USQB015@liverpool.ac.UK (Mark Powell) (07/20/89)
Just received my Blitz back up device this morning Thurs. 20th after only
sending off for it on Tues. 18th, not bad going from here to Bedford (long
live the "royal" mail.)
It's a part hardware part software device. The hardware part is; a lead
that plugs into the parallel port, into drive A's output socket (it needs an
atari drive A) and has a female 14 pin din to accept the lead from drive B.
The lead from drive A's output to the parallel port consists of only two wires
which carry the signals Read Data and Logic Ground. I'm not sure what signal's
from drive B are accessible at the parallel port, as this end is sealed up.
But, any one who knows about drives should be able to suss it out.
The parallel has 10 lines that can be set/reset by software. Two are used to
take info. from drive A, so 8 are left to control drive B.
The bundled software copies drive A to drive B only. It is claimed that
it can copy nearly all software reliably and also faster than simple software
copiers.
It work's by reading all the tracks on drive A using the ST's floppy
controller. One connector takes the Read Data and Logic Ground lines out of
drive A's external port and into the parallel port. This data is read at the
parallel port and basically outputted (after a bit of sychronisation etc.)
to drive B which is connected to the remaining pins of the parallel port.
About 35 seconds for SS and about 68 for DS. In theory this is an very nice
device to own....
HOWEVER!!!! I have a not been able to copy ANYTHING AT ALL with this device.
I have an Atari 1M external drive A and a Advanced Software Technologies 1M
external drive B, operating on a Nov 1985 520STM. Maybe, this is too old a
machine for the device to work on... I don't know. I heard that the newer STs
have a slightly different FDC, so maybe that is the problem. Can anyone advise?
The device costs 25 pounds from:
Power computing Ltd. (dept. NCE),
44A, Stanley street,
Bedford MK41 7RW,
England.
Tel: 0234 273000
Fax: 0234 270133
My connection with this company is simply that I bought one of their devices.
Try one it might just work on your machine.
Mark Powell
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