Timex FDD with other drives (Re: Digest Number 69)
8 messages · 2003-02-04 → 2003-02-12 · Yahoo Group era · View archive on archive.org
Participants: Jarek Adamski, Johnny Red, Mr para nada, João Encarnado, keithwatson
Preserved from the Timex/Sinclair 2068 Yahoo Group (2001–2019), which is no longer online. Text reproduced from the archive.org archive; email addresses masked.
Messages
1. Re: [ts2068] Digest Number 69
Mr para nada · Wed, 5 Feb 2003 04:36:
Hi there,
I'm a owner of a complete disk system, but is the
original FDD3000
Has been purchased a year ago for..... 30$ XDDD
And I also have 2 disk controller, but only the
controller, not the disk drive.
My question, could be easy use a standard flopply disk
with this controller?
Thanks a lot
regards
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> There are 2 messages in this issue.
>
> Topics in this digest:
>
> 1. Zebra Disk Drive system
> From: "doidy34 <[email]>"
> <[email]>
> 2. Greetings to you all
> From: "JOHN SIMPSON"
> <[email]>
>
>
>
________________________________________________________________________
>
________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 05:08:17 -0000
> From: "doidy34 <[email]>"
> <[email]>
> Subject: Zebra Disk Drive system
>
> Hey gang, just thought I would post a link to a Ebay
> auction where
> someone is auctioning off a complete Zebra TS2068
> disk drive system
> with controllers, drives, disks, software, etc. I
> would personally
> kill to own this (well, maybe not) but cannot really
> afford it at the
> time. Just thought someone else might be
> interested?
>
>
> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?
> ViewItem&categoryA93&item 86790113
>
>
>
> Luke P
>
>
>
>
________________________________________________________________________
>
________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 10:17:29 -0800
> From: "JOHN SIMPSON" <[email]>
> Subject: Greetings to you all
>
> Greetings to you all and thank you for allowing me
> to join your group! I
> first owned a TS2068 in 1983 as a young'n. My dad
> would not buy me the
> ever-popular console gaming systems and told me that
> the only video games I
> was allowed to play were those I could program in
> BASIC on the TS2068.
> Coincidentally, I became adept in BASIC programming.
>
> I gave that system to a church in 1990, while I was
> enlisted in the Coast
> Guard. I recently regained interest in the computer
> while surfing the web.
> I bought my current one on e-bay, and I've made it
> my mission to maximize my
> TS2068 over the next year or so. The hardest things
> to aquire will likely
> be a FDD system (preferably 3.5 disks), an adapter
> for a modern printer, and
> (if possible) a hard disk drive-- yes, I've my work
> cut out for me...
>
> I look forward to knowing more about each of you.
> If you want to know more
> about me, here is my rather pathetic website:
>
>
http://www.geocities.com/grey_six/jay_and_sherri.html?1035781498145
>
>
>
> v/r
>
>
> John Simpson
> TS2068 Enthusiast
>
>
>
_________________________________________________________________
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2. Re: [ts2068] Digest Number 69
João Encarnado · Wed, 5 Feb 2003 12:03:
On Wednesday, Feb 5, 2003, at 03:36 Europe/Lisbon, Mr para nada wrote:
Hi, you can connect a 5,25 or 3,5 IBM PC compatible disk drive.
For the 5,25 you do not need any adaptor, since the connectors (power
and data) are the same.
For the 3,5 you need an adaptor for power and data, because this type
of disk drive uses different connectors.
I have a 3,5 DSDD drive connected to my FDD system (not the FDD3000),
with adapters I have found on a old died PC XT, and it works. Floppy A
is the original 3" drive and floppy B is the 3,5 floppy.
I have not tryed to use new 3,5 HD floppies nor 5,25 floppies.
In Poland is very usual to see a FDD with 5,25 DSDD (360K) floppies.
They use a switch to select the disk side to read (I think it's side
select signal) without turning the disk.
