Xebec Sider for Apple II

From: Ernest <ernestls_at_home.com>
Date: Thu Nov 15 10:30:07 2001

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org
> [mailto:owner-classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org]On Behalf Of Rich Beaudry
> Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2001 11:32 AM
> To: classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org
> Subject: Xebec Sider for Apple II
>
>
> Hello all,
>
> I recently received a Xebec Sider drive (external hard drive for the Apple
> II) -- Thanks RE!
>
> It did not, however, come with the card that goes in the Apple II, nor did
> it come with the cable.
>
> Judging by their going price on eBay, I know this is a futile attempt, but
> does anybody have a spare card/cable that they'd be willing to
> part with (or
> could be pried out of their hands by $)?
>
> I'd rather not pay eBay prices, so perhaps a trade??
>
> Anyway, let me know, and try not to laugh too hard....

I have a complete Sider setup, and it's a fun device to have on an Apple II.
>From what I've seen, the cards are not the valuable part of the setup. The
Drive is. Like most of the old Apple II cards, the Xebec card is fairly
durable and will continue to work for years. The drive on the other hand is
not so durable, and of the six that have passed through my hands, only two
of them still worked. Plus, it seems that as these old Apple II computers
are sold off, the Xebec cards get separated from the drives and sold or
given away, and the drives are thrown out, etc. My experience with these
setups is the cards are not common but much easier to find than the drive.
So if you have the drive, you're well on your way.

I should say that before you spend to much effort looking for the card, make
sure that your drive works. To do this, plug it in, turn it on, and make
sure that the power light comes on and the drive spins up. If the drive
doesn't spin up, you could have a problem. If it doesn't spin up, open the
case and try switching the power connector to the drive (there are two of
them.) If it still doesn't work, then you likely have a dead drive, which is
fairly common.

The Xebec card is a SASI (not SCSI) controller, and to the best of my
knowledge will only work with the Sider drive. That also means that if the
drive is dead, you'll have a difficult if not impossible time finding a
replacement drive for it. Also, make sure that you're drive has the
terminator cap on one of the two plugs on the back. I had to have one custom
made because mine was missing. Obviously, you'll also need the connecting
cable between the drive and the Xebec card.

Anyway, if you turn the drive on, and the power light comes on and the drive
spins up, be happy because you'll have a much easier time finding the
controller card. Try asking on the comp.sys.apple2 newsgroup. Someone there
probably has a spare controller card for it. I have the user manual and
setup disks if you get that far, and I can mail copies to you.

E.
Received on Thu Nov 15 2001 - 10:30:07 GMT