+adamantyr Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 Hey all, A question... has anyone laid out the necessary hardware to make use of a Lotharek drive for the TI? I can see that the base model emulates a 3 1/2" drive, my questions would be: 1) Does it work without any modifications with a classic TI or Corcomp FDC? Or do you have to do some kind of hardware upgrade? 2) Does anyone have 5 1/4" frames for the 3 1/2" footprint so it's not just hanging in your box? 3) What other equipment do you need? My present PE Box has two classic 5 1/4" drives in it, so it's got the big power cable connectors. I assume for a 3 1/2" you'd need a converter? I'm NOT a hardware guy, I do not and will never own a soldering iron, so it would be good to know if this is an area I should or should not pursue, lest I end up ranting and raving on the forums in mad frustration. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airshack Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 Shift838 knows! PM him. He got mine running:) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+arcadeshopper Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 1) yes I've used it to emulate 40 track dsdd with my corcomp fdc works great also 80track ti controler and 40 track too 2) amazon is your friend, prime w/free shipping https://smile.amazon.com/Computer-Adapter-Mounting-Bracket-Plastic/dp/B009MGGWQE/ref=sr_1_2/145-6616156-5156430?ie=UTF8&qid=1494522263&sr=8-2&keywords=3.5+to+5.25+drive+bay+adapter 3) you need a power converter (included in that kit above) and a floppy cable with pin connector instead of card-edge. I recommend one without a twist they can be hard to find though. I find that you can get a connector and crimp it on yourself to a card edge cable.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+adamantyr Posted May 11, 2017 Author Share Posted May 11, 2017 Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+adamantyr Posted May 11, 2017 Author Share Posted May 11, 2017 Another question... does anyone have/make a replacement flex cable for the P.E. box that uses a modern ribbon cable? It's a MAJOR pain in the ass, and before I'd invest in a Lotharek drive I'd want to have that no longer be an issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyDean Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 Another question... does anyone have/make a replacement flex cable for the P.E. box that uses a modern ribbon cable? It's a MAJOR pain in the ass, and before I'd invest in a Lotharek drive I'd want to have that no longer be an issue. There has been some talk, and I'm sure this isn't the only link available. http://atariage.com/forums/topic/258633-peb-interface-card-replacement/?hl=+flex%20+cable%20+replacement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 A question... has anyone laid out the necessary hardware to make use of a Lotharek drive for the TI? This is a very good idea for a thread and possibly even a PDF. A document to answer all potential TI owner's questions concerning the HxC, with photos of other items required and even a list of links to places to purchase all of them affordably. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flottmann1 Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 I have installed a Lotharek as DSK3 at the Peb 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shift838 Posted May 12, 2017 Share Posted May 12, 2017 I have installed a Lotharek as DSK3 at the Peb Awesome. Also if you do not have a DSK2, the Lotharek can emulate up to 2 disk drives at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Schmitzi Posted May 12, 2017 Share Posted May 12, 2017 And if you i.e. have an Corcomp 9900 controller, you have 4 DSKs # And there you can set the ´step time´ for the Lotharek to the minimum (3ms) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+adamantyr Posted May 12, 2017 Author Share Posted May 12, 2017 Good to know! I think I still have my Corcomp FDC manual somewhere... Come to think of it, it was a bit slower than the TI FDC in general. I mainly wanted that DSDD disk size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+mizapf Posted May 12, 2017 Share Posted May 12, 2017 How come it is slower than the TI FDC? The only reason that I can imagine is that seek times are longer. The data rate is determined by the recording (SD is 125 kbit/s, DD is 250 kbit/s). Or maybe the controller tries DD first, then fails, and switches to SD. This does take some time, and I observed that with the (emulated) BwG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+adamantyr Posted May 12, 2017 Author Share Posted May 12, 2017 I'd say that's a fair guess. Mind you, I'm wondering what my DIP switches are set to now... maybe I had it set to slow mode all this time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkdrummer Posted May 12, 2017 Share Posted May 12, 2017 You need to set the step times at the fastest your drives can handle. I think the TI controller is hard wired at 12 or 20, I forget which. The Corcomp controller I've got in box 2 is set for the fastest step, which is 3, I think. I guarantee the CC card is faster than the TI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+adamantyr Posted May 12, 2017 Author Share Posted May 12, 2017 Just took the card out (man it's a finger-pinching mess to get stuff in and out of the PE Box!) and all the dip switches were set to On/Off, so 10ms. I switched them all to On, we'll see how that works! