14 Mar
2005
14 Mar
'05
6:18 p.m.
I just received a pair of PerSci 8" floppy drives, with a PerSci 1070
S-100 controller (and a mountain of docs, including data sheets, sales
literature, and schematics).
Unfortunately, I won't have an S-100 system for a few more weeks.
It's stuck in Arizona till I get out there to ship it.
The question is, is this one of the drives that plays nicely with a
PC FDC? I have a couple of older ISA IDE/FD controllers, and an Adaptec
1542 if I can dig it up.
That would still entail getting one of the DBit cable adapters, but
it would nicely solve the issue of an enclosure and PSU for this YE-Data
YD-180.
When I get a hance to make a detailed list of this documentation,
I'll post it. I think that most of it's already out there, though.
Doc
15 Mar
15 Mar
8:43 a.m.
On Mon, 14 Mar 2005, Doc Shipley wrote:
I just received a pair of PerSci 8" floppy
drives, with a PerSci 1070
S-100 controller (and a mountain of docs, including data sheets, sales
literature, and schematics).
Unfortunately, I won't have an S-100 system for a few more weeks.
It's stuck in Arizona till I get out there to ship it.
The question is, is this one of the drives that plays nicely with a
PC FDC? I have a couple of older ISA IDE/FD controllers, and an Adaptec
1542 if I can dig it up.
Does it have a standard data connector? This should be a 50-conductor
edge conncetor.
I have a Pertec drive with a proprietary connector. Pertec != PerSci but
I thought I'd throw this out there.
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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11:12 a.m.
Vintage Computer Festival wrote:
Looks like a standard 50-pin edge connector, yes. After reading a
little in the owner's manual, it's MFM, dual density, so worst case I
should be able to run it on an older PC-based FDC, right?
Doc
The question
is, is this one of the drives that plays nicely with a
PC FDC? I have a couple of older ISA IDE/FD controllers, and an Adaptec
1542 if I can dig it up.
Does it have a standard data connector? This should be a 50-conductor
edge conncetor. 
11:43 a.m.
From: "Doc Shipley" <doc at mdrconsult.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2005 1:12 PM
Vintage Computer Festival wrote:
Looks like a standard 50-pin edge connector, yes. After reading a
little in the owner's manual, it's MFM, dual density, so worst case I
should be able to run it on an older PC-based FDC, right?
Doc
The 277 is a fast repeat fast single sided floppy drive.
The high-speed seek can be ignored but what can not be ignored is the track
location. Being a dual drive both heads move at the same time, this can
confuse some software.
Details on making a 34 to 50 pin cable can be found on my website.
The Persci's also have a slew of jumpers, it is best just to try it the way
it is.
The Persci's are very sensative, shipping often destroys them. To ship it
you need a special cardboard shipping retainer to keep the heads from
slamming back and forth.
It also uses special wheat-lamps that burn out easily.
Randy
www.s100-manuals.com
The
question is, is this one of the drives that plays nicely with a
PC FDC? I have a couple of older ISA IDE/FD controllers, and an Adaptec
1542 if I can dig it up.
Does it have a standard data connector? This should be a 50-conductor
edge conncetor.
12:26 p.m.
Randy McLaughlin wrote:
From: "Doc Shipley" <doc at
mdrconsult.com>
I've looked at that, but I don't have access to crimpers. Would the
line noise from a soldered strip-&-splice be excessive?
By the way, both your site and Herb Johnson's have been very helpful
already. Thanks!
Looks like a standard 50-pin edge connector, yes. After reading a
little in the owner's manual, it's MFM, dual density, so worst case I
should be able to run it on an older PC-based FDC, right?
The 277 is a fast repeat fast single sided floppy drive.
The high-speed seek can be ignored but what can not be ignored is the
track location. Being a dual drive both heads move at the same time,
this can confuse some software.
Details on making a 34 to 50 pin cable can be found on my website. The Persci's also have a slew of jumpers, it is
best just to try it the
way it is.
So I've read. I also gathered that the jumpers are soldered 0-ohm
resistors, not shunt blocks. Correct?
The Persci's are very sensative, shipping often
destroys them. To ship
it you need a special cardboard shipping retainer to keep the heads from
slamming back and forth.
It shipped with the retainer in place. And the original packing, and
2 thick binders of documentation.
I wondered why he shipped it with only one insert, but if both heads
move in concert, that makes more sense.
It also uses special wheat-lamps that burn out easily.
Uhhh. Are there replacements available?
Given the 277's temperament, I suppose I also need to see if the
PerSci 1070 will drive non-PerSci drives....
Doc
8:46 a.m.
On Tue, 15 Mar 2005, Doc Shipley wrote:
Randy McLaughlin wrote:
The IDC connectors are forgiving with even crap tools. Just use a vise,
some vice grips, or if you are lazy like me and don't want to fetch the proper
tools, a blunt object with which you can hammer on the cap works. I start
From: "Doc Shipley" <doc at
mdrconsult.com>
I've looked at that, but I don't have access to crimpers. Would the
line noise from a soldered strip-&-splice be excessive?
