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Operating System Specific Discussions => Other Operating Systems => Topic started by: XDelusion on May 26, 2010, 10:34:49 AM

Title: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: XDelusion on May 26, 2010, 10:34:49 AM
I have something like this for my Atari 130XE and now need one for my C64, that DOES NOT use up the Cartridge port.

I have MSSIAH, but realized I've no way of saving my work and I don't want an actually Floppy Drive. I need an SD card reader that will load and write to disk images.

Anyone know where to buy these or if any are currently in production anywhere?
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: Britelite on May 26, 2010, 11:36:49 AM
Quote from: XDelusion;561080
I have something like this for my Atari 130XE and now need one for my C64, that DOES NOT use up the Cartridge port.


There's always 1541ultimate (http://www.1541ultimate.net/). It can work as a standalone device, although it's more fun to use when connected to the cartridgeport :)
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: tone007 on May 26, 2010, 11:42:06 AM
1541U is hard to get a hold of and expensive, though pretty close to 100% compatible with all software.  If you're looking for affordable and readily available, the uIEC/SD is a bargain and works well. http://www.jbrain.net/
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: ognix on May 26, 2010, 11:43:40 AM
There's also the 1541 III project:
http://jderogee.tripod.com/
It's not so difficult if you are aware of electronics.

It can read from SD cards PRG files and D64 images, and can write, but only on D64 images (AFAIK).
Cheers!
...and I'm going to buy a Mssiah for having fun as well!!! :)
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: recidivist on May 26, 2010, 02:18:45 PM
to tone007

Thanks for the tip/endorsement  on uIEC/SD.It is always good to hear from  someone who has used an item before buying one and finding out too late there was a problem.
 $55 is pretty cheap for a modern storage device that will work with a C64.(I know there is the "use an old PC  with adapter cable' but that is clunky and HUGE.)

Jim Brain is scheduled to attend the Cincinnati Commodore Computer Club Expo this Memorial Day weekend ,at the Drawbridge Inn just across the Ohio river from Cincinnati.

I have been planning to buy a 64NIC ,will have to ask Jim if 64NIC and uIEC/SD can coexist.

 Someone at last year's Expo had a 1541 Ultimate and that was impressive ,especially compared to old C= 1541 "real" drive.

 One ,if not the worst, fault of the C64 /128( and other  home computers of that era) was slow drive access and limited storage.
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: save2600 on May 26, 2010, 02:35:29 PM
+1 for Jim's uIEC device here. Met him at the ECCC show in IL last year and he finalized one for me while I was there. Been using it with great success (games only mind you). I've got the JiffyDOS ROM installed too, which in my mind, is an absolute must have. The 1541 Ultimate is supposed to be just that. I wasn't aware of this, but there are a few games and apps that take advantage of the CPU cycles inside a real 1541. So, for maximum compatibility, looks like that product does what it says, but the uIEC is still a kick ass product. Small enough too where you could cut a slit in your case and mount that puppy inside your C= computer somehow  :)
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: ArcadeHeart on May 26, 2010, 04:27:43 PM
Maybe you could be interested in this:

http://c64sd.roxer.com/

:)
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: redrumloa on May 26, 2010, 05:02:32 PM
Quote from: recidivist;561103
I have been planning to buy a 64NIC ,will have to ask Jim if 64NIC and uIEC/SD can coexist.

Yes they can. The uIEC only connects to the IEC (floppy serial port) so it is just like a floppy drive to the computer. I have both a uIEC and 64nic+ in my 128T and use them both at the same time with no problem.
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: recidivist on May 26, 2010, 05:07:46 PM
Well then ,Jim will probably be getting  some of my money in  a few days.

Even if my co-workers laugh at my Commodore hobby.
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: redrumloa on May 26, 2010, 05:19:33 PM
Quote from: recidivist;561130
Well then ,Jim will probably be getting some of my money in a few days.
 
Even if my co-workers laugh at my Commodore hobby.

There is a small learning curve with the uIEC, but not very difficult. If you don't have JiffyDOS, I extremely strongly suggest you get it. If you have and know JiffyDOS, uIEC is a breeze. The uIEC is an amazing device for a very cheap price, cheap in relative terms.
 
I don't usually even bother telling co-workers about my hobby. Most of us retro hobbyists grew up with computers in the 70's and 80's, we are a minority. Most people think an early computer is a 1999 Packard Bell running AOL 5.0 Operating system :rolleyes: They won't get it and never will, so I don't even bother.
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: RobertB on May 26, 2010, 05:21:02 PM
Quote from: XDelusion;561080
Anyone know where to buy these or if any are currently in production anywhere?

