Raspberry PI as a real Amiga Floppy Drive

[mram]

Cool project!

Makes me wonder if the interface could be modified to connect the RaspPi over ethernet. That way the RaspPi could act as file server to all your retro stuff.

It is possible but just not so immediate. While Raspberry PI as a large audience, the code to use ethernet card it's not just "plug'n'play", AFAIK by now (today) is covered only the UDP protocol but sure someone is working on TCP stack. The Amiga RPI Drive project is just born now and there are a lot of features can be made to expand this system.
Good news is that Raspberry PI has a lot of power we can use, someone told using RPI for this interface is a "waste of power" (sure not waste of money...) but for me it is just power not yet used which we will use, we have "space to grow" and without throwing out old staff to buying a new one

 

[demolition]

While Raspberry PI as a large audience, the code to use ethernet card it's not just "plug'n'play", AFAIK by now (today) is covered only the UDP protocol but sure someone is working on TCP stack.

I thought it was a Linux core running on it? In that case TCP should not be an issue? Even my Arduino board has TCP communication and it is much less powerful.

 

[mram]

While Raspberry PI as a large audience, the code to use ethernet card it's not just "plug'n'play", AFAIK by now (today) is covered only the UDP protocol but sure someone is working on TCP stack.

I thought it was a Linux core running on it? In that case TCP should not be an issue? Even my Arduino board has TCP communication and it is much less powerful.

Raspberry PI doesn't have a "Linux core" running on it. RPI can load a Linux (or other SO) distribution from SD.
I didn't say there is not possible to have TCP communication on Raspberry PI, off course it is able to do that, lucky we it has born with ethernet...
I said the code related it's not directly linkable today to the project (and it is not related to be more or less powerful).
Linux is not a real time operating system (unless modifying the kernel in context related environments) so it's not convenient to use it in this project.
So this project runs without Linux or any other OS but with a custom specific minimal SO which can manage some specific tasks in real-time.

This is just trying to explain as simple as possible what we are talking about.

Hope it helped someway ...

 

[demolition]

Yup, it did help. If it is not running the standard Linux core, then you obviously can't use its components. Makes more sense to me now how it can be used as a floppy emulator.

 

[mram]

Navigating along youtube I just found this video

Youtube: "Comparing the Arduino and Raspberry Pi"

It is very simply but also very focused on the main features.

 

[stephenfalken]

Well I built the interface for this yesterday and have been playing with it on a newly acquired A500 machine and it's like falling in love all over again lol

Made a video of me using it if anyone is interested, all credit to the guy who designed the software and interface (mram), I just followed his instructions!

Amiga Floppy Drive emulator using Raspberry Pi

Regards

 

[ColourWheel64]

Cool project!

Makes me wonder if the interface could be modified to connect the RaspPi over ethernet. That way the RaspPi could act as file server to all your retro stuff.

I have a similar idea to this, except that the pi display could be in a vnc window, and still inside the Amiga case. I'm using an A4000, but the pi is so small that it's bound to fit into everything.

Why!? People ask? ...well, why not? It'll be useful, plus the pi has HDMI out, so the Amiga's display could be VNC'd the other way for viewing in a window on a HD tv.

The headache will come when it comes to running it all fast

 

[Borschtsch]

I have made a few PCBs for Maurizio's Raspberry Pi Drive.
Just tested with my Pi Zero and A+. Both work fine.
The PCB is designed to have either Pi version attached below with 10mm spacers.
Up to 4 drives (DF0-DF3) can be enabled/disabled via jumpers.
The Pi can be powered externally or from the PCB (with a wire).



If anyone is interested please let me know. I could provide the following options:
1. PCB only [20EUR incl. intl. shipping]
2. PCB and all the parts for self-assembly (DIY solder kit, excluding Pi) [35EUR incl. intl. shipping]
3. completely assembled PCB (excluding Pi) [55EUR incl. intl. shipping]
4. completely assembled RPi Drive (including Pi Zero and pre-installed MicroSD card) [85EUR incl. intl. shipping]

 

[Harrison]

Quite interesting considering how cheap the Pi Zero is.

What advantages does it have over other floppy emulators? Such as Gotek?

 

[Borschtsch]

What advantages does it have over other floppy emulators? Such as Gotek?

It can simulate up to 4 floppy drives simultaneously, each of which can be enabled/disabled via jumpers (or switches, if you connect those instead).

 

[Borschtsch]

Furthermore, I got the "Amiga RPI Drive Video" version of Maurizios software to work on my Pi A+. This means I can connect a monitor (via HDMI or composite signal) as a status display to see what the system is doing and which disk images are loaded/loading currently. This is additionally to the standard Amiga side display, which is the interactive part of the software.


screenshot of the external loader screen