FDD emulator FDX68 - Floppy Disk Drive Integration Tools per X68000

Started by Max, July 25, 2018, 09:34:36 PM

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Max

what do you think about it?....Just to collect ideas and see if it is actually great and useful at 100%

ShootTheCore

I took a look at the documentation through Google Translate - it looks to be really useful and really powerful.  I'm going to order one in and see if I can start some English documentation on it.  Maybe even write an LCD Loader for the Raspberry Pi part so it can run self-contained if I can find the time.  I'm excited to try it - never been a fan of floppies.

Max

hey man could you pls give me some more details about it?...Can it be plugged directly to a x68k in order to replace an ordinary fdd or it is just more complicated?....So to know if it could be a good order by my side too...
thanks

ShootTheCore

The instructions say that the FDX68 can simulate either one or two floppy drives, and it can be connected either internally or externally.  So it can take the place of one or both of your internal floppies if you want it to.

I just barely ordered the FDX68 through Buyee and ordered the components to make an external floppy cable to my X68030 from DigiKey. Now to just wait for everything to come in.

Max

externally would be ok to me, I have already plugged a scsi2sd to my Sharp Pro II and it works great but does this widget use the same way? Where am I supposed to plug it into?....It's shipped stand alone without any sort of cables/wires etc....
If you could give me any suggestions and If I need some cable/plug to make ti work.....in the end I found this link to buy it, is that right too?
https://gimons.booth.pm/cart?added_to_cart=true&via=shop

ShootTheCore

This is the ordering link, although if you live outside of Japan, you'll need to order using an intermediary service (I used Buyee).

https://booth.pm/en/items/887491

As for the external connection, your X68000 should have an external floppy drive connector available that you would plug it into.  You may need a custom cable though.  What model is your X68000?

Max

ah ok....my model is X68000 PRO II CZ-653C now with 4mb. It could be really interesting but for whom it may concern the custom cable I do not know where to find/create/purchase it....
thanks for your suggestions.....I'm here all ears!!!!

ShootTheCore

The PRO II uses a DSUB 37 pin connector for the external floppy, while the FDX68 uses the internal floppy 34 pin connection. You may be able to find a DSUB 37 Pin to Internal Floppy 34 Pin cable on Buyee, or maybe someone here on the forums would be able to make you one.

Max


Max

got the widget from buyee.....I was too keen and curious.....I could not resist...now I really need the cable you mention DSUB 37 Pin to Internal Floppy 34 Pin cable if someone checking this page could give me a heads up and i might buy this hand-made/custom cable from a x68k addicted here.... :) :)

leonk

How does this work with compact?

Does it emulate a 5.25 FD? The 3.5” drives break very easily and are close to impossible to fix.

Max

Quote from: Max on July 26, 2018, 04:23:43 AM
externally would be ok to me, I have already plugged a scsi2sd to my Sharp Pro II and it works great but does this widget use the same way? Where am I supposed to plug it into?....It's shipped stand alone without any sort of cables/wires etc....
If you could give me any suggestions and If I need some cable/plug to make ti work.....in the end I found this link to buy it, is that right too?
https://gimons.booth.pm/cart?added_to_cart=true&via=shop

I have just had a look at the digikey website, is it Italian? and you mate?...'cause i'm currently living in Milan and we could keep in touch and exchange ideas on that even directly.....
then, I'll need the custom cable you mentioned and hope you can help me out with that.....
tks.....

P.S: then I'l be asking some other questions but not here so not to bother others on tiny stupid things....
let me know mate...send me a pm just in case... :)

ciao

ShootTheCore

All the parts arrived for my FDX68 setup - the controller itself, a Raspberry Pi to drive it, and the parts to build an external FDD cable for my X68030. Now I just need next week to get here so I have time to actually build it and use it!


