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SINGLE TOOTH

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Posts posted by SINGLE TOOTH

  1. Posted

    I've had great success. I've managed to dial up to a BBS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I had to use the Modem cable to the wimodem232 and use the right SIO port on the "old" 850.

     

    It really sucks that the old 850 has a bum sio port and the NIB 850 doesn't seem to work. I did get it to make that distorted fart-like noise a few times where it should be loading the drivers.

    I reseated all of the chips on both 850s and no change. Although I think I did manage to break the socket somewhat on the new 850. I didn't realize it was some sort of ZIF socket that slides.

     

    I'll try the multimeter continuity advise as previously suggested... Any other tips on how to get these 850s working?

     

    post-1274-0-15965300-1522982451.jpg

    • Like 4

  3. Posted · Edited by SINGLE TOOTH

    Check out my gallery - I am always changing it around, but the avatar is probably the closest to how it is right now...

     

    Sweet! I like the TI99 setup too. I saw the little Professor calculator on your shelf, lol. I used to have one of those as a child. I like the Atari Setup, that's pretty awesome. I really like seeing people's setups. You use ICE-T with your wimodem232?

     

    I also like the litte atari badge on your monitor, that's a nice touch.

  4. Posted

    For reference, this is my set-up currently:

     

    130XE => 1050 (1) => 1050 (2) => 850 => SIO2PC => PC

    ||

    CX-87

    ||

    wimodem232

    I see a small pic of your setup in your avatar photo. Got any larger pictures? I'd like to see your setup, it seems pretty sweet.

  5. Posted

     

    The "terminal" cable is a NULL modem cable. You need the "modem" cable.

     

    Did you purchase the CX-87 or CX-88 or both?? The CX-87 "modem" cable is was is needed.

     

    If you purchased the CX-88, you might get away with using another NULL modem adapter inline to reverse it, but no guarantees that will work.

    I actually purchased both. All kinds of people were telling me to use the "null" modem cable aka the Terminal Cable. I didn't understand why that would be needed so I bought the Modem cable also. I'll try again with the Modem cable.

  6. Posted · Edited by SINGLE TOOTH

    Alright, we're getting somewhere, you've confirmed you have communication through to the 850 now. Stick with BobTerm in Full Duplex mode for now - configured for Ascii translation (not Atari/VT52E/VT52O for now). With full duplex is normal to not see what you're typing if there is no working modem or not connected, as it relys on the remote device to echo back what you type. Now we're just not sure about the communication from the 850 to the wimodem232.

     

    In Ascii mode, at each baud rate, try typing "AT" then Return, and you're expecting an 'OK' response.

     

    The wimodem232 may be hardcoded to support 19200bps only, and the 850 can only do up to 9600 reliably. Can you connect it to a PC at 19200 and confirm if it works from there. If so, see if you have a setting to configure it for a lower baud rate such as 9600 or 4800, and then try again with the 850.

     

    Also, if you have any old real modems, you can connect one of those, and try a similar "AT"<Return> sequence at each baud rate. Also when you connect a real external modem, watch the status LED lights. When you connect the 850, you should see some lights change/light up , such as RTS/RS and DTR/TR.

     

    I did get to this point before, but now I understand more what is happening. I have been cycling through the baud rates, and get no response.

     

    I stupidly got rid of my actual Hayes modem. I don't have any other serial modems, only the XM301 sio modem.

     

    I will hook the wimodem232 back up to my compaq and make settings.

  7. Posted

    Chameleon loads the R: driver from 850 ROM: Seems to work

    Bobterm loads the R: driver from 850 ROM: Seems to work too.

    ICE-T does not load the R: driver from 850 ROM: Normal behavior. It needs a software driver.

     

    Full duplex only returns characters when a modem device has "echo" enabled. If no device, or not working, no characters will be returned.

    Half duplex always shows characters you typed. If a device "echoes" them you'll see every character dduupplliiccaatteedd.

     

    Looks like at least the 850 is functional now but unable to communicate with the modem. Double check the custom cabling from 850 to modem.

     

    When I have the computer in this configuration, the device information programs still do not see the R: device handler.

    Also, I am not using custom cabling, I purchased the actual Terminal cable from atari.

  8. Posted

     

    Someone more familiar with the 5200's innards could probably speak to the technical challenges involved. But practically, I have to ask... why? Getting a 800XL or 65XE isn't all that expensive, and is almost certainly cheaper than any modification package for the 5200 that might be developed and sold. Don't get me wrong, I love the 5200, and I really appreciate the efforts made by Wrathchild and others to convert games for us to play on it. But at a certain point, the Atari computers are just always going to be better at certain things, such as the programming carts, games that use the keyboard extensively, and programs that make a lot of use of SIO-connected peripherals. Any user who wishes to explore that world would really be better off just biting the bullet and getting an Atari computer... they're fantastic machines that are well worth acquiring and exploring.

     

    I don't really have an answer to why... You're right, there is no real reason do to this. Just curious IF it is remotely possible.

    • Like 1

  9. Posted

     

    Pretty sure every game that has so far been converted for the 5200 has been an assembly language program. A motivated individual could probably convert the 800/XL/XE Basic ROM to the 5200, but without a keyboard, there really wouldn't be much point to doing so.

