[Ham-Computers] RE: Odd 3.5" Drive.
Hsu, Aaron (NBC Universal)
aaron.hsu at nbcuni.com
Thu Jun 26 17:06:56 EDT 2008
BTW, does the drive look like this?
http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190223419134&indexURL=3#ebayphotohosting
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2008 12:50 PM
Subject: [Ham-Computers] RE: Odd 3.5" Drive.
Don't know what device used this drive, but believe it or not, it seems that the DB23 does/did exist for another device - the Commodore Amiga video connector. Here's a website where you can search for cables by connector type:
http://www.connectworld.net/cgi-bin/ccc/05MByCoDB.html
A quick Google shows that the Teach FD-235F might be a standard floppy drive with a special interface that draws power from the interface cable. Therefore, you can't use it as a floppy drive in a "regular" PC - the connector is the same, but the drive expects power from some of the pins.
Hmmm, some additional Googling on the keywords "db23 floppy" shows that the Amiga floppy drive used a DB23 connector. In fact, here's a link to an Amiga Hardware site showing an external floppy expansion board. Look at the connectors...look familiar?
http://www.amiga-hardware.com/showhardware.cgi?HARDID=382
I think the mystery might be solved! Looks like the drive might belong to an Amiga 2000. See the tech specs here under "Input/Output Connections":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amiga_2000
I was actually more intrigued by the manufacturer's name, "Oceanic America". Any relation to "Oceanic Airlines" (for you "Lost" fans out there)?
73,
- Aaron, NN6O
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2008 11:07 AM
Subject: Re: [Ham-Computers] Odd 3.5" Drive.
: Are there any identifiable manufacturer's markings on it?
The words on the front of the drive is: MASTER-3A1
The model is Oceanic America, Inc.
FCCID HFK3393A
Typical Part 15 words under that.
The case is just big enough for the floppy drive an an interface card. The
floppy is a Teac FD-235F, 34 pin header on it, looks like the IDE drives in
my computer. The interface card has no name that I can see, but an in-house
part number of 11DM100031, and a board date of 1989 10 27. There are two
ICs on the interface board and a 24 pin double row header. The mask on the
PCB near the header only has a 1 and 23 on it. The wiring harness connected
to that header has 23 wires. This passes through the back of the case and
terminates in a DB23 male connector.
Kurt
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