ULTRASATAN

[Scarlettkitten]

Got mine today too, Thanks Lotharek. Just need the time to try it out

[GadgetUK]

Edit: re hddriver

 

Hmmm, its like almost 50eur.... I dont know how he can justify the cost these days =|

 

I cant justify spending tbh, not when software like whdload on the amiga is only 15 eur. I know they do different things but when they get the price point right no one even questions it, they just buy it. I could pretty much buy a HxC slim for my 500 / STe for that money.

 

I will just use the HxC as ive been doing to create floppy sized images from a folder I think. There is a 4Mb or 6Mb floppy image but the larger one doesnt seem to work, I will try the smaller one.

Edited April 2, 2013 by GadgetUK

[lotharek]

hmmm... as far i remebr there is software for xhc that will allow You to create HARD DISK PARTITION on SD CARD in SD EMUL.

 

so, it is seen in system as floppy with capacity of hard drive...

 

visit hxc forum - there is sth mentioned and developed

ps. hard drive with the speeed of floppy...

[TommyIII]

Does the solution of using BIGDOS with a second fat/DOS formatted card in slot 2 of Ultrasatan to transfer files from PC still work?

I believe the most data you can transfer at a time is 32mb?

 

Post by DrCoolZic:

http://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=17697&start=50

 

[Skarro]

Hi,

 

card is prepared to work with all st/ste starting from tos 1.02.

 

 

Hi Lotharek,

 

A while back there was a disclaimer on your/Jookie's site that TOS 1.04 was the minimum you should have for proper UltraSatan compatibility. Have you been able to work around that with your new UltraSatan, so that it works reliably under TOS 1.02?

 

Thanks!

[Skarro]

- second sd card ( best 128/ 64 mb) format with fat16 in PC -- with newest hddriver usatan will recognize 128mb card and swapping data with pc is awesome !

 

 

Oops, one more question... does anyone know if this will also work for a Mac / Mac OS X ? I know that the Mac OS can read/write FAT16 disks, but the Mac OS also writes various invisible Desktop database files into every volume and folder it accesses. Does this cause any problems when you're back on the ST side?

 

Thanks again!

[OBO]

Received today, too

Gotta reinstall my STE, as I am kinda burried under 8 bits ataris these days.

 

 

@skarro,

 

It can cause issue on TOS like 1.62, like you can't delete the folder. With 2.05/2.06/3.0X it's ok however.

On the mac you can use some kind of tool like Hidden Cleaner to remove hidden macosx files before you eject the SD.

[+DarkLord]

Does anyone know the easiest way to get say 6Mb worth of files in a PC folder onto my ST hdd?

 

Do you have access to a 'Nix box (kubuntu, for example)?

 

If so, "mtools" is your friend. I use it here on my Kubuntu

box to copy files back and forth between my STacy and

my 'Nix box - *directly*, via a 2gig sdcard.

 

I just take the TOS formatted sdcard, pop it into a USB

card reader, open up a shell and use the mtools suite

of commands to copy files back and forth.

 

The big thing to keep in mind is, I didn't have to do any

thing special to my sdcard - it was totally prepped for

Atari use, using HDDriver.

 

No muss, no fuss...

 

http://www.gnu.org/software/mtools/

 

PS I think you can get mtools for Windows too.

[Charlie_]

Got mine today. Works great so far! I haven't used the cable that came with it yet. Still using the one from my previous US model.

I'll change it later.

 

Nice work Lotharek!

[STuck]

I've been having a nightmare trying to get mine to work with ICD Pro, but I'm having one last go because I resent paying 44 euro for 20yr old software

 

I agree with Lotharek, ICD PRo is unstable but I think I am getting somewhere now...

 

I'll share some errors I've made along the way:

 

* Don't make so many partitions on one card that it there isn't enough room for the other card's partition (only C-P)

* I can't get any of these TOS/DOS images to work - I made a 32Mb GEM partiton on a 2Gb card using ICDFMT.PRG, works great under linux

* mount the partition under linux like this: 'sudo mount -t vfat /dev/sdb1 /media/part' changing relevant filenames of course

* Once you have a primary card partitioned the way you like it, ONLY REMOVE IT FROM THE ULTRASATAN IF IT IS ON FIRE

* On your primary card, have one 16Mb GEM partition followed by several 512Mb partitions

 

Hope this helps.

Edited April 2, 2013 by STuck

[+DarkLord]

I've been having a nightmare trying to get mine to work with ICD Pro, but I'm having one last go because I resent paying 44 euro for 20yr old software

 

Okay, I have no wish to offend, but HDDriver is hardly "20 year old software". Uwe Seimet continues to support his software, with frequent

upgrades and *real* customer service.

 

He's probably updated it 2-3 times in the last year alone. Often times, he'll make adjustements to his software just from end user

requests.

