Re: DuoDisk -> PC?

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Matt Cole writes ...
> 
> Is there anyone that would know if it is possible to hook a DuoDisk
> drive up to a PC?  What wiring would be needed or need to be modified?
> What software would be needed?
> 
> Any help would be appreciated.
 ....

     I do not know of any way to hook up both drives in a DuoDisk to a PC. In
fact, there is no way to hook up any Apple II 5.25" drive to a PC without some
special PC plug-in board.

     You can connect one Apple II 5.25" disk drive to a PC via a TrackStar
board. Emerald City Sales (870-743-3872; http://www.ahhz.com/ ) sells the
TrackStar E board and the boards turn up on eBay.

     A PC plug-in board which will let you read Apple II 5.25" diskettes is the
Central Point Option Board. According to info supplied by Christopher Bachmann
at http://www.ece.nwu.edu/~cbachman/apple.html, the 'Option Board "acts as an
addition to the drive controller. Functionally, it allows PC drives to read GCR
encoded disks (Mac 800K and Apple ][)."  Finding one of these boards could be
difficult.


     Probably, your best bet is the TrackStar E board route. You can find info
and support software on Dr. Tom's USA2WUG site at
http://www.grin.net/~cturley/USA2WUG/TrackStar/ .



Rubywand