2.8" QD Disk Emulation

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Jeff
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Re: 2.8" QD Disk Emulation

Post by Jeff »

BTW Is there someone here:

-> With an HxC-Gotek drive. :arrow: Link
-> Able to make a the shugart to QD ribbon according to the above schematic. :arrow: Link
-> Willing to spend some time to help me with tests (Probably with lots of failures :D ) on his favourite QD gear.
-> (Optional but this may help) Having some skills in electronic and able to take some measurements.

:?:

:)

Jeff
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Re: 2.8" QD Disk Emulation

Post by Jeff »

I have uploaded the most interesting technical informations on different the QD drives and QD Machines :

:arrow: https://hxc2001.com/download/datasheet/ ... dparty/QD/

Image

hjalfi
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Re: 2.8" QD Disk Emulation

Post by hjalfi »

That looks really useful, thanks!

So it looks like there is no specific signal to start a read. AFAICT, what we do is:

- briefly bring MOTOR ON low to start the motor
- wait for READY
- start reading/writing
- wait for !READY
- motor turns off automatically
- (assumption) the head returns to the start position

The timing diagram doesn't mention what to do with RESET. I assumed that this was the signal which reset the head, but I don't think that's true any ore? It is labelled as an input. Is this just logic reset for the drive state machine? This would explain why on a Smith Corona typewriter it appears to be wired to the reset line on the drive controller...

Jeff
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Re: 2.8" QD Disk Emulation

Post by Jeff »

hjalfi wrote:
Thu Aug 08, 2019 12:06 pm
- briefly bring MOTOR ON low to start the motor
Apparently the /MO signal must asserted to get the READY signal. So you probably need to keep asserted /MO until you got the READY signal. Once READY is asserted, you can desassert /MO if you want to read the disk only one time.
hjalfi wrote:
Thu Aug 08, 2019 12:06 pm
- wait for READY
- start reading/writing
- wait for !READY
- motor turns off automatically
Motor turns off automatically if /MO is not asserted at this point.
hjalfi wrote:
Thu Aug 08, 2019 12:06 pm
- (assumption) the head returns to the start position
This is at the next read/write attempt that the head return, and then the ready signal is asserted again.
hjalfi wrote:
Thu Aug 08, 2019 12:06 pm
The timing diagram doesn't mention what to do with RESET. I assumed that this was the signal which reset the head, but I don't think that's true any ore? It is labelled as an input. Is this just logic reset for the drive state machine? This would explain why on a Smith Corona typewriter it appears to be wired to the reset line on the drive controller...
Yes this reset clear the internal state : Stop the motor and reset the ready state. This one is probably used to immediately stop the drive (when the user open the door for example ?).

hjalfi
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Re: 2.8" QD Disk Emulation

Post by hjalfi »

Cool, thanks --- that doesn't sound hard to implement.

In the extremely unlikely event that someone here has the FluxEngine hardware, I have incredibly prototype and untested firmware at https://github.com/davidgiven/fluxengine/tree/qd, based on Jeff's adapter pinout...

AMSynths
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Re: 2.8" QD Disk Emulation

Post by AMSynths »

Hi Jeff
I have a Gotek drive arriving next week and have 3 samplers to test it in. i will make up the cable in the meantime, so I can help test the software. I can also take a look at the mechanical design, I think a pcb can do the interface cabling with 2 sockets and also provide a base for the new drive.
Rob

Jeff
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Re: 2.8" QD Disk Emulation

Post by Jeff »

AMSynths wrote:
Fri Aug 09, 2019 10:48 am
Hi Jeff
I have a Gotek drive arriving next week and have 3 samplers to test it in. i will make up the cable in the meantime, so I can help test the software. I can also take a look at the mechanical design, I think a pcb can do the interface cabling with 2 sockets and also provide a base for the new drive.
Rob
Thanks for this ! :)
I will make my best to release a beta version asap.

Jeff
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Re: 2.8" QD Disk Emulation

Post by Jeff »

First HxC Gotek firmware with the QuickDisk Emulation support :
11 August 2019 : Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.4.0.0a ( https://hxc2001.com/custom_fw/ and WIP_Firmware folder )

- Work in progress : QuickDisk emulation support added !

A new build variant is now available to emulate QuickDisk drive !

