Gotek USB in a CPC6128

[a7mag3ddon]

As I'm using it on amstrad ibonly need disk support, and i can wait a while. Already converted my collection to HFE I was merely wondering that was all. Its no biggie :-)

[Beaps]

I also did a cool microsd internal memory mod to mine, you can access the card by plugging in a USB to USB in the front to a PC to gain access for adding games and future updates ;-)

Where did you get the internal microsd pcb from buddy?

[pelrun]

That would have just been pulled out of a standard small micro-sd to usb adapter, and then the usb connector removed.

[a7mag3ddon]

Yes that's correct, nothing fancy there. Desolder usb socket and wire. SD card is then accessible by using USB to USB cable in front of gotek to PC.

[a7mag3ddon]

Does the gotek work on the zx spectrum +3 with this firmware? i know i shouldnt ask in a cpc forum but i will :-)

[robcfg]

In theory it should, they are identical disk-wise.

[a7mag3ddon]

But the amstrad uses a filebrowser to select the disks to mount.

[CraigsBar]

But the amstrad uses a filebrowser to select the disks to mount.

which is not mandatory. If you just copy your HFE files onto the SD card without using the specific CPC cfg file, then the scroll buttons just scroll through the files rather than the 15 disc slots. I prefer the 15 slots approach but the file list way works too.

[a7mag3ddon]

Ahh I see. But I have every amstrad disk available on the SD so the filebrowser works quite well.

[CraigsBar]

Ahh I see. But I have every amstrad disk available on the SD so the filebrowser works quite well.

indeed, and with the hxc ROM installed in the symbiface or xmem what could be simpler than
|hxc

[Jeff_HxC2001]

[attach=2]

[KaosOverride]

http://www.micro-examples.com/public/microex-navig/doc/081-pic-osd-superimposer.html
If a simple PIC12 can do this OSD trick, then a better PIC can emulate the text display from the Gotek, and be used internally into the CPC and add some text to the video DIN connector.

Will be funny to push the Gotek buttons and read the disc filename at the bottom of the screen. And you can have the text at the colour where you attach the video line, red, green or blue. Or "green" if you attach at luminance for monocrome monitors.

[Bryce]

That's not a very robust design Jeff!! Having a Parrot hold the wires together is neither good practice, nor advisable. I'd rethink that aspect of the design if I were you.

Bryce.

P.s. If I decide to make one of these myself, would a Budgie also work or is it not 100% compatible?

[a7mag3ddon]

Haha

[Yrouel]

Here's mine with the 464 after some troubleshooting with the awesome Jeff who provided me a working firmware for my particular I2C board and my eureka moment with the address lines:

[dirtybb]

It looks good

[a7mag3ddon]

Can I ask a dumb question, why is a display needed when the filebrowser supports long filenames?

[Yrouel]

Can I ask a dumb question, why is a display needed when the filebrowser supports long filenames?

The file browser/selector is used to pick the images to insert in the slots, after that you have to rely on the front buttons to change slot and virtually insert the chosen floppy. Having a display makes this part easier and with an LCD you have a bit more infos like the track reading progress so for example you can tell if the game is actually doing something or if it's frozen.

[a7mag3ddon]

There are only 14 slots available to use and the green LED flashes whilst loading, of course you can always add a magnetic buzzer to emulate loading noise as well.  Only uses 3 parts.

[a7mag3ddon]

How much is the display?

[pelrun]

Only a few bucks from china on ebay; search for "16x2 lcd i2c".

[Yrouel]

I got my LCD from a copier/laser printer I took apart some time ago and I just bought the I2C adapter board from ebay. In the release notes of the HxC firmware you can find some links to compatible LCDs/boards http://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_drive_emulator/USB_HFE_hxc_floppy_emulator_firmware_release_notes.txt

[a7mag3ddon]

Ahh cool in case could be an interesting mod. I'm just going to stuck with the audio emulation... For now ;-)

[Beaps]

Ok I got the Gotek running sweet on my 6128 but with the new firmware I trying to hook up a LED screen, has anyone managed this yet?

[Beaps]

I don't understand where & why the 4.7k oms resisters are used. I can get it to light up but it doesn't display any text