Re: SCSI-IDE-CF Experiment

["Henry S. Courbis" <apl2research(a.t.)comcast.net>]

Hello Peter.

> For disk/block-type devices, the SCSI-IDE approach seems cheaper (SCSI-
> IDE adapters run from $30-$70), and IDE-CF or IDE-SD adapters are a
> cheap $5.  Again, I doubt that IO cards (e.g., SDIO) will be
> supported.  I don't think the IDE specs mention anything regarding IO
> devices.

True.  Those SCSI-to-IDE Adapters are cheaper.  But don't forget that the 
Spyrus Drive is fully external and ready to go.


> IO cards would generally be hard to support through SCSI, because
> there are only a few peripheral types supported by the SCSI
> specifications.

I don't know for sure, but I would assume it would depend on the 
PCMCIA-to-IO Adapter.  I just received my PCMCIA-to-CF Adapter and it seems 
to work just fine.  Some more below.


> Having said that, the SCSI-PCMCIA setup you mentioned should present
> itself as a regular SCSI block device, and the GS/OS SCSI driver
> should be the only additional software you need.

I see.  What's the advantage to using the GS/OS Driver as opposed to just 
loading GS/OS on the CF Card without the Driver?  I assume more then 4 
Volumes would then be supported?

Well, as mentioned above I now have a fully working setup.  I have tired it 
with the Apple II SCSI Card and the Apple II High Speed SCSI Card.  For some 
reason the unit only seems to work with the Apple II High Speed SCSI Card, 
with or without Active Termination.  It should be noted that both cards have 
the Termination Power mod and the Drive does seem to require it.  Any ideas 
why one SCSI card would work and the other does not?  The IIgs just seems to 
hang when trying to access the Drive with the Apple II SCSI Card.  No issues 
at all with the Apple II High Speed SCSI Card.  My test SCSI HDD works just 
find with both Controllers too.

I also found that CiderPress sees the CF Card just fine.

Now to find a good test subject who has the Apple II SCSI Card, Apple II 
High Speed SCSI Card and a couple different RAMFast SCSI Cards to double 
check my results.  Any volunteers?

Next order of business was to find or have written a test program that would 
be able to test the different Controllers and Media so there would be 
baseline info to compare with.  Such info as read/write throughput.  Any 
such program exist for the Apple IIs or do we need to have one written?  I'd 
really like to know some actual numbers for all the different devices 
available to us.  I know for one thing this SCSI CF Drive seems a bit on the 
slow side if you ask me.  I had assumed it would have been a lot faster.


-- 
Henry S. Courbis
www.ReactiveMicro.com
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