Hi guys,
I bought online my HXC, but the ribbon cable is too very short :P
any idea if the connector facing the mother board can be removed or it fixed?
Where to find this ribbon cable with connector?
or I'm wondering if I need to unplug the ribbon cable from the connector then press a new from took from a PC floppy drive..
thanks.
Ps: I know, my HXC is black into a white CPC PLUS, but the seller did a mistake and sent me a black one.
I'll have to paint it later one.
You can remove the original cable from the motherboard and replace it with an identical longer one, no problem :) If you do not know how to make it yourself, there are a few e-bay sellers that will make a custom one for you. Alternatively you can buy the ribbon cable, the connectors, a crimping tool and create your very own cable.
Thanks!
I found on ebay, a ribbon kit M/F for 8euros.
This will extend the original one.
Yup, it's safer to just add an extension cable. If you don't know exactly what you're doing you will end up breaking the header connector on the PCB if you try to replace the original cable.
Bryce.
Just check on ebay for GPIO ribbon for raspberry :P
This should do the trick !
My white one arrived, and with the raspberry pi gpio extension works perfectly.... However the 3" hxc Clone duplicates itself as A and B drives all the time. As I have an Abba switch and external 3.5inch drive, this is not ideal. Is there any easy fix?
I tried to contact zaxon through sellmyretro but got no response, so I am now asking here. ;)
I believe there's a jumper for that on a standard HxC board, what headers are there on the Zaxon board?
Have you had a look at this? http://www.eightbitclone.com/6128.html (http://www.eightbitclone.com/6128.html)
Is the board similar?
Well the board is not similar enough. It has a single jumper block with only 1 jumper on it. And it is currently working as both a and b at the same time. Makes copying files from floppy to HFE disc images painfully impossible.
Sorry, posted wrong link - I guess the board is this one? Tytu³ dokumentu (http://www.eightbitclone.com/3inch.html)
Not much of an expert but it seems the drive is set to respond to the DS1 signal on pin 4, I imagine the jumper should change this but it's not clear... Where do the traces from the jumper headers go to?
Dunno, I have to take the machines apart again.... Unless there is still someone that has a non fitted drive?
Quote from: CraigsBar on 12:11, 16 August 16
Well the board is not similar enough. It has a single jumper block with only 1 jumper on it. And it is currently working as both a and b at the same time. Makes copying files from floppy to HFE disc images painfully impossible.
I'll attempt to help!
I have an external Hxc so it might be different from yours (it's connected on the disc expansion port at the back of the 6128). It has only one header block (J3) with a 3x4 array of pins, i.e.
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12
According to the documentation the top row 1-4 sets to drive B and the bottom 9-12 sets to drive A. The middle row is labelled L-R as ID3, ID2, ID1, ID0.
[attachurl=2]
I have a jumper connecting 7 and 11. That is supposed to configure as the first disk drive on A: with a twisted floppy cable (which is what I'm using) but it configures it to be both A and B on ID1.
I've tried moving the jumper to 3+7 to set internal back to A which works, but then fails to recognise the HXC as B. I'll play around with it and post back if I get any joy.
Hmm in my haste I think I have provided some duff info:
1) Seems like the pdf only covers the external version
2) I have managed to get my external HXC recognised as |b by toggling my abba switch so I can still use the internal 3" on |a. Maybe they have to be this way around?
Hope you get a more useful response from someone who knows what they are talking about!
Quote from: robbarton on 17:50, 16 August 16
I'll attempt to help!
I have an external Hxc so it might be different from yours (it's connected on the disc expansion port at the back of the 6128). It has only one header block (J3) with a 3x4 array of pins, i.e.
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12
According to the documentation the top row 1-4 sets to drive B and the bottom 9-12 sets to drive A. The middle row is labelled L-R as ID3, ID2, ID1, ID0.
I have a jumper connecting 7 and 11. That is supposed to configure as the first disk drive on A: with a twisted floppy cable (which is what I'm using) but it configures it to be both A and B on ID1.
