21 Sep
2014
21 Sep
'14
8:10 p.m.
On Sep 21, 2014, at 12:16 , Ali <cctalk at fahimi.net> wrote:
While I appreciate the compliment (it was a compliment
right?) building an
Arduino board to make the 51TD work with an IBM controller is not something
that is even realistic for me without tons of guidance and training. My best
bet would be to get a drive that works directly (after building an adapter
for the cabling) with an IBM controller. If that is a Shugart SA900 or
QumeTrack 242 or whatever might get me from point A to point B faster. I was
hoping the 51TD would work just as easily as I have 4 of them lying around
but that is my luck...
Yup, I can understand why inquiring about using the 51TD was your first impulse, since
that's what you happen to have sitting around. Something with a Shugart interface will
be easier to hook up to either a PC or to dedicated imaging hardware like a KryoFlux.
Whether you choose to use a PC or specialized hardware is a matter of personal preference
and convenience; I use a KryoFlux since my daily-driver computer is a Mac, while you might
find it easier to use a PC if you already have a suitable PC system. If you don't
already have one, an FDADAP board from D-Bit will come in handy. D-Bit also sells a power
supply adapter that may come in handy; I didn't buy one of those since the drive I set
up for 8" imaging came in a powered enclosure.
Regarding which floppy drive to pick out, I don't think that will be terribly
critical. I'd say, pick out the first suitable drive that comes along at a price
you're willing to pay (that's the clincher, since 8" drives seem to get
listed at silly prices on eBay lately). I'd suggest a double-sided drive since your
System/23 boxes have double-sided drives. I use a Tandon TM-848E since that's what I
happened to buy off eBay.
--
Mark J. Blair, NF6X <nf6x at nf6x.net>
http://www.nf6x.net/