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  • SD2IEC card drive recommendation

    From Fred Beans@3:770/3 to All on Sun Oct 2 17:39:40 2022
    Hello all - there are many options I have seen out there and I was to take the dive into using a SD2IEC card drive with my Commodore systems.

    I am looking for suggestions of a device that is reasonably simple to use with multidisk images and would work on a C128/64 unit - Vic20 and Plus4

    Appreciate the assist all - thank you!

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  • From go4retro@go4retro.com@3:770/3 to Fred Beans on Mon Oct 3 08:46:30 2022
    On Sunday, October 2, 2022 at 7:39:42 PM UTC-5, Fred Beans wrote:
    Hello all - there are many options I have seen out there and I was to take the dive into using a SD2IEC card drive with my Commodore systems.

    I am looking for suggestions of a device that is reasonably simple to use with multidisk images and would work on a C128/64 unit - Vic20 and Plus4

    Appreciate the assist all - thank you!
    There's lots of tutorials and such on sd2iec based devices. Are you asking about a drive emulator in general (not all are sd2iec-based), or which sd2iec-based device is best?

    All sd2iec based devices work exactly the same. THe ones with an LCD might be easier to use since there's a screen to navigate. All of them work with all Commodore machines that would work with a 1541 drive (VIC,64,128,128D,+4,16, 116,SX)

    I doubt I can offer an unbiased recommendation, as I sell an sd2iec-based unit called the uIEC/SD, which I believe is the smallest of the devices (it works fine as is, but is designed for internal mounting). Some have screens, cases, look like little
    1541s, etc.

    About the only recommendation I can provide is to buy one from a reputable seller, as they do have issue every so often, and I've regrettably heard from owners whose seller disappeared and now their device has issues. Sadly, while they are all sd2iec-
    based, the hardware is different for various units and one seller cannot often diagnose issues in the HW on other units.

    Jim Brain
    www.go4retro.com

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  • From Al DeRosa@1:267/157 to Fred Beans on Mon Oct 3 17:54:49 2022
    On 02 Oct 2022, Fred Beans said the following...

    Hello all - there are many options I have seen out there and I was to
    take the dive into using a SD2IEC card drive with my Commodore systems.


    My suggestion is Jim Brains uIEC/SD I own 1 and have used it for a few years now. I pop a SD card in and copy my files to it, it accepts JiffyDOS commands and have used it to enter and mount .d64, .d71, and .d81 images with no issues at all.. In fact when I was copying my Lt Kernal HD over to my Emulated system, I backed up to .d81 images on a uIEC/SD card, then copied them to my PC via a SD Card reader and mounted them and copied the files off the images. You can have 12 partitions on it and pretty much if you want treat it like a hard drive. You might want to read up on it at go4retro.com Jim Brain is a good guy and is keeping the Commodore alive with what he sells...

    ... A .GIF is worth a thousand .TXT.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 2022/07/15 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: The Wrong Number Family Of BBS' - Wrong Number ][ (1:267/157)
  • From Gary McCulloch@1:154/50 to Al Derosa on Wed Oct 5 22:20:27 2022
    On Mon 3-Oct-2022 5:54p, Al Derosa@1:267/157.0 said to Fred Beans:
    My suggestion is Jim Brains uIEC/SD I own 1 and have used it for a few years now. I pop a SD card in and copy my files to it, it accepts JiffyDOS commands and have used it to enter and mount .d64, .d71, and .d81 images with no issues at all.. In fact when I was copying my Lt Kernal HD over to my Emulated system, I backed up to .d81 images on a uIEC/SD card, then copied them to my PC via a SD Card reader and mounted them and copied the files off the images. You can have 12 partitions on it and pretty much if you want treat it like a hard drive. You might want to read up on it at go4retro.com Jim Brain is a good guy and is keeping the Commodore alive with what he sells...

    I would have to agree. Al pointed me in that direction and I now have 1 for my C64 which is running my BBS and one for my C128. They both work great without any issues.

    * ACIS Member. AmigaNet ArakNet C=Net FidoNet RetroNet
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  • From Robert Bernardo@3:770/3 to Fred Beans on Fri Oct 7 00:37:57 2022
    On Sunday, October 2, 2022 at 8:39:42 PM UTC-4, Fred Beans wrote:

    I am looking for suggestions of a device that is reasonably simple to use with multidisk images and would work on a C128/64 unit - Vic20 and Plus4

    Most SD2IEC's being sold use a cassette port adapter so that power can be drawn from that C64/128/VIC-20 cassette port edge connector. However, the Plus/4 uses a 7-pin mini DIN cassette port connector, and so for the Plus/4, you'd have to buy/build
    an adapter with a male, mini-DIN plug and a female cassette port edge socket, or you'd have to find SD2IEC's that don't draw power from the cassette port. Such SD2IEC's, which draw their power from the Commodore user port, are marketed by The Future Was
    8 Bit. Below are the links to their SD2IEC's with the user port option or with the user port adapter already there.

    https://www.thefuturewas8bit.com/shop/commodore/sd2iec-be.html https://www.thefuturewas8bit.com/shop/commodore/sd2iec-gr.html https://www.thefuturewas8bit.com/shop/commodore/sd2iec-sm.html

    With these SD2IEC's, you can use them with all of your Commodores that you list.

