+Schmitzi Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 aaah OK, so Jeff´s new test-firmware is for the Lotharek USB (and not for the SD/HxC) ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff_HxC2001 Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 (edited) Unfortunately, I have no idea how to configure HxC without an LCD screen mod done. I can't seem to find any software that will open and allow editing of the cfg file directly. I know that the CFg needs to be changed and told that the host is a TI99/4a. I defer to Jeff for that answer. This is probably not an HxC gotek... anyway all can be configured with the internal menu with or without lcd/oled screen. Edited April 6, 2018 by Jeff_HxC2001 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff_HxC2001 Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 (edited) aaah OK, so Jeff´s new test-firmware is for the Lotharek USB (and not for the SD/HxC) ? For the Gotek HxC... : http://hxc2001.com/store http://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_drive_emulator/HXCFEUSB_HFE_beta_firmware.zip http://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_drive_emulator/USB_HFE_hxc_floppy_emulator_firmware_release_notes.txt 3 April 2018: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.1.22.2a - TI99/4A : V9T9/DSK Loader -> Better disk layout detection. Edited April 6, 2018 by Jeff_HxC2001 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff_HxC2001 Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 I have downloaded the Hxc update and trying it out on a Gotek with an unmodified TI controller (DSSD). I set it up in Menu 0 as a TI (14). It seems to be working OK with dsk and hfe images on the respective thumb drives I've tried. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Thanks for this feedback ! :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Schmitzi Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 For the Gotek HxC... : http://hxc2001.com/store http://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_drive_emulator/HXCFEUSB_HFE_beta_firmware.zip http://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_drive_emulator/USB_HFE_hxc_floppy_emulator_firmware_release_notes.txt Sorry, I am a little bit confused now I have 3 Lothareks HxC with SD-cards (plain floppy interface), but this link says something with "USB".... Is there a beta firmware for the HxC/SD device to read .DSKs directly ? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff_HxC2001 Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 Sorry, I am a little bit confused now I have 3 Lothareks HxC with SD-cards (plain floppy interface), but this link says something with "USB".... Is there a beta firmware for the HxC/SD device to read .DSKs directly ? thanks Nop. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+acadiel Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 Sorry, I am a little bit confused now I have 3 Lothareks HxC with SD-cards (plain floppy interface), but this link says something with "USB".... Is there a beta firmware for the HxC/SD device to read .DSKs directly ? thanks Three varieties: HxC version one was read only, and used USB to the Windows Program to mount the HFE HxC version two used a SD card for the HFE files And HxC GoTek firmware uses USB flash drives to hold the HFE files. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff_HxC2001 Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 (edited) Three varieties: HxC version one was read only, and used USB to the Windows Program to mount the HFE HxC version two used a SD card for the HFE files And HxC GoTek firmware uses USB flash drives to hold the HFE files. And in the SD version family there is 3 variants : Rev C (the first one), the Rev F (3"1/2 form factor) and the Slim. Edited April 6, 2018 by Jeff_HxC2001 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Schmitzi Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 yes, I have the F-Rev´s. Best stuff ever ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Opry99er Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 I have been salivating over the Rev F in black for a long time.... I hope to buy one before the end of the year. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Schmitzi Posted April 7, 2018 Share Posted April 7, 2018 Yep I prefer the pure black ones, without the white imprints (this looks too much "kermes" for me) ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinphaltimus Posted April 14, 2018 Author Share Posted April 14, 2018 (edited) I don't see any issues being reported so I'm going to assume HxC is working great for those who choose to use DSk files on it (along with HFE). I'm about to jump ship and do the flash floppy for testing. With no way of going back to HxC without a re-purchase I guess I'll be stuck in FF land from now on so fingers crossed. Scratch that idea. In reading the docs I see I would need to change some jumper setting to do the USB to USB upgrade. Since that means I need access to the GoTek jumpers, I opened up my peb and had a look see. I was immediately struck with all the horrors involved in dismantling the P-Box just to gain access to a floppy drive and promptly closed it it. I'm not prepared to take my PEB apart which given the modifications i did would be nothing short of a tedious 30 minute endeavor, then another 30 to put it back together very very carefully and hope I don't break anything along the way. I guess I'm stuck on HxC on my TI and Flashfloppy on my Amiga. At least until I can justify another gotek purchase - then I can connect it externall to the TI for testing but that's not going to happen anytime soon. Edited April 14, 2018 by Sinphaltimus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Schmitzi Posted April 14, 2018 Share Posted April 14, 2018 To get the drives out, you only have to open the top cover and 4 screws. (2 from the drives, on