Robert Morrison
ZX Spectrum +3 Disk B
The ZX Spectrum +3 (and Amstrad CPC) “Disk B” expansion port is the same form factor as a 34-pin edge-connector for a 5.25” floppy disk drive that you’d find in an old PC, so we can use those cables without any other interfaces.
The source for most of this information was Guide on how to connect a 3.5” drive to a CPC6128/664, and my thanks to kokkiklhs on the Spectrum Computing forums for their highly detailed post that got me up and running!
As the CPCWiki article notes, such floppy drive ribbon cables don’t seem to be made any longer but they still come up for sale regularly on eBay (etc.). I’m not really familiar with PCs but the cables tend to come in 3- and 5-connector varieties, and usually with the distinctive twist at one end. The connectors will be a mixture of 5.25” type (i.e. card style connector) and 3.5” type (i.e. 34 pin socket). One edge of the ribbon will usually be marked in red, to signify pin one.
Connecting and configuring
For use with a Spectrum we need a cable with at least one of each type of connector with no twist in between. In addition, if the cable has at least two of the 3.5” style connectors that’s handy—we can use the extra socket to to short pins 33 and 34 together. (This asserts “drive ready” signal for Disk B). Optionally, shorting pins 11 and 12 will allow the external drive to be treated as the primary drive (i.e. Disk A).
The 5.25” card-edge connector is keyed so it can only be inserted one way up. This is connected directly to the Spectrum’s Disk B expansion port: 
On the floppy drive (in this case I’m using a Gotek floppy drive emulator) the connector is fitted upside down. That is, the red stripe (usually pin 1) is actually oriented to pin 34. The locating notch points upwards. I’ve marked mine with “top” as a reminder.
The actual orientation will depend on how the PCB is mounted in your floppy drive (or Gotek). With the drive powered on, but the Spectrum powered off, the drive will complain that the cable “may be upside down” but once the Spectrum is powered on the drive will work correctly.
The Gotek jumper S1 should be set. All others (M0, S0 etc.) should be un-set. 
Many of the disk images in ZXDB will work directly from the Gotek, but only if the drive has been designated the role of Disk A. To do that, we need to short pins 11 and 12. Once that’s done, the Spectrum will treat the Gotek as Disk A (and it seems Disk B as well; the internal drive will be ignored).
Home made disks
A lot of commercial disk images, though available for download, will have copy protection that will make them difficult to transfer from Gotek to a real floppy. (This is discussed in much more detail in kokkiklhs’ thread). They will run fine from the Gotek though.
On the other hand, 2015’s Castlevania: Spectral Interlude by SaNchez et al is available in +3 disk format. Similarly the 2019 game Redshift by World XXI Soft has an unprotected +3 disk image available. (Redshift is available to buy on cassette as well).
Using John Elliott’s DU54 I was able to write each game to either side of a real 3” floppy no problem. Castlevania has a really well implemented save-game system that automatically records your progress on the disk.
Been fixing this, a Dixons branded cassette recorder from ‘83. Very slightly older than I am, and I’ve had it almost that long. Still loading Spectrum games as reliably as it did three decades ago!
I’m taking a break from Microdrive refurbishment to catch up with latest news from January 1988. Just running off a quick copy of Outlet magazine while I put the kettle on. #tea #zxspectrum #alphacom32
Networkin’ like it’s 1983! Well sort of. But I finally found a legitimate use for the telly’s picture-in-picture mode #zxspectrum #interface1 #sinclair #network #baudrate #chunteyfield
Competition is heating up in round two of the Spectrum Computing Christmas High Score Challenge! This week’s game is The Snowman. spectrumcomputing.co.uk/forums/vi…
Tonight’s silly project: replacing a tired old ZX Spectrum cassette with a freshly-recorded new one! TZXDuino! Sony TCM-818! By far the hardest part was printing a new label!
New project time! It’s a recreated Romantic Robot Multiface 128. (Or rather it soon will be, hopefully!)
I’ve removed, tested, replaced or bodged almost everything and it’s still not working! Time to give up, or start saving for an expensive oscilloscope… #eBay #fixerupperopportunity #zxspectrum #repair
