Re: Some questions about some cards (xebec sidecar controller, gs-ramp

[nyder <nyder.23@gmail.com>]

On May 8, 6:40 pm, "Michael J. Mahon" <mjma...@aol.com> wrote:
> The Superdrive Controller is an example of a device that went from
> "overstocked closeout special" to "rare, cheap at any price" in
> the space of a few months a year or two ago.
>
> -michael
>

Well, i picked it up at a used PC shop here in Seattle, $5.  There
were 3 more cards, plus a card & floppy connected to each other.   The
other cards seem to be the normal floppy controllers, so I didn't
really pay much attention to them all.  I did buy them all though.

I knew I could trade them for other stuff with a friend of mine.  All
his stuff just goes into containers, which sorts of bothers me because
I want to plug them all in and see if they work.  But then I
understand, considering the number of stuff that I haven't even tried
out yet (my laser 128, C64, C128, bunch of macs, SGI Indy, not to
mention all the various PC & mac cards i have).

I know this is offtopic, but I also got a few oscilloscopes this
weekend, a Tektronix 585a & BK Precision 1472c, both working.  Also
got a Tektronix 465 or something that doesn't work.   =)
Free, off of craigslist.
I figured I'd need one if I really wanted to learn how to build cards
or whatever for my various stuff.  So know I have to learn to use
them.  I originally was just getting the 585a, but fortunetly the same
day some gave me the BK 1472c, which I can use to learn on, and
probably do most my work with.

I mean, the 858a is great, supposedly a very solid model, one of their
best, but how the heck would I replace the tubes when they blow?  =)
It works though.  I haven't turned it on, not until I know how to use
the other one, and then read the manual (I got the manual for them all
but the broken one).  I have a feeling that it would be better if I
just cleaned it up and made sure I can keep it working before I use
it, if I do use it.  Might even end up worth something in a few more
years.

Anyways, sorry, just sort of excited about them.  I had put up an ad
asking if anyone had any they wanted to give away, not really
expecting to get any responses, but hoping that maybe, someone's wife
would be nagging them to get rid of the stuff in the garage.  Which is
exactly the reason why I got them.   =)


Oh, ya. back to topic.

I think the reason why the Superdrive Controllers price might of went
up has to do with the availability of DSDD disks.  They are pretty
hard to come by these days, not without a premium price, or used.
DSHD disk aren't compatable, they use a different recording structure
or something.

You know, what I really need is just a SD reader that the system sees
as a harddisk or something.  I don't see the point in a CDrom
connected to my GS.  I would like a harddrive, yes, but the truth is,
harddrives that work with any controllers you get are starting to get
hard to come by.

I know theres the CF with the IDE adaptor on it, but wouldn't it be
easier just to make a CF card, or a SD/MMC card?


Oh, well, guess it doesn't matter.  Either i will come across some
scsi controller sometime, or I will end up trying to make my own
controller, probably just a SD controller.

I did try to send an email to the person who made the ide controller,
but it bounced, of course.
I have downloaded his software, so I'll have to go thru it to see what
he finished with it.  If it's just about software drivers, then maybe
it's finishable.   Of course, it could just  be bust, but I figured at
the very least I could learn a few things from trying to build it.