Edge connector...

[Generale]

Hi again.
I was going to (ans still are/am) going to build one of those really simple ide interfaces for the a500. The only problem I have is getting an edge connector. I don't want to solder directly onto the mainboard.

Anyone know where I could get one?
I was going to salvage an ISA slot but realised it was way too short. I could do a cut-and-shut, but there has to be a better way!!!

P.S. Had the same prob with the user port on a C64. I put a D25 on the case, so original user port things can be plugged in, as well as my homebrews with the cheap and versatile db25 connector.

[Generale]

I thought a butchered ISA connector would be the best shot. thanks for that.

The hack I was going to use is called a500ide on aminet.

I had been looking for a simple interface for a while. I could have come up with interface hardware easily enough, but I don't know enough about the OS to write drivers.

It looks like someone has done it all already  :-D

IDE is one of the simplest interfaces out there. It's even easier with a 16 bit bus

[Generale]

64 bit is good. Yes.

Doesn't really matter with endianness with the interface anyway. The decision is left to the person with the soldering iron.

Don't even know why I'm bothering saying this, because the topic has wandered, but the IDE interface was basically designed to attach right on to the ibm clone bus, with very little electronics in between.

Luckily the simplicity of this design allows it to be connected to just about anything imaginable. The only little annoyance is with 8 bit computers. it means you have to buffer 8 bits, because IDE has a 16 bit word.

[Generale]

Thanks for so many ideas!
All excellent!!

The suggestion of the PCI caught me off guard. True they are still available.

The contacts are spaced exactly 2x denser than isa, so it'd work. But there are the problems fitting it to the proto board which I was going to use.

Anyway, I already have heaps of pc boards to salvage from.

Ordering any more suitable or foreign parts is out of the question, because I have a pathetic budget.

Love the ideas on connecting the cut ISAs together. I would have just tried plastic glue or superglue.

I could never butcher a peripheral! If you have spares, give them to me!! or sell them on australian ebay. People are paying almost AU$200 for an a500 with powersupply and mouse right now.

[Generale]

@orange:
you say you made the interface?
how well did it work?

I have some new ata connectors with the little grip things on the ends to hold the cables in. The rest of the parts I can order. The only thing I need to make is the connector to the bus. So on monday or tuesday hopefully I'll order what I need.

One little thing that is bothering me though...
Using ISA slots etc, it would mean the board woul;d be vertically oriented, right? Does the case of the a500 cause any clearance issues with the board/components?

[Generale]

I saw that complex project for adding..everything...to the a500.
Unfortunately like all the other ones, I looked at it and discovered I can't source all the parts. I can't even get half of the 74 series here which really irritates me.

If I could get the real addons, believe me I would.
Unfortunately I always seem to go to the wrong garage sales too. At least I got an a520 for $1 from one.

I do quite like building things even for an intellectual exercise, but I do wish I could make something bootable.

As for bus noise on the a1000, would a high speed cmos buffer, maybe a schmitt help with that?

[Generale]

@JimS

Do you have any details on the commercially made Zorro2 Expansion?

@argus

now there's an idea. Only concern for me is a lot of those connectors are just clipped together. Remove the clipping mechanisms on the sides and they'd separate...wouldn't they? Or are they narrow enough to be stuck together with minimal/no clearancing. I don't have one in front of me now and I can't remember. Sorry.


Oh..about the higher quality high speed components. Oddly enough they seem to be less expensive than their traditional brothers now. I'm not complaining

[Generale]

I like the sound of the bodega bay. i want one!!! especially the isa slots.

I've had drive connectors fall apart on me before. Caused unexplained drive errors until I went to unplug the cable and it separated with no force.

I might have to find some old floppy cables on ebay. it would make the job a lot easier.