• Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions (9/31)

    From Michael Current@21:1/5 to Marc G. Frank on Sat Jul 11 11:02:10 2020
    [continued from previous message]

    (IMI 5012H disk with IMI 5000H controller)
    - Corvus H-Series 5.25" 18MB (Model 20)
    (IMI 5018H disk with IMI 5000H controller)
    - Corvus Atari Interface (host adapter)
    - Attaches to Atari 800 controller jacks 3 and 4
    - Attaches to Processor port on Corvus drive (34 pin Corvus-IMI bus)
    - Two different "AT Utilities" diskettes (v.1 and v.2)
    - Disk System Installation Guide and System Manager's Guide
    - The power switch is on the front of the 8" drives, while it's on the back on
    the 5.25" drives.
    - Drive units can be daisy-chained. The Processor port of an add-on drive can
    be connected to the Drive port of an existing drive (34 pin Corvus-IMI bus).
    Up to 4 Corvus hard drives (any of the above models) can be connected to one
    computer.
    - Requires 48KiB RAM, and 810 or equivalent floppy disk drive.
    - SYSGEN utility divides the drive into any combination of 90KiB and 180KiB
    "volumes" for use by the Atari as logical drives. A Model 20 drive may
    contain up to 196 single-sized volumes (with no double-sized volumes) or up
    to 98 double-sized volumes (with no single-sized volumes).
    - System must boot using Corvus bootstrap from either disk or cassette.
    - WRITEBOOT.OBJ utility creates a Corvus Boot Disk out of Atari DOS 2.0S,
    which boots to: Disk Operating System II Corvus A2.0D (4/25/81)
    - CWRTBOOT.OBJ utility creates a boot cassette
    - Multiple users support - each "user" can have access to up to 8 logical
    drives, which can be any combination of Corvus volumes or Atari drives
    (except logical drive 1 must be Corvus volume 1 or an Atari drive where a
    Corvus boot disk will be used).
    - Usage: User boots the system with uniquely-assigned boot disk, then uses
    the DOS L. BINARY LOAD option to load the user's unique "volume mount
    table" file, which maps the user's assigned Corvus volumes to logical
    drives.
    - Optional: Corvus Mirror (internal)
    - Mirror video in and video out phono jacks connect to corresponding jacks
    on a VCR (VHS or Beta)
    - Corvus volumes or the entire Corvus drive can be backed-up or restored
    from backup.
    - Sold separately by Corvus:
    - Corvus Multiplexer - Configured as a Host, unit connects to the Processor
    port of a Corvus drive and provides 8 Processor ports (34 pin Corvus-IMI
    bus) to the system, allowing up to 8 computers to be connected to the
    system. Configured as a Master, unit allows Multiplexer Host units to be
    attached to the 8 Processor ports of the Master unit. Thus up to 64
    computers can share the same Corvus hard drive (or set of up to 4 daisy-
    chained Corvus hard drives).
    (System upper limit: 80MB of storage shared by 64 computers)
    - Corvus Mirror (external unit) - Same as internal Mirror, but is connected
    between the Corvus drive and the Atari Interface, or between a Corvus
    drive and a Corvus Multiplexer. (34 pin Corvus-IMI bus)
    - Sold separately by ?????: Right Cartridge which boots the Atari from the
    Corvus. (source: Integrater manual. Details????)
    - Sold separately by ADS: Integrater (1983)
    - Detailed elsewhere in this FAQ List (personality boards for the 800)

    ------------------------------

    Subject: 3.3.2) How can I use an ST506 interface hard disk (MFM or RLL)?

    The 5MB ST-506 MicroWinchester was the first 5.25" hard disk drive, introduced in 1980 as the first product from Shugart Technology (shortly to be renamed, Seagate Technology). The market success of the ST-506 (along with the subsequent 10MB ST-412 and 20MB ST-225) led to the ST506 interface between
    disk controller and drive (an incremental derivation from the interface for
    the 8" 10MB Shugart Associates SA1000 hard disk from 1979) being established
    as an industry standard for hard disk drives.

    Note that with ST506 type hard disks, the disk itself is attached to a
    separate disk controller unit, which in turn attaches to a host computer interface.

    At the time of the Atari, hard disks paired with ST506 type controllers were popularly characterized not by the interface (ST506), but by the recording method used by the controller: either modified frequency modulation (MFM) or run-length limited (RLL).

