SIO cables

[Gunstar]

Only ever good for the 800 and XEGS, gets in the way on all else...

I think I may get one of those later for my 800 though, I'm not used to all the cords on the side, especially when I like to keep my touch tablet or CX85 keypad right there too. I don't use the channel switch for anything, atm, since I already disconnected the RF box and removed the RF cable...it's all monitor output for this 800 anymore. There's still the issue of the monitor cable being in the way, anyway, though...

[DavidMil]

You can buy the SIO hoods complete with connectors for about $5.00 each from Best Electronics. Then

you can cut to length the cables you want to make. Whenever I make an SIO cable I always solder the

wires to the connectors and put a tie wrap inside the hood around the cable to keep the stress off of the

connections.

 

David

[Gunstar]

 

Here you go:

https://www.vintagecomputercenter.com/product/3-atari-sio-cable

 

If you need SIO cables for SDrive-MAX's I can make those too, $10 for a 3' and it only has 5 conductors.

Made, and shipped from the US.

 

Gavin

My SIO cables arrived today, they are very nice and of high quality. Unfortunately they are manufactured (the SIO plugs) just slightly too large in dimension. They refuse to go into my 1030 modem and two 1050 drive's ports at all, and I have to force them to fit in my CA-2001 drive, Atari 810 drive and my Atari 800. Only my 1010 and 1020 do they fit without issue. So I am going to have to sand all the plugs down just so they will fit the rest of my equipment. You definitely need to change the size of the plugs you are making Gavin.

Edited December 12, 2018 by Gunstar

[Mr Robot]

At a guess I'd say Gavin1968 has switched from ABS to PLA for his 3D prints. ABS shrinks a little bit after printing (5-8%), the Shapeways SIO plug model is designed for ABS so it is a little over sized.

 

Don't sand em down, send em back and let him make it right for you. Isn't Gavin1968 selling lots of SDrive-MAX's right now? He should probably know about this so he can be ready when people start receiving them!

[Gavin1968]

My SIO cables arrived today, they are very nice and of high quality. Unfortunately they are manufactured (the SIO plugs) just slightly too large in dimension. They refuse to go into my 1030 modem and two 1050 drive's ports at all, and I have to force them to fit in my CA-2001 drive, Atari 810 drive and my Atari 800. Only my 1010 and 1020 do they fit without issue. So I am going to have to sand all the plugs down just so they will fit the rest of my equipment. You definitely need to change the size of the plugs you are making Gavin.

Strange, I have NEVER had an issue with them, they fit in my 800 just fine. I am sorry for the inconvenience.

[Gavin1968]

At a guess I'd say Gavin1968 has switched from ABS to PLA for his 3D prints. ABS shrinks a little bit after printing (5-8%), the Shapeways SIO plug model is designed for ABS so it is a little over sized.

 

Don't sand em down, send em back and let him make it right for you. Isn't Gavin1968 selling lots of SDrive-MAX's right now? He should probably know about this so he can be ready when people start receiving them!

I have sold over 40 SDrive-MAX's with 0 SIO plug issues. They fit great, but snug, in my A800 and no one has said anything about them not fitting.

[Gunstar]

It's too much trouble for me to ship them back and wait when I can be using them later tonight, I just wanted to warn him.

[Gavin1968]

My SIO cables arrived today, they are very nice and of high quality. Unfortunately they are manufactured (the SIO plugs) just slightly too large in dimension. They refuse to go into my 1030 modem and two 1050 drive's ports at all, and I have to force them to fit in my CA-2001 drive, Atari 810 drive and my Atari 800. Only my 1010 and 1020 do they fit without issue. So I am going to have to sand all the plugs down just so they will fit the rest of my equipment. You definitely need to change the size of the plugs you are making Gavin.

I will print a couple of the plus in ABS tomorrow and see how they fit in my A800, been using PLA for all of them to date with no issues, other than being snug.

[Gavin1968]

It's too much trouble for me to ship them back and wait when I can be using them later tonight, I just wanted to warn him.

I appreciate it, not sure why no one else has said anything. I will have to see if I can make them fit better if they shrink the pin slots will shrink too and then the pins won't fit.

[+ZuluGula]

You could get a cheap caliper and compare yours plugs to the original. Harbor Freight has them for $3 or $10 digital.

[SS]

I have sold over 40 SDrive-MAX's with 0 SIO plug issues. They fit great, but snug, in my A800 and no one has said anything about them not fitting.

On first use, my SDrive-MAX cable plug from Gavin was very snug in my 800XL but it did fit. However, it was SUPER tight in my SIO splitter from Lotharek (it's pretty tight with all SIO plugs though). I wasn't sure if I was going to get it to fit at all. I really weaseled it in and back out a few times and then it fit better. I guess that process must have shaved just enough off of the plug sides to make everything minutely smaller enough to work without further issue. Gavin's build quality is really good so I didn't see any need to bring it up to anyone. I feel like the tiniest little bit of sanding should probably fix any fitting problems that might arise with a SIO device.

