The rise of FreHD

[rubber_jonnie]

Doing some digging this morning and I found this:

M1-hard-drive-adapter.jpeg (379.7 KiB) Viewed 104 times

It's a commercially available M1 hard drive adapter for use with FreHD.

Note it has a jumper that could be for the short for pins 38/39 based on the fact that it is at that end of the connector. So having thought late yesterday that I should perhaps fit a jumper to make the connection optional, that is exactly what I'm going to do.

The other option is to buy one, they are for sale on eBay, but at nearly £60 (They are shipped from Australia) I need to have another crack at mine based on another read through of the docs.

I might be putting 2 and 2 together and getting 5, but I think it is definitely worth a try.

[rubber_jonnie]

After a fairly trying afternoon of soldering, I discovered that my M1 hard drive adapter was slightly wired incorrectly around the transistors, so I corrected that and then spent a somewhat painful time buzzing absolutely everything out to be sure it all connected where it was supposed to, transistors included!!

It's also wired up to match the bonkers Tandy 40 pin cable wiring, where it's all wired backwards and pin 1 = pin 39 etc.

With that out of the way I powered on (Jumper for pins 1 &4 removed) and the machine boots, but normally. I then noticed that the D1 light on the FreHD was just continuously flashing, so now wondering if there is something I've missed with the SD card prep.

Of to the internet for another fact finding mission.

If I had any hair left, I'd pull it out!!!

[stephen_usher]

I'm sure you'll get there.

[rubber_jonnie]

I'm sure you'll get there.

The support is appreciated

[rubber_jonnie]

I am kicking myself.

It seems that I've misinterpreted just what the M1 interface does, and whilst it is built and tested (As far as I can), it requires either a TRS-80 model 1 expansion box or a more modern Quinnterface in order to run.

I'm really annoyed that I've spent so much time on this thing and I'm no closer to making it work, I can't believe I missed it.

[stephen_usher]

Oops!

[rubber_jonnie]

Oops!

Total misinterpretation on my part, and what's annoying is that the Quinnterface, which should work, is deigned for a 16K machine, and mine is upgraded to 64KB.

I'm sure there's a way around it, but the Quinnterface isn't cheap.

[stephen_usher]

I'm pretty sure when you first talked about this I pointed out the need for the Quinnterface, and you agreed. Not trying to do a "I told you so", just a memory jog.

We all do silly things... As you can see from my latest post.

[rubber_jonnie]

I'm pretty sure when you first talked about this I pointed out the need for the Quinnterface, and you agreed. Not trying to do a "I told you so", just a memory jog.

We all do silly things... As you can see from my latest post.

Yes, pretty sure we talked Quinnterface, but then I found the M1 interface and to be fair, the docs I saw did seem to suggest that it could be connected directly to the computer.

But hey ho, I have the FreHD and at least I've realised my error. Sometimes goes that way, and I replied to your post about the Apple video adapter, I guess it happens to us all, annoying but you have to pick yourself and move on.

Good luck with your adapter BTW

[stephen_usher]

Thanks... and good luck with your TRS80... And A5000 networking.