    Writing from Haywards Heath, England,
    Robert Bernardo
    Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
    Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan
    Commodore Los Angeles Super Show - http://www.portcommodore.com/class

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    * Origin: Agency HUB, Dunedin - New Zealand | Fido<>Usenet Gateway (3:770/3)
  • From Jim Brain@3:770/3 to Robert Bernardo on Fri Oct 7 15:44:24 2022
    On 10/7/2022 2:37 AM, Robert Bernardo wrote:

    Most SD2IEC's being sold use a cassette port adapter so that power can be drawn from that C64/128/VIC-20 cassette port edge connector. However, the Plus/4 uses a 7-pin mini DIN cassette port connector, and so for the Plus/4, you'd have to buy/
    build an adapter with a male, mini-DIN plug and a female cassette port edge socket, or you'd have to find SD2IEC's that don't draw power from the cassette port. Such SD2IEC's, which draw their power from the Commodore user port, are marketed by The
    Future Was 8 Bit. Below are the links to their SD2IEC's with the user port option or with the user port adapter already there.

    As does uIEC/SD (it uses a Mini-USB connector for alternate power)

    https://store.go4retro.com/commodore/uiec-sd/

    Jim

    --
    Jim Brain, brain@jbrain.com
    RETRO Innovations: Contemporary Gear for Classic Systems
    www.go4retro.com

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    * Origin: Agency HUB, Dunedin - New Zealand | Fido<>Usenet Gateway (3:770/3)
  • From Bucko@1:130/230 to All on Fri Oct 7 17:16:17 2022
    On Fri 7-Oct-2022 12:37a, Robert Bernardo@3:770/3.0 said to Fred Beans:
    On Sunday, October 2, 2022 at 8:39:42 PM UTC-4, Fred Beans wrote:

    Most SD2IEC's being sold use a cassette port adapter so that power
    can be drawn from that C64/128/VIC-20 cassette port edge connector. However, the Plus/4 uses a 7-pin mini DIN cassette port connector, and so for the Plus/4, you'd have to buy/build
    an adapter with a male, mini-DIN plug and a female cassette port edge socket, or you'd have to find SD2IEC's that don't draw power from the cassette port. Such SD2IEC's, which draw their power from the Commodore

    I don't use the cassette port on my uIEC/SD, I picked up a USB power cord and plug that into the uIEC/sd and get power from that, the unit just sits on the table behind my Ultimate 64..
    --- CNet/5
    * Origin: Future World II - fw2.cnetbbs.net:6800 (1:130/230)
  • From Frodo Baggins@3:770/3 to Bucko on Fri Dec 9 22:00:35 2022
    On Friday, October 7, 2022 at 11:20:22 PM UTC-4, Bucko wrote:
    On Fri 7-Oct-2022 12:37a, Robert Bernardo@3:770/3.0 said to Fred Beans:
    On Sunday, October 2, 2022 at 8:39:42 PM UTC-4, Fred Beans wrote:

    Most SD2IEC's being sold use a cassette port adapter so that power
    can be drawn from that C64/128/VIC-20 cassette port edge connector. However, the Plus/4 uses a 7-pin mini DIN cassette port connector, and so for the Plus/4, you'd have to buy/build
    an adapter with a male, mini-DIN plug and a female cassette port edge socket, or you'd have to find SD2IEC's that don't draw power from the cassette port. Such SD2IEC's, which draw their power from the Commodore

    I don't use the cassette port on my uIEC/SD, I picked up a USB power cord and plug that into the uIEC/sd and get power from that, the unit just sits on the table behind my Ultimate 64..


    Hi all - I bought the SD2IEC from Jim Brain - I have not been able to run a .d64 file - any ideas what I am doing wrong?

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: Agency HUB, Dunedin - New Zealand | Fido<>Usenet Gateway (3:770/3)
  • From Jim Brain@3:770/3 to Frodo Baggins on Sat Dec 10 00:44:42 2022
    On 12/10/2022 12:00 AM, Frodo Baggins wrote:
    On Friday, October 7, 2022 at 11:20:22 PM UTC-4, Bucko wrote:
    On Fri 7-Oct-2022 12:37a, Robert Bernardo@3:770/3.0 said to Fred Beans:
    On Sunday, October 2, 2022 at 8:39:42 PM UTC-4, Fred Beans wrote:

    Most SD2IEC's being sold use a cassette port adapter so that power
    can be drawn from that C64/128/VIC-20 cassette port edge connector.
    However, the Plus/4 uses a 7-pin mini DIN cassette port connector, and so
    for the Plus/4, you'd have to buy/build
    an adapter with a male, mini-DIN plug and a female cassette port edge
    socket, or you'd have to find SD2IEC's that don't draw power from the
    cassette port. Such SD2IEC's, which draw their power from the Commodore >>
    I don't use the cassette port on my uIEC/SD, I picked up a USB power cord and
    plug that into the uIEC/sd and get power from that, the unit just sits on the
    table behind my Ultimate 64..


