**Need Setup HELP** with Classic Amiga 2000 HARD DISK (Bridgeboard)

[wbrejnia]

I belong on the front Cover of the Next Dummy book.   And not as a Smart Dummy, but an Idiot.

I should have known RS232 voltages are not TTL Serial.
This is what I should have used if hooking up GOTEK TTL Serial pints to PC Serial RS232 Port.

A RS232 Converter.

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/449

Or built my own like this

http://picprojects.org.uk/projects/simpleSIO/ssio.htm


However, as I was looking for the part for Above DIY project, I found a brand new MAX232 Chip in my spare part box.
Left over part from the EEPROM Burner Thesis project.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAX232


I have to be more careful and not blow up my A2000 Motherboard or Keyboard input, or this Retro upgrade project will be over.
--> I tested the Keyboard after hooking up the PS2 Keyboard to Amiga (** all works, nothing Damaged **)
--> I tested the RS232 Port on the Amiga, by hooking of the PC and Amiga Explorer (** all works, nothing Damaged **)
--> I tested the Gotek (** all works, nothing Damaged **)

Hoping I didn't blow the Input on the Gotek Serial Interface.
It works, but may not be upgrade able anymore.  No big deal.

[wbrejnia]

Vampire II Amiga Accelerator

I stumbled up this.  Pretty cool.

It could be the finishing touch for the Amiga side.

They had a demo at the last meeting of our local Amiga Users Group.  Too bad I missed it.

The Vampire board was designed for an Amiga 500, but appears to also work in a A2000.

Not cheap, but could be considered since it have so much to offer, HD, Video, Memory.

[wbrejnia]

**************************************************************
* DO NOT USE SETUP SHOWN in ABOVE POST (Picture of PC-serial-> GOTEK) *
**************************************************************
Setup is ** IMPROPER ** You SHOULD NOT connect RS232-Serial Port to Gotek (Wrong Voltage on RS232)
******************************************************************************************************
Will be posting a modification to include a proper Serial Device / Voltage converter (5Volt),
******************************************************************************************************

You can Connect to Gotek-Programming Tx/Rx PIN with Setups like below:

(USB serial Device), without RS232 Serial PC Port
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/PL2303HX-to-USB-TTL-USB-to-Serial-Port-Arduino-WW88016364-US-/391418983928?hash=item5b2263b5f8:g:RaUAAOSwwpdW-qht

(Work with PC Serial to Convert RS232 to 5Volt)
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/449  

(DIY), using a MAX220A or similar Chip if you have one handy
https://datasheets.maximintegrated.com/en/ds/MAX220-MAX249.pdf

******************************************************************************************************
Sorry, for my mistake.  I shouldn't post methods till they are proven working.  (I tried to remove post but no longer can)
Sorry again.

[Pat the Cat]

Yes, I think I will have to get some FDTI cables to programme most devices with these days.

That is one part of hardware tech that has changed a lot. Devices are faster now but not nearly so tough at taking high voltages.

Amiga keyboards seem incredibly reliable, only the rubber membranes give out after decades. Also the steel can rust in them. Apart from that, you certainly get your money's worth.

[darkage]

Vampire II Amiga Accelerator

I stumbled up this.  Pretty cool.

It could be the finishing touch for the Amiga side.

They had a demo at the last meeting of our local Amiga Users Group.  Too bad I missed it.

The Vampire board was designed for an Amiga 500, but appears to also work in a A2000.

Not cheap, but could be considered since it have so much to offer, HD, Video, Memory.

I think the waiting list is about 1.5 years roughly.   You dont know until your name comes up.  

I think this DIY accelerator is more fun.  

https://github.com/terriblefire

He's already done a 020 board and is just completing a 030 board.. next would be a 040 board.  

You can order the PCBs as he completes the projects for $10 to $20 bucks, only issue  you need to assemble/program yourself.

His youtube channel is on that project homepage, he runs alot of live video sessions about the design of his accelerators.  fun I know!

[darkage]

Yes, I think I will have to get some FDTI cables to programme most devices with these days.

careful of FDTI chips, theres fakes and at one stage FDTI where bricking fake chips.

http://hackaday.com/2016/02/01/ftdi-drivers-break-fake-chips-again/

https://zeptobars.com/en/read/FTDI-FT232RL-real-vs-fake-supereal

[wbrejnia]

GOTEK (HxC) Is ALIVE with BONUS LCD too!!

So I fumbled the first time but I got it right this time.
I didn't have much confidence so I was surprised it WORKED ON FIRST TRY.

