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CoCoSDC: Difference between revisions

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{{NavHardware}}
{{NavHardware}}
{{HardwareInfoBox |
| name      = CoCo SDC
| photo      = cocosdc.jpg
| caption    =
| date      =
| year      = 2009
| interface  = Cartridge Port
| notes      = Current version (2021-03) : SDC-DOS 1.6, MCU (firmware) 121 (May 2020)
| infosource = product user's guide
}}


{{NavHardware}}
== Description ==
The CoCoSDC is a floppy drive controller replacement desined by [[Darren Atkinson]]. Instead of hooking up old floppy drives, it uses SD memory cards and disk image files. Since the CoCoSDC emulates the Western Digital 1774 floppy controller chip, it is basically 100% compatible with any CoCo software, including copy protected disks. You can connect a real floppy interface and the CoCoSDC at the same time using a [[Multi-Pak]], then backup physical floppies to disk images on an SD card. Copy protected disks can be backed up using tools like Carl England's [[Defeater]].


Ed "Zippster" Snider is now producing the CoCoSDC interfaces and sells them (as of 12/2014) for $30 as a kit or $40 assembled. They are designed to fit in an FD502 disk drive controller case, but [[Tim Lindner]] has been making plexiglass panels for $10.
The CoCo SDC is a Color Computer Floppy Disk Emulator running [[SDC-DOS]] (effectively a floppy drive controller replacement), ready for [[Drivewire]] server communication. It was designed by [[Darren Atkinson]].


Read more about CoCoSDC on the official site: http://cocosdc.blogspot.com/
Instead of hooking up old, hard to find floppy drives or cassette recorders, it gives direct access to floppy disk, cassette and ROMpak images stored on modern SDHC card storage. This is implemented by SDC-DOS additional commands to mount disk image files on the SD card, program the Flash and execute ROM images contained in the Flash. DriveWire disk support is also included in SDC-DOS.


Older information:
Provided your system has a [[Multi-Pak]], you can connect a real floppy interface and the CoCo SDC at the same time, then backup physical floppies to disk images on an SD card. Copy protected disks can be backed up using tools like Carl England's [[Defeater]]. It is also useful to backup software loaded from cassettes.


CoCo floppy disk replacement devices and software have one major shortcoming – the inability to use software in which the author wrote his or her own floppy disk access routines.
The CoCo SDC also provides 128K of Flash memory which is divided into 8 banks of 16K so users can program their favorite ROM or alternative OS as well. SDC-DOS and DECB reside in banks 0 and 1, respectfully, when shipped.  
All versions Drivewire and the SuperIDE; CoCoNet and the Micro SD Pak, Bluetooth Pak and RS-232 Pak all suffer from this problem.


Darren set out to alleviate the problem by designing a Color Computer Floppy Disk Emulator, based on an Atmega micro-controller. The CoCo SDC also provides 8 banks of flash RAM so users can program their favorite ROM or alternative OS as well. SDC-DOS and DECB reside in banks 0 and 1, respectfully, when shipped. The SDC was designed to fit into a FD-501 or 502 case, as shown below.
Based on an Atmega micro-controller, the CoCo SDC emulates the Western Digital 1774 floppy controller chip and as such is basically 100% compatible with any CoCo software, including copy protected disks. CoCo floppy disk replacement devices and software have one major shortcoming – the inability to use software in which the author wrote his or her own floppy disk access routines. All versions Drivewire and the SuperIDE; CoCoNet and the Micro SD Pak, Bluetooth Pak and RS-232 Pak all suffer from this problem. The CoCo SDC aims at aleviating this problem.  


Darren has a [http://cocosdc.blogspot.com/ blog] where some basic info is currently stored. A real user manual is currently in the works.
=== The CoCo SDC case ===


The CoCo SDC was designed to fit into a FD-501 or 502 case, as shown below.