The only problem is to pass the system for the new disks.
If you have a working FDD3000 open it and disconnect the B floppy, and
connect the new drive.
Format a disk in floppy B and thats it.
Johnny Red, Portugal
> Hi there,
>
> I'm a owner of a complete disk system, but is the
> original FDD3000
> Has been purchased a year ago for..... 30$ XDDD
> And I also have 2 disk controller, but only the
> controller, not the disk drive.
> My question, could be easy use a standard flopply disk
> with this controller?
> Thanks a lot
3. Timex FDD with other drives (Re: Digest Number 69)
Jarek Adamski · Mon, 10 Feb 2003 01:00
--- In [email], João Encarnado wrote:
> For the 3,5 you need an adaptor for power and data,
> because this type of disk drive uses different connectors.
Or, you can take the flat cable from a PC, but remeber to
flatten the "invention". :) Also, take care for the 3"5
drives - they are set to B: at factory, as in PC are only
two B: drives... :)
Also, some 5"25 drives require jumper switching for better
work. And some drives doesn't want to work when not hidden
from light (usually the 3" ones).
> I have a 3,5 DSDD drive connected to my FDD system (not
> the FDD3000), with adapters I have found on a old died
> PC XT, and it works. Floppy A is the original 3" drive
> and floppy B is the 3,5 floppy.
I have 3"5 DSHD drive as A: with flat cable made by
myself. Also I took one power cable from PC power supply.
The HD disks works OK, but require a sticker at bottom
side, over the HD hole.
I have also a 40MB hard disk inside my Timex FDD 3000,
but this is separate story... ;)
> I have not tryed to use new 3,5 HD floppies nor 5,25
> floppies.
They work OK. I even connected HD Amiga drive and I got
1.6MB under my CPM22QED. (The TOS Q.1 emulates TOS
protocol under CP/M, please contact me if someone
wants to test.)
> In Poland is very usual to see a FDD with 5,25 DSDD
> (360K) floppies.
On 5"25 DSDD we have 640kB in TOS. (Or 820kB in
CPM22QED...)
> They use a switch to select the disk side to read
> (I think it's side select signal) without turning
> the disk.
Yes, but this is for 5"25 DSSD (40 tracks) drives.
> The only problem is to pass the system for the new
> disks.
It can be solved using PC with CPDWRITE.EXE or
CFMT.EXE from 22DISK...
Yarek.
4. Re: [ts2068] Timex FDD with other drives (Re: Digest Number 69)
Johnny Red · Mon, 10 Feb 2003 15:00
on 02/10/2003 01:00, Jarek Adamski <[email]> at [email] wrote:
>> In Poland is very usual to see a FDD with 5,25 DSDD
>> (360K) floppies.
> On 5"25 DSDD we have 640kB in TOS. (Or 820kB in
> CPM22QED...)
How can this be possible?
How do you get 80tracks on a 40 tracks drive?
Lets see:
5"25 SDDD on a pc formats 160K/180K Disks -> 40 tracks drive
5"25 DSSD ??!?!?
5"25 DSDD on a pc formats 320K/360K Disks -> 40 tracks drive
5"25 DSHD on a pc formats 1.2MBs Disks -> 80 tracks drive
3,5" DSDD on a pc formats 720K disks
3,5" DSHD on a pc formats 1.44MBs disks
Found on a computer glossary
DSDD (double-sided, double-density) On PCs and laptops, DSDD means 720K 3
1/2-inch diskettes or 360K 5 1/4-inch diskettes.
DSHD (double-sided, high-density) On PCs and laptops, DSHD means 1.44Mb 3
1/2-inch diskettes or 1.2Mb 5 1/4-inch diskettes.
http://members.tripod.com/~oldboard/assembly/floppy_formats.html
On this site don't have found anything about Single Density disks.
I think, that Single Density disks only has used in 8" disks!!!!
Here: http://www.cadigital.com/flopdriv.htm
you can find 8" disks and drives!!!
