:15

Floppy drive emulator??

here.... > http://tinyurl.com/ylsg44a

but... look at the specs... heheheh

Chris

Jeff_HxC2001 · 11 November 2009, 22:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexh

You're joking right? What a rip off! You could get an IDE interface for anything for less!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merlin

@ Petersieg

Holy Crap!! Is that price in Doomy Dollars, or have you been speaking to Bas***s for sales tips?

Sorry guys, but this is the price !!! You seems forget that we are talking of homebrew hardware, made in very small batch (max 20/40 boards made in each batch), and not mass produced ! So yes the price is high, mainly because parts must buy in small quantities from some merchant like farnell, radiospare, digikey...

Here the bill of material of the first batch done in France in 2008:

If you found the price too high, it's easy: don't buy it, others will buy it ( 200 units sold by 4 differents people at 80 euros ! Incredible Isn't It ?

), but please avoid posting this kind of insulting message.

cosmicfrog · 11 November 2009, 22:28

nice bill of parts there jeff even if I don`t speak french, writein english is hard enough
are you sure thats 200 and not 20 ? and are you saying only 4 people brought all 20 boards

Jeff_HxC2001 · 11 November 2009, 22:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmicfrog

nice bill of parts there jeff even if I don`t speak french, writein english is hard enough
are you sure thats 200 and not 20 ? and are you saying only 4 people brought all 20 boards

no, what i said is that 4 peoples have made all the 200 units. the bill of material come from the first batch (20 units)

lolafg · 13 November 2009, 07:12

@ Jeff ,

thank you very much for your answers !!
Your HXC seems really a product i'd like to have , will keep money for buying one !!

Thanks again Jeff !!

Retro1234 · 13 July 2010, 22:54

Another Floppy emulator - Seems to have a on screen menu operated by the keyboard
direct ADF Read/Write support.

http://retromaster.wordpress.com/ufe/

xc8 · 13 July 2010, 23:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boo Boo

Another Floppy emulator - Seems to have a on screen menu operated by the keyboard
direct ADF Read/Write support.

http://retromaster.wordpress.com/ufe/

heh I see we will be flooded soon with floppy emulators!

Chris

alexh · 14 July 2010, 00:05

It looks overly complicated compared to my idea of using the host computers keyboard, mouse and video output to select disk images by use of a "default disk". A platform specific default disk image which contains a menu system which can read the DIR contents of the SD and allow selecting of disk images using nothing more than the floppy disk cable and one button (which could be the eject).

kipper2k · 14 July 2010, 00:55

You have to like the OSD (On Screen Display), That function could easily be included into an external video output from the Amiga by tying into the video signals by a small pin header. It would definately enhance for example the HXC floppy emulator.

Jeff_HxC2001 · 14 July 2010, 21:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by kipper2k

You have to like the OSD (On Screen Display), That function could easily be included into an external video output from the Amiga by tying into the video signals by a small pin header. It would definately enhance for example the HXC floppy emulator.

This is already a reality on Atari ST and Amstrad CPC (without the need to hack the keyboard/video output).
Amiga version is on the way.

[ Show youtube player ]

alexh · 14 July 2010, 23:28

Nice.

kipper2k · 14 July 2010, 23:44

is it just a firmware upgrade for the existing boards that would be required ?, or just software controlling boot ?

Jeff_HxC2001 · 15 July 2010, 00:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by kipper2k

is it just a firmware upgrade for the existing boards that would be required ?, or just software controlling boot ?

The firmware was updated some time ago to support a direct access to the sdcard through the floppy disk drive interface. The feature allows the host computer to browse the SDCard, read/write file on the FAT32 partition like on an hard disk. (i have some others project/experiments with this feature)

The other part is a program on the host computer able to access to the SDcard FAT32 partition, brownsing it, and reading/writing setting file of the emulator.
Please note that in this mode the host computer can access up to 32GB (max size of the SDCard

)

You can download the Atari ST and CPC version here :

http://hxc2001.free.fr/floppy_drive_...or_Manager.zip

Jeff_HxC2001 · 18 July 2010, 21:02

Not amiga related but:

Here a video of the file image selector on Amstrad CPC:

[ Show youtube player ]

Next : Amiga version.

alexh · 19 July 2010, 01:13

Is there going to be a cost-down version with no LCD, buttons & connectors etc?

