Level42

Two what, NTSC or PAL machines ?

I am the lucky owner of a pretty extensive Fluke 9100 set. Has anyone ever used a Fluke 9010 or 9100 to test A8 machines ? My first question is if the 6502 pod would work, because I know the A8 used a slightly enhanced 6502 processor. Maybe any scripts available ?

Hey Sargie, That is a great offer there but I'd find it a waste to not fix this 800XE, I know they are pretty wanted in the US for their rarity and I have no use for it. I already own a PAL 800, a 600 XL, a 130XE, and a XEGS and I don't really collect them, just some I just checked the Mylar of the keyboard and it's gone, there have been attempts to fix it by taping some bare wire to some tracks but obviously it doesn't work and I don't want to fiddle with conductive glue or something like that, sooner or later it will fail again. I could order a good GTIA and new mylar for the keyboard from Best electronics and replace both. However I don't know how handy you are. Replacing the Mylar is easy enough, just need to unscrew a lot of screws. Of course replacing the GTIA is a lot harder. Not sure if you could live with it or not ? Or if you are handy enough to solder a new socket for the GTIA ? what might be better though is this: I order the Mylar and PAL GTIA and have both delivered to you, you can replace the Mylar and I will remove the bad GTIA and install a socket for the GTIA so you only have to insert it in the socket the right way. What do you think ? Shipping the parts to you saves shipping and import duties to here. Another alternative is I sell the 800XE to Kyle and with that money (plus a bit) I could try to find another PAL machine here and then ship that to you. Not sure what Kyle would offer for it though ?

Mmmm, I found this bit on this forum: Defective layouts are those with a production date from 9040 to 9152 (the number placed on the right side of the symbol AMI). This GTIA has a date code of 9119 so looks like it's a buggy one.... I'm willing to send you both units if you want. Other things that struck me: -the processor is a UMC, this is a Soviet brand chip maker (I recently ordered a couple of UMC and other former eastern block processor just for fun and to see if they'd work. They work just fine actually. - the 800XE mobo says "130XE (64x4) and it has just two 4464's (of different brands) for RAM and there are two open spots for two more RAM chips, but there also seems to be a chip missing at U34. (some 0 Ohm resisters there). I'm afraid the 800XE has the infamous keyboard trouble, I'll have a look if it's an easy fix.

Yeah, no PSU's !!! I'll use a Euro version anyway and I bet you'll use a US one For me the external condition is no issue, I just want it to run games in NTSC speed I found them ! Yes them but don't get too exited: Turns out 1 is a 800XE. It works, runs DK fine, have to test further.... The other is a 130XE but the keyboard is missing altogether and it is totally dead (black screen). The 800XE looks kinda OK, some yellowing of the keys and the lower edge of the keyboard area. The protective plastic is still over the badge though It's from China so it may have a bad GTIA, I'll have to check...

Not worried about that, I can run Dropzone on all of my PAL machines I actually forgot to look for the XE, heading upstairs right NOW !

Hah.... Just a practice game, this was a "new" TV I picked up for a friend (B&O MX4000) and I wanted to try if it would work with a NTSC signal. So I got out the NTSC 800 that I borrowed from Mr.Atari and it worked just fine ! So I figured, let's do a practice game since I hadn't done that for a while and this was the result: Untitled by Level_42, on Flickr Untitled by Level_42, on Flickr HA !!!! Very first time ever I broke the 300,000 limit so I totally busted my own WR Please take a second to vote for me guys : http://www.highscore.com/score/index.php?s=3841

Excellent sarge ! I will dig up the XE and check it !

Thanks !

Got a direct link or can you attach it here ? That site isn't actually very easy to search through, esp. if you don't speak Polish

Just play Dropzone instead of Chopper Command....

I dont think so and I hoped someone from The US would respond

Hi, I'm looking for a NTSC 800 XL. I'm in The Netherlands but if you don't want to ship there I have relatives In the US you could send it to. I MAY have a PAL 130XE for trade but I will have to check if it is running OK.

Any RAM 320XL's still available ?

I would love to see the inside of that joystick. Chances are it's an all-leaf joystick (no microswitches). The best ever, Suzo built. If anyone has EXACTLY one like that for sale, please let me know.

That's weird, must be UK only, I can watch it without problems from The Netherlands......and we live "under" a monarchy and have even funnier accents when speaking English.....but then again, we speak about 1000% more foreign languages than US people do.

Actually that is pretty critical for US standards, probably not on Fox....

Oh and since most games don't check for NTSC/PAL anyway I don't care if it will report that it is a PAL machine.

For clarity: I am in the Netherlands so all my machines are in PAL. I have temporary borrowed a 800 NTSC machine from Mr.Atari and I succeeded in breaking the TwinGalaxies WR on Donkey Kong with it, but I can't keep that machine forever of course so if I would have at least one machine that would be great. I think I've got an extra 130XE for trade if anyone in the US would be interested. Yeah Brian I was thinking about something like that.PAL 60 As mentioned, I already have a Sony PVM monitor which can handle PAL, NTSC and the "fake" NTSC signal that comes from the later VHS recorders that were able to play NTSC material. These PVM monitors were used in broadcasting so I bet they are pretty flexible when it comes to syncing etc. I have hacked a LYNX before with a crystal that made it run about 50% faster (switchable) and I realize that that is using a LCD display but I figured that the very minor clock difference between the NTSC and PAL 8 bit machines wouldn't be a problem. Haven't there been over clocking projects for 8 bit machines ? Anyway Rybags' suggestion sounds easy enough, I don't think there have been any revisions of the ANTIC over the years right ? So I could use any NTSC ANTIC. However, I wonder if this will bring the games up to NTSC speed or just make the screen rate 60 Hz instead of 50? I don't care so much for 60 Hz but the speed of the game must be correct.

Hey, Just bought a nice 600XL in original condition (nothing changed inside). It's been my first ever computer so I wanted one again. Mind you I already own PAL 800, two 130 XEs, XEGS and a dead 800 XL. And ever since I bought that 600 XL I have always owned at least a couple of A8 machines. I want to make this 600 my main machine though so I already found a lot of mods that I plan to do. One thing I would like is to make it (switchable) to running at NTSC speed but keep the video out PAL. I will use a Sony PVM monitor and this can handle PAL and NTSC so it should be very flexible about the video signal. I want to use chroma/luma output and would prefer to get rid of the modulator If possible. The reason why I want it to run exactly at NTSC sped is because of playing the games at the correct speed for record points (and the feel). Now I learned that NTSC machines have just 1 crystal and the PALs have two. Would it be enough to change the main system crystal to the one that is used in NTSC machines ? (And make it switchable, doesn't have to be able to change speed when on).

Did the XEX file ever make it ? Do I need a machine with extra memory to run this ? Or can I run it on my XEGS with my MyIDE cart ?

I remember playing the text version that was the basis of Leisure Suit Larry on the Atari XL BITD, I think it was called Softporn

Wow ! Great work !

I've don't it ! I beat the TwinGalaxies WR on DK on the A8 platform ! http://highscore.com/score/?s=2866