Backplane issue, or have I missed something?

[Chr$]

My old custom cased QL has an old backplane with 2 connectors. Originally one connector contained a Gold Card (original) and the other an ABC Elektronik MFM HDD card. And both did work together fine previously.

The MFM drive and/or the ABC card (or the OMTI card that the ABC card is plugged in to) stopped working. HDD not recognised. So instead of messing around with the very large and very loud 20mb MFM drive, I got a QubIDE kit from Tetroid. I built that and got it working with a real IDE HDD on my other QL which has a Tetroid backplane and original SGC. Created/formatted a partition, win1_ present etc.. all fine.

Popped it all into the custom cased QL and it simply doesn't seem to recognise it but sees the GC fine. Swapped the cards over and the GC is there again but the QubIDE still doesn't show up on the boot screen. The backplane has a separate 9v being fed into it, which works. Without the GC (had to put the 68008 back in for that) the system recognises the QuibIDE but is unable to link to win1_, which may or may not be related. So both slots work, both cards work, just not together. QubIDE is set to the correct address for use with a GC.

What can I do to trouble shoot and what have I overlooked/forgotten?!

(other specs: There is nothing on the ext ROM socket. It does have a Tetroid ROM switcher, but the upper tk2 part is turned off so shouldn't be in the way. It has Qimi and D-ren k/b addons. I noticed that with the 68008 plugged in that it doesn't boot at all with the GC plugged in, I get a white screen - at least I think it's a white screen - I'm using a green monochrome monitor).

[Pr0f]

What address have you got the Qubide set to ?

I think from memory that with the gold card your only option is to set the address to 0c000 (ROM port address), with the super gold card it can go right at the top of memory with an aurora board - but I think you are again limited with it plugged into a QL to the same ROM port address.

[Derek_Stewart]

Hi,

If Gold Card or Trump Card is used, the only free area for the Qubide is the Romport, at #0C00

With a Super Gold Card or Gold card is installed, the 68008 CPU can be removed.

The description says SGC on setup outside the case, inside it is a GC. Are you using two separate cards?

Make sure that the connecting cable fro the QL to Backplane is not causing problems, try with the cable.

[Chr$]

What address have you got the Qubide set to ?

I think from memory that with the gold card your only option is to set the address to 0c000 (ROM port address), with the super gold card it can go right at the top of memory with an aurora board - but I think you are again limited with it plugged into a QL to the same ROM port address.

Yes, it's #0C00, which is the last 3 jumpers of the row bridged on the QubIDE (also from memory).

Hi,

The description says SGC on setup outside the case, inside it is a GC. Are you using two separate cards?

Yes. The 'main' QL has it about 3 feet long with backplane and SGC. The cased one has a GC. Due to access in the case, I can't actually plug a card in direct to the m/b port without actually removing the m/b, which is a bit of a pain.

[Pr0f]

When you only have the qubide board plugged in and the 68008 in it's socket - the system should boot and tell you the location address of the qubide.

I think you are correct on the jumpers - jp1 and jp2 should be blank - meaning these would be high level through the resistor pack - requiring A14 and A15 to be on - and jp3,4,5 are all present - meaning A16,A17 and A18/A19 are all off to select the card

[Chr$]

When you only have the qubide board plugged in and the 68008 in it's socket - the system should boot and tell you the location address of the qubide.

I can't remember exactly what the boot message says. It reports ROM version etc. Will check tomorrow. I'm also going to check with the original JS ROM chips in both sockets instead of the flash ROM switcher in the left socket, just for the sake of it.

[Pr0f]

I seem to remember in the back of my mind that there was some requirement if running the gold card / super gold card in the backplane - not sure if that was only the Tetroid variants of those cards, or whether it was the original cards - as yours looks to be. I think it related to the card ROM version needing to be updated.

If I get chance I will see if I can find it on the forum - but it is looking like a busy day for me at work

[Martin_Head]

Just a thought, Is your 9v supply OK. If it's has a lot of ripple, then the combined load of the two cards could cause the bottom of the ripples to drop too low for the 5v regulators to handle.

The smoothing capacitors on the output line could be drying out with age.

[Pr0f]

Here's that other thread:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2392&hilit=gold+car ... +backplane

[Chr$]

Just a thought, Is your 9v supply OK. If it's has a lot of ripple, then the combined load of the two cards could cause the bottom of the ripples to drop too low for the 5v regulators to handle.

The smoothing capacitors on the output line could be drying out with age.

I really ought to check the 9v line with both cards plugged in and not assume anything! Will also do that today.

Here's that other thread:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2392&hilit=gold+car ... +backplane

I did find that before posting but only skimmed it as my backplane is an old one.

I bet the 9v line is too low. The previous owner has a transistor and some diodes fitted which take a 12v from elsewhere on the QL down to 9v. It must have worked fine for years lile that, but it's likely that the transistor has failed I suppose.