Enterprise Forever

:UK => Hardware => Interface => Topic started by: JihemB on 2018.September.01. 12:40:52

Title: Tape emulator vs HxC vs SD Card interface ?
Post by: JihemB on 2018.September.01. 12:40:52
Hi.

Sorry to land in this thread with questions that was certainly previously answered but, for example, the SD interface thead is 29 pages long !

I have a Enterprise 128 I would like to feed with programs (I only own the demonstration tape) so what could be the best option for me ?
 - Tape emulator (or real tape deck) ? Is there a way to make real tapes or to convert E128 tapes images into wav files I could play with a ArduiTape (portable wav file player) ?

 - HxC disc emulator ? Is there an affordable "ready-to-plug" interface somewhere (I already have a HxC) ?

 - SD Card interface ? I tried to contact the guy who wrote an article in 2014 about this but with no success. As previously mentionned the "SD Card interface" thread is 29 pages long, so is there an affordable "ready-to-plug" interface available that I could buy ?

Thanks in advance for your answers.
Title: Re: Tape emulator vs HxC vs SD Card interface ?
Post by: tofro on 2018.September.01. 14:57:31
I was in your situation some months ago and my favourite storage would have been the SD card interface. I have repeatedly tried to contact SzörG who used to make them, but he doesn't seem to produce them any more.

My second best choice was a disk interface, I now have one of pear's EXOS cards (here (https://enterpriseforever.com/hardware/creating-exdos-card-clone/150/)) and am entirely happy with it (Maybe not as happy as with an SD card, but happy enough). I use the EXOS card with a dual "real" floppy drive, but a HxC wouldn't be much different.

It would be nice if someone could be persuaded to produce a number of new SD card cartridges.

Tobias
Title: Re: Tape emulator vs HxC vs SD Card interface ?
Post by: gflorez on 2018.September.01. 15:12:44
There  are several ways to feed sound to the Enterprise Tape: input, but I don't recommend it to you unless you enjoy super-slow loads and squeaky chirps.....

As tofro suggest, HxC works perfectly on the Enterprise+EXDOS. Even there is a HxC Rom available to select disk images from the computer.

About SD-cartridges, no new batches since some years... The problem is, it is a private project from Szorg, and he hasn't freed the details so some other developer can build more units.
Title: Re: Tape emulator vs HxC vs SD Card interface ?
Post by: John Fante on 2018.September.01. 17:47:40
Hi.

Sorry to land in this thread with questions that was certainly previously answered but, for example, the SD interface thead is 29 pages long !

I have a Enterprise 128 I would like to feed with programs (I only own the demonstration tape) so what could be the best option for me ?
 - Tape emulator (or real tape deck) ? Is there a way to make real tapes or to convert E128 tapes images into wav files I could play with a ArduiTape (portable wav file player) ?

 - HxC disc emulator ? Is there an affordable "ready-to-plug" interface somewhere (I already have a HxC) ?

 - SD Card interface ? I tried to contact the guy who wrote an article in 2014 about this but with no success. As previously mentionned the "SD Card interface" thread is 29 pages long, so is there an affordable "ready-to-plug" interface available that I could buy ?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

I went with the interface from Pear and HxC. Works very well :-)

... I have also tried contacting Szorg but also without any luck. Would be great if he would release the project. Maybe a small bounty could get things going?!? :-)
Title: Re: Tape emulator vs HxC vs SD Card interface ?
Post by: JihemB on 2018.September.01. 17:49:07
Hi.
Thanks both of you for the answers.
I also regret the SD interface project is frozen for a while.

Following your advises I just contacted Pear to buy a EXDOS interface.

Meanwhile GFLOREZ, to feed my computer, do you know some TAPE-to-WAV Tools for the ENTERPRISE computer I could use with my ArduiTape ?

JihemB
Title: Re: Tape emulator vs HxC vs SD Card interface ?
Post by: Zozosoft on 2018.September.01. 20:23:48
There is a topic (https://enterpriseforever.com/other-topics/converting-games-to-wav/) about creating WAV files.
Title: Re: Tape emulator vs HxC vs SD Card interface ?
Post by: Dr.OG on 2018.September.02. 05:54:29
I use a Gotek (similar to HxC, but much cheaper) with freefloppy firmware + a real 3,5" Sony FDD & Pear's EXDOS card clone V2, this config works flawless!

Of coure, I would be very happy if a new production run of SD card interface would start...