communcg@ecsvax.UUCP (11/24/83)
Has anyone attached a double-sided 80-track drive to the external port of
a TRS-80 Model III? If so, what DOS are you using - do you find one easier
than others? LDOS, MULTIDOS, DOSPLUS? Also are there any special cabling
tricks we should know about? I have just purchased a Shugart 80-track
drive and would appreciate any suggestions or reports of problems to
avoid.
Cindy King
UNC-Greensboro
!mcnc!ecsvax!communcg
Thanks for any help offered!!!!!!!!!!!abc%brl-bmd@sri-unix.UUCP (11/27/83)
From: A B Cooper III <abc@brl-bmd> Not exactly what you want, but CLOSE- I have interfaced 2 80 track, single-sided drives to a MODEL I. One drive is a TANDON and the other is a SHTEAC. TO get started, I took one drive to a friend and copied a 35-track version of NEWDOS 80 to the 80 track disk. Then I was in business, as NEWDOS 80 will read and write tracks from/for 35/40 track drives. Later, when I purchased the Mapper and CP/M from Omikron in Berkely, CA, at my request, they made the CP/M disks on 80-track format for me. The CP/M disk worked fine; I've not yet tried the MBasic disk. Although I'm running strictly SINGLE DENSITY, my unscientific observation is that you cannot depend upon single density disks on 80 track (96 tracks/inch) drives. However, I've used Elephant, Radio Shack, and Control Data 'double density' disks (as advertised) with virtually no trouble. EDITORIAL COMMENT: It's really NEAT to have 80 track drives. I can keep all sorts of stuff on line with two such drives and wouldn't go to 35/40 track drives for anything. (If someone gave me one, though, I'd accept it to make transfer of programs and data easier.) I hope this has been helpful, even if i my configuration isn't exactly what you run. Good luck! Brint (abc@brl.arpa)
KLUDGE%mit-mc@sri-unix.UUCP (11/28/83)
From: "James J. Frimmel,Jr." <KLUDGE@mit-mc> Several of my friends around here are using 80 track drives on their model III's, with no problems. I think all are using LDOS, but then, that is all I ever use (I have a max-80). I don't think there are any technical problems in hooking them up, unless you are using double-sided drives. In that case, I know it can be done, but you may have to change some jumpers on the drive. I suggest that you get on the mailing list for info-trs80 on mit-mc. Questions like yours would be welcomed. Jim Frimmel