Tandy 3.5" floppy and NEC 8201A

From: Fred Cisin <cisin_at_xenosoft.com>
Date: Thu Dec 13 20:15:39 2001

On Thu, 13 Dec 2001, Cameron Kaiser wrote:
> I read on a website that the Tandy 3.5" floppy intended for the M100/200
> series can be connected and driven by an NEC 8201A. This seems feasable and
> I find my 8201A much more portable than the M200 that I also have. However,
> the guy never responded to my E-mail.
> What would I need to set this up? I do have the original RS-232 cable. What
> I don't have are any kind of DOS disks.

IIRC, it was "not quite" RS-232. But that wouldn't be a problem in using
the NEC, instead of the RS, as they are both made by Kyocera with similar
circuitry.

There USED TO BE a program for the NEC for using the first version of the
Tandy drive. There was also a program for PC to use it, but ISTR a
requirement of a tiny amount of circuitry to dela with different voltage
levels.

There also was a widely circulated multi-page discussion of the
interfacing issues, sufficient to write your own.

I don't recall ever seeing any provision for using the second version of
the Tandy drive with anything but the 100 series.


Unfortunately, the copy of the article and the software for the NEC that I
used to have are long gone.
Received on Thu Dec 13 2001 - 20:15:39 GMT