DrVenkman

The Trak-Balls seem to hold up pretty well over time. I wouldn't assume it to have problems. Aside from that, they're pretty easy to fix anyway.

I know this TB has issues but not worried. Dan has already told me the likely causes and how to track them down.

I scooped up THREE NIB 5200 trackballs from Venezuela during the tiny window when there were lots of them available relatively cheaply. One has mysteriously stopped working (probably something simple), but the others look and work great. Big, beautiful, luxurious controllers.

Congrats!!

Congratulations! What was the cause of the last elusive problem?

The last problem was that Pin 20 of the 6520 socket (Vcc = +5V) wasn't making contact. Kind of an issue when an entire IC isn't getting power. That's on top of the problem with Pin 7 on the POKEY socket (Phi2 timing signal) and the broken wipe for Pin 19 on the 6502 socket (A10 address line). This machine has never worked right since I got it. It is so satisfying to finally work through everything and get it running! Debating whether to drop my spare Rev C UAV board into it...

Well, I know I solved the most recently-discovered problem & at least it gets to the Self Test screen (and passes everything). Should be able to run a SuperSALT cart image on it now.

Glad it's working. Somebody must have pulled the chips often on that mobo.

1up!

Can't go wrong either way.

Nice I'm still looking for an 800 myself that won't cost a second mortgage

Poor poor Antic.

Save it for the day we can cost-effectively repair chip substrates.

Store it in a cold freezer for a few years. Test again in 2020. Might alter those substrates.

Where did you get them? Have you tried a working one in the same machine?

eBay seller - looks like he had a few dozen, from his pics. And yep, I verified with a good TIA in the same machine. Oh well - it's not like I don't have other systems to use while I wait for a refund/replacement. Just frustrating.

And refund issued this afternoon, no questions asked. Good seller. Didn't have to sic the eBay/PayPal hounds on him.

Congratulations! I've got a 1200XL waiting on a replacement board; in the meantime, I've been cleaning and A/V modding my 5200 and 2600 consoles. Fun times!

Yep, I love working on this things. I've got a second 1200XL, my Ugly Duckling, that's going to be my project machine. The case is horribly yellowed, part of the acryclic is cracked and missing, and a controller jack is missing a pin. Once I get the board to boot I'm gonna replace that controller jack, remove the RF modulator, install an AV mod and clean up the case, then see if I can get a new piece of acrylic cut for it.

Always gratifying when you can salvage such a classic and desirable machine. Nice job!

one time I had problems with a 130xe, had to replace every ram chip, it sucked

I'm glad this machine is fully socketed (even the 74xxx logic chips). And I *THINK* I've solved the problem - bad GTIA.

Yeah, I have a similar problem with my 600XL.

Ya might have a bad covfefe...

Haha! I might at that! Now my "good" system is acting unstable too - faint video noise when typing but if I turn off keyclicks, no video noise. SIO sounds do not produce video noise. Worse yet, I managed to get the machine to lockup just by letting key repeats continue as the screen filled up. Ugh.