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atrax27407 Posted May 12, 2017 Share Posted May 12, 2017 The TI FDC default is 20 ms. However, I have an EPROM that wil;l change them to 12 ms. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+mizapf Posted May 12, 2017 Share Posted May 12, 2017 As I said, you may easily get a false impression when you compare SD loading on a TI FDC with other controllers that support DD. The problem is that the controller does not know what recording it will find until it actually tries. I noticed that the BwG controller actually first tries DD, and when it fails (which takes some time, since it wants to give it a chance), it goes for the other choice, SD. So this feels uncomfortably slow. But this result is buffered for the drive, so it should only occur once for a new disk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+adamantyr Posted May 16, 2017 Author Share Posted May 16, 2017 So I have ordered a Lotharek drive... Next question, what PC software do you use to read and write to the memory cards? Does TI99Dir support them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 So I have ordered a Lotharek drive... Next question, what PC software do you use to read and write to the memory cards? Does TI99Dir support them? No, it's not supported by TI99Dir...directly. You can use TI99Dir to create or modify disk images, but once you get the image the way you want it, you run the conversion program and then 'drag & drop' the newly created .HFE file onto the SD card. It's really quite easy. This might help a little... (jump to 00:55) https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=52&v=3oXtpwopFiE 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+mizapf Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 I'd like to add that TIImageTool understands the HFE format directly, so you can open it as every DSK and work on it. No import/export action required. And yes, MAME does it as well, so you can mount a HFE image in MAME. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flottmann1 Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 (edited) So I have ordered a Lotharek drive... Next question, what PC software do you use to read and write to the memory cards? Does TI99Dir support them? scroll down for the Lotharek Software for Windows Hxc Floppy Software http://lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=121 With the batch function you can convert several files from hfe (Lotharek) to V9T9 - dsk (TI-99) or the other way around Edited May 17, 2017 by Flottmann1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+adamantyr Posted May 23, 2017 Author Share Posted May 23, 2017 Okay, so I got my drive today. It hooked up and worked right out of the gate! Some stuff: - I left the config for generic Shugart, that works fine. Right? - It turned out my old laptop had an SD card reader built in, very cool! - Sadly, my Extended BASIC 2.7 suite cartridge doesn't work with a Corcomp FDC. It just beeps continuously. Probably an issue with it overriding the master title screen - I got a nasty gap on the right side now. I would put a half height floppy in there but I don't have a cable that has both a 3.5 and a 5.25 connector so close and in the right orientation. Unless I can use one that has the twist? - I got an external floppy case and power supply that I hooked up for a DSK3. It works great, although the Lotharek doesn't like it turned on first. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinphaltimus Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 You can use one that has a twist if you remove the twist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 - I got a nasty gap on the right side now. I would put a half height floppy in there but I don't have a cable that has both a 3.5 and a 5.25 connector so close and in the right orientation. You could buy an << Evercool 5.25" Storage Box >> to fit in the slot. Since you said, "gap on the right side", I'm assuming your system is not in a tower configuration, so as a drawer it'll be worthless, but with one longer screw it can be made to stay shut and act like a faceplate. Also, if ever decide to make it a tower, so you can read the Lotharek's display easier, consider one of these cheap << temperature displays >> to mount in the Evercool's faceplate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+adamantyr Posted May 23, 2017 Author Share Posted May 23, 2017 You could buy an << Evercool 5.25" Storage Box >> to fit in the slot. Since you said, "gap on the right side", I'm assuming your system is not in a tower configuration, so as a drawer it'll be worthless, but with one longer screw it can be made to stay shut and act like a faceplate. Also, if ever decide to make it a tower, so you can read the Lotharek's display easier, consider one of these cheap << temperature displays >> to mount in the Evercool's faceplate. Dude, classic P.E. box is always horizontal! Bah. I got an old DOS PC that has both a 3.5 and a 5.25 side by side, I may be able to salvage the cable from it... Now I won't need that thing anymore for getting TI software transferred. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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