Analogic CD32 floppy drive questions

Twiggy · 27 April 2010, 21:43

A few questions about the CD32 fWSI/Analogic Floppy drive.

* To use the parallel port/VGA port do you need the extra power supply?

* If so, where can I get one, or one that would work with it?

* What sort of adaptor(s) would I need to get the VGA port to work with a "normal" monitor?

* How much RAM does the floppy drive use when plugged in?

Cheers.

alexh · 27 April 2010, 23:47

* No.

* See above

* Make your own or buy one from Analogic. It is standard wiring. I think they fecked the schematics and fitted the wrong connector. VGA is a 15-pin Sub D and the CD32fWSI has a 15-way D.

* Enough to make some CD32 discs not work

DyLucke · 28 April 2010, 11:40

Indeed, for example Super Stardust or Microcosm WON'T work.

If it just could be possible to use the internal drive slot to put
there more than a friggin' battery...

My dream is that someone could design an easy to build board
with RAM and CF or SD support. That would be awesome.

Twiggy · 28 April 2010, 13:00

Thanks for the reply.

Curious, but I wouldn't know where to start making my own. Unless I'm being stupid, I don't think there is one listed on their website.

It would be brilliant to have a card for it that had CF/SD and some RAM.

Gordon · 28 April 2010, 15:20

It also disasbles the buttons on your cd32 pad.

Retro1234 · 28 April 2010, 15:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon

It also disasbles the buttons on your cd32 pad.

Maybe if you reburnt the game to include the lowlevel.library it might work Do you remember some of the games that didnt work?
Or possibly a Floppy boot disk might work.

Does legends still work with the CD32 Pad? as I dont think this uses the Lowlevel.library

alexh · 28 April 2010, 18:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by twiggy

Unless I'm being stupid, I don't think there is one listed on their website.

No one makes the RAM card but it would be easy enough. As for the VGA cable, phone or email and ask they have them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by twiggy

It would be brilliant to have a card for it that had CF/SD and some RAM.

It would be an SX32 and cost 2x the price.

Twiggy · 28 April 2010, 19:29

Yeah, I was referring to the VGA adaptor, I guess I'll fire off an email.

Well, it would be good if such a card existed at a low price then. How feasible would it be to make just a RAM card?

alexh · 29 April 2010, 07:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by twiggy

How feasible would it be to make just a RAM card?

Very easy if we had the pinout of the connector. Without it I think you're talking maybe 10-20 hours for reverse engineering, schematic entry and CPLD programming, phoning round for quotes and getting parts, ordering etc. A not unreasonable sum of money to produce a prototype 2-layer PCB. Then perhaps £500 to have 20 boards manufactured and tested. If you factor design labour at £30/hr. Probably looking at £55 each for 4Mbyte boards if you want to break even.

No serious company is going to do it because no-one knows how many of these devices there are.

Twiggy · 29 April 2010, 12:21

Well, interesting to know all the same.

Analogic inform me that they have no such VGA adaptor. Where would I start learning to make one or find one elsewhere?

Many thanks

alexh · 29 April 2010, 14:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by twiggy

Analogic inform me that they have no such VGA adaptor.

Hmm, possibly it was a SCART cable? They did have them for an extra £15 when they first started selling them.

http://static.cd32-allianz.de/images...llStreet10.jpg

Quote:

Originally Posted by twiggy

Where would I start learning to make one or find one elsewhere?

You should forget about any adapter OR connecting it to a VGA monitor.

You should be able to make your own SCART cable up with a bit of work.

RED, GREEN, BLUE, CSYNC are probably going to be on the same pin numbers as VGA but use a multimeter to make sure they are not pwr or gnd.

http://pinouts.ru/Video/VGA15_pinout.shtml

Twiggy · 01 May 2010, 22:06

Ah ok, thank you for the information.

Related slightly, but when I tried a audio digitaliser with the parallel port it didn't work. I think this is because it's a PC parallel port (pinouts), not Amiga. I don't have a multimetre to test it though.

prowler · 01 May 2010, 22:26

The Amiga and PC parallel ports are incompatible. Let's hope that neither the Amiga's parallel interface nor your digitizer has been damaged.

Twiggy · 01 May 2010, 23:35

Well, my Digitizer is fine, it works on my A600.