I've tried moving the jumper to 3+7 to set internal back to A which works, but then fails to recognise the HXC as B. I'll play around with it and post back if I get any joy.
Hi robbarton,
Did you get as far as the CPC6128 jumper settings page in the PDF? It seems to suggest different jumper settings compared to the ones you have set. Not sure if these need to be mirrored due to the twist in your cable?
I don't have an actual HxC but a Gotek drive with the HxC firmware on the external port. The Gotek is set as drive B and works fine with internal 3-inch as drive A:. When I want to use the Gotek as drive A: I have a switch to short pins 11 & 12 on the cable after power on which makes the Gotek become drive A: (unfortunately the internal drive is then not able to be used, and the motor spins when accessing the Gotek).
My final spam onto this thread for today - looking at the wiki
HxC SDCard Internal - CPCWiki (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/HxC_SDCard_Internal)
@CraigsBar (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=482): the photos seem to show the jumper over 5+9 - but then the author is also changing round his power connectors etc. so not sure what will work in your case.
@Skunkfish (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=348): yes I usually just use the HXC on the external port and it's set to be both A and B, or I can use the abba switch to set it to B if I need to use the internal A (e.g. to copy from HXC to a real disk). The jumper is set at 7+11 which is external drive A as per the pdf but works for A or B as detailed above.
I'd better go back to the type ins, I'm likely to break something if I carry on helping with hardware tips :-[
Quote from: CraigsBar on 14:46, 16 August 16
Dunno, I have to take the machines apart again.... Unless there is still someone that has a non fitted drive?
OK I took the CPC 6128 one out this evening and stripped it.
The other side of the jumpers seems to do nothing at all. Either with both populated or on its own.
I guess I have to hope that @Piotr (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1104) is about to answer the questions sooner rather than later.
I really need these drives to function like my original HxC ot the internal 3 inch drive and obay the ABBA switch swapping over accordingly.
Still no reply. Looks like I might be putting my floppy drives back in after all. :( these drives are nicely put together but forcing them to always present the same image as A and B is pretty poor. Unless I have missed something of course.
Piotr doesn't support his products at all. You'll be a while waiting for any answer.
Bryce.
Quote from: Bryce on 16:53, 21 August 16
Piotr doesn't support his products at all. You'll be a while waiting for any answer.
Bryce.
That is what I was fearing. So can any hack be made to the 26 pin connector or a pcb in between the drive and the cpc to force the drive as A by default and as B when Abba switched? I know this is probably no but it's worth asking if you know what I mean.
Quote from: CraigsBar on 20:43, 21 August 16
That is what I was fearing. So can any hack be made to the 26 pin connector or a pcb in between the drive and the cpc to force the drive as A by default and as B when Abba switched? I know this is probably no but it's worth asking if you know what I mean.
Any chance @Jeff_HxC2001 (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=323) could help ? At least to understand how is software is handling A and B at the same time ?
Well it's not his device, I hope @Piotr paid the gotek conversion fee for each drive sold. Does the original gotek with hxc firmware do this too?
I know Jeff's genuine drives don't.
Quote from: gerald on 20:57, 21 August 16
Any chance @Jeff_HxC2001 (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=323) could help ? At least to understand how is software is handling A and B at the same time ?
I think you'll understand as much as I do, that it's unlikely that any hardware guy will be willing to give support to someone elses hardware. Especially for someone who has a "clone-for-profit and run" business model.
Bryce.
Quote from: Bryce on 21:55, 21 August 16
I think you'll understand as much as I do, that it's unlikely that any hardware guy will be willing to give support to someone elses hardware. Especially for someone who has a "clone-for-profit and run" business model.
Bryce.
If their was an original Jeff HxC in a 3 inch drive case then I'd have bought one long ago. Just check back over the gotek v hxc threads on which I have commented. However there isn't one and I don't want to cut my cpc's about to fit a 3.5 inch drive in.
