Amiga.org

Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: redrumloa on April 22, 2008, 11:42:58 PM

Title: Convert JU257 floppy for Amiga, HELP!!
Post by: redrumloa on April 22, 2008, 11:42:58 PM
Actually I want to use it with a C= 1581 drive, but that requires converting it the same way as to an Amiga drive.

HERE (http://i26.tinypic.com/25rfqx2.jpg) is the board.

I am using THIS (http://aminet.net/package/docs/hard/ju257) guide. It appears my drive has a different board than what is described. Also I can't seem to open the IFF file, maybe it is corrupt? If you can view the image, please convert the IFF to GIF or JPG? I'd appreciate it.

How to change this drive to DS0 instead of DS1? I can swap pin 2 and 34 on the cable if need be, but drive select seems to be the issue..

HELP!  :-?
Title: Re: Convert JU257 floppy for Amiga, HELP!!
Post by: redrumloa on April 23, 2008, 12:41:20 AM
 :bump:
Title: Re: Convert JU257 floppy for Amiga, HELP!!
Post by: rkauer on April 23, 2008, 02:58:40 AM
Quote

redrumloa wrote:
Actually I want to use it with a C= 1581 drive, but that requires converting it the same way as to an Amiga drive.

HERE (http://i26.tinypic.com/25rfqx2.jpg) is the board.

I am using THIS (http://aminet.net/package/docs/hard/ju257) guide. It appears my drive has a different board than what is described. Also I can't seem to open the IFF file, maybe it is corrupt? If you can view the image, please convert the IFF to GIF or JPG? I'd appreciate it.

How to change this drive to DS0 instead of DS1? I can swap pin 2 and 34 on the cable if need be, but drive select seems to be the issue..

HELP!  :-?


 If you are using an external case, the drive must be set as DS1, anyway. For use it as DS0 (and you are unable to find the right jumper), maybe there is a time to use the very ugly cable torsion instead. Simply open the floppy cable connector and twist the pins 10 and 12 (11 is GND, so it don't matter).
Title: Re: Convert JU257 floppy for Amiga, HELP!!
Post by: banzai on April 23, 2008, 05:32:02 AM
Looking at your picture...

It seems the PCB was designed to have switches that would allow... well, switching... the drive to another configuration. It is most likely that Matsushita (Panasonic) decided to save the money on switches and just jumper them at the factory. So...

sw1 = switches RDY and DCHNG lines
sw2 = unknown (just IN and OUT labels) wp or density?
sw3 = Drive Select (D0/D1)
sw4 = unknown (just IN and OUT labels) wp or density?
sw5 = unknown (just PC and SE labels) pc/mac se 800K?
sw6 = unknown (just MS and MO labels) motor sense?

It looks like they hard-wired the pads at switch 3, just below pins 9-10 of the 34-pin connector. In fact, I can make out what seems to be a jumper bridging behind the index pin holes for the switch. You may be able to unsolder the jumpers and install a switch pulled from a non-working floppy (if you have one).

banzai

P.S. I use this site (http://www.freewebs.com/computolio/amiga_floppy_compatibility.html) to check the drive info.
Title: Re: Convert JU257 floppy for Amiga, HELP!!
Post by: Jope on April 23, 2008, 10:50:49 AM
Ok, everyone. Stop speculating please.

For the 1581 the drive must be DS0, also for most Amiga external drives the drive must be DS0.

Redrumloa, modify your drive according to:
http://jope.fi/drives/ju257a606p/

There are two smd short circuit blocks that need to be moved and I've put red squares around them. My picture is how it should look after your soldering work.

No cable swap needed, use a straight 34pin cable.

Tested to work with Amigas and the 1581. Don't be alarmed, the drive LED will stay on always with the 1581, just pay attention to your floppy cable orientation. It is marked on both ends.

The drive should burp the stepper motor when you switch it on, if not, your cable is probably the wrong way around or still set at DS1.
Title: Re: Convert JU257 floppy for Amiga, HELP!!
Post by: redrumloa on April 23, 2008, 01:45:35 PM
Awesome info everyone, thanks!

@Jope
Perfect, I should have no problem now. My 128T will be getting an internal 1581 :-D Thanks for the effort!!
Title: Re: Convert JU257 floppy for Amiga, HELP!!
Post by: redrumloa on April 26, 2008, 12:54:37 AM
No luck, I'm stumped. Drive light stays on like expected, the motor bumps when turned on, but trying to load anything you just get file not found error and the power light flashes immediately.

