Most liked posts in thread: What's new Pussycat too?

That's a shame I take it there is a spring steel band to move the heads, odd that someone would remove it unless broken or to repair another 810.
If it helps likely to be buying from BEST in the next week or so, just had email back from Bradley Koda, if Best do an 810 mech or spares could share cost of postage etc. ? just a thought.
Likewise if anyone on here from the UK needs anything thats available its often cheaper to deliver to one location and post internbally round the UK.
Let me know happy to help others

 

Richie
Yep !
Added on.
Andy I take it they couldn't help with anything else?

 

Hi Graham,

going to pass on getting a drive mechanism. I've tested all the ttl chips and they're fried. The Eprom is also dead so looks like a fault with the power supply board has taken them out, or the previous owner has replaced serviceable items with dead uns.

I'll keep looking for an 810 in the UK or EU that works.

Regards

Andy

 

Hi Andy
That's a shame , but thank's for letting me know.
I've a few more enquiries to make of Bradley as I need some power switches and a frame that sits up on the XEGS board as support. If they don't have them I'll design and build some soft switch unit that toggles power via a FET or similar.
The black switches Atari used for the console keys on the XEGS they want $6.95 each for, so may resort to an alternative and an adaptor board.
They have the joystick and keyboard ports though, just needed to look in the 2600 section and the 5200 section Atari clearly used what they had already !

 

Hi Matt really pleased that your feeling a little more positive towards your Atari's. I'm sure that once the frustrations of them not working are behind you, We'll begin to see that Tracked Robotic vechicle start to take shape

 

Yes, indeed, as well as some threads on repairing and/or upgrading other peripherals that I also don't see a need to bother with until I have a computer to use them. I've got a huge backlog of things I want to use my computers for too, once I finally get the backlog of repairs and upgrades completed.

The first being setting up the OS/DOS/Partitions/memory/etc. on both machines to bootstrap the proper way for what I want to use them for. I'll be using my 1200XL system for different things than what I'll be using the 800 for, so they will be setup differently and will both have different "every day" OS's more suited to their purposes. Both will use SpartaDOS X though, with different batch files to set them up for the different uses upon bootstrapping.

The 1200XL will be more of a programming, DTP, WP and graphics computer, with it's superior keyboard, two printers and VBXE upgrade and the 800 my hardware project computer and business and personal finance computer (mainly just because it has the CX85 keypad). Both will be gaming computers, one NTSC (800) and one PAL (1200XL).

The 1200XL and 800 will be getting more and different upgrades and mods as well. For 1200XL Rapidus and VBXE, internal 3.5" floppy and more. The 800 will be getting, again different upgrades, such as the Pokeymax Quad + Covox and the Turbo Freezer 3 I recently ordered and is on the way (connected to the Incognito PBI and internally mounted). And the 800 will get extra PIA/SIA's in it.

Both will also be getting more and different port mods. The 1200XL will be a second SIO and port(s) partaining to the VBXE and disk drive. The 800 extra controller ports for the PIA/SIA upgrades, another SIO port and PBI. And of course direct-connect standard audio/video ports too, all out the back or underside in the back were the case has recesses. I intend to only have the PSU port utilized on the side of the machine regularly; the side SIO will be used only on occasion for dead-end peripherals while the new rear SIO will connect to Daisy-chainable peripherals. The side monitor port may never get used again, unless there is some reason I decide I need a second monitor hooked up.

I never liked SIO and monitor cables coming out the side of the 800. I think it's one of two aesthetic design flaws of the 400/800. The other is front controller ports. At least I understand the controller port placement since they are plugged and unplugged often, but there is no need for easy access to SIO and monitor ports regularly like for controllers, and it's not aesthetically pleasing having cables visible on the side. Just like I feel one of the aesthetic design flaws of the 600/800XL is a visible cartridge port on top, like a game console, and while the XE line hid it away again, it was put in a difficult to reach rear position. I love the 1200XL for it's I/O placement. Though the cartridge port needs DIY modification to fit all cartridges, I love that it's easily accessible on the side and recessed to hide the cartridge and even with piggy-back carts only sticks out one cartridge length. Rear I/O for most things and side controller ports on all XL/XE's was a good design change from the 400/800's front, IMHO, Still easily accessed, but not looking as untidy with cables coming out the front of the machines. Though I'll live with front controller ports on my 800.

