Floppy emulators, any experience?
I'm currently planning on various restorations of my older systems. Unfortunately I've got a limited number of working drives. I'd like to know your experiences with the floppy emulators that are available. I've seen the HxC, the Gotek and the clones, though I think the Gotek is also a clone. I haven't purchased anything and I'm trying to understand these things better before I start buying anything. -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies
Gotek was a limited option, until the advent of flashfloppy firmware: https://github.com/keirf/FlashFloppy This makes it a very viable, relatively inexpensive, although not perfect, replacement option. I like the idea of using it for most tasks, and reserving the real thing for when it's absolutely needed, saving wear and tear. On Sun, Apr 8, 2018 at 5:27 PM Neil Cherry via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
I'm currently planning on various restorations of my older systems. Unfortunately I've got a limited number of working drives. I'd like to know your experiences with the floppy emulators that are available. I've seen the HxC, the Gotek and the clones, though I think the Gotek is also a clone. I haven't purchased anything and I'm trying to understand these things better before I start buying anything.
-- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies
On 04/08/2018 05:37 PM, Dean Notarnicola wrote:
Gotek was a limited option, until the advent of flashfloppy firmware: https://github.com/keirf/FlashFloppy
Thanks, I did come across that. Wasn't sure what to make of it.
This makes it a very viable, relatively inexpensive, although not perfect, replacement option. I like the idea of using it for most tasks, and reserving the real thing for when it's absolutely needed, saving wear and tear.
Have you used them with any systems? I've got a hodge-podge of systems that include, Microware OS-9 (CoCo, ST-2900 and PT68/K2), Atari ATR-8000 (CP/M), a few MS-DOS laptop (including one of the first 386sl laptops) and more. I'd take it that the DOS stuff won't be hard. The ATR8000 might not be too hard (CP/M) but the OS-9 systems will be interesting. -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies
I've tried it on Atari ST, Amiga and TRS-80 Mod I. Have not yet tried with CoCo with either OS. I tend to think it will work with most MFM formats (I've heard it works on the TI/99 but have not yet tried it), but not GCR. On Sun, Apr 8, 2018 at 6:42 PM Neil Cherry <ncherry@linuxha.com> wrote:
On 04/08/2018 05:37 PM, Dean Notarnicola wrote:
Gotek was a limited option, until the advent of flashfloppy firmware: https://github.com/keirf/FlashFloppy
Thanks, I did come across that. Wasn't sure what to make of it.
This makes it a very viable, relatively inexpensive, although not perfect, replacement option. I like the idea of using it for most tasks, and reserving the real thing for when it's absolutely needed, saving wear and tear.
Have you used them with any systems? I've got a hodge-podge of systems that include, Microware OS-9 (CoCo, ST-2900 and PT68/K2), Atari ATR-8000 (CP/M), a few MS-DOS laptop (including one of the first 386sl laptops) and more. I'd take it that the DOS stuff won't be hard. The ATR8000 might not be too hard (CP/M) but the OS-9 systems will be interesting.
-- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies
On 04/08/2018 09:11 PM, Dean Notarnicola wrote:
I've tried it on Atari ST, Amiga and TRS-80 Mod I. Have not yet tried with CoCo with either OS. I tend to think it will work with most MFM formats (I've heard it works on the TI/99 but have not yet tried it), but not GCR. I don't think I have a GCR system. I think the OS9 does FM for the first track, then either FM or MFM for the rest. It's been a long time since I've looked at the OS9 format.
-- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies
Oh, I accidentally order one of the devices. I thought I had canceled the order but I have the receipt in email (oops). So we'll get to see what these things can do. I'll compile a copy of the firmware in soon and see where we go from there. -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies
On Sun, Apr 8, 2018 at 5:17 PM, Neil Cherry via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
I'm currently planning on various restorations of my older systems. Unfortunately I've got a limited number of working drives. I'd like to know your experiences with the floppy emulators that are available. I've seen the HxC, the Gotek and the clones, though I think the Gotek is also a clone. I haven't purchased anything and I'm trying to understand these things better before I start buying anything.
It's not clear to me if you are looking for floppy disk emulators for a particular micro or all of them. Would you like to know about the ones available for the C64?
On 04/08/2018 09:17 PM, Jeffrey Brace wrote:
On Sun, Apr 8, 2018 at 5:17 PM, Neil Cherry via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org <mailto:vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org>> wrote:
I'm currently planning on various restorations of my older systems. Unfortunately I've got a limited number of working drives. I'd like to know your experiences with the floppy emulators that are available. I've seen the HxC, the Gotek and the clones, though I think the Gotek is also a clone. I haven't purchased anything and I'm trying to understand these things better before I start buying anything.