the top, and 2 on the bottom) A good deal is to change the floppy cable against a longer one, once you are there. I also swapped all my controllers from the last slot #8 to slot #7 (if one is spare) This is for easiest access to the controller´s connector Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinphaltimus Posted April 14, 2018 Author Share Posted April 14, 2018 (edited) To get the drives out, you only have to open the top cover and 4 screws. (2 from the drives, on the top, and 2 on the bottom) A good deal is to change the floppy cable against a longer one, once you are there. I also swapped all my controllers from the last slot #8 to slot #7 (if one is spare) This is for easiest access to the controller´s connector Yeah, That is precisely my issue. My floppy cables are not that long and I don't have longer ones. So just doing that means the drive will get unplugged and I will have to rip everything apart just to get it plugged back in. Not just the floppy cable but the power cable as well. I never intended to have to open the PEB ever again except maybe to add another card or two or three. But never expected to have to access the internal floppy drives. Edited April 14, 2018 by Sinphaltimus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff_HxC2001 Posted April 14, 2018 Share Posted April 14, 2018 (edited) I don't see any issues being reported so I'm going to assume HxC is working great for those who choose to use DSk files on it (along with HFE). No. For me : No feedback just mean that no nobody have tested it. After 2/3 weeks i got here only one feedback with very few dsk tested... It seems that very few users are interested by this feature. Why you don't test the new HxC firmware since you have asked me this support since some months ? Edited April 14, 2018 by Jeff_HxC2001 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Schmitzi Posted April 14, 2018 Share Posted April 14, 2018 Not sure, but maybe because most users here have the SD-card version (and not an USB-version) ? (-> I am not sure about) I did understand it that way that the firmware given here is NOT for the drives that I have (Lotharek HxC EmuDrive Rev.F with SD-card and Shugart floppy interface) (Sorry if I maybe confuse everything here again, HxC, Gotek, USB, not USB) At all, DirectDSK™-Support for the drives I have really would be great thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ksarul Posted April 14, 2018 Share Posted April 14, 2018 That was the problem for me--I have the SD version, so I couldn't perform any testing until I have one of the USB boards in hand. I am ordering one, just to be able to use the capability, but that will be another month or two between funds, order, receipt, installation, and then flash/test. It will happen, just not as quickly as I'd like right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinphaltimus Posted April 15, 2018 Author Share Posted April 15, 2018 No. For me : No feedback just mean that no nobody have tested it. After 2/3 weeks i got here only one feedback with very few dsk tested... It seems that very few users are interested by this feature. Why you don't test the new HxC firmware since you have asked me this support since some months ? I'm not done testing. I'll submit results to you later today. Been a busy weekend and I really only get to test on weekends. I also misplaced my notes so I have to start again. Reading dsk us one thing. Writing dsk is another. HFE is great for archiving but has additional steps. Dsk is widely supported with existing archives and emulation. For people to use dsk, they can very quickly and without fuss, choose from many dsk files to try out in real iron. Or, make a back up dsk of a real floppy and go direct to emulation or just use dsk on real iron instead of physical media. All of this can be done with hfe but it takes more steps between wanting too use the extensive archives already in existence that are dsk and also emulation that does not support hfe. And with all the divergent variety of floppy disk controllers, I am limited to only those formats my controller supports. So details testing steps and reporting should be thorough. I did not realize firmware versus differ between devices (sd version, usb version etc..) not how many sd versions are in use over usb. I can only test gotek. So I'll have something to report later today on what I can do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff_HxC2001 Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 (edited) I can only test gotek. So this is perfect since this is the main subject of this thread and i have done the update for the HxC Gotek 3 weeks ago. Edited April 15, 2018 by Jeff_HxC2001 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ti99iuc Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 (edited) Hey Jeff, I read all the missing posts for me i have not possibility to use my TI PEB with HxC still, but i hope in next days to be able. the 28th of April i will have a public event here in Italy (Rome) with a TI99 exposition so i will have to prepare some stuff to bring with me and will update the new firmware too. in the meantime hope that someone other have possibility to try them early. really thanks for your efforts into this update anyway, also if for me was not a problem to convert .dsk to .hfe file i think that avoid this step is anyway useful. Ciro Edited April 15, 2018 by ti99iuc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff_HxC2001 Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 Hey Jeff, I read all the missing posts for me i have not possibility to use my TI PEB with HxC still, but i hope in next days to be able. the 28th of April i will have a public event here in Italy (Rome) with a TI99 exposition so i will have to prepare some stuff to bring with me and will update the new firmware too. in the meantime hope that someone other have possibility to try them early. really thanks for your efforts into this update anyway, also if for me was not a problem to convert .dsk to .hfe file i think that avoid this step is anyway useful. Ciro To avoid any confusion : SD HxC != Gotek HxC. The firmware i have released here is for the Gotek HxC ! