Firmware updates for the STM32/Gotek HxC floppy emulators !

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Jeff
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Re: New Alpha version Firmware - Volunteer Testers needed !

Post by Jeff »

Firmware update ! :
15 January 2018: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.1.1.1a

- Fix broken Rotary support in normal mode.
(Connection points reminder : Clock -> J7 pin 2,Direction -> J7 pin 1)
https://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_driv ... rmware.zip

https://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_driv ... _notes.txt

mondo1976
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Re: New Alpha version Firmware - Volunteer Testers needed !

Post by mondo1976 »

Am I correct in understanding that only HXCSDFE.CFG files configured specially for Alpha firmware can be used with the Alpha firmwares?

My problem lies in that I wish to change some settings beyond the three "autoboot, indexed, normal" modes, but it seems the HxC software is only capable of creating 8K CFG files instead of the 64K CFG files which seem to be special for the Alpha firmware. In other words, saving/loading the 64K configuration files doesn't work currently.

I suspect this is simply a current limitation of the HxC Software, but I'd love a way to tweak things as I see fit.

Jeff
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Re: New Alpha version Firmware - Volunteer Testers needed !

Post by Jeff »

mondo1976 wrote:
Fri Jan 26, 2018 8:52 pm
Am I correct in understanding that only HXCSDFE.CFG files configured specially for Alpha firmware can be used with the Alpha firmwares?

My problem lies in that I wish to change some settings beyond the three "autoboot, indexed, normal" modes, but it seems the HxC software is only capable of creating 8K CFG files instead of the 64K CFG files which seem to be special for the Alpha firmware. In other words, saving/loading the 64K configuration files doesn't work currently.

I suspect this is simply a current limitation of the HxC Software, but I'd love a way to tweak things as I see fit.
Yes, the software currently only support the old cfg file format. Anyway:
-Alpha support Old and New cfg file format.
And
-You can tweak all parameters with the embedded menu without changing anything the config file.

mondo1976
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Re: New Alpha version Firmware - Volunteer Testers needed !

Post by mondo1976 »

Jeff wrote:
Fri Jan 26, 2018 10:38 pm
Yes, the software currently only support the old cfg file format. Anyway:
-Alpha support Old and New cfg file format.
And
-You can tweak all parameters with the embedded menu without changing anything the config file.
In the "Update and Usage" documentation, it gives me the impression that the embedded menu cannot be used without the display add-on. Is this correct? If so, there's no way to change the settings without an updated HxC Software, so one needs to save/use the old 8K configuration file type.

Which prompts the question: Are there any drawbacks to not using the newer 64K configuration?

A couple more things... is there a way to disable the "last image selected" feature, specifically when using Indexed mode?

And also, raw Akai support is supposed to have been added, but doesn't appear to work on an Akai S900 even with HXCFEUSB_V3_1_1_2a.

Jeff
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Re: New Alpha version Firmware - Volunteer Testers needed !

Post by Jeff »

In normal and indexed mode, the new cfg file doesn't bring anything special.

For the last save option in indexed mode, this should work , but i must check it. (This will load the image 000).

for the akai, you need to specify the target machine since the file size are in conflict with another format. Problem for you : you actually need the screen to set it. i think that i will add a possibility to setup the target machine with the gotek digit screen.
if you want i can send you an firmware with the akai mode set by default.

mondo1976
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Re: New Alpha version Firmware - Volunteer Testers needed !

Post by mondo1976 »

Jeff wrote:
Sat Jan 27, 2018 1:59 am
For the last save option in indexed mode, this should work , but i must check it. (This will load the image 000).

for the akai, you need to specify the target machine since the file size are in conflict with another format. Problem for you : you actually need the screen to set it. i think that i will add a possibility to setup the target machine with the gotek digit screen.
if you want i can send you an firmware with the akai mode set by default.
Yes, that's exactly what I want to do: lock floppy loading to be always '000' regardless of previous disk selection at power-off. This would be something that would have to be configured strictly from the front panel? Or is there a CFG "hack" which could do this?

Akai raw support is less important to me as performance is very good even with HFE. Even disk formatting works in my case! I'm quite surprised.

Jeff
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Re: New Alpha version Firmware - Volunteer Testers needed !

Post by Jeff »

mondo1976 wrote:
Sat Jan 27, 2018 8:09 am
Jeff wrote:
Sat Jan 27, 2018 1:59 am
For the last save option in indexed mode, this should work , but i must check it. (This will load the image 000).

for the akai, you need to specify the target machine since the file size are in conflict with another format. Problem for you : you actually need the screen to set it. i think that i will add a possibility to setup the target machine with the gotek digit screen.
if you want i can send you an firmware with the akai mode set by default.
Yes, that's exactly what I want to do: lock floppy loading to be always '000' regardless of previous disk selection at power-off. This would be something that would have to be configured strictly from the front panel? Or is there a CFG "hack" which could do this?

