[Techtoolslist] FLUKE 9100A SCSI to CF Adapter - Success with Stratos CF AZTECMONSTER

[John Robertson]

John Robertson wrote:

> John Robertson wrote:

>> techtools-steve wrote:

>>> I received a couple emails inquiring about the SCSI to CF adapter I 

>>> used so here are the details.  Everything you need is currently 

>>> available at a reasonable price and the physical installation was 

>>> rather painless.

>>>

>>> The adapter I used is the Stratos CF AZTECMONSTER and you can buy 

>>> one direct from Japan http://www.artmix.com/CF_AztecMonster.html but 

>>> I found it easier and with significantly cheaper shipping to pick 

>>> one up on ebay.  There were multiple listings for the board on ebay 

>>> yesterday but it appears each had multiple bidders and closed above 

>>> the starting price.

>>>

>>> My FLUKE 9100A has the V6 roms installed and was configured using 

>>> Service Disk 1.4.  I have successfully loaded the v4-1b software 

>>> with the v6.1 update pending availability of new disks (hint-hint 

>>> Andre)!

>>

>> You speak of V6 roms, whereas I thought the last version was the V5 

>> for 40MB SCSI upgrade as I have those on Flippers. If you have 

>> something labelled V6 I'd love a copy to see if that may have an 

>> effect on my AztecMonster integration.

>>>

>>> http://arcadehacking.com/public/fluke/FLUKE9100A_CF_AZTECHMONSTER_01.jpg 

>>>

>>> ...

>>>

>>> I hope this info helps someone else unbrick their Fluke 9100 after a 

>>> fatal hard disk failure.

>> Well, not so far!

>>

>> I have been unable to get any of my 9100s including the 9100FT/68030 

>> to recognize the Aztecmonster with a Transcribe 128MB CF card at all. 

>> Keep getting errors when the unit tries to format the drive. The 

>> cable and machine handle a regular SCSI drive just fine so I have to 

>> wonder if you have anything unusual in your setup.

>>

>> I get this error with the AzetecMonster:

>>

>> "Error Setting 512/Sector Format" followed by "sensekey:05 

>> additional:26"

>>

>> Using an ACARD ACE7720U with an IDE to CF adapter I get this error 

>> message...

>>

>> "Can't seek to track 0" followed by "sensekey:05 additional:26"

>>

>> Any SCSI experts here who can interpret these messages?

>>

>> I've tried other CF cards, but all I had were 512MB and larger, the 

>> 128 was the only 'small' card here.

>>

>> Thanks!

>>

>> John :-#)#

>>

> Just tried some "SMART Modular Technologies" 64MB cards and still no 

> joy. Has anyone else been successful with the AztecMonster and if so, 

> which brand and size of cards did you use?

>

> Steve, I see that you used Kodak 128MB successfully, have you tried 

> any other cards?

>

> The manufacturer of the AztecMonster has been of little use, in 

> response to my question:

>

> I'm sorry, but I must be doing something wrong...the device is not 

> working in my application which is to replace a regular SCSI hard 

> drive in a piece of Fluke test gear - the 9100 series of 

> microprocessor testers. Two of my Fluke 9100A units (both of which 

> boot fine from the hard drive and can format regular SCSI drives) fail 

> to format the CF card.

>

> I get the error message "Error Setting 512/Sector Format" followed by 

> "sensekey:05 additional:26"

>

> The operating system is OS9 (industrial, not Apple).

>

> I hope you can help solve this!

>

> He replied:

>

> Dear Sir.

>

> Please try to use slower and lesser volume CF card, such as SanDisk 

> 256KB. Best Regards. Manabu Sakai

>

> - artmix

>

> So I said:

>

> Hi Manabu,

>

> I've tried a Transcend 128mb CF card with no change in the results. 

> The test equipment this is being used for is Fluke 9100, runs OS9 

> (68000), and an early SCSI interface (1989 design). What else can I 

> try? The SCSI interface WILL format SCSI hard drives - currently the 

> hard drives I have tested with the same setup are Conner CP-3040 and a 

> CP-3080, and both formatted successfully. I hope you have some other 

> suggestions - perhaps a jumper needs soldering, etc? The Aztec appears 

> to require the "T" setting (Drive 0) to work - which matches the hard 

> drive settings.

> Thanks!

> John :-#)#

>

> However his reply to this was:

>

> I am sorry to say that I do not advice any more. Best Regards. Manabu 

> Sakai

>

> - artmix

>

>

> Thanks,

>

> John :-#(#

>

Further on this issue, I contacted Manabu again with more explanations 
of how I tested it and he said to send the card back for a checkup - 
here is a note from him this morning (he is sending it back Priority 
Mail too!) :

Dear Sir

I tested your returned CF AztecMonster. It seems that EEPROM error
is occurred. I replaced the ROM. Please try it again.

So, it seems that the card EEPROM was defective, once it arrives I'll 
test it again with various CFs that I have accumulated and let you folks 
know the results.

John :-#)#