Thanks so much for making this video: it's the missing manual that Bugaj should've supplied! The buttons don't even have any labels... Anyway, I've subscribed. :)
Hint: if you CAT some original protected DSK you will not get file list but it will instead show a message like "write RUN"MENU" to run the game" or similar. Also if you try to CAT a CPM DSK you also just get a error message about it being unreadable. Then try the |CPM to run the disc instead.
Tune the FF firmware to not enter automatically directories/select images. Just create/modify the config file on the pendrive. Then You'll have to press the 3rd key to select things, but you;ll never get stuck like you did.
@@amstradnoob It's pretty logical, you know. People often install FF on basic Gotex from China, which have only 2 buttons. Without auto-selection it would be not possible to use it. It's good we can change it with configuration.
@@ericpearson9724You are perfectly wrong. As far as we talk about floppy emulation part - it's a standard Flash Floppy powered Gotek and it's firmware can be updated like in any other Gotek drive. Been there, done that - I have a DDI5.
@@ericpearson9724 Update firmware procedure. Copy latest Flash floppy firmware from Keir page, copy UPD file to pendrive . Press and right button , power on interface.release button, firmware update will be start. After few seconds , is done. Simply as stick. github.com/keirf/FlashFloppy/wiki/Downloads
@@gregskuza7166 i didn't own a spectrum, my first 8bit computer was a ZX81, which was useless. And then I got a CPC 6128 in the mid 80's. I remember playing Jet Set Willy 2 on my friends CPC 464 and it was great fun, but I don't recall playing Manic Miner at any time on any platform
this (in the video) www.amstrad-noob.com/2021/01/26/connecting-an-amstrad-cpc-to-an-external-lcd/ but this one is also an option www.amstrad-noob.com/2021/12/17/first-looks-at-the-rgb2hdmi-adapter-from-piotr-bugaj/
I live in Sweden so I always have to pay when I order stuff from the 'UK', and when I bought this it came from Piotrs UK shop so I had to pay some minimal import duty, you should check with Piotr
Jet Set Willy was the sequel to Manic Miner. (And Jet Set Willy II was simply Jet Set Willy on the Amstrad because.... reasons) It's all very complicated and there were some very dubious business practices involved as well.
It really depends on what YOU want, I find the Dandanators are excellent for their simplicity, colour, styling and ability to run diagnostics on Amstrads, the GUI interface is also very easy to use, programming them with new games/diags is relatively easy once you know how. The DDI5 on the other hand offers the ability to have gazillions of games (as much as your USB drive can store), however the interface for navigating them is painful if they are not all stored in the root. I have 2 different types of DDI, and 3 Dandanators. You should also consider the M4, it has loads of features, I blogged about it here > www.amstrad-noob.com/?s=m4
yes, but not the DDI5, it's more like a DDI mini, I connected to the LCD using this setup www.amstrad-noob.com/2021/01/26/connecting-an-amstrad-cpc-to-an-external-lcd/
I want ask If the PInball Dreams run properly on your Amstrad because on my Schneider CPC 464 with DDI 5 it has some glitches with sound and it crash after one ball lose ?
good question, I found this info, does it help ? www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/CP/M_2.2 it seems that it doesn't require any extra RAM but does require a disc drive interface, so by all accounts this sounds like it would work with the DDI 5, if i get time i'll try and test it
@@amstradnoob CPM 2.2 will work no doubt. It's just the CPM 3/plus on the 6128 that uses the extra RAM. CP/M 3 puts large parts of the OS into the extra RAM bank to have like 61k free for programs. It also does more caching of disk access, which is a big improvement, too.
It's a disc drive emulator so games have to be in the dsk format. I've got one of these plugged into my CPC6128 and it plays 128k games fine. You'd need a RAM expansion to play them on a 464. I believe there is a combined RAM expansion and DDI available somewhere.
Thanks so much for making this video: it's the missing manual that Bugaj should've supplied! The buttons don't even have any labels... Anyway, I've subscribed. :)
thanks for subscribing ! and thanks for your comments too ! much appreciated
Hint: if you CAT some original protected DSK you will not get file list but it will instead show a message like "write RUN"MENU" to run the game" or similar. Also if you try to CAT a CPM DSK you also just get a error message about it being unreadable. Then try the |CPM to run the disc instead.
Wow. Amazing!!
Tune the FF firmware to not enter automatically directories/select images. Just create/modify the config file on the pendrive. Then You'll have to press the 3rd key to select things, but you;ll never get stuck like you did.
good point, but this is not provided by default with the DDI5 as it comes, so it's a learning experience
@@amstradnoob It's pretty logical, you know. People often install FF on basic Gotex from China, which have only 2 buttons. Without auto-selection it would be not possible to use it. It's good we can change it with configuration.
@@ericpearson9724You are perfectly wrong. As far as we talk about floppy emulation part - it's a standard Flash Floppy powered Gotek and it's firmware can be updated like in any other Gotek drive. Been there, done that - I have a DDI5.