Quote from: Bryce on 21:55, 21 August 16
I think you'll understand as much as I do, that it's unlikely that any hardware guy will be willing to give support to someone elses hardware. Especially for someone who has a "clone-for-profit and run" business model.
While he is cloning the Gotek HW, he is running HxC firmware.
I do not know if there is an agreement (licence ?) between piotr and Jeff. If this is not the case, then this should be known.
For a drive to answer A and B while internally connected means that the SEL line at uC interface is always low (bad jumper configuration) or the uC is ignoring it.
Only Jeff can answer the software side and we all know piotr answer from HW side :doh: .
:(
Quote from: gerald on 17:06, 22 August 16
While he is cloning the Gotek HW, he is running HxC firmware.
I do not know if there is an agreement (licence ?) between piotr and Jeff. If this is not the case, then this should be known.
For a drive to answer A and B while internally connected means that the SEL line at uC interface is always low (bad jumper configuration) or the uC is ignoring it.
Only Jeff can answer the software side and we all know piotr answer from HW side :doh: .
@Jeff_HxC2001 (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=323) any chance of an official HxC device in a 3inch drive chassis?
If it is not the case that Licences have been paid then I have been ripped off and I want my money back! The MxC firmware is worth every cent and Jeff should be rewarded for his hard work
Fo me is the same circuit that the 6128 usb ,but it have removed jumpers, and add the screen part. Rearanged conexions as the necesity
Take a look:
http://www.eightbitclone.com/6128.html (http://www.eightbitclone.com/6128.html)
The firmware is the same for the two i think.so the chip connections are the same.
Search were are connected the lines go to the jumpers drive configuration from your chip.
I think he designed it to work as a and b.
Maybe you can put a good picture of the pcb?
Tytu³ dokumentu (http://www.eightbitclone.com/3inch.html)
Yeah, I'll see. But the lcd is soldered on, so I cannot scan it. I'll try to get a good picture on the phone later on.
Quote from: CraigsBar on 19:57, 22 August 16
Yeah, I'll see. But the lcd is soldered on, so I cannot scan it. I'll try to get a good picture on the phone later on.
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160822/9094d9254c3643a395a3427980a0c57b.jpg)(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160822/db91ef0496a2306385191d9662b80db5.jpg)
The sloppy work on pin 2 is not a good sign.
It looks like the connector pinout is wrong, and this is confirmed if the jumper select between A and B.
Drive select signal are on pin 4 and 6, the jumper block is on pin 6 and 8 (Motor On).
Yeah, you are right gerald maybe simply he make a error.
But it make it a post ?. Or exist a piste down the bridge and he burned it or something?.
Quote from: CraigsBar on 19:58, 22 August 16
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160822/9094d9254c3643a395a3427980a0c57b.jpg)
Please tell me that you were practising your soldering on this board and NOT that Piotr is really selling hardware in this state! That's a disgrace!
Bryce.
Quote from: Bryce on 21:23, 22 August 16
Please tell me that you were practising your soldering on this board and NOT that Piotr is really selling hardware in this state! That's a disgrace!
Bryce.
That's due to the 'lead deprived' solder imho. :-X
Quote from: Bryce on 21:23, 22 August 16
Please tell me that you were practising your soldering on this board and NOT that Piotr is really selling hardware in this state! That's a disgrace!
Bryce.
That is how it came. I have not stripped the plus one from it's 3d printed chassis to see if it is soldered as 'interestingly' yes I think I can solder pin headers better than that.
Quote from: TFM on 21:31, 22 August 16
That's due to the 'lead deprived' solder imho. :-X
That's not lead free solder.
Bryce.
Quote from: Bryce on 21:23, 22 August 16
Please tell me that you were practising your soldering on this board and NOT that Piotr is really selling hardware in this state! That's a disgrace!
Bryce.
You remember me to the chef ramsey in hells kitchen. Chef bryce hells electronics.
Quote from: CraigsBar on 21:36, 22 August 16
That is how it came. I have not stripped the plus one from it's 3d printed chassis to see if it is soldered as 'interestingly' yes I think I can solder pin headers better than that.
