A really good news

[gizmomelb]

Jeff - you rock!

I look forward to seeing the technical details / circuit / MCU code so I can build one of these myself and test it on my 8 and 16bit computers.

Thank you very, very much for your long and hard work.

[gizmomelb]

Hi Jeff,

I was wondering when you may be ready to release all of the details needed to make the new standalone SD floppy disk emulator please? I really want to make one!

Or will you be selling them ready made (there is some discussion about this in the French language forum)?

thank you.

[Jeff]

Hi Jeff,

I was wondering when you may be ready to release all of the details needed to make the new standalone SD floppy disk emulator please? I really want to make one!

Hi,

the PCB and the schematics are in a "beta" version state, and some changes can be made.
If you are very interested about building the prototype version, i can send you the PCB layout and the alpha version of the firmware next week.

Or will you be selling them ready made (there is some discussion about this in the French language forum)?

thank you.

No i will not sell it. The french language forum talking about selling the USB version. Giant will make and sell a small batch of the USB version.

jf

[gizmomelb]

Hi Jeff,

the PCB and the schematics are in a "beta" version state, and some changes can be made.
If you are very interested about building the prototype version, i can send you the PCB layout and the alpha version of the firmware next week.

yes please, I'd be very happy to build a beta version to help with testing and also help out with coding for the MCU if I'm able. I'll send you a PM with my contact details.

No i will not sell it. The french language forum talking about selling the USB version. Giant will make and sell a small batch of the USB version.

ahh my mistake, unfortunately French is not my native language and I misunderstood the intent.

Regards,
Gizmomelb

[uli]

Hey, that's really what i'm looking for since a long time to get my old wonderful DSS-1 running again!
Is it possible to get the all the stuff to build such a device? PCB/Soft,..

[Jeff]

Hey, that's really what i'm looking for since a long time to get my old wonderful DSS-1 running again!
Is it possible to get the all the stuff to build such a device? PCB/Soft,..

Yes, soon.
In waiting, a small video showing the emulator:
https://hxc2001.com/floppy_drive_emulat ... ulator.avi

[gizmomelb]

Hi Jeff,

thanks for the teaser video, it's great to see it working / how to use it.

I'm waiting with baited breath to make my own!

PS: any chance of a higher resolution video please? That one is a little small to see detail on the LCD screen.

[gizmomelb]

Hi Jeff,

another week has passed - any more videos, pictures or anything to tease us with please?

[Jeff]

Hi Jeff,

another week has passed - any more videos, pictures or anything to tease us with please?

Yes coming soon

(i am a little "overbooked" in this period)

[gizmomelb]

Hi Jeff

many many thanks for updating the web site with the news and some details for the SDcard floppy emulator, I look forward to seeing the firmware and a higher resolution schematic (the current one is a little blurry).

Many thank for all your hard work and what a wonderful St. Valentine's Day gift

[Jeff]

Hi Jeff

many many thanks for updating the web site with the news and some details for the SDcard floppy emulator, I look forward to seeing the firmware and a higher resolution schematic (the current one is a little blurry).

Many thank for all your hard work and what a wonderful St. Valentine's Day gift

website updated : the full scale schematic is now available

[gizmomelb]

website updated : the full scale schematic is now available

woohoo!! thank you!

[Jeff]

sources released (alpha version )

and a new video :
https://hxc2001.com/floppy_drive_emulat ... dalone.avi

[gizmomelb]

many thanks Jeff, you are a star!

I'm busy trying to source the parts so I can make one of these now.

I'm really impressed with the FAT32 and LCD support in the SD card standalone floppy emulator, it also looks like it supports WRITING data - is that true?

Also I was wondering can the SD standalone emulate floppy drives other than 80 tracks? ie: can I set jumpers (or will the PIC software recognise) so it is a 5.25" (not that the size matters) 40 track SSD and then use it on a BBC computer?

Can the SD standalone emulator Single Density, Double Density and High Density floppy drives (either 3.5" or 5.25")?

Thank you and regards,
Gizmomelb

[Jeff]

many thanks Jeff, you are a star!

I'm busy trying to source the parts so I can make one of these now.

Warning, the schematic and the pcb are in a "beta" version, so they may change in the future.

I'm really impressed with the FAT32 and LCD support in the SD card standalone floppy emulator, it also looks like it supports WRITING data - is that true?

Actually no. In the future maybe with some computers (Write sector only / no track writing)
In fact writing MFM data directly to the sdcard is a too long process. So writing an entire track in one shot is impossible with this device. To do this the emulator need to have an RAM buffer.( the PIC has only 4KB of RAM...)

Also I was wondering can the SD standalone emulate floppy drives other than 80 tracks? ie: can I set jumpers (or will the PIC software recognise) so it is a 5.25" (not that the size matters) 40 track SSD and then use it on a BBC computer?

The number of track is in the floppy image. The emulator can emulate floppy from 1 track up to 255 tracks.


Can the SD standalone emulator Single Density, Double Density and High Density floppy drives (either 3.5" or 5.25")?

-> Single Density (FM) : i have never tested the emulator with this format, but it is possible.
-> Double Density (MFM/250Kbits/s) yes
-> Double Density (MFM/300Kbits/s) never tested, but yes.
-> High Density (MFM/500Kbits/s) never tested but this will need some code optimisations.