Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!mailrus!um-math!hyc
From: hyc@math.lsa.umich.edu (Howard Chu)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Question on 1.44 meg drives...
Message-ID: <706@stag.math.lsa.umich.edu>
Date: 28 Jun 89 01:20:32 GMT
References: <8906261817.AA17231@jade.berkeley.edu>
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Reply-To: hyc@math.lsa.umich.edu (Howard Chu)
Organization: University of Michigan Math Dept., Ann Arbor
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In article <8906261817.AA17231@jade.berkeley.edu> WSCART01@ULKYVX.BITNET writes:
>
> I suppose most of you are aware of 1.44 Meg drives out for the IBM. They
>use 160 tracks instead of the 80 tracks normal drives. The question i'm
>pondering is: Why has no one hooked one up to an ST? I suppose there is
>either a harware or software diffuculty to overcome. Does anyone know
>which, and exactly what the problem is?

Sure, the WD1772 floppy controller chip in the ST can't handle the data
density. It's only able to handle single and double density, which amounts
to 125 and 250kbits/sec. The density select line is also permanently wired
for double-den... If Western Digital has a somewhat-compatible newer controller
chip that you can use, it shouldn't be too hard to upgrade, but for now,
it wouldn't be easy.
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