exxos's Atari, Amiga & retro forum

Posted: **06 Feb 2022 11:33**

Ok, so the last part of the work I'm doing is the FDD switch mod to allow drive A/B to be swapped allowing for the external drive to be bootable.

I've got the relevant detail from a video of how to do it, so that's up next.

These are the relevant bits:

Screenshot 2022-02-06 at 10.40.43.png

Screenshot 2022-02-06 at 11.18.39.png

And it's a simple swap of pins 19 & 20 on the sound chip. Luckily, Brett's STE has a socketed sound chip, so it should be nice and simple.

First things first though, I need to test both A: and B: work normally just to be sure I don't get into a pickle :)

Posted: **06 Feb 2022 11:44**

Might be worth checking out W300 W301 to see if it can save some pain.

EDIT:

Looks like no, as the internal drive is hardwired to the select lines anyway :(

Posted: **06 Feb 2022 12:54**

exxos wrote: 06 Feb 2022 11:44 Might be worth checking out W300 W301 to see if it can save some pain.

EDIT:

Looks like no, as the internal drive is hardwired to the select lines anyway :(

I did consider that, but since the sound chip is socketed, it makes for a really simple easily reversible mod.

Posted: **06 Feb 2022 15:34**

Ok, so it's wrap up party time for Brett's STE!!

:girldance: :girldance: :girldance:

Here are a few pics showing the work done.

Commencing final full diag test with harness:

IMG_20220206_144158.jpg

25 wire repair :)

IMG_20220206_145416.jpg

BTW, what looks like liquid on the board by some wires is lacquer to cover any bare wiring up.

Bus resistor pack mandatory fix (The orange ones are new 2.2K SILs) plus you can see the Blitter and CPU whose sockets were 'tweaked':

IMG_20220206_145443.jpg

FDD controller 10K SIL pull up resistor:

IMG_20220206_145633.jpg

STE Video ghosting fix:

IMG_20220206_145448.jpg

W102, W103, W104 Jumper upgrade:

IMG_20220206_145501.jpg

And last but by no means least, the floppy A/B drive swap switch, which works just lovely and is my first attempt at this mod :)

IMG_20220206_145523.jpg

So @BrettRogersUK your STE is done from my POV, I will get it wrapped up and ready to go this week and I'll let you know when you can arrange collection.

Just remember with the FDD selector switch if you switch it when the machine is on you will need to refresh the drive contents by pressing ESC on the open window.

If the switch is not going to suit you, you can replace it, just be sure to get a double pole double throw (DPDT) switch and wire it up exactly as that one is wired. That switch was the only one I had in stock.

Next up I need to get on with my 600XL (Waiting on the delay line only now), and finish up the Aquarius stuff. Better also get the Toshiba HX-10 ready for when the parts arrive for making up the cassette cable :)

Posted: **06 Feb 2022 15:42**

rubber_jonnie wrote: 06 Feb 2022 15:34 Ok, so it's wrap up party time for Brett's STE!!

:girldance: :girldance: :girldance:

Here are a few pics showing the work done.

Commencing final full diag test with harness:

IMG_20220206_144158.jpg

25 wire repair :)

IMG_20220206_145416.jpg

BTW, what looks like liquid on the board by some wires is lacquer to cover any bare wiring up.

Bus resistor pack mandatory fix (The orange ones are new 2.2K SILs) plus you can see the Blitter and CPU whose sockets were 'tweaked':

IMG_20220206_145443.jpg

FDD controller 10K SIL pull up resistor:

IMG_20220206_145633.jpg

STE Video ghosting fix:

IMG_20220206_145448.jpg

W102, W103, W104 Jumper upgrade:

IMG_20220206_145501.jpg

And last but by no means least, the floppy A/B drive swap switch, which works just lovely and is my first attempt at this mod :)

IMG_20220206_145523.jpg

So @BrettRogersUK your STE is done from my POV, I will get it wrapped up and ready to go this week and I'll let you know when you can arrange collection.

Just remember with the FDD selector switch if you switch it when the machine is on you will need to refresh the drive contents by pressing ESC on the open window.

If the switch is not going to suit you, you can replace it, just be sure to get a double pole double throw (DPDT) switch and wire it up exactly as that one is wired. That switch was the only one I had in stock.

Next up I need to get on with my 600XL (Waiting on the delay line only now), and finish up the Aquarius stuff. Better also get the Toshiba HX-10 ready for when the parts arrive for making up the cassette cable :)

Hi Matey,

Wow, I'm absolutely lost for words. Thank you very much indeed.

I hope this thread can help others in the future if they get similar problems to me.

The switch is great for me, I'll just put a hole in the back of the bottom case and put it in there.

I will put a switch on the tos switcher too and have that at the back too.

Wow wow wow. I'm excited now. If you can weigh it for me when you've packed it up and let me know I'll need the weight to be able to arrange the pickup.

Kind Regards,

Brett

Posted: **06 Feb 2022 16:35**

rubber_jonnie wrote: 06 Feb 2022 15:34 Ok, so it's wrap up party time for Brett's STE!!

Bravo, RJ.

This one, in particular, is extremely neatly done.

BW

Posted: **06 Feb 2022 16:37**

BrettRogersUK wrote: 06 Feb 2022 15:42
Hi Matey,

Wow, I'm absolutely lost for words. Thank you very much indeed.

I hope this thread can help others in the future if they get similar problems to me.

The switch is great for me, I'll just put a hole in the back of the bottom case and put it in there.

I will put a switch on the tos switcher too and have that at the back too.

Wow wow wow. I'm excited now. If you can weigh it for me when you've packed it up and let me know I'll need the weight to be able to arrange the pickup.

Kind Regards,

Brett

Yep, I will let you know when it's ready and the weight. Also included will be a small harness for wiring the TOS switcher, just add your own switch.

:)

Posted: **06 Feb 2022 16:37**

Badwolf wrote: 06 Feb 2022 16:35
rubber_jonnie wrote: 06 Feb 2022 15:34 Ok, so it's wrap up party time for Brett's STE!!

Bravo, RJ.

This one, in particular, is extremely neatly done.

BW

Thank you :)

Posted: **06 Feb 2022 16:46**

rubber_jonnie wrote: 06 Feb 2022 16:37 Thank you :)

Looking at that picture again reminds me I must build my Exxos TOS switcher board too!

BW

Posted: **06 Feb 2022 18:04**

Badwolf wrote: 06 Feb 2022 16:46
rubber_jonnie wrote: 06 Feb 2022 16:37 Thank you :)
Looking at that picture again reminds me I must build my Exxos TOS switcher board too!

BW

:lol: :lol: :lol:

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