This HxC in the video (see link below) is pretty awesome. I assume you just plug it into the floppy expansion on the back of the cpc? It has firmware to use on the cpc and an lcd screen.
HxC Floppy Emulator am CPC464 (http://blondesearch.ru/play/fmqz_VezR1c/HxC_Floppy_Emulator_am_CPC464.html#scr)
What do I need and how do I get one of these?
Google translated the page for me:
Quote
HxC Floppy Emulator on CPC464 with floppy controller. Emulator is powered by the controller, it must be unsoldered and C115 replaced by a solder bridge. Gives the right to housing is of Conrad.
So I would need a DDI-1 first, then think about the HxC drive? And I don't need the FD-1 at all. Just so I understand what it is I need. I don't want to have to modify my cpc 464 so something that just plugs in would be preferable.
AMSTRAD/SPECTRUM+3 CABLE FOR 3,5" FLOPPY DRIVE OR HxC EMU WITH DRIVE+SIDE SELECT (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AMSTRAD-SPECTRUM-3-CABLE-FOR-3-5-FLOPPY-DRIVE-OR-HxC-EMU-WITH-DRIVE-SIDE-SELECT-/111011795135?pt=UK_VintageComputing_RL&hash=item19d8d190bf)
Is this what it is/looks like?
On a CPC 464 (with DDI-1 and FD-1) the FD-1 supplies power to the DDI-1. If you plug in a DDI-1 without a disk drive attached (FD-1) the interface will not be powered.
If you don't have an FD-1 attached then you need some way of powering the DDI-1. The DDI-1 can be powered from the CPC-464 by linking the capacitor C115 inside the DDI-1.
This will also then provide power on the ribbon cable coming out of the DDI-1. It may be possible to power an HxC from this, but the HxC spec has the power requirement at 500mA, which seems a bit much to be pulling out of a standard CPC monitor, as it will also be powering the DDI-1. If you are using a seperate power supply and linking the CPC to a monitor or TV, this is probably fine.
I would have thought it made more sense to power the HxC from a seperate power supply and put a soldered link on the HxC to power the DDI via the ribbon cable as originally intended.
The DDI-1 has a captive ribbon cable, which I presume you can plug directly into and HxC.
Does that make sense?
That seems over complicated to connect to the capacitor. If you're using the expansion slot you don't really want it permenantly attached which it would have to be if it were soldered to the capacitor?
Quote from: IanS on 22:36, 11 February 13
This will also then provide power on the ribbon cable coming out of the DDI-1. It may be possible to power an HxC from this, but the HxC spec has the power requirement at 500mA, which seems a bit much to be pulling out of a standard CPC monitor, as it will also be powering the DDI-1. If you are using a seperate power supply and linking the CPC to a monitor or TV, this is probably fine.
I have a colour monitor so the cpc is powered by that.
Would it be possible to add its own power source to the ribbon, like an external CD drive would have its own power source?
Your explanation is very good, I hope I understood it correctly :)
What I don't get is how the CPC is able to select disc images like that? I mean, the HxC emulates a floppy, so how come the CPC can ask for a full directory listing etc? It's just talking to the HxC over the floppy interface in a non-standard way?
I always thought you had to use the HxC itself to select the image you wanted...
Quote from: lynwen on 19:36, 12 February 13
That seems over complicated to connect to the capacitor. If you're using the expansion slot you don't really want it permenantly attached which it would have to be if it were soldered to the capacitor?
The capacitor is inside the DDI-1, to power the DDI-1 (and possibly the HxC) you only need to modify the DDI-1. The DDI-1 would still be removable.
Quote from: Munchausen on 20:32, 12 February 13
What I don't get is how the CPC is able to select disc images like that? I mean, the HxC emulates a floppy, so how come the CPC can ask for a full directory listing etc? It's just talking to the HxC over the floppy interface in a non-standard way?
I always thought you had to use the HxC itself to select the image you wanted...
From the HxC web site:-
Quote
Host control tool (Atari ST, Amstrad CPC, Amiga) :
With this tool the host computer can access directly to the SDCard to select files images and change the SDCard HxC Floppy Emulator settings.
With this tool the LCD screen and the buttons are becoming optional / useless. You can even remove the LCD screen to put the SD HxC Floppy Emulator inside the Amiga/Atari/CPC computer without case modification.
Quote from: IanS on 20:35, 12 February 13
The capacitor is inside the DDI-1, to power the DDI-1 (and possibly the HxC) you only need to modify the DDI-1. The DDI-1 would still be removable.
Now that's not a problem!
So now how and where does one get a DDI-1 and is there a photograph of one somewhere?
What other uses does a DDI-1 have?
Quote from: lynwen on 22:11, 12 February 13
So now how and where does one get a DDI-1 and is there a photograph of one somewhere?
What other uses does a DDI-1 have?
You can't plug a disk drive directly into a CPC-464, you need an interface. The interface is called a DDI-1.