Max


Max

guys I need your help now that I got my FDX68 from Japan and as I have a Sharp x68k Pro II I actually need to know first the best way how to use it and which cable(s) I am supposed to use to plug it externally into my X68K as in the past I sucessfully  did with my scsi2sd perfectly configured and working.....now this widget really interests me and I'm ready to try it in order to see if after some experiments could be useful and okay for me and everyone in the community....pretty ready to show my endevours and results maybe creating a whole step by step guide but I need you out there..... who knows even how to get it work with the use of some RPi model, I own one 3b myself.....please contact me and who is able to make the cable (s) for me, will be paid fairly!!!!
thanks everyone in advance


Max

ehy mates...no one has some good news for me?...please, I'd really want to set it and use it ....even with a raspberry PI 3 that I own.....

hyrulebr

Quote from: ShootTheCore on August 09, 2018, 03:36:42 PM
All the parts arrived for my FDX68 setup - the controller itself, a Raspberry Pi to drive it, and the parts to build an external FDD cable for my X68030. Now I just need next week to get here so I have time to actually build it and use it!


Any news to share to us?  ;D

After 4 non reading drives  for my XVI I´m looking for a emulator solution like HxC or FDX68. Please share with us your experience!  ;)




leonk

I received 2 FDX86’s today. 1 populated. 1 PCB only.

I will try and get it to work on my X68K compact. And then my OG system. The author has a really good web site (google translate) with sufficient information.

Max

so good Leonk.....on my side I have the same but I'd need a cable to plug it into my Pro II if it is supposed to work this way, I am not able to make one myself unluckily.....any siggestions?...
let us know your endevours they 'll be really appreciated....
thanks

skpstmgs

This looks like a cool project, though hard to understand all its features since the product page is all in Japanese.
Does anyone know if this could be used as an external FDD #0 & #1 in an XVI to boot games off it, but still keep the internal drives as #2 & #3?

leonk

Google translate is your friend.  I use a Chrome plugin that translates whatever page I'm on..

That aside.  Yes, it has jumpers to do just that.  The software that runs on the Pi can emulate 2 FDD based on jumpers (Set them to 0 and 1) and the internal drives get 2 and 3.

Lets be clear.. you need a Pi.  You need to run software on the Pi, in command line.  So you need to be familiar with Linux command line.  The FDX68 is mostly a voltage level translator, not much more (Pi runs at 3.3V, X68K FDD port at 5V).

leonk

Given the designer doesn't sell a cable for the older X68K computers that use a DB37 connector, I decided to make my own.  While I'm sourcing parts, I decided to review to pinout so I'll know how to solder between DB37 and the IDC34 connector on the FDX68.

To my surprise .. the pinout on the FDX68 is IDENTICAL to the internal floppy disk connector on the X68000!!!  That is great news to anyone that wants to just temporary test it by just unplugging the FD cable from the internal drive, and plugging it into the FDX68.

hyrulebr

Quote from: leonk on October 04, 2018, 01:15:16 AM
Given the designer doesn't sell a cable for the older X68K computers that use a DB37 connector, I decided to make my own.  While I'm sourcing parts, I decided to review to pinout so I'll know how to solder between DB37 and the IDC34 connector on the FDX68.

To my surprise .. the pinout on the FDX68 is IDENTICAL to the internal floppy disk connector on the X68000!!!  That is great news to anyone that wants to just temporary test it by just unplugging the FD cable from the internal drive, and plugging it into the FDX68.

Nice to know!  :) I´m waiting restock from creator and also have to look for the cable. Yesterday I loose this auction on Yahoo but I think that was too high for a homemade cable...

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/k334206658


leonk

That's crazy!  I purchased all the components to make the cable today.  Total was about $20 CDN ($15 USD)  And the FD cable I got is a high quality, brand name, that was been wrapped in protective plastic to make it look like an external cable! (instead of internal ribbon)

I'll post pics when done.

leonk

Finished soldering the cable today. Waiting for Raspberry Pi to come in




Max


hyrulebr

Quote from: leonk on October 04, 2018, 06:24:33 AM
That's crazy!  I purchased all the components to make the cable today.  Total was about $20 CDN ($15 USD)  And the FD cable I got is a high quality, brand name, that was been wrapped in protective plastic to make it look like an external cable! (instead of internal ribbon)

I'll post pics when done.

