Using Iomega Zip drive with A500 Plus

[Ral-Clan]

I don't mean to be blunt, but if you are just figuring out things like how to light up an LED as your first potential breadboard project, and can't yet identify the names of electronic components or the symbols for a dimmer switch on a circuit diagram, then the idea of assembling a DIY IDE or SCSI interface for your Amiga in the near future is pretty much unrealistic at this stage.

Again - I don't mean to sound harsh - but I think any other assessment would be doing you a dis-service.  I do commend you for learning electronics, but it will take months or years for you to get to the stage you can assemble a complicated digital circuit like a hard drive controller.

As for the ZIP drive solution for your Amiga - yes, it's possible. But if you are going to try and find a SCSI or IDE solution to drive the ZIP drive, then you might as well be using hard drives or CF cards on that SCSI controller instead.

I have heard about the parallel port solution for ZIP drives, but I'm sure it won't be pleasant (i.e. slow).

ZIP drives, in their own right, were always semi reliable it seemed (google ZIP DRIVE and CLICK OF DEATH together).

Really, your best solution for mass storage on that Amiga500, is probably the clockport interface and a USB Subway card.

I know it's expensive, but it's much more reliable in the long run.

There is a cheap way for you to get a SCSI controller for the A500.  You would need to pick up a cheap Zorro II SCSI controller card for an A2000 (A2091 or something) and attach it to the side port of the A500 with a "slingshot" connector or gender converter connector.  The A2000 card will then hang off the side of your A500 and look fairly ugly (it will also be exposed and need to be supported with some DIY arrangement), but then, with a cheap SCSI hard drive from eBay you could have a SCSI hard drive setup for less than $50.

(see halfway down this page for picture)
http://paulq.org/amiga/a500tribute.html

Oh, you would also need to power the hard drive.  An external SCSI enclosure or spare PC power supply might work for that.  Again, pretty ugly solution but it would work.

The absolute cheapest way would be to pick up a cheap 486 or pentium I laptop from somewhere (don't pay more than $30) and use it via a parallel port cable or null modem cable to act as a file server for your A500.  I'm thinking of something like Amiga Explorer or the old Siamese system.  Essentially, the laptop would be like an external hard drive for your A500.

[Ral-Clan]

I highly recommend an A500 side-port SCSI connected to Mech's SCSI card reader where you can store files on a CF, SD, or other removable card. That would be a $200 long term solid state solution.

The point is, though, that the original poster said he cannot find / afford a sidecar SCSI expansion.

And not to highjack this thread, but to ask a relevant question; I have a sidecar expansion for my A500 and am considering buying Mech's card reader.....but how did you fit it in there?

Did you have to leave the top of the casing off your sidecar?

[Ral-Clan]

So, I can't possibly build that interface. Will a lead available from Amigakit or Vesalia make it compatible? If so which one?

Compatible with what?  The Zip drive?  No.

I said that I don't think I can afford a SCSI controller. I certainly haven't found one for less than $50. I also said that I couldn't afford the Subway USB.

Old, crappy SCSI controller cards for the A2000 often sell for less than $50.  Look for an A2091 with old ROMs (6.6 or earlier).  I just sold an A2091 on eBay that had the latest ROMs and all the latest revision chips and it only sold for $35US.

I've put in a bid on an Iomega Zip 100Mb parallel drive. I hope this won't be a waste of money.

It's likely to be a waste of money if you buy it and don't have a way to connect it to your Amiga.  Perhaps a better plan would be to find a way / device / method you will know will work for sure first and then buy the drive that goes with that.

Please give me more information about the Slingshot or gender converter. I don't think that Slingshots are available anymore, but I don't think know if the Amiga A500/A500 Plus side expansion slot is unique either.

