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11
Hrm, I DO have a ZuluSCSI removed from a GVP HD8+ and it IS known working in that. However, they are kind of related (BlueSCSI and ZuluSCSI). Ill give it a try, it'll be interesting to see if there are any differences...

Also, the termination, yes, it could be an issue. I'll see if I can find replacement resistor packs, if I can work out what they actually are...

Which version of the SCSI ROM are you Using?
12
Hrm, I DO have a ZuluSCSI removed from a GVP HD8+ and it IS known working in that. However, they are kind of related (BlueSCSI and ZuluSCSI). Ill give it a try, it'll be interesting to see if there are any differences...

Also, the termination, yes, it could be an issue. I'll see if I can find replacement resistor packs, if I can work out what they actually are...
13
Amiga Marketplace / AmiKit for Pistorm - Offical UK Reseller
« Last post by RetroPassion on April 15, 2024, 10:50:32 PM »
We are super excited to say we are now official UK resellers of AmiKit for the PiStorm. Not only can we supply AmiKit in a 64Gb SD card form but also offer preloaded versions with AmigaOS 3.2.2 (if you own a licence) and being official Hyperion AmigaOS resellers we can also supply licenced AmigaOS 3.2 if required.

That's not all, we can also supply fully plug and play PiStorm's with AmiKit ready to go out of the box.

For PiStorm's with Wi-Fi, also included is the new Wi-Fi driver to use the PiStorm Wi-Fi to register your copy of AmiKit. This is of course in alpha so it is buggy and is extremely basic, this of course will be improved, however a small guide is included if you happy to have a play.   

An amazing time for Amiga's 39th birthday in 2024!

Full details below:

https://www.retropassion.co.uk/product/amikit-for-pistorm-and-pistorm32/

Thanks!

14
I have bought a Fastlane Z3 SCSI2 adapter, and I'm trying to use it with an Amiga 4000.
So far, its not quite working, its still quite a ways off from being of any use.
It was bought as not known working, because the vendor said they had not used it in 5 years.
But, last time they had, they said it was fully functional.

So, the situation…
When I plug in a serial connection into my BlueSCSIv2, and turn it on, it appears to be functioning as expected.
Further to this, I have already used THIS BSv2 with a GVP SCSI sidecar and it was working as expected.
So, I think its assembly is ok.

In the Z3 card, it sees the BSv2, as ID0 or whatever you configure it as, and you can select it, and try to configure it.
I have done this with both HDTools using z3scsi.device and also with its own native toolset from Phase 5 (unitControl2 and SCSIControl3).

Both tools see the drive. However, it is a little unreliable. For instance, when reading its details in HDToolbox, it sometimes reads the manufacturer information verbatim, but sometimes its characters are garbled, same goes for drive name, and version.

When I partition the drive, this works ok. However, post that, quitting the tool, the drive is not always mounted and shown on the desktop. Mostly, it is not, about 90% of the time, it does not appear, even after a reboot.

When it DOES appear, you can select it, and then format the drive, and this appears to work as expected. It's name changes, and you can open the disk, and it reports the correct size. However, when you try to write ANYTHING to it, it reports checksum errors, and data, never seems to stick, no files appear on the disk.

When using the unitControl2  tool to set the drives properties, it also sometimes reports a checksum error. Also, on occasion it will state that the drive's size is not divisible by the number of cylinders (or similar)

I am not sure if this is a hardware problem with the Z3. Oddly, in the the BSv2 serial logging, everything looks ok.
Or, is this a configuration/software problem, something needed somewhere with MASK values, sector values etc.

If anyone here also has a Fastlane Z3 that would be especially useful. Sadly, I do not have a REAL SCSI hard disk to test with. I'm not into using them as they are so unreliable now.

I may start, as a simple precaution to replace the cards caps. There are only 3, but who knows, maybe the power delivery is a bit off or dirty. I guess there could be an issue with the cards chips, which are mostly GALS or PALS (heat-sinks on all) but as it kind of works, I don't think it this. Usually ROM corruption or chip fails lead to more drastically bad behaviour.

Anyway, those are my thoughts on it right now. All help appreciated.

The Z3 has 3 Terminator resistors next to the 50 pin header. These maybe faulty. Also what SCSI ROM is being used? Type in a shell: version z3scsi.device
Ideally you need to be using version 8.5.

More info here for drivers:

http://amiga.resource.cx/exp/fastlane

And here:

https://bigbookofamigahardware.com/bboah/product.aspx?id=1231

English Manual here:

https://retro-commodore.eu/files/downloads/amigamanuals-xiik.net/Hardware/FastLane%20Z3%20-%20Manual-ENG.pdf

Additional Phase 5 files and drivers here:

http://phase5.a1k.org/

Good Luck.
15
Intermittent errors like that often suggest incorrect SCSI bus termination.  Check that in the first instance.