    Sold by SWP for 64KiB ATR8000 units (with CP/M) for the Atari (1986):
    5MB, 10MB, or 20MB hard disk packages with SWP host adapter (40 pin header connector to controller), WD1002-HDO MFM controller (ST506 interface: 34 pin header drive control + 20 pin header data connectors), and "a new CP/M" with ZCPR3 option. Can be partitioned for MYDOS & CP/M, plus MS-DOS for CO-POWER. The SWP ATR8000 hard disk interface supports up to 32MB of hard disk storage.

    Also, some hard disk "bridge" controllers allow a ST506 type hard disk to be attached to a computer's SASI/SCSI interface. Such controllers were popular for use with the Atari SASI/SCSI interfaces that require a controller supporting 256-byte sectors. Suitable ST506 controllers for this purpose include: Adaptec ACB-4000A (SCSI), Adaptec ACB-4070 (SCSI), Western Digital WD1002-SHD (SASI), Xebec S1410 (SASI), Xebec S1410A (SASI)

    ------------------------------

    Subject: 3.3.3) How can I use a SASI or SCSI interface hard disk?

    Shugart Associates System Interface (SASI) ("sassy") was a parallel interface developed initially at disk drive maker Shugart Associates in the early 1980s, which was adopted as a formal ANSI standard in June 1986 under the name, Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) ("scuzzy"). SCSI supports many types of computer peripherals, including hard disk drives.

    Many hard disk drives were produced with an embedded disk controller featuring a SASI or SCSI interface, though only some of these support 256-byte sectors
    as required by many Atari SASI/SCSI interfaces. Suitable SCSI drives meeting this requirement include: Seagate ST-225N (20MB), Rodime RO650 (10MB) and
    RO652 (20MB), Iomega Alpha 10H (10MB) and Beta removable cartridge drives

    Also, some hard disk "bridge" controllers allow a ST506 type hard disk to be attached to a computer's SASI/SCSI interface. Such controllers were popular for use with the Atari SASI/SCSI interfaces that require a controller supporting 256-byte sectors. Suitable ST506 controllers meeting this requirement include: Adaptec ACB-4000A (SCSI), Adaptec ACB-4070 (SCSI),
    Western Digital WD1002-SHD (SASI), Xebec S1410 (SASI), Xebec S1410A (SASI)

    The following are SASI or SCSI interfaces for the Atari that allow the use of
    a SASI or SCSI interface hard disk drive.

    Z-Tec 1000
    - SASI host adapter for 64KiB SWP ATR8000
    - Attaches to the ATR8000 internally
    - SASI Connector: 50 pin Micro-Ribbon
    - Compatibility limited to controllers supporting 256-byte sectors

    BTL 2004 SASI Hard Disk Adapter, by William Lurie & Associates, 1986
    - Parallel device, choice of PBI or Cartridge+ECI connector
    - SASI Connector: 50 pin header
    - Supports one or two physical hard drives for 128MB total system
    storage potential
    - Compatibility limited to controllers supporting 256-byte sectors
    - BTL Hard Disk System includes:
    - Hard disk drive: 10MB standard; drives up to 85MB were offered
    - BTL 2004 SASI Hard Disk Adapter
    - One of: BTL 2001 PBI Connector or BTL 2002 Cartridge+ECI Connector
    - BTL 2002 includes pass-through cartridge port
    - Supplied with MYDOS 4.
    - See: http://www.atarimagazines.com/v5n12/BTLHardDisk.html
    http://www.atarimagazines.com/v6n9/ShoppersGuide.html

