Rob Mitchell Posted February 20, 2003 Share Posted February 20, 2003 I have wired an interface box to connect my 2600 Keyboard (also 2600 Video Touchpad, 2600 Kids Controller) to the 5200! It works great! (Although it does require a minor modification to the keyboard: See Below.) I used the Wico Y splitter cable for connection to the console. I built a simple adapter to switch the pins. On top of the adapter I mounted three pushbuttons for START, PAUSE, RESET. The adapter has a 15 pin male socket (for Wico cable) and 9 pin female socket (for 2600 Keyboard Controller). Here is how the adapter is wired: 9F -> 15M 1 -> 7 2 -> 6 3 -> 5 4 -> 8 5 -> 3 6 -> 1 7 nc 8 nc 9 -> 2 Pushbuttons: START, PAUSE, RESET common to 15M pin 4 START free end to 15M pin 7 PAUSE free end to 15M pin 6 RESET free end to 15M pin 5 There is one minor modification that needs to be done to the 2600 Keyboard to keep pins 5 and 9 from interfering with eachother. Open the controller. Lift the resistor that connects to the white wire (P9). Clip that one end or desolder and let it rest to the side of the PCB. Reassemble. Make sure you label / mark your 2600 Keyboard as a 5200 controller! You cannot use it to play 2600 Codebreaker (Mastermind) anymore! Funny thing is that the 2600 Keyboard does accommodate the 5200 overlays! All you have to do is set the lower tabs of the overlay into the bottom slots and secure the top in place with a small piece of tape and you are set! This makes me think that Atari engineers were using the 2600 keyboard initially with the 5200 console when they were working through controller options. I'm thinking of making these with the PC adapter interface included if anyone wants one. PM me. Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceCold Posted February 20, 2003 Share Posted February 20, 2003 Sounds very cool! Not something I'll be doing anytime soon, but still very cool. Do you have any pics of the adaptor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Mitchell Posted February 21, 2003 Author Share Posted February 21, 2003 Sounds very cool! Not something I'll be doing anytime soon, but still very cool. Do you have any pics of the adaptor? Nope .. just a black plastic box with three buttons on top .. 2 ports for input and two ports for output. WICO Y cable connects to the console. Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceCold Posted February 21, 2003 Share Posted February 21, 2003 Sounds very cool! Not something I'll be doing anytime soon, but still very cool. Do you have any pics of the adaptor? Nope .. just a black plastic box with three buttons on top .. 2 ports for input and two ports for output. WICO Y cable connects to the console. Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA Yeah, I just love seeing pics of other people's works/creations, even if they do look very simple(just a plastic box). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsoper Posted February 21, 2003 Share Posted February 21, 2003 Wow, that's a good idea idea Rob. I installed a 4x4 keypad in the last couple master-play type adapters I made, but never thought of using 2600 keypads for that. Congrats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Mitchell Posted February 21, 2003 Author Share Posted February 21, 2003 Wow, that's a good idea idea Rob. I installed a 4x4 keypad in the last couple master-play type adapters I made, but never thought of using 2600 keypads for that. Congrats. Yeah .. I like the 2600 Keyboards .. They're Atari so they work for me. I've put 4x4 keypads in two adapters also .. but the effect is not the same. Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bohoki Posted December 7, 2008 Share Posted December 7, 2008 ah ha the solution Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fokakis79 Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 I know this thread is really old. I am trying to figure out a few things about tbis adapter. I am a little lost. This keypad seems like it would be perfect but I am a little stuck in understanding a few things. 1. what are the two inputs and what are the two outputs? 2. Also here are some wiring questions. I have two inputs and two outputs how are those wired and connected together. I see the part where you list what pins go to what when wiring the 9f to 15m. What about for the other connectors? Sorry, just having trouble picturing this thing. If anyone else has made this or something similar, I would love a little guidance. Feel free to pm if you can be of help. Thank you for any info you can provide. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bohoki Posted March 14, 2018 Share Posted March 14, 2018 its a matrix array on the 5200 if you short pins 4 and 7 the 5200 says that is the start button that is really the only button you need i never use start or reset so you just want a loose pushbutton for that then when you wire the 9 pin male plug to the 15 pin female just follow that above wiring once you mod your keyboard,touchpad,kidscontroller make sure you mark it with a label as 5200 modded so you dont get confused if you ever want to play a 2600 game with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fokakis79 Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 its a matrix array on the 5200 if you short pins 4 and 7 the 5200 says that is the start button that is really the only button you need i never use start or reset so you just want a loose pushbutton for that then when you wire the 9 pin male plug to the 15 pin female just follow that above wiring once you mod your keyboard,touchpad,kidscontroller make sure you mark it with a label as 5200 modded so you dont get confused if you ever want to play a 2600 game with it Okay, I understand that part now. But I still might not be knowledgeable enough to do this. I just am having trouble how all the inputs and outputs are wired together. I wish I had schematic or at least a picture of the guts in this thing. Thanks for the help, I do appreciate it. I am hoping I can figure this out eventually. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bohoki Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 (edited) a good way to wire things is breakout plugs like these so you take wire from a pin on one plug to go to the wirenumber on another plug like https://www.ebay.com/itm/DB9-Male-D-Sub-9-Pin-Plug-Breakout-Terminals-Solderless-Nut-Type-Connector/192467045202 and this https://www.ebay.com/itm/DB15-D-SUB-VGA-15pin-Female-Adapter-Jack-Terminal-Breakout-PCB-BoarderbLW/172350617619?epid=1486949891 Edited March 15, 2018 by bohoki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fokakis79 Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 That does look easier to wire than trying to solder to each pin on the connector. Maybe I should go that route. I have done more research into making this thing. I am getting a little better of an idea. Do you suggest breadboards? Or just wire it directly? Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bohoki Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 i do not know why you would need a breadboard hopefully you can solder enough to put some wires onto a pushbutton or buy pushbuttons with wires already attached Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fokakis79 Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 (edited) Yeah, thats what I planned on doing and would much rather do. Just was wondering about the breadboard option. I am getting there, thanks for all the help you provided me so far. When I finally get it done I will show it off. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk Edited March 21, 2018 by fokakis79 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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