nfg.forums

I want to start a dedicated thread to my last project since i got good result since now:

I'm waiting for a new PCB and i'll try to add the writing to floppy (for now, it support only reading images in raw HDM format), then i'll publish the project on my github, as usual.

Further progress... added HFE support and confirmed front buttons and leds are working:


Now the board is pending aside the drive case, but i'll add a 3D printed socket to fix it into the metal shield.


buttons and led are replicated in the board for external use, or can be connected to the original X68K connector for best result when mounted internally

I don' know why i got a "missing keyboard" error in First Queen, may be my arduino adapter is not supported..

I think it's almost finished, i had encountered several trouble in adding writing support to floppy images so i'm not sure i'll go further. Now i'm completing the feature for having a "default" floppies inserted at boot.

Just published the source files on my github repo, for who want to build himself the emulator:
https://github.com/aotta/X68KFDPi2W

Still missing write to floppy support, but maybe in future...

Great project!
I order my PCB via FusionPCB by uploading your GERBER-X68KFDPI2.zip.

anywhere Parts List ?
1 x 74LVC245
1 x MicroSD Connector
1 x Buzzer
1 x 1N5817
6 x R330
3 x R4k7
2 x R10k
2 x LED:Green
2 x Tactile SW

LedFD0 / LedFD1 Headers with pitch 2.0mm
and other Headers with pitch 2.54mm OK?

both buttons & leds connector from X68k are 2.00mm pitch.
I bought all components that i hadn't in my folders from aliexpress and ebay, so no BOM to share, but they're all easy to find. Be aware only to 74lvc245, i got some fake ones in the past

My PCB has arrived! Yeah!
...how do I use HxC connector?

Quote from: gerowave on April 05, 2025, 10:05:46 AM/img]

My PCB has arrived! Yeah!
...how do I use HxC connector?

HxC connector is left from previous version without floppy emulation, now it's only for testing/future purpouse. You could not solder IDC connector at all in HxC side

Hi mate,

I have just ordered PCB board, I assume it is the Gerbers in root directory....GERBER-X68KFDPI2

Do you have any update instructions etc?

My X68000 appears to have 2 bad floppies, so i am hoping to be able to boot system with this.

Thanks
Paul

The gerber in root is the same of the one in Kicad/jlcpcb/production_files/, where you could find also the BOM.
Waiting for PCB, you could make a special cable and boot with a gotek, even if i spent hours in build cable... here an examble: https://gra4.hatenadiary.jp/entry/20171119/1511085342

Thanks, I built the GOTEK cable, but still no go.  When I attach the cable I just get a BLANK SCREEN.

So, without the cable, the two drives accept discs, the insert disc prompt disappears, then after 2 seconds, the disks are ejected and the inset disc prompt comes back.

When I add the GOTEK, with a straight through cable and the pins separated as per the link for the DISC status according to the post you listed, the machine only boots to a blank screen.

I have the Gotek set to SO, and no config files loaded.  It has a small file that I got from a post here motos.zip uncompressed in HFE format.

My gut is that there is nothing wrong with the Floppy drives, and I am starting to feel the issue could be elsewhere now.

Could the SRAM be causing the issue?  I try to boot the machine with the OPT1 key held down and it does nothing.  I can reset the machine via the CTRL + OPT.1 + DEL so the keyboard appears to work.

What is your Gotek Configuration?

This is killing me so any help from anyone would be great.
Thanks
Paul in Australia

i don't remember my configuration and i don't use gotek since i have my floppy emulator, but search here in the forum, for example https://nfggames.com/forum2/index.php?topic=7190.0

Hi mate,
I have built the KFDPi2W, but when I plug it in to 5v (not in machine yet), I get nothing.
The example file in the SD card says...

You need to add a "wifi.cfg" in root of your SDcard, with this 4 text row:
SSID
WIFI PASSWORD
Default floppy in drive 0
Default floppy in drive 1

So, do You REPLACE SSID with the SSID you want, or does the Actual SSID  go after the SSID text?

An actual example would clarify.

Is SDcard Fat16 / Fat 32 or FatEX?

Should the Pico /W flash any LED's etc when the SCDARD is read and the unit is correctly configured?  Is there a way of connecting to the USB port and seeing diags etc.

Thanks in Advance
Paul O'Connor

Sorry,

Also, is the SSID and Password for the local Wireless network, or to create a new Wireless network?

And if so how are IP's allocated?

Thanks
Paul

Sorry forgot to mention, if i remove SDCARD Pi W flashes 10 times.

Taa

Yes, the wifi.cfg in sdcard need to have your local wifi ssid in first row and password in the second one, with no other chars in beginning, for example:
myssid
mycatname

and the best way to check if it works is to enter in your usual wifi setup from a browser and look if the x68kfdpi2w is connected. You may need also to enable it in your lan, in the same way you did for Alexa, phone, thermostat etc.
When found the IP number assigned by your WAN, you could enter the file browser simply by entering that ip number in your browser!

For debugging, the best option is to connect the board to a Arduino IDE and use the serial monitor integrated, while looking at the code in case of issues.

thanks... that worked....
Will do some testing and get back to you.

Paul

Firstly, Thanks for all your efforts on this.

Good News, It worked on my ACE unit.

Bad news, still cant get it to work on my original.  I have compared all the schematics and the floppy signals appear the same, but when I plug it in, it stops the Wireless server from even starting.

I have replaced the bottom PCB on the x68000 with a new one, tried GOTEKs special cable and everything.

I am starting to wonder if it is the MAin MEMORY or SRAM on the machine, but without being able to boot a floppy I can check the sram etc.

Has anyone used this on the original Ce-6000CE?

Thanks Again.
Paul

Quote from: pocoaust on October 19, 2025, 02:03:05 PMFirstly, Thanks for all your efforts on this.

Good News, It worked on my ACE unit.

Bad news, still cant get it to work on my original.  I have compared all the schematics and the floppy signals appear the same, but when I plug it in, it stops the Wireless server from even starting.

I have replaced the bottom PCB on the x68000 with a new one, tried GOTEKs special cable and everything.

I am starting to wonder if it is the MAin MEMORY or SRAM on the machine, but without being able to boot a floppy I can check the sram etc.

Has anyone used this on the original Ce-6000CE?

Thanks Again.
Paul

I didn't tested this (the "2" version) on my CE-600 but previous versions work, and there's no reason why it shouldn't work.
But i had to change sram in my CE-600, and rewire a track i damaged in desoldering... it's not an easy trip. If it could help and i remember well, i checked SRAM signals with a scope to find it was faulty.

G'day Mate,

Well, I got so frustrated that I brought another unit and it works perfectly.

I can get the Rtype.HFE which I downloaded from another forum listing to load, but then I try to make a X68MasterV3 with Greaseweazle to convert, it wont load/start. 

I also have to push one of the buttons to get it to start randomly.

Could you pls let me know what software you used to make HFE and what settings.

Thanks for all your work on this.

Paul in Australia

Also,

What symptoms did you have with your faulty SRAM?

Not booting, or just no holding settings?

Paul

I use HxCFloppyEmulator for converting X68MasterV3 downloaded in HFE format, but you could use also directly HDM format with X68KFDPi2W.
I'm not sure about the issue with faulty RAM, i repaired all my 3 X68K and fixed so many problem.. but if i remember well, it didn't boot fine, with several errors.