Buffered TF536 with 2 CF cards as master/slave

68030 + SDRAM + IDE

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Petervg
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Feb 28, 2025 10:29 pm

Buffered TF536 with 2 CF cards as master/slave

Post by Petervg »

Hi Guys,

new user here :-). I recently started collecting computers I've grown up with, and the Amiga has always been one of my favorites. I recently was able to purchase an A2000 in perfect condition and I wanted to add some storage to it. Plan is to have 1 CF for the OS and 1 formatted as fat so I can use it to share files between my PC and Amiga. I'm doing the same with my A1200 and I'm very happy with that.

The A2000 was upgraded with KS3.2.2.

I purchased a TF536 revision 2 (not 2b...) that I modified with buffers. I used the 74VHC245MTCX, applied the path to lift pin 1 of IC6 and connect it to pin 2 and removed the resistors. Now I wanted to connect 2 CF cards to the IDE interface, but I just cannot get them both working at the same time.

Verifification the cables and cards are working:
Test the IDE cable, CF adapters and cards on my A1200.

A1200.png
A1200.png (1.11 MiB) Viewed 2274 times

This works as expected, both cards are recognized and the A1200 boots.

A1200 boot.png
A1200 boot.png (803.1 KiB) Viewed 2274 times

This exact setup however does not work on the TF536 in my A2000. None of the CF cards are recognized when connecting both master and slave and I am presented with the kickstart screen.


I've performed these tests on my A2000:
1. boot CF card as master, slave empty:

A2000 1.png
A2000 1.png (2.03 MiB) Viewed 2274 times

card is recognized and the A2000 boots.

A2000 2.png
A2000 2.png (1.25 MiB) Viewed 2274 times

2. moved the CF to the adapter that was configured as slave

A2000 3.png
A2000 3.png (2.2 MiB) Viewed 2274 times

Card is not recognized anymore.

A2000 4.png
A2000 4.png (965.77 KiB) Viewed 2274 times

Note: I learned from another forum that it may not be possible to use a slave without a master because the slave disables it's internal logic. Not sure if this is true or how this works... I always assumed the master/slave selecting worked on the same principle as a chip select, so take this with a grain of salt.
reference: https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads ... st-5651892


3. Moved the jumpers on the CF adapters around to swap master/slave selection

A2000 5.png
A2000 5.png (2.38 MiB) Viewed 2274 times

And this again works

A2000 6.png
A2000 6.png (920.7 KiB) Viewed 2274 times

So based on the tests above I know:
- Both compact flash adapters are working properly on the TF536
- Both compact flash cards are working (verified on the A1200)
- IDE cable is working properly (on both the A1200 and TF536)
- TF536 buffers are working properly
- I took a look at the IDE connector on the CF adapter and pin 28 (cable select) is not connected -> OK
- The master/slave jumper is connected to pin 39 of the compact flash card (nCSEL), -> OK

I've done the same tests with several other CF adapters and cards, but the results are always the same.

Could anybody confirm the TF536 should work with 2 CF cards configured as master/slave? Or is there something I am missing?
matt020
Posts: 326
Joined: Sun Sep 29, 2019 9:17 am
Location: West Australia

Re: Buffered TF536 with 2 CF cards as master/slave

Post by matt020 »

Those CF card adapters are actually dual CF card with one side missing. The master/slave jumper is simply selecting which side of the card is master or slave. The side with the jumper block is the side you are setting.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Buffered TF536 with 2 CF cards as master/slave

Post by rubber_jonnie »

matt020 wrote: Sun Mar 02, 2025 12:57 am Those CF card adapters are actually dual CF card with one side missing. The master/slave jumper is simply selecting which side of the card is master or slave. The side with the jumper block is the side you are setting.
I was thinking along the same lines
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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