I'm not sure if this should be a new thread as there are a few fdsloadr threads already.
But just a quick question.
I have a twin famicom. With a 7201 drive and want to build a fdsloadr cable to
interface directly with the drive. I just wanted to know if it would be possible to power this from a
usb cable rather than an external power supply.
I have also read about the pinouts for fdsloadr being wrong so I thought I better
check the pinout I have for the drive.
Below is the pinout for the disk drive I found on another board
view of connector (from back of drive; top side up)
+--------------------------+
|17 15 13 11 09 07 05 03 01|
|18 16 14 12 10 08 06 04 02|
+--------------------------+
wiring chart
------------
p.pin d.pin description
----- ----- -----------
13 1 (O) disk set
17 2 (I) stop motor
15 3 (O) ready
10 4 (O) data out
12 5 (O) writable disk
2 6 (I) data
1 7 (I) scan disk
14 8 (I) write data to disk
- 9 VEE (ground)
- 10 VCC (+5 vdc)
- 11 -
- 12 -
- 13 -
- 14 -
- 15 VEE (ground)
- 16 VCC (+5 vdc)
11$ 17 (O) motor power condition
- 18 motor VCC (+5 vdc)
I have now finished building it and the usb power seems to work fine.
I do have a problem with it though. It just runs continuously and doesn't stop scanning the disc
which makes it impossible to use.
Hopefully somebody knows what is going on here.
I have used an external power supply that I made with a 7805 voltage regulator and a 9V battery to power the FDSLoader cable . I am not sure if the USB can provide enough amps to FDSLoader. It may but I didn't want to encounter any problems. Also wiring directly to the FDS drive should be easier than trying to fabricate an adapter for the FDS RAM cart. Make sure you check you connections.
I have actually built it using usb.
I checked the usb specs and they provide 5v at 500mA which I think should be more than enough.
It seems to work fine except that I can't get it to stop scanning the disk
even when the drive is empty.
It however does read and write discs. Well from what I can see anyway.
I read a disc but that came through with errors but the program told me that anyway.
When I wrote to a disc it stopped working on the famicom so I know
it must have wriiten something.
Hopefully if I get this scan problem sorted I can do both without any problems
If somebody can double check my pinout to make sure I not working with
dodgy information it would be extremely helpful.
From what I can see by just comparing the diagram to the drive connector in the console
is that the wires at 15 and 16 are not needed. Perhaps they need to go somewhere else?
Not sure if I can do this myself on the twin famicom?
I have just checked the pins on the disk drive and
found that even though the stop motor signal is low the motor is not stopping.
It is this which is causing the drive to appear as though it is constantly reading.
All other signals appear correct but I am not sure what the
5v on pin 10 is for as the motor power seems to power the whole board
but I may be wrong and this could be the power for the board.
Does anybody have any idea why this could be.
Does anyone know of a tutorial or step by step instructions on how to build a FDS Loader cable and a list of the parts required and or where one could purchase those parts i know its probably wishfull thinking but i thought maybe somebody who visits this forum has made one and could spare a few minutes to enlighten others on how they achieved there goal ive seen one in a collection on the forum "assembler" with a lot of other modified consoles and game copiers but it is an old thread so i didn't inquire any info would be hugely appreciated,thanks
Hello this modification works?? cause i recently buy a twin famicom and I would use fdsloadr for rewrite one FDS unmagetised.
I change drive belt I try to read one FDS but nothing error 21/22/27 I try to calibrate head but nothing I think my disk is good to rewrite but I have 2 problem
1 I looking for information about fdsloadr connection for twin famicom (for drive and ram (if i whant use directely fdsloadr like an disk drive)
2 I have the bad chiup for write (IC3206) and I havent found mod tuto can you help me??
thank you in advance Galine
FDSLoadr won't work with a Twin Famicom, you need a regular FDS w/ RAM cartridge.
I'm not luky I will try tou found a regular Fds and ram adapter.
But do you now why it's not possible the FDS drive in a twin famcom is the same as a regular drive no?
