Hello. I am a new member and I just wanted to ask some questions:
I have a PC8801MK2SR and I would like to connect a "3.5 floppy. Is it possible to connect a "3.5 by replacing one of the "5 inch floppy drives? And if possible, how can I do this? Is it possible to take a PC98 "3.5 floppy and put it into the PC88 computer, or is it not compatible?
The question is because although I eventually want to use a HxC floppy drive emulator, I first want to try this solution since I have a big bunch of "3.5 floppies in my house that would be useful.
Anyone with experience of this? Is the procedure the same as with connecting the HxC floppy emulator? Could I just take/make a cable intended for the HxC and then just put a "3.5 floppy drive there instead of the HxC?
Sorry for the noob questions. Thanks in advance.
PC8801 3.5 Floppy
Re: PC8801 3.5 Floppy
Hi there. I have a non-SR PC8801mkII and have been looking into it myself.
Here is a page that I found on the subject: http://tulip-house.ddo.jp/DIGITAL/FD88/index.html
Here is the pinout that is provided on that page:
The gentleman in the link made a handmade adapter, but I'm not sure if I will do the same thing or just cut up a ribbon cable. I do not know enough about floppy drive connectors yet to tell if there is an easier way - perhaps something off the shelf.
I am not sure if this is the same cable as the one you would use with an HxC/Gotek but I assume so.
Good luck! Please let me know if you are successful, or even if you want to discuss general PC-88 topics/repairs. It's hard to find English-language material on these computers.
Here is a page that I found on the subject: http://tulip-house.ddo.jp/DIGITAL/FD88/index.html
Here is the pinout that is provided on that page:
The gentleman in the link made a handmade adapter, but I'm not sure if I will do the same thing or just cut up a ribbon cable. I do not know enough about floppy drive connectors yet to tell if there is an easier way - perhaps something off the shelf.
I am not sure if this is the same cable as the one you would use with an HxC/Gotek but I assume so.
Good luck! Please let me know if you are successful, or even if you want to discuss general PC-88 topics/repairs. It's hard to find English-language material on these computers.
Re: PC8801 3.5 Floppy
I ended up building an adapter board, though the first run has a lot of mistakes that I would like to fix before I give out the kicad files and BOM. Unfortunately I am quite new to electronics.
I used the HxC firmware on a Gotek. Great stuff!
I can confirm that Nishida-san's adapter schematic above works.
I used the HxC firmware on a Gotek. Great stuff!
I can confirm that Nishida-san's adapter schematic above works.
Re: PC8801 3.5 Floppy
This adapter is totally useless for the SD HxC & HxC Gotek : You don't need to make such adapter since you can change the interface mode to emulate the shugart floppy bus.barbeque wrote: ↑Sun Aug 12, 2018 1:42 am Hi there. I have a non-SR PC8801mkII and have been looking into it myself.
Here is a page that I found on the subject: http://tulip-house.ddo.jp/DIGITAL/FD88/index.html
Here is the pinout that is provided on that page:
The gentleman in the link made a handmade adapter, but I'm not sure if I will do the same thing or just cut up a ribbon cable. I do not know enough about floppy drive connectors yet to tell if there is an easier way - perhaps something off the shelf.
I am not sure if this is the same cable as the one you would use with an HxC/Gotek but I assume so.
Good luck! Please let me know if you are successful, or even if you want to discuss general PC-88 topics/repairs. It's hard to find English-language material on these computers.
Re: PC8801 3.5 Floppy
I didn't know that, thanks.Jeff wrote: ↑Fri Sep 07, 2018 10:36 amThis adapter is totally useless for the SD HxC & HxC Gotek : You don't need to make such adapter since you can change the interface mode to emulate the shugart floppy bus.barbeque wrote: ↑Sun Aug 12, 2018 1:42 am Here is a page that I found on the subject: http://tulip-house.ddo.jp/DIGITAL/FD88/index.html
Here is the pinout that is provided on that page:
In that case the adapter board I built only really provides an edge connector -> 34 pin IDC adapter, which you should just be able to crimp onto the ribbon cable directly, since the Gotek/HxC can be convinced to use Shugart mode instead.
You should only need that adapter wiring for an IBM PC 3.5" floppy drive, from the sound of it. I haven't tested my board with one yet, only the Gotek.
Good luck!
Re: PC8801 3.5 Floppy
Update: this adapter had some problems when I was trying to use two drives at once. I made a new version that was just a Shugart straight-through (e.g. pin 2 to pin 2, 34 to 34, etc) that adapted the edge-connector to a 34-pin female IDC floppy connector.barbeque wrote: ↑Fri Sep 14, 2018 7:30 pmI didn't know that, thanks.Jeff wrote: ↑Fri Sep 07, 2018 10:36 amThis adapter is totally useless for the SD HxC & HxC Gotek : You don't need to make such adapter since you can change the interface mode to emulate the shugart floppy bus.barbeque wrote: ↑Sun Aug 12, 2018 1:42 am Here is a page that I found on the subject: http://tulip-house.ddo.jp/DIGITAL/FD88/index.html
Here is the pinout that is provided on that page:
In that case the adapter board I built only really provides an edge connector -> 34 pin IDC adapter, which you should just be able to crimp onto the ribbon cable directly, since the Gotek/HxC can be convinced to use Shugart mode instead.
You should only need that adapter wiring for an IBM PC 3.5" floppy drive, from the sound of it. I haven't tested my board with one yet, only the Gotek.
Good luck!
Now it works great with two Goteks. Thanks for the firmware and the hint, Jeff!