 

.

Edited December 13, 2018 by SS

[Gunstar]

I was able to force my 3 SIO cables into most of my peripherals, Only the 1050's, in the end, was I not able to get them to fit at all. Luckily I only needed one end of one of the cables to go into one of my 1050's, so I ended up only having to sand one plug. I used my dremel on low speed with a grinding stone and just sanded a bit and tested, and re-sanded until it fit. I had to sand the sides of the plug most, and just a little on the top and bottom.

[+Nezgar]

I have sold over 40 SDrive-MAX's with 0 SIO plug issues. They fit great, but snug, in my A800 and no one has said anything about them not fitting.

I did notice the SIO connector on my SDrive-Max from you was a very tight fit into the back of my primary 800XL. I haven't tried plugging it into anything else. But it really didn't concern me at the time. I figured I'd just sand it down a little at some point. The awesomeness of every other aspect of the device really overshadowed that though!

 

Heck I even had to file the switch hole in my Side2 cart when I got it, as it was preventing the slider from going all the way to the SDX position.

 

Goes with the hobby, but I can see it being a little more of a concern if you have lots of them.

[Mr Robot]

Conversely, the plug I ordered from Lotharek barely holds into the socket on either of my machines at all, its like the friction of the pins is all that's holding it in. Lotharek gets his injection molded, I guess the mold he had made is fractionally too small. My genuine connectors are perfect, they almost squeak when you plug them in and out but it doesn't feel like I'm going to rip the socket off the board with repeated use.

[+DrVenkman]

Conversely, the plug I ordered from Lotharek barely holds into the socket on either of my machines at all, its like the friction of the pins is all that's holding it in. Lotharek gets his injection molded, I guess the mold he had made is fractionally too small. My genuine connectors are perfect, they almost squeak when you plug them in and out but it doesn't feel like I'm going to rip the socket off the board with repeated use.

I’ve got about a dozen vintage SIO cables plus maybe 5-6 or so “tails” for devices that have cable-halves permanently attached (410’s, 1010, P:R: Connection). Some of these definitely fit more easily or tightly than others. Some are genuine Molex branded cables (name molded right into the housing) others are not. Not sure that makes too much difference.

 

There’s really just too much variance in plastics and how they behave with age and during manufacture to generalize too broadly in terms of how well any one cable will fit equally-vintage plastic connectors on old hardware.

[+ZuluGula]

I'm unsuccessfully looking for a bulk source of better cable to redo my SIO cables. For example, I don't like the cable that comes with Lothareks devices. They feel too stiff, I think it's the PVC jacket that make them stiff.

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/284538-source-of-flexible-cable-in-us/?do=findComment&comment=4171956

[Gunstar]

Right now it seems to be a beggar's can't be chooser's market, if you don't want to pay a premium on eBay for OEM cables. I'm not meaning to degrade either Gavin1969's or Lotharek's SIO cables. The quality of Gavin's I can say first hand is top-quality and the way I would make them myself, if I had a 3D printer(aside from maybe making the plugs a micron or two smaller in dimension) or sourced other plugs. I just mean a bit tight, a bit loose, cable too stiff; little issues like that are just going to have to be accepted as long as cables and plugs are coming from various small manufacturers, and what they think is best. Some people may prefer Lotharek's stiff cables and some may prefer Gavin's super-tight SIO plugs.

 

MyAtari (B&C Computervisiosns) sells OEM cables on eBay starting at over $20, I assume it's as much direct from their site, which is currently under construction. And other sellers on eBay are the same or higher, plus many 6 or 10 foot cables that cost much more.

 

Best Electronics does appear to have two versions of OEM 3 foot SIO cables for $10 and $12, and I would have ordered from him, except for the fact that I have to order during odd hours (especially out of time-zone) on certain days, by phone, and I always forget. And also, when I do remember, Bruce(?) always seems very busy when I call and I always feel like I'm being rushed through my order, and he expects you to have the catalog number for every item. I would sometimes order a long list of things if it weren't for feeling rushed, but I usually cut the order short due to it. Also, in many cases he doesn't even know for sure if something isn't sold out. He often doesn't remember what the items you are ordering cost off-hand and doesn't give a total for the order assuming it's completely filled. The last two orders I got from him had about half the order filled when they arrived, the rest being out of stock, and I never know what the total is going to be with tax and shipping in the end until I get the order, see what's in it and what I was charged. I don't get charged for item orders not filled, of course. Or, you handle the order through e-mails which can be even more uncertain and take longer and require days of back-and-forth replies. But it's all such a hassle and I wish I could just order on the website.

Edited December 13, 2018 by Gunstar

[Mr Robot]

I've found email is the best choice when ordering from Best. I check the website to see if it says he has the stuff I want and email him a request to confirm prices and availability. He usually replies by the next day and if it all seems ok I paypal him the payment and reply to his email saying I'd like to go ahead, including the paypal transaction number.