My CD32 died recently, so I can't test anything to do with that for a while. I don't know how I'd use any software with the PC parallel port on a CD32, if it even is that, just guessing based on what I know

Can anyone with this floppy drive share their experiences to do with this?

cosmicfrog · 02 May 2010, 10:48

I find it unlikely that it be a pc parallel port
But thats just an assumption

Retro1234 · 02 May 2010, 11:00

If you get a chance can you comfirm the CD32 Pad button Problems and if including the lowlevel.library fixes this.

nujack · 02 May 2010, 11:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by DyLucke

My dream is that someone could design an easy to build board
with RAM and CF or SD support. That would be awesome.

I own such a CD32fWI-DiskDrive too and I would be very happy to see such a Ram-card for the CD32. Would it be possible to use a RAM-card from A1200 with that port?

alexh · 02 May 2010, 13:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by nujack

Would it be possible to use a RAM-card from A1200 with that port?

Electronically... yes!

Physically.... you tell us!

You'd have to make a small double sided double edged adapter possibly with lots of vias depending on the pinout.

jimmer78 · 04 May 2010, 02:43

the analogic drive makes the cd32 look horrible!

27 April 2010, 21:43	#1
Twiggy \m/ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Devon, U.K. Posts: 573	Analogic CD32 floppy drive questions A few questions about the CD32 fWSI/Analogic Floppy drive. * To use the parallel port/VGA port do you need the extra power supply? * If so, where can I get one, or one that would work with it? * What sort of adaptor(s) would I need to get the VGA port to work with a "normal" monitor? * How much RAM does the floppy drive use when plugged in? Cheers.

01 May 2010, 23:35	#14
Twiggy \m/ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Devon, U.K. Posts: 573	Well, my Digitizer is fine, it works on my A600. My CD32 died recently, so I can't test anything to do with that for a while. I don't know how I'd use any software with the PC parallel port on a CD32, if it even is that, just guessing based on what I know Can anyone with this floppy drive share their experiences to do with this? Last edited by Twiggy; 02 May 2010 at 12:09.

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27 April 2010, 23:47	#2
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 14,396	* No. * See above * Make your own or buy one from Analogic. It is standard wiring. I think they fecked the schematics and fitted the wrong connector. VGA is a 15-pin Sub D and the CD32fWSI has a 15-way D. * Enough to make some CD32 discs not work

28 April 2010, 11:40	#3
DyLucke Cookie Muncher Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Spain Age: 49 Posts: 239	Indeed, for example Super Stardust or Microcosm WON'T work. If it just could be possible to use the internal drive slot to put there more than a friggin' battery... My dream is that someone could design an easy to build board with RAM and CF or SD support. That would be awesome.

28 April 2010, 13:00	#4
Twiggy \m/ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Devon, U.K. Posts: 573	Thanks for the reply. Curious, but I wouldn't know where to start making my own. Unless I'm being stupid, I don't think there is one listed on their website. It would be brilliant to have a card for it that had CF/SD and some RAM.

28 April 2010, 15:20	#5
Gordon Settler Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Serf City Posts: 1,760	It also disasbles the buttons on your cd32 pad.

28 April 2010, 19:29	#8
Twiggy \m/ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Devon, U.K. Posts: 573	Yeah, I was referring to the VGA adaptor, I guess I'll fire off an email. Well, it would be good if such a card existed at a low price then. How feasible would it be to make just a RAM card?

29 April 2010, 12:21	#10
Twiggy \m/ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Devon, U.K. Posts: 573	Well, interesting to know all the same. Analogic inform me that they have no such VGA adaptor. Where would I start learning to make one or find one elsewhere? Many thanks

01 May 2010, 22:06	#12
Twiggy \m/ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Devon, U.K. Posts: 573	Ah ok, thank you for the information. Related slightly, but when I tried a audio digitaliser with the parallel port it didn't work. I think this is because it's a PC parallel port (pinouts), not Amiga. I don't have a multimetre to test it though.

01 May 2010, 22:26	#13
prowler Global Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sidcup, England Posts: 10,300	The Amiga and PC parallel ports are incompatible. Let's hope that neither the Amiga's parallel interface nor your digitizer has been damaged.

02 May 2010, 10:48	#15
cosmicfrog The 1 who ribbits Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: leek, Staffs, UK Age: 56 Posts: 3,557	I find it unlikely that it be a pc parallel port But thats just an assumption

02 May 2010, 11:00	#16
Retro1234 Phone Homer Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: 5150 Posts: 5,789	If you get a chance can you comfirm the CD32 Pad button Problems and if including the lowlevel.library fixes this.

04 May 2010, 02:43	#19
jimmer78 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: London Posts: 133	the analogic drive makes the cd32 look horrible!

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