Jean-François DEL NERO (who’s behind the HxC SD Floppy Emulator) recently has released a version of the HxC emulator firmware that is compatible with the STM32 chip used in the Gotek floppy emulators.

This means that the great functionality of the HxC SD emulator is now available on cheaper and more widely available hardware.

The bootloader to convert the Gotek floppy drive in HxC compatible must be purchased on the website HXC 2001 by sending an email to Jean-François DEL NERO. The price of the bootloader is one-off 10 Euro per Gotek that you want to update. Future updates of the software are free and can be made from a USB stick

The HXC Usb (Gotek) firmware supports: + many more….

USB Stick STM32 (Gotek) HxC Floppy Emulator Firmware v3.4.16.4a -> v3.8.1.2a cumulative changelog:

• Build-in USB stick init / format function :
• The USB stick can now be formatted/initialized for the “Image-less mode” by the firmware.
• Remove the USB stick, press both buttons to enter the embedded menu and select the sub menu to activate the format mode :
  •  - 7 digits display “d” menu entry -> Should display “For”
  •  - OLED display “Format USB Key” menu entry.
  • Then insert the USB stick you want to format.
  • WARNING : Formatting will erase all data on the USB stick !
  • The default built-in image is an HD 1.44MB Floppy disk, but you
  • can select another built-in image on the firmware customization
• SFRKC30 / SFR1M44-U100LQD Gotek support enhanced :
• The new rotary port is now supported.
• New explicit U100LQD OLED configuration.
• (Specific binaries for this new Gotek are now provided in the “New_U100LQD_Gotek” folder)
• The detected hardware model can now be read in the embedded menu
• (Sub menu ‘F’ for the 7 digits Gotek and in the “FW/HW version” sub menu for the OLED Goteks).
• Hardware ID definitions :
  • 000 : Original STM32F105 Gotek (64KB of RAM)
  • 001 : 64 pins ARTERY AT32F415RCT7 on an old STM32 Gotek board (32KB of RAM)
  • 002 : 48 pins ARTERY AT32F415CBT7 (New board) (32KB of RAM)
  • 003 : 64 pins ARTERY AT32F415RCT7 (New SFRKC30 / SFR1M44-U100LQD Gotek : Native OLED and Rotary support) (32KB of RAM)
• Test firmware updated to support all STM32 and Artery Goteks.
• Some important fixes in the emulation from folder mode
• (Informations about this mode are available on this page : https://hxc2001.com/docs/gotek-floppy-emulator-hxc-firmware/pages/emulation-from-folder.html)
• The emulation from folder mode was broken on ARTERY MCU based Goteks.
  •  Update recommended for all “emulation from folder mode” users !
• New SFRKC30 Gotek boards support added :
  •  This new Gotek revision has a new rotary port and will be shipped
  •  with a rotary switch and an OLED screen directly from the factory
  •  (No “mod” required anymore)
• Bootloader updated.
• Firmware updated.
• Firmware customization page updated.
• Normal/direct selection mode :  File sorting optimized for low memory “Artery” Goteks.
• 1680KB Distribution Media Format (DMF) .IMG support adjusted / fixed.
• Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.7.1.4a for all Artery AND STM Goteks ! ( -> In the “Artery_AT32_Gotek_HxC_Firmware” folder !)
• Update recommended for Artery Goteks users:
• “Normal mode” / Direct stick browsing mode :
• Fix regression with Artery Goteks  ! (Crash due to a memory alignment issue)
• Custom firmware page updated
• Build tools updated.
• RAM Memory management enhanced : Detect the RAM size and change/adapt  the cache buffers size according to the available memory.
• Compatible with all Goteks (Artery and STM MCU compatible).
• Now support all Artery versions (AT32F415RCT7, AT32F415CBT7…)
• Fixes : EPROM emulation support, Index signal.
• Rotary connections moved to PA13/PA14 (2 pins in the prog header) for the 48 pins MCU version.
• Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.6.1.2a for Artery AT32F415RCT7 Goteks ( -> In the “Artery_AT32_Gotek_HxC_Firmware” folder !)
• Since March/April 2021 we can see some new Gotek variants on the market.