    Supra Hard Disk Interface, by Supra, 1986-1992
    K-Products Interface (KPI), by K-Products, 1992-2002
    - Parallel device, connects to PBI
    - Sold separately: Supra XE-XL Buss adapter for Cartridge+ECI
    - Adapter includes pass-through cartridge port
    - Hard Disk Drive (SCSI) port: 50 pin header
    - Supports one or two physical hard drives
    - 2nd drive must have the name number of heads and cylinders as the 1st
    - Compatibility limited to controllers supporting 256-byte sectors
    - Hard Disk is divided into two logical drives: D1: is the size of an Atari
    floppy disk (single or double density), and D3: is the remainder of the
    disk.
    - 2nd hard drive is likewise divided, where D2: is the size of an Atari
    floppy disk, and D4: is the remainder of the disk.
    - Atari floppy disk drive should be configured as D2: (1 hard drive system)
    - System normally boots from D1:; hold down [HELP] during startup to boot
    from D2:.
    - Supplied with MYDOS 4 and hard drive software utilities
    - SupraDrive Atari Hard Disk system includes:
    - SupraDrive AT hard disk drive, one of
    - 10MB drive = Xebec 4000 / Xebec Owl (5.25" SASI)
    - 20MB drive = Miniscribe 8425S (3.5" SCSI) (can anyone verify this????)
    - Supra Hard Disk Interface (including MYDOS 4 and software)
    - See: http://www.atarimagazines.com/v5n6/Supradrivefor8Bit.html
    http://www.page6.org/archive/issue_29/page_12.htm
    http://preview.tinyurl.com/nsroe4u

    Multi I/O board (MIO), by ICD, 1987
    - Parallel device, connects to PBI
    - ICD adapter for Cartridge+ECI provides two pass-through cartridge ports
    - 256KiB or 1MiB RAM versions
    - RAM drive: Use any amount of unit RAM as a RAM drive
    - Unit has its own power supply, allowing the RAM to retain its memory
    while the computer is off
    - Hard Disk (SCSI) port: 50 pin header
    - Connect up to 8 controllers (SCSI specification)
    - Compatibility limited to controllers supporting 256-byte sectors
    - RS-232 port: DE-9S (Atari 850 standard)
    - R: device handler (850-compatible) on ROM (uses no user memory)
    - Up to 19.2 kbit/s
    - Hardware flow control (not all ROM versions)
    - Menu program on firmware ROM
    - Accessed by holding down the SELECT key while booting or by holding down
    SELECT and pressing RESET
    - Menu loads into the computer's main memory (RAM)
    - Allows booting from RAM drive or Hard Drive
    - Allows partitioning of hard drives and RAM for RAM drives (up to 8 total
    drives)

    Black Box, by Computer Software Services (CSS), 1989
    - Parallel device, with connectors for both PBI and Cartridge+ECI
    - PBI Connector: 50 pin header; ribbon cable to PBI interface included
    - Cartridge+ECI connector: standard PCB edge
    - RS-232-C Serial Port: 34 pin PCB edge
    - R: device handler (850-compatible) on ROM (uses no user memory)
    - Up to 19.2 kbit/s
    - Hardware flow control
    - SASI/SCSI Hard Disk Port: 50 pin header
    - Connect up to 8 controllers (SCSI specification)
    - Hard disk floppy drive emulation (Single or Double density)
    - Compatibility includes controllers supporting 512-byte sectors
    - Manage up to 96 drive partitions, including write-protection
    - High speed disk I/O: Happy, XF551, UltraSpeed
    - Built-in 6502 machine language monitor
    - Software utilities, including MYDOS and hard drive utilities, on disk
    - Black Box Enhancer (upgrade for older units; included with newer units):
    - Enhanced printing functions, Task Master sector editor, Archiver program - Developer page: http://www.nleaudio.com/css/products/black.htm
    - Mathy van Nisselroy's Black Box page:
    http://www.mathyvannisselroy.nl/blackbox.htm

    Multi I/O board (MIO) "new series" by Ken Jones / MEtalGuy66, 2006
    Equivalent to the original ICD MIO, 1MiB RAM version, with improvements:
    - RS-232 port: DE-9P (IBM PC standard)
    - Hard Disk (SCSI) port:
    - Compatibility includes controllers supporting 512-byte sectors
    - Available: http://www.rasterline.com/

    ------------------------------

    Subject: 3.3.4) How can I use an IDE interface hard disk or CompactFlash card?

    (background derived from Wikipedia)
    Parallel ATA (PATA), previously AT Attachment (ATA) and originally Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE), is an interface standard for the connection of
    storage devices such as hard disks, floppy drives, and optical disc drives in computers. The standard is maintained by X3/INCITS committee.

    The IDE standard was first used in 1986 in the Compaq Deskpro 396 with integrated Western Digital hard disk drive controller. IDE was based on the IBM PC Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) 16-bit bus standard.

