Atari 5200 controller fix (user Signguy81 MIA?)

[unoclay]

Hey there,

Im an infrequent user of this forum. I'd been in contact with a user, Signguy81, who helped me out with a repair of an atari 5200 controller. We'd been using the message system to contact each other and discuss possible (additional) fixes, but his account seems to be inactive since early Jan, and I dont know what happened or how to reach him.

 

#1---any info on Signguy? Its really weird--he just disappeared, mid conversation. I genuinely hope he's ok!

 

#2--if i cant find Signguy....looking for someone who does 5200 controller repairs. He'd done one, but something popped, and he had theories how to fix it (Again).

 

Welcome any input!

[CZroe]

Hey there,

Im an infrequent user of this forum. I'd been in contact with a user, Signguy81, who helped me out with a repair of an atari 5200 controller. We'd been using the message system to contact each other and discuss possible (additional) fixes, but his account seems to be inactive since early Jan, and I dont know what happened or how to reach him.

 

#1---any info on Signguy? Its really weird--he just disappeared, mid conversation. I genuinely hope he's ok!

 

#2--if i cant find Signguy....looking for someone who does 5200 controller repairs. He'd done one, but something popped, and he had theories how to fix it (Again).

 

Welcome any input!

What’s the issue?

 

It seems like everyone and their dog has advice about the button issues but few have tackled the reduced range issue that affects even NOS controllers with American-made “CTS” potentiometers inside. Their range is reduced from lower resistance and they typically show ~370 ohms max (should be near-zero to 500k ohms).

 

Beyond simply switching them out for Japanese-made Alps or Panasonic pots from other junk 5200 controllers, the CTS pot range can be fixed with a very small capacitor inside. I was working on a video last year but I never got back to it. A resistor won’t work because it will simply limit your range on the other end by adding minimum resistance. Tweaking the adjustment in the console will negatively impact working controllers that are still functioning with the correct range. Don’t do it!