Do Three & Four Channel IDE Cables Exist?

**Orangeman** · August 3rd, 2004, 06:45 PM

Hi Gang,

I am trying to find out if three and four channel IDE cables exist. I found this link:

http://www.pacificcable.com/Picture_...?DataName=IDE3

and asked their customer service if it can be used with a two channel (normal) ide cable. Their reply was that an IDE cable only has a master and a slave.

I'm not sure their customer service rep knew what I was talking about. I've called local stores and asked if they have three and four channel IDE cables and they've said no so far.

So my question is: Can you get a Master & two (or more) Slaves on an ide cable?

Do Three & Four Channel IDE cables exist?

Thanks,
Orangeman

**Atodini** · August 4th, 2004, 02:21 AM

Hi Orange....

Well yes they do, but I've never tried to use one...

Got one in front of me now. Radio Shack, part No. 26-7423A, 6 x 40 way female idc connectors. 1.2m long

On the back of the blister pack it repeats the part number and adds:

Description:
Internal ide ribbon drive cable for CD-ROM drives or IDE disk drives

Color:
Grey

Connectors:
(A drawing plus) IDC40F 6 x IDC 40 way Female Connectors

Applications:
Connects up to 5 x CD-ROM or hard disk drives to a controller card or motherboard on a PC

At the bottom it says (as this is a UK version)

Packaged in the UK for Antika retail Ltd. with a bar code.

So they do exist but as stated, I've never tried one out.

I would guess that the US part number is the same as the UK - Radio Shack / Tandy are a global company after all.

We were sent a batch of these (instead of regular IDE cables) a while back. Haven't sold any as I don't believe that it's possible to connect more than 2 devices to one channel.

John

**NooNoo** · August 4th, 2004, 03:17 AM

That would have to be a specialist controller to control more than two ide devices on a single channel. 1.2m is way over the recommended length for an ide cable as well. Radio Shack have no info on that part number.... Maybe they got the wrong thing made? Maybe they should have been scsi cables?

**Matridom** · August 4th, 2004, 07:48 AM

In some larger server towers, there is no choice but to get long long cables with multiple connectors, the extra connectors are for possible drive locations within the tower itself.

I know on one tower, i've had to use 48 inch IDE cables for the drives to reach the top of the case where one drive was located.

**Platypus** · August 4th, 2004, 09:00 AM

IDE-style 40 conductor multi-connection cables were also made for the early Panasonic/Creative CD-ROM drives (CR562 etc) which could have up to 4 drives on the 40-pin Panasonic interface.

I have seen it claimed that 3 IDE drives can coexist on one channel, but that the third drive is read-only. I don't know if this is genuinely possible.

**Orangeman** · August 5th, 2004, 01:07 AM

Originally Posted by Platypus

IDE-style 40 conductor multi-connection cables were also made for the early Panasonic/Creative CD-ROM drives (CR562 etc) which could have up to 4 drives on the 40-pin Panasonic interface.

I have seen it claimed that 3 IDE drives can coexist on one channel, but that the third drive is read-only. I don't know if this is genuinely possible.

So theoretically at least I can possibly have a DVDRW (Master), CDRW (Slave) and CDRom on the same IDE. But how do I configure the CDRom - as a slave or as Cable-Select????

(or should all of them be cable-select?)

**Atodini** · August 5th, 2004, 03:13 AM

Originally Posted by Orangeman

So theoretically at least I can possibly have a DVDRW (Master), CDRW (Slave) and CDRom on the same IDE. But how do I configure the CDRom - as a slave or as Cable-Select????

(or should all of them be cable-select?)

Orange,

Since I actually have a number of these cables, if time permits I'll have a play on the test bench & get back to you.

Or NooNoo might as I've sent one over to her as a curiosity.......

John.

**Orangeman** · August 5th, 2004, 04:01 AM

Originally Posted by Atodini

Orange,

Since I actually have a number of these cables, if time permits I'll have a play on the test bench & get back to you.

Or NooNoo might as I've sent one over to her as a curiosity.......

John.

Thanks John,

I'd be interested in finding out what your results are.

Peter (the ORANGE)

**NooNoo** · August 5th, 2004, 06:48 AM

Well I got it, and it is indeed a very long ide cable. I am not going to open it, just keep it as a curiousity along with my unopened dos 2.0

**Orangeman** · August 7th, 2004, 08:24 PM

Well,

I'd like to know what Atodini's results are , but I'll let you know mine.

NEGATIVE

I got my new cable today. I've tried using a Master & two slaves - no joy
I've tried using Master, Slave & Cable Select - No Joy
I even tried using CS on all three drives - No Joy.

Like I said if Atodini has different results I've like to know what you did...

Thanks,
Orange

**crumbs** · August 7th, 2004, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by Orangeman

Hi Gang,

I am trying to find out if three and four channel IDE cables exist. I found this link:

http://www.pacificcable.com/Picture_...?DataName=IDE3

and asked their customer service if it can be used with a two channel (normal) ide cable. Their reply was that an IDE cable only has a master and a slave.

I'm not sure their customer service rep knew what I was talking about. I've called local stores and asked if they have three and four channel IDE cables and they've said no so far.

So my question is: Can you get a Master & two (or more) Slaves on an ide cable?

Do Three & Four Channel IDE cables exist?

Thanks,
Orangeman

Easy Answer, get a ATA100/ATA133 pci card

**Orangeman** · August 7th, 2004, 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by crumbs

Easy Answer, get a ATA100/ATA133 pci card

I already did. That's how I wound up in this situation in the first place. It stated on the website and on the box art and in the instructions that it supported ATAPI devices. But it said in the Q&A section that it did NOT supported ATAPI devices.

Now I'm doing an RMA with PCI Micro to get my money back....

BTW, what is the ATAPI 6 specification?