6128 to HxC cable question

[beaker]

Now I've bought a 6128 (original generation), I was wondering if this cable will work with the HxC I am currently using on my 6128 plus, and if all the features mentioned in the listing will also work with the HxC?

AMSTRAD/SPECTRUM +3 CABLE TO CONNECT 3,5" FLOPPY DRIVE WITH DRIVE+SIDE SELECTION

Beaker

[Terje_Norway]

Hi,


I think it should work 


The HxC card is designed to replace a 3.5" disc drive, and thats just what You would do if Your buying that cable.


You could also check the following action/seller.


Amstrad CPC Spectrum +3 ribbon cable SD floppy emulator | eBay


I have bought all my leads from him 


Yours


Terje Grind
NORWAY

[Bryce]

Does your Classic 6128 have an edge cable??

Bryce.

[beaker]

You could also check the following action/seller.

Amstrad CPC Spectrum +3 ribbon cable SD floppy emulator | eBay

Thanks Terje_Norway, yeah I've bought a couple of cables off this seller before. I am using the one he sells for the plus at the moment for the HxC and have the internal cable sitting in the drawer as I was going to mount the HxC internally. Just interested in the other cable for the price, and as it has the ABBA switch built in the and the side switch so hopefully I can play R-Type on a real CPC   

Does your Classic 6128 have an edge cable??

I am assuming so... while there's no images of the back on the listing, it's coming from the UK.

[Bryce]

Then it should work. Although when he refers to ABBA switch I assume that is to "flip" the disk, ie: swap side A and B, not swap drives A and B as this is impossible without making changes inside the CPC.

Bryce.

Edit: I just checked his connections, his switch is an ABAA switch, ie: it makes the external drive respond as drive A:, but the internal drive is NOT then B:

[beaker]

Then it should work. Although when he refers to ABBA switch I assume that is to "flip" the disk, ie: swap side A and B, not swap drives A and B as this is impossible without making changes inside the CPC.

Bryce.

Edit: I just checked his connections, his switch is an ABAA switch, ie: it makes the external drive respond as drive A:, but the internal drive is NOT then B:

Thanks Bryce, so can the CPC cope with 2x A drives? Will it just load whichever drive has the disc mounted in it?

[Bryce]

Well the HxC actually offers this function internally already, but Jeff recommends removing or at least disconnecting the internal drive first. I've never actually tried it myself, but I assume they would clash with each other.

Bryce.

[Gryzor]

That ABBA switch will switch the HxC between A and B. Though, IIRC, the internal drive stays as A no matter what. I'm a bit confused now, haven't changed my configuration in a while so I'm not 100% sure, but it works...

[beaker]

That ABBA switch will switch the HxC between A and B. Though, IIRC, the internal drive stays as A no matter what. I'm a bit confused now, haven't changed my configuration in a while so I'm not 100% sure, but it works...

That is wierd. Just gone into the menu of my HxC and tried it as both A then B on a standard external floppy cable without any switches from my 6128 Plus and the HxC is always the B drive.

[Bryce]

You need to change the jumpers on the PCB to make it react as A: Check the installation guide for details.

Bryce.

[TFM]

Careful with Plus and CPC! If they both have centronics B-drive ports, DON'T use the same cable. That may even toast the FDC!

That problem is documented a lot.

I don't talk about edge connectors here. Never used that stuff.

[Bryce]

It's highly unlikely that it would fry the FDC, but it definitely wouldn't work, the pinout is shifted. The CPC probably wouldn't boot when the wrong one is connected. I solve the problem with one cable with three connectors on the CPC end: Normal CPC Centronics, Plus CPC and CPC/Spectrum +3 edge.

Bryce.

[TFM]

I made adapters for the Plus: Two centronics ports and a flat cable. The cable is shifted by one position. That works perfect.

Ok, if may not fry the FDC immediately, but exchanging all GND by all other signals (including +5V!) is the worst one can do. Here Amstrad really did cause a unwanted issue.