 

When he announces an update, all you have to do if you're a previous owner, is e-mail him and he will send you the update via

e-mail in return.

 

One of the best investments, monetary and performance wise, that I've ever made in the Atari world.

[OBO]

Got the STE installed and tested it, and it works OK, as expected

 

One remark however, I find the DMA cable is too stiff or too short for my taste, but that's not an issue, maybe it will get softer with time.

 

On a side note, a card I made previously with Ppera's driver works flawlessly.

[STuck]

Okay, I have no wish to offend, but HDDriver is hardly "20 year old software". Uwe Seimet continues to support his software, with frequent

upgrades and *real* customer service.

 

He's probably updated it 2-3 times in the last year alone. Often times, he'll make adjustements to his software just from end user

requests.

 

When he announces an update, all you have to do if you're a previous owner, is e-mail him and he will send you the update via

e-mail in return.

 

One of the best investments, monetary and performance wise, that I've ever made in the Atari world.

 

No problem Darklord! I should have proofread my post, it came across as a little too dismissive I think. I've spent so much on my ST (UltraSatan, AHCI cable, memory cards, synthesizer, replacement floppy disk drive, memory upgrade, VGA monitor cable...) recently that I can't justify 44 euros on a driver, regardless of how good or well maintained it is.

 

I'll rephrase it - I resent paying 44 euros for a product that I might be able to do without - if I put in a little more effort. As it stands, assuming my transfer partition doesn't vanish into the ether again like it did last night, I might have got it sussed. Only time will tell if ICD Pro truly has the stability I need.

 

Until then, I'll be saving my files on floppy disks

[ToasTuk]

Skarro: I'm using a mac/falcon formatted cf card in tos/windows compatible setup on the IDE port. In this setup you get 2 extra files one with additional information 4096 bytes in size and a file called 'A' for each file which tos cannot open or delete. If you copy a folder it finds all these files giving an error on each 'A' file you find, so I suggest to open the folder, select then copy and let the mac delete the files. Don't have any other issues otherwise, I'm sure the same will be true for ultrasatan.

[ParanoidLittleMan]

..

I agree with Lotharek, ICD PRo is unstable but I think I am getting somewhere now...

I'll share some errors I've made along the way:

* Don't make so many partitions on one card that it there isn't enough room for the other card's partition (only C-P)

* I can't get any of these TOS/DOS images to work - I made a 32Mb GEM partiton on a 2Gb card using ICDFMT.PRG, works great under linux

* mount the partition under linux like this: 'sudo mount -t vfat /dev/sdb1 /media/part' changing relevant filenames of course

* Once you have a primary card partitioned the way you like it, ONLY REMOVE IT FROM THE ULTRASATAN IF IT IS ON FIRE

* On your primary card, have one 16Mb GEM partition followed by several 512Mb partitions

Hope this helps.

 

I don't think that ICD Pro is unstable. It is just very old, and not ready for new solutions.

 

And with ICD Pro you can not use TOS/DOS compatible partitions - it is only possible with driver SW spacially made for - so Hddriver or PP driver - and later 2 is not interchangeable.

 

"Skarro: I'm using a mac/falcon formatted cf card in tos/windows compatible setup on the IDE port. In this setup you get 2 extra files one with additional information 4096 bytes in size and a file called 'A' for each file which tos cannot open or delete. If you copy a folder it finds all these files giving an error on each 'A' file you find, so I suggest to open the folder, select then copy and let the mac delete the files. Don't have any other issues otherwise, I'm sure the same will be true for ultrasatan."

It may be something like WIndows long filename problem.

[AnakiMana]

Oh, dear.

 

 

I have an UltraSatan on the way now. I had to call a budget-meeting and convince my wife to allow the US $166 on it (actually I told her it was just-over-$100... I'll be in trouble when she sees my miscalculation). Now I open this thread and learn that my STF with TOS 1.0 isn't compatible. I still have my STE w/TOS 1.06, but the ICD Pro software, which came bundled with my AdSCSI-Plus ST card, isn't going to work well or easily? Like many others here, I would like to purchase HDDRIVER, but with the current exchange rate, it's $56.34! I don't want to be negative or dismiss Ewe's handiwork/value, but that price seems inappropriately high to me. I pride myself in supporting entrepreneurs, but I still have to watch my spending and be accountable to my family.

 

I read everything on Lotharek's website, where he says, and I quote "drivers: ICD PRO (free) and HDDRIVER (commercial) compatible". I also didn't see anything about needing TOS 1.02 or 1.04 at a minimum.

[ParanoidLittleMan]

All it is OK in fact. Device is compatible with all mentioned, even with TOS 1.00 . You can use it with ICD Pro, but will not have hot-swap support, TOS/DOS compatible partitions ..

