Internal DDI for Gotek and CPC464.

[Piotr]

Today morning idea, DDI board inside Gotek plus ribbon cable to connect it to CPC 464 edge slot . Reset and parados switch. Something like this..

[McKlain]

Awesome idea!

[ZbyniuR]

DDI-3 with Gotek in one. New toy from Zaxon.

[jrodriguezv]

Lovely!!

[Munchausen]

DDI-3 with Gotek in one. New toy from Zaxon.

I've had thoughts of doing this myself. Are these available somewhere? I haven't seen anything around!

While on the topic, when looking at this I spotted the WD37C65x, which seems to further reduce the parts count even over the FDC9266 if I understand correctly (@Bryce thought you might know more on this). Is there any reason why the WD37C65x is incompatible with the uPD? The idea would be to build a disk interface and gotek in one that fits in the X4 format.

[Audronic]

@Piotr


Link Please


Ray

[arnoldemu]

I've had thoughts of doing this myself. Are these available somewhere? I haven't seen anything around!

While on the topic, when looking at this I spotted the WD37C65x, which seems to further reduce the parts count even over the FDC9266 if I understand correctly (@Bryce thought you might know more on this). Is there any reason why the WD37C65x is incompatible with the uPD? The idea would be to build a disk interface and gotek in one that fits in the X4 format.

The WD37c65 has a configuration register to set the data rate, now depending on what it is at reset time you would need a modified rom to configure that.

Also, it assumes the drive is always ready, which means a PC like drive is needed. I think software will cope with it, but if you remove the disc when it's accessing you will get a hang and never see "disc missing" on the cpc.

To know for sure it needs to be put into a board and tested in case there are other differences.

[Bryce]

I've had thoughts of doing this myself. Are these available somewhere? I haven't seen anything around!

While on the topic, when looking at this I spotted the WD37C65x, which seems to further reduce the parts count even over the FDC9266 if I understand correctly (@Bryce thought you might know more on this). Is there any reason why the WD37C65x is incompatible with the uPD? The idea would be to build a disk interface and gotek in one that fits in the X4 format.

The FDC9266 is 100% µPD765 compatible, meaning you don't have to touch the AMSDOS firmware, just connect it and it works with AMSDOS. The WDC37C65x isn't 765 compatible, so it would mean AMSDOS would need to be rewritten, ROMs swapped etc. Way more hassle than the few bits of hardware you'd save.

Bryce.

[TotO]

Exactly... To be AMSDOS compatible, you can't use a Western Digital FDC.
Into the past, it would have helped to make write track copy using a custom board and software, but today it is useless.

[Audronic]

DDI-3 with Gotek in one. New toy from Zaxon.

Do you have a link Please


Ray

[ZbyniuR]

This is prototype soon should be on:
http://www.sellmyretro.com/user/profile/zaxon?PageSpeed=noscript

Recently Piotr/Zaxon not look here on this forum. So mayby try contact with him on FB:
http://www.facebook.com/piotr.bugaj.18?fref=ufi

I'm trying to convince him that he added 64K, but he will not listen to me. What you think about it?

[Audronic]

Today morning idea, DDI board inside Gotek plus ribbon cable to connect it to CPC 464 edge slot . Reset and parados switch. Something like this..

Do You have a link Please


Ray

[archcosmo]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/5357712057/permalink/10153342472592058/

based upon Piotr's comments on that topic in the "Amstrad CPC 464" group (it's a public group on facebook, so joining/liking the group's page isn't required to view it), it's going to be put up for sale on sellmyretro.com in mid January sometime.

[TotO]

Should be fine to finish his actual work (JUSTCPC "how to and answers") before starting to sell other boards...

[pelrun]

Should be fine to finish his actual work (JUSTCPC "how to and answers") before starting to sell other boards...

Nah, he can just quit Facebook when his new suckers^H^H^H^H^Hcustomers start asking questions and asking him to fix the problems with his product. Worked last time!

[villain]

Nah, he can just quit Facebook when his new suckers^H^H^H^H^Hcustomers start asking questions and asking him to fix the problems with his product. Worked last time!

That's not how happy customers sound... 

[dodogildo]

IMHO lynching people in a forum thread isn't the nicest of the manners.

Responsive or not, @Zaxon is the only one around giving the 464 owners the gift of connecting to a floppy emulator.

[CPC_Fan]

Nice work Piotr. I could be interested in a 6128 version of this when my finances allow, especially if you make it Mother x4/MX4 board compatibile?

[pelrun]

There's no need for a 6128 version - the extra hardware on this board is already present in the machine.


Just connect a Gotek (ideally flashed with the HxC firmware) the same as any external disk drive. You can get the LCD cheap off ebay and connect it to the Gotek, the HxC firmware detects and uses it automatically.

[TotO]

Exactly. Don't be confused it is for 464 only.

[archcosmo]

@Audronic

Hi Ray

link here if you've not seen it already... at the moment 9 have sold and 1 remaining
http://www.sellmyretro.com/offer/details/11223

Do You have a link Please


Ray

[dodogildo]

I think that's an amazing solution.

[Audronic]

@Audronic

Hi Ray

link here if you've not seen it already... at the moment 9 have sold and 1 remaining
http://www.sellmyretro.com/offer/details/11223

Thanks for the Link
I have just ordered One.

Ray

[dodogildo]

He also has this solution for the 6128: http://www.sellmyretro.com/offer/details/10973

Quite affordable..

[OCT]

Just connect a Gotek (ideally flashed with the HxC firmware) the same as any external disk drive. You can get the LCD cheap off ebay and connect it to the Gotek, the HxC firmware detects and uses it automatically.

Got sources to recommend for both?
Always thought an OLED or ePaper would provide the best viewing angles for our purposes; not sure a compatible&affordable one has been found yet.