Failing that you'll probably need to find another known good SCSI device to check the Fastlane is working as expected.  I'm not familiar with the BlueSCSI, so don't know how universally compatible they are.
16
The image shows random garbage being read back from the memory.  Is it even being written to?  Monitoring _WE (write enable) during the memory test will show if a write cycle is being performed or not, which will determine what fault finding direction to go in next.

The fact that it was working suggests it's likely to be caused by a cracked or open circuit track as a result of the corrosion damage.  The corrosion damage will generally be confined to a fairly specific area.  I'd suggest removing the DIP68 socket and the resistor network near pin 1 of the 68000, then measure continuity of the top side tracks from the via and pads onwards around the pin 1 area of the 68000.  It's fairly quick and easy to identify open circuit tracks this way as you can see where they go without the DIP68 socket in place.  Any tracks that look marginal should be repaired, a wire strand from a scrap of IDC ribbon cable is ideal for track repairs.

Also replace the resistor networks if they look corroded to avoid any future problems.  And check you've not damaged any tracks or pads when replacing the DIP68 socket, which can cause this type of fault as well.

Repairing obvious problems in the corroded area is usually the faster approach in this case, as fault tracing memory access problems can often be complex and time consuming.  Especially when you're trying to explain how to do it by exchanging messages on a forum.
17
I have bought a Fastlane Z3 SCSI2 adapter, and I'm trying to use it with an Amiga 4000.
So far, its not quite working, its still quite a ways off from being of any use.
It was bought as not known working, because the vendor said they had not used it in 5 years.
But, last time they had, they said it was fully functional.

So, the situation…
When I plug in a serial connection into my BlueSCSIv2, and turn it on, it appears to be functioning as expected.
Further to this, I have already used THIS BSv2 with a GVP SCSI sidecar and it was working as expected.
So, I think its assembly is ok.

In the Z3 card, it sees the BSv2, as ID0 or whatever you configure it as, and you can select it, and try to configure it.
I have done this with both HDTools using z3scsi.device and also with its own native toolset from Phase 5 (unitControl2 and SCSIControl3).

Both tools see the drive. However, it is a little unreliable. For instance, when reading its details in HDToolbox, it sometimes reads the manufacturer information verbatim, but sometimes its characters are garbled, same goes for drive name, and version.

When I partition the drive, this works ok. However, post that, quitting the tool, the drive is not always mounted and shown on the desktop. Mostly, it is not, about 90% of the time, it does not appear, even after a reboot.

When it DOES appear, you can select it, and then format the drive, and this appears to work as expected. It's name changes, and you can open the disk, and it reports the correct size. However, when you try to write ANYTHING to it, it reports checksum errors, and data, never seems to stick, no files appear on the disk.

When using the unitControl2  tool to set the drives properties, it also sometimes reports a checksum error. Also, on occasion it will state that the drive's size is not divisible by the number of cylinders (or similar)

I am not sure if this is a hardware problem with the Z3. Oddly, in the the BSv2 serial logging, everything looks ok.
Or, is this a configuration/software problem, something needed somewhere with MASK values, sector values etc.

If anyone here also has a Fastlane Z3 that would be especially useful. Sadly, I do not have a REAL SCSI hard disk to test with. I'm not into using them as they are so unreliable now.

I may start, as a simple precaution to replace the cards caps. There are only 3, but who knows, maybe the power delivery is a bit off or dirty. I guess there could be an issue with the cards chips, which are mostly GALS or PALS (heat-sinks on all) but as it kind of works, I don't think it this. Usually ROM corruption or chip fails lead to more drastically bad behaviour.

Anyway, those are my thoughts on it right now. All help appreciated.
18
General chat about Amiga topics / Winuae help needed.
« Last post by 80sRkadeguy on April 15, 2024, 07:00:58 PM »
Hello all, I'm not sure iof this is the right forum, but I have Fast Draw Showdown working in Winaue,  but the display is horizontal and it needs to be vertical.  I tried the factory game settings as well as looking at all of the settings in Winuae,  but I can't find an option to rotate the display. I had a friend that does video editing rotate the video, but it didn't work. Someone mentioned using an ahk script, but I'm new to Winaue so I have no clue how to use a script. Could someone please help me with this please?
19
Amiga Magazines / Re: Amiga Future is looking again for reinforcements
« Last post by AndreasM on April 15, 2024, 02:06:39 PM »
Hi. I write you a email.
20
Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion / Amiga 2000 UDS/LDS Failed in Diagrom
« Last post by Kepler on April 15, 2024, 12:44:35 PM »
Hi all,

I hope someone could help advise what I should do next to resurrect my green screening Amiga 2000.

Some background: Usual battery damage which I cleaned and then repaired a few tracks. The machine was briefly working at this point and then stopped - green screen.

I then replaced the processor and Kickstart socket for good measure. No change.
I then socketed the first four DRAM ICs. No change.

Diagrom produces the attached result.

What should I do next?

I have a scope and logic probe.

Thanks!
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