Tandy 2000 Floppy Drive Replacement - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

14 Oct 2006

...

Subject: Re: Tandy 2000 Floppy Drive Replacement
   From: Fred Cisin <cisin at xenosoft.com>
   Date: Sat, 14 Oct 2006 13:56:14 -0700 (PDT)
     To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at
classiccmp.org>

> On Fri, 13 Oct 2006, Fred Cisin wrote:
> > The Tandy 2000 uses a 720K 5.25" drive.  DSDD 96tpi.
> > Matsushita (Panasonic, Shugart, etc.) 465
> > Tandon TM100-4
> > Teac 55F 
> > etc.
> > SOME 1.2M drive could work.  They need to be jumpered to 300 RPM, "low
> > density" recording current, etc. 
TEAC FD55GFV jumpered for fixed speed.

...
   On Fri,
13 Oct 2006, Marvin Johnston wrote:
  Second, IIRC the speed and "low
density" recording current are set with jumpers.
 What is the etc.? 
Ready v Disk change (pin 34)
termination
drive select
maybe motor on w/drive select

> I might add that when connecting a standard 360K drive, the light comes on and
> stays on, and the drive continues to spin when a disk is inserted. This gives me
> the impression that there may be something wrong with the disk controller for
> the Tandy 2000. The cables for the 2000 are straight-thru, so I rejumpered the
> drive to the first drive (D0 of 0-3 or D1 of 1-4.) And yes, I checked and double
> checked to make sure that pin 1 on the motherboard matches pin 1 on the drive!

Connector on drive upside down.  Drive runs on power up with light lit, doesnt 
step (may recal on power up depending on drive).   NOTE: if the connector is 
inverted any media inserted is erased for whatever track the head sits at
(write enable is active).

...
 DECMATE II Soft-Sect. CP/M 
DECMATEII (and III) was a RX50 (SSDD 80tr) ~400k
Though one later option was RD31(st225 20mb) or RD32 (ST251 40mb) 
hard disk with RX33 (FD55GFV). DECmateII treated the FD55GFV as 
a single platter RX50 (single sided) unless teh firmware
was above a certain rev.  DECmateIII knew RX33.

...
 DEC Rainbow  
Most DEC machines prior to VAXmate used RX50 a dual
drive of 80tracks single sided and about 400k each.

...
 DEC Rainbow MS-DOS V2.05 
Again, RX50 though RX33<teac FD55gfv> could be fitted.

RX50 remained the "Corperate" floppy drive till VAXmate.
There were a few products that used otehr drives but 
usually from the start. For example Robin (VT180) used 
either SA400L or TM100s (40 track single sided DD).

Allison