With TOS 1.00 it may work, but that TOS is really not for hard disk (or machines with 4MB RAM for instance) . All it is not UltraSatan's flaw, but old SW flaw.

 

If price is issue, I offer mine for 10 Euros - with support for all US features, TOS/DOS compatible multiple partitions etc. Pure ASM code, low RAM useage, TT support, etc.

Contact me in e-mail if interested: [email protected] .

Soon page about driver and related things.

[AnakiMana]

Ok, thanks. Maybe I'm overreacting, I wish all this info was readily available in an FAQ somewhere. It can be hard to find it by scouring the forums.

 

I'll probably upgrade my TOS versions some day. For now, I think I'll wait for the US to arrive and use a Linux machine to transfer software around.... and see how my Atari's handle things.

 

After that, I may just purchase your driver. What do you call it? Let me know when you have a web page for it!

Edited April 3, 2013 by AnakiMana

[GadgetUK]

The TOS 1.04 requirement was there right at the start of pre-ordering from what I remember but he has updated the site a few times since so it might have been lost or something. Dont panick, worst case get some 1.04 TOS roms, they are cheap and easy to fit. I use ICD and it works fine, but I do have 1.04.

[+DarkLord]

No problem Darklord! I should have proofread my post, it came across as a little too dismissive I think. I've spent so much on my ST (UltraSatan, AHCI cable, memory cards, synthesizer, replacement floppy disk drive, memory upgrade, VGA monitor cable...) recently that I can't justify 44 euros on a driver, regardless of how good or well maintained it is.

 

I'll rephrase it - I resent paying 44 euros for a product that I might be able to do without - if I put in a little more effort. As it stands, assuming my transfer partition doesn't vanish into the ether again like it did last night, I might have got it sussed. Only time will tell if ICD Pro truly has the stability I need.

 

Until then, I'll be saving my files on floppy disks

 

Perfectly understood. Honestly, I've spent way more than is justifiable on my Atari collection.

Especially in todays economic climate.

 

Like I tell my wife though, it keeps me off the streets at night...

[TheNameOfTheGame]

Wow, seems like Uwe needs to do a ultrasatan special. Discount for new ultrasatan users...bet he would get some registrations.

 

Honestly, it seems like a lot of money, but you won't regret it. Uwe is still updating and gives great personal support and free upgrades for new users. He has answered a lot of my own questions in email. One of the best software purchases I made for the Atari.

 

AND...it is so easy to use on modern platforms like satans and ultrasatans...it just makes things so much simpler...and isn't that what good software is supposed to do?

[GadgetUK]

If it was 20 or 30 euros I could justify it, its just over the high side which makes me totally question its value to me. If he does a special let me know and I will buy it.

[Charlie_]

If it was 20 or 30 euros I could justify it, its just over the high side which makes me totally question its value to me. If he does a special let me know and I will buy it.

 

This.

I paid the 50 euro last year sometime. Uwe has helped me with support. He even sent me older versions to try when I had some issues.

I received a manual in the mail.

Still IMO the price should be $20. Maybe, $25.

Even at 50 it didn't stop me from buying it. It is just so easy to use. The partitioning utilty is great.

So, yeah it is a bit costly, and I don't agree with that, but otherwise I couldn't recommend any other.

[AnakiMana]

Wow, seems like Uwe needs to do a ultrasatan special. Discount for new ultrasatan users...bet he would get some registrations.

 

I was thinking the same thing. Or do like Ahead Software used to do with their Nero Burning ROM. They bundled an "OEM" trimmed down copy of their product that was coded to only work with the particular drive model it was bundled with. You could upgrade to the full version, and got a decent discount for upgrade-from-OEM pricing.

 

I would love something like that. HDDRIVER getting its foot in the door would win over a lot of ICD Pro users, too.

[8bitguy1]

Let me flash my economics degree. Uwe has monopoly pricing, he still provides excellent service (unlike most monopolies), but because there is only very poor substitutes for his product he can charge what he wishes to maximize his own profit. Competition would reduce his pricing (if he behaves rationally, as all text book examples assume) to maximize profits at a market clearing rate (in this case it's a very limited market made up of ST owners with Hard Drives that actively use the product AND need or want TOS/DOS compatibility or exceptional ease of use). Given the marginal costs of the next unit of production are very low (digital copies) any competition in the purest sense would drive down retail costs substantially, but in reality a duopoly would likely form where by silent collusion would stop the price falling below what the cheapest competitor is will to sell for. And it sounds like we may have one soon and given speed to market (a few quick posts on forums), so I would expect Uwe's retail cost would come down shortly (if as a firm he behaves rationally, again a big assumption all economic analysis tends to make). However, until he has direct competition why reduce his price?

 

NOTE: I make no moral implications on monopolistic behavoir, for the record I purchased from Uwe very recently and am quite happy with product, response time and service. I'm merely attempting to explain pricing models.