@@ericpearson9724 Update firmware procedure. Copy latest Flash floppy firmware from Keir page, copy UPD file to pendrive . Press and right button , power on interface.release button, firmware update will be start. After few seconds , is done. Simply as stick. github.com/keirf/FlashFloppy/wiki/Downloads
Manic Miner came before Jet Set Willy :)
you learn something new every day :-) thanks for watching
@@amstradnoob man, I can’t believe you didn’t know that but I get a feeling that you didn’t own spectrum back then?
@@gregskuza7166 i didn't own a spectrum, my first 8bit computer was a ZX81, which was useless. And then I got a CPC 6128 in the mid 80's. I remember playing Jet Set Willy 2 on my friends CPC 464 and it was great fun, but I don't recall playing Manic Miner at any time on any platform
Hi. Great video. So if I'm correct, this is a ram expansion and DDI all in one? I've a 464 and want to use the 128k games.
yes you are correct ! so if you want to play 128k games or use even more RAM then this is for you !
Hi. Is Piotr supplying these to the UK? Looking to get one.
What device did you use to use the lcd with Cpc?
this (in the video) www.amstrad-noob.com/2021/01/26/connecting-an-amstrad-cpc-to-an-external-lcd/ but this one is also an option www.amstrad-noob.com/2021/12/17/first-looks-at-the-rgb2hdmi-adapter-from-piotr-bugaj/
Nice video.
These could be upgraded to 512k.
With a internal fitted module.
Some cpc 464 models have upgraded ram.
But they rare.
I'm poised over "add to basket" atm!
Just wondering if you had any unexpected charges when the package arrived in the UK?
I live in Sweden so I always have to pay when I order stuff from the 'UK', and when I bought this it came from Piotrs UK shop so I had to pay some minimal import duty, you should check with Piotr
Jet Set Willy was the sequel to Manic Miner. (And Jet Set Willy II was simply Jet Set Willy on the Amstrad because.... reasons) It's all very complicated and there were some very dubious business practices involved as well.
Is it better a ddi5 or a dandanator ?
It really depends on what YOU want, I find the Dandanators are excellent for their simplicity, colour, styling and ability to run diagnostics on Amstrads, the GUI interface is also very easy to use, programming them with new games/diags is relatively easy once you know how. The DDI5 on the other hand offers the ability to have gazillions of games (as much as your USB drive can store), however the interface for navigating them is painful if they are not all stored in the root. I have 2 different types of DDI, and 3 Dandanators. You should also consider the M4, it has loads of features, I blogged about it here > www.amstrad-noob.com/?s=m4
Hi there does the colour of the ddi5 mathch the cpc perfectly?
it looks ok to me, i think Piotr even does RED coloured versions of the DDI5, but you'd have to ask him about that
Interesting, exist similar solution for 6128 ? How you have connect a vga monitor to cpc ?
yes, but not the DDI5, it's more like a DDI mini, I connected to the LCD using this setup www.amstrad-noob.com/2021/01/26/connecting-an-amstrad-cpc-to-an-external-lcd/
here is the one that Piotr made for the Amstrad CPC 6128 www.sellmyretro.com/offer/details/28723
I want ask If the PInball Dreams run properly on your Amstrad because on my Schneider CPC 464 with DDI 5 it has some glitches with sound and it crash after one ball lose ?
it's worked for me from what i remember, but I can test and verify again
Minor ( no pun intended) correction: Jet Set Willy was the sequel to Manic Miner.
I didn't know that until today, so thanks everyone for letting me know :-)
interesting. Is there a limitation on the size of the USB key ? and it's not "complex" to navigate ?
i think the limits to the size of the USB key will be down to fat32 support, i've used a 4gb and 16gb key without any issues
I would love to see if CPM works with this device, and especially, will the 464 be able to run the CP/M Plus from the 6128?
good question, I found this info, does it help ? www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/CP/M_2.2 it seems that it doesn't require any extra RAM but does require a disc drive interface, so by all accounts this sounds like it would work with the DDI 5, if i get time i'll try and test it
@@amstradnoob CPM 2.2 will work no doubt. It's just the CPM 3/plus on the 6128 that uses the extra RAM. CP/M 3 puts large parts of the OS into the extra RAM bank to have like 61k free for programs. It also does more caching of disk access, which is a big improvement, too.
Can the ddi5 play 128k physical tape games, or even digital 128k games?
It's a disc drive emulator so games have to be in the dsk format. I've got one of these plugged into my CPC6128 and it plays 128k games fine. You'd need a RAM expansion to play them on a 464. I believe there is a combined RAM expansion and DDI available somewhere.
yes it can (DSK files), for example Robocop will use the 128k to store sound samples as demonstrated at the end of this video
@@darrenwilson99 you must have a different DDI model as this one is 464 only, it will not work on the CPC 6128 as that has it's own FDD rom built in
@@amstradnoob very cool! Thanks!
What is this exactly?
watch the video and it should answer your questions I hope :)
@@amstradnoob I will!