It's not clear to me if you are looking for floppy disk emulators for a particular micro or all of them.
Well to start off with just the CoCo and OS9. that should cover the CoCo, Sardis and PT68/K2 as they all run OS9. So the same format. But later I'll be working with other systems such as the ATR8000 and DOS. From everything I've read DOS should be the least troublesome. I don't plan on working on more than 1 system at a time. I think I have about 4 or 5 drives (maybe a few more 3 1/2"). I may also have a MAC drive but I have no need of it.
Would you like to know about the ones available for the C64?
I haven't come across one yet but I also haven't been looking. I think there is a C64 drive emulator (using a Raspberry Pi). The Atari 800 has something similar. -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies
Would you like to know about the ones available for the C64?
I haven't come across one yet but I also haven't been looking. I think there is a C64 drive emulator (using a Raspberry Pi). The Atari 800 has something similar.
I don't know what is under the hood, but I am familiar with uIEC and Ultimate III.
Look into the CoCo SDC On Sun, Apr 8, 2018 at 11:12 PM Jeffrey Brace via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
Would you like to know about the ones available for the C64?
I haven't come across one yet but I also haven't been looking. I think there is a C64 drive emulator (using a Raspberry Pi). The Atari 800 has something similar.
I don't know what is under the hood, but I am familiar with uIEC and Ultimate III.
You might also consider the HxC firmware for Gotek devices. HxC is an amazing product, on its own, but is somewhat pricey: http://hxc2001.free.fr/floppy_drive_emulator/ Their firmware for STM-based devices, like the Gotek, is quite the accomplishment, as well: Release notes for the latest version: http://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_drive_emulator/USB_HFE_hxc_floppy_emulato... User’s manual: http://torlus.com/floppy/forum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=1683 Store: http://hxc2001.com/store/ Thanks! - Alex On Sun, Apr 8, 2018 at 23:35 Dean Notarnicola via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
Look into the CoCo SDC
On Sun, Apr 8, 2018 at 11:12 PM Jeffrey Brace via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
Would you like to know about the ones available for the C64?
I haven't come across one yet but I also haven't been looking. I think there is a C64 drive emulator (using a Raspberry Pi). The Atari 800 has something similar.
I don't know what is under the hood, but I am familiar with uIEC and Ultimate III.
On 04/09/2018 09:39 AM, J. Alexander Jacocks via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
You might also consider the HxC firmware for Gotek devices. HxC is an amazing product, on its own, but is somewhat pricey:
http://hxc2001.free.fr/floppy_drive_emulator/
Their firmware for STM-based devices, like the Gotek, is quite the accomplishment, as well:
Release notes for the latest version: http://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_drive_emulator/USB_HFE_hxc_floppy_emulato...
User’s manual: http://torlus.com/floppy/forum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=1683
Store: http://hxc2001.com/store/
I actually found that one first but quickly became overloaded with the information. I'm still thrashing my way through it. I also found that someone was able to get their CoCo working with the HxC. Now I just need to figure out how and which board. -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies
On 04/09/2018 09:39 AM, J. Alexander Jacocks via vcf-midatlantic wrote: Ooop, manners : Thanks -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies
Hi Neil I have experience with the gotek (base version and hxc firmware) as well as the hxc device itself (bought from lotharek.pl). Send me a note with any questions and I'll help you figure out through it. Each computer has its own set of quirks and may require either different firmware, cabling, or jumpers to get working properly. That said some older computers have other methods of emulating floppies that are sometimes more flexible but can be more work, i.e. a raspberry pi solution with sio2pc for the Atari 8bit for example. John On Sun, Apr 8, 2018, 5:26 PM Neil Cherry via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
I'm currently planning on various restorations of my older systems. Unfortunately I've got a limited number of working drives. I'd like to know your experiences with the floppy emulators that are available. I've seen the HxC, the Gotek and the clones, though I think the Gotek is also a clone. I haven't purchased anything and I'm trying to understand these things better before I start buying anything.
-- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies
On 04/09/2018 10:47 AM, John Heritage via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
Hi Neil I have experience with the gotek (base version and hxc firmware) as well as the hxc device itself (bought from lotharek.pl).
Thanks John, message sent. I'll summarize once I get a handle on this. And if things are interesting enough, I found several more OS9/OS68K systems and some other stuff (my gawd it seems to never end). -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies
Out of curiosity, I see lots of those “gotek” floppy emulators on Amazon, but often have different model numbers. Anyone know if any particular one is better than any others? On Mon, Apr 9, 2018 at 2:00 PM Neil Cherry via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
On 04/09/2018 10:47 AM, John Heritage via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
Hi Neil I have experience with the gotek (base version and hxc firmware) as well as the hxc device itself (bought from lotharek.pl).
