HxC or Gotek for a technically inept person??

TheBuff1 · 19:43, 29 May 15

Hello all

I need some advice please! $:-\$

I cannot for the life of me decide which of the floppy emulators to get for my 6128 - SD HxC or Gotek. I'm not that 'techy' unfortunately (

) and so I am after the easiest and hassle free to set up and use. It would appear that the Gotek is the cheaper option but I like the look of the HxC with the LED screen.

I also do not want to lose the use of the internal drive so it will be externally connected if that will influence the choice.

Thanks in advance!

chinnyhill10 · 20:33, 29 May 15

Quote from: TheBuff1 on 19:43, 29 May 15

I also do not want to lose the use of the internal drive so it will be externally connected if that will influence the choice.

Thanks in advance!

The HxC is great. If you for external pay extra for the full cased version like I did.

alex76gr · 22:33, 29 May 15

I am owner of a SD HxC and i am 100% satisfied with this gadget.
I use it externally on my CPC and Amiga.

The HxC has jumpers that you can set to use it as a drive B for the CPC.
You can access it through the BASIC with the |b command.

At the same time the Gotek is so cheap that i am really tempted in buying one.

If you buy a HxC, do yourself a favor and buy it with a plastic case.

seanb · 11:23, 30 May 15

How did you get your hxc to work externally on your Amiga?
I can't get it to work.

CraigsBar · 14:44, 30 May 15

Hxc all the way. The screen make selecting your dsk image idiot proof. I should know, even I can do it.

TotO · 18:23, 30 May 15

The Gotek allow all those things and will support DSK file format.
Actually, it look that is not perfect, but the firmware is beta and work in progress.
(I think that some loading are slower than a real floppy drive)

The real drawback is the fact to not be able to read the filename on a LCD screen.
But, I can imagine a HxC Manager on ROM should allow to add RSX to mount and list the used slots?

alex76gr · 19:37, 30 May 15

QuoteHow did you get your hxc to work externally on your Amiga?

I use a long floppy cable (more than 30cm i think) which is hanging on the back side of the Amiga permanently.
The screws of the plastic covers are not tighten very much to avoid physical damage on the cable.
The HxC takes its power from a standard ATX PSU which i also use to power the Amiga.
Alternatively you can power the HxC from Amiga's motherboard with an equally long power cable.
Here is a picture of the setup.

seanb · 20:36, 30 May 15

Ah you have a 1200.
Mines a 500+.
Looks like I'll have to disconnect the internal drive which I've been trying to avoid.

Cheers.

alex76gr · 20:51, 30 May 15

I have done the same on my A500 but, yes, the internal drive must be disconnected.
You can use the controller PCB and the connection cable of an external Amiga floppy drive to hook the HxC as drive B.

TheBuff1 · 19:38, 01 June 15

Thanks for all of the replies. So looking at the option of an HxC Floppy emulator I would need the following:

HxC Floppy Rev C Cased Black
http://lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=18 - seems cheaper direct from his site as opposed to Ebay

Amstrad Ribbon Cable & Power Cable for HxC
AMSTRAD / SPECTRUM +3 KIT:RIBBON CABLE AND POWER CABLE FOR 3,5" DRIVE OR HxC EMU

And a 5V power supply for the HxC and an SD Card.

Is there anything I'm missing from that list??

Cheers

alex76gr · 19:49, 01 June 15

Yep! The list is correct and adequate.
Also good choice on ikonsgr74.
He is a good ebay seller and his products are very well made.

seanb · 20:10, 01 June 15

@TheBuff1 the cable you linked to has a passthrough so you would use the 5v supply to your amstrad.
either from the monitor or a power adapter. No need for another one

TheBuff1 · 20:27, 01 June 15

Good to know that ikonsgr74 is good to buy from thanks for that.

And many thanks to you @seanb for letting me know that - see told you I was inept!

One further question - where did everyone buy their HxC's from? Lotharek direct or his Ebay store?? £86 + £8 P&P on Ebay while direct from his website quotes me 96.99 Euro which is roughly £70 - quite a big saving!

seanb · 21:18, 01 June 15

I bought direct from Lotharek.
is that his ebay page selling them on?
I doubt he would sell with such a mark up.

Might be someone else doing that our maybe he has to cover ebay fees somehow

CraigsBar · 21:27, 01 June 15

Got mine direct.

alex76gr · 22:09, 01 June 15

I also got mine direct.

@seanb
TheBuff1 will still need a second power supply source if he is going to use HxC as drive B.

seanb · 22:19, 01 June 15

he'll need a second power supply for the 6128 internal disk drive (assuming it's not the plus) but not for the hxc.
He can use the power lead with the cable he linked to to use the cpcs power to power the hxc.

TheBuff1 · 22:23, 01 June 15

It's a plain old 6128 I've got.

This is the power supply & cables I currently use:

AMSTRAD CPC 6128 TV CONNECTION KIT - PSU ADAPTERS & RGB SCART CABLE | eBay

Was thinking of upgrading the power supplies like @chinnyhill10 has advised on other posts though.

seanb · 22:37, 01 June 15

I have the plus series set from them.
As long as I get enough current from them I'll stick to using them but I mostly use my amstrad monitors to power my amstrads.

I have however invested in a better multi voltage adapter from Maplin after what both Gerald and chinnyvision said.

See @chinnyhill10 some of us do listen to you

Dizrythmia · 05:24, 02 June 15

What would you need to install a HxC or Gotek inside a DD1 case? I have a spare without the disc drive & wanted to put one in it.

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HxC or Gotek for a technically inept person??