Who wants IDE drives on the PCW?

[Sebastian Blanco]

Yes it took me a wile, i was missing some components that i couldn't source locally ended up purchasing them online but was slow.
Of course i read the whole file on the wiki and very impress how much documentation you worked out.
For some reason when i got to this part couldn't understand that the .EMT files where the os itself i was expecting to find a .dsk file or something like that.
Now managed to build a bootable floppy including all the tools and the ide device worked perfectly the first time !.
Thanks for all!

[Sebastian Blanco]

JonB i have another question theres an ide board for the cpc 464 ?.

[JonB]

No, but there is one for the 6128 called uIDE-16 (because the 6128 uses 16 bit I/O addresses when it performs IN or OUT).

This would certainly work on the 464 (in 16 or 8 bit addressing mode).

If the 464 is using 8 bit mode you can use a normal uIDE-8 but you will probably need to connect it with a Z80 shim.

However... there are NO drivers for it other than for SYMBOS.

[SOS]

However... there are NO drivers for it other than for SYMBOS.

If someone can sell me a fully assembled board (sorry i have no soldering-skills) for the MotherX4, i will try to integrate a driver in my CubeMDOS.
(I'm using a CPC6128)
(PM me)

[JonB]

Just preparing a PCW uIDE-8s for someone...


 

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These are the red boards and I have three of them left.


 

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Testing the video output of the PCW Exapnsion Port adapter on my titchy cube monitor.

[JonB]

Experimental Schneider adapters and uIDE-8/DOM


 

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The idea is, you provide a cable to go from the Centronics style adapter on the back of the Schneider Joyce to a 50 way female IDC socket. This plugs into the adapter's header, then you connect the uIDE-8 to the adapter in the normal way.

The Schneider-adapter cable should be fairly easy to get hold of. They used to be used for connecting SCSI drives to computers. Something like this would do: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/270837227488

[GUNHED]

This is great! I would take one or two of them to. Because my PcWs have Centronics ports too. 

[JonB]

We'll have to wait to find out if they actually work, though. Should do, but I don't make any guarantees unless proven. But this is why I sent the additional adapter (the blue card) to the buyer - it has the IDC header on the component side of the board, and both boards use unboxed headers so you can fit the cable either way round without worrying about the IDC plug's key orientation.

I've proposed he tries both adapters:

• Connect each adapter in turn on its own to the Centronics - IDC cable. Start with the video adapter, but remove the 74LS00 chip first, then try the blue adapter if the video adapter does not work
• We are looking to see if the power light comes on on either board. This indicates correct orientation of the expansion header.
• By testing without the uIDE-8 board connected, we're not risking damaging it or the DOM.

GUNHED, I have two uIDE-8 boards left, assembled, plus adapters. After they go, I am down to some prototypes (working of course) and uIDE-16s running in 8 bit addressing mode. As demand has dropped off quite a bit, I don't see myself getting more boards any time soon..

[JonB]

Another unit completed...

 

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..and tested..

 

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[TynH]

We'll have to wait to find out if they actually work, though. Should do, but I don't make any guarantees unless proven. But this is why I sent the additional adapter (the blue card) to the buyer - it has the IDC header on the component side of the board, and both boards use unboxed headers so you can fit the cable either way round without worrying about the IDC plug's key orientation.

Sorry for not replying sooner but life got in the way big time and I’m still in the middle of moving and renovating a flat at the same time. So not an awful lot of time to play with the PCW! Although I did actually start cataloging my library in dBase II (because why not?).


Jon’s uIDE hdd solution works a treat, no problem using it with a Schneider spec machine either.
I haven’t made use of the video adapter card which IIRC requires a slightly different way of connecting the ribbon cable. Mainly because it’s not needed atm and well: time.

[JonB]

@TynH could you post some pictures of the cable you used to go from the Schneider expansion port to the uIDE adapter please?

Thanks
JonB

[TynH]

Bloody difficult to get a half decent shot. Luckily the sun came out! 



https://postimg.cc/grcPT75p


https://postimg.cc/zHyPK4DZ


https://postimg.cc/gallery/139lkhb0k/


https://postimg.cc/gallery/38fljot8k/


https://postimg.cc/gallery/38370l3wk/


https://postimg.cc/gallery/1t2jem0p0/




Let me know if these work for you before I reassemble everything!

[JonB]

Those are great. Neat box, too. May I use some of them on my CPCWiki uIDE page, please?

[TynH]

By all means, that’s what they’re for!
The box was fairly inexpensive and easy enough to cut in order for the ribbon cable to pass through.
Luckily ventilation isn’t much of an issue. 

[JonB]

I've just added info to the uIDE wiki page for the Schneider machines.