Details on Fastload protocol

RhinoDevel / cbmtapepi

Use a Raspberry Pi as fast mass storage solution for your Commodore 8-bit computer using just the datassette port.

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Details on Fastload protocol #1

Closed picontrolit closed 3 years ago

picontrolit commented 3 years ago

Hello RhinoDevel, it would be great if you could share some details on the fastload protocol. I am currently using a DIY (Arduino based) Tapuino "datasette". A fastmode for it would be fantastic. BR, Alex

RhinoDevel commented 3 years ago

Hi Alex,

the details are available in the code:

cbm holds the Commodore client code.
app/petload the Pi server code.

Also take a look at the file protocol.txt, but beware, it is in a work-in-progress state.

The protocol currently "handshakes" every bit, this is why the fast mode's rate is around 2.5kByte/s, only (still much faster than tape).

The implementation is specific to the way the datassette port connections are used (MOTOR, READ, WRITE, SENSE), see connecting circuit.

I do not know if/how this is applicable to Tapuino as I do not know how Tapuino works / what it can do.

picontrolit commented 3 years ago

Many thanks. For the Tapuino I followed http://sweetlilmre.blogspot.com/2014/07/tapuino-20-c64-tape-emulator.html It works like a charm (using tap files) but the speed is dead slow.

RhinoDevel commented 3 years ago

Many thanks. For the Tapuino I followed http://sweetlilmre.blogspot.com/2014/07/tapuino-20-c64-tape-emulator.html It works like a charm (using tap files) but the speed is dead slow.

CBM Tape Pi's fast mode would work with "default" (Commodore format) TAP files, but not with TAP files using a custom format (tape fast loaders, copy protection stuff, etc.). I am pretty sure that would be true for a fast mode added to Tapuino, too.

What I would like to do is porting CBM Tape Pi to Arduino, but there are no concrete plans.