Amstrad Disk Drive - CPCWiki (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Amstrad_Disk_Drive)
Quote from: IanS on 22:18, 12 February 13
You can't plug a disk drive directly into a CPC-464, you need an interface. The interface is called a DDI-1.
Amstrad Disk Drive - CPCWiki (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Amstrad_Disk_Drive)
Had to read that a couple of times but think I finally get it now thanks :laugh:
I think their naming convention puzzled all of us at some point...
Also there seem to be a general confusion about what drive came with the DDI-1 bundle. Ive mentioned this before that i think that the entry in the wiki is wrong (and makes no sense). Wiki says that FD-1 drive is the one used alone as a secondary drive with 6128/664 (this i agree with) .. but also that its the drive that comes with the 464 interface bundle and powers the interface (this i do NOT agree with).
Perhaps its just us simple people out here in the woods (well it could technically be a country thing) but im going to claim that the DDI-1 bundle for 464 consists of:
1. The DDI-1 interface to connect to 464.
2. The DDI-1 drive that powers the interface.
And im going to claim it as that is the setup ive been using for years (last used 1 hour ago).
Here is a photo of my DDI-1 bundle (aka interface+drive) that i use alone with my 464:
(http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/2430/ddi1.png)
Note how the yellow sticker conveniently also says "A" on the back of the DDI-1 drive:
(http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/8582/ddi1back.png)
However this is my FD-1 that i usually has connected to my 6128:
(http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/9902/fd1d.png)
And on the back of the FD-1 it say "B" even though its hard to read:
(http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/8206/fd1back.png)
Pretty sure i recall someone had troubles as they hooked up DDI-1 drive to pc and it fried the floppy controller because the DDI-1 does the whole powering. So when people speak of a 464+DDI and 6128+FD1 it makes a lot more sense if the DDI-1 is the one that does the powering. I do understand that both drives look and probably also is 99% technically the same inside, but that last 1% makes quite a difference.
Could be a labeling issue or perhaps someone changed the wiki as a aprils-fools joke and forgot to change it back? Anyways im gonna stick with my 464+DDI-1 drive as that works for me ;)
Can any FD-1 owner check that the drive is NOT powering the data cable like a DDI-1?
The DDI-1 cable pic ( http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/File:DDI-1_cable.jpg (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/File:DDI-1_cable.jpg) ) is fairly clear. The DDI-1 is powered from the drive which is connected to the last connector on the cable (via pin 21,33-29). The pins are missing from the other connector on the ribbon cable.
I don't have an external Amstrad drive that is labelled FD-1 (rather than DDI-1), but I'd be very suprised it an actual FD-1 didn't provide power on pins 21 & 33-29 to power a DDI-1 interface.
Quote from: Cholo on 19:25, 14 February 13
Pretty sure i recall someone had troubles as they hooked up DDI-1 drive to pc and it fried the floppy controller because the DDI-1 does the whole powering. So when people speak of a 464+DDI and 6128+FD1 it makes a lot more sense if the DDI-1 is the one that does the powering. I do understand that both drives look and probably also is 99% technically the same inside, but that last 1% makes quite a difference.
You have a DDI-1 drive, an FD-1 drive, a DDI-1 interface and a CPC-464.
Plug the FD-1 into the last connector on the DDI-1 interface and attach the interface to the 464. If you can read a disk, it shows that the FD-1 also provides power for the DDI-1 interface.
Quote from: IanS on 20:39, 14 February 13
I don't have an external Amstrad drive that is labelled FD-1 (rather than DDI-1), but I'd be very suprised it an actual FD-1 didn't provide power on pins 21 & 33-29 to power a DDI-1 interface.
I would be surprised too :)
But it would be nice if anyone could confirm the DDI-1 and FD-1 drive are the same device with a different sticker
Either way, I'm interested to hear people's results, as I always assumed they were the same except for the label... because of the wiki. :P
Quote from: IanS on 20:47, 14 February 13
You have a DDI-1 drive, an FD-1 drive, a DDI-1 interface and a CPC-464.
Plug the FD-1 into the last connector on the DDI-1 interface and attach the interface to the 464. If you can read a disk, it shows that the FD-1 also provides power for the DDI-1 interface.
Lol, donno why i didnt think of that i guess ive always just though of them as different. Just had a couple of tries and the FD-1 does work alone at the end of the cable.
Odd, i was so sure someone wrote something about how dangerous is was hooking up a DDI-1 drive to a pc if you didnt disconnect some internal plug .. and that the FD-1 was safe to use instead. Of cause they could have been wrong too and it applies to both drives (or not to both). Anyways, definately my bad, seems its just a label really.
Does this mean a DDI-1 DRIVE and an FD-1 are the same thing apart from being labelled differently??
Thank you for the photos cholo, I live photos, I can see what everyone is talking about now!! :laugh:
Quote from: lynwen on 22:44, 15 February 13
Does this mean a DDI-1 DRIVE and an FD-1 are the same thing apart from being labelled differently??
Yes.