The Sinclair QL Forum

XorA wrote:Have you tried naming the .hfe as startupa.hfe and ticking the config option to autoload that on boot?

All in the GUI settings thingy.

I used LCD to select on mine.

Also take care your cable is right way round, its safe to try both ways.

I did try a straight & twisted cables and set the dip switches accordingly, but I'll try again this weekend. However, the LED does come on when I initiate a command i.e. "DIR FLP1_" so the interface is working, just no data.
I'm using a Miracle Trump card and wonder if you are using another/different floppy interface thus maybe the Trump isn't quite compatible.
The Trump card is fine because a real floppy drive works fine.
It'll be interesting to see what I get Monday from the emuDrive folks.

Ian.

I am using a Super Gold Card, but I believe there should be no difference in disk access.

I have never found a disk controller yet that HxC did not work on.

Would be easier if you had the LCD so you could see what was going on!

Certainly the HxC works fine with a Trump Card so that is not the issue.

You should be using a straight cable - did you set the jumpers as per my article (linked above)?

IanJ wrote:

XorA wrote:Have you tried naming the .hfe as startupa.hfe and ticking the config option to autoload that on boot?

All in the GUI settings thingy.

I used LCD to select on mine.

Also take care your cable is right way round, its safe to try both ways.

I did try a straight & twisted cables and set the dip switches accordingly, but I'll try again this weekend. However, the LED does come on when I initiate a command i.e. "DIR FLP1_" so the interface is working, just no data.
I'm using a Miracle Trump card and wonder if you are using another/different floppy interface thus maybe the Trump isn't quite compatible.

According to this:


http://www.dilwyn.me.uk/gen/quanta/agm2011/agm2011.htm

This is working fine since at least 2011...

If you are using a Slim HxC Floppy Emulator, use the attached cfg file. And name your HFE files on the SDCard DSKA0000.HFE, DSKA0001.HFE, DSKA0002.HFE, and so on...

About the HFE image itself : To be sure about its track format, just read a true QL floppy disk and create a disk image with the HxC software. More details how to proceed there :
http://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_driv ... al_ENG.pdf
Page 14 : How to make a disk image from a floppy disk ?

IanJ wrote: I did try a straight & twisted cables and set the dip switches accordingly, but I'll try again this weekend.

Ian,

My HxC is working on both the Trump Card and the GoldCard.

Note (at least with my interface) the HxC needs a straight (untwisted) cable inserted the wrong way round (That is, exactly the other way round than in a "normal" drive. I had to cut the notch to insert the connector)

Tobias

tofro wrote:

IanJ wrote: I did try a straight & twisted cables and set the dip switches accordingly, but I'll try again this weekend.

Ian,

My HxC is working on both the Trump Card and the GoldCard.

Note (at least with my interface) the HxC needs a straight (untwisted) cable inserted the wrong way round (That is, exactly the other way round than in a "normal" drive. I had to cut the notch to insert the connector)

Tobias

Please share one HFE file working with the Trump Card
Ian : Once you got this HFE file, just rename it to DSKA0000.HFE and use it with my cfg file.

Hi,

Ok, I also have the emulator with the LCD.........and when I insert the SD card it allows me to choose an HFE file, I had put the following on the card:

HXCSDFE.CFG
DSKA0000.HFE
DSKA0001.HFE

LCD reads, the following, and I can select the 0000 or 0001 file:-
DSKA0000.HFE
T:000/080 S:0

And when I try "DIR FLP1_" the yellow LED comes on and LCD reads "RA" at bottom left........but nothing happens, the QL just sits there and eventually comes back "not found" and the yellow LED goes off. When "RA" comes up the interface gives 2 beeps, a low then a high, and also the numbers after T: flash quickly to a 1 I think and back to zero.

I have tried 128mb, 1gb & 16gb SD cards.
I have tried a twisted ribbon cable.
I have tried my own QL psu (3 times the power).

Would really like an HFE from somebody with a Trump card to test.

I will also try my other QL later today.......just incase!
Update: Tried my other QL......same problem.

Ian.

IanJ wrote: Would really like an HFE from somebody with a Trump card to test.

You should try to read a know working disk with the hxc software to make one HFE image.
Please one of my previous post for more details.

EDIT : You can also try to format the attached image with the QL. If this is working please post the formatted image here. (Note : you need the firmware v1.8.2.40 / v2.1.2.40 or more to be able to format the image)
Anyone using the Trump Card with the HxC : Would be nice to post a working image here.

Hi,

format flp1_test
Ok, I tried the tobeformatted image as I have 1.8.2.40 and it went through the WA/RA cycle from tracks 0 to 80.........whoa! I am breaking new ground here!

dir flp1_
ta da!..................works.

Switched back to my non-lcd floppy emulator and it can read the image also.

Happy.

Ian.

IanJ wrote:Hi,

format flp1_test
Ok, I tried the tobeformatted image as I have 1.8.2.40 and it went through the WA/RA cycle from tracks 0 to 80.........whoa! I am breaking new ground here!

dir flp1_
ta da!..................works.

Switched back to my non-lcd floppy emulator and it can read the image also.

Happy.

Ian.

That's the strong point of the HFE format with the lastest firmwares version : No need anymore to know the disk format, just format the HFE file with the machine and that's all, exactly as with a true floppy disk! .

Please share the formatted image here !