HxC With RML480Z DD Disk

[ausfan]

Hi All,

I'm trying to get the HxC to work with an RML 480Z.
This system uses an odd mixed-density 40 track format with the first one or two tracks as Single-density and the remaining ones as Double-density.

The system boots off of the single-density tracks and all the various programs are held on the double-density ones.
It will boot from the HxC without any problems but I get sector errors trying to load any of the programs. Any ideas?. I think it's getting confused with the mixed density.
I've successfully created working floppies from the image so I know that's ok, but it doesn't work in the HxC.

Thanks, Dave.

480ZBOOT.zip

(169.92 KiB) Downloaded 1105 times

[Jeff]

Hi,

Attached some files to tests.

one should works.

(EDIT: Probably just a double step issue : just active it into the settings)

[ausfan]

Thanks Jeff,

I'll give those a try later and let you know how I get on.

The boot disk was 40 track but the physical drives in the system are 80 track, it detects itself whether to double-step or not depending on the disk/drive combination, but I see what you're suggesting, it's possible that it's getting confused about the drive type with the HxC attached and either trying to double-step when it doesn't need to or vice-versa.

Thanks again

Dave.

[ausfan]

Hi Jeff,

Got it working set to double-step with 2 of the images you supplied.
Both the DS250K and DS300K worked.

What do I need to do to my existing images to output them in the same format?.

Regards, Dave.

Hi,

Attached some files to tests.

one should works.

(EDIT: Probably just a double step issue : just active it into the settings)

[Jeff]

Hi Jeff,
Both the DS250K and DS300K worked.

mhh interesting .. both 250kbits/s and 300kbits/s are working... the RML480Z is able to detect the bitrate?

anyway you have just to activate the double step :
Before converting/exporting hfe files :
Settings->SDCard HxC Floppy Emulator settings -> Check "Double Step" -> Ok

[ausfan]

Hi Jeff,

It seems to work fine reading with either, but I'll stick with 250K as I doubt 300K drives would ever have been fitted as the system is circa 1985. It came with either 40 or 80 track double-sided double-density drives.

I have converted my remaining images with the double-step setting on and will give them a try when I get a bit of time. I didn't appreciate that the double-step setting affected the image conversion, I thought it was just for the emulation. I should have read the manual better!.

Dave

[/quote]
mhh interesting .. both 250kbits/s and 300kbits/s are working... the RML480Z is able to detect the bitrate?
[/quote]

[Jeff]

I didn't appreciate that the double-step setting affected the image conversion, I thought it was just for the emulation. I should have read the manual better!.

Yes actually the double step setting is located into the HFE images because on some systems some disks need the double step, others not.
Actually this is not an "global" setting, but only an image setting.

[ausfan]

Hi Jeff,

Nice to see a photo of the 480Z in with the supported hardware list!.

We have also had success with the RML 380Z so you can add that one as well if you like.

Do you have any Z80 code examples or documentation for controlling the HxC through the floppy interface for selecting the images?. I'd like to investigate writing something for the 380Z/480Z.

Regards, Dave.

[Jeff]

Hi Jeff,

Nice to see a photo of the 480Z in with the supported hardware list!.

We have also had success with the RML 380Z so you can add that one as well if you like.

Do you have any Z80 code examples or documentation for controlling the HxC through the floppy interface for selecting the images?. I'd like to investigate writing something for the 380Z/480Z.

Regards, Dave.

There are the Amstrad CPC version :
http://hxcfloppyemu.svn.sourceforge.net ... mstradCPC/

We use SDCC : http://sdcc.sourceforge.net/

The doc: https://hxc2001.com/floppy_drive_emulat ... s_mode.pdf