Hello,
I am using an Atmel 89s8252 as the controller for a data logger. I'm trying to use the 16-bit address of a MOVX instruction as a 16-bit data line. Port 0 and Port 2 are connected to the 16-bit data lines coming off of an ATA hard disk.

I want to use the ALE line to control the active-low read line coming off of the drive. Generally the ALE oscillates at 1/6 the clock speed, but I have set bit 0 in Special Function Register 0x8E, which makes the ALE stay high unless I perform a movx.

THE PROBLEM, is that several seconds after I perform a movx instruction, the ALE goes into a sort of ringing oscillation a couple of seconds. Needless to say this oscillation triggers many many spurious "read" signals on the line.

Please Please advise.

Thanks,
-Justin