What to do with "unuasable" devices?

[Ruud]

I posted two threads here because I was looking for drivers for two devices: Diskshuttle SI-500 and Sydos Executive CD. No reply, nor from other forums. What to do with them? Taking them apart for parts is IMHO the last option. Anyone an idea what I can do with them? Or if anyone is interested to obtain them, let me know.

 

[Plasma]

This driver might work for the Disk Shuttle.

I found a driver for the Sydos Personal CD but not Executive CD. You might try 8-bit MKE/Mitsumi/Sony drivers, it's likely a clone of one of those.

 

[Timo W.]

Or if anyone is interested to obtain them, let me know.

The Sydos Executive CD, certainly. I collect such early/odd CD drives as I mentioned a few times before. I don't care if I can get it working.

 

[Ruud]

The Sydos Executive CD, certainly. I collect such early/odd CD drives as I mentioned a few times before. I don't care if I can get it working.

I'll try Plasma's solution first. What about the Diskshuttle, it's a CD drive as well?

 

[Timo W.]

It would probably help if you could provide some pictures.

If the Sydos is an external device, it's interface can be SCSI, Mitsumi, or Goldstar/Hitachi. Others were not used for external units afaik. Would be "easy" to tell from pictures.

 

[Ruud]

Plasma's driver didn't work. And yesterday I gave to friend of mine who was interested in it and and the Diskshuttle. He is going to have a look at it.

 

[MauriceH]

I got this little project from Ruud.
Lets see if we got it going.

The DIL28 , P8251A, is an Programable Communication Interface Asynchronous to 19,2k
The Addresses Pins are 300,310,330,340 (Current settings 300)

Controller named: CM153 Controller Card
CD-Rom Drive type: CM50/60

As it is ISA 8 Bit, I think should be some DOS driver or early WIN2.0 or 3.0 driver.
I have a Tulip Compact 2 (XT) running WIN 1.03.
Should be fun if I get this CDRom running on that machine.
Maurice

Edit: Label Card : FCC ID: FVR 6CM CM153A , made in Holland , Laser Magnetic Storage International.
As I notice the PCB Partnr : 3122 113 3512.0 That is a typical PHILIPS part nr.
So could be a Philips product.

 

[Timo W.]

Ah yeah, own that, too. A re-branded Philips CM50 with the CM153 controller card. In case you don't know, this has quite some value. The CM153 is so rare that it was just recently cloned by Tech Tangents.

The CM153 card needs to be modified if you want to use it for the CM50 (power rails need to be added). You also need the later unified drivers, not the ones for the CM50/153. But all in all, it's easy to get it working. That is, unless you are missing the cable that connects the card to the drive.

 

[Ruud]

Maurice has the cable as well.

 

[MindWalker]

The CM153 is so rare that it was just recently cloned by Tech Tangents.

Link:

 

[MauriceH]

Thanks for hints and the link to the Project.
What a great project, learned a lot about How-To cloning a PCB.

CM153 links to +5V and +12V I can imagine that as the drive it self has no ext power unit.
About the "the later unified drivers" I am bit confused what to use in the end.
See attach the list of Philips drivers I found.
Think you mean the "Philips.zip"? CM153/250

As rarity of items, Its always problem where to find it.And someone needs to put it on a list to get it available.
I have several declared "rare" items , just wait and keep looking.
In old threat vcfed from Roland his CM100, he mentioned several NOS CM153 available stock US.
He even has 2 of them.

Still its a very interesting project that Cloning, and ending in a great success!

As I read about the bus speed, so I have to be aware of that not to try in a fast setup PC.
I'll go get the Tulip from the shelf.

 

[Timo W.]

CM153 links to +5V and +12V I can imagine that as the drive it self has no ext power unit.
About the "the later unified drivers" I am bit confused what to use in the end.

I've attached everything you need. The picture shows were power must go. Also two versions of the unified driver.

In old threat vcfed from Roland his CM100, he mentioned several NOS CM153 available stock US.

2013 was long ago.

 

[MauriceH]

Sadly the CM50 seems to be defect.
Build a standard power connector at the CM153 Card.
Checked and double checked if +5V and +12V are indeed as suggested pins.
Those traced at the CM50 to PowerSwitch and indeed +5V at TTL rail.
Its a double pole switch most left power in from connector , center pins to circuits.