• Due to the electronic components shortage, these new Gotek revisions use different MCUs.
• The STMicroelectronics STM32F105 MCU was replaced by Artery MCUs : AT32F415RCT7, AT32F415CBT7,…
• These MCUs are “mostly” compatible with the previously used STM part but there is an important difference : The RAM size. While the STM32F105 offers 64KB of RAM, these Artery parts have only 32KB of RAM. These changes imply modifications in the firmware.
• A first HxC Firmware compatible with the AT32F415RCT7 MCU can be found in the Artery_AT32_Gotek_HxC_Firmware folder.
• The bootloader was updated this week to support all the 3 Gotek variants:  STM32F105RB6, AT32F415RCT7,AT32F415CBT7.
• The bootloader now supports GPT/GUID formatted USB sticks.
• The server was updated this week to support all the 3 Gotek variants :
• The bootloader can installed on all these Gotek using the normal online procedure :  https://hxc2001.com/docs/gotek-floppy-emulator-hxc-firmware/pages/bootloader-installation.html
• Preparing the firmware for the next releases / features : Important code size optimizations. (First round !)
• OSD : The HSYNC polarity can be set on the custom firmware
  • (VSYNC already supports both polarity)
• Finally introducting the Raspberry Pi Zero W Gotek companion :
  • https://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_drive_emulator/RPiZeroW_HxC2001_StickEmulator.zip
  • (To be installed on the SD Card with rufus, dd, …)
  • Use the USB device port to connect the Raspberry Pi Zero W to the Gotek.
  • You can access the virtual stick through Wifi.
  • The Raspberry is by default setup as an access point. (HxC2001_RPIZeroW SSID)
  • The following services are currently enabled in the image :
  • IP :  192.168.100.1
  • Samba/Windows Share -> login : data, password : data
  • ftp -> login : data, password : data
  • ssh -> login : data, password : data / login : root, password : root
  • http -> just a test page for the moment.
• IMG file images : Fix Technics SX-F100 organ format and file deletion support.
• HFE files : Blind write mode now used on all non-MFM/FM HFE files.
• Quickdisk .QD files write support : Some fixes and improvements.
• Code improvements.
• Roland machines out,img,ima files support : sector interleave and track skew adjusted to the S-550 values. (Fix S-550 issues).
• Internal parameters : Power-up clear/reset right button timeout set to 3 seconds.
• Electone EL-900 disk change issue fixed :
• Clear internal ready timer at image selection.
• Internal default ready timing changed from 200ms to 400ms.
• v3.5.1.1 regression fix : Broken USB stick folder Auto mount feature fixed.
• Major release : Image-less mode support! Mount USB stick’s FAT12 partitions !
• USB Stick : GUID Partition Table (GPT) support. The firmware now support medias with GPT, MBR or without any partition table. GPT is becoming the default partition table used by most operating systems.
• New custom firmware page option:
  • GUID Partition Table (GPT) support option (enabled by default).
• Regression fix : Fix Amiga 1.76MB HD .ADF images support.
• Upside down orientation OLED screen option.
• “Normal mode” / Direct disk browsing mode : Fix possible erroneous “No file image found !” message issue. Update recommended.
• Amstrad CPC / ZX Spectrum EDSK & DSK:
  • Fake Track ID protection support.
  • Fake Side ID protection support.
  • Bad CRC protection support.
  • 6144 bytes sectors support fixed.
• (Fix the following copy protected ZX Spectrum games :
  • Robocop 2,Turrican 2,Barbarian 2,New Zealand Story,
  • Dan Dare 3,Operation Thurderbolt,Simpsons and probably others titles).
• Amstrad CPC / ZX Spectrum EDSK & DSK  : Fix deleted data mark support.
• v3.4.16.2a regression fix : Fix file selector issue on fast Amiga machines (>= A1200).

This is only a little part of the changelog. The original one is very long and you can read it here. (instruction manual here)

The HxC Floppy Emulator Firmware Customization page: https://hxc2001.com/custom_fw/

Download: USB Stick STM32 (Gotek) HxC Firmware v3.8.1.2a (748)

source: hxc2001.com