You need it your only option is or unsoldier it and make it b or i don't know.
Quote from: dragon on 22:15, 22 August 16
You remember me to the chef ramsey in hells kitchen. Chef bryce hells electronics.
You need it your only option is or unsoldier it and make it b or i don't know.
OK..... Here is the other board. Still really rough soldering. But is anyone willing to help me out here. These will be the last thing I buy from @Piotr and I can only recommend others to stay clear.
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160825/b64c03ec6038ce534f591532da07b36f.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160825/23cc4eb5cb8c93de646736cf5fd38644.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160825/8a8f9c4d4d96e35741083596e4ed7db0.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160825/bedfc94ff2c4856d7b727331d191206a.jpg)
Since the drives are not as advertised, and not fit for purpose I wonder if I can get a refund through PayPal.
Craig
Well, in my book the soldering looks good. But probably because mine is not better. ;) :)
Quote from: TFM on 22:44, 25 August 16
Well, in my book the soldering looks good. But probably because mine is not better. ;) :)
Lol, well neither is mine.... but I don't sell mine ;)
@CraigsBar (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=482)
"" OK..... Here is the other board. Still really rough soldering.""
By what name does that board go by ??.
OK I found it "3" Floppy emulator"
Thanks Ray
Quote from: CraigsBar on 22:31, 25 August 16
OK..... Here is the other board. Still really rough soldering. But is anyone willing to help me out here. These will be the last thing I buy from @Piotr (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1104) and I can only recommend others to stay clear.
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160825/b64c03ec6038ce534f591532da07b36f.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160825/23cc4eb5cb8c93de646736cf5fd38644.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160825/8a8f9c4d4d96e35741083596e4ed7db0.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160825/bedfc94ff2c4856d7b727331d191206a.jpg)
Since the drives are not as advertised, and not fit for purpose I wonder if I can get a refund through PayPal.
Craig
Paypal normaly gives the reason to the buyer.
Anyway. Technically speaking. If your live inside the u.e and the seller lives in the u.e . The product is cover by the u.e laws. If you are in the same country as the seller. And you want complaint you can go to local consummers office.
If you live in other country as the seller but inside u.e you can go to the european office consumer and make a complaint. Its free. And they contact to the seller to search a solution.
European Consumer Centres - European Commission (http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/solving_consumer_disputes/non-judicial_redress/ecc-net/index_en.htm)
I wonder what the solder blob is doing, connecting pin 4 & 6 (also seems there is a trace going to the jumper block).
Pin 4 Drive select 1 (That would be drive B or ?)
Pin 6 N/C ?
Also it's hard to see if Pin 4 and Pin 2 also interconnects (probably not).. And probably the jumper was routed to pin 6, but should have been pin 4, you tried messing with the jumper there (disconnecting it)?
Quote from: Duke on 18:15, 26 August 16
I wonder what the solder blob is doing, connecting pin 4 & 6 (also seems there is a trace going to the jumper block).
Pin 4 Drive select 1 (That would be drive B or ?)
Pin 6 N/C ?
Also it's hard to see if Pin 4 and Pin 2 also interconnects (probably not).. And probably the jumper was routed to pin 6, but should have been pin 4, you tried messing with the jumper there (disconnecting it)?
on a 3inch drive
- 2 is the index pulse
- 4 is drive select 0
- 6 is drive select 1
- 8 is motor on
On that drive it look like pin 4/6/8 where shifted. To fix this
- he cut the index track going to pin 4 and connected it to pin 2
- removed pin 4 from the connector (I don't get why. once disconnected from index, there sould not be any problem)
- connected pin 4 and 6 together. I also do see why : pin 4 is disconnected and connector has no more pin.
What's missing ? He should have disconnected pin 8 from the track that goes to the jumper (drive selection) and connect it to pin 6.
@CraigsBar (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=482) : the drive are answering to both A and B drive because the drive select jumper uses the motor on signal instead of a proper drive select (and it look like the Gotek does not care about the motor on signal at all).
