Thread: Termination

The second floppy configuration issue is termination. Any system with data traveling down a cable to multiple devices such as floppy drives, must have two stopping places for the data; one at each end of the floppy drive system. This will not allow the signals to bounce back up the cable wires. The signals must terminate at both ends of the system. The beginning point for a floppy drive system is the controlling card. The adapter or controlling circuits on the motherboard are terminated by the manufacturer. Sometimes, you must designate the end of the floppy drive system by installing a terminator, sometimes called a terminating resistor, onto the floppy drive at the end of the cable.



Terminators are available in several forms and colors and are on devices other than floppy drives. Terminators can be SIPs, DIPs, or a jumper set over two pins. The terminator installs on the last drive at the end of the cable, the A: drive. Remove the terminator on the B: drive. Another function of the terminator is to provide the correct amount of electrical resistance for the system. With terminators installed on both drives in a two drive system, too much current can flow through the floppy system. You might not detect an incorrectly terminated system by an error code or an immediate failure. Over time, this can possibly cause both drives and the controlling circuits to fail.