exidysorcerer.net

Here is the new version 1.1 PCB Update: https://github.com/RetroStack/Sorcerer_DreamDisk While officially this new PCB version 1.1 update has not been tested as yet - it should work fine on the sorcerer (as the v1.0 has been tested). The Microbee z80 bus host connector does require testing. John Halk

In the Dreamdisk V3 controller (floppy / HDD / RTC) PDF Manual mention is made on how to use a WD1002-05 / HDO MFM hard disk controller with the Dreamdisk V3 controller. I have seen photos of an original Dreamdisk V3 hard disk system (supplied by Chickenman) but it had a PC XT 8 bit ISA bus WD contr...

Hi All, Dreamdisk revision 1.1 will be available for release soon on Github (PCB Gerber Files etc.). Updates - - Added connector for Microbee host Z80 bus pinouts (X3). - Added C22 470 PF for 2mhz clock smoothing fix. - Prototype Jumper for *RD and BUSDIR removed from PCB (M1 jumper pad remains). - ...

Thank you to Exidyboy and Retrostack for the great teamwork on this issue which was an easy fix but hard to debug

I have added the fix updates to the main Dreamdisk Github page and also the dreamdisk file repository.

Only issue now is that we need another new project to work on

John

I am taking a guess here but the 4mhz crystal on the original Dreamdisk controller could have different load capacitance specifications to the modern crystal on the dreamdisk modern replica. Could the value of C6 on the dreamdisk modern replica be the issue ? Modern 4MHZ Crystal specs: https://www.m...

Excellent work Exidyboy in identifying the issue with the write to disk not working.

I will ask Retrostack to have a look at the 4mhz/2Mhz divide by 2 clock circuit on the replica Dreamdisk.

Hopefully we can get this sorted without requiring a new pcb update/re-design.

Hi Michael, There is a conflict here between what the Dreamdisk manual says - i.e. R6 write pre compensation WPW setting is only required for 8” drives only. The WD2793 datasheet states the WPW setting is required for MFM (double density drives) so this includes 5.25” drives as well. There is proced...

Hi Michael, Great work - i am hopeful the R/W to the Dreamdisk images will be sorted. After that we can explore hard disk support for Dreamdisk. Since we have the bios source for Dreamdisk sorcerer CP/M - maybe an option is to write bios drivers for the Z80 Uide ? https://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/UI...

Hi Jltursan, When you load the existing Dreamdisk disk image into MAME it’s write protected / read only. Please try converting the existing Dreamdisk image to .HFE format using the hxc windows disk utility tool and load the HFE image into your gotek usb stick. https://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_dri...

Hi All, It appears we have a small bug in the testing/documentation for the dreamdisk - it will read OK from floppy disk/image but it will not write data to a floppy disk/image. We are doing some more testing with the BUSDIR test jumper on the dreamdisk PCB - that's why the jumper is there on the PC...