To fix it, you need to :
- replace the missing pin on the connector (and remove the bridge beween pin 4 anb 6), to restore connectivity for DS0
- Optionally disconnected pin 8 from the track that goes to the jumper (drive selection) and connect it to pin 4
- place the jumper on outer side of the jumper block to select DS0
@gerald (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=250):
Seems you nailed, btw. where do I find the correct pinout of internal 26 pin connector, I was looking at this:
DIY:Floppy Drives - CPCWiki (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/DIY:Floppy_Drives#Signal_assignment_on_connectors)
Edit: found it in the DDI service manual.
Quote from: gerald on 18:47, 26 August 16
on a 3inch drive
- 2 is the index pulse
- 4 is drive select 0
- 6 is drive select 1
- 8 is motor on
On that drive it look like pin 4/6/8 where shifted. To fix this
- he cut the index track going to pin 4 and connected it to pin 2
- removed pin 4 from the connector (I don't get why. once disconnected from index, there sould not be any problem)
- connected pin 4 and 6 together. I also do see why : pin 4 is disconnected and connector has no more pin.
What's missing ? He should have disconnected pin 8 from the track that goes to the jumper (drive selection) and connect it to pin 6.
@CraigsBar (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=482) : the drive are answering to both A and B drive because the drive select jumper uses the motor on signal instead of a proper drive select (and it look like the Gotek does not care about the motor on signal at all).
To fix it, you need to :
- replace the missing pin on the connector (and remove the bridge beween pin 4 anb 6), to restore connectivity for DS0
- Optionally disconnected pin 8 from the track that goes to the jumper (drive selection) and connect it to pin 4
- place the jumper on outer side of the jumper block to select DS0
Many thanks Jerald, so let me clarify this...
1. Remove the SOlder link between 4 & 6
2. Cut trace between Jumper pin and pin 8
3. Connect the same Jumper pin to the newly restored pin 4
4. Leave the jumper where it is and it will be DS0 and work with my ABBA switch.
Seems simple enough. please confirm that the below crude drawing is correct. Blue is the current config. Red is the changes and the solder bridge to be reomced when te new pin is inserted
[attach=2]
I have tried to contact @Piotr (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1104) through SellMyRetro, PayPal and here... with no response. If he does not get back to me I'll raise a calim with Paypal for a refund. Depending on the putcome of that I'll try the mod on one drive.
Ideally I want both working as drive A if the mod works (And I see no reason why it won't then I can handle that.
Quote from: CraigsBar on 19:34, 26 August 16
Many thanks Jerald, so let me clarify this...
1. Remove the SOlder link between 4 & 6
2. Cut trace between Jumper pin and pin 8
3. Connect the same Jumper pin to the newly restored pin 4
4. Leave the jumper where it is and it will be DS0 and work with my ABBA switch.
Seems simple enough. please confirm that the below crude drawing is correct. Blue is the current config. Red is the changes and the solder bridge to be reomced when te new pin is inserted
[attach=2]
Yes, that's correct.
You forgot step 5. Promise yourself never to buy any half-ass badly designed, botched and non-supported crap from Piotr again.
Bryce.
Quote from: Bryce on 10:12, 28 August 16
You forgot step 5. Promise yourself never to buy any half-ass badly designed, botched and non-supported crap from Piotr again.
Bryce.
:o
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Guys, I bought my HXC from Piotr and I'm very happy about delay,shipping and material.
My HXC was originally designed for ZX Spectrum, I just adapted the case to fit into my CPC+.
Piotr doesn't answer at the moment, as he is on holiday out of country.
I'm waiting him back to order from his shop, a buzzer for my HXC.
Be nice with him, he is not doing HXC for business but only to move forward on AMSTRAD/SPECTRUM stuffs to help us. 8)
Quote from: francouai on 11:52, 28 August 16
Guys, I bought my HXC from Piotr and I'm very happy about delay,shipping and material.
