Bennyroger,

That's impressive!

Do you know the cassette PIN layout for SVI-728 for it by any chance? Please see my question in the beginning of this thread. I made a standard audio jack <-> 8-pin connector cable, but could only save programs from MSX, uploading stuff failed. However, it have no reasons to believe the CASIN is faulty. I am getting a cassette recorder in the next few days that comes with a cable to test the input.

I have the pinout:

2
4 5
1 8 3
6 2
1-gnd
2-gnd
3-gnd
4-sound out
5-sound in
6-remote+
7-remote-
8-gnd

(thats at the computer plug)

Quote:

Bennyroger, That's impressive! Do you know the cassette PIN layout for SVI-728 for it by any chance? Please see my question in the beginning of this thread. I made a standard audio jack <-> 8-pin connector cable, but could only save programs from MSX, uploading stuff failed. However, it have no reasons to believe the CASIN is faulty. I am getting a cassette recorder in the next few days that comes with a cable to test the input.

Isn't that pinout on the FAQ? http://faq.msxnet.org/connector.html

yes, seems to be the same Spectravideo 728 uses a standard plug.
I use the same cable on all my msx computers.

I have one SVI 728 and the original datacassete of SVI
Its one of the best msx1 computers

Thanks for the PIN layout. This is the one I used in my cable as well, except that I only soldered pins 2 (GND), 4 (CMTOUT) and 5 (CMTIN). Do you think it's essential to ground pins 1, 3 and 8?

I fear the CMTIN might not be working in my computer, but I will wait till the SVI cassette recorder arrives to test it properly.

I've just received my SVI-728 and tried to load from tape. It works flawlessly with a standard MSX tape cable; so in your case it must be a faulty cable, try to ground all the pins...
Edit: I've tested the cable and it has ground only in pin 2 and shield. The rest of the pins soldered are CMTOUT, CMTIN (all of them grounded to 2 & shield) and REM+/REM- (that I suposse you can left apart). Seems that pins 1,3 & 8 are loose.

jltursan: I am glad it worked for you. It's a great computer. I am supposed to receive my cassette recorder soon as well. We'll see how it goes.
In my cable, 2 was ground, but not shield. Perhaps that made the difference. I am not 100% confident the soldering on CMTIN was good. (I ran out of flux :-( )I will re-solder the cable again and make sure ground is in both pin 2 and shield. Yes, REM+/REM- are not required for the audio jack to 8-pin cassette input cable.

I'm also an SVI-728 owner since many years. I've got a Spectravideo 5.25" floppy drive which also contains the controller under the casing. However, I usually use my SVI-738 X'Press or my SVI-328 (non MSX).

I bought a Sony MSX2 HB-F1XDmk2 yesterday and expect it to arrive in the next few weeks.

I would be happy to buy a 3.5" floppy drive for SVI-728, but I understand it's next to impossible. Nowind USB, when it comes out, should be an excellent alternative.

I still have not received my SVI cassette recorder from the seller. I hope my cassette input works...

You can use a normal 3.5" DSDD drive if you find a SVI-728 5.25" drive. The disk controller has the same design as in the SVI-738 so you can even update the BIOS.

A Nowind cart would be nice, I’ll certenlity order one myself when it shows up.

Another possibility is to build your own FDC, an WD2793 doesn’t need much glue logic.

Can you suggest a site with information on how to build an FDC based WD2793?

Unfortunately, I don't have the service manual for the SVI-728 but the schematics for SVI-738 can be found on Hans Otten’s site.

Another good resource for the design is Francis Görmarker's FDC, however it’s not for MSX but you get a pretty good idea what’s needed. The WD2797 has built in side select so you have to decode that yourself if using the WD2793. The clock is also to high because it’s for high density.

If you are familiar with CPLD, the 8-Bit Baby board can for example be used for prototyping.

The SVI.738 X'Press Technical Reference Manual
http://www.hansotten.com/msxsvi738.html

Francis Görmarker's Floppy disk controller for Z80/Z180 (not MSX)
http://home.swipnet.se/~w-68269/wd_fdc/wd_fdc.htm

I finally received the SVI-767 cassette recorder for my SVI-728 computer. It worked perfectly fine! I feared my CMTIN was faulty. :-) It's not. The next step is to buy some soldering flux and make a new cable to load stuff from a PC or CD player.

jltursan: Have you tried loading programs from PC/CD by now?

gargamel: Thank you for the SVI and FDD controller links.

Quote:

Have you tried loading programs from PC/CD by now?

Not on the SVI; but they usually loads without problems; so I don't think that it could be hard to get it work. Some time ago I tested with success WAV and MP3 loading on my FS-A1FX, the last one can be specially handy if the player supports long names and directory browsing!