Amiga CD_ROMs
21 messages in this thread
I have a CD-ROM question: Do any of the Amiga CD-ROM drivers support
parallel-port CD-ROM drives? And if so, which drives are supported
(assuming they don't all work properly – I'm a software-type, but I know
enough hardware for that 8^) ). I have reached the point where I can
justify getting a CD-ROM drive for my PC-clone machine, but I'd like to
make as much use of it as possible. A parallel-port CD-ROM player would in
effect give me two drives in one if it could work with my Amiga as well.
Any and all assistance is greatly appreciated …
Harry
But you'd be wasting your money. A parallel port CD-ROM drive is so
slow… for both your PC and hypothetically for the Amiga. I've
never heard of one for the Amiga, aside from people who use ParNET to
link a CDTV to an Amiga, which is almost the same thing. You really
want to use a SCSI interface drive. Yes, they cost more, but
parallel port drives cost more than the super-cheap proprietary
interface drives you see for the PC. You probably already have a
SCSI interface on your Amiga. It's not hard to add one to your PC. I
saw the Corel SCSI software selling for $70 at CompUSA the other
day. You can get a SCSI card for about the same amount of money for
the PC.
Due to the transfer speeds, you are MUCH better off getting a SCSI
drive, and then getting either a real scsi interface in your PC, or
even one of the PC par-scsi converters. Why cripple your performance?
Besides, I'm not aware of a parallel port CD driver for the Amiga.
Thanks for the info. I did think about the transfer speed as a
factor, but was thinking I could live with it if the drives were the
same price (or maybe just a little more) as a regular SCSI or other
drive (money is a factor as well … 8^) ). So, assuming I go with
SCSI, which external units would you (or anyone else) recommend? I
know that single-speed drives are now cheaper due to double-speed
drives being readily available, but the gadget-freak part of me would
really prefer a double-speed 8^). And is an external unit likely to
have a 50-pin or 25-pin cable? The external port on my GVP Combo is,
I believe, 25-pin, and since I don't have PC SCSI yet I have a choice
there (I think …). Thanks again for your assistance.
I can't tell you which CDROM drive to get since I'm about a year
behind myself, however, an external box will most likely have a DB25
SCSI connector… but it doesn't really matter, since at this point,
you can readily get a cable that will fit your needs, regardless of
what those needs are.
Mike –
Thanks, I've got some magazine reference to look for, and Redmond (if
not the CompUSA across the street) will probably have the cable … Now I
just need to find a place that sells them cheap 8^).
Harry
Michael –
> I can't tell you which CDROM drive to get since I'm about a year behind
> myself, however, an external box will most likely have a DB25 SCSI
> connector…
I believe the standard for external SCSI is that the external box SHOULD
have a Centronics 50-pin female connector (2, actually).
. . . . JimDoc, on AutoPilot
Jim,
>>I believe the standard for external SCSI is that the external box SHOULD
??have a Centronics 50-pin female connector (2, actually).<<
I wish they all had two connectors… Does anyone know of a source for
pass through 50-pin Centronics SCSI cables?
//
Gary Vander Mei on Auto-Pilot \X/
'pass through' SCSI connectors are not 'legal' unless the 'stub' to
the devices is under 10 cm. in length (about 4 inches). What you want
is two conneectors, a cable between them, and a drive/controller
connector attached directly to the cable.
What you describe sounds like the internal SCSI ribbon cable. Is
this what you are suggesting except with 50-pin Centronics
connectors?
What I am describing is an 'internal' ribbon cable, such as might be
found in an external cabinet containing SCSI devices. I don't think
I'd characterize it as being that, 'but with Centronics 50-pin
connectors' though. All cables in SCSI cabinets will have a way to
connect to the outside, and most often, it is with the
Centronics-style 50 pin connector(s). So, to clarify what I was
saying before, here are a couple of diagrams..
