Another floppy mod thought

All information relating to the Alpha plus all the WIP threads etc.
Post Reply
User avatar
exxos
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 23496
Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2017 11:19 pm
Location: UK
Contact:

Another floppy mod thought

Post by exxos »

Had this thought before.. But we could actually tweak the motor on signal for internal and external drives as currently motor on goes to both internal and external drives so they both power up the same time.

As we have the option to do any mod we want now, you could actually add a small logic chip in their separate signals so they turn on independently.

or.gif
or.gif (7.72 KiB) Viewed 3248 times

Basically input (A) would be the motor on signal, and input (B) would be the drive select signal. So both of these have to be low for the motor on signal to propagate on the output (Y).

So if 2 or gates were used on internal and external floppy drives, the motor on signal would only be active on the drive is currently being accessed.


Thought 2:

We also have the option to do a proper A/B select switch in a new schematic.. Its just working out exactly how to go about it.. Probably some jumper links on the motherboard to switch around..
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/ All my hardware guides - mods - games - STOS
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
User avatar
PhilC
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 6016
Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2018 8:22 pm

Re: Another floppy mod thought

Post by PhilC »

Sounds like a good idea to me if we are going to keep using floppies. Does it really make any difference if the end user was to go the gotek route?

Also, isn't there a problem with disk change using gotek etc? Could we fix that at the same time?
If it ain't broke, test it to Destruction.
User avatar
exxos
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 23496
Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2017 11:19 pm
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: Another floppy mod thought

Post by exxos »

Forgottenmyname wrote: Thu Oct 18, 2018 12:05 pm Sounds like a good idea to me if we are going to keep using floppies.
I am still using them, but not only that I still want to keep full backwards compatibility.
Forgottenmyname wrote: Thu Oct 18, 2018 12:05 pm Does it really make any difference if the end user was to go the gotek route?
Isn't that the thing where people want to actually swap the AB select for anyway ?

I have a original HxC thing from years ago and never used it yet.
Forgottenmyname wrote: Thu Oct 18, 2018 12:05 pm Also, isn't there a problem with disk change using gotek etc? Could we fix that at the same time?
No idea. But yes this is a good idea, I did do a fix for this already actually..

https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... f=12&t=428

But I was also thinking of using 1.44 drives and my mod circuit includes all the logic for 1.44 drives and media change anyway..
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... ?f=12&t=47

Then likely what I will do is just integrate this onto the next design. So really would just need a GAL programmed and fitted to the motherboard not these problems will be solved in one go..

Otherwise people would have to buy the kit, and assemble it, or pay someone else to assemble it, and maybe fit it is well, basically the cost is a fair bit. In terms of my motherboard, this would just simply be a low-cost GAL fitted on the board and job done. A lot cheaper and easier in that case.. So hopefully people will start to see the advantage of this project a little better now..
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/ All my hardware guides - mods - games - STOS
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
User avatar
PhilC
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 6016
Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2018 8:22 pm

Re: Another floppy mod thought

Post by PhilC »

Are you planning on going SMT for the GAL's or sticking to DIP?
If it ain't broke, test it to Destruction.
User avatar
exxos
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 23496
Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2017 11:19 pm
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: Another floppy mod thought

Post by exxos »

Forgottenmyname wrote: Thu Oct 18, 2018 4:00 pm Are you planning on going SMT for the GAL's or sticking to DIP?
Likely will be DIP.
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/ All my hardware guides - mods - games - STOS
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
Post Reply

Return to “ALPHA DEVELOPMENT INFO”