My HXC was originally designed for ZX Spectrum, I just adapted the case to fit into my CPC+.
Piotr doesn't answer at the moment, as he is on holiday out of country.
I'm waiting him back to order from his shop, a buzzer for my HXC.
Be nice with him, he is not doing HXC for business but only to move forward on AMSTRAD/SPECTRUM stuffs to help us. 8)
This isn't a once off, experience. You may have had an ok experience with him, but there are soooo many users (including myself) that have seen a completely different level of support. He can't be on holidays for 6 months of the year. I posted several questions to him, which he completely ignored although he was logging into the Forum during that time. And I'm not alone. Either Piotr gets his act together or he can go elsewhere. We have enough other users that build top quality hardware for the CPC scene. Gerald, ToTO, Duke, Jeff, etc. We don't need his half finished, non-supported rubbish. His hardware attempts aren't moving anything forward, he's just peddling badly designed crap to make money. If you need examples I can supply you with several. He had his chance and blew it.
Bryce.
OK, I got home from my weekend away tonight and implemented the mod. Thanks to the legendary hardware support from Gerald I have a working drive that is compatible with a 2nd drive and an Abba switch.
I am gonna request a partial refund for my time and soldering skill. If this gets approved I'll send it straight to you gerald, it's the least I can do.
Quote from: CraigsBar on 21:48, 28 August 16
OK, I got home from my weekend away tonight and implemented the mod. Thanks to the legendary hardware support from Gerald I have a working drive that is compatible with a 2nd drive and an Abba switch.
I am gonna request a partial refund for my time and soldering skill. If this gets approved I'll send it straight to you gerald, it's the least I can do.
I am gonna repeat the process on the 2nd one tonight. The hardest bit was replacing the pin. ;)
Quote from: CraigsBar on 21:48, 28 August 16
OK, I got home from my weekend away tonight and implemented the mod. Thanks to the legendary hardware support from Gerald I have a working drive that is compatible with a 2nd drive and an Abba switch.
That's good news :)
Quote from: CraigsBar on 21:48, 28 August 16
I am gonna request a partial refund for my time and soldering skill. If this gets approved I'll send it straight to you gerald, it's the least I can do.
If it can go to any local charity, it's even better ;)
Quote from: CraigsBar on 12:40, 29 August 16
I am gonna repeat the process on the 2nd one tonight. The hardest bit was replacing the pin. ;)
OK. Not the neatest soldering, but if works! (http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160829/841ca118febbda3ae99b99476f15c7e7.jpg)
Thanks again @Gerald. A donation of double whatever I get back will be made in your name. Probably to the NCBI. Hope that is OK?
Quote from: CraigsBar on 19:45, 29 August 16
Thanks again @Gerald. A donation of double whatever I get back will be made in your name. Probably to the NCBI. Hope that is OK?
Looks like a good choice :)
@Piotr has agreed to refund 20eur for the fix I needed to implement. Once I get it I'll double it and donate it. ;) thanks again @Gerald and @Piotr for your charitable intentions.
Quote from: CraigsBar on 15:28, 30 August 16
@Piotr has agreed to refund 20eur for the fix I needed to implement. Once I get it I'll double it and donate it. ;) thanks again @Gerald and @Piotr for your charitable intentions.
OK. @Piotr returned 30 pounds as opposed to 20 EUR. NCBI have done well. Receipt below. Thanks @Gerald.(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160901/8140270b0ddf1083ec92321c5816cced.jpg)
Received be N.C.B.I?
I work for the National Center of BioInformatics once in a while too. Didn't know that they are funding CPC projects too. So I have to write another grant soon. ;D
Quote from: TFM on 19:36, 01 September 16
Received be N.C.B.I?
I work for the National Center of BioInformatics once in a while too. Didn't know that they are funding CPC projects too. So I have to write another grant soon. ;D
Tee hee hee "National Council for the Blind of Ireland"
Quote from: CraigsBar on 19:58, 01 September 16
Tee hee hee "National Council for the Blind of Ireland"
Oh, they do deserve help! :) :) :)
Quote from: francouai on 11:52, 28 August 16
Guys, I bought my HXC from Piotr and I'm very happy about delay,shipping and material.
