[Coco] Which disk controller

[Robert Gault]

It is not likely that you would notice controller differences in normal 
use. The 501 controller is reported to be more useful for hardware 
hacking and running at different speeds. But it needs both 5 and 12v 
power so won't work with an unmodified Coco3. I think the 502 is a 5v 
only controller that would work with the Coco3.

The 501 should not need modification to work with double sided drives. 
That is a function of the DOS so Cloud-9 probably just changed the prom 
for an eprom with a modified DOS.

If you want to keep just one controller, I'd suggest the 502.

Frank Pittel wrote:
> In today's mail I got a pleasant surprise. The 502 disk controller
> and dual 502 drives as well as the multipak that I ordered from Glen
> at the Coco lounge arrived. ( as well as a rom pak that I didn't order
> and which I need to talk to Glen about paying for!! ) After I got the
> package I took a look at his website and read about the reasons for the
> delay. I would like to appologize to Glen and the list for my earlier
> comments questioning his honesty. I didn't understand the reasons for the
> delay and was lashing out. I now know why he is as respected in the Coco
> comunity as he is.
> 
> While impatiently waiting for the 502 drives and controller I bought a 
> 501 controller with a 501 drive (modified by cloud9 to function as a dual
> sided drive) from Ebay. I also bought a single 502 drive with a
> non-functional controller ( the seller made it clear that the
> drive/controller didn't work. I put in the winning bid for the monitor). I am
> now wondering if there is any advantage to using the 502 controller instead
> of the 501 controller that I have been using. For what it's worth they
> both work and I mostly use nitrOS-9 or one of the many versions of hdb-dos
> from Cloud9.
> 
> Frank
>