    ATAPI is the standard protocol allowing the ATA interface to carry SCSI commands and responses. Common ATAPI devices include CD-ROM drives, DVD-ROM drives, and Zip drives.

    CompactFlash (CF) is essentially a mass storage device format with a miniaturized ATA interface, normally using flash memory. The format was first specified and produced by SanDisk in 1994.

    The following hardware interfaces were designed to allow PATA devices to be used with the 8-bit Atari:

    KMK/JZ IDE (1996) and KMK/JZ/IDEa (2004)
    - Allows you to attach an ATA (IDE) hard drive, a CF (Compact Flash) card or
    an ATAPI device (e.g. a CD-ROM drive) to your Atari XE computer. Drive must
    be ATA-1 or later; at least ATA-2 is recommended. Dual drives supported.
    - KMK/JZ IDE Interface
    - Hardware design by Jacek Zuk (Simius), 1995-2006
    - Parallel device, connects to Cartridge+ECI
    - Available: http://8bit.yarek.pl/interface/atari.kmk/
    - KMK/JZ IDEa Interface
    - Hardware design by Jacek Zuk (Simius) and Michal 'Pasiu' Pasiecznik,
    2005-2006
    - Parallel device, connects to Cartridge+ECI
    - Can also be mounted inside any XL/XE
    - Available: http://atarifanstore.info/idea.htm
    - Software by Konrad Kokoszkiewicz. Firmware characteristics (10.11.2009):
    - Maximum drive capacity: 16777215 physical blocks on each device (8 GiB)
    - Maximum number of partitions: 16
    - Maximum capacity of a partition: 16777215 logical sectors (8 GiB)
    - Logical sector length: 512 bytes (native, same as physical block) or
    256 bytes (emulation) or (as of BIOS v.1.8) 128 bytes (emulation)
    - Average speed (depends on the drive and DOS used):
    50-80 kB/s (native mode, R/W), or
    20-45 kB/s (emulation mode, reading), or
    7-12 kB/s (emulation mode, writing)
    - 16-bit data transfers
    - Fully Atari OS compliant (no Atari OS patches are needed)
    - Bus ID for the Atari OS configurable with a jumper
    - Can boot from any partition (of a hard drive or CF card)
    - Independent partitions can be write-protected
    - ATAPI support not provided by the BIOS
    - Utilities, tools and the system software: http://drac030.krap.pl/

    SmartIDE, project by Bob Woolley (1996)
    - Project for the 1200XL
    - Published as a series of articles in Atari Classics magazine;
    Web pages by Clarence Dyson
    - "SmartOS" Sept/Oct 1995, pp. 25-29
    http://www.wolfpup.net/atarimods/smartos-1.html
    - "Dallas 'ROMs'" Fall 1996, p. 16
    http://www.wolfpup.net/atarimods/smartos-2.html
    - "Smart IDE" Fall 1996, pp. 17-19
    http://www.wolfpup.net/atarimods/smartide-1.html
    - "The IDEal Hard Drive" Fall 1996, pp. 20-22
    http://www.wolfpup.net/atarimods/smartide-2.html
    - "IDE Driver Software" Fall 1996, pp. 23-27
    http://www.wolfpup.net/atarimods/smartide-3.html
    Software (IDE38.ASM) download: http://www.wolfpup.net/atarimods/idecode.zip - IDE (IDE_NKH.ASM 12/09/00; based on IDE38.ASM by Bob Woolley) by Nathan
    Hartwell adds the SIO command GET_CONFIG to the IDE Driver Software
    http://www.magelair.com/atari_8bit_stuff.html
    - Extensions of the SmartIDE project:
    ==> 16-bit IDE, project by Nathan Hartwell (MageX)(2000)
    - Based on the schematic for SmartIDE by Bob Woolley
    - SmartIDE Code (IDE_NKH.ASM 12/19/00) is based on IDE38.ASM by Bob
    Woolley
    - Project home: http://www.magelair.com/atari_8bit_stuff.html
    ==> PBI 16-bit IDE, project by Nathan Hartwell (MageX)(2000?)
    - Heavily modified from the SmartIDE schematic by Bob Woolley
    - Like SmartIDE, this is still an internal design that plugs into the
    microprocessor socket for most of the signals needed.
    - No PAL/GAL logic is used.
    - No code has yet been developed.
    - Project home: http://www.magelair.com/atari_8bit_stuff.html

