FDSLoadr

[Sparkster]

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.

[chimyfolkbutter]

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.

[Sparkster]

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?

[Sparkster]

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.

[cosmic-ark]

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

[yuki]

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

[133MHz]

FDSLoadr won't work with a Twin Famicom, you need a regular FDS w/ RAM cartridge.

[yuki]

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?

[133MHz]

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.

[yuki]

"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?

[Sparkster]

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.

[133MHz]

I recommend you to test the motor directly with some batteries, because the circuitry that drives it could have died instead of the motor.

[RGB_Gamer]

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

[cadillake]

thas any one can get me a tutorial with pictures

[JC]

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.