I place and order for FTDI cable on Amazon, but hasn't shipped so I'll cancel.

I did it this way, and showing all steps for next person.
I wish I knew all this before.

HERE IS THE WIRING SETUP (It was a little be of fun doing this with my spare parts)

Setup is just like before ....  
......but the MAX220 Chip goes in between PC and Gotek  to convert the RS232 Voltage to TTL and Vise Versa Back.



AND HERE is what the Process for the HxC Gotek Upgrade (from Cortex) looks like



THE LCD worked right way, when i hooked it up.

This will be a nice setup for what I plan to do.
A multi Booting A2000, multiple workbenchs, and a wack of disks to chooose from.
THE LCD makes picking disk much better than paper sheet.


I was only inquiring about this Vampire card.
I actually want this Amiga to be Like it Was.  

True RETRO.
Running on an CRT Monitor with Same Look and Feel.
Gotek makes the Floppy flipping and reliability better.

---> I don't need a hard drive on the Amiga Side (I actually don't want one OS, since I want to be able to flip thru WB1.1, WB1.2, WB1.3, AmigaOS, etc)
----------> I will make or get a Kickstart Switcher.

---> I want the Bridge board 8086 running PC Apps like they use to. (YES Multiple boots just like the Gotek, but with Ranish or Flip in Different SD Cards into the ISA/IDE Adapter0

Showing how programmers back then squeezed every bit and CPU cycle out of the little they had.
We are spoiled these days, with Tons of Storage, and CPU power. (I'm sure code is not as efficient as it had to be back then).

This Amiga Should stay as is was, with a few "Convenience Improvements"

If I were to bring in a Vampired Amiga into my Son's school, and show how fast it runs compared to the Original
They would say, what Crap that software is, etc ,etc.  You know what I mean.

ONWARD, the GOTEK is DONE!!

TIME TO START some Seriously Assembly.  I have all the pieces I need.

Finally

[wbrejnia]

THE AMIGA 2000 (is Retro), with BridgeBoard (Double Retro)

I want to share a story about this weekend and a visitor...

Sure the Vampire Frenzy is on, and it has it's purpose on place.
I admire the developer for his brilliance, and a person who worked so hard and still working to make Vampire happen. (I read his stories)

However the A2000 is a special beast that sometimes is appreciated for something else, other than Modern Computing.

My brother in Law dropped by this weekend.
I usually give him a tour of my fish tanks and projects on the go.
He glances but wander away after a short period, since not that interested.

But this time, I showed him my Amiga Restore project.
He never saw an Amiga, but had many PC's from early generation.
When I booted the Bridgeboard PC from a 5.25" floppy his eyes lit up (He wanted to hold a 5.25" floppy).
As I explained was I was doing, he wanted to see more.
He was WOWed by the 8086 PC running inside and AMiga Window.
He was impressed with the ISA/IDE adapter, and booting from IDE.
Wanted to see more with a boot from SD card, then Flash.
He was amazed.
Then I ran Noton Disk Doctor and he was like "WOW" that brings back memories (with that original look and feel).

He stayed with great interest, and the longest ever,  He wanted to see more.
That is what an Amiga 2000 is about (these days)

Then he walked over to my Son's 2017 Gaming Machine NEWLY built over Christmas break (with the latest greatest Everything).
That was a different kind of WOW!!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is what I mean. (My personal Experience WinUae)

- Last Night with the Gotek on Hold I loaded up WinUae on my POWER-PC Workstation.
- Downloaded (Kickstart ROM & One Workbench disk>.adf) off my Amiga using Windows Explorer.
- For the first time ever, I got WinUae up and running.
----------> Sure is was cool
----------> Sure it was fast
----------> But that was it.  I wanted to go back to the True Amiga (the screen, The feel of the mouse and keyboard, etc)

Yes, now that I have WinUae, it will be a great tool for getting my Gotek and Workbench all organized, with everything in one place, and network/toold/ USB transfer,etc

But it will always be back (with Images to the [Gotek for the Amiga], and [SD card for the 8086]....... to built the Ultimate Retro Machine
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[wbrejnia]

...Double post deleted.

[wbrejnia]

..

[wbrejnia]

Gotek HxC Upgrade Completed (Installed in Amiga / Dual Image Managers)



- Haven't tested HxC for (Read/Write, ADF, other formats), but I trust it will work from the Documentation I saw.
- You do lose the 7-Segment, 3 Digit Counter on the Gotek Front Panel when you hook up LCD (but I'll find a purpose for it...Someday)

With the HxC Gotek done, I have all the bits and pieces for the Final Amiga Build.

