Date   : Mon, 29 Oct 2001 18:47:33 -0000
From   : "Kris Adcock" <krisa@...>
Subject: Re: IDE interface for the beeb

There already is one of these, at least for connecting to a RiscPC. John
Kortink has done one.

My idea was not to implement a new drive type, but to build a circuit which
emulated a floppy drive, accessing disk images on the hard-disk. The control
panel would contain a selector to pick which disk image to read/write.

I was also intending to do a CompactFlash replacement for floppies in the
same way (the interface is practically IDE). The only problem - I can't find
anywhere which sells the sockets for them!

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Victor Rozanov [mailto:vic792r@...]
> Sent: 29 October 2001 18:43
> To: Kris Adcock
> Cc: bbc-micro@...
> Subject: Re: [BBC-Micro] IDE interface for the beeb
>
>
> Hi,
>
> Before you start this project I may  suggest you
> to think about the idea I have for a long time.
> Unfortunatelly I do not have time to bring it to life.
> From the first sight the idea of building an IDE interface for the
> Beeb looks cool but there will be a lot of problems with the
> software (like games) after that. Most of the software titles
> will not work with the ADFS with the hard drive support
> without special patches. Also we have very good and big collection
> of the disk images on the internet.
> Why do not we use it?
> The only problem is we can not use the disk images the convenient way.
> (You have to put them on the floppy first and only than
> you can use them with your real Beeb.)
> My idea is very simple:
> We can use the parrallel port on the PC to emulate the BBC
> floppy drive.
> Than the only thing we need is just a cable to connect
> the parallel port to the Beeb floppy disk port.
> Technically it is possible to use two way LPT port this way.
> Current parrallel port controllers have enough speed and flexibilyty
> to drive this thing . What else you need? Of cource  you need
> to write the
> PC driver for the port and very easy GUI which will allow
> you to manage your disk image collection.
> I would appreciate for everybody's point of view on this idea.
> Advantages, disadvantages and everything else you might think
> about it.
>
> Best regards.
>
> Victor.
>
> On Mon, 29 Oct 2001, Kris Adcock wrote:
>
> > Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2001 13:34:05 -0000
> > From: Kris Adcock <krisa@...>
> > To: bbc-micro@...
> > Subject: [BBC-Micro] IDE interface for the beeb
> >
> > Afternoon all,
> >
> > For a while now I've wanted to build a HD interface for the
> Beeb. I thought
> > I'd ask here first: is there anyone already working on this
> (or something
> > similar)? It would be a waste of time for me to do it if
> someone else was
> > about to release their own project. Or, has anyone started
> such a project
> > but lost interest, and would be prepared to pass on any notes on the
> > subject?
> >
> > Also, does anyone have the EPE/Elektor article on using
> small hard-discs? I
> > bought the magazine myself (with this project in mind) but
> I can't find it
> > /anywhere/. If you're able to scan it and e-mail it, that would be
> > brilliant.
> >
> > Cheers, and thanks in advance,
> >
> > Kris.
> >
> >