Have you tried this mod with JiffyDOS?
Title: Re: Convert JU257 floppy for Amiga, HELP!!
Post by: redrumloa on April 26, 2008, 01:28:53 AM
@jope

Can you show me a picture of CN6 and CN7?
Title: Re: Convert JU257 floppy for Amiga, HELP!!
Post by: Jope on April 26, 2008, 07:43:15 AM
Works fine with Jiffydos.

Head 0 goes to the rear connector (CN6), head 1 goes to the one closer to the spindle (CN7).

You can't read the CN6/CN7 markings on the drives I have when you're putting them together, the drive's aluminium chassis obscures the text on the silkscreen. :-)
Title: Re: Convert JU257 floppy for Amiga, HELP!!
Post by: mrmkl on April 26, 2008, 09:04:52 AM
Which version of JU257 drive are you going to use?

I think some of them will behave badly both in Amiga and in 1581, atleast with 1581 with WD1772 (contra WD1770)

The reason I think is track to track stepping times not being sufficient for some of the JU257 models.
Title: Re: Convert JU257 floppy for Amiga, HELP!!
Post by: Jope on April 26, 2008, 09:37:16 AM
What kind of behaviour have you been experiencing?

I have done 20 ju257a606p conversions and all of them worked in an Amiga. I haven't tried nearly all of them in a 1581, but the ones I did also worked.

I do realise that 20 is a laughably small number in comparison  to the amount of these drives floating around in the world. :-)
Title: Re: Convert JU257 floppy for Amiga, HELP!!
Post by: mrmkl on April 26, 2008, 11:07:36 AM
I have made a note about one JU-257A427P rev. F.
I think the rw-head does not reach the correct track every time.
I also recall seeing a screenshot of Catweasel configuration utility, where head step pulses were adjusted for some drive, I think it was JU-257-something
Title: Re: Convert JU257 floppy for Amiga, HELP!!
Post by: redrumloa on April 26, 2008, 04:25:21 PM
Quote

mrmkl wrote:
Which version of JU257 drive are you going to use?


JU-257A606P

Quote
I think some of them will behave badly both in Amiga and in 1581, atleast with 1581 with WD1772 (contra WD1770)


I don't have any WD chip in my 1581, which spot is the WD supposed to be in? U3 or U4?
Title: Re: Convert JU257 floppy for Amiga, HELP!!
Post by: redrumloa on April 26, 2008, 04:42:31 PM
Quote

Jope wrote:
What kind of behaviour have you been experiencing?


I type 'load "$",9' and hit enter, the drive power light immediately starts flashing in error and I get "?file not found error".

I type 'load "*",9' and hit enter, I get no drive activity but on screen pause, after about a ~7 seconds, the drive power light starts flashing in error and I get "?file not found error".
Title: Re: Convert JU257 floppy for Amiga, HELP!!
Post by: redrumloa on April 26, 2008, 05:38:13 PM
Umm.. now the 1581 is doing the same thing with the original Chinon drive.. Sigh.. When things go wrong they go wrong.. I hope I still have that 1581 service manual..

-Edit-
Fixed, working again with original Chinon drive.
Title: Re: Convert JU257 floppy for Amiga, HELP!!
Post by: mongo on April 26, 2008, 05:49:58 PM
Quote

redrumloa wrote:

I don't have any WD chip in my 1581, which spot is the WD supposed to be in? U3 or U4?


U4
Title: Re: Convert JU257 floppy for Amiga, HELP!!
Post by: redrumloa on April 26, 2008, 05:59:59 PM
Quote

mongo wrote:
Quote

redrumloa wrote:

I don't have any WD chip in my 1581, which spot is the WD supposed to be in? U3 or U4?


U4


Thanks.

(http://i29.tinypic.com/30k2.jpg)
Title: Re: Convert JU257 floppy for Amiga, HELP!!
Post by: redrumloa on April 26, 2008, 06:10:54 PM
Well all, I lost patience and I am modifying the original Chinon drive and a PC faceplate along with a 3.5 to 5.25 adapter.

(http://i29.tinypic.com/noc0tf.jpg)

It would be nice to know for future reference why my modification failed. Maybe the revision of the drive?

(http://i29.tinypic.com/2rop1d2.jpg)

I may put this drive up for sale.
Title: Re: Convert JU257 floppy for Amiga, HELP!!
Post by: Jope on April 26, 2008, 10:06:17 PM
The chip you have is the 1772 but it is just by some other manufacturer. A bit like the Hitachi and STmicro 68000s found in A500s.

Did you try the drive in an Amiga too?

Did you verify that the drive was working in a PC before you started to modify it?