The Gotek floppy port to the QuickDisk interface is :
-- Shugart pin -- -- QuickDisk Machine--

Pin 2 (/DC) -> /MS (/MediaSense)
Pin 10 (/DS0) -> Connect it to GND/VSS
Pin 16 (/MotorOn) -> /MO
Pin 20 (/Step) -> /RS (/Reset)
Pin 22 (/WriteData) -> /WD (/WriteData)
Pin 24 (/WriteGate) -> WG (WriteGate)
Pin 28 (/WriteProtect) -> WP (WriteProtect)
Pin 30 (/ReadData) -> RD (ReadData)
Pin 34 (/Ready) -> /RY (/Ready)

Pins 4,6,8,12,14,18,26 and 32 can be left unconnected on the Gotek.
Odd pins Gotek pins (1,3,5,7,...,33) should be connected to the GND/VSS.

The jumper must be set to "MO".

A Blank QuickDisk floppy disk can be found in the firmware archive in the /QuickDisk folder.
HXCFEUSB_HFE_beta_firmware.zip

USB_HFE_hxc_floppy_emulator_firmware_release_notes.txt

Custom HxC firmware

Tested on a Thomson MO5 computer. This appears to work well for a first version but i expect that i still need to fix some glitches. :D

Jeff
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Re: 2.8" QD Disk Emulation

Post by Jeff »

And now a fix ! :
13 August 2019 : Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.4.1.1a ( https://hxc2001.com/custom_fw/ and WIP_Firmware folder )

- QuickDisk support : Write support fixed (DMA descriptors fixed).
HXCFEUSB_HFE_beta_firmware.zip

USB_HFE_hxc_floppy_emulator_firmware_release_notes.txt

Custom HxC firmware

:D

Jeff
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Re: 2.8" QD Disk Emulation

Post by Jeff »

A last one !
14 August 2019 : Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.4.1.2a ( https://hxc2001.com/custom_fw/ and WIP_Firmware folder )

- QuickDisk support : More important write support fixes !
HXCFEUSB_HFE_beta_firmware.zip

USB_HFE_hxc_floppy_emulator_firmware_release_notes.txt

Custom HxC firmware

:wink:

Jeff
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Re: 2.8" QD Disk Emulation

Post by Jeff »

The last one ? :D
15 August 2019 : Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.4.1.4a ( https://hxc2001.com/custom_fw/ and WIP_Firmware folder )

- QuickDisk support : More Fixes again ! Blank.qd image : Ready window increased from 5s to 5.5s.
HXCFEUSB_HFE_beta_firmware.zip

USB_HFE_hxc_floppy_emulator_firmware_release_notes.txt

Custom HxC firmware

Jeff
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Re: 2.8" QD Disk Emulation

Post by Jeff »

Some pictures of the machine i use to test the firmware :

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Now i am waiting your pictures and file images. The QuickDisk emulator is now available easily ! :D

hjalfi
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Re: 2.8" QD Disk Emulation

Post by hjalfi »

What's the raw magnetic flux format used by HxC for these? (I may be able to generate images.)

Also, if anyone near Switzerland now has a QuickDisk drive and some formatted disks they no longer want, I'd love to take them off your hands.

Jeff
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Re: 2.8" QD Disk Emulation

Post by Jeff »

hjalfi wrote:
Thu Aug 15, 2019 4:01 pm
What's the raw magnetic flux format used by HxC for these? (I may be able to generate images.)

Also, if anyone near Switzerland now has a QuickDisk drive and some formatted disks they no longer want, I'd love to take them off your hands.
I will publish the format soon.

Jeff
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Re: 2.8" QD Disk Emulation

Post by Jeff »

I have studied the different QuickDisk drive pinouts and it appears that the 10 pins version is the most commonly used.

Below you can found the QuickDisk Floppy Drive Interface to the floppy emulator wiring schematic for the following machines :

Akai MD-280 / S700 / X3700 / X7000
Korg SQD-1 / SQD-8
Roland S-10 / S-220 / MKS-100 / MT-100 / PR-100
Sharp MZ-1500 / MSX QDM-01
Yamaha MDF-1

QuickDisk_Akai_MSX_Korg_Roland_Sharp_Interface_to_HxCFloppyEmulator.png
QuickDisk_Akai_MSX_Korg_Roland_Sharp_Interface_to_HxCFloppyEmulator.png (133.64 KiB) Viewed 12486 times
If you have another machine and want to know which wiring you must use, just ask ! :)

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