Famicom World

Family Computer => Famicom / Disk System => Topic started by: Sahasrahla on March 27, 2021, 06:52:12 pm

Title: Where to get a FDSstick currently
Post by: Sahasrahla on March 27, 2021, 06:52:12 pm
Hello dear community I'm new here.

I'm looking for a way to purchase a FDSstick.
Orders seem to be available on the official site (3dscapture) but since I don't live in the US, this does not seem to be an option.
An email to loopy was left unanswered.
The international order site (tototek) is out of stock.
The "contact us" link is broken so there's no way to ask when/if they might get restocked.

Any hint on how I could get my hands on one of those sticks would be greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Where to get a FDSstick currently
Post by: P on March 29, 2021, 03:59:37 pm
Just wait, Tototek restocks quite quickly.
Title: Re: Where to get a FDSstick currently
Post by: Sahasrahla on March 31, 2021, 02:06:17 am
Good to know, thanks.
Is he active here in the forum or is there any way to get in contact with him?
Title: Re: Where to get a FDSstick currently
Post by: P on April 01, 2021, 03:41:11 am
Yeah Tomy is a member here and posted last time not too long ago.
Title: Where to get a FDSstick currently
Post by: schnuth on April 01, 2021, 03:04:16 pm
I have an extra 128M FDSstick I'm not using if you're interested. Where are you located?
Title: Re: Where to get a FDSstick currently
Post by: Tomy on April 03, 2021, 04:37:00 pm
Quote from: Sahasrahla on March 27, 2021, 06:52:12 pmHello dear community I'm new here.

I'm looking for a way to purchase a FDSstick.
Orders seem to be available on the official site (3dscapture) but since I don't live in the US, this does not seem to be an option.
An email to loopy was left unanswered.
The international order site (tototek) is out of stock.
The "contact us" link is broken so there's no way to ask when/if they might get restocked.

Any hint on how I could get my hands on one of those sticks would be greatly appreciated.

Yes, both 3dscapture and tototek have no fdsstick in stock. I still waitting loopy reply. I'm afraid he will stop produce it again. It is very good product for FDS lover.
Title: Re: Where to get a FDSstick currently
Post by: P on April 14, 2021, 06:35:15 am
Loopy posted on Nesdev not too long ago. I sent him a PM there.
Title: Re: Where to get a FDSstick currently
Post by: Epic_Lotus on April 14, 2021, 09:57:23 am
I am going to follow this thread.  I would also like an FDSStick.  I just learned about them recently!
Title: Re: Where to get a FDSstick currently
Post by: Keroro1125 on July 21, 2021, 10:27:45 pm
Going to follow this thread as well. Just got my FDS RAM Adapter recently so I'm eagerly waiting for a restock on these!
Title: Re: Where to get a FDSstick currently
Post by: P on July 22, 2021, 12:59:24 pm
It sounds like he started to produce them again so just be patient. :)
Title: Re: Where to get a FDSstick currently
Post by: Keroro1125 on July 24, 2021, 11:52:31 am
Quote from: P on July 22, 2021, 12:59:24 pmIt sounds like he started to produce them again so just be patient. :)

Awesome! I'm excited to finally be able to get my hands on one of these! It'll be well worth the wait.
Title: Re: Where to get a FDSstick currently
Post by: P on July 24, 2021, 02:31:39 pm
They are really awesome and solves about all problems you may have with Famicom Disk System games. And as all licensed FDS games' master disks in their factory state were leaked, there are no longer any doubts how to purify all licensed disks to a factory default state. You just need to figure out how to use rdafds.exe to convert RDA/RDB to FDS (or ask me and I'll explain) in order to get a factory default disk image usable with the FDSStick.

That's how I play FDS games nowadays, not only does it allow me to play disks without any prior save data, the FDSStick makes it easy to backup the save data (by writing the disk image back to the PC).
Title: Re: Where to get a FDSstick currently
Post by: P on October 20, 2021, 02:22:27 pm
It looks like FDSStick is back in stock on Tototek!
Title: Re: Where to get a FDSstick currently
Post by: asper on January 19, 2023, 12:00:00 pm
Quote from: P on July 24, 2021, 02:31:39 pmThey are really awesome and solves about all problems you may have with Famicom Disk System games. And as all licensed FDS games' master disks in their factory state were leaked, there are no longer any doubts how to purify all licensed disks to a factory default state. You just need to figure out how to use rdafds.exe to convert RDA/RDB to FDS (or ask me and I'll explain) in order to get a factory default disk image usable with the FDSStick.