 

Hi Matt
Just wanted to let you know that I'll have some Address decoder boards within the next few weeks, once I confirm they fit and work as expected I'll send several over for you, whilst I'm at it I noticed Mytek was looking to add a PAL clock built onto a daughter board to plug in under the GITA. ( I know dropcheck did something similar) quoted below .
"
The original 576NUC+ was going to be relegated to NTSC, since the additional circuitry for producing the PAL color burst was fairly involved density-wise, and I really was running up against the wall with finding space for things. However @tf_hh presented the idea of a GTIA piggyback board to provide this missing aspect. And so was born what I call the 'PALburst' board.
By plugging this into the GTIA socket, and then plugging GTIA on top of that, the missing PAL color burst circuit will be provided. Then all that's required is to use the appropriate PAL primary oscillator crystal and a PAL Antic and GTIA.
For those that are waiting for a Sophia2 to arrive, this board and GTIA will not be required, since the Sophia2 already provides what is needed for PAL or NTSC. Note: You'll still need the appropriate primary crystal and Antic to match up with either PAL or NTSC.
"

I'm waiting on a sophia2 but I may MOD my 1200XL to PAL before that, I've already got the circuit as part of the missing XEGS schematics so I may design a board similar as I don't think Mytek is releasing his design, or at least hasn't yet
I think the boards work out about 40P nee $0.50 each when I buy 10, seems a shame not to share them out
Let me know and I can send you over a few boards, although I expect the Adress decoders the most useful for you.

 

I seem to have got in the doldrums over my collection of Atari's, I don't really have room to set them up as I would like.

I have two main work benches in a spare bedroom, one setup, in the main as an electronics working area, but this has to double with any retro computers as well, as my preferred screen and PSU' all mounted there as well. On the other workbench, in the main it's setup as an electronics design suite, with a decent PC screen etc, plus devices to program all sorts of electronic items, design circuits, layout PCB designs etc etc. I guess I could try and make room for an Atari or so but would all need to be DVI out to make best use of the PC's screen. I'm thinking either the XEL or XLD.

I to need different Atari setup to work the way I would like, the XEL, XLD having all the MIDI stuff, and I guess I could use a wireless PS/2 keyboard with either of these.

The XEGS, and 800XL, 130XE all test beds for hardware (although the 800 will be used to test some stuff)

I've been working on a replacement circuit board that fits the XEGS case as well, and designing add-ons to fit for the future, but testing on the ones I have.

One thing I can vouch for is the mess it gets in

 

Are the address decoder boards you are referring to for PIA/SIA? This was something you told me about before right? Thank you, in advance for the address decoder boards

I'm good as far as PAL compatibility since I already have Dropcheck's board and Crystal, PAL ANTIC/GTIA in my 1200XL, and I too, will be getting a Sophia 2 board for my 800, though I probably won't use it for PAL stuff much anyway. But I also already have both PAL and NTSC 800 CPU boards too, as for a while I was planning on reverting the 1200XL to NTSC and make the 800 PAL (before I knew I was getting an Incognito and Sophia 2 for it), then changed my mind.

 

Hi Graham,

Had the same problem with HD disks, kept failing when I formatted them. If I remember correctly, the lower density drives can't produce the required magnetic field. I could be wrong here, so if anyone knows the answer, please jump in.

I have managed to recover 10 disks that would not read, 2 were discarded, one was a copy of an original disk I have, one is definitely a positional problem, and the last was side C of Alternative Reality - the city, this would not load. I wrote another copy from an .ATR but it would not load with the other disks. So I wrote the whole set out and problem solved. On the opening screen it says cracked by Glenn the 5200 man, and my disk from 33 years ago, was supplied by A-HA. This latest set say the same person cracked it, but was supplied by Mr. Micro. Strange how the third disk would not load with the original set I have.

Just a question to all, does someone have the Atari Graphics Demonstrations disk? This includes Robot, Atari Brass, Colours, corridor, Hat, Pictures, Player, Roll, and Sound. I've not been able to find it online.

Did you buy from the states Graham? I bought a Unocart from the Brewing Academy and it cost me another £17 on top of what I paid for the item and postage. Part of the £17 was for the admin fee from The Royal Mail for collecting the import duty.

Now to write all these 33 year old disks to fresh new ones. Oh happy days.

 

Hi Andy
Firstly I think your correct in regard the HD disk's magnetic field, disk speed has also been mentioned from 300RPM to 360RPM, and I think one is MFM recording but not sure what the other type is but as I say believe different.. I also recall early harddisks haveing an upgrade to RLL encoding Run Lengh Limited .. PS and thats sad As I remembered without recourse to Mr Google.
Sorry I can't help with the Atari Demo Program your after.
In regard my DHL parcel... cost of goods (PCB's) £17.50 DHL Carriage £18.60 total £36.10 however Customs and Excise charge on the total value including the carriage. and additional £ 18.27 so just over 50% of the total cost, I've no idea if a portion is a charge they make or not ..
Have fun writing out your disks
I ment to ask what the 810 drive went for, did you end up with it or A N other?