Looks like a standard 50-pin edge connector, yes. After reading a
little in the owner's manual, it's MFM, dual density, so worst case I
should be able to run it on an older PC-based FDC, right?
The 277 is a fast repeat fast single sided floppy drive.
The high-speed seek can be ignored but what can not be ignored is the
track location. Being a dual drive both heads move at the same time,
this can confuse some software.
Details on making a 34 to 50 pin cable can be found on my website. from each end until they are punched down, then finish
the job by working
from the middle outwards until the top of the connector is attached nice
and
firmly.
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
[ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ]
[ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]
1:22 p.m.
From: "Doc Shipley" <doc at mdrconsult.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2005 2:26 PM
S100 disk controllers are easy to get, Herb sells them. A Persci controller
should work just fine with any SA800 drive but may require software changes
and maybe one jumper (-TEST on 179X controllers).
Randy McLaughlin wrote:
No problem with soldering, for crimping IDC connectors: before I got a
crimper I used vises, for a vise with metal jaws I put in blocks of wood for
cushioning.
From: "Doc Shipley" <doc at
mdrconsult.com>
I've looked at that, but I don't have access to crimpers. Would the
line noise from a soldered strip-&-splice be excessive?
Looks like a standard 50-pin edge connector, yes. After reading a
little in the owner's manual, it's MFM, dual density, so worst case I
should be able to run it on an older PC-based FDC, right?
The 277 is a fast repeat fast single sided floppy drive.
The high-speed seek can be ignored but what can not be ignored is the
track location. Being a dual drive both heads move at the same time,
this can confuse some software.
Details on making a 34 to 50 pin cable can be found on my website. By the way, both your site and Herb Johnson's
have been very helpful
already. Thanks!
On the Persci I hade it just used bare solid wire, a 0-ohm resister will
work OK also.
The Persci's also have a slew of jumpers, it
is best just to try it the
way it is.
So I've read. I also gathered that the jumpers are soldered 0-ohm
resistors, not shunt blocks. Correct? The
Persci's are very sensative, shipping often destroys them. To ship
it you need a special cardboard shipping retainer to keep the heads from
slamming back and forth.
It shipped with the retainer in place. And the original packing, and 2
thick binders of documentation.
I wondered why he shipped it with only one insert, but if both heads
move in concert, that makes more sense. From the factory it only came with one, when you retain
one head the other
is held by the same yoke.
It also uses
special wheat-lamps that burn out easily.
Uhhh. Are there replacements available?
Given the 277's temperament, I suppose I also need to see if the PerSci
1070 will drive non-PerSci drives.... Doc
Randy
www.s100-manuals.com
1:32 p.m.
Randy McLaughlin wrote:
Right. So maybe this set's in in good shape.
From: "Doc Shipley" <doc at
mdrconsult.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2005 2:26 PM
If I can find the IDC connectors, I may try that first.
Randy McLaughlin wrote:
> From: "Doc Shipley" <doc at mdrconsult.com>
>
No problem with soldering, for crimping IDC connectors: before I got a
crimper I used vises, for a vise with metal jaws I put in blocks of wood
for cushioning. I wondered
why he shipped it with only one insert, but if both heads
move in concert, that makes more sense.
From the factory it only came with one, when you retain one head the
other is held by the same yoke. S100 disk controllers are easy to get, Herb sells
them. A Persci
controller should work just fine with any SA800 drive but may require
software changes and maybe one jumper (-TEST on 179X controllers).
Very cool. I can't wait to get the Cromemco home.
So many toys; so little time....
Doc
8:51 a.m.
On Tue, 15 Mar 2005, Doc Shipley wrote:
Randy McLaughlin wrote:
Definitely get the IDC connectors, even if you have to mail order them.
Soldering 50 conductor ribbon cable is not my idea of fun.
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
[ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ]
[ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]
From: "Doc Shipley" <doc at
mdrconsult.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2005 2:26 PM
If I can find the IDC connectors, I may try that first. Randy McLaughlin wrote:
> From: "Doc Shipley" <doc at mdrconsult.com>
>
No problem with soldering, for crimping IDC connectors: before I got a
crimper I used vises, for a vise with metal jaws I put in blocks of wood
for cushioning. 
16 Mar
16 Mar
2:35 p.m.
Definitely get the IDC connectors, even if you have to
mail order them.
Soldering 50 conductor ribbon cable is not my idea of fun.
Another tip ; If, as here, you're making a cable with swapped-round
connections, get the 'rainbow' multi-coloured cable, not the grey stuff.
Being able to recognise wire 15 (it's the second green one) rather than
counting, and probalby miscounting, for each one, is well worth the extra
cost of the rainbow cable.
-tony
9:52 a.m.