    Hi all - I bought the SD2IEC from Jim Brain - I have not been able to run a .d64 file - any ideas what I am doing wrong?

    You need to treat D64 images (and all image types) like a directory or
    folder. So, "cd" into the D64 image.

    Jim

    --
    Jim Brain, brain@jbrain.com
    RETRO Innovations: Contemporary Gear for Classic Systems
    www.go4retro.com

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: Agency HUB, Dunedin - New Zealand | Fido<>Usenet Gateway (3:770/3)
  • From Robert Roland@3:770/3 to frodob20222022@gmail.com on Sat Dec 10 15:22:29 2022
    On Fri, 9 Dec 2022 22:00:35 -0800 (PST), Frodo Baggins <frodob20222022@gmail.com> wrote:

    Hi all - I bought the SD2IEC from Jim Brain - I have not been able to run a .d64 file - any ideas what I am doing wrong?

    There are programs designed specifically for browsing and running
    programs from the SD2IEC and similar devices.

    The most common one is simply named FB64 (for FileBrowser).

    If you don't have any of the fastloaders supported by the SD2IEC, you
    may want to take look at "FB1K". It has a built-in fastloader.

    TheRetroChannel shows how to use both here:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BqYrQi859s

    He also does some performance comparisons, as well as showing a method
    for transferring a D64 or single file between the SD2IEC and a real
    floppy.
    --
    RoRo

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: Agency HUB, Dunedin - New Zealand | Fido<>Usenet Gateway (3:770/3)
  • From Daniel Path@2:371/52 to Frodo Baggins on Sat Dec 10 20:41:42 2022
    Hello Frodo,

    09 Dec 22 22:00, you wrote to Bucko:

    On Friday, October 7, 2022 at 11:20:22 PM UTC-4, Bucko wrote:
    On Fri 7-Oct-2022 12:37a, Robert Bernardo@3:770/3.0 said to Fred
    Beans:
    On Sunday, October 2, 2022 at 8:39:42 PM UTC-4, Fred Beans
    wrote:

    Most SD2IEC's being sold use a cassette port adapter so that
    power can be drawn from that C64/128/VIC-20 cassette port edge
    connector. However, the Plus/4 uses a 7-pin mini DIN cassette
    port connector, and so for the Plus/4, you'd have to
    buy/build an adapter with a male, mini-DIN plug and a female
    cassette port edge socket, or you'd have to find SD2IEC's that
    don't draw power from the cassette port. Such SD2IEC's, which
    draw their power from the Commodore

    I don't use the cassette port on my uIEC/SD, I picked up a USB power
    cord and plug that into the uIEC/sd and get power from that, the
    unit just sits on the table behind my Ultimate 64..


    Hi all - I bought the SD2IEC from Jim Brain - I have not been able
    to run a .d64 file - any ideas what I am doing wrong?

    d64/d81/etc are disc image files, like an .iso
    you have to 'mount' it.

    the best way to download FB and copy it into the root of your SD card,
    so you can just load"fb",8 as you turn on your computer.

    https://www.nightfallcrew.com/21/08/2013/cbm-filebrowser-v1-6-by-nbla000/

    Regards,
    --
    dp

    telnet://bbs.roonsbbs.hu:1212 <<=-

    ... 10:35pm up 22 days, 16:56:21, load: 87 processes, 293 threads.
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  • From Gary McCulloch@1:154/50 to Robert Roland on Sun Dec 11 10:04:08 2022
    On Sat 10-Dec-2022 3:22p, Robert Roland@3:770/3.0 said to Frodob20222022@gmail.com:
    The most common one is simply named FB64 (for FileBrowser).

    This works awesome for me. FB64 and FB128.

    * ACIS Member. AmigaNet ArakNet C=Net FidoNet RetroNet
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    * Origin: call.rofbbs.com ports 2300 6400 6502 / (423) 541-8271 (1:154/50)
  • From Frodo Baggins@3:770/3 to Gary McCulloch on Sun Dec 18 17:26:27 2022
    On Sunday, December 11, 2022 at 11:20:08 AM UTC-5, Gary McCulloch wrote:
    On Sat 10-Dec-2022 3:22p, Robert Roland@3:770/3.0 said to Frodob2...@gmail.com:
    The most common one is simply named FB64 (for FileBrowser).

    This works awesome for me. FB64 and FB128.
    * ACIS Member. AmigaNet ArakNet C=Net FidoNet RetroNet
    * C-Net/5


    Thank you - one and all for the information - I was able to access th D64 files with your assistance - I have yet to download and try the FB64 program, but will give that a try also - thanks again !!

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