Florida's Tony Kim sells the SD2IEC card drive at http://www.nkcelectronics.com/sd2iec-boar2.html  If you buy the accessory daughterboard, you can assemble it or let his company assemble it for you.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
July 24-25 Commodore Vegas Expo - http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: save2600 on May 26, 2010, 06:54:17 PM
Just remembered a slight "incompatibility" worth mentioning and that's the uIEC device comes standard as device #9. This conflicted with games expecting the standard 1 drive scenario. Not a real problem... all you have to do is type in a command that tells the uIEC that it really is a #8 device. And it stays that way, even after you turn the computer off or reset. The command is found on the uIEC Wiki page IIRC.
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: tone007 on May 26, 2010, 06:59:50 PM
Not that it makes much of a difference, but the default device number of the uIEC is generally 10.
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: save2600 on May 26, 2010, 07:08:48 PM
You may be right
I may be crazy
But it just might be a lunatic you're looking for
Turn out the light
Don't try to save me
You may be wrong for all I know
But you may be right

Yeah, #10 I guess it was... DOH!   :lol:
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: XDelusion on May 27, 2010, 06:28:20 AM
uIEC/SD sounds good, but is Jiffy DOS mandatory? My main use (for now) is so I can save things I create with MSSIAH.

As for the learning curb, I'm sure you guys would be more than willing to help out. :)
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: redrumloa on May 27, 2010, 07:36:41 PM
Quote from: XDelusion;561296
uIEC/SD sounds good, but is Jiffy DOS mandatory? My main use (for now) is so I can save things I create with MSSIAH.
 
As for the learning curb, I'm sure you guys would be more than willing to help out. :)

JiffyDOS is not mandatory, just extremely helpful. You can do everything the long way manually with Commodore Basic/DOS commands.
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: recidivist on May 27, 2010, 08:41:59 PM
I mainly use JiffyDos for its much faster drive access routines;$20  or $25 now,but I paid more 15 years ago.JiffyDos makes the Commodore serial drives  work like they should have from the beginning.

Commodore ought to have licensed the JiffyDos for 64 and 128 and drives;then the 8-bit line might have  had another  couple years as a commercial success.
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: TheGoose on May 27, 2010, 09:15:28 PM
Quote from: ArcadeHeart;561123
Maybe you could be interested in this:

http://c64sd.roxer.com/

:)



Damn "CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE" Damn, Damn, Bam Bam   Bam Bam !    :hammer:


What about the "Chameleon" - this summer maybe?
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: XDelusion on May 28, 2010, 05:52:04 AM
So if I order a UIEC/SD, what options do I want to select?

# Daughtercard
# 1x13 Edge Connector
# None
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: tone007 on May 28, 2010, 02:00:15 PM
Definitely go for the daughterboard, the edge connector is only to take 5V from your C64's user port to power the device.  Personally, I'd do it a different way, but it makes it easy if you don't want to solder.

My solution: http://jungle.net/tone/uiecsd
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: XDelusion on May 28, 2010, 10:02:56 PM
Which port is the user port, and why do you stray away from getting power from it?
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: TheGoose on May 28, 2010, 10:58:04 PM
Quote from: tone007;561606
Definitely go for the daughterboard, the edge connector is only to take 5V from your C64's user port to power the device.  Personally, I'd do it a different way, but it makes it easy if you don't want to solder.

My solution: http://jungle.net/tone/uiecsd



Cool, again with the re-use of a commodore thing for another commodore thing.

So wonder if I would need this if I just use it for MSSIAH for midi stuff. If I save songs to the C64, then yeah I guess one of these options would be good. Hmm, which?
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: redrumloa on May 28, 2010, 11:04:02 PM
Quote from: XDelusion;561766
Which port is the user port, and why do you stray away from getting power from it?

Actually I believe tone misspoke. The uIEC gets power from the cassette port, not user port. The cassette port is the narrow card edge connector on your 64. There are no real disadvantages for the average user.

Unless you plan to use a read mechanical hard drive at some point, a uIEC/SD would probably be sufficient for you.
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: XDelusion on May 29, 2010, 12:42:45 AM
Yep, so long as it ain't the cart port I'm a happy camper! I don't even have to modify my already delicately modified C64, so DOUBLE PLUS GOOD! ;)

EDIT: Problem though, I can only select Daughter Board or 1x13 Edge Connector in the options, not both. Now I'm confused again!!!
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: recidivist on May 29, 2010, 01:30:23 AM
That might be  because the daughter cars connects using those  1x13 pins ? look closely at the  two pictures on Brain's website.

I am planning to buy  one of these  uIEC/SD  with daughtercard Saturday.
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: XDelusion on May 29, 2010, 01:33:34 AM
That's the thing, I can't make sense of those pictures. I mean the Daughter card has a port for your Floppy Drive connector, but the other piece doesn't look like it connects to anything on the outside of a C64.

