Download "Watford Disk Drive Interface Schematic.pdf"": https://forum.tlienhard.com/phpBB3/down ... p?id=15801Pierre » 16.07.2023
Hi
My first post here. I am from South Africa and unfortunately I have to post in English as Afrikaans is my first language and English my second. I was requested by one of the members to post the experience that I had to re-create a ZX Spectrum Watford Disk Interface. The story started in 1985 where we managed to get hold of an Interface in South Africa and drew out a diagram of it and manufactured a few locally. I stopped using mine probably in 1987 when I changed to a locally designed system designed by a local engineer Rocky Gush. I can also post all the details about that interface if anybody want it. The Watford interface needs a DOS boot disk where the Rocky Gush system has the DOS in ROM and it also has a Centronics Printer interface. Back in 2011 I wanted to start up my Watford interface again, but could not get hold of the boot disk. I tried on all forums but was not successful to get an image. Two years ago I manged to get an image, but my interface was lost. Last year I re-designed a PCB, but could not get the system to work. I used a Greaseweazle interface to create the boot disk. I had to put the project in sleep mode and finally found two weeks ago I had a few data lines reversed when I drew the diagram from the original drawing on a CAD program. Anyway, it is working now. I will share the original diagram, re-drawn diagram an a few pictures of the system. I designed the board to be 100x100 in order to get cheap boards made at JLCPCB. The wires on the board is to correct the data lines as mentioned. I had to cut a few tracks and soldered a few wires in. I have in the meantime changed the diagram and PCB to the correct configuration. If anybody want more info, please ask. I see now that I can only attach 5 files, so I could not add the picture of the board from the front.
Regards
Pierre
Download "SPDOS Diagram Original.pdf": https://forum.tlienhard.com/phpBB3/down ... p?id=15800