    msc IDE, by Stefan Birmanns and Matthias Belitz (1996)
    - Parallel device, connects to PBI
    - A Cartridge+ECI adapter can also be used
    - Up to 240 partitions per hard disk supported
    - Emulates D1: until D9: of disk devices (access to 9 partitions at one time)
    - Full bootable from any partition (with standard XL-OS)
    - Write protection capability
    - Supports up to two hard drives (master/slave)
    - Transfer rate > 30 kB/s file access with SPARTA-DOS 3.2 gx (reading)
    - Transfer rate > 10 kB/s file access with SPARTA-DOS 3.2 gx (writing)
    - Software partially supports CD-ROM and ZIP drives.
    - Partially software compatible with the KMK/JZ IDE interface
    - No longer in production
    - More information:
    https://web.archive.org/web/20111117071126/http://www.birmanns.de/atari/

    BadSector "A", project by Gary Morton (2001)
    - Control an IDE hard disk drive using the Atmel AT89S53 processor (or 8031
    compatible processor).
    - Compatible with all models of Atari due to the use of the SIO (serial bus)
    - Project home: http://www.alma.demon.co.uk/Atari/AtariHwSw.html

    SIO2IDE, project by Marek Mikolajewski (MMSoft)(2001-2005)
    Attach any IDE Disk Drive or CF Card (using CF2IDE adapter) to your 8-bit
    Atari computer.
    ATARI side:
    - Uses standard Atari SIO at a speed of 19200 baud
    - Works with Atari High Speed SIO (US and Happy) at a speed of 52000 baud
    - Emulates Atari disks D1: to D8: disk D1: can be swapped with Common disk D1:
    (HD1_ZW jumper, drive D9: in config file)
    - Can be used with any Atari DOS and OS
    - Can be used without any problems with other SIO devices
    - Can be easy installed inside your Atari with 2.5' laptop HD or CF card
    - Is easy to configure via special fdisk.com utility software (changing
    disks sequence and active directory)
    - It uses ATR files to emulate real floppy disk or hard drive
    IDE device side:
    - All IDE ATA/ATAPI devices can be used: Disk Drives (2.5" and 3.5"),
    Compact Flash cards etc.
    - Supports PC file systems, FAT16 and FAT32
    - Supports CD file system, ISO9660
    - Supports ATR disk images (SD, DD up to 16MiB)
    - Supports directory change (multiconfig)
    - Is easy to configure, many text configuration files (sio2ide.cfg) can be
    stored in different directories
    - Disk configuration can be checked by special checkfs.exe PC utility
    NOTE: checkfs.exe does NOT work with HDD connected via USB port
    - Standard system disk utilities can be used (defrag.exe, scandisk.exe etc)
    - Long File Name (LFN) support for HDD
    - TEST mode for checking HDD initializations
    - Supports Master/Slave IDE devices
    - Disk defragmentation is not required
    USB port side (SIO2IDE Versions 4.x option):
    - Interface allows the attached ATA drive to work as USB Mass Storage Class
    device (removable drive) on a Windows PC
    - No drivers are needed for Windows 2K, ME, XP. Windows 98 driver available.
    - SIO2IDE in USB mode is not working with Linux
    Available, Version 3.3:
    http://www.mega-hz.de/Angebote/SIO2IDE33/SIO2IDE33.html
    Available, latest version: http://afs.atari.org/sio2ide.htm
    - Options: USB controller, SIO plug
    SIO2IDE project home: http://www.atariarea.krap.pl/sio2ide/

    MyIDE, by Mr.Atari (Sijmen Schouten)(2002) / Atarimax (Steven Tucker)
    - Originally released as plans, as a cartridge, or as a kit that could either
    be installed into a cartridge case or inside the computer.
    Software also included: MyBIOS, the IDE based OS by Mr.Atari
    - Version 3.1 is an internal or external IDE interface for all Atari
    8-bit XL/XE computers (2006)
    - Atarimax implementations by Steven Tucker:
    - MyIDE+Flash Cartridge Interface (XL/XE)
    - MyIDE Internal Interface (XL/XE)
    - MyIDE project home: http://www.mr-atari.com/myidehome.htm

