Conference hydra::amiga_v1

4509.0. "Bodega-Bay a Review" by SHARE::DOYLE () Tue Feb 12 1991 09:55

	I've had a chance to try the Bodega-Bay with my system, I'd like to 
  share my observations on the product with you.
        
       Physical

	The Bodega Bay from California access, has without doubt got to be
  the sturdiest expansion box I've ever seen, it is also the largest.
        At 22.0" it has less width than an A500 with an 
  A590 attached (just a little). Yet the bulk of the machine is mostly projected
  out the rear, wich projects the keyboard out the front, this brings the 
  total depth of the computer to about 30".
	Luckily my wife bought me a computer desk for Christmas and once I 
  removed the monitor shelf it all (including the monitor) fit quite nicely
  in the space provided. 
	The plus of this is that the internal drive is still accessable as
   the back of the 500 is just inside the cubby hole in the desk.
        The downside is that you'll want to buy  extension cables for the 
   peripheral ports in the back of the A500 if you wish to easily switch
   peripherals. 
	Inside are 4 zorro I/II expansion slots and 3 IBM XT/AT
    (overlapping the orignal 4 zorro I/II, sorry but if you want to use all
    3 IBM XT/AT slots, it'll leave you with only 1 Zorro I/II slot).
           A 200 watt power supply with fan. 
           1 3.5 hard-drive bay and 2 5.25 bays (half-hieghts)
        The Bodega-Bay, by the way, wieghs a hefty 23 pounds.
	
     Installation

	The Bodega Bay manual is very thourough in some areas, as in step
  by step dissasembly of the unit to install peripherals, as well as the 
  procedure for attaching the unit to the 500.
        However, some of the information although informative if not minimal
  is scatterred around the book haphazardly.
	An example would be installing the 3.5 inch hard-drive in it's bay.
        The verbal description (minimal) is on one page with refference to
   the diagram a few pages back.
	The manual does cover every physical aspect of the machine and also
   includes a Contents listing as well as a glossary in the back.
	Many of the empty holes in the unit are for optional or future 
   expansion (these are not elaborated on, mearly named,shown and "call 
   California Access for further information"). 
	Although I found the manual pratical and sufficient , I'm not
 shure the computer novice would.
        
	After removing the cover from the Bodega Bay I inserted a GVP Series II
 card into one of the expansion slots. The cards mount horizantily, solder side
 up, chipside down. The manual recomends not to install the drives on the card
 because of this so I used the hard drive bay even though the expansion slots
 provide secure and wobble free mounting, I had my doubts as to the strength
 of the card itself in this position.
	Installing the 3.5 inch hard drive was a bit tricky, both the angle 
 of entry, threaded scews that project from the opposite bay wall and 
 the lip at the top of the case made this a bit tricky, rather then force it
 into place, I removed some screws to make side open more and eased the unit
 into place and replaced the screws.
	The 3.5 hd sits on it's side in the bay, and the fit was tight enough
 that I didn't bother inserting the mounting screws.
	The 5.25 bay was the same, if not a bit easier (I didn't have to 
 loosen any screws).  However if you plan on using the dual 5.25 bay and 3.5
 hd bay. Insert the 5.25 units first, as there is no way to get at the mounting
 holes once the 3.5 HD is in place. Since this too was a tight fit so I didn't
 bother inserting the mounting screws again.
	Believe me, niether unit is going anywhere.
  Connecting all the cables where easy, the biult in power supply provides all 
 the connectors I'd need. 
	There are four HD type power connectors and four Internal floppy drive
 power connectors (the manual states only 3hd connectors) 
	Next I connected the external HD access light to the GVP board put the
 top back on, connected all my extension cables to the A500 ports, unpluged
 the A500 brick power supply, connected the Bodega Bay's A500 power cord and
 connected the unit to the A500.
	The unit fits snugly against a500, and although it looks as if it sits
 on the 500, in actuality it has three metal support brackets that keep the
 stress off the expansion port and the 500.
        
  	The final test.
	I turned on the unit and bingo, up came the system.
     Unfortunatley, I've got no bridge boards or other zorroI/II cards so
 I can't check them out.
        However, I like the Bodega-Bay, the installation was fairly straight
 forward, and the manual is sufficient and complete as far as setting up goes.
        If you have an A500, and access to some 2000 cards, then this is the
 way to go.

(P.S.) You also can run your monitor off the Bodega Bay with a special 
       adapter.
									Ed

         

    
    	On seeing the case in Amiga World I was woundering as you have
    seen, had the unit What is in the adaptor box that plugs in the side ?
    
    Is the unit BUFFERED...???
    
    	Steve G

    Sounds good Ed,
    
    does the built in power-supply have a switch for 110/240 volts ?
    
    Thanks
    	Mike

    re .1
     I'll call California Access for information on wether it's Buffered or
    not (I woudn't) know what to look for.
    
    re .2
     Yes it does have a switch on the back for 110/240.
    
    							ED

     Er make that a 115/220 switch.
    					Ed

    RE:.1
    
     I called California Access, but the woman handling the technical
    questions wasn't around, I left my # with her and the question "Are the 
    expansion slots buffered?".
     From the manual...
    	"It is important to note that when using multiple DMA cards, your
    Amiga will address them in ascending order, begining with the card in
    the bottom slot first."
        Also....
    	"As in the 2000, it is to place the Bridge Board in the uppermost
    slot. You can use IBM XT/AT cards above the Bridge Board, but any Amiga
    cards placed above it may not function properly due to priority
    problems."
        If this tells you anything.
    
    								Ed
    

Re: .5

For what it's worth, if you replace "bottom to top" with "right to left,"
this expansion chassis handles DMA priority and the Bridge Board the
same way as a 2000.

    220 or 240 volts, what's 20 volts between friends ?!
    
    thanks Ed,
    
    I'm starting to think it might be worth putting on my wish list.
    
    Mike

    RE:.1
     I recieved a call back from California Access.
      The Bodega Bay is fully Buffered and Terminated.
    
    							Ed
    

	After using it a while, any further impressions/problems?

	What is the going rate for one of these things?

     It's been running like a champ.
     I've tried a couple of cards (GVP Series II & Supra Ram Card), both
    worked fine in it.
     I still haven't had the oportunity to check out the bridge card, or
    any of the other slots for IBM compatability, but all the 2000 slots
    work.
     I do wish it was a little more compact, and had a detachable keyboard
    for it.
     But since I got a larger desk, and kept it out far enough from the
    wall so I could walk behind it, I can't complain.
     If you go with the Bodega, I'd suggest including some extension cables
    in the overall price, as mentioned earlier the expansion box makes it
    hard to get at the ports in the back, and cable swapping can be pain.
     I've done this and it makes life much easier.
    
     One problem I have had has been with getting an "OLD-STYLE" 
    Midget Racer in my 500 to work with my GVP-Series II SCSI card, 
    however I'm certain this is a problem between the Midget Racer and the
    GVP card.
     The Mega Midget Racer is supposed to work with the GVP card, but I'm
    not shure about the older version of the Racer.
     Only reason I mentioned this was to cover my BuTT :').
     When I definately find out the problem, I'll post.
    
     The price of Bodega-Bay has been advertised Mail Ord for as low as
    $320, but I'm pretty shure thats an older price and it went up when it
    was officially released.
     Store bought, it's closer to $400.
    
    								Ed