Atari User magazine...anyone else know of this?

Hehe was 5 X PIA's wishfull thinking ?
No I use JLCPCB , so you can buy batches of 5 or more, my original designs (were upto ver 5,) allowed fitting with various issues and trying to get to fit within 100mm x 100mm , I designed one with the two PIA's end on so like a strip, ended up 108mm x 43mm, so the area was o.k but exceeded 100mm so was being charged a lot more. I'm also taken to using 4 layer boards with the two inner layers as Power, it make it so much easier to degign, without adding a hugh amount to the cost.
So cost went from $5.90 for 5 to a fraction under $30 for the same amount, see attachments for some idea ..
Version 4


Version 5


Coming a verion 6 '

 

Thanking you once more for sorting this out, Matt.

Very much look forward to receiving the link to the Atari User mags zip file.

Cheers and to confirm - payment just made via Paypal.

All the best and hope to chat on line soon.

Baz.

 

Maybe it was wishful thinking, but I just didn't know what you meant with the "5." I didn't even consider a lot of 5 for a mere $30, that was too good a price!

I thought you were saying costs jumped up to $30 from $6 for one (which I was willing to pay), but since I've never designed and had boards made for me (I just use breadboards and wires for my DIY boards) I've no idea what they cost. But 5 x $5.90 = $29.50 in my calculations, so that means costs only went up a few pennies for each board, right? I consider $29.50 to be a fraction under $30, which means an insignificant difference to me, not even worth a mention as far as I'm concerned. If I'm not misunderstanding or missing something in what you said above.

Either way, to me, it's and incredible value I wasn't expecting. If it's this cheap to have small boards made, then I'm going to stop putting my breadboard prototypes I make into my machines and start using a circuit designer program and have them made up for me professionally like you do, especially since I can then have multi-layer boards too!

But I do really like the redesign of V5!

 

Well, you probably have been tucked into bed for a few hours before I had time to come back to the forum, but you'll have the link when you wake in the morning!

 

Hi MattPokey
The cost for a 4 layer board x 5 i.e. design 4 but 5 of them was £5.90
the cost for a 4 layer design 5, again for 5 of them was £26.25
What I intend to do is to have acombination of both boards, the board will plug into the original PIA socket as previous designs, however the additional PIA will be ofset towards the right as you look at the 800 main board, but also slightly behind so the the total width will be back down to less than 100mm and the depth towards the Pokey used, but leave most of it on show and not covered in any way by the new board., looking from the Righthand side i.e. Power board towards you, then the board shap will be like a capital letter 'L' .
Hmm Try drawing and attaching ..

 

Ok, I see. I definitely wasn't following or comprehending your cost descriptions properly. Yeah, that is a big difference, v4 being pretty damn dirt cheap, but still, I'm impressed with 5 of v5 still being, what seems to me, quite reasonable.This is just the bare boards with no sockets, correct?

So, one more thing I want to have clarity on, were you saying that the buyer (i.e., me) will need to buy a lot of 5 from the seller (i.e., you), or are you saying that you are forced to buy from the manufacturer in lots of 5, but you will sell single boards to the buyer (i.e. me)?

Either way is fine with me, so no worries, as I would be wanting at least two, for my 800 and 1200XL, but if I need to buy a lot of 5, that's fine as I have another 1200XL I would put one in, and I will also put a forth in an 800XL I'm restoring for a friend; I promised him an 800XL with all the upgrades I could fit, though it will all be a surprise to him what is actually in it, so he won't miss the PIA board if it's not in it, and it may be an upgrade he never makes use of anyway. But if I have extra boards, why not?. And the fifth board will be an extra for back-up or future use (like in a 1088XEL if possible).

 

Like this

Matt the cost is for the circuit boards only, although it won't show, there are male to male turned pin 'plugs', that plug into the original socket and are solder ofset under the original PIA , why it looks a bit funny with a socket and a Chip on top of each other.
The other components are 3 x 100nF cap's and a 74LS138 ,or HCT or F type.
I added an LED to warn peeps if the machine was turned on, whilst attaching anything to the additional PIA, likely it wouldn't like this
if I just send you the files to order your own, yes the minimum order is 5 PCB's in addition to this is the cost of post and packaging, last time I ordered boards that came to about £25 total and DHL charged and additional £20, followed by an import charge of another £18 .. so for a small order it's not worth these additional costs.
I'll order these boards i.e. several versions and likely 10 of each, you are welcome to chip in and pay a little towards them, similar to the Mag's. nothing more.

 

I've just noticed it's four in the morning so I'm off to bed..

 

I like it! And chip-in sounds good too. maybe I should just refund you your money and use that as a chip-in, plus more if needed? I don't mind refunding now, and waiting, and paying more if needed once you're ready. I'd take three in this case, one L shaped for the 800 and then I think I could use any version for the other two.

 

Ok, I was surprised your still responding at this time anyway! It's going on 11 PM here, and time for me to hit the sack as well.

 

Thanks very much, Matt.

I see there's an email from you this morning so once I'm on with chores here, I'll check that link after lunch before we have our 3pm meet-up on line with the guys.

Cheers once more and hope the contribution helps out a bit with funds - much appreciated this end this excellent new Atari User classic literature.

 

Just don't be reading Atari User with Bev around, as these blokes like pictures of both real and not of scantily-clad women in their magazines!

 

GrrrRRZZz...

Worth every penny those mags of yours, Matt!

 

I'll need to give it a miss for the moment, hopefully get a Covid payment at the end of the month and send you some paypal then.

 

No problem @nysavant I'll do it for you if it's six months from now, since you showed interest.