Firmware updates for the STM32/Gotek HxC floppy emulators !

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

Post by tzok »

Flashed, works ok... I'll be waiting for "restore file system position/navigation path after reboot", but this is a minor thing, don't let the UI things ruing the main functionality and emulation timings/speed.

P.S.
Would you consider introducing a human-readable/editable CFG file or eventually a dedicated software for editing a CFG file for Gotek/HxC version?

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

Post by Jeff »

New firmware !
25 February 2018: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.1.16.1a

- User interface part : Code Refactored

- Better buttons behavior.
- Better/faster rotary behavior.

- Normal mode : Press both buttons shortly to jump to the first entry of the current folder. ("..")

- Normal mode : When returning to parent folder ("..") the position in the folder is restored.

- Autoboot mode :
--> Press both buttons shortly to jump to Autoboot.hfe
--> Press both buttons more than 2 seconds eject/insert the disk.

- Indexed mode :
--> Press both buttons shortly to jump to DSKA0000.HFE
--> Press both buttons more than 2 seconds eject/insert the disk.

- 7 segments screen : Now show when an image is inserted ("---") or ejected (" - ")

- OLED : init algorithm revised for diymore.cc screens.
(Press the right button at power up at the first diymore.cc screen installation).

- Various user interface fixes.

If you have any comments or suggestions, requests or issue to report please contact me :

Email : hxc2001 <at> hxc2001.com
Forum : http://torlus.com/floppy/forum
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/groups/hxc2001
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 »

tzok wrote:
Sat Feb 24, 2018 10:19 pm
P.S.
Would you consider introducing a human-readable/editable CFG file or eventually a dedicated software for editing a CFG file for Gotek/HxC version?
editable no, but a something easy to edit the cfg file yes !
btw all parameters are available in the embedded menus. so config file is becoming less and less needed.

tzok
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Joined: Sat Jan 27, 2018 2:52 pm

Re: New Alpha version Firmware - Volunteer Testers needed !

Post by tzok »

I was thinking about stock Gotek units w/o text mode displays.

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

Post by Jeff »

tzok wrote:
Sun Feb 25, 2018 4:49 pm
I was thinking about stock Gotek units w/o text mode displays.
Yes but have a look to the previous releases : i have added an new menu system for these gotek :D.

tzok
Posts: 79
Joined: Sat Jan 27, 2018 2:52 pm

Re: New Alpha version Firmware - Volunteer Testers needed !

Post by tzok »

Yes, I've seen it, but even with it, you have to have access to an computer to read what code means what or print a manual for it. It's better than nothing, but it feels like configuring an radio-alarm clock from '80s ;)

tzok
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Joined: Sat Jan 27, 2018 2:52 pm

Re: New Alpha version Firmware - Volunteer Testers needed !

Post by tzok »

I've done some benchmarks...

I've prepared a 512kB file with a random content, and was reading this file from disk (to a RAM disk), and writing it to disk (from a RAM disk). Copy operation has been done from the GEM desktop, without any additional software.

Code: Select all

operation | FlF | HxC | FDD |
READ      | 0:49| 0:39| 0:31|
WRITE     | 1:46| 1:19| 1:19|
For the FDD I have tested TOS formatted disk and FastCopy PRO formatted one (with the "optimized" option enabled). There was no significant difference. Image file was in .ST format (standard TOS disk image generated from STeEM SSE).

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

Post by Jeff »

tzok wrote:
Thu Mar 01, 2018 7:03 pm
I've done some benchmarks...

I've prepared a 512kB file with a random content, and was reading this file from disk (to a RAM disk), and writing it to disk (from a RAM disk). Copy operation has been done from the GEM desktop, without any additional software.

Code: Select all

operation | FlF | HxC | FDD |
READ      | 0:49| 0:39| 0:31|
WRITE     | 1:46| 1:19| 1:19|
For the FDD I have tested TOS formatted disk and FastCopy PRO formatted one (with the "optimized" option enabled). There was no significant difference. Image file was in .ST format (standard TOS disk image generated from STeEM SSE).
Not bad ! :D.
Interesting the 8 seconds read time difference with the FDD. Is the floppy disk formatted with FC3 ?

