Absolute Beginners: You want to add a Gotek to your Amiga (Part 2)
Welcome to the sequel to the first article in the Absolute Beginners series, this time with the theme of what else do you need to equip an Amiga with a Gotek floppy drive emulator.
There are two ways to connect a gotek to the amiga, roughly internally and externally.
Both ways have their own advantages, more about that later.
Absolute Beginners: You want to add a Gotek to your Amiga (Part 2) : Internal Wedge models.
When connecting internally in the wedge machines you do not need any additional hardware (although a suitable disk bracket as you could read in the previous part).
The Gotek on bracket replaces the original disk drive and works completely transparently for the Amiga as a 'real' disk drive.
Operating the buttons and display can be a bit cumbersome, but it does work. (1)
(1) There are options to mount an external box containing the display and the rotary encoder on the top of the Amiga, but I do not supply that.
You want to add a Gotek to your Amiga (Part 2) : Internal Big box models.
When connecting internally in the big box machines you may need additional hardware (and for the A2000 also a suitable disk bracket as you could read in the previous part).
If you place the Gotek in the place of the original disk drive and configure it as DF0:, then it works completely transparently for the Amiga as a 'real' disk drive. If
you place it as a 2nd drive (A2000) then you have a DF1: and it must therefore be configured as such (don't forget to switch the 2nd drive jumper on the A2000 itself)
You cannot boot from DF1:, you will then have to place a boot selector to also be able to use the Gotek as DF0:, you can find more information about boot selectors here
Absolute Beginners: You want to add a Gotek to your amiga (Part 2) : External connection
For external the story is not only more complex, but also more expensive, and on a positive note, also more flexible.
The story is about the same for both the wedge models and the big box models.
You need an external Gotek interface , to connect the gotek, this always comes standard with a short floppy / power cable, but can also be supplied with a longer cable on request (surcharge).
In order to use the gotek as a boot drive (DF0:) you need something that can make the external drive DF0:, that is the Bootselector, this is available for all amigas (also the A600 and A1200 )
For the Amiga 2000, the case is a bit different, it does not have DF1: as an external drive, but because a 2nd internal drive (DF1:) is possible, the A2000 starts counting at DF2: (No experience with A3000 / A4000)
You need a different type of boot selector for this that can switch between DF0: and DF2:.
I will dedicate a separate article to placing PCBs for Boot selectors, kickstart switches and IDE interfaces later.
Absolute Beginners: You want to add a Gotek to your amiga (Part 2) : Internal
(in place of the original disk drive)
Advantages :
Price : you only need a Gotek, and possibly a 3D printed Disk bracket for your model amiga
Simplicity: replacing the original drive is just placing the drive and swapping cables
Compact: you have no external cables, or loose drives, your machine usually looks almost the same.
Disadvantages:
(In)Flexibility : The gotek is built-in, so it can only be used dedicated to that machine.
(In)Accessibility: Both the buttons and the display are inside the amiga and are difficult to see
Absolute Beginners : You want to add a Gotek to your amiga (Part 2) :External
(or internal as a 2nd disk drive)
Advantages :
Flexibility : The gotek is external, and can therefore easily be moved to another machine (Amiga)
Accessibility: The buttons and the display are easily accessible from the outside and are clearly visible.
Functionality: In addition to the 0.91 oled, the 0.96 oled and a rotary can also be placed externally .
Disadvantages:
Price: you need a Gotek, a boot selector and for external use a Gotek interface.
Simplicity: installation is a bit more complex since you have to place the boot selector and external interface.
Compact: you have external cables and a separate drive on your amiga
Absolute Beginners : You want to add a Gotek to your amiga (Part 2) : Need more info ?
Of course you can always contact me if you have any additional questions regarding the topic discussed.
If it is not entirely clear, I can then expand or adjust the article based on your information.
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