Which one do I choose since I want to power externally off the cassette  Port?
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: tone007 on May 29, 2010, 02:11:52 AM
Looks like all you need is the daughterboard, I think the "13 edge connector" thing is what I have, which is basically just an IEC cable soldered to a connector that goes over the 13 pins.  Can't imagine where the name came from.

The daughterboard has the connector you'd need to put on the cassette port for power.
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: XDelusion on September 11, 2010, 07:34:19 PM
I finally got it! Now to test it out! :)
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: XDelusion on September 15, 2010, 09:05:47 AM
Hmm, how do I use the uIECSD anyhow? It didn't come with any docs. I got it plugged in, but now what?
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: yakumo9275 on September 15, 2010, 01:42:05 PM
eg:

OPEN 15,10,15,"CD//SOMEDIR/:FOOBAR.D64":CLOSE15

change to/mount FOOBAR.D64

now just do load"$",10 or load"*",10 etc depending on drive number

basically unless you have a dos wedge, its
OPEN 15,10,15,"{COMMAND}":CLOSE15

command being something to mount/umount/change drives etc. lots of commands supported. see sd2iec readme

http://www.sd2iec.de/cgi-bin/gitweb.cgi?p=sd2iec.git;a=blob_plain;f=README;hb=HEAD
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: XDelusion on September 15, 2010, 08:25:39 PM
Thankx, I'll experiment when I get home.

What's a DOS Wedge?

Also where did you get this info, are their firmware updates, etc? I looked things up on the Wiki's but wasn't sure which one had the correct info for my hardware because the WIKI's make it sound like they stopped building my hardware 2 years ago and yet here I have one in my hands.

EDIT: Just saw your link. So would Jiffy Dos make navigating this easier? I was hoping for a menu driven system no unlike I use with my SDrive NUXX for the Atari 8-bit.
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: XDelusion on September 17, 2010, 07:25:49 AM
Thankx you!!! Thus  I've loaded a PRG , but still trying to work out loading disk images.

What are the three buttons on the side of the device for?

How do I use multi sided disks?

Oh, and it works perfectly with MSSIAH!!! :)
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: yakumo9275 on September 17, 2010, 01:02:43 PM
the buttons are for disk change. you can create a text file that lists multiple disks (eg: pool of radiance disk 1...2.3..4.5..6 etc) its a swap list. the buttons change forward/back on disks etc so you can do multidisk games.

read that text file in the link I gave earlier, it explains it (send the text file as "XS:filename.txt" etc.
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: RobertB on September 17, 2010, 06:17:46 PM
Quote from: XDelusion;579604
What's a DOS Wedge?[/QUOTE}
Instead of typing in long string commands, you can use the shortcut commands in the DOS wedge.  For some of the commands, look at

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOS_Wedge
Quote
Also where did you get this info, are their firmware updates, etc?

For the current state of the uIEC and SD2IEC, look at

http://groups.google.com/group/uIEC-users/
Quote
...the WIKI's make it sound like they stopped building my hardware 2 years ago...

The uIEC/SD and the uIEC/CF are still available from Jim Brain, and the SD2IEC is still available from NKCElectronics.com
Quote
So would Jiffy Dos make navigating this easier?

Yes, with its built-in DOS wedge, JiffyDOS would make it easier to use.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
The Other Group of Amigoids
http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
http://www.sccaners.org
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: XDelusion on September 18, 2010, 01:32:05 AM
Nice nice!

Yes I figured they were still making it considering mine just arrived in the mail.

I was a bit scared at first as some posts I read in some other forums made it sound like it was not going to work with MSSIAH, but low and behold it did without an issue. It's also cool that MSSIAH just treats my SD card like a hard drive.

Now to figure out how to make that list file as well as how to load floppy images.

I think I shall order Jiffy DOS after all as I've heard that it really speeds up loading times as well.

OH, BTW, is there a GUI I could use in place of GEOS? And where do I download DOSWedge?

Thankx for all the help!
Title: Re: C64 SD Card Reader
Post by: RobertB on September 21, 2010, 06:37:49 PM
Quote from: XDelusion;579928
OH, BTW, is there a GUI I could use in place of GEOS?
I cannot think of another GUI that can recognize the SD card drive.  Perhaps the GUI in the Final Cartridge 3.  To make it easier to use the SD card drive, you can use Payton Byrd's CBM-Command at  http://cbmcommand.codeplex.com/   or CBM FileBrowser at http://www.vic20.it/cbmfilebrowser/
Quote
And where do I download DOSWedge?
The DOS wedge is part of JiffyDOS.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
The Other Group of Amigoids
http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
http://www.sccaners.org