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

Post by tzok »

No, the floppy was formatted under TOS 1.62, but for comparison, I've formatted it also under FastCopy PRO, with OPTIMIZED option, and times were almost identical (+/- 1sec). Now, I'm not sure if FC PRO uses the same hacks as older FC3.

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

Post by Jeff »

tzok wrote:
Thu Mar 01, 2018 11:11 pm
No, the floppy was formatted under TOS 1.62, but for comparison, I've formatted it also under FastCopy PRO, with OPTIMIZED option, and times were almost identical (+/- 1sec). Now, I'm not sure if FC PRO uses the same hacks as older FC3.
problem analysed and reproduced ! working on a "fix".

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

Post by Jeff »

Quick Fix firmware ! :
3 March 2018: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.1.16.2a

- Autoboot mode + 3 Digits Gotek screen : Fix slot number.

If you have any comments or suggestions, requests or issue to report please contact me :

Email : hxc2001 <at> hxc2001.com
Forum : http://torlus.com/floppy/forum
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/groups/hxc2001
https://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_driv ... rmware.zip

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

tzok
Posts: 79
Joined: Sat Jan 27, 2018 2:52 pm

Re: New Alpha version Firmware - Volunteer Testers needed !

Post by tzok »

I really have no time for this now, but I couldn't resist...

I've done a trial on HFE images formatting under TOS 1.62, 2.06, FastCopy 3 and FastCopy PRO - here are the results, and files.
Writing 512kB file to image formatted with:
TOS and FC PRO - 1:40
FC3 - 1:10

https://www.4shared.com/rar/z31sNfgKca/HFE_TEST.html

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

Post by Jeff »

The :oops: firmware update :
Jeff wrote:
Sat Mar 03, 2018 10:09 pm
Quick Fix firmware ! :
3 March 2018: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.1.16.2a

- Autoboot mode + 3 Digits Gotek screen : Fix slot number.

If you have any comments or suggestions, requests or issue to report please contact me :

Email : hxc2001 <at> hxc2001.com
Forum : http://torlus.com/floppy/forum
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/groups/hxc2001
And here is what happen when you are release a firmware too quickly :oops: :
4 March 2018: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.1.16.3a

- Fix last the v3.1.16.2a compilation option !
Please update if you have the v3.1.16.2a released yesterday !
So if you have updated your firmware with the v3.1.16.2a during the last hours, please do it again with the v3.1.16.3a ! :wink:

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

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

Jeff
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Posts: 8091
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 12:12 am
Location: Paris
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Re: New Alpha version Firmware - Volunteer Testers needed !

Post by Jeff »

Jeff wrote:
Thu Mar 01, 2018 9:55 pm
tzok wrote:
Thu Mar 01, 2018 7:03 pm
I've done some benchmarks...

I've prepared a 512kB file with a random content, and was reading this file from disk (to a RAM disk), and writing it to disk (from a RAM disk). Copy operation has been done from the GEM desktop, without any additional software.

Code: Select all

operation | FlF | HxC | FDD |
READ      | 0:49| 0:39| 0:31|
WRITE     | 1:46| 1:19| 1:19|
For the FDD I have tested TOS formatted disk and FastCopy PRO formatted one (with the "optimized" option enabled). There was no significant difference. Image file was in .ST format (standard TOS disk image generated from STeEM SSE).
Not bad ! :D.
Interesting the 8 seconds read time difference with the FDD. Is the floppy disk formatted with FC3 ?
@tzok the 8 seconds difference was because ... the HxC firmware was just too fast :lol: :
I have increased the settle time in this quick hack to make the FDD and HxC Firmware read speed equal on ST machine (ST & HFE files).
https://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_driv ... CUSBFE.UPD
i will make a proper fix later.

tzok
Posts: 79
Joined: Sat Jan 27, 2018 2:52 pm

Re: New Alpha version Firmware - Volunteer Testers needed !

Post by tzok »

It helped with reading (0:31) but broke writing (1:37) on HFE images (512kB file). Reading and writing of ST images is now perfect (0:31 / 1:19).

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