Issues Connecting 3.5" floppy to 6128

[Audronic]

@Gryzor


I am unable to send the file to the "Wiki" I have tried several times ? ? ?


Link to file :-


Dropbox - The 3.5" Floppy List Suitable for CPC Amstrads 09-2016.rtfd.zip


Thanks   Ray

[AMSDOS]

@Gryzor


I am unable to send the file to the "Wiki" I have tried several times ? ? ?


Link to file :-


Dropbox - The 3.5" Floppy List Suitable for CPC Amstrads 09-2016.rtfd.zip


Thanks   Ray

So on the Left-hand side on the Wiki is a set of links. Under the "Tools" and "Wiki-related" section is a link to Upload File, once that's been uploaded a Link can be copied from that and put on the Page you want, or if a new page needs to be created, you can also select Create Page in the "Wiki-related" section.

[Audronic]

So on the Left-hand side on the Wiki is a set of links. Under the "Tools" and "Wiki-related" section is a link to Upload File, once that's been uploaded a Link can be copied from that and put on the Page you want, or if a new page needs to be created, you can also select Create Page in the "Wiki-related" section.

"" Under the "Tools" and "Wiki-related" section is a link to Upload File ""

Thanks. That worked.  Ray

[Gryzor]

Well yes, but I guess what I'm trying to say is not getting through.


What's the reasoning behind having a pdf file instead of having a proper web page with the contents that are in the pdf file?

And yes, the file was uploaded, but without inserting it somewhere - into a relevant page - it's as good as if it never existed. How are people going to find it? The wiki is not a repository of random files.


And finally, a rtfd file? What use is that?


I really don't get all this, and I'm not sure how to make it any cleared.


And people, try not to answer questions that are technically correct but lead to such issues. We ended up having a nearly worthless file taking up 4MB on the server (and no, it can't be deleted).

[Audronic]

Well yes, but I guess what I'm trying to say is not getting through.
What's the reasoning behind having a pdf file instead of having a proper web page with the contents that are in the pdf file?
And yes, the file was uploaded, but without inserting it somewhere - into a relevant page - it's as good as if it never existed. How are people going to find it? The wiki is not a repository of random files.
And finally, a rtfd file? What use is that?
I really don't get all this, and I'm not sure how to make it any cleared.
And people, try not to answer questions that are technically correct but lead to such issues. We ended up having a nearly worthless file taking up 4MB on the server (and no, it can't be deleted).

Hi Gryzor


A RTFD file is what gets made up on my MAC that contains Text and Photos.
I don't know how to use the "Wiki" i did the best i could.
If that is not good enough the please somebody edit the page, as i don't know how to.

If i could i would never have offered the information.

Edit :- I don't know how to do web pages. I am a Techo .
Mildly peeved   Ray

[opticpow]

Hi Gryzor


A RTFD file is what gets made up on my MAC that contains Text and Photos.
I don't know how to use the "Wiki" i did the best i could.
If that is not good enough the please somebody edit the page, as i don't know how to.

If i could i would never have offered the information.

Edit :- I don't know how to do web pages. I am a Techo .
Mildly peeved   Ray

Hey Ray, I'm happy to have go at it. Least I could do considering it was my original request that kicked this off. 

Wayne.

[Audronic]

@opticpow


Thanks that would be good.


Ray

[Audronic]

Only 4 More drives to test.


Ray

[AMSDOS]

And people, try not to answer questions that are technically correct but lead to such issues. We ended up having a nearly worthless file taking up 4MB on the server (and no, it can't be deleted).

Those issues could of been avoided if files of any type was disabled (only allowing certain file types).

[Gryzor]

Those issues could of been avoided if files of any type was disabled (only allowing certain file types).

What, disable zip files? 

[opticpow]

Only 4 More drives to test.


Ray

That's an impressive stack Ray! I'm going to mod my Sony tonight.

Wayne


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AMSDOS]

What, disable zip files?

Ray was calling it a RTFD file, which I've never heard of. Though I was saying if All Files (*.*) was available for people to send any old thing through, shouldn't it be removed?

[Gryzor]

The RTFD is a file that (from what I understand) also points to other files; so it's a set of files, all zipped in a single archive. I can disallow certain file types, but if you just archive them anything will pass the tests.


And no, you can't remove anything from a mediawiki installation - even if you delete it it's still there in the database for historical reasons.

[opticpow]

Hi All, an update.