My HXC was originally designed for ZX Spectrum, I just adapted the case to fit into my CPC+.
Piotr doesn't answer at the moment, as he is on holiday out of country.
I'm waiting him back to order from his shop, a buzzer for my HXC.
Be nice with him, he is not doing HXC for business but only to move forward on AMSTRAD/SPECTRUM stuffs to help us. 8)
I got my HxC from Lotharek, that's not the same guy is it?
No Lotharek is the original and official manufacturer of the HxC. It's a high quality well built device with great support, ie: the exact OPPOSITE of "this guy".
Bryce.
What am I missing here? I got an internal HxC drive for my 6128 and it works perfect. Soldering is very good as well and does what it is advertised to do... at least hardware-wise I am very pleased , true plug'n'play
(http://i.imgur.com/72gvJlPm.jpg) (http://imgur.com/72gvJlP)
edit:
saw some pics in the previous pages, my pcb does not have these errors and patchwork. I always thought these where clones of gotek drives but with a legit HxC license, isn't that the case?
Nope, it's a bit more complicated:
- HxC Hardware / HxC Firmware: Designed by Jeff and built by Lotharek. Fine piece of well built electronics that uses an SD Card, not a USB stick. Great support.
- HxC Firmware was then modified to work on a Gotek device as an alternative to the original Gotek Firmware. (most likely what you have)
HxC Clone: Cobbled together, badly soldered device with layout and schematic errors being peddled by someone who ignores e-mails and requests for support once he's got your money.
Bryce.
The problem bryce is in a little cases not exist alternative to piotr.
For example the ddi for de 464. Nobody except piotr build one. As amstrad oficial ddi are very expensive and escase in eBay.
Quote from: dragon on 14:25, 08 December 16
The problem bryce is in a little cases not exist alternative to piotr.
For example the ddi for de 464. Nobody except piotr build one. As amstrad oficial ddi are very expensive and escase in eBay.
Unfortunately I made the mistake of buying another device from him (not the HxC Clone) and experienced his total disregard for customers and lack of support personally. His abysmal support is not related to one product and definitely not a one off thing.
His lack of electronics knowledge also means that his devices have a much higher chance of having issues.
As for "market demand". The HxC was and is readily available, there was no requirement for a clone. If there was/is a requirement for clones of other hardware, there are many other users willing to build batches of existing hardware and offer support too.
Bryce.
yes
Quote from: Bryce on 14:12, 08 December 16
[...]
- HxC Firmware was then modified to work on a Gotek device as an alternative to the original Gotek Firmware. (most likely what you have)
[...]
The device is a Gotek clone (schematics are available really easy via google) that runs the
STM32 HxC Floppy Emulator firmware as found on http://hxc2001.com (http://hxc2001.com) I don't care if the device is a clone of a chinese GOTEK, you can't even buy "original" Goteks easily (if they even exist). My question was about the firmware provided and I'd like to believe it's licensed.Like I mentioned before, the soldering is good and without errors now. My device is only a couple of weeks old so maybe he fixed the pcb errors, it is a fair assumption and most likely the truth.I couldn't find another similar internal device for the 6128.edit:btw, I am not defending anyone just in case it comes out like that - just stating what I saw on my device . I really can't comment on the support issues since I did not need any, but where there's smoke there's fire....
Quote from: Bryce on 11:34, 08 December 16
No Lotharek is the original and official manufacturer of the HxC. It's a high quality well built device with great support, ie: the exact OPPOSITE of "this guy".
Bryce.
I thought so!
Thanks for clearing that up.
For all with " Zaxon 3 inch USB floppy emulator. "
My version now has a resistor added (4.7K Ohm), see photo.
Ray
Quote from: CraigsBar on 10:58, 16 August 16
My white one arrived, and with the raspberry pi gpio extension works perfectly....
