40 pin IDE switch

[DYNAGOD]

does anyone know of a means of switching between two or more ide cables??
I.E.
lets just say for examples sake say 3 IDE cables going into a black box with a 3 position knob on it, with only one ide cable coming out the other side of the box.
whatever selction the knob is on is the signal carried to the single ide cable on the other side.

 it will be used IN a pc, but its not for a pc in the conventional bus sense... im simply using 40 pin cables and their male and female connectors because they are convenient.

if you know of a way or means to swtich between cables im open to any ideas. im not afraid to solder either.

thankyou all
 

[Darkstalker]

I don't think you'll find a ready made solution since IDE doesn't support hot-swapping.  I realize you aren't intending it for that, but it is going to hurt your chances of finding something  off the shelf.

Are you using it for modular control panels?  Maybe you could get away with a DB25 connection and use an appropriate switchbox.  Two 8 way joysticks with 7 buttons each player is only 20 inputs, that leaves 4 more inputs for you to use for admin-style functions.

[DYNAGOD]

 ive searched high and low and came up flat,I sort of figured there wasnt likely going to be a turnkey solution..
the closest ive found is a product called the Trios Multi Drive Selector , but their out of business, and none on ebay.
and yea 40 is the magic number..cant be any less im afraid.

somehow im going to have to come up with a switch that can select between a minimum of 2, 40 conductor ide cables.
the idea was to make someting easier.  

[DougHillman]

Tiger Direct useta sell something like this.  Let you choose between 3 (I think) hard drives to boot from with the push of a button.   I just did a quick look on their site at www.tigerdirect.com, but didn't see it.  Not really sure where to look though, or what to search for.

Might wanna order one of their catalogs.  I haven't recieved one in a while now (which is strange.  They usually come every coupla weeks) but if they're still being made they'd be easy to find in there.

 

[Hoagie_one]

found one for ya

http://www.industechnologies.com/idx350.html

[DougHillman]

Yow!  For Dynagod's sake I'm hoping that Tiger Direct is still selling their piece.  It sure as hell wasn't $200.

[neuromancer]

Tiger Direct's device is called "Trios"

You can't hot swap, but you pick the drive to boot from.

I think it's around $60.

For less money, you can buy a removable drive tray. They're like $20, with extra trays $14. I've got one in my pc, and it's great.

[Darkstalker]

Tiger Direct's device is called "Trios"

You can't hot swap, but you pick the drive to boot from.

I think it's around $60.

For less money, you can buy a removable drive tray. They're like $20, with extra trays $14. I've got one in my pc, and it's great.

I don't think it's for hard drives so drive trays would be useless.  I'm guessing it's more for a modular control panel, and DYNAGOD is just using IDE cables for the encoder connections.

[DYNAGOD]

im up to dire,sinsiter things...
im going to make a project announcment on it soon.
i had hoped to be at protoype stage by now and have something physically to show, but money is just too tight right now after just moving and having to come with a kings ransom i just cant swing it.
im basically just building in solidworks 2005 for now until i can make it real.
ive actually found a better solution than IDE cables. the cables were the wrong way to go.. i was doing a random google image search for something unrelated and saw a pic that gave me a revelation..

as far as it being used for multiple control panels, you are close, but oh so far away.. i think your going to be pleasanly suprised..

The project is called HYDRA
as the dictionary definition states:
Hy

[JoyMonkey]

Can we play 20 questions?  
Is this top-secret project going to involve Jamma connectors?

[DYNAGOD]

no way thats been done...  
easier ,much much easier...

[JoyMonkey]

Does it involve hooking up multiple console controlers to the front of your control panel, and then switching between them on the fly?

[DYNAGOD]

HYDRA
Multi Emulator/Control Configuration
            Cartridge System

 

[DYNAGOD]

interface hardware not shown..

[Hoagie_one]

i hate secrets and riddles.

spill teh beans homie

[DYNAGOD]

basically its an addon for the Ipac and Jpac interfaces.
ive decentralized the Cyprus chip that retains the configuration information and placed it on a custom designed circuit board thats contained in a small cartidge.
Ive made a modular reviecer for the cart that can be mounted anywhere in,on,or thru your cabinet. so you wouldnt even have to open your cab.
when you want to change to an emulator that may have control config conflicts with mame (like callus) or want to change control panels ,you simply insert a   catridge that has the control configuration of your choice and beign playing.
its completely hot swapable,flashable and requires you to do nothing more but insert a cartidge to change your control configuration completely.

sound good  

[Darkstalker]

Almost makes me wish I was using an Ipac instead of a Hagstrom....

[DYNAGOD]

does the hagstrom use a 40 pin EEPROM?
ive never seen one.

(UPDATE)
I just saw one and yes it uses the same type eeprom,
you would be abale to use this as well.

[Darkstalker]

I've got the KE-72, so I don't think I'll need to swap configs with 72 inputs...