Hewitson · 19 July 2010, 07:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexh

It looks overly complicated compared to my idea of using the host computers keyboard, mouse and video output to select disk images by use of a "default disk". A platform specific default disk image which contains a menu system which can read the DIR contents of the SD and allow selecting of disk images using nothing more than the floppy disk cable and one button (which could be the eject).

Far better idea, and far simpler. I like it.

Zetr0: Surely AVR is powerful enough to do job of the FDD PIC as well. Or is there a specific reason why using a PIC would be better for the task?

T_hairy_bootson · 19 July 2010, 08:20

I dont like the system disk approach, it means you would have to quit whatever you were doing to put the next disk in if you ever got the queue system wrong. Also it would be slow to load the "system disk". The OSD approach is a much nicer solution imo. It does look like a more complicated way to go though.

14 July 2010, 23:44	#35
kipper2k Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Thunder Bay, Canada Posts: 4,323	is it just a firmware upgrade for the existing boards that would be required ?, or just software controlling boot ? Last edited by kipper2k; 15 July 2010 at 00:00.

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01 November 2009, 22:28	#21
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	The most expensive part is the PIC chip (~ £10) here in Brazil (without shipping). Oh, and the PCB.

09 November 2009, 11:07	#22
lolafg Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tours/France Age: 52 Posts: 1,233	@ Zetro , if you have time , could you give us an info about how much this project could cost ? Thanks .

11 November 2009, 00:15	#24
xc8 no c= no fun Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 313	Floppy drive emulator?? here.... > http://tinyurl.com/ylsg44a but... look at the specs... heheheh Chris

11 November 2009, 22:28	#26
cosmicfrog The 1 who ribbits Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: leek, Staffs, UK Age: 56 Posts: 3,557	nice bill of parts there jeff even if I don`t speak french, writein english is hard enough are you sure thats 200 and not 20 ? and are you saying only 4 people brought all 20 boards

13 November 2009, 07:12	#28
lolafg Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tours/France Age: 52 Posts: 1,233	@ Jeff , thank you very much for your answers !! Your HXC seems really a product i'd like to have , will keep money for buying one !! Thanks again Jeff !!

13 July 2010, 22:54	#29
Retro1234 Phone Homer Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: 5150 Posts: 5,775	Another Floppy emulator - Seems to have a on screen menu operated by the keyboard direct ADF Read/Write support. http://retromaster.wordpress.com/ufe/

14 July 2010, 00:05	#31
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 14,354	It looks overly complicated compared to my idea of using the host computers keyboard, mouse and video output to select disk images by use of a "default disk". A platform specific default disk image which contains a menu system which can read the DIR contents of the SD and allow selecting of disk images using nothing more than the floppy disk cable and one button (which could be the eject).

14 July 2010, 00:55	#32
kipper2k Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Thunder Bay, Canada Posts: 4,323	You have to like the OSD (On Screen Display), That function could easily be included into an external video output from the Amiga by tying into the video signals by a small pin header. It would definately enhance for example the HXC floppy emulator.

14 July 2010, 23:28	#34
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 14,354	Nice.

18 July 2010, 21:02	#37
Jeff_HxC2001 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Paris / France Posts: 656	Not amiga related but: Here a video of the file image selector on Amstrad CPC: [ Show youtube player ] Next : Amiga version.

19 July 2010, 01:13	#38
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 14,354	Is there going to be a cost-down version with no LCD, buttons & connectors etc?

19 July 2010, 08:20	#40
T_hairy_bootson Workbitch 1.3 Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 46 Posts: 2,084	I dont like the system disk approach, it means you would have to quit whatever you were doing to put the next disk in if you ever got the queue system wrong. Also it would be slow to load the "system disk". The OSD approach is a much nicer solution imo. It does look like a more complicated way to go though.

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