techtravels.org

going around the problem

Welp, I’ve ordered a new, but cheap ($5.99!) regular PC floppy drive from newegg.com.  I like this end result much better anyways.  PC drives are much more available, popular, cheap, and so on.

was worried about prototype interfacing, but I found this:

https://www.technologicalarts.ca/shop/store/details/249/56/adapters/ribbon-cable/idc-ribbon-cable-to-breadboard-adapter,-34-pin.html
Basically, it should take a regular floppy cable to  normal breadboard pins.  This should do the trick.  Standard cable and standard floppy.  I think that’s a win-win.

I honestly havent spent much time trying to figure out the problem, but heck, if I can move closer to my final goal while bypassing a problem, why not?

Both should be delivered by the end of the week.

keith

Amateur Electronics Design Engineer and Hacker

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  • While I haven’t received my adapter yet, I did get the PC floppy and a floppy cable. I managed to hack together some rough cabling, and managed to get the SX to select the drive, and turn the motor on.

    I’m not seeing any data on the read data lead.

    I’m beginning to wonder about the other un-connected input leads into the drive. I was reading some original Shugart SA-400 docs last night, and one requirement for reading is the “write gate” to be held high, or inactive. It has to be high in order to read….. I did try cabling that pin up and putting it high, with no real results.