Emu-FDC R3 with a MSX Turbo-R not working

Hero (593)

19-05-2023, 19:06

Hi,

recently I bought an Emu-FDC R3 from 8bits4ever. To get a jump start they provided a zip file with three disk games (Road Fighter, Kings Valley and Sonyc) and a default config. The two MSX1 games work like a charm (so the cartridge is working perfectly) but Sonyc is not. The game detects the TR, shows the Analogy logo and after pressing the spacebar is stops loading. I already contacted 8bits4ever but they don't have a clue what's the issue at the moment. They tested Sonyc on a MSX2 with a v9958 but not on a TR. So I discussed it with some friends and we found out the following:

- when I put Sonyc on a DOS2 disk, the game works (but I guess it uses the diskrom from the TR at that moment).
- Someone who has build a GoTek in a Philips VY-0010 has the same issue when trying to start the game on a TR (he upgraded the diskrom to play 720kb disks).
- when I put a GR8NET in slot 1 and the Emu-FDC in slot 2, it loads nextor, I can switch to drive B: (Emu-FDC) and when starting Sonyc with sonyc.com the game works like charm.
- Someone who has replaced the internal drive of his TR with a GoTek can run Sonyc without any problems.
- Also tested with an other game, XAK2, but the game won't even boot on a TR. When I put the Emu-FDC in a Sony F9P the XAK2 game starts and works perfect.

In the FF.CFG i use the following settings:

interface = ibmpc
host = MSX
pin02 = rdy
pin34 = chg

but also tried the auto value for pin02 and pin34.

So after all these tests my best guess is that the diskROM (looks a custom one that also supports 360kb 5.25 inch) used in the Emu-FDC is not compatible with the TR, but I'm not a hardware expert. Does anybody has an idea on how to fix it? or has the same setup that does work?

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Par mars2000you

Enlighted (6562)

19-05-2023, 19:39

Do you have tried by disabling the R800 mode (you need to boot while pressing the "1" key)?

Par Sylvester

Hero (593)

19-05-2023, 20:24

Just tested it, but same issue, the game stops after the Analogy logo.

Par Jipe

Paragon (1625)

20-05-2023, 10:47

try with pressing the CTRL KEY at init

Par Sylvester

Hero (593)

20-05-2023, 14:40

Sorry, forgot to mention, already tried that but didn't solve the issue.

Par sdsnatcher73

Enlighted (4305)

20-05-2023, 20:18

Just use host=msx (I think it should be in lower case) all the rest is unnecessary or even wrong. But I guess the DiskROM is the culprit here. I wonder if it can be flashed to a “normal” MSX DiskROM.

Honestly if you want disk emulation from a MSX cartridge the best option is a RookieDrive NX with the 2.0 FDD ROM https://github.com/Konamiman/RookieDrive-FDD-ROM from konamiman. It gives you an on screen selection of disk images (instead of the rather awkward 2 button navigation on a Gotek/EmuFDC). And there is a version available that disables the internal diskdrives (called the exclusive mode). And yes this does run Sonyc on my FS-A1ST! (Not saying EmuFDC is a bad product, I have one but I prefer my RDNX ;))

Par Sylvester

Hero (593)

20-05-2023, 23:10

Updated the FF.CFG with just host=msx but same issue, game stops after the analogy logo. Does Sonyc work on your ST with the Emu-FDC?

And there are probably better products out there, but I just wanted to test this one since it should be Turbo-R compatible and looks like an easy way to play multi disk games.

Par sdsnatcher73

Enlighted (4305)

21-05-2023, 07:08

No it does not work on my ST, the disk ROM is most likely the issue. I will ask 8bits4ever if there is a way to flash a normal (e.g. Philips or Sony) disk ROM.

Par Sylvester

Hero (593)

21-05-2023, 11:14

I wonder if a normal disk ROM wil solve the problem, as said in my initial post, I know somebody who has a Gotek in his external Philips drive with a 720kb disk ROM and he has the same issues. His gotek even has has a slightly newer firmware then the Emu-FDC.

I think the solution would be to disable disk ROM on the Emu-FDC so it uses the one from the TR, but i'm not a hardware expert so i'm not sure if that will work. (on my GR8NET I also disabled the disk ROM and that works perfect).

Par Jipe

Paragon (1625)

21-05-2023, 11:37

download this version and try it : https://hwado.tistory.com/205

Par Sylvester

Hero (593)

21-05-2023, 12:12

Just to clarify, 8bits4ever provides 3 dsk files for an initial setup and tested these images. That's the reason I now focus on sonyc since they don't give support for other dsk images.

But if it helps, I downloaded that version and it has the same issue. The only reason I created this thread is to understand why it doesn't work on a TR so 8bit4ever can hopefully fix it.