FSD-2 not working...

[technoid]

Well, actually it's been ~15 years since my FSD-2 Excelerator disk drive suddenly stopped functioning. I think the light was still running, if I recall. Anyway, does anyone know where I can obtain schematics and such? I still have all the parts lying around, including the manual, afaik.

I'm just starting to get back into Commodore stuff lately (I have three C64's, 1581, 1541, Schnedler 4MHz CPU, etc etc.). Any replies welcome.

[rbernardo]

Well, actually it's been ~15 years since my FSD-2 Excelerator disk drive suddenly stopped functioning. I think the light was still running, if I recall. Anyway, does anyone know where I can obtain schematics and such? I still have all the parts lying around, including the manual, afaik.

I believe I have a FSD-2 in storage, but sorry, I can't help you out with schematics.

I'm just starting to get back into Commodore stuff lately (I have three C64's, 1581, 1541, Schnedler 4MHz CPU...

A TurboMaster 4 mhz accelerator cart by Schnedler? My brother!!!

Truly,

[technoid]

Ok, no biggie. It's not like I've been searching all these years after the FSD2 broke, but I still have it, in my garage, with the top taken off, dust settling on it for years. It's death might have had something to do with one of its ROM chips underneath, dunno.

Yeah, I bought the TMCPU around 1990. Made a lot of programs faster, didn't it? GEOS2, Stellar7, Rescue on Fractalus, Elite(?), Silent Service, Gunship (and a few other vector sims) and BASIC in general. I bought that advanced GEOS BASIC program thingy from RUN, which unfortunately didn't work with the TMCPU in 4MHz. I talked to Steve Schnedler a few times on CIN about it in 1990, but that's all we did.

BTW I'm also on Lemon64, but unfortunately my forum login was deactivated after I tried to change email addresses. I'd like to keep that login, but have no way of contacting Kim or whomever. You can find my GEOS/TMCPU story at the end of http://www.lemon64.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21044 , as well as my take (comments) on Stellar7 at 4x speed, http://www.lemon64.com/games/details.php?ID=2480

/yap

[wiskow]

That Schnedler 4mhz CPU is a very sought-after item these days. If you ever need a few hundred dollars quick, maybe even a thousand, post that thing on eBay and watch the bids soar!

I've got an FSD-2 as well... No schematics for it, though... Just the original manual.

I had the same problem when I changed my e-mail address on Lemon64. It takes them a few days to re-activate you account... maybe even a week or two... just have to be patient.

-Andrew

[technoid]

That Schnedler 4mhz CPU is a very sought-after item these days.

Why is that, is it really that rare? I'm not sure what happened to Schnedler Systems. They also sold some C64-compatible data acquisition devices. I think they changed name to Spheretron, but that business died too. If I'm not mistaken, he's a patent attorney now? I'm gonna hold onto my TMCPU for awhile, now that I'm kinda back into the C= swing of things. If I had 2 of them, I would perhaps eBay one, since a thousand dollars really is tempting, heh (a 500%+ profit on return!). I haven't powered it up in about a decade though. I still have everything, even the box it was shipped in.

I had the same problem when I changed my e-mail address on Lemon64. It takes them a few days to re-activate you account... maybe even a week or two... just have to be patient.

Well unfortunately that was months ago, probably in January. I never did get any email and my previous email address in my account was nonexistent by the time I tried to change address. Perhaps that's where the activation email went. So I haven't really posted at Lemon, just cuz I can't. Worse comes to worse, I'll reregister under a new name and then try to contact Kim/admin that way, unless someone can help me first.

[technoid]

Update:
I found Mr. Schnedler over a week ago and he's doing fine. I was right, he is an attorney. That's actually his real occupation. I told him I contacted him before, way back in early 1990 on CIN (I'm sure he doesn't remember). I also gave him my opinion that his TurboMasterCPU probably partly helped pave the way for CMD's SuperCPU some 5+ years later, because his accelerator was successfully stable in design, i.e. if a 4MHz 65c02 works, why not a 20MHz 65816? Here's what he wrote me, verbatim:

Rob,

Yes, I am the same person. It's always interesting to hear from old Commodore customers as I do from time to time.

I have been a patent attorney since 1974 and before that, briefly, an electrical engineer. So that's why I had the background to design the Turbo Master CPU.

I no longer have any of the Commodore stuff.

That business was basically a sideline. Although I had big hopes, it never really took off financially. By 1990, as the Commodore was fading, the business was essentially over, although we continued for a few more years.

So I am fortunate to have a real occupation.

Steve

IMHO, I think his last sentence kinda gives you his final feelings about his stint in the Commodore market. I think we can all understand.

~Rob/techie