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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: dougal on February 18, 2010, 05:42:22 PM
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My A2000 came with an ALF2 SCSI controller which i cannot get working
I managed to download the software disk for it from one of those Amiga hardware database sites and i converted the DMS file to ADF and wrote the ADF to disk using EASYADF.
During bootup (of the ALF2 software disk) it recognizes that the ALF2 controller is installed, but whenever i try to enter the drive ID in the software it says something about no device or drive being connected.
I dont know much about SCSI devices unfortunatly.
The drive is a Connor 1Gb with a 50pin connector which i connected to the SCSI board and powered using the Amiga's PSU.
From the Hard Drive i set the SCSI ID using the onboard jumpers.
(NOTE) I cannot find any documentation for the ALF2, only for the ISA card ST-01/ST-02 controller attached to the ALF2 zorro board. So have no idea if any jumpers need settings.
I don't know if or what a SCSI terminator is and if i have one or need one
Any help would really be appreciated
Also, it does not show up in SYSINFO or Early Startup.
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What size HD are you trying? A lot of old cards won't deal with drives over 1GB, sometimes not even seeing them.
Every device on the SCSI bus has an address from 0-7. Usually, the controller card is hardwired to 7. Drives usually are jumpered as 6 from the factory.
You need proper termination on the bus, generally resistor SIPs on the drive itself, near the connector.
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http://amiga.resource.cx/exp/search.pl?company=Elaborate%20Bytes
has some info, but no manual. Check oktapus.lha from Aminet, too.
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The drive is less than 1Gb. Thing is i dont have much experience with scsi. I know IDE has the master/slave/cable select etc.. but i never really worked with scsi drives before. For example, do i have to set some jumper on the actual drive to ID it? And if anyone has the manual for the controller that would be briliant
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There should be three jumpers on the drive labeled A0,A1,A2 which make up the drive address. It's binary, with jumper on meaning "1". So A0 off, A1 on, A2 on would be address 6, and usually safe.
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**BUMP**
Still havent managed :(
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You'll need proper termination. Terminators must always be two, at the end of the cable. Vintage SCSI devices have termination option built-in, so you'll need to activate termination on both the adapter and the drive. Older devices have two or three resistor arrays/packs labeled 220/330 or 221/331 (passive termination), slightly more modern terminators are active and activated by setting a jumper. If you've got the choice enable 'term power' on the adapter and/or on the drive as well.
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Maybe this will help a little bit?
http://www.mocagh.org/forsale/alfad.pdf
I also have the ALF 2 SCSI controller but I have the same problem like you since the attached 83MB SCSI hard drive is death. :(
I would need to replace the defective harddisk with a suitable and working 50pin harddisk.
I wonder if a scsi - cf acard or aztec Monster scsi-cf adapter would work with this controller?
It would be also interessting what's the scsi.device name for the ALF 2.
Unfortunately I don't own any manual for the alf 2.
I got mine installed in a A2000 attached with no accessories.
PS:
I know the A2091 controller with guru roms or at least v7 roms works with the AztecMonster SCSI - CF Adapter. :)