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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: pyrre on January 27, 2015, 10:04:30 PM

Title: Amiga floppy drives
Post by: pyrre on January 27, 2015, 10:04:30 PM
I have been wondering on something for quite some time;
These modern days we have the catweasel floppy controller that lets us use modern pc floppy drives to read and write amiga disks on pcs.
(if I'm mistaken, please correct me)

Is there any way of making a board that sits in between the floppy port (of any amiga) and a modern floppy drive. and that lets us use it for dd and hd floppies?
lets face it, the old drives are dying and there are not made any replacements. but cheap pc floppies are still in abundance.. (i have somewhat 20 drives collecting dust... though, some are broken)
Title: Re: Amiga floppy drives
Post by: orange on January 27, 2015, 10:13:19 PM
Quote from: pyrre;782462
I have been wondering on something for quite some time;
These modern days we have the catweasel floppy controller that lets us use modern pc floppy drives to read and write amiga disks on pcs.
(if I'm mistaken, please correct me)

Is there any way of making a board that sits in between the floppy port (of any amiga) and a modern floppy drive. and that lets us use it for dd and hd floppies?
lets face it, the old drives are dying and there are not made any replacements. but cheap pc floppies are still in abundance.. (i have somewhat 20 drives collecting dust... though, some are broken)


IIRC, there is such a thing, check aminet. But Amiga external FDDs are not expensive, and you can easily replace its drive with standard PC one, after modifying READY signal, at least for DD.
HD is still overpriced, IMHO.
Title: Re: Amiga floppy drives
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on January 27, 2015, 10:44:16 PM
Unlike all the clowns lately who seem to think AmigaKit still has some miracle supply of NOS A1200's in stock, they DO in fact, still have new floppy drives available, for the princely sum of $24 each.  ;)

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=294

 http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=106
Title: Re: Amiga floppy drives
Post by: NovaCoder on January 27, 2015, 11:19:53 PM
Who uses floppy drives these days?


Just stick all your games on either a solid state HD or go for a floppy emulator....job done :)
Title: Re: Amiga floppy drives
Post by: klx300r on January 28, 2015, 12:31:55 AM
Quote from: NovaCoder;782465
Who uses floppy drives these days?


Just stick all your games on either a solid state HD or go for a floppy emulator....job done :)

now now Nova you've been around Amiga land long enough to know that we ALWAYS do things mainly 'because we like to and we can';)
Title: Re: Amiga floppy drives
Post by: NovaCoder on January 28, 2015, 02:32:20 AM
Quote from: klx300r;782470
now now Nova you've been around Amiga land long enough to know that we ALWAYS do things mainly 'because we like to and we can';)


True :)

But floppies are too 'retro', even for me!
Title: Amiga vs PC floppy drives
Post by: danbeaver on January 28, 2015, 02:38:19 AM
Quote from: pyrre;782462
I have been wondering on something for quite some time;
These modern days we have the catweasel floppy controller that lets us use modern pc floppy drives to read and write amiga disks on pcs.
(if I'm mistaken, please correct me)

Is there any way of making a board that sits in between the floppy port (of any amiga) and a modern floppy drive. and that lets us use it for dd and hd floppies?
lets face it, the old drives are dying and there are not made any replacements. but cheap pc floppies are still in abundance.. (i have somewhat 20 drives collecting dust... though, some are broken)

Ian Stedman's adapter (http://www.ianstedman.co.uk/Amiga/designs/Floppy_Adaptor/floppy_adaptor.html) will handle DD floppies.  There are older adapters that could do this with modified PC drives for HD disks.

Otherwise try to locate a Catweasel MKII (out of production now) and keep it safe!
Title: Re: Amiga floppy drives
Post by: orange on January 28, 2015, 08:24:04 AM
Quote from: NovaCoder;782465
Who uses floppy drives these days?


Just stick all your games on either a solid state HD or go for a floppy emulator....job done :)


enjoy:
http://www.wired.com/2009/05/five-disk-floppy-raid-4mb-of-blistering-fast-storage/
Title: Re: Amiga vs PC floppy drives
Post by: pyrre on January 28, 2015, 02:41:56 PM
Quote from: danbeaver;782475
Ian Stedman's adapter (http://www.ianstedman.co.uk/Amiga/designs/Floppy_Adaptor/floppy_adaptor.html) will handle DD floppies.  There are older adapters that could do this with modified PC drives for HD disks.

Otherwise try to locate a Catweasel MKII (out of production now) and keep it safe!
I see on his web page he has made a v3 of the adaptor. with experimental HD support. hopefully soon full hd support