Note to Zaxon (Piotr Bugaj)
I have just obtained an Amstrad CPC 464.(At Last)
And have just installed the DDI-1 Clone that you sold me.
I have a problem with the DDI-1 ( I have a technical background )
If i put the ABBA switch in the Normal Position (A)
and The PARADOS/AMSdos switch in the AMSdos Position
I have 2 Floppies 3.5" both Sony MPF920's
one as drive 0 (Zaxon)and the other as drive 1 (mine)
Then both drives perform OK
I Leave the 2 Disks in the Drives.
BUT if i put the ABBA Switch in the Other position (B)
and leave the PARADOS/AMSdos switch in the AMSdos Position
Drive A performs OK, BUT Drive B Has "Read Fails"
I have turned off the power to Both Computer and drives between each test.
(and tested that the Floppy disks are OK)
If i then put the PARADOS/AMSdos to PARADOS position (ABBA in Normal Position)
Then Drive A is OK But Drive B has a garbled Directory (CAT)
If I the put the ABBA Switch in the Other position (B)
Both Drives are Faulty.
I have noticed that the light is permanently on for Drive (1) B
regardless of the ABBA switch position,
Yes I have made up 2 other 34 Pin test leads and the problem stays.
I have also tried the above with a HXC unit and the same results.
My thoughts are that it has something to do with the ABBA Switching ???
I have had a look at the wiring, and the wiring to the 74LS38 Looks OK.
I can do repairs or Modifications to the DDI-1 if needed.
Can you help Please.
Thanks Ray.
Which formats do your discs have? Amsdos doesn't read anything else than data, system or ibm format.
@TFM (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=179)
Thanks for the info on Amsdos.
That disks are formatted as 40 Track Single Sided Data on a 3,5" Disc.
That same as if it was on a 3" disc.
The problem is not the discs but the Abba switch Odd behaviour.
Thanks Ray
Well, you could ask Bryce or TotO or Gerald to take a look at the schematics. They are really good in hardware. I mean it may be a general problem.
Anybody here with similar problems?
Quote from: Audronic on 01:50, 03 June 15
I have noticed that the light is permanently on for Drive (1) B
regardless of the ABBA switch position,
Can you check that the ABBA switch is properly soldered ? If the light is always on on B drive it could be that its select signal is grounded.
gerald
Thanks for the thoughts about the ABBA Switch, I will check it out.
I am at the point of adding a pullup to the output of the line that feeds the B drive (2.2K---1K)
as i am not sure about the loading of the 2 Sony 920 Floppy drives.
I have changed the 74LS38 to a 7400 (as per DDI-1 schematic suggestion) in the top right hand corner.
I cannot post the part of the schematic (sorry)
Thanks Ray
Have Pulled the 74ls38 from U8 and replaced it with a 7400 with all the legs plugged in.
Works OK as A and B (as Previously)
Throw the Parados switch and have the same problems as per previous discussions.
So Now we have 2 separate Fault conditions. Drats
I will have a look at it late Sunday.
Thanks Ray
Hi All
I had a Look at it on Sunday 3 and a Half Years ago and at that time i was unable to fix it BUT today.
Give a dog a Bone and he wont give up.
The Dreaded Zaxon DDI-1 2014 version has had a fault for a long time.
I just purchased an other one of these and it also had the same Problem.
Read Previous notes Please.
I have modified the way that drive 0 (Zero) is selected and it works.
If others have these units they can be FIXXED.
See photos
Thanks Ray
Nice job, well done! Well, I never used it long enough to even run into that problem. And I don't own another one; you got my last one.
DDI3 works well with 2 drives - but it is intereseting that the ZAXDrive also has some issue with the 2nd drive, which requires soldering to fix... seems to be a Zaxon thing ;)
Hi, Audronic.
I'm reading your interesting post and I too have problems with my DFI-1 clone from zaxon: in order to write to B:, I need an unprotected drive on A:.
I have no knowledge of electronics. Could you put a photo indicating the changes to be made on the board of the DFI-1 clone?
Thank you very much in advance
@angelcaio Sorry no longer have the hardware
Keep Safe
Ray
Quote from: Audronic on 14:32, 28 September 22@angelcaio
Sorry no longer have the hardware
Keep Safe
Ray
Okay. Anyway thanks, Ray for the reply