Hi all,
Since it's still possible to source 1770/1772 chips and we have schematic for the Sandy Super Disk / Sandy SuperQBoard, it should be possible to design a modern disk interface for the QL, should even be possible to do a TrumpCard clone, as the logic for it has been reverse engineered and should be easily implementable in a CPLD + a couple of SRAM chips.
What do people think ?
Or should we just consider floppy disks a dead end ?
Cheers.
Phill.
Disk interfaces....
Re: Disk interfaces....
All of the above is currently included in UltraQ - think that plus 4MB and a faster CPU.
I personally think floppy drives a not fit for use any more. The media is getting harder to find in reasonable qualities, but the bigger problem is that the mechanisms are all worn or failing. If you have a floppy that works, it's increasingly likely the floppies written in that drive will only be readable in that drive. Also, there are a few memory-based storage options on sale or coming soon. They all cost less than the equivalent floppy interface plus a couple of tested good drives, and they can store a LOT more. The QL-SD, for example, ships with a 4GB SD card that is big enough to store the entire catalog of everything written for the QL, ever.
I personally think floppy drives a not fit for use any more. The media is getting harder to find in reasonable qualities, but the bigger problem is that the mechanisms are all worn or failing. If you have a floppy that works, it's increasingly likely the floppies written in that drive will only be readable in that drive. Also, there are a few memory-based storage options on sale or coming soon. They all cost less than the equivalent floppy interface plus a couple of tested good drives, and they can store a LOT more. The QL-SD, for example, ships with a 4GB SD card that is big enough to store the entire catalog of everything written for the QL, ever.
Re: Disk interfaces....
But...on SD...the command for load a file...is the same as "flp"?
Or MDV?
It will be nice If can be automatically change the "path" and read all automatically.
Sincerely I prefer the original QL restored as "was" made (MD and Floppy restored) but the Dave's project is very interesting.
Needs 2 Different QL's ^_^
Or MDV?
It will be nice If can be automatically change the "path" and read all automatically.
Sincerely I prefer the original QL restored as "was" made (MD and Floppy restored) but the Dave's project is very interesting.
Needs 2 Different QL's ^_^