Akai raw support is less important to me as performance is very good even with HFE. Even disk formatting works in my case! I'm quite surprised.
I have just made a quick release of this feature (v3.1.1.4a). I have "connected" the load last floppy flag to the indexed and file selector mode. Just unset the flag (and keep the indexed mode enabled).
Let me know if this fit your need.

https://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_driv ... rmware.zip
https://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_driv ... _notes.txt

mondo1976
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Re: New Alpha version Firmware - Volunteer Testers needed !

Post by mondo1976 »

Jeff wrote:
Sat Jan 27, 2018 11:09 am
I have just made a quick release of this feature (v3.1.1.4a). I have "connected" the load last floppy flag to the indexed and file selector mode. Just unset the flag (and keep the indexed mode enabled).
Yes, sir! Works just as I'd have expected it to, and exactly as I hoped!

Outstanding support, Jeff. Thank you. This is the reason I keep coming back to buy licenses. :D

Jeff
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Re: New Alpha version Firmware - Volunteer Testers needed !

Post by Jeff »

Some firmwares updates ! :

29 January 2018: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.1.2.0a

- *.ST 720KB Files : Switch to the TOS 1.62 Disk Layout.
- RAW files loader : Internal enhancement.

27 January 2018: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.1.1.4a

- Config file "Load last loaded floppy" flag is now supported in indexed and file selector mode.

27 January 2018: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.1.1.3a

- Normal mode Fix : ST files are visible again !

21 January 2018: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.1.1.2a

- "Load Last selected image" : Save & Restore previous folder position.
https://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_driv ... rmware.zip

https://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_driv ... _notes.txt

Jeff
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Re: New Alpha version Firmware - Volunteer Testers needed !

Post by Jeff »

More firmwares updates ! :

02 February 2018: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.1.5.0a

- Cache flush fix :
Do you not reorder the cache when not needed ( e.g when the track fit the cache size )

- CFG File V1 fix (Autoboot mode) :
slots support now file images with 2 characters filename extension...

- More code Speed optimizations. (again ! :) )

01 February 2018: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.1.4.0a

- More Code Speed optimizations.
- RAW MFM & FM Images (IMG/ST/...) :
- More Write speed improvement : Sector Data cache prefetch.

31 January 2018: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.1.3.0a

- RAW MFM & FM Images (IMG/ST/...) :
- Write speed improvement :
- Track cache workflow improvement.
- Code optimization (CRC16, MFM 2 BIN...).
https://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_driv ... rmware.zip

https://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_driv ... _notes.txt

Jeff
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Re: New Alpha version Firmware - Volunteer Testers needed !

Post by Jeff »

Firmwares update ! :

04 February 2018: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.1.5.1a

- Raw *.IMG PC Files : Use the DOS 6.22 disk layouts.
- And as always some code optimizations.
https://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_driv ... rmware.zip

https://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_driv ... _notes.txt

Jeff
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Re: New Alpha version Firmware - Volunteer Testers needed !

Post by Jeff »

Firmwares update ! :

05 February 2018: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.1.6.0a

- Low level Floppy IO optimizations.
https://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_driv ... rmware.zip

https://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_driv ... _notes.txt

Jeff
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Re: New Alpha version Firmware - Volunteer Testers needed !

Post by Jeff »

Firmwares update ! :

06 February 2018: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.1.8.1a

- Raw files : Write sector performance increased.
Near Real time sectors write !
https://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_driv ... rmware.zip

https://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_driv ... _notes.txt

Vaklin
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Re: New Alpha version Firmware - Volunteer Testers needed !

Post by Vaklin »

Great job, Jeff!

So, we can expect in some future "track at once" operation and some suitable for this format RAW files? To explain. Now the deal is focused on the sector of disk, which eliminates all possibilities to work with unknown formats. Hard, mechanically coded for floppy is the track. Track to track time is long enough due to mechanical force/inertia to move the head. So, setting the RPM and bit rate automatically for known formats, and manually for proprietary ones give an opportunity to work with any virtual track from floppy. Read from and write to operations can be performed in the time between track moves, when this situation comes. Some soldering efforts to add some kind of memory, if necessary, is nothing in face of this great improvement.

What do you think about that, Jeff?

Regards!

Jeff
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Re: New Alpha version Firmware - Volunteer Testers needed !

Post by Jeff »

Look like you want to use the HFE format ? The HFE format store full tracks in cells mode.
This is what you are looking for ?

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