PC floppy adaptor for Amiga - Page 3

alexh · 29 August 2008, 23:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stedy

@alexh

Well I'm Ian Stedman, the Ian Steadman you refer to I don't know of

You are.

Eclipse · 30 August 2008, 01:06

The only other way I can see is to have a vertically mounted connector on the back of the PCB. This would also provide more space.
Something like this:

You should still keep the original idea of flying leads for the power as well.

alexh · 30 August 2008, 01:19

That was exactly what I was thinking... what is that a photograph of?

I wonder if it would be compatible with different brands of floppy disk drives.

Eclipse · 30 August 2008, 01:23

Full page at BBoAH here.
I think it's for using HD drives.

Bit screwed if the connector on the floppy is on the other side though.
Edit: Meh! not really difficult to make sure you get a drive with the connector on a certain side. Build it one side, make sure you get the right drive.

DJBase · 30 August 2008, 01:35

What about this mod? Doesn't this contain everything already?

http://www.terminal-entry.de/eng/floppyfix.html

Eclipse · 30 August 2008, 02:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJBase

What about this mod? Doesn't this contain everything already?

http://www.terminal-entry.de/eng/floppyfix.html

Isn't that to buy only? I'm not too good at German, I followed the A1k thread the best I could. It's also considerably more expensive.

Overdoc · 30 August 2008, 02:12

hmm, seems like the solution from the A1K forum can make use the drives as HD drives on the Amiga

So, that explains why it is much more complicated as it needs to half the stream of data for Paula to compute, I would think...

but for me Stedy's pcb would just be enough as it gets harder to find Amiga drives or old PC drives with ready signal which can be modified.

DJBase · 30 August 2008, 02:12

Yes, its a ready to use mod but works with nearly everything and was extensively tested.

Eclipse · 30 August 2008, 02:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJBase

Yes, its a ready to use mod but works with nearly everything and was extensively tested.

You still have to mod your drive though.
From the manual:

Quote:

If you bought the interface as is (w/o Floppy drive) you have to make some adjustments to the Standard PC Floppy drive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Overdoc

but for me Stedy's pcb would just be enough as it gets harder to find Amiga drives or old PC drives with ready signal which can be modified.

This is the point. It's a simple design that is relatively cheap and can also be done DIY.

papa_november · 30 August 2008, 05:53

How much is that HD floppy adaptor anyway? It can't possibly cost as much as an original HD drive, can it?

alexh · 30 August 2008, 08:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eclipse

Full page at BBoAH here. I think it's for using HD drives.

Fascinating. You notice the silk screen?

(C) T.Hirsch

Thats the engineer behind Natami!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eclipse

It's also considerably more expensive.

1) How much is it?
2) How do you know it's more expensive?

Paul_s · 31 August 2008, 18:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexh

You're Ian Steadman?

I had not made the connection to your name & nick. I've been a user of your website for many years!

When I found out it was like eating one of those Morrisons cakes with green icing and custard/cream inside for the first time - bloody marvellous

Ian Stedman fanclub.Inc

Stedy · 31 August 2008, 20:42

Hi,

As it was the weekend, I spent some time in the workshop

Decided to use something representative of the end user, dug out my 2xA500's. Neither of them had a working floppy drive and one is now dead.

Anyway, fitted the adaptor + drive, it boots games, workbench and utilities. I found two versions of Xcopy, V 3.0 from 1989 and V9? from 1995. Both had issues with detecting the a disk had been inserted in DF0:. If I clicked start a second time it worked.

Rechecked my Amiga hardware guide, it recommended connecting pin 4 (INUSE) to pin 16 (MTR0). Tried this, no change. Will hook the logic analyser up to the adaptor for the next round of testing, as I would like to fix this.

Workbench diskcopy and D-Copy worked ok before and after the mod.

Relating to the 34 way connector, will check the printed RS/Farnell catalogues tomorrow at work, sometimes it is easier to browse the real pages to find the connector you need.

I tried the test clip for the Escom A1200 fix, it fits easily,

Until later.

Ian

P.S. I don't need a fanclub. Not unless you want to pay subscriptions

Eclipse · 31 August 2008, 21:54

Isn't pin 6 INUSE on the Amiga?
I'm not sure what X-Copy does differently either. Everything including original games has worked. It will even write a floppy using ADF2Disk and ADFBlitzer. Bit strange that one.

Stedy · 05 September 2008, 00:52

The weekend is nearly here, hopefully I can play with this some more.

Found a simple solution to the connector issue. Use a double sided PCB and put a normal PCB mount connector on the edge, straddling the top/bottom of the PCB. The distance between pins is 1.65 to 1.9 mm,depending on type, the PCB is 1.6 mm, so a solder joint will fill the gaps. This means I can now finish the PCB updates.

Hope to get the logic analyser out and sort out the disk not ready signal. I think I may need to latch the /MTR0 signal.

I have been asked where to source 23 way D-types. Westfield connectors, http://www.westfield.co.uk/Powerand%...idcsh/3001.htm
They also sell via Ebay.

Have not enquired about minimum order quantities yet as they were closed for holidays last week.

I also use ESR, http://www.esr.co.uk but they only have 23 way plugs in stock, which is fine for disk drives but not for video adaptors.

Bye,

Ian

rkauer · 05 September 2008, 01:28

Like I always say: take them from busted Amiga mobos (only from those unrepairable). Video ports are fine for external disks sockets and vice-versa.

cosmiq · 05 September 2008, 08:01

Impressive stuff!

tonyyeb · 05 September 2008, 11:55

Looking forward to more updates!