    IDE Plus 2.0 (2011)
    - Allows you to attach an ATA (IDE) hard drive, a CF (Compact Flash) card or
    an ATAPI device (e.g. a CD-ROM drive) to your Atari XL/XE computer. Drive
    must be ATA-3 or later. Dual drives supported.
    - Hardware design by Jacek Zuk (Simius), 1995-2011
    - Parallel device, with both PBI and Cartridge+ECI connectors
    - Provides pass-through Cartridge port
    - Addresses well known problems with the PHI2 signal not being generated
    the same across various Atari XL and XE motherboard revisions, and across
    computers with different hardware extensions installed.
    - Does not require an external power-supply
    - Contains 96KiB ISP Flash ROM and 32KiB RAM available to the internal
    PBI BIOS and flashable from the Atari
    - Contains 512KiB or 1024KiB ISP Flash ROM for SpartaDOS X (or any other
    cartridge of such type), flashable from the Atari. This ROM can be
    physically disabled using a dedicated switch.
    - Contains a real time clock circuitry to be used with SpartaDOS X.
    - Contains a LED flashing during the I/O
    - AtariAge preorder thread: http://preview.tinyurl.com/nc7msfb
    - Software by Konrad Kokoszkiewicz. Firmware characteristics (29.10.2011):
    - Maximum drive capacity: 268435456 sectors on either device (128 GiB)
    - Maximum number of partitions: 16
    - Maximum capacity of a partition: no practical limit
    - Logical sector length: 128 bytes (emulation), 256 bytes (emulation) or
    512 bytes (native)
    - Average speed (depends on the drive and DOS used):
    50-80 kB/s (native mode, R/W), or
    30-45 kB/s (emulation mode, R/W)
    - 16-bit data transfers
    - Fully Atari OS compliant (no Atari OS patches are needed)
    - Independent partitions can be write-protected
    - ATAPI support not provided by the BIOS
    - Documentation, utilities, tools, system software: http://drac030.krap.pl/

    SIDE2, by Przemyslaw Krawczyk (Lotharek), 2012
    - Based on SIDE by Sebastian Bartkowicz (Candle), 2011
    - Provides hard disk functionality
    - On-board SpartaDOS X
    - Real-Time Clock
    - Compact Flash card slot
    - Switchable loader and SDX modes
    - Can launch XEX files directly from a DOS partition of the CF card
    - Programmable "SIDE button"
    - 256KiB external flash application cartridge space https://lotharek.pl/productdetail.php?id=55

    MyIDE-II, by Atarimax (Steven Tucker) / Mr.Atari (Sijmen Schouten), 2012
    MyIDE-II Multi-Cart & CompactFlash Card Interface includes:
    - Compact Flash Hardware Interface
    - Full Software Power Control
    - Hardware Media Change Detection
    - Upgradable Hardware Core via Card Edge JTAG Interface
    - Full Featured Atarimax FAT32 Loader
    - Full EXE/XEX/COM Binary Support
    - Fast ATR Disk Image Buffered from Cartridge SRAM
    - Supports 8KiB/16KiB and larger converted XEGS/Banked ROM Images
    - Supports Boot ROM Upgrade directly from CF Card
    - Mr-Atari's "MyBIOS" Included
    - MyIDE-II MyBIOS w/ Full "Hot Swap" Media Change Support
    - Upgrade/Change MyBIOS by just updating your Maxflash Studio Workbook
    - 512KiB On-Board User Customizable Flash Memory
    - Maxflash Studio & USB Programmer Integration
    - Menu Customizability using Maxflash Studio Workbooks
    - 512KiB On-Board Application SRAM https://www.atarimax.com/myide/documentation/

    Incognito, by Sebastian Bartkowicz (Candle'O'Sin), 2012
    - Built-in, configurable CF card storage
    (works as PBI in XL/XE mode, and through SDX driver in Colleen mode)
    - Built-in FAT32 loader (SIDE) with both ATR and XEX file handling
    - Device detailed elsewhere in this FAQ list (800 personality boards)

    ------------------------------

    Subject: 3.3.5) How can I use a Secure Digital (SD) card with my Atari?

    (SD background derived from Wikipedia)
    Secure Digital (SD) is a flash memory (non-volatile) memory card format used since 1999 in portable devices, including digital cameras, handheld computers, PDAs and GPS units. SD was based on the MultiMediaCard (MMC), which was introduced in 1997 by SanDisk and Siemens.

