#wordsync questions
9 messages in this thread
Hi there, I have a Supra memory board w/2 meg and the wordsync connected to
a ST251N. I have a couple of questions: 1) I would like the wordsync to
talk to a qic100 tape drive. Can I just create a mountlist entry with
supraedit to talk to it? I am aware that tape drives can lock the SCSI buss
during winding, but since I use it for BU only this is not a concern. I
basically just want to play around a bit before I go whole hog into messing
with the tape drive. 2) I have experienced the sluggish-mouse syndrome.
Seems to me that somewhere I read/heard that this was a problem that has
been fixed, but I can't recall the details since at the time I did not own
a HD. ( guess I should have paid a bit more attention!) Could it be a SW or
HW update? I received 1.09F with the card. Any help or suggestions will be
greatly appreciated… Bill
Bill, you can create a mountlist entry to access your tape drive. To
access the unit, you can issue commands to the device driver per the SCSI
Direct provisions specified by Commodore. The current revision of the
Supra software is now 1.10 and now includes some sample source code. I you
send in your SupraBoot and SupraTools disks and $9.95 to cover cost, we'd
be happy to update them for you.
I'd like to ask a burning question about the WordSync:
Does it support the Konica 10.7MB floppy drive, and have any pointers on
how to implement it? I'm having fits with my C= board…I'm sure you've
seen the thread.
+ Phil +
Phil, the WordSync software does support the Konica 10 meg floppy. I'd
recommend a little caution, though. The Konica is particularly susceptible
to a noisy environment. If being used with an Amiga 2000, you may find
that it needs its own external case and power supply.
Regards, Clark
Supra Technical Support
Thanks for the info Clark. Is it possible that the A2090 just _won't work_
with the Konica? I'd like to get this thing working for the moment anyway,
even though I plan on upgrading my HD driver board before long. How many
SCSI devices does the WordSync support? How about streaming tape, or
CD-ROM?
By the way, I AM using the Konica in an external case at the moment. So
external, in fact, that there's no lid on it at present. On the other
hand, I've got my 40 meg. Conner sitting right on top of it. You think
that might be the source of some problems? I notice in the big Amiga guide
that I just got, that you folks are no longer selling the unit that uses
the Konica drive. Any particular reason? It does seem pretty obscure and
un-heard about these days- I hope it doesn't become difficult to find disks
for it.
Maybe the reason is that the Syquest 44MB drives aren't much more
expensive? The media is it appears. The guy I got this drive from has a
5MB Syquest, but it looks like much older technology than the Konica.
+ Phil +
Phil, the only way to find out if the A2090 is going to work with the
Konica is to give it a try. I know from personal experience that the 2091
and the SyQuest don't get along to well. As for the WordSync interface, it
is configured (in software) as SCSI device 7. That leaves 7 additional
SCSI devices that can be added. Streaming tape is my project of the
moment. Supra should have tape support available RSN. If there are any
special features you'd like to see in the tape software, now is good time
to make them known. As for CD-ROM support, at the momment I'm not a
liberty to discuss the issue (does that tell you anything).
Placing your Conner on top of the Konica could certainly cause some
trouble, particularly if the harddisk is close to the disk opening.
The 5 meg SyQuest was prone to many different problems. With the 44R, most
of my complaints have been addressed.
Regards, Clark
Supra Technical Support
Thanks for the info Clark. I didn't realize that the SCSI driver board was
actually one SCSI "device". As for Konica 10.7MB disk support, I don't
know what has to be different, other than diskchange issues. At this
point, I seem to have intermittent trouble with read/write errors on the
drive- a friend of mine says that is the bane of removable-media drives in
general: their relative lack of reliability.
As far as tape drive support, the main thing that is important to me is
that it supports commonly available drives, with easily available tapes. I
don't see any references to the Konica drives anywhere I can see, which
leads me to believe it was a short-lived product. The product, based on
what I can tell from the design of the boards and the type of parts used,
seems fairly recent. I guess the 44MB drives killed it a little bit? I
would be curious as to your, or Supra's experience with the Konica, whether
or not it has a particularly good or bad history as to reliability. I'm
beginning to wonder at this point. Thanks again for all your help!
+ Phil +
Phil, Supra never saw any particular problem with reliability from the
Konica 10 meg floppies when they were delivered. Konica appeared to have a
lot of problems getting them through the manufacturing process though. The
drives were frequently in short supply and always seemed to be on the verge
of being discontinued. At this point the drive is no longer being
manufactured by Konica, however they are still available through some
distribution channels.
Regards, Clark
Supra Technical Support
Thanks for the info Clark.. that explains why I never seem to see the
drives or the floppies around. I'm sure the 44MB cartridge drives don't
help their popularity either…although I hear they aren't perfectly
reliable either.
+ Phil +