The ram on the Famicom twin is more protect or different of a regular Ramd adapter from regular FDS ?
Can I instal a regular FDS drive with ram adapter on a twin?
It's not possible because you don't have a place to plug in the cable, you need to control each element separately and on the Twin that is not possible.
Yes, you can use a regular FDS + RAM cart on a Twin Famicom, in カセット mode.
"you need to control each element separately and on the Twin that is not possible."
Cause on the twin the ram adapter and famicom board is on the same pcb?
But may be its possible to make a small pcb to control where the fdsloadr signial is sended with somes Ic like 74lsXX (logical gate) for select wat we would like make with fdsloadr this homemade PCB will can be instal under the twin pcb no?
Ok thanks for the help.
Guess I'm going to need a proper fds unit.
Especially since my original drive seems to have a dead motor.
I recommend you to test the motor directly with some batteries, because the circuitry that drives it could have died instead of the motor.
Is anyone able to build me an FDS loader cable? I don't have the time and my soldering skills are aweful (hands are often shaky due to nerve damage from a work related injury)
PM me or email
eastbayarb@gmail.com
thas any one can get me a tutorial with pictures
Very soon, we'll have one. We've been working to get the website in order before we make it and other new content available.
Quote from: JC on July 10, 2009, 11:06:55 am
Very soon, we'll have one. We've been working to get the website in order before we make it and other new content available.
that's awesome. Put me down for one
Quote from: JC on July 10, 2009, 11:06:55 am
Very soon, we'll have one. We've been working to get the website in order before we make it and other new content available.
thanks i am so happy to hear that ;D
The motor still works it just struggles to turn the disks.
So basically it is reading a lot less media than it did
when I first bought it.
Strange thing is it doesn't seem slow, it just seems to have no power.
The belt and everything else looks fine but do you think the problem could lie there.
Looking forward to the tutorial, that is if I can ever get an original disk system without
having to pay a fortune.
but in the tutorial can you make it run just with the ram?
Yes, you can connect the RAM Adapter to your PC and play .FDS files on the real hardware, no disk drive needed.
I think this is also a great bonus for the ROM hacking people out there, no need to burn EPROMs or get a PowerPak to test your creations on a real Famicom... as long as you're doing FDS games :P.
do you have a tutorial about it ;D
i found this to help
http://www.tototek.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=548&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
Someone should post a picture of an fdsloadr so we can drool over it. ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKb1ykSC46A (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKb1ykSC46A)
fdsloader (only ram)
Does it mention anything about rewriting disks or dumping them or anything else than just emulating games on it?
It only says that you can copy what is on the disk to the computer, nothing about rewriting the disk and putting a brand new game on it and then playing it on the disk system.
Also once you build an fdsloadr cable can you still use the fds for its original use (as a game system not a disk drive).
Quote from: famiac on July 15, 2009, 03:43:09 am
Does it mention anything about rewriting disks or dumping them or anything else than just emulating games on it?
It only says that you can copy what is on the disk to the computer, nothing about rewriting the disk and putting a brand new game on it and then playing it on the disk system.
Also once you build an fdsloadr cable can you still use the fds for its original use (as a game system not a disk drive).
for copying disk to PC and especially PC back to disk, you need a Famicom Disk system modified to do so (7201 or I believe you can modify others for write capability), an, MGD1 backup device, MGD1 to PC cable, and software (copy master FDS disk, and PC software). I have everything except for the cable (which I plan to build since plans are easily obtainable, as well as the software) and will be backing up my disks soon. The tototek link that was given in this thread explains it all. I am curious however if this method will create .FDS files from disks and load .FDS files from PC
Quote from: famiac on July 15, 2009, 03:43:09 am
Does it mention anything about rewriting disks or dumping them or anything else than just emulating games on it?
It only says that you can copy what is on the disk to the computer, nothing about rewriting the disk and putting a brand new game on it and then playing it on the disk system.
Also once you build an fdsloadr cable can you still use the fds for its original use (as a game system not a disk drive).
the movie is just to show what i has talking about in the other post about playing without a fds disk system only with the ram adapter
what is a copy master fds disk?
