progress of ide/8255 for CPC

[MiguelSky]

I have done a draft look at getting a board built using current AUS and US prices and it would seem that the cost to build one would be about $40 to $50 AUS.

So it would seem that if anyone wants to buy it i will bulk buy all the stuff and built the whole lot in batches.  The first batch of about 10 will be built first before i can make them available as I would need to know how long it takes to build it so i know how many i can do in a week when i have all the parts.

The drivers ROM is expected to be about $10 - $15 AUS .

I missed this thread !! Ok, rpalmer you can count on me too if you decide continue the project. It would be nice another HDD for my CPC+ (does it work with Pkus models, I presume...)

[HAL6128]

...I'm interested too. Do you still work on your HDOS/HD-DOS extensions/Rom to use this ide/8255 interface?

[rpalmer]

hi hal6128,

Yes indeed i am still working on the HDOS ROM as it is ready to be purchased for the IDE/8255 interface, however as it also allows for network access as well the ROM is still under development for this aspect, but so far all is going ok.

The drivers ROM for the hardware interfaces (such as IDE/8255 and ethernet) is available for free so that when people wish to write programs to drive the hardware they can do so. The current version has already started to be developed for the forth coming ethernet card and has a variety of devices developed.

Bryce, also mentioned that the IDE/8255 interface should also include an adaptor for Compact Flash cards.  This is currently underway as well as I too have a few CF cards and would see a benefit in it being available for the masses.

I have produced a short 14 Mbyte video of the first PCB version of the interface in action and if people wish to see it in action I can email it to them.

regards
rpalmer

[TFM]

Could be a good idea to put that video on youtube.

[redbox]

Could be a good idea to put that video on youtube.

I second that.

[rpalmer]

Video now uploaded to youtube.

url



rpalmer

[Ynot.zer0]

I am liking that very much!




I'd also second the request for a CFCard interface (mainly as I have a stack of 2Gb and 4Gb CF Cards in a drawer not doing much)

[rpalmer]

I have already made a change to the PCB version of the interface which should allow for a CF card to be used.

The CF card interface will simply be attached to the IDE cable and a pin header set to enable CF card power to be supplied.

Once this is as well i will also post a youtube video showing it in action.

rpalmer

[Kris]

Really interesting piece of hardware....hope to see it avalaible soon

[redbox]

Video now uploaded to youtube.

That's really cool 

[TFM]

Thanks a lot! Great!

[rpalmer]

hello all,

I have finally build an IDE/8255 board which will hopefully accept CF cards in place of a hard drive.

I built an IDE to CF adaptor and damn those pins are really really close to solder.  You can see from the attached pictures that the solder was not the best, but it was my very first time trying. The way this adaptor works is simple to connect it to the IDE cable as if it were a hard disk.

Again, when I have tested this version of the interface I will aloo post another youtube video of it working with a CF card.

regards
rpalmer

[steve]

Would this thing do the same job as your PCB?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/40-Pin-IDE-CF-Compact-Flash-Adapter-bootable-Card-/320565083709?pt=UK_Computing_CablesConnectors_RL&hash=item4aa32afe3d

[rpalmer]

Hello Steve,

I don't think the ebay card would work as the IDE/8255 interface is not using all pins and so if this interface does use one I am not even connecting then the card would be useless.

regards
rpalmer

[rpalmer]

here are the first 6 IDE/8255 interfaces to be built. I have ecthed these myself, so that the serial numbers are unique to each board, however I may look at making the serial number just a sticker in future boards when i get them made by a company.
The boards I have etched myself have had to be "fixed" up during the print process as the method sometimes does not work 100% of the time (some of the tracks did not stick to the PCB so a PCB pen and magnifying glass were used to make corrections). Also some tracks were showing a few issues which required wire to be soldered to ensure proper connections.

However before any board is made available i will make sure that they work 100% and if at any time they fail they will end up in the bin.

I have looked at the cost of a CPC Euro Connector and find that they cost a lot, so for now If users want them I am afraid they will need a converter adaptor for the classic connector.

The partially built interface is one which i have made a through-connector to allow for other devices to be attached (this is for testing by myself to make sure the through connector is ok).

I have 4 more double sided boards which will become interfaces.

When I have built all six, I will then post "who wants one" (i know 4 members already have shown interest).
regards
rpalmer

[archcosmo]

excellent work!! thanks for posting the pictures

I'd be interested in one too when they're ready

[Gryzor]

I don't have a use for it, but... I must have one! I don't know - it's the little voices inside my head!

[rpalmer]

hello everyone,

I have built 6 IDE/8255 interfaces, of which 1 board refused to work, and 1 which had to aborted due to bad soldering/etching.
One of the boards (the first one built is the one i am using to complete further tests for the CF interface).
Some of the boards were to have a through connector, but these failed to work so i had to remove them.  This has meant that they look a bit amateurish in build (and yes these are my first items to build).
My tests show they all read data from the IDE hard disk i attached, so that means that the interface can read and write to the IDE device.

Find attached the first 3 builds that will soon be available to be acquired.
I am currently working on the costs to build them, the postal costs will be as per where i need to post them.
I have more parts on order to build more.

I am also currently checking the device drivers are all ok to work on the interface.

The HDOS system is also being checked for completeness and includes a check of the documentation to be ready for inclusion with the ROM.
There will also be a document describing how to setup a Hard disk.

regards
rpalmer

[Ynot.zer0]

looking good! 

[Cpcmaniaco]

very good news.

[rpalmer]

hello everyone,

Well I have completed doing the initial checks on the three boards i posted earlier and have built 2 more boards making the total now 5 available to sell.
Each of the available boards work in regards to tests via the test board that shows which IDE pins are controlled from the CPC.
Before I sell any board I will verify that the it does work as expected and produce a video to prove that it works (showing the serial Number).
Should the customer wish to get it to show its setup and operation I can email it to them.

There is currently no through connector on the boards as the attempts to put one on failed.  There is scope to have one attached and i am looking at how this can be done.

I have also produced a MS Excel spreadsheet showing the build costs and other cost information showing what the interface took to create.
Included in the spreadsheet is the cost for HDOS Release 1. This ROM may be required to access the Hard disk from within AMSDOS system calls.
Each customer can sell select from the spreadsheet what they want to buy and how many of each.
The spreadhseet can then be returned to me via email and then we setup payment via paypal.

I have been looking into the use of a CF on the IDE interface and have not yet been successful, however the use of an IDE hard disc works as expected.
(the CF card may not work in PIO Mode 0, but i have not seen anywhere that it does not so will continue along  ).

I have order more parts for IDE interfaces, so more will be built as soon as possible.

regards
rpalmer

[Cpcmaniaco]

I send you an e-mail, to buy 1.


Thanks.

[rpalmer]

Hello all,

The pricelist supplier in the previous post seems to have confused people about what is required to get.

The system configuration at a minimum is:

1.  The Interface itself, and
2.  The Drivers ROM to provide the low-level interface routines.

This setup would give the user the required minimum items for them to create there own file system suchas AMSDOS/ParaDOS.

Should the user wish to purchase such a system (namely HDOS), then they can select that item in the spreadsheet and then return the spreadsheet to me.

In order to get the spreadsheet back to me, first PM me that you do want it and i will reply with my email address and then you can return the spreadsheet.

rpalmer

[TFM]

Do you release simple source codes for "read sector" and "write sector" and maybe "init hard-disc"?

EDIT: Source for the use of LBA hard-discs!
Because I don't think the pre-LBA HDs must be supported any longer.

[rpalmer]

The drivers rom support both LBA and CHS disc.