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

@Timothy Kline, is that the Mosiac 64K board for the 800? Or is that an 80 column card maybe, with the cable and whatnot? Wait...I make out "for use with controller jacks" there...just what the hell is that Tim?!?

Before I got the Incognito, I was half-way through hacking a 16K ram module into a Mosiac 64 compatible using schematics by Claus Bucholz. Along with Axlon 128/256K boards I was going to hack from a second 16K board. I mainly was curious as to how many games designated for 64K XL/XE systems actually fit in the 52K continuous memory of the Mosiac board. Though, IIRC, there may have been an issue with both needing slot 2 (0-3), but maybe the Axlon works in slot 3 as well...? The plan was to have both boards, if possible, with a full 320K memory on-board with 52K direct access.

The 800's architecture is so fascinating, I've only really been learning and discoverying it all since you gave me the 800, Tim.

But the re-release of the Incognito last fall changed all of that. I may do it some day, just for the hell of it, but I've several plates full of projects to finish first. But I think the Incognito, IIRC, does allow 52K of continuous ram in Colleen mode, so I still plan on testing my "64K" game theory; that not all of them are really 64K, but just require more than 48K, and there may be a few that fit into the 52K range and work with OS B.

 

Matt, calm down, you are getting Lockdown fever

 

Here is my latest purchase; just a small 20 piece 74HCXX chip set. I need some 74HC14's for my Pokey stereo upgrades, as I mentioned in my hardware mods blog in the 800 part. But of course one or two IC's will cost half the price of a set like this anyway, so I figure I might as well get my monies worth, they are all commonly used 74LS/HC IC's. I still have a set of about a 100, but no more 74LS/HC14's.

 

A bit of lost-and-found here, I was digging through some more of my storage containers today, out in the shed, and I found an old plasma ball. A RadioShack model. I'm one step closer to my nik-nak workstation's complete decor. I also added in top shelf LED's, so all shelves on the left side are lit now, I have another set that will be replacing the puck lighting on my right side corner shelves too. The last two items I want that I still need to get are a good globe of the earth and a Tesla coil. Then my "mad-scientist" nik-nak's will be complete. I also have a couple small nik-naks my brother gave me, a "snow-globe" volcano and an oil-bubble thingy, as seen in the second picture on either side of my moon globe.

 

My government stimulus came through, so obviously they are catching up or the stories of being months behind on sending these out are greatly exaggerated, since I was late in applying and hadn't payed income taxes in a few years (no steady income to do so) and should have been on the bottom of the list. So, the first thing I did was order a few items for my Atari workstation area that I've been wanting. Though I have to wait for them to be shipped, I thought I'd share with links to my Amazon orders. My new office chair and earth globe should arrive in a week or less. Just doing my part in getting our economy rolling again!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LXXM5EK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BN1G7KQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

The under side of my desk has standard white Christmas lights hidden behind the fascia there.

 

Had three arrivals today, a PokeyMAX 2, which I've got to tryout in all the computers I have, and I purchased a X2 MIDI synthesiser module, the XLD & XEL both have the S2 cards thought I'd try this out as can program the sound banks via USB. And the sockets are the same waveblaster compatible one. as built into the XLD, and added as an extra to the XEL, Oh the third was a packet of rubber blanking plugs, and they still don't fit nor look very nice from what I can see (There for Andy's ORIC PSU I modded and should have sent off p.s. Sorry Andy )
least I'm feeling a bit better, and actually able to concentrate for more that 5 mins.

 

My latest Atari 800 upgrade arrived today. The CX85 numeric keypad. I managed to find one, keypad only, in mint condition for $20.

 

The calculator is Texas Instruments, Datamath TI-2500B with the red LED display.

Generally speaking, yes, the software has to be made to work with the CX85, which is plugged into a joystick port. But, there is a lot of PD software that utilizes it, and I have a program called Reeve Key, by Alan Reeve of Diamond GOS fame which allows it to work with many programs, like the Synapse series and WP's, etc. too. I've heard there are other keypad drivers out there as well, and I think there is one or more for Sparta DOS too.