 

It's always worked out fine (except for him refusing to sell me more than one pokey once)

 

I've never been a fan of the telephone

[_The Doctor__]

seems certain Gavin can work out what up with his cables. the outer dimensions can easily be adjusted. Using old school mustard prints to compare the originals to the new ones. You don't even need to destroy old cable to do it, as the pin swipes release easily and locking tab pull back up and re inserted back into the connectors when done...

Edited December 13, 2018 by _The Doctor__

[Gavin1968]

seems certain Gavin can work out what up with his cables. the outer dimensions can easily be adjusted. Using old school mustard prints to compare the originals to the new ones. You don't even need to destroy old cable to do it, as the pin swipes release easily and locking tab pull back up and re inserted back into the connectors when done...

I am committed to getting them right. The OEM ones were made with a softer plastic and I will find the best way possible to make these little guys. I love my A800 and am committed to the community to provide the best parts I can make. I would love to injection mold them but the costs are out of this world. I have conteat4ed Molex, who made the originals for Atari and they offer no solution as they don't even have the molds anymore. I am going to try and find a softer plastic to print these with, my original is like a hard rubber, and that allows them to fit the socket a little better, these are PLA and they do not give. I have been ok with the tight fit but I can understand the worry about damage to the port so I will continue to work on them.

Thanks for your support.

Gavin

[E474]

Hi,

 

I was thinking of making my own cables using 3D printed connectors and the cable from SCART cables, haven't tried yet. but it should be up to the job.

[Gavin1968]

FYI, I am now printing them in ABS and they fit perfectly! Sorry about the tight ones to those who have ordered SDrive-MAX's or cables from me but all of the new ones will be ABS and fit perfectly. For those of you who have already gotten your SDrive-MAX or cables, I would be happy to send you new plugs if you filling able to replace the wires, just let me know.

 

Thanks again for all your support!

 

Gavin

https://www.vintagecomputercenter.com/

Edited December 14, 2018 by Gavin1968

[+David_P]

Years ago there was a surplus store in Toronto with a bin full of the JAE SIO cables. I made the mistake of only buying five... for a dollar each. Sadly, they're out of business now, and Best sells those cables for $12 each.

 

Per Best, "Considered by Best Electronics as one of the very best made 3 foot SIO cables Atari ever made, was the one that was made in Japan for Atari. What makes this Japan made Atari SIO cable better than any others made over the years are two reasons. One the JAE (Japan Aviation Electronics, letter marking on the outer SIO connector shells) 3 foot SIO cables used round female connector metal contacts inside the SIO cable connector body, so each mating SIO receptacle male pin made 100% (360 degree) contact with the female SIO cable round metal connector pin. Second reason is the JAE 3 foot SIO cables have an attached strain relief on the cable ends that prevents the SIO cable (as it goes into the 13 pin connector shells) itself from pulling out of the SIO connector body." http://www.best-electronics-ca.com/8-bit_.htm#SIO

[Gunstar]

I've found email is the best choice when ordering from Best. I check the website to see if it says he has the stuff I want and email him a request to confirm prices and availability. He usually replies by the next day and if it all seems ok I paypal him the payment and reply to his email saying I'd like to go ahead, including the paypal transaction number.

 

It's always worked out fine (except for him refusing to sell me more than one pokey once)

 

I've never been a fan of the telephone

I have loved dealing with Best for several decades, and I even enjoyed ordering by phone because he wasn't busy and had time to talk and wanted too. But either he had more employees to take care of business and/or later on less business and more time, at least until the retro surge really grew. Now he's busy. Good for him.

 

I'm quite often ordering stuff that isn't even listed on the website, direct from the catalog. He carries much more than is listed on the website. But the catalog is needed for a full inventory list, with addendum's downloaded from his site, which is usually just a list of what is out of stock and not prices changes of in-stock items not shown on the website.

 

Yes, If I'd checked Best's site and knew he had cables for $10-12 I probably would have called or e-mailed, and gotten a few other items at the same time since he has flat shipping rates, or at least a minimum, IIRC. But I started this thread and people pointed out Lotharek and Gavin1968 then showed up with a link to his site for easy, hassle free purchase in two minutes, so that's the route I went, for a few dollars more. Plus, this way I don't have to cut a cable in half to make my own SDrive Max cable, I just got a ready-to-assemble one from Gavin.

Edited December 14, 2018 by Gunstar

[SS]

I have loved dealing with Best for several decades, and I even enjoyed ordering by phone because he wasn't busy and had time to talk and wanted too. But either he had more employees to take care of business and/or later on less business and more time, at least until the retro surge really grew. Now he's busy. Good for him.

 

I think that Best might be down to only Bradley and maybe one assistant these days. B&C might really only be Bruce and Bruce alone any more.