Side Switch

AMSDOS is designed for single sided disc drives, and the disc drive in the CPC664, CPC6128, CPC6128+, DDI-1 and FD-1 are single sided. However, it is possible to use both sides of a 3" floppy disc by turning it over.

But, if you have a 3.5" second drive you will only be able to use one side of a 3.5" floppy disc because it is not possible to turn over a 3.5" disc and put it into the drive!

If you want to use both sides with AMSDOS, you will need a side switch.

The side switch is designed so that you can use:

• both sides of a 3.5" disc with the AMSDOS disk operating system,
• software written for 3" discs on a 3.5" disc (e.g. games)

Note, that the CPC floppy disc controller does support double sided disc drives, and both sides can be used if you use another DOS. (e.g. C/PM, Parados, Romdos etc).

The switch has two positions.

Position 1:

When the switch is in position 1:

• side 1 can be used with AMSDOS
• both sides can be used with another DOS.

When the switch is in position 2:

• side 2 can be used with AMSDOS
• do not use this position with another DOS, because only side 2 will be selected!

The switch

The switch is a SPST (Single-Pole, Single-Throw) toggle type. The switch is locking in both directions, and has 3 contacts.

The switch:

The connections:

This switch can be fitted internally or externally.

            Cable

SIDE 1 SEL |     | GND
           |     |
           o     o
            \
SPST switch  \
              o
              |
              |
              | Side 1 Sel

             FDD

Technical

The side select signal is generated by the FDC and is active low.

• When side 1 is selected "/SIDE SELECT" signal to the disc drive will be "1"
• When side 2 is selected "/SIDE SELECT" signal to the disc drive will be "0".

When the switch is in position 1, the side select signal is not changed:

• "/SIDE SELECT" input to the switch will become "/SIDE SELECT" output from the switch,

Therefore the drive will access either side 0 or side 1, depending on the "/SIDE SELECT" output from the FDC. When used with AMSDOS, side 1 will always be accessed. When used with another DOS that supports double-sided discs, side 1 or side 2 can be used.

When the switch is in position 2, the signal is forced to "0":

• "/SIDE SELECT" output from the switch will be "0"

Therefore the drive will always access side 2.