    The SD format includes four card families available in three different form factors. The four families are the original Standard-Capacity (SDSC), the High-Capacity (SDHC), the eXtended-Capacity (SDXC), and the SDIO, which combines input/output functions with data storage. The three form factors are the original size, the "mini" size, and the "micro" size. There are many combinations of form factors and device families.

    SIO2SD, by Jakub Kruszona-Zawadzki, Pajero/MadTeam, Jakub Husak
    Load games/applications into 8-bit Atari computers via SIO interface from SD/MMC cards. Device features:
    - Supported cards:
    MMC/SDSC/SDHC (and very likely with SDXC, but only FAT32 formatted)
    - Supported partitioning schemas:
    no partition, MBR (Master Boot Record), GPT (GUID Partition Table - EFI)
    - Supported formats: FAT12,FAT16 and FAT32
    - Handles ATR (rw), XFD (ro) and COM/XEX (ro) file types
    - 16x2 LCD display allows to "walk" catalog tree and choose files to load
    (40x2 LCD displays are also supported)
    - TURBO: 7th bit of command switches turbo. This is new turbo mode very
    similar to XF551 turbo mode.
    - All densities with 128B and 256B sectors, including 16MiB disks
    - Number of simulated drives: 15 + 100
    - Configuration program:
    - has to be present on SD card, but any program can be used
    - New ATR files and new folders can be created using SIO commands
    - "Empty disk" mode (ATR file created automatically during format command)
    - Deleting files from card using SIO commands
    - Renaming files and folders using SIO commands
    - Reading and writing all files using SIO commands (inside Atari folder and
    subfolders)
    - 100 extra "virtual drives" V0..V99, which can be mapped to any drive from
    D1 to D15
    - Fast mapping - Drives V0 to V3 have additional, special meaning. When one
    of keys from K1 to K4 is pressed during start then device overrides mapping
    of D1 and maps one of those drives to D1 (K1 = V0, K2 = V1 etc.).
    - Built-in very simple TURBO loader (for 7th bit mode - turbo mode similar to
    one used in XF551)
    - Available:
    - http://www.mega-hz.de/Angebote/angebote.html several variations
    - https://lotharek.pl/ many variations
    - SIO2SD project home: http://www.gucio.pl/

    SDrive, by C.P.U. (Radek Sterba (Raster) & Robert Petruzela (Bob!k))
    http://raster.infos.cz/atari/hw/sdrive/sdrive.htm
    The SDrive is a device that connects to Atari XL/XE's serial (SIO) port and simulates an Atari floppy disk drive with full read/write access to programs and data stored on a Secure Digital (SD) flash memory card.
    Main features:
    - Supported flash cards: Secure Digital up to 2GB size, FAT16 filesystem
    - Maximum number of drives: 4 (D1: to D4:) + 1 special boot drive
    - Supported SIO transfer rates: 3.5 to 128 kbit/s (standard 19 and 69 kbit/s)
    - Supported disk images: ATR, XFD, size up to 16MiB, 128 or 256B sectors
    - Supported executable files: COM, XEX, BIN.... (any filename extension).
    - Device controlled by software running on Atari from the SD card, which can
    be therefore easily updated/replaced
    - Drives swappable on the fly by buttons
    - Write protect/enable switch
    - SDrive ID number selection switch - simultaneous use of up to 4 SDrives
    - Low cost design - no LCD, a few LEDs, cheap DIL28 Atmega8 microcontroller,
    single-sided PCB
    - Firmware and software source code freely available
    Special features:
    - Buffered reads for speedup
    - Delayed writes for speedup and greatly reduced flash write cycles
    - Built-in bootloader requiring less than 256 bytes including sector buffer,
    relocatable in the $0500-$05F7 to $BE00-$BEF7 range, with SKCTL
    initialization before every block. Supports executable files of up to 8MiB
    size.
    - Directory with filename simulated for active files in drives, data handled
    through standard 128B sectors. Executable files can be run from most DOSes
    or Q-MEG. Random data files with arbitrary suffix can be activated and
    opened by a program through DOS or copied to disk images. (Note: 80KiB file
    size limit applies to standard DOSes, 8MiB to Q-MEG and MyDOS)

    SDrive NUXX, by Steve Vigneau / c0nsumer
    http://nuxx.net/wiki/SDrive_NUXX
    Based on SDrive by C.P.U. Changes from the original SDrive:
    - A readily available enclosure and custom end panels with cutouts and
    artwork.
    - An SIO connector footprint. This allows a standard Atari SIO
    connector to be used, allowing easy connectivity with any of the compatible
    Atari 8-bit computers.
    - Incorporates a low-cost AVR programmer allowing a SDrive builder who doesn't
    have AVR programming hardware readily available an easy method of loading
    the firmware on the microcontroller.
    - The built-in Brown-Out Detector has been enabled with a 4.0V threshold.