(1)
|
|
|———————————-
| |
| |- (this is a connector
| attached to a device)
| |
| |
|———————————-
|
|
^
|
|– These are 50 pin Centronics connectors
The above is a 'legal' configuration.
(2)
|
|
|–|
| |———————————|
|
| |
| |
|–|
|
|
^ ^ ^ ^
| | | |_ connector on drive
| | |_ ribbon cable
| |
| |_Short loop of cable to 'pass through'
|
|_ two 50 pin Centronics connectors.
This one is an illegal configuration, if the ribbon cable between the
loop and drive is longer than 10 cm.
What you might want to look into is getting a new SCSI cable with a
couple of connectors on it. I have used a place called REDMOND CABLE
in the past and they have always done a good job for me. They used
to advertise in Amiga World but I do not believe that they do anymore
so I have included their telephone number below. Another thing you
might want to consider is a SCSI extender cable. That is a cable
with a 50 pin male end to a 50 pin standard female. I do not
personally use the extenders but I have seen them working fine in a
AMIGA 3000.
EAST COAST
615-478-5760
WEST COAST
206-882-2009
Yes, Redmond is known for good cable solutions. I will give them a
call Monday. My problem is with a bunch of NEC-CDROM portable drives
I got a hold of real cheap. I would like to have three on-line for
my BBS. The problem is that they do not have output connections. As
most Amiga owners know, the 3000 only has the one SCSI bus connection
externally. SO…having a cable, or cables, that could pass through
the connection would save me a lot of trouble.
You can buy a length of 50 conductor ribbon cable, and clamp the 50
pin IDC (insulation displacement connector) along the length of it.
The crimping tool is not expensive, why even Radio Shack sells one.
The 50 conductor ribbon is not as easy to buy. I go to a local
electronics dealer. Radio Shack only stocks up to 36 conductor.
You can use one ribbon and clamp a connector on it for each device
your using on the bus. If you look inside one of those external power
boxes you'll see a short length of the ribbon with two 50 pin female
IDC connectors clamped a short distance apart from each other, then
they're attached to the case.
Anyway, that's how I've been setting up my SCSI devices. I've used
some 10 to 12' lengths that way. Your mileage may vary,
Check out the March and August 1992 issues of AmigaWorld, as well as an issue
(November?) just a few months ago. I wrote several articles about CDROM drives
and interfaces that answer all the questions you've posted so far… in short,
Amiga SCSI adapters have the standard DB-25 plug on the outside card edge, and
CDROM drives have the 50-pin D-shell Centronics-type plug, and I've always had
a soft sport for the Toshiba CDROM drives. The newest double-speed 3401s go
for $390 if you know where to hunt, or $100 more if you don't. 🙂
John –
Thanks for the references, I know I have those issues around somewhere
(the more recent one will be the hardest to find, but it's around …).
'Course, if I didn't wait until late at night to read/post I'da thought of
hunting through back-issues myself 8^).
So if the AMiga cards have DB20 and CD-ROM drives have Centronics50,
can I assume that someone somewhere makes an adapter? Redmond would be my
first guess … I'll be back when I find out how much trouble it is to get
things working … 8^)
Harry
Yes, the DB-25 to Cent-50 cable is very, very common. You can even pick them up
late at night in the computer section of places like Office Depot. Easy to
find. (Newer SCSI-2 cards for the Mac and PC use a more dense DB-like
connector which is *tough* to find.) Often, a place like Office Depot will
lable whoops label this cable a "Mac SCSI cable", since Macs have this DB-25
connector for SCSI.
The new JDR Microdevices catalog lists a SCSI-2 crimp connector for
$7.95.
-Jim
Hmm. I do want something sturdy, I'll be abusing this cable for years. The
most expensive I've seen is about $130, mid-range about $90, cheapest about
$45.
Well, this thing sounded like it was a sort of dual-row IDC connector.
Those aren't known for their sturdiness.