Catweasel NorthStar / Catweasel Heath? - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

30 Sep 2007

Hi Andrew,

I can probably help you with this, if you don't already have a line of
volunteers.

I'm interested in archiving some "stuff" off my (and my Mom's) old H-89
diskettes before I start disposing of the hardware and excess media.
Although most of my personal stuff was saved on soft-sectored 5.25" and 8"
media, a small amount of my information (and all of my Mom's) was on the
hard-sectored media.

We can work out any details off-list.  Please contact me directly if
interested.

<<< vern >>>

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <cctalk-request at classiccmp.org>
To: <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2007 10:05 AM
Subject: cctalk Digest, Vol 49, Issue 74

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 28
Date: Sat, 29 Sep 2007 13:39:27 -0400
From: "Andrew Lynch" <>
Subject: Catweasel NorthStar / Catweasel Heath?
To: <cctech at classiccmp.org>
Message-ID: <001a01c802bf$b00229c0$a903a8c0 at andrewdesktop>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

<<< snip >>>

...next project.  The Heath H89 computer using H-17 disk controller uses
the same media as the NorthStar (10 sector 5.25" hard sector floppy disks)
and in some superficial ways are similar to the NorthStar SSSD disk so this
seems like a logical next choice.  I would like to extend the concept of
CWNS to include Heath hard sector disks (i.e. Catweasel Heath, CWH)

My theory is the main difference between CWNS and CWH will be the bit stream
decoding logic.  The H-17 disk format is entirely different than the
NorthStar MDS-A series disks.  However, the disk format is documented here:

http://davidwallace2000.home.comcast.net/h8/project8080_archive/design_h17.h
tml#format

A major problem with this plan is I do not have an H89 or any Heath
formatted disks.  I am seeking a partner to collaborate on this project.  If
someone would send me some Heath formatted hard sector disks, I will start
the investigating whether a Catweasel Heath program is feasible.

Please do not send irreplaceable originals or critical data disks.  I need
working disks you can afford to either lose or be damaged as a result of
testing the software.  Please contact me offline or reply to this message if
you are willing to help out.

Thanks!

Andrew Lynch

End of cctalk Digest, Vol 49, Issue 74
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