    SDrive Standard, by Rick L. Detlefsen / Rix / More Than Games
    (based on SDrive by C.P.U.) http://morethangames.a8maestro.com/proda8/adv-eh0130.htm

    SDrive Bay Mount version, by Rick L. Detlefsen / Rix / More Than Games
    (based on SDrive by C.P.U.) http://morethangames.a8maestro.com/proda8/adv-eh0140.htm

    SIO2MicroSD, by Don Peruski
    An Arduino board was used as the platform. Features:
    - 4 Virtual Drives (D1:-D4:)
    - Supports standard SD/ED/DD ATR files
    - Up to 4 sub-directories under the Atari sub-directory
    - High Speed SIO *
    - Load/Unload/Swap with 4 buttons and 16x2 LCD Display
    - Optional "Game/Simple Mode" configuration to limit menu choices for easier
    use
    - LCD detail mode to view access commands and use
    - XEX Boot-Loader **
    - Ability to save current configuration of all settings
    - S-Drive main functions compatible ***
    - Full board version has built-in USB to update firmware or use as SIO2PC
    device
    - Because it is based on the Arduino, the hardware configuration options are
    limitless
    * Limited to mode 9 (about 56 kbit/s) due to 16Mhz crystal used with the stock
    Arduino.
    ** XEX Bootloader code used from S-Drive source
    *** Only main portions of S-Drive were implemented based on documentation http://diskwiz.wordpress.com/sio2microsd/

    The Ultimate Cartridge / Ultimate-A8 SD Cartridge, by The Brewing Academy
    - Developed by Robin Edwards for TBA
    - The Ultimate Cart is an SD-based flash cartridge that will load ROM, CAR, and
    XEX files from a menu
    - Full Sized SD-based flash card
    - For all Atari 400/800/XL/XE
    https://thebrewingacademy.com/

    The UNO Cart / UNO-A8 Cart, by The Brewing Academy
    - Developed by Robin Edwards for TBA
    - The UnoCart is an microSD-based Atari cartridge emulator (CAR/ROM) & XEX/ATR
    file launcher.
    - Runs CAR/XEX files less than or equal to 128k in size.
    - Will run basic ATR (disk image) files (requires 64KiB RAM)
    - Requires XL/XE computer
    https://thebrewingacademy.com/

    ------------------------------

    Subject: 3.3.6) How can I use a USB flash drive with my Atari?

    USB flash drives are NAND-type flash memory data storage devices integrated with a USB (universal serial bus) interface. They are typically small, lightweight, removable and rewritable.

    SIO2USB, by ABBUC Regional Group Frankfurt / Main (2007)
    The SIO2USB Interface is a peripheral device that can be attached to an Atari 8-bit computer using the SIO-Bus. It emulates one or more Atari Floppy- Drive(s) and does not require any special drivers or Operating-Systems, it is fully compatible with all Atari DOS Systems and extensions. Because the
    device is connected to the SIO-Bus, it is not necessary to open or modify the Atari. The device is powered by the SIO-Bus and does not need an external Power Adapter. The data are stored on standard USB Mass Storage Devices (USB FLASH Drives) as Atari disk image files (ATR or XFD) on a standard FAT filesystem.
    Features:
    o Can boot an Atari 8-bit Computer without physical Floppy Drive
    o Emulation of up to 3 (virtual) Disk drives simultaneously
    o Simple device, attached to SIO-Port, no modification of computer necessary
    o Mixed operation of real Floppy and SIO2USB possible
    o Fully compatible with all Atari DOS and OS and all Atari compatible
    extensions
    o Storage of Atari disk image files on standard USB FLASH Drives

    [continued in next message]

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)