Org DB15 cable is a straight cable 1:1 . But No pins at the needed 6,7,14, also pins 8 and 15 are not connected.
Femail conn. even has no pinning at all.
So had to make my own 15DB straight cable. 1: 1

At power on with no disk inside , all hell break lose inside, and spinning crazy,
Power on light and Buzzy light is constant ON.
With a disk also terrible fast spinning and the disk clamp isn't holding that speed.
No search or focus sounds to be heard above the fast spinning sounds.

So have to go debug what is wrong with the CM50.
Its a pitty.
May be it needed 2x +5V? on both pins.
Think not as even power switch has 2 separate switching contacts and circuits.

 

[Timo W.]

Wrong cable! You need the CM50 cable, not the CM153 one. I'm not even sure the CM50 cable is 1:1 - it may send the voltage to different pins.

If you can wait a day or two, I can check my cable.

 

[MauriceH]

No could only be some wrong data as I checked voltage rails to components.
Just with only power to device it starts spinning and buzy light on.
153 is just a staight 1:1 cabble missing those power pins

 

[Timo W.]

Let me repeat:

I'm not even sure the CM50 cable is 1:1

The CM153 cable was for older drives that did use external power. Other pins might be different, too. Since nothing of the LMSI stuff is really documented, you won't have much luck trying with a possibly wrong cable.

Of course, should you have the pin-out of both the CM50 and the CM153, you can just compare.

Another thing to note: Your CM153 card is from very early 1989, while mine is from mid-1991. The CM50 was released in between. Not sure if there were any changes made to the card, but routing of traces is certainly different.

 

[MauriceH]

Timo , thanks for info.
I pulled the card and just powered the drive, even then very fast spinning,with buzy light on and power on light.
It should with only power just spinup disk and start focussing the disk.
As any normal CD drive does, I presume.
Indeed nothing to find out there of pinning that cable or any other doc.
As the attached cable is a 1: 1 I think that should be plausable.
Datalines could indeed be different but that should not effect that fast spinning right on power.
I can notice the Laser drop to center track but does not start focussing.
I'll co check CPU if that is running, X-Tal is working or not etc.
Already start finding some datasheets of the logic ICs

 

[AkBKukU]

Hello, I'm the one who cloned that card in the video. In it I mentioned someone who had another CM153, they had actually modified it for use with the CM50 like you are trying to do. The CM153 wasn't meant for use with the external power drives but you can at least feel confident it can work with this one. Here is a link to the person who was telling me about this:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1574784722336681984

I don't have an LMSI drive that requires external power (maybe eventually) so I can't say much beyond that. I did just buy a 1:1 cable for my CM100 off amazon and it worked, but I don't know if the later drives are all the same, especially since my CM260 card refused to work with the CM100.

 

[MauriceH]

Thanks for the replay. AkBKukU,
Did trace my CM50 CDRom Drive connector. Pin 15 is an issue as it goes to the CPU 80C52 pin 3, a Biderictional Port.( P1,2) and CM153 not Connected.
I used your schematics of the CM153.
So cable it self is straight 1: 1. And looking at the in outputs so far so good.
I build my self from a 14pin data cable and 2x DB15 connectors.
Thing could be a channel mix, but as now seems all inputs and outputs are lining up, think a straight cable CM153-CM50 is the right one.
Only have to figure out DB15 pin 15 the CPU port P1.2 80C52.

 

[MauriceH]

Can you ask that person to contact me through email?
Or just ask him if he made a spec arranged cable with a mix of channels.
Specially about pin 15 that CPU in/output.

Your card is from 1990 wk25 rev A02, mine is 1989 wk15 rev A01,
PCB code component side 8222 280 6383. (so a rev 0, or they forgot to put a new rev code after dot)
PCB code solder side 8222 280 6382.4 (so a rev 4)
Actual CM153 PCB order Code ; 3122 113 3512.6
Yeh Philips and their codes, after some decades using/repairing Philips products I know their habits of codes , LoL
As I look at your card and some trace changes, it seems only a retrace routing/position, not actual connection change.