On Wed, 16 Mar 2005, Tony Duell wrote:
I'd have to agree with Tony. Even though I was able to successfully make
a cable using the grey stuff, I had to check, and re-check, and check
again, and check one more time before I committed the crimp to make sure I
had it right. Even then, it's much easier if you can find a 50 conductor
edge connector rather than going from a 50-pin IDC to 34-pin IDC like I
did. But I did it this way because my drive enclosure has a 50-pin female
IDC connector on it and the SCSI cable was already half of what I needed.
Out of convenience, I ended up getting a 50 conductor edge connector and
crimping it on to the cable an inch away from the 50-pin IDC so now the
cable can be used on both connector types.
It would also be easier to get an old floppy cable and cut off one end,
then connect the 50 conductor connector to the end of that. The problem
might be finding a long enough 34-conductor floppy cable.
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
[ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ]
[ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]
Definitely get
the IDC connectors, even if you have to mail order them.
Soldering 50 conductor ribbon cable is not my idea of fun.
Another tip ; If, as here, you're making a cable with swapped-round
connections, get the 'rainbow' multi-coloured cable, not the grey stuff.
Being able to recognise wire 15 (it's the second green one) rather than
counting, and probalby miscounting, for each one, is well worth the extra
cost of the rainbow cable.
6:14 p.m.
Tony Duell wrote:
Tony, of all the useful suggestions I've seen you make on this list,
that's probably the coolest.
I know my parts house *has* a few yards of multi-color 34-lead
ribbon, and it likely wouldn't have occured to me to use it.
I did borrow my boss's line-labeler, though. :)
And I'm still planning to use it.
Doc
Definitely get
the IDC connectors, even if you have to mail order them.
Soldering 50 conductor ribbon cable is not my idea of fun.
Another tip ; If, as here, you're making a cable with swapped-round
connections, get the 'rainbow' multi-coloured cable, not the grey stuff.
Being able to recognise wire 15 (it's the second green one) rather than
counting, and probalby miscounting, for each one, is well worth the extra
cost of the rainbow cable.
17 Mar
17 Mar
4:18 p.m.
Another tip ; If, as here, you're making a cable with swapped-round
connections, get the 'rainbow' multi-coloured cable, not the grey stuff.
Being able to recognise wire 15 (it's the second green one) rather than
counting, and probalby miscounting, for each one, is well worth the extra
cost of the rainbow cable.
Tony, of all the useful suggestions I've seen you make on this list,
that's probably the coolest. from this list. There'd be no point in being on
this list if I knew
everything.
I know my parts house *has* a few yards of multi-color 34-lead
ribbon, and it likely wouldn't have occured to me to use it.
For some reason, the rainbow cable normally starts with 'brown' (1), not
'black' (0). This sort-of annoys me, I've got so used to counting from
0.... (On the other hand I did celebrate the new Millennium at the right
time...)
-tony
1:44 p.m.
Gordon JC Pearce wrote:
Doc Shipley wrote:
More-or-less married these nine years, to a lady who's wise to my
ways. It would be less painful by far to hunt down a crimper.
Doc
> Details on making a 34 to 50 pin cable can be
found on my website.
I've looked at that, but I don't have
access to crimpers. Would the
line noise from a soldered strip-&-splice be excessive?
Not got any doors in your house then?
3:36 p.m.
Details on
making a 34 to 50 pin cable can be found on my website.
I've looked at that, but I don't have access to crimpers. Would the line noise from a soldered strip-&-splice be
excessive?
Should work fine. I've passed floppy drive signals through an old,
random-wired printer switchbox without problems (!).
-tony
5:02 p.m.
Tony Duell wrote:
You cna crimp these connectors (presumably 34 pin header socket or edge
connector and 50 pin edge connector) in a bench vice. And how anyone can
do serious hardware hacking without a vice is beyond me (s/vice/vise/
across the Pond, I believe).
I do have a vise (and several vices, too...) If I can find an IDC
connector, I'll try that. Unfortunately, it's likely to be easier and
cheaper to find an old SCSI cable with card-edge connector than a new
component.
This is good.
Doc
Details on making a 34 to 50 pin cable can be found on
my website.
I've looked at that, but I don't have access to crimpers. Would the line noise from
a soldered strip-&-splice be excessive?
Should work fine. I've passed floppy drive signals through an old,
random-wired printer switchbox without problems (!).
11:27 a.m.
On Tue, 15 Mar 2005, Doc Shipley wrote:
I do have a vise (and several vices, too...) If I
can find an IDC
connector, I'll try that. Unfortunately, it's likely to be easier and
cheaper to find an old SCSI cable with card-edge connector than a new
component.
That's what I did. I cut off one end of the SCSI cable and crimped on a
34-pin IDC connector (this took some skill). I also had to cut off the
key on the SCSI connector so that it would fit in the normally keyless
50-pin connector on the drive enclosure. If you're connecting directly to
the drive itself then you'll probably need an edge connector.
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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[ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ]
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