Thanks John, message sent. I'll summarize once I get a handle on this.
And if things are interesting enough, I found several more OS9/OS68K systems and some other stuff (my gawd it seems to never end).
-- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies
-- Normal Person: Hey, it seems that you know a lot. Geek: To be honest, it's due to all the surfing I do. Normal Person: So you go surfing? Normal Person: But I don't think that has anything to do with knowing a lot... Geek: I think that's wrong on a fundamental level. Normal Person: Huh? Huh? What?
Some are listed as 720k, some 1.44MB, some with 2 digit display, some with 3 digits, and a couple without a display and just 2 LEDs. So I’m a bit confused as to which are the “right” ones to try to get. On Mon, Apr 9, 2018 at 2:46 PM Joseph Oprysko <joprysko1@gmail.com> wrote:
Out of curiosity, I see lots of those “gotek” floppy emulators on Amazon, but often have different model numbers. Anyone know if any particular one is better than any others?
On Mon, Apr 9, 2018 at 2:00 PM Neil Cherry via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
On 04/09/2018 10:47 AM, John Heritage via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
Hi Neil I have experience with the gotek (base version and hxc firmware) as well as the hxc device itself (bought from lotharek.pl).
Thanks John, message sent. I'll summarize once I get a handle on this.
And if things are interesting enough, I found several more OS9/OS68K systems and some other stuff (my gawd it seems to never end).
-- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies
-- Normal Person: Hey, it seems that you know a lot. Geek: To be honest, it's due to all the surfing I do. Normal Person: So you go surfing? Normal Person: But I don't think that has anything to do with knowing a lot... Geek: I think that's wrong on a fundamental level. Normal Person: Huh? Huh? What?
-- Normal Person: Hey, it seems that you know a lot. Geek: To be honest, it's due to all the surfing I do. Normal Person: So you go surfing? Normal Person: But I don't think that has anything to do with knowing a lot... Geek: I think that's wrong on a fundamental level. Normal Person: Huh? Huh? What?
On 04/09/2018 02:53 PM, Joseph Oprysko via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
Some are listed as 720k, some 1.44MB, some with 2 digit display, some with 3 digits, and a couple without a display and just 2 LEDs. So I’m a bit confused as to which are the “right” ones to try to get.
I suspect most are the same hardware. The main difference for the emulator between a 720 and a 1.44 is the clock rate of the data (125, 250, 500). After that the tracks, sectors and sides are just software. I'm surprised they don't mention that they device can be multiple drives. Wonder if it can use the mux setup for 8 drives. ;-) (just kidding). -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies
On 2018-04-09 16:27, Neil Cherry via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On 04/09/2018 02:53 PM, Joseph Oprysko via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
Some are listed as 720k, some 1.44MB, some with 2 digit display, some with 3 digits, and a couple without a display and just 2 LEDs. So I’m a bit confused as to which are the “right” ones to try to get.
Likewise... This is a timely thread since I'm zero for two on working IBM PS/2 floppy drives. I will attempt to repair at least one of them, but one of these things would make things easier to get things re-installed. So, is there one that people like? Or dislike? (In my case I'm talking normal PC-ish drives.)
I suspect most are the same hardware. The main difference for the emulator between a 720 and a 1.44 is the clock rate of the data (125, 250, 500). After that the tracks, sectors and sides are just software. I'm surprised they don't mention that they device can be multiple drives. Wonder if it can use the mux setup for 8 drives. ;-) (just kidding).
The written descriptions I'm seeing on Amazon make me think this level of detail is unlikely. ;) -- Jameel Akari
For generic cheap use, I'd suggest a Gotek. For a bit better compatibility for more unusual formats, I'd suggest a Gotek with HxC firmware. And for the ultimate in hardware design and flexibility, I'd buy an HxC from Lotharek: https://lotharek.pl/productdetail.php?id=27 - Alex On Mon, Apr 9, 2018 at 5:05 PM, jakari via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
On 2018-04-09 16:27, Neil Cherry via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On 04/09/2018 02:53 PM, Joseph Oprysko via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
Some are listed as 720k, some 1.44MB, some with 2 digit display, some with 3 digits, and a couple without a display and just 2 LEDs. So I’m a bit confused as to which are the “right” ones to try to get.
Likewise... This is a timely thread since I'm zero for two on working IBM PS/2 floppy drives. I will attempt to repair at least one of them, but one of these things would make things easier to get things re-installed.
So, is there one that people like? Or dislike? (In my case I'm talking normal PC-ish drives.)
I suspect most are the same hardware. The main difference for the emulator
between a 720 and a 1.44 is the clock rate of the data (125, 250, 500). After that the tracks, sectors and sides are just software. I'm surprised they don't mention that they device can be multiple drives. Wonder if it can use the mux setup for 8 drives. ;-) (just kidding).