 

pics

S2&X2 X2 in XLD X2+PM in XLD S2&X2
ITS ON THE 'TIN'

Compare Pokey & PMAX

 

Since you said you've never seen a CX85 keypad before, @Graham , here are close-up shots of it for your viewing pleasure.

 

Sizzling sci-fi sweetie...

 

Thank you for your kind words, yes the command centre is still evolving, I still have to add in the brushed metal back-splash and wall trim around it all, but once my chair and globe arrive, I'll be pretty set as far as the interior decorating is concerned.

And I forgot to answer your question: Yes, my brother has been unleashed on the command centre, but he's not a big fan of retro equipment, he'll play with it all once in a while, I'm sure, but so far he just plays his games on his (mine now) Xbox One

But I don't currently have a working Atari 8-bit anyway, the 1200XL is down until I finish upgrading the 800, then I can put the Incognito into XL/XE mode and use my R.D. XL/XE eprom burner on it to burn a new OS roms for my 1200XL, which I'm pretty sure is the issue with it, I've tried everything else...then I can use the eprom burner on my 1200XL after that, as intended, to burn more OS roms for the 1200XL I'm fixing up for @Paul "Mclaneinc" Irvine , and the 800XL I'm fixing up for my friend Danny P. Everything came to a stand-still when my 1200XL went belly-up last fall, only having a 48K 800 that couldn't use my eprom burner.

To top it all off, while working on my 800 upgrades, either merely by coincidence, or some fault of my own, the LM7805 regulator went bell-up on my 800's PSU board, which stopped my upgrading to repair it, and then to top it all off, while I was working on the PSU board and testing voltages, I had a "brain fart" and forgot to turn off & unplug the PSU board when I went to solder in the last 7805 regulator I had on-hand, and ended up frying it out and the 7812 regulator too! So tomorrow I'm expecting a set of 7800 series regulators, including the ones I need, to arrive and hopefully I'll get everything back on track.

 

Well, I'd been waiting on the brushed metal flashing for my command centre until I got around to the home improvement store to pick up more building supplies, which has been postponed due to a lack of a vehicle (which hopefully will be rectified in this coming week) to pull my trailer, but then I finally had a little flickering bulb go off in my head and the thought occurred that I can just order it from Amazon. So it's finally on it's way. I will, of course, show pictures or a short video once it is all installed, but here is a link to what I ordered for now:

https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-St...hed+metal+flashing&qid=1590329197&sr=8-1&th=1

 

My globe arrived today, so I'm rediscovering what the world really looks like when it's not laid out on a flat map!

 

LOL! I did discover a very tiny island about 2000 miles southwest of Hawaii, just above the equator and still just barely in the North Pacific, that is named Baker and is a U.S. territory...I'll have to try and visit before I die, a new thing to add to my bucket list!

 

Nice lost-and-found. I found some more non-Atari, related items in storage this weekend, audio tapes and CD's, my rare copy of Iron Soldier 3 for the PSX, the sequel to Iron Soldier 1 & 2 on the Atari Jaguar. I did find a few common 2600 games for my 2600.

My new command centre chair arrived today, It's very comfortable and stylish, but it is still an inch or two lower than I would have like when adjusted to full height, so I'm still using an sofa pillow under my bum to reach the right height.

 

Fantastic Alex! Now when you get tired of that dusty old Speccy, just send her my way...

 

Flynn lives! That DVD arrived today Paul, thanks! I have the card displayed on my top corner shelf now.

 

Hi Tim,

I'd forgotten about the phone VR, and yes I brought a super cheap head set and straight away I was getting headaches..

3D Wizard of Oz, sounds great...

Will have a look on the cheap sales sites for a TV

 

If it can find a 14yr old virgin in my area then I'll be impressed!