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External Microdrives work on QL

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 12:14 am
by SinclairSociety
Wondering if external Microdrives from the Sinclair Spectrum line of computers are the same exact units and can they work on QLs externally?

Thanks

TJ

Re: External Microdrives work on QL

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 6:11 am
by Dave
Yes, they do work, but they face backwards!

Honestly, the only reason you'd want one is to take up some space on a shelf.

Re: External Microdrives work on QL

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 12:38 pm
by Cristian
I'm not sure they can format

Re: External Microdrives work on QL

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 1:47 pm
by tofro
The later ZX Microdrives worked pretty well on a QL, you could format, read and write without any problems.

The main reasons why you want to connect them today are:
  • Because you can ;)
  • It just looks so odd you simply have to
Tobias

Re: External Microdrives work on QL

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 5:26 pm
by Andrew
tofro wrote: It just looks so odd you simply have to[/list]
I looks great ! retro :) I use a vDrive in a ZX microdrive case :)

Re: External Microdrives work on QL

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 6:04 pm
by Cristian
I remember someone in this forum couldn't format or manage correctly his ZX microdrive unit, until he adjusted the motor speed. But probably it was an isolated case.

Re: External Microdrives work on QL

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:29 pm
by janbredenbeek
I've actually done it and it worked. Only problem was it had to be placed the wrong way around :D

Jan

Re: External Microdrives work on QL

Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2019 12:51 am
by SinclairSociety
Is this whole turn around to run thing because the cable has to be put in backwards and the cable is not long enough to turn 180 so the drive can point forward?

TJ

Re: External Microdrives work on QL

Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2019 1:46 am
by Dave
On the Spectrum the microdrives would be aligned on the left side of the machine. Sinclair got negative feedback on this, because people are mostly right handed. For the QL, they included two drives on the right side and simply rotated the edge connector 180 degrees. As microdrives pass a line between them to communicate which is being addressed, the external units had to be connected from that specific side.

So, backwards!

Re: External Microdrives work on QL

Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2019 12:04 pm
by Derek_Stewart
Or just twist the cable 180 degrees going into the Microdrive.