[Bryce]

The cable is actually shifted 3 positions as far as I can remeber, but I'd have to check the cable again.

The most likely part to fail would be the LM7805 (5V regulator) in the Monitor, but they have a thermal overload protection, so they usually come back to life even after a serious short-circuit. Short circuits rarely destroy ICs, because the IC gets too little current and not too much.

Bryce.

[beaker]

Thanks to everyone for responding, I think the machine has turned up so can take a look at the connection. I say "think" because I got a strange voice mail from the UPS chap saying he's delivered my package to Tesco Supermarket.... I DON'T EVEN WORK AT TESCO'S!!!! 

[TFM]

The cable is actually shifted 3 positions as far as I can remeber, but I'd have to check the cable again.

Yes, better check! If somebody picks up this idea (3 positions!) if will be not good. It's one position, at least that works for me 

... because I got a strange voice mail from the UPS chap saying he's delivered my package to Tesco Supermarket.... I DON'T EVEN WORK AT TESCO'S!!!! 

Oh damn! Hope this is just a fools-day thingy. I really hope you get it!!!

[Cholo]

EDIT: this post only apply to a normal amstrad cpc 6128 (donno about plus)

to Beaker: that cable does work as a Primary/secondary drive switch (without any additional modding).

The correct use of the cable is:
1. turn on the external drive and 6128.
2. afterwards flick the drive switch from "off" (no connection) to "on" (connect pin 11 & 12) and the internal and external drive becomes "primary" and internal "secondary" (the |A and |B command works for each drive and games that bypass those command and try to access "primary" drive directly will correctly access the external drive).
3. after you are done and the amstrad has been turned off, flick the cable-switch back to "off".

If you forget to switch the cable back to "off" then you will indeed get the "both drives are A: drive"-effect (like Bryce explained). So a good idea to make a small label on your cable to remember the on/off positions.

Also the HxC also has internal emulation of 2 drives .. better not try that but stick to emulating 1 drive (setting for HxC need to be = single primary drive as its the primary one on the cable).

[beaker]

Oh damn! Hope this is just a fools-day thingy. I really hope you get it!!!

It was indeed waiting for me behind the customer service desk at Tesco's    Nothing like going out to your supermarket for bread, milk... Amstrad CPC.

Doesn't seem to be in bad shape. There's a bit of wear on around the on/off button at the back and the keys have yellowed but everything else looks mint. Still waiting for the power supply and scart from retro game shack (so may be going back to Tesco's tonight...) but I plugged in the 5v power supply from my plus and it powered on and sounds like the keyboard works based on the beeping.

Thanks Cholo for the great explanation on how to use the cable 

[Bryce]

Maybe you can have it sent to ALDI or LIDL next time, you might get a lower price from them?

Bryce.

[beaker]

Cable arrived today and finally after almost 20 years I get to play Prehistorik 2 and Super Cauldron on a real CPC rather than an emulator. Next thing will be installing an ABBA switch on the Plus so I can see Prehistorik 2 in all its glory 

[Bryce]

Putting an ABBA switch on the Plus is much easier than on the classic 6128, no track cutting or soldering to ICs. All the instructions are here: ABBA switch - CPCWiki - The Ultimate Amstrad CPC Community & Encyclopedia!

Bryce.

[beaker]

Putting an ABBA switch on the Plus is much easier than on the classic 6128, no track cutting or soldering to ICs. All the instructions are here: ABBA switch - CPCWiki - The Ultimate Amstrad CPC Community & Encyclopedia!

Bryce.

Cool, thanks Bryce, got as far as starting to solder the switch a few months back... I'll have to finish off the change when I get back from Oz in May.

[Bryce]

The switch looks like it's wired wrong.

Bryce.

[beaker]

Noooo, don't say that 



Based on your diagram from that link:

Blue wire should be D
Black wire should be B
Green wire should be A
Yellow wire should be C



...excuse the heatshrink that I've left until I get it installed..