Device Side Data's FC5025 USB 5.25" floppy controller plugs into any computer's USB port and enables you to attach a 5.25" floppy drive. Even if your computer has no built-in floppy controller, the FC5025 lets you read those old disks. And it's not just for IBM PC disks – it also understands formats used by Apple, Atari, Commodore and TI, among others.

Requirements

The FC5025 connects to any computer's USB 2.0 or USB 1.1 port. Compatible software is required; see below for system requirements for the included software.

The FC5025 is USB powered. Power from USB runs only the FC5025 itself; you must supply power to the drive mechanism separately, such as from your computer's power supply.

The FC5025 is sold as a controller board only without a drive mechanism. It has been tested to work well with the TEAC FD-55GFR drive and should also work with most other PC-style 5.25" drives. (Note: the included software expects a 1.2M drive, even when reading 360k disks.)

Limitations

Included Software

The FC5025 includes a graphical Disk Image and Browse tool for Linux, Mac OS X and Windows. This program allows you to make an image copy of an inserted floppy, suitable for use under emulators or for archival use. On some but not all types of disks, the Disk Image and Browse tool can also display a file listing and copy individual files from the disk. Screenshots of the Disk Image and Browse tool are available.

Command line image and browse tools are also included for Linux and Mac OS X.

The included software runs on the following platforms:

Untested platforms are not guaranteed to work.

As of March 2013, the included software supports the following types of disk:

Filesystem browse capability exists for ProDOS, MS-DOS, Kaypro, PMC MicroMate, Disk BASIC and VersaDOS disks.

Support for Kaypro, Calcomp, PMC and Tandy disks was added after the initial product introduction. Existing customers can download a driver update to read these disks.

In the future, additional platforms and disk formats may become supported through software updates or third-party software.

Image file compatibility

Disk images produced by the FC5025 are compatible with the following software:

For Apple DOS 3.3 and ProDOS disk images:

For Commodore 1541 disk images:

For MS-DOS disk images:

For TI-99/4A disk images:

Device Side Data is not affiliated with the software vendors in this list.

Specifications

Form factorPrinted circuit board
Dimensions3.9"x1.3" (approx. 99mmx33mm)
Mounts in HDD bay
Host interfaceUSB 2.0 full-speed 12Mbps, USB 1.1 compatible
Drive interface34 pin
Drive compatibilityTEAC FD-55GFR or equivalent
Number of drives supportedOne per FC5025
Power requirementsFC5025: <100mA
Drive mechanism must be powered separately
No power sequencing requirements
ConnectorsUSB type B, 34-pin dual-row header
Disk transfer ratesGCR: 167kbps-333kbps (Apple), 167kbps-370kbps (Commodore)
FM: 56kbps-250kbps
MFM: 250kbps, 300kbps, 500kbps
Write supportNone - read-only controller
Command setVendor specific (see developer documentation)
Data transfer methodFC5025 locates desired sector, performs clock recovery and sends all clock and data bits to host
Host discards clock bits and verifies checksum
Hardware requirementsUSB 1.1 or 2.0 compliant host
5.25" floppy drive (not included - customer provided)

Specifications are subject to change without notice.