Foenix Retro Systems FNX 1591

[3D-vice]

Hey guys,

I recently stumbled over this Floppy drive, which seems to be a Commodore compatible IEC 3.5″ Floppy drive.

What do you think of this? And does anyone have experience with the FNX 1591?

[Zippy Zapp]

Edit: That's pretty cool and I wish them well with the sales. Hopefully it becomes a large install base. I already own 2 1581s and a FD2000 (clone) so I would not be the target group.

Edit2: I retract what I said. My budget for retro computers this month is a little out there so what the hell support these awesome devs: F256K + FNX-1591.

[Appee]

Pretty cool little device.

[dddaaannn]

Estimated delivery is in April, so I doubt many people have experience with it.

Foenix is going for broad compatibility with the 1581. It can load ROMs over USB and hold multiple ROMs in memory, selectable with a switch. The drive number is also switch selectable. It will support 720k DD disks at first, but the hardware is capable of 1.4M HD disks with appropriate software. I think it has real potential to be worth its price.

[3D-vice]

Hello all! Here are some visual impressions of my FNX1591 floppy drive (which has arrived yesterday). I still have to flash it with the latest firmware/rom, but I need to wait for the delivery of a12V PSU (which I ordered today).

[intric8]

I think Stephanie has really found a potential money-making market with her reverse engineered hardware line(s). I'm waiting for her version of the FD-2000, which I know she is working on now.

[3D-vice]

Well, the FNX1591 works on my MEGA65. However, I'll use it on my C64, because the MEGA65 already has a 3,5" floppy disk drive; this was just out of curiosity... ;)

[Warty]

Just to share my experience as well: I got the FNX1591 out today, dug through pile of old wall warts and bigger PSUs to find a 12V 3.3a one (which basically made me feel really good about keeping all these stupid AC adapters all these years). Fired up a PC, downloaded the flash utility, downloaded the USB driver for the chip in the drive, and spent $8 on JiffyDOS for 1581. Took about a minute to flash at that point.

Tried a first disk, didn't format. Tried 5 HD disks, it liked them not at all. Finally found a good 3.5 DD disk, and it formatted no problem. (with HEADER command on C128). Used the 1581 disk utility tool image I found online to copy files from a 1571 to a 1581, then booted Lich King (my game) from that. It accesses the disk through the game. No problems I noticed.

I think it looks great, although I do admit I wish I had a 1581 style shell. but it looks a lot better than any 3D printed thing I could make (it's resin). And next the F256K, it looks perfect.

[3D-vice]

Yep, I can confirm that we need DD disks here. I also had tried HD disks at first, got frustrated because it did not work at all, then used a DD "by accident" and, well, it worked!

Thanks for your feedback!

[intric8]

Then the 1591 is staying true to its 1581 roots, which could only use DD disks.

To use the much more common HD disks you'd need CMD's FD-2000 or 4000. Those magical drives give you the unfettered flexibility you seek. (The 4000 even reads "ED" disks, which are very rare now and can hold over 3MB.)