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General Category => Amstrad CPC hardware => Topic started by: Neil79 on 02:19, 12 February 16

Title: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: Neil79 on 02:19, 12 February 16
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mes6uWXfm6Y/Vr0VXmLSt6I/AAAAAAAAahw/JO3hbagMcSg/s640/HxC%2BEmulation.jpg)


QuoteWhen Indie Retro News began its life some years ago, most of our hardware reviews have either been for the C64 or specific Everdrives for retro based consoles such as the Sega Mega Drive and NES. However we have never done a review of anything for the Amstrad CPC 464 or 6128 because at the time there were no new external SD attachments specific for that hardware, at least until now. This is the 'DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464' by a rather talented designer by the name of Zaxon also known as Piotr Bugaj, who has created some impressive pieces of kit for systems such as this Amstrad and even the ZX Spectrum!


Indie Retro News: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review! (http://www.indieretronews.com/2016/02/ddi3-usb-floppy-emulator-for-amstrad.html)
Title: Re: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: dodogildo on 00:26, 13 February 16
Nice and fair review.
IMHO that's a great piece of hardware connecting 464 owners to the 21th century in a very affordable way. Of course it's haunted with Zaxon's signature 'no documentation' attitude. But who cares! Piotr is a very talented individual. Thanks, and keep it up!
Title: Re: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: alex76gr on 09:37, 13 February 16
DDI3 should be a must have choice for all 464 owners.
The lack of documentation is something that can easily be fixed.
Title: Re: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: Audronic on 11:40, 13 February 16
@alex76


I have one of the DDi-3 i would like to know where the Docs are Please ??


Thanks   Ray
Title: Re: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: Bryce on 12:37, 13 February 16
Quote from: Audronic on 11:40, 13 February 16
@alex76


I have one of the DDi-3 i would like to know where the Docs are Please ??


Thanks   Ray

Good luck with that! Piotr is online often, but he ignores all questions and gives zero support.
As to his talent, I haven't seen anything designed from him yet. All his hardware is copy / paste from other people's design or datasheet examples and even then he manages to mess things up.

Bryce.

Gesendet von meinem Motorola DynaTEC 8000X mit Tapatalk 2.

Title: Re: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: arnoldemu on 12:56, 13 February 16
Quote from: Bryce on 12:37, 13 February 16
Good luck with that! Piotr is online often, but he ignores all questions and gives zero support.
As to his talent, I haven't seen anything designed from him yet. All his hardware is copy / paste from other people's design or datasheet examples and even then he manages to mess things up.

Bryce.

Gesendet von meinem Motorola DynaTEC 8000X mit Tapatalk 2.
Ouch!
Title: Re: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: Neil79 on 14:33, 13 February 16
Cheers for the feedback !


If anyone else has any Amstrad products for review, do send me a pm! :)
Title: Re: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: dodogildo on 23:51, 13 February 16
What about a review of C4CPC? As it's a modern and beloved Amstrad hardware and a creative project (I hope,  to the Bryce's standarts)  not a 'copy and paste'
Title: Re: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: dragon on 02:32, 14 February 16
Quote from: alex76gr on 09:37, 13 February 16
DDI3 should be a must have choice for all 464 owners.
The lack of documentation is something that can easily be fixed.

I think is a good product, but not a must have. A must have need +64k expansion with the ddi.
Title: Re: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: Dizrythmia on 02:43, 14 February 16
I saw on one of the Facebook groups that Piotr is reverse engineering the 64k expansion, so maybe something like that will happen in the future.
Title: Re: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: TotO on 10:11, 14 February 16
Quote from: Dizrythmia on 02:43, 14 February 16I saw on one of the Facebook groups that Piotr is reverse engineering the 64k expansion
It was already done some years ago...
Title: Re: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: reidrac on 10:44, 14 February 16
Sounds quite interesting for the 646 without floppy disk controller or extra ROMS.

