e5frog

The image shown above is most likely displaying other colors because of the crappy video signal, colors bleed, they have checkered pattern etc. It's a well known way of mixing colors on other vintage systems, using the limited quality of RF or composite video signals. I think they aimed for that effect in Alien Invasion where there's a checkered pattern of blue and green at the bottom. ... there could be some defective logic chip though, who knows.

Well... the "computer aided teaching"-instructions is what is the Democart, I think it uses the console hockey code for display etc and final option to play. ... and there's an Easter Egg as well. Democart 2 is "just" pictures of games with titles (not all of them the release title) Black Jack doesn't even display properly - due to delay after gfx loading is too short. You get nothing on a fast machine and stripes on a newer version. MESS runs it fine, it has no such limitations. If collecting games to play there's no reason to get neither one nor the other.

Democart software is already on the first system? Check again.

Not that any keyboards nor keyboard carts were ever sold AFAIK. The keyboard cart on the Channel F II box has the text from the Robot Wars cart I think.

The last carts were only available through mail order AFAIK, which includes Democart for a while. Dennis should know, his site has detailed information from letters and pamphlets. I'd define a complete American collection as carts 1-26 and Democart of at least one label/box/instruction version. Next level would be all original consumer software releases including German versions of 1, 3, 18 (similar to Hangman and numbered 16) and 20 (Chess). Next would be to include Democart 2, not sold to consumers, as well as Werbetextcassette, then the prototypecarts... Then all print variations, pamphlets and letters. That should be it for carts from back in the day, some only owned by one person. Including new cart releases in chronological order: Multi-Cart (different software releases), Pac-Man (different software releases), Retrogathering Pac-Man contest (1 cart), Retrogathering picture slideshow with music and scroll text (actually not on the Multi-Cart, 1 cart), Kevin vs Tomatoes (10 carts), the CC2019 intro, trimerous (presumed release year 2020), Tetris (presumed release year 2020). Then there's various unreleased betas not released on cart - even on the Multi-Cart - unfinished stuff. atari2600land has made some playable ones. Such things that could be hidden on a cart like Easter Eggs... (but hasn't been - yet).

Yes, I have a few, shown in my gallery.

The shown positions are for use with the amplifier on top of the page. Audio could in the easiest case be grabbed directly but it's better to get the amplified signal and then decrease current with a resistor and run it through an electrolyte capacitor to remove DC bias. It's possible to use a single transistor hookup for the video amplification but... I have tried it and it wasn't very good. The posted schematic is highly recommended. Also got a 4K and Framemeister, haven't tried it out there yet - I should. Mine does have an RF input though but it's surely worse than going through the Framemeister.

I made a couple of the SMD boards for myself (as shown earlier) and have them installed in a Channel F II as well as a Luxor V.E.S. - which is the same tech/appearance as a Fairchild version 1. Also modded a SABA Videoplay 2 with an experiment card built version. Bought parts for both SMD and THM versions so I could probably make one or the other for you. The proper (expensive) type of SMD potentiometer that I had planned on using for the small version was sold out though so I surface mounted the THM version on my two - doesn't look very professional. There was some discussion about s-video or perhaps even RGB output so I haven't spent much time on this awaiting that. Haven't had time to look into the solution that was suggested, neither money to buy parts and make prototypes - which is probably the main reason. It should be possible to pick the digital video signals from video RAM and create a perfect picture depending on the output format but in my opinion it removes a bit of the retro feel if things look too good so for that reason I'm not pursuing that option. I was a bit weary about composite mod as well since I have had nice clear image with my equipment. Actually finished the mod on a Luxor V.E.S earlier this week and now I realize that I hadn't taken any pictures of that for the wiki - bummer. Not that the user base is very large, perhaps it doesn't matter that much. I had problems with the copper trace tin (HAL) getting loose and shortening other traces, have never seen that happen before, had to re-tin almost 1/4 of the board and remove the CPU socket to get to the last strands. I discovered the sound output I had chosen on the Channel F II causes interference on the image when audio is hooked up. I initially chose the position of audio hookup because it was at a good signal level and I could skip the 150k audio resistor - but the output on the transistor is a better choice, interference is totally gone when doing it that (right) way. Now trying to find the original image file so I can update... the description: http://channelf.se/veswiki/index.php?title=Modding I have three machines hooked up now so I don't need to swap cables or turn any switches to use them, Channel F II through composite on scart on the back, ITT Telematch via RF and the mentioned Luxor on the front AV - so it's pretty handy when testing to easily flip channels on the TV to reach three machines.

Nice, looks really good with the sticker and not a bare 3D print.

Still here, had spent many many hours on a few tricks and effects that turned out not to work on any of the real machines but fine in emulation... I'm considering a hardware solution. Due to current situation things are moving slowly.

It's the two milled holes that goes into the cartrige shell pins and sets the position and angle of the PCB inside the shell. If aim is off the cart could get stuck (or not mount) or create a short between connector pins - or poor/no connection. Don't know what tolerances the now existing System Fairchild units have so it's best to do it properly. I tried doing it manually but got it too tight and when widening them it ended up crappy. As I'm getting new boards anyway maybe I'll try and salvage the boards later on, perhaps I'll figure out a way to do it better - if it's worth it for two PCBs (empty, unpopulated boards).

I bought three PCBs (blank boards) as I was out of them and someone wanted (and paid for - thanks) a cart. Got the PCBs yesterday and they hadn't drilled all holes... So I'm expecting new ones in about two weeks, then I can set you up. Mostly trying to finish Tetris but there has been other problems at the moment due to the new coronavirus - don't know if you've heard about it. Send me a message (or payment to reserve one).

Start by pouring/dipping the metal and winding in epoxy and let it harden. That usually fixes buzzing.

I have seen examples of boxes having plastic but not cart and instructions like that. The way it looks I wouldn't suspect original packing. Could help with the condition though.

Wow, best condition I have seen. So it's an "all the money I can spare"-item. $900 is too much (for me). Nice of the seller to start off high, 20 or so people don't have to bid, hope and pray.

Still alive. How about you?

Nice catch, even a dirty one without edge label might be a nice find if it works. If you happen to find one of those double labeled Zircon carts with a demo-label under - it could be restored into full glory. Should you be looking to get a complete Chess cart set, I'm selling one on eBay at the moment.

Kidding.

Done.

It was "so clear" in the translation. "If the train is to apply, turn the control stick left or right, whereupon the figure on the desired field is drawn."

I should probably type in the English version. ... when I get hold of that. That google translation isn't too bad. Reset, button 4, you start and you're the green set. Select pawn or tower, push, then select destination, push and twist to finalize move - IIRC. I can test it tomorrow.

Was it at least cheap?

Well, there's #1 with German text on Tic-Tac-Toe and also #3 with German abbreviations (SABA also had the plain English version with SABA labels). The SABA version of Hangman has German words and no scaffold for the guy, so there's also different graphics even if the game idea is the same. He sinks into the ground if you fail guessing the word.

I don't know how to play checkers but I'm happy to have that anyway.

Software-wise there's the four SABA as well, especially Rat'mal and Schach.