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Re: vDrive ZX: emulated ZX Microdrive
Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2017 9:35 pm
by Outsoft
RWAP wrote:The QL version listing is now live -
https://www.sellmyretro.com/offer/details/28715 but not the vMap as yet - I have been using the vMap today without any issues so have been talking with Charlie - a few minor changes might be needed to the manual but not sure if he wanted to investigate some further findings I reported back before he lists the vMap itself.
For those who have not read the manuals... The vMap is a small board which plugs into the internal QL microdrive sockets (the QL microdrives plug into the vMap) and then you can issue a command to say how to allocate available microdrive slots:
VMAP 1 - mdv1_ and mdv2_ remain as per the original QL, with mdv3_ to mdv8_ pointing to microdrive images on the external vDriveQL unit
VMAP 2 - mdv1_ can now be pointed to a microdrive image on the vDriveQL, the internal drives are now mdv2_ and mdv3_
VMAP 3 - mdv1_ and mdv2_ can be pointed to microdrive images on the vDriveQL, internal drives are now mdv3_ and mdv4_
and so on .....
Ordered my VDrive too.
Is usable as external unit as MDV3_ or need the vMap too?
Re: vDrive ZX: emulated ZX Microdrive
Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2017 10:29 am
by Timbucus
Simone - reading the manual it will work as MDV3 you only need the vMap if you want to use it as MDV1 or 2...
Re: vDrive ZX: emulated ZX Microdrive
Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2017 7:45 pm
by RWAP
All we need now is for someone to add details about the vDriveQL to the QL Wiki
Re: vDrive ZX: emulated ZX Microdrive
Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2017 8:37 am
by NormanDunbar
And the Q68!
And anything on the todo page.
Not that I'm hinting or anything ... !
Please.
Cheers,
Norm.
Re: vDrive ZX: emulated ZX Microdrive
Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2017 6:41 pm
by Cristian
Timbucus wrote:I would be interested in at least one internal replacement for the QL if you decided to develop one - there is just something sad about those empty slots with faulty drives in them.
I absolutely agree!
Re: vDrive ZX: emulated ZX Microdrive
Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2017 10:26 am
by Derek_Stewart
NormanDunbar wrote:And the Q68!
And anything on the todo page.
Not that I'm hinting or anything ... !
Please.
Cheers,
Norm.
Hi Norm,
The Q68 is full blown 68K QL computer with a 512x256 4/8 colour mode.
Microdrive images cabe stored on a SD Card loaded with MDI.
Also Q68 has Hicolour Mode33 as well. It displays many of the converted Q60 Mode33 pic file I created 15 years ago.
When I get the chance I will buy VdriveQL. But am little tied at prestent.
Re: vDrive ZX: emulated ZX Microdrive
Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2019 9:40 pm
by QLvsJAGUAR
Two thoughts:
- Wonder if the vDrive would also work when the QL is not running QDOS/Minerva, but the GST 68K/OS?
- The ICL OPD (also marketed as BT Merlin Tonto, Telecom Australia Computerphone) is based on Sinclair ZX83 (QL) hardware including the QL Microdrive. Wonder if the vDrive would also work with the OPD and it's OS?
Re: vDrive ZX: emulated ZX Microdrive
Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2019 10:51 pm
by stephen_usher
QLvsJAGUAR wrote:Two thoughts:
- Wonder if the vDrive would also work when the QL is not running QDOS/Minerva, but the GST 68K/OS?
- The ICL OPD (also marketed as BT Merlin Tonto, Telecom Australia Computerphone) is based on Sinclair ZX83 (QL) hardware including the QL Microdrive. Wonder if the vDrive would also work with the OPD and it's OS?
I think the OPD Microdrives are significantly different. Don't they run at a different speed?
If GST 68K/OS used the standard QDOS sectoring then I imagine the vDrive would work, but you wouldn't have access to the utilities so as to change drives.
Re: vDrive ZX: emulated ZX Microdrive
Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2019 11:40 pm
by Bloodnok
I think the OPD Microdrives are significantly different. Don't they run at a different speed?
The drives are physically the same and the tape runs at the same speed. The data rate is also the same but the sector format is different. No reason the vDrive wouldn't work but would require the sector format to be reverse engineered and then changes made to the vDrive firmware to support the OPD format.
Re: vDrive ZX: emulated ZX Microdrive
Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2019 11:58 am
by Derek_Stewart
Hi,
Can data files saved vDriveQL be read on vDriveZX?
Clearly the ZX Spectrum could not be run natively on the QL, but maybe Spectrum emulator could run the saved Spectrum games.