[Coco] Regarding disk drives

[theother_bob]

Well I've slept since then and killed many thousands of brain cells, but I could swear I've used the post-twist end of a PC cable to succesfully connect a drive to a CoCo3. It was just a test and ultimately since I just needed the two connectors on the untwisted part I just cut off the twisted end with a good sharp razor blade and then replaced the IDC at the controller end. 

Of coure I then found the two drive connectors were too close together so I had to reposition one, which might make you think that making a new cable from scratch would have been a better choice; to which my reply would be "What's the point of all this packratting if I'm not going to use what I've been hoarding?" ;)

Also I found that a good sized channel lock wrench works great to crimp IDCs, just protect the plastic with some popsicle sticks or something. Unless you're planning to do a *lot* of cables. Then the proper tool is the way to go, but I couldn't justify the expense for a once-every-few-years use.

Cheers,
Bob


----- Original Message ----
From: Darren A <mechacoco at gmail.com>
To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts <coco at maltedmedia.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 3, 2009 3:34:44 AM
Subject: Re: [Coco] Regarding disk drives

On 1/2/09, John Eric wrote:
> I wasn't too clear at the end of this. What I was meaning is if I jumper two
> drives as drive 1 and connect them to the IBM cables drive a and drive b
> connectors, that should give me drive 0 and 1 on coco and if I jumper a 3rd
> drive as drive 2 and connect it to the connector intended for a tape drive,
> that should work as coco drive 2. I'm going to go ahead and order the idc
> crimp tool as I realize it will have many uses, such as making a CM-8
> extender cable, etc.
>
> jeric

--

A standard PC floppy cable twists wires 10 through 16.  To use two
drives that are both jumpered as Drive 1 with a CoCo, you need a cable
that only twists wires 10 through 12.

Darren

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