QL vDrive upgrade

[rubber_jonnie]

So the QL vDrive arrived from New Zealand today, and very nice it looks too.

IMG_20211029_121305.jpg

It also came with vMap to allow remapping of microdrives, however I though I'd give the machine the once over before installing.

it powered up ok, but the keyboard wasn't playing ball, which was a bit disappointing as I'd fitted a new keyboard membrane a couple of years back, and it hadn't seen much use since. I opened it up to find the main ribbon already disconnected, and then realised on looking at the ribbon itself, the end was uneven rather than straight. Dammit, Sinclair keyboard ribbon blight strikes again!!

Then I realised that the missing end of the ribbon was still in the socket and I had to fish out the bits with tweezers!!

IMG_20211029_181645.jpg

Finally I trimmed the end of the ribbon straight with scissors, and everything is back to normal:

IMG_20211029_181656.jpg

Bloody annoying that it just died simply by being in the box!!!

At least it's back up and running again, so next thing will be to install the vMap.

[PhilC]

Gotta hate those membrane ribbons

[stephen_usher]

You need a RWAP Software membrane. :-)

[rubber_jonnie]

You need a RWAP Software membrane. :-)

I think this one was from RWAP, but it's a while back now so I don't remember 100%, but when this one finally goes I'll be sure to get one from there.

[rubber_jonnie]

Gotta hate those membrane ribbons

I certainly do!

[rubber_jonnie]

So, I managed to get the vMap module installed, it was bloody fiddly!!

I also found the microdrive (mdv) connector on the QL mainboard to be quite badly corroded, so that got cleaned too.

This is the installed vMap module:

vMapQL.jpg

Looking from the rear, mdv1 is on the right, mdv2 is on the left. and the vMap modules plug in in-between the drives and the mainboard. What is cool is it allows you to remap the mdv addresses, so I can have the vDrive as mdv1 and the internal drives as 2 or 3. You have lots of options, and the vDrive+vMap allows for up to 6 additional external mdvs, so 8 in total including the original internal drives.

Next on the list is understanding how to make virtual mdv files for the vDrive, and adding files to them. Luckily the documentation is excellent.

I also need to fix the felt pads on most if not all of my original mdv cartridges so they work well enough to back up the original software suite onto SD card images.

[stephen_usher]

Wow! You managed to get the cables in! I'm impressed. :-)

[rubber_jonnie]

Wow! You managed to get the cables in! I'm impressed. :-)

I like a challenge, but it has to be said that there must be better ways of doing it!!

Just created my first mdv image and mounted it and successfully saved a 'Hello world! program to it and loaded it back.

[stephen_usher]

:dualthumbup:

[rubber_jonnie]

Well, at 07:30, the doorbell went and one of the packages to arrive was a SCART cable for my QL. I quickly hooked it up and tested, booting the Abacus package from the vDriveQL.

Here're what I saw:

IMG_20211103_090152.jpg

And here's the Easel package:

IMG_20211103_093347.jpg

Lovely clear picture with bright colours and good blacks. I have bought quite a few cables from CoolNovelties.co.uk now and I can definitely recommend them. The cables are good quality and always deliver great image quality.

I have to say the vDrive continues to impress, but what is more impressive is the vMap, that allows remapping of the microdrives, so now the external vDrive is mdv1, so I can boot straight from SD card now :)