techtravels.org

inital results on error correction

While I have yet to actually implement the full-scale error correction as I want to, I did some manual tests today. I basically took a track that I was erroring out on, and swapped in 1-bit away values for the bad bytes.  In some cases, it appeared...

Latest articles

new timing image

I think this is timing from like 97 or so, and this is pretty good. I’ve switched to 93 for the time being, because I’ve had the best results with that. This still shows accurate reading of this particular...

still giving me trouble

I spent some time on the project last night.  Still no-go. The SX and the software is behaving as expected by responding to commands, transferring the buffer, so and so forth.  I’m getting garbage data from the...

memory chip mounted

Welp, I got impatient, and went to Radio Shack to buy their soldering station. I still have mine coming in the mail, but its ground from Arizona, which may as well be ground from Alaska. I soldered the header pins onto...

Success!@#

I hestitate to jump to conclusions, but I think I just passed a crucial first step in getting this to work!@#!# After adjusting some timing on my new code on the SX, I’ve found my first 0x4489 0x4489 pattern. This...

new design on SX software

Welp, I’m having trouble tweaking my existing SX code. If I modify the timing of the current code, I’m getting all garbage output — even adjusting small amounts to one side or the other, produces much...

SX software progress

Welp, since I fine tuned the PC to very reasonable numbers, I figure a small overhaul of the SX code is in order too. I had somewhat of an epiphany working the on the SX, which I haven’t *really* looked at in...

java client preview

I’ve put up a preview of the java client in action. It’s a 2 minute video with narration. You’ll need a DivX codec installed in order to view it. I probably could have messed with compressing this...

will put up sample files

I’m going to put up a sample file or two, but I wanted to get the smallest complete group of bytes that I can…. ie like one full sector, etc. So far, I’m just basically streaming bytes, via disk copy...

Logicport screenshots and project file

I thought this might be neat to put up. Sorry about the high-res image but you lose too much when it compresses it. Click here for the screenshot. Also, I uploaded the .LPF project file which can be viewed for free with...

adding more commands

Now that I *think* I’ve got a handle on the reading portion, I’ve been adding a couple more commands. I added support so that the SX knows what cylinder number it is on.  The F and B commands increase and...