Viglen DSDFS

[Bitstik]

A recent eBay buy came with this fitted. I’m trying to get the 5 1/4” drives working- didn’t help that the seller put no packing in the box…everything loose despite expensive postage but that’s another story.

I’ve googled and found a review on Chris’ acorns
https://chrisacorns.computinghistory.or ... rmance.pdf

But I must admit I’ve never heard of it before and was wondering what the view of it was 40 years later.
Screen shows this:

Many thanks in advance

[Pernod]

I wasn't aware of DSDFS and don't believe it's been archived, so a ROM image would be appreciated.

[Bitstik]

Of course…..
I have a tl866 + - I presume I just read the rom, save the file and post the file here?
I have an MMFS on the bbc as well so could so just make an image that way- is there any preference?

[Pernod]

I have a tl866 + - I presume I just read the rom, save the file and post the file here?

Prefer you use the reader, and post file here, thanks.

[Bitstik]

Here is the file: Please let me know if any issues

[Pernod]

Here is the file: Please let me know if any issues

Thanks, looks good. Interesting to see it's based on Watford's DDFS 1.40.

[Bitstik]

Yes- that was mentioned in the review I posted as well.

[Pernod]

Which disk interface is in your machine? As DSDFS is based on Watford's DDFS I'd assume a Watford DDB2 board, or did Viglen provide something else?

[Bitstik]

This is the disk interface

[Pernod]

This is the disk interface

Looks functionally identical to the Watford DDB2 interface, just missing the Watford branding. I can't imagine many of these were sold, I've checked Viglen adverts and they mainly sold the Acorn 8271 interface with their floppy drives, but some adverts do mention the Viglen double density interface with no further details. The Acorn User review is the only evidence the interface existed.

The interface will work with the Watford DDFS if you wanted to upgrade, versions 1.40, 1.50, 1.53 (not 1.54T) from https://acorn.huininga.nl/pub/roms/Watf ... nics/DDFS/ will work.

I wonder what the story behind it is, did the DDFS 1.40 author provide to Viglen on the side, or did Watford provide Viglen with the unbranded boards? We know that both the Viglen and Watford versions were available at the same time.

As this is the only known copy of DSDFS to exist could you also post a photo of the ROM?

[Bitstik]

I’m afraid it has no markings -

I found some interesting docs with the machine- a receipt for the two uncased drives: £287.50 in 1984!