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ti99iuc Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 To avoid any confusion : SD HxC != Gotek HxC. The firmware i have released here is for the Gotek HxC ! Oh, ok... i understand better, sorry, the sentence: I can only test gotek. made me confusing. now i understand better: (Gotek ≠ Gotek HxC) ≠ HxC SD thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinphaltimus Posted April 15, 2018 Author Share Posted April 15, 2018 Tested HXCFEUSB_V3_1_22_2a on USB GoTek: The follow pre-existing DSK images were checked using the following method without issues:GameOfUr.dsk reported as 40-track Karateka.dsk reported as 40-track FrostiSnow.dsk reported as 40-track bouncey.dsk as reported as 40-track TI extended BASIC cartridge inserted. .DSK file selected via GoTek DSK1 device - HxC reports this as a 40 track image.I load a disk catalog program called indexer from physical floppy drive DSK2 Indexer program: 100 CALL CLEAR 105 COUNT=0 110 DIM TYPE$(5) 120 TYPE$(1)="DIS/FIX" 130 TYPE$(2)="DIS/VAR" 140 TYPE$(3)="INT/FIX" 150 TYPE$(4)="INT/VAR" 160 TYPE$(5)="PROGRAM" 161 INPUT "DEVICE:":DEV$ 162 IF SEG$(DEV$,LEN(DEV$),1)="." THEN 165 163 DEV$=DEV$&"." 165 REM THIS OPENS AS IF/0 - WHICH BECOMES IF/38 170 OPEN #1:DEV$,INPUT ,RELATIVE,INTERNAL 175 REM 'ZERO' IS ALWAYS 0 180 INPUT #1:DISKNAME$,ZERO,DISKSECTORS,FREESECTORS 190 DISPLAY "DSK0 - DISKNAME= ";DISKNAME$:"AVAILABLE= ";FREESECTORS;" USED= ";DISKSECTORS-FREESECTORS 200 DISPLAY :"FILENAME SIZE TYPE P":"---------- ---- ---------- -"; 205 REM A FILETYPE OF 0 ALSO MEANS END OF DIRECTORY 207 REM FILETYPE IS NEGATIVE FOR A PROTECTED FILE 210 INPUT #1:FILENAME$,FILETYPE,FILESECTORS,RECORDLENGTH 220 IF LEN(FILENAME$)=0 THEN 300 225 COUNT=COUNT+1 230 DISPLAY :COUNT;FILENAME$;TAB(12);FILESECTORS;TAB(17);TYPE$(ABS(FILETYPE)); 235 REM PROGRAM FILES DON'T HAVE A RECORD LENGTH 240 IF ABS(FILETYPE)=5 THEN 270 250 B$=" "&STR$(RECORDLENGTH) 260 DISPLAY SEG$(B$,LEN(B$)-2,3); 270 IF FILETYPE>0 THEN 210 280 DISPLAY TAB(28);"Y"; 290 GOTO 210 300 CLOSE #1 I could index DSK1 without issue and run the games.The following images autoload and execute on their own without issue:TIScramble.dsk Bouncey.dsk The following dsk images would not index. The indexer complained about I/O error 26 in 180 2-Bad open Attribute(one or more OPEN option are illegal or do not match file caracteristics) 6-Device error(device not connected,or is damaged. this error can occur during file processing if an accessory device is accidentally disconnected while the program is running) 180 INPUT #1:DISKNAME$,ZERO,DISKSECTORS,FREESECTORS Zombiev45.dsk Freddy.dsk WizardsDoom.dsk The following dsk images I created using TIImageTool without format. Using Disk Manager 2 cartridge:I was able to format (initialize) these disks, copy a file to them and run the file (Indexer).SSSD40.dsk (Single Sided Single Density 40-track dsk image) initialized as such DSSD40.dsk (Single Sided Single Density 40-track dsk image) initialized as such SSSD80.dsk (Single Sided Single Density 80-track dsk image) initialized as such I was not able to initializeDSSD80.dsk (Double Sided Single Density 80-track dsk image) initialization attempted as such Also - HxC reports this image as 40-track.My Floppy disk controller does not support DD format so I cannot test any of those.I'm including all DSK images in the zip file in case anyone else wants to verify my findings.dsk files used.zip 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff_HxC2001 Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 (edited) The following dsk images I created using TIImageTool without format. Using Disk Manager 2 cartridge:I was able to format (initialize) these disks, copy a file to them and run the file (Indexer). SSSD40.dsk (Single Sided Single Density 40-track dsk image) initialized as such DSSD40.dsk (Single Sided Single Density 40-track dsk image) initialized as such SSSD80.dsk (Single Sided Single Density 80-track dsk image) initialized as such I was not able to initializeDSSD80.dsk (Double Sided Single Density 80-track dsk image) initialization attempted as such Also - HxC reports this image as 40-track. First point : The boot sectors of these images are totally blank ! So the disk type is only based on the file size... The right disk format can't be detected in the DSSD80 case... Please consider these images as broken... You need to "format" them in TiimageTool to get the proper boot block. Edited April 15, 2018 by Jeff_HxC2001 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff_HxC2001 Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 (edited) The following images autoload and execute on their own without issue:TIScramble.dsk Bouncey.dsk The following dsk images would not index. The indexer complained about I/O error 26 in 180 2-Bad open Attribute(one or more OPEN option are illegal or do not match file caracteristics) 6-Device error(device not connected,or is damaged. this error can occur during file processing if an accessory device is accidentally disconnected while the program is running) 180 INPUT #1:DISKNAME$,ZERO,DISKSECTORS,FREESECTORS Zombiev45.dsk Freddy.dsk WizardsDoom.dsk >> My Floppy disk controller does not support DD format so I cannot test any of those. WIZARDSDOOM.DSK and ZOMBIv45.dsk are DD images, so since your controller doesn't support DD format, the error message is normal. About Freddy.dsk : Have you tried to convert it in HFE to see if you have the same error ? Edited April 15, 2018 by Jeff_HxC2001 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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