Simply huge disks! :)
Johnny Red
5. Re:Re: [ts2068] Timex FDD with other drives (Re: Digest Number 69)
keithwatson · Mon, 10 Feb 2003 17:40
Hi all,
In response to Johnny Red's question about 5 1/4" 80 track drives, I have two 5 1/4" drives that are DSQD, or quad density drives. Radio Shack sold a box of 10 5 1/4 diskettes for a while that were specifically made for these type of drives. I found that I could normally use the DSDD diskettes just as well and they didn't cost as much either. I believe these DSQD drives were found mostly on CPM type computers. I used them with my Timex AERCO FD68 drive system which allows 35, 40, 76 and 80 track drives in 3", 3.5", 5 1/4" and 8" sizes (but not in that order). All drives on the AERCO FD68 can be single or double sided except for the 8" drive which can only be single sided. I've used 3" single sided (and an unusual 3" double sided version), 3.5" single/double sided, and 5 1/4" double sided drives with my FD68 system. With a little jumper modification to old 1.2 meg HP 5 1/4 drives, it is possible for these drives to work with the AERCO FD68 system as 80 track 800 kbyte drives.
The AERCO FD68 system can also boot with a look-a-like CPM system which is called RPM. You do get 80 columns on the screen but it is pretty slow to display on the Timex screen. It is very much better to use a terminal display and turn off the Timex screen. Then the display really flies.
Keith Watson
6. Timex FDD with other drives (Re: Digest Number 69)
Jarek Adamski · Tue, 11 Feb 2003 00:29
--- In [email], Johnny Red <encarnado@n...> wrote:
> on 02/10/2003 01:00, Jarek Adamski <zx@y...> at zx@y... wrote:
>
> >> In Poland is very usual to see a FDD with 5,25 DSDD
> >> (360K) floppies.
> > On 5"25 DSDD we have 640kB in TOS. (Or 820kB in
> > CPM22QED...)
>
> How can this be possible?
> How do you get 80tracks on a 40 tracks drive?
OK, my fault. ;-)
I mistook density with TPI coefficient.
> On this site don't have found anything about Single Density disks.
> I think, that Single Density disks only has used in 8" disks!!!!
The Single Density was for FM, whlile the Double Density for MFM.
Many disk controllers can use FM, but who needs it...
(Perhaps Atari users?)
> Here: http://www.cadigital.com/flopdriv.htm
> you can find 8" disks and drives!!!
> Simply huge disks! :)
I own two 8" (made in Bulgaria) and a bunch of 8" disks...
I didn't know I'm so rich!!!
Yarek.
7. Re: [ts2068] Timex FDD with other drives (Re: Digest Number 69)
Johnny Red · Tue, 11 Feb 2003 08:28
on 02/11/2003 00:29, Jarek Adamski <[email]> at [email] wrote:
>
>> Here: http://www.cadigital.com/flopdriv.htm
>> you can find 8" disks and drives!!!
>> Simply huge disks! :)
> I own two 8" (made in Bulgaria) and a bunch of 8" disks...
> I didn't know I'm so rich!!!
Where did you see the price of a 8" diskdrive?
Carrying a 8" disk would be nice... a suitcase would b needed...
5,25" are big...
Johnny Red, Portugal
8. Timex FDD with other drives (Re: Digest Number 69)
Jarek Adamski · Wed, 12 Feb 2003 12:49
--- In [email], Johnny Red <encarnado@n...> wrote:
> Where did you see the price of a 8" diskdrive?
The page you provided
http://www.cadigital.com/flopdriv.htm
in last two columns are prices, perhaps in USD...
> Carrying a 8" disk would be nice... a suitcase would b
> needed... 5,25" are big...
For the 8" disks I have kind of album (like photo album,
but with pockets for 8" disks). I could tell you
dimensions of that "book", but they are somewhere deep
in my room. :(
Yarek, Poland.