External IDE ports?

[xyth]

Is it feasible to build external IDE ports?

What I would like to do is run a couple of IDE cables from my 4xEIDE interface to the side of the case and attach new pins on the end.  I'd then like to do the same to my CD and Zip drives (housed together in a custom case), and then use  external cables in between.

Is this remotely possible or does IDE not like having very long cables?

[ronybeck]

So long as the length of the cable is short, this should work ok.  How ever once you approach 1 meter, you run into problems.  IDE isn't designed for this sort of thing.  You need SCSI or SATA to do this.

[Brian]

As said cable length is a problem but I have managed to do just what you are thinking of doing and a bit more. I've made my own custom cable 2.5" female -> 3.5" female -> 3.5" male (aprox 15-20cm) that goes to my internal HD and then to the back of my Amiga case as an external port and from there I have have a short (aprox 35cm) cable to an external backup HD. So it is possible but try to minimize the cable length or you will run into all sorts of trouble.

I hade my harware hacked A1200 on display at the  AmiGBG03 fair and you can see some of the mods incl. the IDE port here.

[adolescent]

I've always contemplated doing something like the SX-1 IDE port (HWB).  But, then I figure it was easier to just get a SCSI adapter and be done with it.    :-P

[mikeymike]

@ ronybeck

So long as the length of the cable is short, this should work ok. How ever once you approach 1 meter, you run into problems. IDE isn't designed for this sort of thing. You need SCSI or SATA to do this.

re: SATA - does SATA definitely allow for this then?

[tintin]

Nope, SATA is still <1m IMHO  8-)

[ronybeck]

re: SATA - does SATA definitely allow for this then?

Probably but not by design.  The problem is getting the data accross many parralell wires to arrive down a long cable with out loss and in sync.  This is easier if you have fewer wires.

but then to quote from the SATA web site:

What is the impact of Serial ATA on IEEE1394 (aka Firewire) and on USB2 in terms of PC system function?
Serial ATA is planned to be the primary storage interface inside the PC system, and is not planned as an external interface to PC storage or peripherals. USB2 and IEEE1394 connections on the PC can be used where required as peripheral interfaces.

So your answer is "No"  :-)  But given I have seen it done with ATA66 I can't see why not.

[unclewilli-amigalover]

shouldn't be a problem as long as the 4way ide is buffered, i went about 16'-18' cables on mine stright from my 4way ide. not sure about the extra connections though...

[Dan]

No reason why it shouldn´t be.
I have a frankensteinA1200 with an internal  cd-rom  and two removable 3,5"HDcassetteholders for PC 5,25" drivebays as externals.
I just connected the IDE-cables to the IDEsplitter, then when I saw that there was no place for them to go thru the case I simply removed the motherboard hacksawed a hole  behind the pccard-slot.
Then i just connected the drives to the IDE-cables and the 5,25"-drive powerconnectors from my PSU( one i bought of an amigadealer, convertedpc-psu because of the acceleratorcard).
It´s not a pretty sight but it works flawless.
And it has a certain Frankenstein-A1200 charm :-D

[xyth]

Cheers for that guys!  I shall experiment...