I've modded my Sony drive for ready signal. A couple of observations:

   
• the internal 3" drive works correctly with the 3.5" connected. I can cat a disc and boot into CPM
• The drive light on the 3.5" drive is always lit, but the drive appears to work correctly. I can cat a disk, and save & load basic programs to it (I formatted it on my PC to be 40 Tracks Single Sided)
• I tried formatting a 3.5" disk from disckit3, but it fails. (I'm not sure I should be able to do this?)

Are there any other ways I can confirm that 3.5" ready signal is working correctly? If I monitored the ready signal with my scope, what would I expect to see compared with a drive that does not supply ready?
Thanks,
Wayne.

[Bryce]

Have you just permanently set the drive to be ready, or is it only setting the ready signal when it really is ready?
If it's permanently set, then Disckit will have problems as far as I know.

Bryce.

[opticpow]

@Bryce

I'm pretty sure it should be only when really ready. I did this mod that @Audronic posted in Reply #6 http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/issues-connecting-3-5'-floppy-to-6128/?action=dlattach;attach=20260

Wayne.

[TFM]

But isn't that a dirty patch? Using the LED as Ready signal? Or maybe I don't get it? 

[Audronic]

@opticpow


Hi Wayne


I have just modified a 3.5" drive to just have the pins 33 and 34 tied together and the program disckit3 was able to format and copy from drive A to Drive B (3.5")
BUT when i was asked to remove both disks it still thought that the disks were still in there.


Perhaps try Parados 1.1 as that is very good for checking the ready signal.
Or try using an other disk.


Ray

[Audronic]

But isn't that a dirty patch? Using the LED as Ready signal? Or maybe I don't get it? 

Hi TFM


That is the Info i got from Zaxon some time ago,
It looks like he is using the Disk change switch to set pin 34 ?


Ray

[opticpow]

But isn't that a dirty patch? Using the LED as Ready signal? Or maybe I don't get it? 

I didn't even think to check out what it was doing.  I'll check out the alternate patch to see if that's any different.

Wayne.

[opticpow]

@opticpow


Hi Wayne


I have just modified a 3.5" drive to just have the pins 33 and 34 tied together and the program disckit3 was able to format and copy from drive A to Drive B (3.5")
BUT when i was asked to remove both disks it still thought that the disks were still in there.


Perhaps try Parados 1.1 as that is very good for checking the ready signal.
Or try using an other disk.


Ray

Hi Ray, I'm already using the 33-34 jumper on the floppy cable as per the wiki. I really want to get a true ready signal. Call me a perfectionist 

I've ordered a Rom board from Toto so I'll be running Parados on it when It arrives. I prefer to keep my boxes original, so I don't want to replace the AMSDOS rom in my 6128. I have put Parados on my DDI-1 as the ROM was socketed, but I'm still working out the cabling to get the 3.5" on there. I note in @Bryce 's wiki page that an FD1 cannot be used at the same time as a 3.5" drive. I'm hoping that if I make a modified cable for the DDI-1, do the mod to power it from the CPC and disconnect the power supply jumper from within the FD1, I might be able to swing that.

Or maybe I just get another 6128 to mod so I can have best of both worlds.... Decisions Decisions 

Wayne.

[opticpow]

For those following along at home, I looked up my scope to some of the signals, and here is what I found:

   
• Modified Sony 3.5" drive B is shows not ready when empty (high)
• switches to ready when disk is in drive. will stay ready (low) until disk is ejected (see first pic)

[attach=2]

   
• Amstrad 3" drive B only shows ready (low) MotorOn is low, and DriveSelect1 is low. ie, Drive B is accessed (see second pic)

[attach=3]
One stange thing is the Amstrad 3" drive as B shows activity light on always, but drive works correctly??

Continuing to research.

Wayne.

[gerald]

One stange thing is the Amstrad 3" drive as B shows activity light on always, but drive works correctly??

Continuing to research.

Wayne.

That's because Amstrad did the drive select decoding the lazy way. Instead of decoding the 2 bit, they used the LSB and to select one drive and inverted it to select the other one.
As such the B drive is always selected except when accessing A.

[opticpow]

That's because Amstrad did the drive select decoding the lazy way. Instead of decoding the 2 bit, they used the LSB and to select one drive and inverted it to select the other one.
As such the B drive is always selected except when accessing A.

Cool, thanks for that info. Explains a few things!

Wayne.

[dragon]

The Samsung works in this form :

"  Ready
This line becomes active "LOW" when the drive is selected, a disk is
clamped and the spindle motor is up to speed.
(after counting at least two Index pulses)
Otherwise this line goes logical "HIGH" level."

The cronogram are in the Samsung documentación.

http://www.techtravels.org/wp-content/uploads/pefiles/SAMSUNG-SFD321B-070103.pdf