It's a pity is not better supported by Piotr because is a very nice piece of kit.
Title: Re: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: TotO on 10:53, 14 February 16
It took less space on the PCB to embedd the X-MEM design than reproducing the DK'RAM expansion.
Title: Re: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: AMSDOS on 10:56, 14 February 16
Quote from: Bryce on 12:37, 13 February 16
Good luck with that! Piotr is online often, but he ignores all questions and gives zero support.


|HELP,<ROM No>


??
Title: Re: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: dragon on 13:01, 14 February 16
Quote from: TotO on 10:53, 14 February 16
It took less space on the PCB to embedd the X-MEM design than reproducing the DK'RAM expansion.

Yeah, this can be must have x-mem with optional ddi embedd. :)
Title: Re: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: TotO on 13:32, 14 February 16
Quote from: dragon on 13:01, 14 February 16this can be must have x-mem with optional ddi embedd. :)
Some years ago, I have started to work about a DDI-1 replacement PCB featuring FDC controller and ROM/RAM expansion.
Title: Re: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: dragon on 16:31, 14 February 16
Sounds very good ,And you have plans to finish it ?. Or is a project in standby?. :)
Title: Re: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: TotO on 16:38, 14 February 16
Standby, as I have not find the good edge slot to acheive it.
Title: Re: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: Bryce on 21:49, 14 February 16
Quote from: dodogildo on 23:51, 13 February 16
What about a review of C4CPC? As it's a modern and beloved Amstrad hardware and a creative project (I hope,  to the Bryce's standarts)  not a 'copy and paste'

The C4CPC is a fantastic piece of hardware, well designed, well layed out and an original design. There's not a single aspect of it that I could say something negative about.

Bryce.
Title: Re: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: bjt on 08:21, 16 February 16
DDI-3 looks great. Would definitely get one if I didn't already have a DDI-1 + HxC Gotek. Just needs the X-Mem adding to be the ultimate 464 expansion.
Title: Re: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: TotO on 09:13, 16 February 16
Quote from: Bryce on 21:49, 14 February 16
The C4CPC is a fantastic piece of hardware, well designed, well layed out and an original design. There's not a single aspect of it that I could say something negative about.
Exactly. It is a great hard/soft combo for PLUS users.
Title: Re: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: Neil79 on 13:52, 16 February 16
Quote from: dodogildo on 23:51, 13 February 16
What about a review of C4CPC? As it's a modern and beloved Amstrad hardware and a creative project (I hope,  to the Bryce's standarts)  not a 'copy and paste'


I've asked that before, we was told no basically. As it would overwhelm the person creating the C4CPC and didn't want the mass publicity
Title: Re: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: TFM on 19:05, 16 February 16
Quote from: Neil79 on 13:52, 16 February 16

I've asked that before, we was told no basically. As it would overwhelm the person creating the C4CPC and didn't want the mass publicity


Well, in this case the schemes and software should be made available to the public!


What does @gerald (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=250) think about that?

Title: Re: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: gerald on 19:09, 16 February 16
Quote from: TFM on 19:05, 16 February 16

Well, in this case the schemes and software should be made available to the public!


What does @gerald (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=250) think about that?
They will be once I will stop making them.
Title: Re: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: AxelStone on 07:32, 17 September 18
Good day everyone, units still available? Thanks.
Title: Re: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: LambdaMikel on 17:59, 02 October 18
They are, on sellmyretro.


Btw, has anybody ever used the floppy port on the DDI3? With what devices (FD1, 3.5" disk) - does it work? Any problems?
Title: Re: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: LambdaMikel on 16:58, 08 October 18
Quote from: LambdaMikel on 17:59, 02 October 18
Btw, has anybody ever used the floppy port on the DDI3? With what devices (FD1, 3.5" disk) - does it work? Any problems?


For the record - works great, with cable mod described on Piotr's website for FD1, and 3.5" works as well, with standard cable mods.
Title: Re: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: revaldinho on 17:14, 08 October 18
The DDI-3 floppy port works also with a Gotek for a two floppy/SD card system. No cable mods needed.


R
Title: Re: DDI3 USB Floppy Emulator for the Amstrad CPC 464 BIG Review!
Post by: angelcaio on 10:38, 04 June 25
Has anyone tried the DDI-3 with two real floppy drives? For example, one 3.5" and one 5.25".
Without using a USB drive.
They worked on the DDI-1 clone (with some issues: for example, it won't write to B: if there isn't an unprotected disk on A:)
Thanks.
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