Mega ST IDE Interface rebuild problems ...

[frank.lukas]

We have build your IDE Interface ->   http://atari.8bitchip.info/megastide.html



We have some Problems with it. We use a dual IDE to CF Adapter. With one 256MB CF Card in the Master Slot the Atari ST bootup fine with HDDriver but Applications won´t start, ASCII Files are OK. With two CF Cards (Master and Slave Slot) Write Data on the Slave CF Card doesn´t work.

Is a IDE Interface without Bus Driver suitable for two IDE Device ?


Any Ideas what went/is wrong ?

[frank.lukas]

Must the IDE Cable swap/rotate ?

The wires 1...2 and 19...40 must be connected without turning and 3...18 turn around.

[Petari]

I did not have problems with 2 CF cards and IDE adapter without bus drivers.  But I used Sandisk cards - and that is actually important. Because with simple adapters like this one(s) many CF cards have problems on ST, STE,and even Falcon.  Sandisk has much more compatible timings with old computers and their IDE adapters, which timing is practically timing of their CPU, bus.  Adding bus drivers makes timing problems even worse, because of circuit delays.
http://atari.8bitchip.info/astideTP.html

Swap of IDE is only usable with my special driver  -  and there is benefit only with DOS partitioned CF cards/hard disks.

[frank.lukas]

Thanks, it works now fine with a dual CF IDE Adapter and two CF Cards ...