[[File:cocosdc.jpg]]
[[File:cocosdc.jpg]]


Such cases are not easy to find, though. Other sources for SDC cases include:


The device gives direct access to floppy disk images stored on and SDHC card, as well as images on a Drivewire server, while allowing use of real floppy hardware - so long as you have an MPI.
* [[Tim Lindner]], maker of plexiglass panels for $10.
Keep an eye on the Tandy CoCo Blog for more info and [http://tandycoco.com/blog/archives/401 review updates].
* 3D printing your own using the [https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1492619 CoCo SDC case 3D design] available on Thingverse
* [https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1592139 Another 3D printing design], as a one-piece case, also on Thingverse
* Buying one from Ed Snider (see Vendors, below)
 
== Vendors ==
* [https://thezippsterzone.com/2020/06/25/the-coco-sdc/ Ed "Zippster" Snider is producing the CoCo SDC] and sells it (as of 02/2021) for $50 as an assembled PCB or $70 including a 3d-printed case.  
* [https://retrorewind.ca/coco-sdc Retro Rewind] also produces the CoCoSDC.
 
== Files ==
* Documentation : [https://goo.gl/bZ9ebS CoCoSDC User's Guide]
* Latest firmware update : [https://goo.gl/ePgwe1 SDC-DOS 1.6, MCU 121 Firmware update]
 
== External Links ==
* http://cocosdc.blogspot.com - Official website.
* http://www.tandycoco.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=99&t=246 - [https://colorcomputerarchive.com/repo/Documents/Manuals/Hardware/CoCo%20SDC%20User%20Guide%20(Darren%20Atkinson).pdf User manual] (PDF)

Latest revision as of 20:16, 11 March 2023

WELCOME
Looking for CoCo help? If you are trying to do something with your old Color Computer, read this quick reference. Want to contribute to this wiki? Be sure to read this first. This CoCo wiki project was started on October 29, 2004. --OS-9 Al

See Recent Changes. | About this site. | Join the E-Mail List or Facebook Group. | Contact me with updates/questions.

This page was last updated on 03/11/2023. Total Pages: 744. Total Files: 994.

Home / Hardware - CoCoSDC

CoCo SDC

Name CoCo SDC
Year 2009
Interface Cartridge Port
Notes Current version (2021-03) : SDC-DOS 1.6, MCU (firmware) 121 (May 2020)
Info Source product user's guide
About the Hardware Info Box


Description

The CoCo SDC is a Color Computer Floppy Disk Emulator running SDC-DOS (effectively a floppy drive controller replacement), ready for Drivewire server communication. It was designed by Darren Atkinson.

Instead of hooking up old, hard to find floppy drives or cassette recorders, it gives direct access to floppy disk, cassette and ROMpak images stored on modern SDHC card storage. This is implemented by SDC-DOS additional commands to mount disk image files on the SD card, program the Flash and execute ROM images contained in the Flash. DriveWire disk support is also included in SDC-DOS.

Provided your system has a Multi-Pak, you can connect a real floppy interface and the CoCo SDC at the same time, then backup physical floppies to disk images on an SD card. Copy protected disks can be backed up using tools like Carl England's Defeater. It is also useful to backup software loaded from cassettes.

The CoCo SDC also provides 128K of Flash memory which is divided into 8 banks of 16K so users can program their favorite ROM or alternative OS as well. SDC-DOS and DECB reside in banks 0 and 1, respectfully, when shipped.

Based on an Atmega micro-controller, the CoCo SDC emulates the Western Digital 1774 floppy controller chip and as such is basically 100% compatible with any CoCo software, including copy protected disks. CoCo floppy disk replacement devices and software have one major shortcoming – the inability to use software in which the author wrote his or her own floppy disk access routines. All versions Drivewire and the SuperIDE; CoCoNet and the Micro SD Pak, Bluetooth Pak and RS-232 Pak all suffer from this problem. The CoCo SDC aims at aleviating this problem.

The CoCo SDC case

The CoCo SDC was designed to fit into a FD-501 or 502 case, as shown below.

Such cases are not easy to find, though. Other sources for SDC cases include:

Vendors

Files

External Links

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