Stedy · 06 September 2008, 15:01

Hi,

I've been doing some cost exercises on the design. If I order 150 PCBs, I can then sell them for £2 each. Assuming I keep to all through hole parts/dual in line ICs, would people be more interested in kits or just PCBs?

A kit of components should be around the £4-5 mark, will know more once I finalise the connectors. There are no hard to source parts in the design, just got to make sure the connectors are the right size!

Your thoughts and opinions?

Ian

tonyyeb · 06 September 2008, 15:35

I'd prefer a kit. Save on postage and I guess you will get better prices for ordering more.

30 August 2008, 01:23	#44
Eclipse Turpentine Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kent, United Kingdom Posts: 744	Full page at BBoAH here. I think it's for using HD drives. Bit screwed if the connector on the floppy is on the other side though. Edit: Meh! not really difficult to make sure you get a drive with the connector on a certain side. Build it one side, make sure you get the right drive. Last edited by Eclipse; 30 August 2008 at 01:32. Reason: meh!

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30 August 2008, 01:06	#42
Eclipse Turpentine Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kent, United Kingdom Posts: 744	The only other way I can see is to have a vertically mounted connector on the back of the PCB. This would also provide more space. Something like this: You should still keep the original idea of flying leads for the power as well.

30 August 2008, 01:19	#43
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 14,337	That was exactly what I was thinking... what is that a photograph of? I wonder if it would be compatible with different brands of floppy disk drives.

30 August 2008, 01:35	#45
DJBase Amiga is my Religion Join Date: May 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 578	What about this mod? Doesn't this contain everything already? http://www.terminal-entry.de/eng/floppyfix.html

30 August 2008, 02:12	#47
Overdoc Commodore Collector Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Austria Age: 53 Posts: 944	hmm, seems like the solution from the A1K forum can make use the drives as HD drives on the Amiga So, that explains why it is much more complicated as it needs to half the stream of data for Paula to compute, I would think... but for me Stedy's pcb would just be enough as it gets harder to find Amiga drives or old PC drives with ready signal which can be modified.

30 August 2008, 05:53	#50
papa_november Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: California Posts: 184	How much is that HD floppy adaptor anyway? It can't possibly cost as much as an original HD drive, can it?

31 August 2008, 20:42	#53
Stedy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: United Kingdom Age: 46 Posts: 733	Hi, As it was the weekend, I spent some time in the workshop Decided to use something representative of the end user, dug out my 2xA500's. Neither of them had a working floppy drive and one is now dead. Anyway, fitted the adaptor + drive, it boots games, workbench and utilities. I found two versions of Xcopy, V 3.0 from 1989 and V9? from 1995. Both had issues with detecting the a disk had been inserted in DF0:. If I clicked start a second time it worked. Rechecked my Amiga hardware guide, it recommended connecting pin 4 (INUSE) to pin 16 (MTR0). Tried this, no change. Will hook the logic analyser up to the adaptor for the next round of testing, as I would like to fix this. Workbench diskcopy and D-Copy worked ok before and after the mod. Relating to the 34 way connector, will check the printed RS/Farnell catalogues tomorrow at work, sometimes it is easier to browse the real pages to find the connector you need. I tried the test clip for the Escom A1200 fix, it fits easily, Until later. Ian P.S. I don't need a fanclub. Not unless you want to pay subscriptions

31 August 2008, 21:54	#54
Eclipse Turpentine Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kent, United Kingdom Posts: 744	Isn't pin 6 INUSE on the Amiga? I'm not sure what X-Copy does differently either. Everything including original games has worked. It will even write a floppy using ADF2Disk and ADFBlitzer. Bit strange that one.

05 September 2008, 00:52	#55
Stedy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: United Kingdom Age: 46 Posts: 733	The weekend is nearly here, hopefully I can play with this some more. Found a simple solution to the connector issue. Use a double sided PCB and put a normal PCB mount connector on the edge, straddling the top/bottom of the PCB. The distance between pins is 1.65 to 1.9 mm,depending on type, the PCB is 1.6 mm, so a solder joint will fill the gaps. This means I can now finish the PCB updates. Hope to get the logic analyser out and sort out the disk not ready signal. I think I may need to latch the /MTR0 signal. I have been asked where to source 23 way D-types. Westfield connectors, http://www.westfield.co.uk/Powerand%...idcsh/3001.htm They also sell via Ebay. Have not enquired about minimum order quantities yet as they were closed for holidays last week. I also use ESR, http://www.esr.co.uk but they only have 23 way plugs in stock, which is fine for disk drives but not for video adaptors. Bye, Ian

05 September 2008, 01:28	#56
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	Like I always say: take them from busted Amiga mobos (only from those unrepairable). Video ports are fine for external disks sockets and vice-versa.

05 September 2008, 08:01	#57
cosmiq Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Holland Age: 41 Posts: 314	Impressive stuff!

05 September 2008, 11:55	#58
tonyyeb Has the Amiga bug again Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hull, UK Age: 43 Posts: 791	Looking forward to more updates!

06 September 2008, 15:01	#59
Stedy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: United Kingdom Age: 46 Posts: 733	Hi, I've been doing some cost exercises on the design. If I order 150 PCBs, I can then sell them for £2 each. Assuming I keep to all through hole parts/dual in line ICs, would people be more interested in kits or just PCBs? A kit of components should be around the £4-5 mark, will know more once I finalise the connectors. There are no hard to source parts in the design, just got to make sure the connectors are the right size! Your thoughts and opinions? Ian

06 September 2008, 15:35	#60
tonyyeb Has the Amiga bug again Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hull, UK Age: 43 Posts: 791	I'd prefer a kit. Save on postage and I guess you will get better prices for ordering more.

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