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Would like to get the DSK files

PostPosted: September 7th, 2019, 6:06 pm
by kyeakel
I now have my floppy controller and would like to get some disk images. Downloading things on at a time via the web is somewhat slow. Is there a way to FTP to the site so I can copy the entire CPM 2.2 directory? An alternative would be to have zip files of each directory.
Thanks,
Kipp

Re: Would like to get the DSK files

PostPosted: September 7th, 2019, 7:51 pm
by AltairClone
A quick start is the Support Package link on the support page: http://altairclone.com/support.htm. Though I must confess, the .zip files aren’t completely up to date. I need to work on that.

Mike

Re: Would like to get the DSK files

PostPosted: September 8th, 2019, 9:57 am
by AltairClone
I’ve updated the software .zip file in the support package so that it’s up to date with the individual download links.

Mike

Re: Would like to get the DSK files

PostPosted: September 8th, 2019, 11:44 am
by kyeakel
Mike,
Thanks, the files seem to work just fine via the serial link.

Are the .DSK files and FDC+ compatible with a HXC floppy emulator?

Kipp

Re: Would like to get the DSK files

PostPosted: September 8th, 2019, 5:10 pm
by AltairClone
I don’t know if the HXC can handle the hard sector format of the original Altair FDC. However, since the FDC+ can make soft sector media look like hard sector media, the HXC may work with the FDC+.

Mike

Re: Would like to get the DSK files

PostPosted: September 12th, 2019, 10:51 am
by kyeakel
Mike,
I have a couple of questions:
1) Could you provide the schematic of the 34 pin to 50 pin adapter?
2) When using the PC2FLOP program, If I answer 0 to the following question, I get no response.
"Insert and specify destination drive (0-3) or X to exit:", If I have no drive connected I do get a failure message in response.
3) Could you provide the expected sequence of messages for proper use of the PC2FLOP program?
When I get no response, I'm trying to xmodem send the .dsk file. It does not seem to send any bytes.

Thanks,
Kipp

Re: Would like to get the DSK files

PostPosted: September 12th, 2019, 11:21 am
by AltairClone
Kipp,

The adapter wiring is specified in the spreadsheet here: http://deramp.com/downloads/altair/hard ... Wiring.pdf

When the destination drive is specified, PC2FLOP selects the drive and restores it to track zero. Sounds like the program is hung waiting for the drive to select. What switch settings do you have on the drive type DIP switches? What physical device are you connected to?

Mike

Re: Would like to get the DSK files

PostPosted: September 12th, 2019, 2:17 pm
by kyeakel
Mike,
I have the drive type as 001 shugart 8xx. but have tried 5.25 as 8" as well (100 I think). I'm connected to a HXC with a blank 77 track single sided disk image selected. The HXC doesn't have jumpers and only switches for disk selection. I have it set to emulate 2 drives A,B as 0,1. Thanks for the adapter wiring, I have no jumpers installed yet.

Kipp

Re: Would like to get the DSK files

PostPosted: September 12th, 2019, 4:38 pm
by kyeakel
Further info:
I can get to the point of transferring the image to the Altair if I use Gary Kaufman's 50 to 34 pin interface. I think the only difference is the connection of 34(34) to 50(12). Now the transfer always halts at byte 57088, which I assume means it will transfer to a memory buffer but not to the drive. I think I'll try a real 5.25 floppy to insure the entire interface is working.

Kipp

Re: Would like to get the DSK files

PostPosted: September 13th, 2019, 9:56 am
by kyeakel
I changed the HXC to a panasonic JU-475 5.25" floppy. Using Gary Kaufman's 50 - 34 pin adapter, got messages saying seek to track 0 failed. Swapped back to your adapter and I was able to make a diskette with CPM63K.dsk. Trying to boot this disk via Martin's AMON results in a hex dump of all memory. I'm going to change the EPROM auto disable on the 88-2SIOjp to see if that fixes it. Nope, still doesn't boot, it did stop the continous scrolling hex dump though.

Kipp