But... Fish Tank Auto-Doser is next on To-Do List.

[wbrejnia]

Actually my Build List is not complete.

With the Kickstart 3.1 ROM, I can't boot many of my old floppies (some of the best games).
They work on Kickstart 1.2 ROM.

So I'm need a ROM switcher, to complete the multi- functional A2000.


Also another side project possible.  
The 7 Segement LED on the Gotek is not functional since the HxC code doesn't support multiple Display via IC2. (It picks up one or the other), which is fine.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A future Project to Make some Cool use with the Gotek LED Display via Ic2 and an Audino Nano
--> Have a spare Ardiuno Nano (that talks IC2, and will fit easily into A2000)
----------> https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoBoardNano
--> Here is the code to discover the IC2 Address of the LED Driver. (Can't find data sheet for it, but this will work)
----------> http://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/76617/determining-i2c-address-without-datasheet
--> Here is how to drive the LED display with the Audino SDA/SDL lines
----------> https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/using-the-serial-7-segment-display/example-3-i2c
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

With the Nano inputs, can pick up anything from the A2000 and provide some kind of output on the LED display.  (Power on Counter, Hard drive inditcator, Button Pushes, etc)


I'll find anything to work on to avoid going back to the complex Fish Tank Doser project.

[wbrejnia]

HxC on Gotek (Part 2) The HxC-FileMangerSoftware

So I've been learning and testing the new HxC Gotek Setup.

There is another piece you may need above and beyond the FileSelector (Which is shown two posts above)

The HxC package has a Windows/MAC software tool that you can manage your Disk Images.

Although the Latest version of HxC Gotek Firmware supporst ADF files directly (Read/Write), you can also store the Image Files in the HxC Native format which is HFE.

I haven't played with HFE format yet, since using ADF is a snap.  I just copied a Workbench disk from a Floppy, and then placing it into the Boot Spot on the HxC USB stick, it booted pefectly.

The HFE file format allow you to go beyond ADF for the Amiga, in the various other Amiga File system formats.

The File Manger allow you to:
----> convert ADF and other format to HFE
----> convert HFE to ADF, ot DOS, etc
----> and much more (like batch mode...) as shown in the Screen shot.

HXC is Awesome, and much better than Cortex for just $10 Euros.

[darkage]

Good job documenting.   How much did the HxC firmware cost ?  Ive never really looked into it, Ive only used the free Cortex one.

[wbrejnia]

Hxc firmware for Gotek costs 10 Euro.
That includes everything.

But to complete the upgrade if you want you need a drill.
Since if you open the gotek there is a red LED in there.
It is all soldered in place. Ready to program.

If you drill a tiny hole left of the green LED you can push out the RED led and HxC firmware enables it to blinks for some unknown purpose.
Looks cooler then just one green LED for Cortek Firmware blinks.

I love LED's and I am very close to enabling the 3 digit, Seven segment red counter LED on the Gotek front.
Once enabled, I'm handing over it to the animation department (My Son).
Coming soon.....Gotek Pimping Extreme

[wbrejnia]

BACK TO JANUS Puzzle (and a Amiga Hard Drive PARTITION on ISA/IDE-CF or RRL-HD [PC 8086] )

The Gotek is figure out, and LED toys can wait.

--> I need to work on the Whole Amiga Booting off the PC Bridgeboard Disk, and why Jlink, Aread, Awrite was not working.
--> And MOST IMPORTANTLY why I could NOT Format and Mount the Amiga Partition off the RLL Drive.

AND I FOUND A CLUE, which I stumbled up during  GOOGLE SEARCH.

There were TWO versions of JANUS.  I found a section in a SCSI Hard Drive Installation Guide.

*** THE Step for JANUS version 1 and Janus V2 are VERY DIFFERENT **

I think I've been mixing up the two versions.  I didn't even know there were two.

So looking thru all my Bridgeboard disk, I confirmed that I was using both somehow, somewhere.  Possibly mixed, and using Steps from V2 on V1 Software.

Doesn't explain all the issues, but gives me motivation to focus on working within a version.

Here is PROOF  (Two Floppies I've been using), and the Hard Drive manual stating different steps.



At least I feel a bit less crazy, knowing there may be a reason for my Past Struggles.

Next steps are to TRY BOTH and SEE DIFFERENCES.