 

Hi Andy Well I think you need these for your 464

https://atari-owner.com/club/threads/multiple-upgrades-for-the-amstrad-cpc-range.358/#post-2488

 

Just a question to all, does someone have the Atari Graphics Demonstrations disk? This includes Robot, Atari Brass, Colours, corridor, Hat, Pictures, Player, Roll, and Sound. I've not been able to find it online.

Hi, Andy - parcel on its way and here are a couple of files for you to play with - some super duper demos incl the one you were after:

 

Hi Andy,

thanks for the info about Syscheck, and for the disk images. I'll let you know when it arrives.

M.D. Sorry you got stung for someone else not doing what they should have done.

 

A couple new Atari toys arrived yesterday and today. Yesterday I received the TK-II-PBJ PS/2 keyboard interface that @Graham gave me. The other is the Turbo Freezer 2011 I ordered 3 weeks ago, sent from Greece to me by Panos (santosp on AA). Though I fixed my 800's keyboard, I may need the TK-II while fixing up @Paul "Mclaneinc" Irvine 's, 1200XL and the 800XL for my friend Danny "Bugman" Powers. An Atari fan from the beginning, but just doesn't care to join forums and whatnot, so anything new and exciting he hears and receives from me.

The Turbo Freezer will go with the 800. I'm sill deciding if I want to install it internally, or give the 800 a PBI out the back attach it externally. I really have wanted to do a PBI on the 800, just for the hell of it and because I think it would be really cool now with the Incognito and it's PBI. Another option is to install it internally, but use the Turbo Freezer's pass-thru PBI edge as the 800's PBI.

I also can use the ECI-to-PBI adapter that I don't need for the 800's PBI connector. Using the XL PBI board with the turbo freezer would mean a PBI on the rear left-hand side, opposite the PSU board and any PBI device connected would have legs to support it. If I use the XE adapter board, I can hack it up and make it fit directly at the rear middle bottom, but I'll also have to do some hacking to the heavy metal shielding.

I don't know if I'll ever use the PBI for anything else in the 800 but the Turbo Freezer. The Incognito is sort of an all-in-one for upgrades that might otherwise use the PBI. So I don't know yet...

 

You'll figure it out, I'm sure. But swapping out some caps isn't a big deal to me if that's what it takes on my every day 800. And yes, The robot will have a naked board in a new body, and probably the PSU board won't even be used, though I haven't decided for sure on that yet. It's really all about the chassis size of the mobile tracks I get for it, which will be as large as I can afford.

 

As you say Graham, a right A'hole. £405 if you want to buy everything. You can get a boxed 130xe Personal Computer Starter Pack for £189.

 

Hi Paul , I saw this in the Daily Mail. Why is it that when someone does something to help, the police try to stop them from doing it?

 

Not sure, perhaps its just so that people get to know there's a new system there, sadly where it is in Turnham Green Terrace there was ZERO notices about it so it was impossible to know the system had changed so I was dead grateful for this woman running out to me. I kept pressing my window to come down but fingers slipped and she almost walked away, thankfully she stayed and I got the window down.

I'd have appealed it but better that she told me and I don't get a ticket

Bloody council raking the driving public to make easy cash. Blooming scam if you ask me...Costs enough to drive as it is...

 

Maybe not the right place to talk about it, but... in a word, why these traffic restrictions?
Did you know it also exist in Italy? https://www.trustandtravel.com/blog/ztl-restricted-traffic-italy/

 

My newest Atari goodies arrived yesterday. The latest ABBUC magazine and disk and the latest Sondermagazin by ABBUC with disk. Unfortunately side 1 of the ABBUC #142 gives a boot error. So I'll have to download the ATR from ABBUC's site and attempt to re-write it to the same floppy or else an new one.

 

Wonderful (wunderbar) to see ABBUC still producing new and entertaining content on the old media (sorry to hear you got boot errors though, Matt).
I must get my finger out (if I ever get my debts paid off - know exactly where you're coming from, Paul) and subscribe to them too... mind, I calculate I'll be 145 by then and they may have run out of floppies!!

 

Nice pressies..

have a great one..

 

Fantastic gifts! I need to get myself an oscilloscope again too.

I had a vintage, and brilliant Tektronix oscilloscope model 5103 that had up-gradable/exchangeable modules. I purchased it for about $25 from a sale of old equipment at the tech school I was attending for electronics back in 2000-2002, but I sold it about a decade ago when I needed money badly. I loved it and wish I never sold it, but had too at the time.

 

The silver lining I suppose is that I did sell it for a profit, I forget how much, but I think it was about $100. Still, I don't know if I'll be able to find another, new or vintage, for less than $100. But I haven't looked of course. If I can get a vintage one it would have to be local as shipping on these old tanks would be a small fortune itself. I think that Tektronix one weighed at least 5 stone. I suppose I'm off to look what's available, because I've got the bug up my arse to get one now!