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Cheapo IDE interface for Model 4p running MM CP/M

The two connectors arrived today, and are soldered in place. I may just swing by Radio Shack and pick up the resistors and get this all done today.

It would help to see a picture of the connecting cable to the Model III/4, so I know how to orient the connectors. I have the 50-pin Edge Connector and can crimp that up later today.

How do I put the images in the file on the SD card so they are bootable?
 
I was hoping someone could post details of the cable and some photos, so I can add it onto the wiki page for the board. I don't think the BIOS is bootable, except in a 4P (and that probably requires some ROM patching to account for the IDE status register differences from the WD10101).
 
Hi! Just wondering if anyone has any progress to report? Also, a part number for the card-edge connector would be great (so I can add it to my wiki)!
 
pearce_jj said:
Hi! Just wondering if anyone has any progress to report? Also, a part number for the card-edge connector would be great (so I can add it to my wiki)!
Click to expand...

Finally got all the bits & pieces (cables made, leds and stuff) working yesterday.
Mixed results. First up I tried a Western Digital Caviar 1425 426 meg drive. HDFORM6 seemed to be formatting OK but then failed when writing the directory.
Multiple attempts - same results.
Next I tried a Western Digital WD200 20 gig drive. This one works perfectly.

HDDVR6 seems to have a limit of 404 cyl. so I formatted the drive into 4 partitions of 404 cyl * 2 heads, giving a total storage of over 25 megs.
HDCHECK6 shows zero problems.

I'll probably mount this in my original Tandy hard drive box, it should make a good replacement for the dead hard drive.
cheers
Gazza
 
Well.. the 10k Resistors arrived yesterday, but the 150R resistors are still in transit. So, other than those three resistors, I'm almost ready to go.

I'm in no hurry, as I'm building this for fun. Not for daily use. Without Newdos/80 Drivers, I'm not going to be using it much.
 
Hi Al - did you get any further with the board? The 150R resistors are only current limiters for the LEDs, so can be left unpopulated if you like.

Also, does anyone have a part number for the card-edge connector needed to adapt an old SCSI cable?
 
Last edited:
Hi All

I have just turned the Interface and IDE drive On and it worked PERFECTLY I am using an OLD Seagate ST37510a 3.5" hard drive 7.5 Gig.
Using LSDos 6.3.1.
The Question has any body had more than 1 Partition on the Hard Drive or are we limited to 80 Tracks, 8 heads. If you have could you post the configs that you have used.

Yours Ray
 
Audronic said:
Hi All

I have just turned the Interface and IDE drive On and it worked PERFECTLY I am using an OLD Seagate ST37510a 3.5" hard drive 7.5 Gig.
Using LSDos 6.3.1.
The Question has any body had more than 1 Partition on the Hard Drive or are we limited to 80 Tracks, 8 heads. If you have could you post the configs that you have used.

Yours Ray
Click to expand...

Ray

http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcf...-Model-4p-running-MM-CP-M&p=301132#post301132

System (drive=4,disable,driver="hddvr6/dct")
Enter drive select address <1-4> 1
Enter total number of heads on drive 8
Enter physical tracks per surface 404
Enter number of heads for partition 2
Enter starting head 1

The other 3 partitions are the same as above except for "Enter starting head"
Use 3 for drive 5, 5 for drive 6, 7 for drive 7

Format, copy system files, do the necessary drive slot swapping and finally sysgen
Should be good to go.

The later Misosys drivers -RSHARD6- should max it out to 64megs. 1024 trks * 8 heads
I had a go at modifying RSHARD6/DCT & RSFORM6/CMD to work with the Cheapo but have hit a brick wall.
The computer, Cheapo and hard drive are all talking to each other, just in different languages.
This is gunna take someone with more smarts than me. :confused:
cheers
Gazza
 
@Gazza
Thanks for that I will try that setup. The unit is quite quick as a 8 head 80 Tracker.

It would be nice to have it running under Newdos Model3 ---But--->>> Drivers will be a problem

Ray
 
Audronic said:
@ Chromedome45

Are there any drivers for Newdos-80 Model 3 for the TRS-80 Ide Project.
I would be interested to do Testing, or even LDos 5.3.1 for the Model 3.

Ray
Click to expand...

Nope only works witha Model 4 at this time. Unless you want to try and hack newdos 80 and LDOS drivers and get them to work. In theory it could be possible but I am not a programmer
 
I think there are enough positive reports to order the next batch of PCBs. I'll post back when they're back from fab.

Thanks to everyone for the participation in this. Any TRS-80 developers that feel like tackling model 1/2/3 compatibility, please do chime in!
 
Ldos 531

Ldos 531

LDOS 531 working on the El Cheapo IDE interface. :D
 

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