The written descriptions I'm seeing on Amazon make me think this level of detail is unlikely. ;)
-- Jameel Akari
Thanks, I think I’ll start with a cheap Gotek for now, and throw down for one of the nicer ones later. (Also, I should make an adaptor board that fits the PS/2 centerplane connectors, since this problem is only going to get more common.) -- Jameel Akari
On Apr 10, 2018, at 5:18 PM, J. Alexander Jacocks via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
For generic cheap use, I'd suggest a Gotek. For a bit better compatibility for more unusual formats, I'd suggest a Gotek with HxC firmware. And for the ultimate in hardware design and flexibility, I'd buy an HxC from Lotharek:
https://lotharek.pl/productdetail.php?id=27
- Alex
On Mon, Apr 9, 2018 at 5:05 PM, jakari via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
On 2018-04-09 16:27, Neil Cherry via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On 04/09/2018 02:53 PM, Joseph Oprysko via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
Some are listed as 720k, some 1.44MB, some with 2 digit display, some with 3 digits, and a couple without a display and just 2 LEDs. So I’m a bit confused as to which are the “right” ones to try to get.
Likewise... This is a timely thread since I'm zero for two on working IBM PS/2 floppy drives. I will attempt to repair at least one of them, but one of these things would make things easier to get things re-installed.
So, is there one that people like? Or dislike? (In my case I'm talking normal PC-ish drives.)
I suspect most are the same hardware. The main difference for the emulator
between a 720 and a 1.44 is the clock rate of the data (125, 250, 500). After that the tracks, sectors and sides are just software. I'm surprised they don't mention that they device can be multiple drives. Wonder if it can use the mux setup for 8 drives. ;-) (just kidding).
The written descriptions I'm seeing on Amazon make me think this level of detail is unlikely. ;)
-- Jameel Akari
That would be very handy. Especially along with the case plastics to make the drive look right in the slot, after replacement. If you make the adapter board, I'd be happy to design the adapting plastics. - Alex On Tue, Apr 10, 2018 at 6:55 PM, Jameel Akari <jakari@bithose.com> wrote:
Thanks, I think I’ll start with a cheap Gotek for now, and throw down for one of the nicer ones later.
(Also, I should make an adaptor board that fits the PS/2 centerplane connectors, since this problem is only going to get more common.)
-- Jameel Akari
On Apr 10, 2018, at 5:18 PM, J. Alexander Jacocks via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
For generic cheap use, I'd suggest a Gotek. For a bit better compatibility for more unusual formats, I'd suggest a Gotek with HxC firmware. And for the ultimate in hardware design and flexibility, I'd buy an HxC from Lotharek:
https://lotharek.pl/productdetail.php?id=27
- Alex
On Mon, Apr 9, 2018 at 5:05 PM, jakari via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
On 2018-04-09 16:27, Neil Cherry via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On 04/09/2018 02:53 PM, Joseph Oprysko via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
Some are listed as 720k, some 1.44MB, some with 2 digit display, some with 3 digits, and a couple without a display and just 2 LEDs. So I’m a bit confused as to which are the “right” ones to try to get.
Likewise... This is a timely thread since I'm zero for two on working IBM PS/2 floppy drives. I will attempt to repair at least one of them, but one of these things would make things easier to get things re-installed.
So, is there one that people like? Or dislike? (In my case I'm talking normal PC-ish drives.)
I suspect most are the same hardware. The main difference for the emulator
between a 720 and a 1.44 is the clock rate of the data (125, 250, 500). After that the tracks, sectors and sides are just software. I'm surprised they don't mention that they device can be multiple drives. Wonder if it can use the mux setup for 8 drives. ;-) (just kidding).
The written descriptions I'm seeing on Amazon make me think this level of detail is unlikely. ;)
-- Jameel Akari
On 04/10/2018 06:55 PM, Jameel Akari via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
Thanks, I think I’ll start with a cheap Gotek for now, and throw down for one of the nicer ones later.
(Also, I should make an adaptor board that fits the PS/2 centerplane connectors, since this problem is only going to get more common.)
Well my Gotek (SFR1M44-U100K) that I accidentally ordered is on it's way. I'll start with the default and see how it works in one of the old laptops and see if it boot DOS. I'll figure out where to go after that. I was surprised to see my OS9 system boot up in the old XT clone case. The 130W PS2 power supply works perfect. Now to find the correct serial cables. -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies
participants (8)
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Dean Notarnicola -
J. Alexander Jacocks -
jakari -
Jameel Akari
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Jeffrey Brace -
John Heritage -
Joseph Oprysko -
Neil Cherry