That's how I play FDS games nowadays, not only does it allow me to play disks without any prior save data, the FDSStick makes it easy to backup the save data (by writing the disk image back to the PC).
Please explain me how to use that executable (rdafds.exe) !
Title: Re: Where to get a FDSstick currently
Post by: Skawo on January 19, 2023, 12:34:41 pm
Open up CMD, drag in rdafds, then drag in the RDA/RDB and then specify the outfile

So for example, you end up with
rdafds.exe in.rda out.fds

That said, using the master disks as-is ,eaves an unmistakeable mark that they've been rewritten with the FDSStick, as the various fields in the header are not set properly.
Title: Re: Where to get a FDSstick currently
Post by: asper on January 19, 2023, 12:43:30 pm
Quote from: Skawo on January 19, 2023, 12:34:41 pmOpen up CMD, drag in rdafds, then drag in the RDA/RDB and then specify the outfile

So for example, you end up with
rdafds.exe in.rda out.fds

That said, using the master disks as-is ,eaves an unmistakeable mark that they've been rewritten with the FDSStick, as the various fields in the header are not set properly.
Thank you ! I am building a twin famicom cable adapter to use FDSStick to write disks... is there any picture showing pinout for the 2.0 -> 2.5 mm adapter-connector taken from the RAM Adapter ? Is it a direct pin-to-pin ? I see a small pcb at tototek but he as not it for sale anymore so I am building it. Thank you very much for your help ! I mean the small one laying unconnected over the console plastic case in this picture:(https://3dscapture.com/fdsstick/fdsstick_twinfami.jpg)
Title: Re: Where to get a FDSstick currently
Post by: Skawo on January 19, 2023, 12:52:51 pm
See this video and the links in its description https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHn_i7frLTk
Title: Re: Where to get a FDSstick currently
Post by: P on January 20, 2023, 10:09:11 am
It seems I was wrong as it turns out that not all of Nintendo's disk dumps were pure (https://forums.nesdev.org/viewtopic.php?p=275237#p275237) after all.
Title: Re: Where to get a FDSstick currently
Post by: asper on January 20, 2023, 11:41:07 am
Quote from: Skawo on January 19, 2023, 12:52:51 pmSee this video and the links in its description https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHn_i7frLTk
Yeah i saw it but i cannot understand if the small purple pcb adapter shown at minute 19:00 is pin-to-pin with the blue RAM adpetr connector... do you know ? I asked tototek but no answer...
Title: Re: Where to get a FDSstick currently
Post by: asper on January 21, 2023, 03:33:10 am
Here it is !
(https://i.imgur.com/q0ErlCX.jpg)
Title: Re: Where to get a FDSstick currently
Post by: Skawo on February 03, 2023, 02:04:34 pm
Has anyone had an issue while writing a disk, where the first side of the disk is written fine, but for the second side the FDS just suddenly stops after the read head returns to the home position?

Happens intermittently for me, and sometimes I just end up splitting the disk image into two to avoid this.

Is this some bug with the FDS Stick, or...?
Title: Re: Where to get a FDSstick currently
Post by: Stephen on February 03, 2023, 06:04:26 pm
Quote from: Skawo on February 03, 2023, 02:04:34 pmHas anyone had an issue while writing a disk, where the first side of the disk is written fine, but for the second side the FDS just suddenly stops after the read head returns to the home position?

Happens intermittently for me, and sometimes I just end up splitting the disk image into two to avoid this.

Is this some bug with the FDS Stick, or...?
From what I've observed I'm very confident it's the FDS Stick. I just restart the write process from Side A - It's infrequent enough for me that it's only a minor inconvenience.
Title: Re: Where to get a FDSstick currently
Post by: Skawo on February 04, 2023, 12:40:22 am
Ah, so it's not just my wiring or something. Good to know, cheers.