Re: USB/XE/C2/41 Cable available for sale!

On May 19, 9:44 pm, Mr.Michael.Hun...@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
On May 19, 7:55 pm, ramswell <shifty_bu...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:



On May 19, 2:45 pm, Mr.Michael.Hun...@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

On May 18, 7:34 pm, ramswell <shifty_bu...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On May 17, 11:16 am, ramswell <shifty_bu...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I just finished my prototyping on my new cable (the one Michael
Hunter never announced) and now they are ready for sale.

I'm asking $30.00 each for them and they are "bareboned" so you will
need to still get them into a container of some type if you want them
boxed.

Just thought I would let everyone know...

Charles>8-Bit Designs

http://www.8bitdesigns.ath.cx

Thanks for asking... :)

It's actually an adapter PCB board with numerous connectors and a
cable connected to it!

It has a dual (F) USB Port on it to plug it into your PC for the 5
Volt power source, it has (2) 6-Pin Din Serial (commodore style) (F)
sockets on it where you can connect your commodore drives and printers
to, it has the 25-pin DB (M) connector on it for allowing connections
to the PC's parallel port for Star Commander, Vice, etc..; and
finally, it has the Commodore C2N Cassette (M) connector on it via a
cable to connect your cassette player to it for tape images.

Basically it's directed to those that desire to do a lot of "cross-
platforming" file transfers and the like.

Oh yeah, and the DB-25 Connector also has the BAT85 Diodes on it for
performing the XE-1541 cable functions while in Star Commander and
other emulators. :)

Have a great day everybody and enjoy ComVex for those that are going
to be able to make it as I am unable to attend this year. :(

Charles

Hello all,

This discussion came to my attention. And, a bit of clarification may
be in order.

The function of the original cable design was to simply combine the
features of the XE1541 and X1531 cables into a single cable that would
serve both needs.

I didn't like having two cables connected to a switch-box, and didn't
care to install a second parallel port. So, for my own purposes, I
decided to assemble and test a combined cable.

Since game ports were rapidly disappearing from newer computers, they
were not a viable source of power for the tape motor. And, the
higher output USB 2.0 standard was coming into popularity. So, I
opted to use the USB 2.0 port of my PC as a source of power to drive
the cassette motor.

Additionally, I made one other alteration to the design. 1531 tape
drives have always been hard to obtain when compared with the abundant
supply of C2N tape drives. And, since I was already producing my own
male card edge connectors for the C2N drives (for other products), I
made the logical choice to equip the cable with a C2N card edge
connector rather than the mini-DIN connector for a 1531 tape drive.

I used this setup for many many months without issue. And, I
converted a number of 1541 disks and Commodore Cassette tapes to
images for use with the PC (in many cases just for archival or backup
purposes).

Shortly afterwards, I closed the business due to family needs. And,
never offered the cable for sale. Instead, I filed the schematic with
the rest of my designs, and included it with the business assets for
the new owner to announce and release.

Obviously, as was stated on my original schematic, the design borrowed
on already established designs. And, because of this, I also stated
on the schematic that the design would need to be published and shared
with the people who so generously provided us with the XE1541 and
X1531 cables when the product was announced.

Since I have never spoken with ramswell, I have no idea whether the
original schematic was passed along to ramswell with all of the
original notes or not.

Anyway, I do feel that one distinction should be made between my
original concept and prototype and ramswell's. His design, from my
understanding, utilizes a central circuit board and has cables which
either run from the circuit board or connect to it.

My original concept and implementation of the design resulted in a
single and totally self-contained cable. All of the circuitry was
100% integrated inside the cable. And, the cable was a single run of
cable with the appropriate connectors on each end. Basically, it
would appear as a single cable with two connectors on each end. A USB
and Parallel port connector on one end to connect with the PC, and a
Card Edge (with hood) and DIN connector on the other end to interface
with the tape and disk drives.

I do feel that the distinction is important. As, I prefer the cleaner
and simpler designs. And, I have no personal knowledge of the version
produced by ramswell as he has implemented it (other than what he has
stated here).

As such, I would prefer for my name to remain with my implementation,
and ramswell's to be attached to his implementation.

I cannot and will not take any credit for his implementation as it
clearly, and significantly, varies from my original concept.

I say this publicly simply to indicate that I do not wish my name
attached to the product offered. As it is has been implemented, it is
ramswell's design. And, all credit for the current implementation
should go to ramswell (with appropriate credit for the X1531 and
XE1541 interface designs going to their respective copyright holders).

Thanks for the clarification! I didn't mean to make any "false"
indications of any kind. So apologies if there was any offense as it
was not intended. Just wanted to let the public know that it was out
if there was any interest in such a product.

Have a great day and enjoy the family life. :):):):)

Charles

No problem. I just prefer to have my name attached only to the exact
products I produced or designs as I originally produced and shipped
them. Credit for modified variations should go to those who designed
the alternative implementation.

I am glad to see that the design has finally been made available in
one fashion or the other. I had intended for the original cable to be
available shortly after the original business transfer.

I had never intended to have my name attached to it in any form. I
intended only for it to be available for immediate release when the
business was resumed. Mainly as a way for the new owner (who was yet
to be discovered at the time) to introduce themselves and contribute a
modified design to the community.



Yeah understood. I just thought that in this case, it was easier for
me to manufacture the product more efficiently, and still maintaining
all the "extras" that I desired to include in it along with yours,
would best be done by way of a mini PCB board. This way I am able to
still have all the connectors that you implemented on it, while making
way for the second serial line and the "DUAL USB PORT" that I decided
to add to in in place of the originals.

This was done for a variety of reasons.

1) The boards are found easily and cheap at any local Radio Shack
(and in fact some even come FOR FREE included in the storage boxes
that I buy for the User Port Commander <the 4-In-1 +>)

2) They have just the right amount of space on them to be able to
mount all the components on them with very little (if any) space left
for additions.. and

3) It allowed me to use the second serial port and the dual USB
connector that I wanted to use for two reasons..

A) To give the user a second option to add another
device to it, or

B) To allow for a secondary alternative in the event
that one connection goes "BAD" for some reason they will always have
the second option and still be able to use it. :):):):)


Thanks a lot for all the support over the years!

Charles
.

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