I don't own one so can't tell you more.  Google is your friend.
These are generally cheap devices as they are fairly passive straight-through connectors with minimal components.  In fact, there may be a plan to build on on Aminet (I believe I saw one years ago).  It's a basic device so you could probably build one even with limited electrical knowledge.

http://www.amibay.com/showthread.php?t=18897
http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=48080
http://www.google.ca/search?q=amiga+500+zorro+connector&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

The Amiga has made it possible for me to continue doing computer graphics, which makes me happy. Windoze software stopped me from doing this, because it doesn't work in much the same way and I thought all I needed to do was persevere, but then I gradually stopped. Linux graphics software isn't really any better, not even GrafX2.

You do know about WinUAE for Windows, don't you?  You can run all your Amiga software in that.  DeluxePaint runs very well.  It's nice to own a real Amiga, but with the amount of grief you seem to be going through, you might want to look into this alternative.

[Ral-Clan]

I could only find A2091 ROMs for the SCSI controller. I'll stop bidding on the Zip drive, in that case.

Hi. I am not understanding what you are trying to say here.  Why are you looking for a ROM for a SCSI Controller?  

Here's what you need to do:

1. BUY a whole SCSI controller card.  Any of the ones on this list that are ALSO Zorro II for the A2000 will work. ($50 max)
http://amiga.resource.cx/exp/scsi
The older ones that only do simple PIO transfers usually sell for cheap, because few people want them.
Try e-mailing one of these people or posting an ad here:
http://www.amibay.com/showthread.php?t=40994

2. Next, BUY one of these ($25)
http://www.amibay.com/showthread.php?t=8373
...or make one according to the plans here:
http://aminet.net/package/docs/hard/2000slot

3. Then, buy (for a few dollars) an old SCSI hard drive. Or get one for free from a computer recycler store or Craigslist. (Free or $10 max)

4. Power the hard drive with an old PC power supply you get for free.

5. Connect all of the above together and connect the lot to your A500's expansion port.

6. YOU ARE DONE.

Honestly, that's the cheapest way.  It's not the prettiest, but it's the cheapest way to get a true hard drive on an Amiga 500.

Alternatively, buy an A500 sidecar.  It's essentially the same thing, in a pretty, neat looking case.  It will cost more but save you the hassle of sourcing all the parts.

Also, could you post some of your artwork here?  I'd like to see it, sounds interesting.  I'm setting up an A500 for DPaint myself, as well.

[Ral-Clan]

hehe Some ppl will think u r weird for saying that.  But it is totally true!  When I am on or near my internet computer it is just tooooo tempting for me to go check the forums real quick.  or to check my email real quick.  Its really hard for me to get any work done.

I will second that.  I'm just setting up my A500 "workstation" now and it's sooooo not distracting compared with web-connected computers.

[Ral-Clan]

PS : ral-clan : "My Piano" is cool.  "..with teeth that shine, ,it likes Leonard Bernstein,, tunes..." top line.  "A Musical Disease" is pro quality.  Kudos 2 U.

Thanks, man!  Bars & Pipes on the A2000 played a big role in putting those together!
All the little icons beside the songs are also done with Amiga software.

...and now, back to your regularly scheduled thread.

[Ral-Clan]

Keep looking.  You will find a SCSI card for under $50.  They show up in fits and starts on eBay.  One day none, another day three. Look on AmiBay too.
As for making money off designing Amiga hardware - I'm afraid there's very little money in that, even for the people who are professionals (like Jens Schoenfield - sp?).  I don't think he's getting rich from that.  However, if you could prove us wrong that would be great.  Good luck.  I think pursuing electronics is worthwhile.

PS: I would still be interested in seeing your stained glass picture if it's easy for you to post.

[Ral-Clan]

Looks fun...what version of DPAINT are you using?

[Ral-Clan]

I'm using DPaint III. The date given in the manual is Copyright 1989. It mentions EHB modes, but I don't think there's any way of using the ECS 1280 horizontal resolution modes. This would require a patch, because those chips weren't released until 1991. Does DPaint IV support those modes?

I believe that DPaint IV and V do support those modes (at least DPaint 4.6 does).
If you look around you should be able to get DPaint IV and V quite easily.