The Sinclair QL Forum

Hello, I'm not an expert when it comes to disk drive compatibility of the 80's...AFAIK most of the "standard" 3.5" floppy disk drives sported the "Shugart" connection scheme - long question, maybe short answer:

I have a Sinclair-branded MicroPeripherals 3,5" floppy disk drive (only the drive, not the i/f!) , will this work when attached to a Trump Card II?

Thanks!

Very likely yes (well, if it worked before )

Note you need to use a straight (un-twisted) ribbon cable and not something "non-standard" that came from a PC.

If you have a Sinclair branded drive it's likely going to be 720K (780 for Sinclair format) drive which is fine for the disk controller on the Trump card.

Ok, thanks - then I'll try that!

tofro wrote: Thu Feb 02, 2023 1:39 pm Very likely yes (well, if it worked before )

Note you need to use a straight (un-twisted) ribbon cable and not something "non-standard" that came from a PC.

You can safely use the untwisted connector that is on all PC cables though

Hi,

If you are going use a PC Floopy Disk Drive, which will have the drive select set to drive 1 or DS1, all that is required is to straighten the twist in the floppy cable and twist lines 10,11,12 to use the drive as DS0 or FLP1

If you need a cable I can supply one.

Also be aware that floppy drive of the 80's (well, the shugart standar) can be used up to 4 at same time (and trump card II support 4 floppy drives), so check the jumpers/configuration of the drive, or check with "dir flp1_" to "dir flp4_"