ALPS DF354N floppy cable - Atari Falcon

Update your old 720k to a 1.44 drive etc.
ap_kelly
Posts: 17
Joined: Tue May 26, 2020 1:08 pm
Location: Sydney, Australia

ALPS DF354N floppy cable - Atari Falcon

Post by ap_kelly »

Hi all,

So I just received my refurbed ALPS Floppy Drive to install into my Falcon (https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/#0116), however, I just tried swapping it over with my original Floppy Drive and it wasn't recognised.

Do I need to use the original Floppy cable that was installed in my Falcon, or do I need to swap it for one of the floppy cables that has the partial twist in it?

Unfortunately my original cable isn't socketed at the motherboard, so if I need to swap it for the twisty kind of cable I'm sure there will be lots of fun and swearing to be had. If anyone has any tips for swapping the cable over (if thats what I need to do) then please do share them.

Thanks,

Andy.
Current: Atari 2600, Atari Falcon 030, Apple MacBook Pro
Previous: Sinclair ZX 81, Atari 520 STFM, Atari 1040 STE
Google Developer Expert for Android
ap_kelly
Posts: 17
Joined: Tue May 26, 2020 1:08 pm
Location: Sydney, Australia

Re: ALPS DF354N floppy cable - Atari Falcon

Post by ap_kelly »

So I worked out the issue, my floppy cable had a notch on it that prevented it from being insert in the correct orientation, once I'd attacked it with a craft knife and removed the notch the drive was recognised :-)

However......some floppy's look like they're fine,
IMG_20200712_161459.jpg
IMG_20200712_161459.jpg (223.09 KiB) Viewed 4214 times
but on closer inspection are probably corrupt.
IMG_20200712_161511.jpg
IMG_20200712_161511.jpg (248.51 KiB) Viewed 4214 times
These disks are 25yrs old, so it should be no surprise I guess.....although, this one disk did work....I'm sure some of you recognise this screen
IMG_20200712_162951.jpg
IMG_20200712_162951.jpg (241.57 KiB) Viewed 4214 times
DegasElite :-)
Current: Atari 2600, Atari Falcon 030, Apple MacBook Pro
Previous: Sinclair ZX 81, Atari 520 STFM, Atari 1040 STE
Google Developer Expert for Android
User avatar
DoG
Posts: 1125
Joined: Sat Apr 07, 2018 12:26 pm

Re: ALPS DF354N floppy cable - Atari Falcon

Post by DoG »

User avatar
exxos
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 23488
Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2017 11:19 pm
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: ALPS DF354N floppy cable - Atari Falcon

Post by exxos »

I would suggest you do at least fixes 3&4 https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... =17&t=1585
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/ All my hardware guides - mods - games - STOS
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
ap_kelly
Posts: 17
Joined: Tue May 26, 2020 1:08 pm
Location: Sydney, Australia

Re: ALPS DF354N floppy cable - Atari Falcon

Post by ap_kelly »

For fix #3 do these components fit the bill, do any of these look better than the others?
https://au.element14.com/w/c/passive-co ... pins=9pins

With the resisters needed for fix #4, what power rating do the 1k ohm resisters need?
https://au.element14.com/w/c/passive-co ... ance=1kohm

If you can point me to the right components I can order them online.

Thanks.
Current: Atari 2600, Atari Falcon 030, Apple MacBook Pro
Previous: Sinclair ZX 81, Atari 520 STFM, Atari 1040 STE
Google Developer Expert for Android
User avatar
exxos
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 23488
Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2017 11:19 pm
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: ALPS DF354N floppy cable - Atari Falcon

Post by exxos »

ap_kelly wrote: Sun Jul 12, 2020 12:40 pm For fix #3 do these components fit the bill, do any of these look better than the others?
https://au.element14.com/w/c/passive-co ... pins=9pins
Really doesn't matter as long as they 9 pin 10K bussed types.

ap_kelly wrote: Sun Jul 12, 2020 12:40 pm With the resisters needed for fix #4, what power rating do the 1k ohm resisters need?
https://au.element14.com/w/c/passive-co ... ance=1kohm
125mw ones are probably best to work with being smaller then 250mw ones. But really doesn't matter on power rating, tolerance or anything else really as long as they 1K . Probably cheapest multicomp ones will be fine anyway.
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/ All my hardware guides - mods - games - STOS
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
ap_kelly
Posts: 17
Joined: Tue May 26, 2020 1:08 pm
Location: Sydney, Australia

Re: ALPS DF354N floppy cable - Atari Falcon

Post by ap_kelly »

Parts ordered....wish me luck!
Screen Shot 2020-07-15 at 10.52.14 am.png
Screen Shot 2020-07-15 at 10.52.14 am.png (243.69 KiB) Viewed 4148 times
Current: Atari 2600, Atari Falcon 030, Apple MacBook Pro
Previous: Sinclair ZX 81, Atari 520 STFM, Atari 1040 STE
Google Developer Expert for Android
ap_kelly
Posts: 17
Joined: Tue May 26, 2020 1:08 pm
Location: Sydney, Australia

Re: ALPS DF354N floppy cable - Atari Falcon

Post by ap_kelly »

@exxos I may be going crazy, or my eyesight might not be what it was. But I can't for the life of me find the 1772 chip on my Falcon. Was a different part used in the Falcon, and does that mean the mandatory fix you mentioned not apply to my machine? Is there another chip number I should be looking for?

Thanks.
Current: Atari 2600, Atari Falcon 030, Apple MacBook Pro
Previous: Sinclair ZX 81, Atari 520 STFM, Atari 1040 STE
Google Developer Expert for Android
User avatar
rubber_jonnie
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10462
Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
Location: Essex
Contact:

Re: ALPS DF354N floppy cable - Atari Falcon

Post by rubber_jonnie »

ap_kelly wrote: Wed Jul 15, 2020 2:00 pm @exxos I may be going crazy, or my eyesight might not be what it was. But I can't for the life of me find the 1772 chip on my Falcon. Was a different part used in the Falcon, and does that mean the mandatory fix you mentioned not apply to my machine? Is there another chip number I should be looking for?

Thanks.
You may find that you have an Atari Ajax FDD controller (If I'm wrong I'm sure somebody will correct), I believe the part number is C302096 or C302434, so it won't be marked as a 1772, but it is pin compatible.
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...
ap_kelly
Posts: 17
Joined: Tue May 26, 2020 1:08 pm
Location: Sydney, Australia

Re: ALPS DF354N floppy cable - Atari Falcon

Post by ap_kelly »

Found it :-)

I have the C302096-001A

Thanks for the info.
Current: Atari 2600, Atari Falcon 030, Apple MacBook Pro
Previous: Sinclair ZX 81, Atari 520 STFM, Atari 1040 STE
Google Developer Expert for Android
Post Reply

Return to “FLOPPY DRIVES KITS & UPGRADES”