Date   : Mon, 10 Oct 2005 09:41:36 +0100
From   : "David Hunt" <dm.hunt@...>
Subject: Re: 3.5" Floppy For A Master

Hi Jeff,

The Beeb outputs a +5v,-5v and +12v from the auxiliary socket beneath the
machine. See page 481 of the Advanced User Guide for details
<http://www.astro.livjm.ac.uk/~bbcdocs/essentials/BBCBAdvancedUserGuidepdf.z
ip>

Personally, I'd go for the GoMMC and a serial cable combo for backup.

But I can see the tinkering attraction of using floppies, maybe just for old
times sake!

What you could do is buy a 3.5" floppy bezel and tray adapter (I haven't
seen one of these since the early 90s), put the 3.5" floppy where the 5.25"
drive was and use a commonly found Molex power lead adapter that allows the
large Molex power connector of the 5.25" drive to be used on a 3.5" floppy.

The twist in the cable may not be necessary if the drive ID is selectable
using a jumper located near the back of the drive.

It's years since I looked at that, I butchered a spare Beeb and installed an
internal 3.5" drive in the side like an Amiga, one 800k disc held enough
games to last quite a long time!

Dave ;)

-----Original Message-----
From: Majordomo List Manager [mailto:majordomo@...] On Behalf Of
Jeff Gaines
Sent: 09 October 2005 21:25
To: bbc-micro@...
Subject: [BBC-Micro] 3.5" Floppy For A Master

Hello Group,

I 'won' an eBay auction this evening for a BBC Master plus BBC floppy
and the RF lead. I need to decide between GoMMC, a serial connection
or an external 3.5" floppy to get my disk images on to the Master.

I have read Andy Davis's article on converting an Amiga or ST external
drive, I'm not sure that having a 5.25" BBC floppy helps any because
if I understand it the BBC drive runs on 5 volts and ordinary floppies
need 12v and 5v. I kept the powered case I had, designed to hold 2
floppies, until I had a clean out last year, b*gger, b*ugger, b*gger!

Can anybody think of any type of external enclosure available nowadays
that has built in power and that I could persuade a floppy drive into?
Or a way of making use of the 5.25" floppy?

I could be the proud possessor of a Master soon-ish with no way of
getting any apps on to it :-( I do have my old cassette recorder with
the appropriate leads for it to be controlled by the Beeb.

Any pointers appreciated, I am OK with a soldering iron, bit more
concerned about un-twisting a floppy data cable.


-- 
Regards
Jeff Gaines
Damerham Hampshire UK