SpidersWeb
Veteran Member
I'll update this again later when I've had a second go at it.
So I got my 5161 expansion unit running, but with an original (Variation #1 on minuszerodegrees) Xebec controller and ST412 the system will 99% of the time hang the machine if a drive is connected.
If I disconnect the control cable, I get a quick 1701 and the system boots. But with any drive (I tried 3) connected to the drive cable, it just sits there with a flashing cursor.
There is a flicker on the drive after the RAM test is finished, and on one single boot up I got it to keep the light on, try and read, and then give a 1701 like it should.
I tried a Variation #2 controller also, and it has the exact same symptoms.
Tried different cables.
Tried different power supply.
Tried 2 x ST412's and a ST225 - all exactly the same behaviour.
I booted the system with the cable disconnected, then connected it while the unit was running and did a low level format - the drive activated but recalibrated after every track during the format.
WD XT-Gen worked 100% no problems, low level formatted an ST225 via ROM tool with debug no worries at all.
Extender card is set to 0011 to add a wait state in the C000-CFFF range.
No other cards in expansion unit except receiver. Main unit has AST SikPakPlus, MDA clone, FDC and extender.
The expansion planar is missing it's +12V and -12V tantalum caps, however I wouldn't expect an MFM controller to need a stable 12V? If this is wrong, I'll solder on some replacements.
Any thoughts or ideas I'd be keen to hear.
So I got my 5161 expansion unit running, but with an original (Variation #1 on minuszerodegrees) Xebec controller and ST412 the system will 99% of the time hang the machine if a drive is connected.
If I disconnect the control cable, I get a quick 1701 and the system boots. But with any drive (I tried 3) connected to the drive cable, it just sits there with a flashing cursor.
There is a flicker on the drive after the RAM test is finished, and on one single boot up I got it to keep the light on, try and read, and then give a 1701 like it should.
I tried a Variation #2 controller also, and it has the exact same symptoms.
Tried different cables.
Tried different power supply.
Tried 2 x ST412's and a ST225 - all exactly the same behaviour.
I booted the system with the cable disconnected, then connected it while the unit was running and did a low level format - the drive activated but recalibrated after every track during the format.
WD XT-Gen worked 100% no problems, low level formatted an ST225 via ROM tool with debug no worries at all.
Extender card is set to 0011 to add a wait state in the C000-CFFF range.
No other cards in expansion unit except receiver. Main unit has AST SikPakPlus, MDA clone, FDC and extender.
The expansion planar is missing it's +12V and -12V tantalum caps, however I wouldn't expect an MFM controller to need a stable 12V? If this is wrong, I'll solder on some replacements.
Any thoughts or ideas I'd be keen to hear.