Quote from: famiac on July 15, 2009, 10:02:06 am
what is a copy master fds disk?
If you have a game doctor device (that plugs into the famicom system and the FDS RAM adaptor goes into the game doctor cartridge slot), copy master is a disk that lets you copy FDS disk to FDS disk, and when paired with a PC cable, from disk to PC.
again, see this thread:
http://www.tototek.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=548&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
for copying from FDS to PC and PC to FDS, you need an mgd1, mgd1 to PC cable, FDS drive capable of writing FDS disks (7201 or a modified other model of the FDS drive), and of course, copy master
There are several versions of copying software you'll find on disk. Disk Keeper is said to be the best.
Quote from: JC on July 15, 2009, 10:44:28 am
There are several versions of copying software you'll find on disk. Disk Keeper is said to be the best.
Is there an image of Disk Keeper, or others somewhere. What is so special about Disk Keeper? I recently aquired about 20 blank FDS so I would like to write any other utilities to a disk (once I get an MGD1 to PC cable built)
is anyone going to post pictures of all these (mgd1 plus mgd1 pc cable, copy disk etc.) and how to get them?
http://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=625.0
http://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=1575.0
Quote from: JC on July 15, 2009, 11:18:23 am
http://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=625.0
http://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=1575.0
Very awesome. I have an extra Game Doctor 4m. Now if only I can find that Disk Keeper somewhere...I do have copy master though
Quote from: eastbayarb on July 15, 2009, 10:46:22 am
Quote from: JC on July 15, 2009, 10:44:28 am
There are several versions of copying software you'll find on disk. Disk Keeper is said to be the best.
Is there an image of Disk Keeper, or others somewhere. What is so special about Disk Keeper? I recently aquired about 20 blank FDS so I would like to write any other utilities to a disk (once I get an MGD1 to PC cable built)
Where do you get blank disks?
Also is game doctor also like a disk copy software?
Game doctor is the think I linked above -- first link. Also, there isn't really a place to buy bulk new or blank disks. Usually you have to find pirates on auction sites or forums. It's unclear to me if there's a safe way to erase the data on a disk to make it blank.
Quote from: JC on July 15, 2009, 11:49:01 am
Game doctor is the think I linked above -- first link. Also, there isn't really a place to buy bulk new or blank disks. Usually you have to find pirates on auction sites or forums. It's unclear to me if there's a safe way to erase the data on a disk to make it blank.
Blank disks are hard to find and really only show up on auction sites.
What I have been wondering is how were cartridge games converted to run on game doctor units since the game doctor units don't actually copy cartridges to FDS disks?
Quote from: eastbayarb on July 15, 2009, 11:54:13 am
It's unclear to me if there's a safe way to erase the data on a disk to make it blank.
Degaussing coil or bulk tape eraser will do the job.
will copy master or disk keeper erase, or will it just overwrite when you go to put new data on a disk?
They just overwrite the data, but due to the intrinsic nature of FDS disks, it gets completely rewritten.
and the tutorial no one forgot about it?
Chill out. It's been in the works for awhile. It's not going to be released until the new site design is up and running AFAIK.
Quote from: nintendodork on July 16, 2009, 09:35:00 am
Chill out. It's been in the works for awhile. It's not going to be released until the new site design is up and running AFAIK.
ok
has it ever been revealed how cartridge games were converted to FDS disks for run on a game doctor (or similar device)?
That first youtube video inspired me to rush out and build the cable. Then I saw how many soldering points there were on a rather compact space so I ended up ordering one from tototek instead.
Here's a video of me demonstrating it, should be a bit better quality than that first video on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnMbbV55t8A
Quote from: b1aCkDeA7h on March 05, 2010, 07:26:02 pm
That first youtube video inspired me to rush out and build the cable. Then I saw how many soldering points there were on a rather compact space so I ended up ordering one from tototek instead.
Here's a video of me demonstrating it, should be a bit better quality than that first video on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnMbbV55t8A
You could just buy one from the Tototek store.
I did, it's um, in the quote that you quoted.