HXC Jumpers

chinnyhill10 · 00:44, 22 January 14

Because I have a number of computers, not just a CPC, I decided to splash out on the boxed version of the HxC adaptor. That way I can move it between machines easily and not have to worry about having exposed components.

It's this version:

http://lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=18

It's currently jumpered as ID0 and ID1 as being the A drive. It appears to work but is it right? The Wiki suggests appears to suggest only jumpering ID1 as drive B and leaving ID0 with nothing on it.

Can being jumpered incorrectly cause the CPC damage?

I'm also assuming what a CPC would be happy with would also apply to my Speccy +3 (as that also has an internal drive).

Cheers.

Badstarr · 12:49, 22 January 14

I have used my HxC with a number of different configurations, I can't think of a way that an incorrect jumper setting could cause any damage to your CPC. I would go with the view that, if it works ok there won't be anything to worry about. You can double check your jumper settings on the lothiarek site and of course on the wiki. As far as I remember I have both my HxC boards setup as you do and I haven't run into any issues.

chinnyhill10 · 13:13, 22 January 14

The website is a little messy but I think I found the info I need on there. It certainly seems to work ok (aside from some games refusing to run from a B drive which I know is a known issue).

Cheers.

TFM · 20:49, 22 January 14

Yes, that setting can cause problems. Try to use B drive for CP/M for example. You should use it as B drive (ID1 set, NOT ID0). This way you can use it with all computers as drive B.

chinnyhill10 · 12:28, 23 January 14

I think I've bought the wrong cable.

My understanding (having been off the CPC hardware scene for 10 years) was that if you wanted the HxC to be an A drive, you'd need an ABBA switch (as used to be mentioned in AA). So I just bought a standard floppy cable.

Then I see this cable that has a "side switch"

Amstrad CPC 664 6128 Spectrum +3 ribbon cable HxC floppy emulator w/ SIDE SWITCH

It says you can use the cable to switch between primary and secondary drives. However I'm now confused.

When I had a external 3.5 inch drive for my CPC, a "side switch" meant a switch that let you swap between sides of the disks. Then on top of that you needed an ABBA switch to make the drive an A drive.

So am I right in thinking this cable replaces an ABBA switch?

Sorry to sound dim but I've been out of the loop for a while and to me "side switch" means something completely different to an ABBA switch. And if it can be done via a cable, why on earth was everyone butching up their CPC's to add ABBA switches in the 90's?

Confused!

The Last Bandit · 12:47, 23 January 14

That cable includes BOTH the ABBA switch and the Side switch.

Don't worry your not alone in HXC/floppy weirdness. My internal HXC is responding as both A & B drives for some reason although I've disabled the B drive on the emulator, so its drive A is answering to D0 and D1 selections...

chinnyhill10 · 13:01, 23 January 14

Quote from: The Last Bandit on 12:47, 23 January 14
That cable includes BOTH the ABBA switch and the Side switch.

Don't worry your not alone in HXC/floppy weirdness. My internal HXC is responding as both A & B drives for some reason although I've disabled the B drive on the emulator, so its drive A is answering to D0 and D1 selections...

Ah that explains it! I'll order one up then.

I'd completely forgotten that some games just don't run from a B drive.

While the HxC is a great device, it's been the most complicated to get running out of all my other 8 bits that have SD cards in them. My BBC was a doddle (the work was in doing a tidy install) and the 1541 Ultimate for my C64 was literally plug and play (great device, if you have a 64, get one).

In contrast the HxC doesn't come with any documentation in the box and the website is rather confusing. I know the kind of people who buy these devices are technical, but a slip of paper in the box that gives you the jumper settings for your version of the device would really help instead trying to find it on the website (the help section only explains the bare board version and the diagram for the boxed version is actually on the sales page).

Do the people who write the CPC's HxC file manager post on here by any chance?

Bryce · 14:17, 23 January 14

I defence of the HxC. It's perfectly easy to connect the HxC, it's these cables with their strange side switches and very unconventional (and not very healthy - I certainly wouldn't use one) way of forcing the drive letter that's causing most of the confusion.

Bryce.

chinnyhill10 · 15:28, 23 January 14

Why do you say that it's not very "healthy"?

Bryce · 15:49, 23 January 14

Forcing two drives to answer to the same drive signal means that certain signals are trying to over-write each other because both devices are answering. It may work, but it's definitely not good practise.
An external ABBA switch on the cable is technically impossible, because the internal drive cannot be disabled from there.

Bryce.

chinnyhill10 · 15:56, 23 January 14

Well that's hardly the end of the world. I don't plan to use the internal 3 inch drive so can always disconnect it if required. At the moment it's not even powered anyway.

Bryce · 16:11, 23 January 14

I didn't say it's the end of the world, it's just not a good idea.

Just like turning off the computer with a disk in the drive also isn't a good idea, that's why most people don't do it.

Bryce.

Gryzor · 19:34, 23 January 14

As Bryce said, the HxC is pefectly simple to use in its basic configuration. The manual is very nice, too. I have one of those cables (actually, I have three) and indeed weirdness begins when you go this way, but after a simple trial and error process you just keep what you need and off you go. I don't use the side switch, but the ABBA switch works very nicely.

chinnyhill10 · 12:32, 24 January 14

Quote from: Gryzor on 19:34, 23 January 14
As Bryce said, the HxC is pefectly simple to use in its basic configuration. The manual is very nice, too.

The manual is nice but it has not been adapted for the different revisions of the unit. So you are left guessing what orientation the jumper selections are until you stumble across the diagram on the website hidden in the sales section.

Jeff_HxC2001 · 11:45, 25 January 14

Quote from: chinnyhill10 on 12:32, 24 January 14

The manual is nice but it has not been adapted for the different revisions of the unit. So you are left guessing what orientation the jumper selections are until you stumble across the diagram on the website hidden in the sales section.

This is not "another" revision. This is just an boxed Rev C done by Lotharek...
And the link that you have pointed in first post give you the jumper positions.
http://lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=18
About the third party cables : I have no idea at all about there usage..

chinnyhill10 · 14:52, 26 January 14

And that's my point. If you download the official support document it refers to the bare board version only. Only if you visit the sales page you link to do are you able to find the orientation of the pins. Why not put it in the proper support document?

Gryzor · 12:11, 03 February 14

Because that's not Jeff's product. Admittedly he could add the info to the manual, but, ehhh...

The Last Bandit · 12:57, 03 February 14

Its not that difficult to find the documents. Lotharek is repackaging the 'product' so would seem obvious that's where the documents would be.

Bryce · 12:59, 03 February 14

Is that a small mountain or a massive mole hill?

Bryce.

The Last Bandit · 13:55, 03 February 14

If you ignore the white arrow then its a massive molehill with a little mountain on top of it

Bryce · 14:31, 03 February 14

Hmm, that didn't work. I ignored the arrow and then thought it was a cave entrance

Bryce.

The Last Bandit · 14:35, 03 February 14

Beware that's where Smaug lives......

robcfg · 16:34, 03 February 14

Then, it has to be a massive cave entrance...

Bryce · 20:52, 03 February 14

Cave entrances tend to be bigger than mole hills, so the ratio accuracy has at least been improved.

Bryce.

Gryzor · 19:58, 05 February 14

What are we talking about, again?

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HXC Jumpers