Re: UDC short mystery - 2 different cards that both hate my Apple 5 1/4" - Different revs?

["atfphotography@gmail.com" <atfphotography@gmail.com>]

On Jun 11, 8:57 pm, "atfphotogra...@gmail.com"
<atfphotogra...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jun 11, 7:49 pm, ]3ob <bob [ @ ] onemanband.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On 2009-06-11 19:32:59 -0400, "atfphotogra...@gmail.com"
> > <atfphotogra...@gmail.com> said:
>
> > > On Jun 11, 7:15 pm, David Wilson <mcs6...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > >> On Jun 12, 5:55 am, "atfphotogra...@gmail.com"
>
> > >> <atfphotogra...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > >>> I was curious that my original "gold" card is missing parts from the
> > >>> "green" card. Might it be a later version that didn't need those
> > >>> parts? I also noticed the green had wire-wraps on the back.
>
> > >> Very interesting. My card is green but matches your gold card (no XTAL
> > >> and no wires on the back).
>
> > >>> So I couldn't get anything but Apple 3.5" floppy drives to work on my
> > >>> original UDC short "gold" card. When you put on a Apple 5 1/4" (NON
> > >>> Unidisk) drive, it would first give out a very large "GRRRRR" and then
> > >>> just spin the drive with the active light on. One them actually booted
> > >>> after the roar but only worked once or twice.
>
> > >> I have never tried a "real" Apple 5.25 on my card (although now I do
> > >> have one and could try it if needed). I have a 40 track "Super 5"
> > >> brand half height 5.25" drive connected to mine via a homemade D19 to
> > >> IDC20 cable. I also ran a Macintosh 800k drive (the rectangular cased
> > >> no eject button unit) but the performance was poor and I eventually
> > >> got a couple of Apple 3.5 drives which work much better.
>
> > >>> Maybe picking up the updated BIOS from reactive?
>
> > >> That firmware just changes the 5.25" ProDOS block device support from
> > >> 35 tracks (280 blocks) to 40 tracks (320 blocks).
>
> > >> It would be interesting to know if your two cards have different
> > >> firmware versions - can you dump the ROMs and compare the contents?
>
> > > Hello,
>
> > > I would be delighted to be able to dump the ROMS, but I don't know
> > > how! I really must learn how to make ROMs. It would be easier for
> > > testing all sorts of odd things here.
>
> > > Any suggestions for reading up and what sort of low cost equipment for
> > > it?
>
> > > I was looking at the ROM images on reactive for download but I have no
> > > idea which chips I need to program them onto and which USB based
> > > writer would be good.
>
> > > If you ever get a chance to try any other drives on your card, please
> > > let us know how it goes. Not a big deal but I was hoping to drive both
> > > Apple 5 1/4" and Apple 800k drives on one machine with the card.
>
> > > Best!
>
> > > ATF
>
> > I thought I read somewhere that you can't chain drives on a UDC.
>
> > ]3ob
>
> Hello,
>
> The manual that is posted on Reactive has problems in the PDF version
> so I downloaded the JPG's, dropped them into Acrobat Pro, did the OCR
> and put the file here (although it looks like the OCR didn't work too
> well).
>
> http://www.atfphotography.com/udc/udc_manual.pdf
>
> In the introduction of the manual, it states the following:
>
> "Your UDC can connect two 5-1/4" or 3-1/2" drives to your Apple II
> Plus, Apple //e, or Laser 128 computer. Here are the drives we have
> tested it with;
>
> Drive Type:                 Drive Size:
> ==========================
> Apple //c external       5-1/4
> Laser FD-100             5-1/4
>
> Chinon 800k               3-1/2
> Mac 800k external      3-1/2
> Mac 400k external      3-1/2
> IIgs Platinum drives   3-1/2"
>
> On page three of the manual, it states contradicting information:
>
> "Besides traditional 5.25" drives (143K), the UDC card also supports
> the
> larger capacity 3.5" drives (800K). Up to a maximum of four disk
> drives
> (two 5.25" drives + two 3.5" drives) can be hooked up with the UDC
> card.
> The types of disk drives supported by the UDC card include:
>
> LASER FD·l00c 5.25" drive
> LASER FD·356 3.5" drive
> LASER FD-356DC 3.5" daisy-chain drive
> APPLE 5.25" daisy-chain drive
> APPLE 3.5" daisy-chain drive"
>
> I'm thinking that the first two pages of the PDF I generated with
> Henry's files are for the first generation UDC while the rest of the
> pages are for the second generation UDC.
>
> It clearly marks the Apple drives as compatible and being able to
> daisy-chain. The daisy-chain arrangements are listed on page 6 of the
> PDF.
>
> What's funny is that one the first page is mentions that;
>
> "The Universal Disk Controller combines the power of the Apple's
> Unidisk 3.5 and standard floppy disk controllers into one slot".
>
> Interesting!
>
> ATF

Replying to myself..

Just found this little bit;

"The "Universal Disk Controller" from Video Technology and Central
Point
Software supports the Macintosh 400K and 800K drives and the Apple 3.5
Drive.  Some versions also support the UniDisk 3.5.  I don't know
whether it is safe to connect a SuperDrive to this card, but if it
works
at all, it will only behave like an Apple 3.5 Drive.  This card will
also support 5.25" drives, but in a way which is not fully compatible
with older software."

It was listed here;

http://mirrors.apple2.org.za/ground.icaen.uiowa.edu/MiscInfo/Empsons/drivesgs

So basically it seems like Apple 5 1/4" drives are a no go on the UDC
short without problems. Blah I say!

Best!

ATF