Do You have a link for the Extension Cable 26 Pin Male to Female Please.I have tried on EBay "raspberry pi gpio extension " but all FeMale to FeMale ??Thanks RayEdit Changed Sex !
I recently got my USB HXC clone...
After drilling missing holes myself (the 2 on the side), I realized that the drive was responding on both ùA and ùB commands.
My FD-1 was therefore unusable.
;D
Actually I found I could access a floppy on the FD-1 if I unselected all .HFE image on the hxc, but it was still messing with the Write Protection signal, so the FD-1 was read-only.
So I re-dismantled the CPC, and found a solder blob underside and a cut pin (n°4) on the connector.
Huhh ??
This led me to this thread, and if you have the same problems here is the solution.
(Note: it seems there are various versions of this HXC clone, know what you are doing)
(http://thumbnails101.imagebam.com/54391/1aeebe543901600.jpg) (http://www.imagebam.com/image/1aeebe543901600)
Just bend the pin on the left of the cut-one (that's number 6) on the male connector, so that it will go inside number 4 pin of the female connector. Obviously the connector will no longer fully seat in, but if you bend the pin well enough the connection will be fine.
Then use only one jumper and place it as shown on picture.
This allows using the DS0 signal (pin 4) to select the HXC, instead of the Motor ON signal (pin 8 ), the result being that now your HXC is only selected with ùA and not with ùB.
Quote from: CraigsBar on 19:34, 26 August 16
Many thanks Jerald, so let me clarify this...
1. Remove the SOlder link between 4 & 6
2. Cut trace between Jumper pin and pin 8
3. Connect the same Jumper pin to the newly restored pin 4
4. Leave the jumper where it is and it will be DS0 and work with my ABBA switch.
Seems simple enough. please confirm that the below crude drawing is correct. Blue is the current config. Red is the changes and the solder bridge to be reomced when te new pin is inserted
[attach=2]
I have tried to contact @Piotr (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1104) through SellMyRetro, PayPal and here... with no response. If he does not get back to me I'll raise a calim with Paypal for a refund. Depending on the putcome of that I'll try the mod on one drive.
Ideally I want both working as drive A if the mod works (And I see no reason why it won't then I can handle that.
That's the solution, great work!
xesrjb
Quote from: Audronic on 07:42, 13 December 16
Do You have a link for the Extension Cable 26 Pin Male to Female Please.
I have tried on EBay "raspberry pi gpio extension " but all FeMale to FeMale ??
Thanks Ray
Edit Changed Sex !
Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201060767221
Sent from my ONEPLUS 3t using Tapatalk
Looks like I'm not the only one to have a problem with this Clone Gotek made by Zaxon.
Actually, I'm trying to make this clone HXC as |A and my FD1 working on |B without success, I'm running out of idea.
I'm have lot of read error when I enter |B then CAT from the FD1.
Connect the hxc externally on its own with your new cable if it works then the hxc is probably made incorrectly
Sent from my E5823 using Tapatalk
Quote from: dxs on 23:24, 17 April 17
Just bend the pin on the left of the cut-one (that's number 6) on the male connector, so that it will go inside number 4 pin of the female connector. Obviously the connector will no longer fully seat in, but if you bend the pin well enough the connection will be fine.
Then use only one jumper and place it as shown on picture.
This allows using the DS0 signal (pin 4) to select the HXC, instead of the Motor ON signal (pin 8 ), the result being that now your HXC is only selected with ùA and not with ùB.
looks like ZAXON did some update on his Gotek clone.
all of them are in except PIN 22.
see the PIN here:
(https://image.noelshack.com/minis/2018/13/7/1522604501-inkedimg-4591-li.png) (https://www.noelshack.com/2018-13-7-1522604501-inkedimg-4591-li.jpg)
Hy, i get the actual Zaxon Gotek with an OLED Display. Same Problem with a/b here. Have to cut Trace from Pin8 to Jumper an solder a Cable from Pin 4 to Jumper to get B-Drive working right.