Hi Leonk

Which cable did you buy?

I want ask to you and others FDX68 users about image compatibility. The author wrote something about converting existing images (XDF, DIM, etc) to proprietary format FDX (which includes much more information). Do you know if existing images easily find on internet are working properly?



ShootTheCore

It's such a new device that I doubt there's a lot of images available, but hopefully we'll start to see more of them.  I plan on doing my part to contribute once I find the time to put my FDX68 together.

leonk

I’ve posted my progress on twitter (leonkiriliuk). basically. not good news for original X68K. could be a software issue. or who knows. Luckily I have a red zone compact. so once I get the cable done. I’ll test it as well to make sure i got the software side correctly.

leonk


leonk

I did find 1 big flaw.. by default, the internal 5.25" drives are set for drive 0 and drive 1 via jumpers.  So they will always be A: and B:.  When I boot from FDX68, it gets C:

Majority of multi disk games will only search for the next disk on A: or B: (you can see this with the A: light seeking).  One solution to this would be to figure out the jumper configuration on these Sharp drives and force them to drive 2 and 3, and make the FDX68 into drive 0 and 1.  The only issue with doing this is the system will no longer boot SCSI if a drive 0/1 is not present (something I recall from having the switch set wrong on my X68K compact).

At least now I have a way to boot OS/fix bootloader if FD dies on me.  Time to focus on Compact next!


mattsoft

Nice work leonk! This is good news. Now to wrangle a proxy service to get one from Japan. Ugh!

Max

excellent LEONK...I wonder if a guide/walkthrough could be possible on your side to actually light us up on that....personally, I own a Pro II and the idea of trying sth new makes me really curious about!!!
My FDX68 is ready....even if I still need finding someone who can make a cable for me to plug it into my X68K  and give me the chance to figure it out......
Cheers

leonk

FDX68 is not as simple as SCSI2SD. You need to use a raspberry pi and be comfortable on the Linux command line.

I SSH into the Pi from my laptop, sftp the disk images over, and then use the command line tools to load them into the FDX68 drive emulator. Rinse and repeat for other disks.

If you didn’t understand what I just wrote then this device is not for you. If you did. Pm me and i can help you with the cable.

famiac

Does the FDX68 interface with the drives via a simple linux program? What commands are available to us?

leonk

Quote from: famiac on October 16, 2018, 08:24:31 AM
Does the FDX68 interface with the drives via a simple linux program? What commands are available to us?

That is almost correct. The magic is actually a Linux program that runs on the Pi. It does the drive emulation in software. The only big thing the FDX68 does is convert the standard 3.3V data lines on the Pi to 5V the X68k understands. It’s a simple voltage translator!!

Go to the maker’s web site and use Google translate. He has very good documentation.

Max

Quote from: leonk on October 14, 2018, 07:27:42 AM
FDX68 is not as simple as SCSI2SD. You need to use a raspberry pi and be comfortable on the Linux command line.

I SSH into the Pi from my laptop, sftp the disk images over, and then use the command line tools to load them into the FDX68 drive emulator. Rinse and repeat for other disks.

If you didn’t understand what I just wrote then this device is not for you. If you did. Pm me and i can help you with the cable.

I may deal with these things and I own a PI and do some work on it evry now and then ..... certainly a step by step guide would help me out.....I 'm keen on trying new devices above all for X68K.....
anyway I'll mail you as I can.....
thanks mate!!!


Max

i don't actually know if I'm going to use mine so if someone would like to have one just pm and we may have a deal with it....
cheers


srtomiz

I've got a question about this, as far as I read here and the FDX86 page, everyone using it as an external floppy drive but It should work as a replacement for the internal disk drives too. The ACE won't try to boot without an Internal floppy disk connected but maybe It would work with an FDX86 connected to the motherboard port.

Am I right or I'm missing something?.