     

    Theoretical question:

     

    I wonder if the circuitry for the keyboard input is there? (IC's and such) Obviously the keyboard port/connection isn't and something would have to be soldered in. I wonder if you could somehow get a keyboard working with the hardware. I assume the BIOS would need to be modified to support it.

  10. Posted

     

    Good stuff! So now connect things in this order: [Atari]---[Disk Drive]---[Old 850 good SIO port]

    Maybe if you boot a term program in this configuration you'll get something.

     

     

    I tried this after and still cannot access the wimodem232. I hooked the Atari up to the 1050 then the 1050 to the right SIO port on the old 850. Nothing in terminal.

     

    I can now understand when Chameleon terminal program loads the driver for the 850, I can hear it after you select option 2. BOBterm also makes that high pitched noise and changes pitch when you change baud rate. Still unable to access the wimodem232 via terminal.

     

    When I'm in full duplex mode, the terminal doesn't seem to input the characters I type. When I do into half-duplex I can enter characters, but never get any feedback from the wimodem.

     

    Not sure why I'm having such a hard time with this. It probably doesn't help that I'm a complete n00b with Atari 8bit and have faulty ports.

     

    I tried ICE-T, but can't figure out what to put when it asks me to set device.

  12. Posted

    Another quick test. Boot Atari with no disk drive attached, only the 850. Try this test once with each sio port on the 850, listening for the 3 short tone, 1 long tone of the R: handler loading. This might give a hint if it's one or both of the SIO ports that are not functioning.

    I think I got somewhere with this tip

     

    The old 850:

    I can not get it to do the special beep in the left SIO port when booting.

    I only hear the beep when I boot with the SIO cable in the right port.

     

    The new 850:

    I cannot get the beep in either SIO port. Once in a while I will hear a short fuzz noise when booting. That’s not normal and I don’t know what that means. Otherwise I get the generic beeping from the computer as if nothing was plugged in.

  15. Posted

    I assumed demo mode had sound. So...maybe my audio is fine?

     

    Onward to a controller! Is the referb contacts via Best Electronics the way to go? Buying a controller on eBay and rebuilding it?

     

     

    jjs

    Someone else just posted about the same thing with no sound in demo mode.

     

    Personally, I would go with the Best option. I bought the parts and rebuilt mine last year and haven't had a problem since. Hopefully it lasts.

    • Like 1

  16. Posted

     

    Thanks JayBird!

     

    I tested the unit out with a RF unit I picked up off eBay. Good News: Video looks great; BAD NEWS: No sound?!

     

    Wondering if this is a typical 5200 failure and if there's list of typical sound failure causes? Maybe it's the RF box? Could be anything I suppose and I have no idea.

     

    I'd like to do both power and UAV mods if the sound is salvageable? Wondering about further testing.....

    Do you have controllers that you can actually start a game and get it out of demo mode?

    • Like 1

  18. Posted

    I have the 850 ==> CX-87 modem cable ==> wimodem232

     

    Using the latest version of Ice-T, I have to load the ATARI850.HND handler first, then load Ice-T.

     

    It works perfectly.

     

    NOTE: On first set-up you have to set the baud rate to the wimodem default rate of 300. After the wimodem232 is set-up and can be detected by the terminal program, then you can go up to 9600 baud.

     

    I should mention that I've used my wimodem232 on my Compaq LTE 5000 and configured it months ago. I can't remember what I put the baud rate at but I'm sure I didn't go above 9600. I had previously cycled through all the baud rates in BobTerm and none worked.

  19. Posted

    The 850 serial port driver only loads automatically without a disk drive present. When used with a drive the serial port driver must be loaded by DOS or the terminal program.

     

    Bobterm disks often come with several drivers for different modems/serial port devices.(1030/XM301, MPP/Supra 300, SX212/R-Verter)

    To use Bobterm with an 850 there should NOT be an RS232.COM file on the disk as this would probably be one of the alternate drivers.

    BobTerm should automatically load the 850 driver without an RS232.COM file present.

     

    What's strange is with the old 850, bobterm does not report any error, I just can't seem to get a terminal response back from the wimodem232. With the "new" (new in box) 850 bobterm says there's no modem handler at all. This is with the same bobterm disk.

     

    Does it matter if I'm using a 1050 drive? Can only an 810 be used? I should be able to use a "happy 1050" drive with the 850, right? Installing a happy mod is the only difference since getting the new 850. I should hook the old 850 up again and see what happens.

  22. Posted

    So, I've still not gotten anywhere.

    I ordered a New Old Stock 850 that was sealed in the box. I opened 'er up and plugged it in, but Bobterm tells me there's no modem handler, and Chamleon says there's no device when I try option 1 or 2 (using an 850 with generic or Hayes modem).

     

    Ugh.... I'm stumped. But with this 850 I can plug the disk drive into it and the drive will boot unlike the old 850. Cable swapping didn't help. Tried both the Terminal and the modem cables in serial port 1 and nada.

  23. Posted

    Wow thank you both for the replies and nice work ST! I’ve got in in the Jansport ready to take it down to the shop tomorrow and I’ll keep updating. One thing I’m mostly curious about is getting power to this unit. I’ve read a bit about it but any suggestions?

    Probably hard to find a power supply with the requirements these drives need just laying around anymore these days. Might have to order one.

     

    9V AC 31VA

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