J.Ivy

Well after a brief search, it appears that the mini memory cartridges are still able to be found. So if I bought a mini memory, then hooked up a keyboard to this spare TI board, I could then type out a program that would be saved to the mini memory, acting as my clock then. Correct? While I DO have a fully functioning ti-99 in my collection, I dont have the cassette or disk drives for it. So typing it out would perhaps be my only way. Unless I try and build a cassette emulator, then download the sound file from my pc. What would be the best route for someone like me? Cschneider - if you think that this would be the best way, writing a Basic program for it, id be grateful if you could hammer out the code for me. Id be sure to post pics

So hello everyone, ive an idea that id like to run past you. So I have a good working TI board and power supply that I would like to mount in a clear plexiglass case on the wall and have it display the time (analog clock with hands, or digital number style) to a small flatscreen. Did any of the original cartridges have a program for displaying the time, or is there a program that would let me do this? I plan to add a fan and heatsink to the board, so it can stay running 24/7. Id love to see this vintage board up and running and doing a job again. Plus, i just want to see a cool motherboard mounted on the wall Anyone have any ideas about how this can be accomplished? Help is much appreciated.

Well if i must go with an modern external board, then i will go with one. Its not like it would be tough to use a microcontroller to adapt a ps/2 keyboard. I realized that ive hated this 400 membrane keyboard for over 30 years now. Its time to FINALLY have a real keyboard to use.

While aftermarket is an option, its just not for me. I want to do a period correct modification, using an 800 keyboard. In the past id found an article that outlined How To do this, but now cant seem to locate that information. My Atari 400 isnt a pristine example, the case has numerous cracks and breaks that have been hidden with epoxy, bondo and spray paint. Its the perfect case to modify.

Hello everyone. Im looking for the information on how to replace the membrane keyboard on my atari 400 with the atari 800 standard keyboard. Ive seen this hack done, but cant seem to find an article that shows me just how to do this. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Ive been playing with my commodore vic 20 for a while now, its time to show my Atari some love and give it some much needed upgrading. Thanks

Okay, its been an EXPENSIVE month. My wife totalled her car, then went and scraped off the oil pan of MY commuter car, kept driving it despite the smoking engine, till it died.. Yup. Now it looks like were gonna get her a new and waranteed Kia. I will just drive my 1966 volvo and NEVER EVER let her drive it. I love her, but i also LOVE my volvo, shes never gonna drive my baby. So the bezel and controls are ordered, i have the crt and board. Looks like for the time being, i will be wiring this up to get everything to work. Then when i can afford it, im thinking of using oak veneered 5/8" mdf board with T molding, for the arcade cabinet.

Picked up the 19" bezel for the crt, as well as ordered the arcade controls. Cant wait till they arrive and i can get on this now.

Well my first console was an Atari 7800 I got for Xmas of '87. Still have it, still playing it

Ive been leaning towards using the Atari 400 board myself, mainly for brand loyalty. With a multicart cartridge, it would make a pretty enjoyable machine. I like the idea of using 80s parts, so I even have a good working 1986 Sharp 19" tv with knobs, that will be easy to mount in a custom arcade cabinet. I recapped it and got it working last year, but its just sat and gathered dust since then. Best to use it in an arcade machine So here is the 400 board. Tested and works well.

Hello everyone, its been a while since ive had a good gaming project and ive finally decided on what to do. Build my own arcade cabinet and use a vintage computer/gaming console inside it. Im a good wood worker, so building the cabinet is no issue. I need to decide between two good working motherboards that i have. An atari 400 and a ti-99/4a. Both have a good amount of games available, so its hard to choose between them. Anyone see any pros and cons of one versus the other? oh and here is an arcade machine on youtube that is using a 400 as its board. just ill be hiding my board inside of the cabinet.

so i modded my atari with a 3.5mm jack, then messed up the original jack. I no longer have the original power supply so.. I need to know which side of the jack is positive and which negative. Thanks for your help.

sorry, double posted

okay..i screwed up, the power terminals for the o.e power supply, they were loosened by me removing the original jack. i wired them to the new 3.5mm jack and..nothing, even when i switched polarity. so.. perhaps these two motherboard power lugs, now being loose, are disconnected. Ive seen a few 7800s that were modded for new power supplies, where they attached wires to a different area of the board to power it. Can anyone show me exactly where they are?

Sounds like a fine idea to me Ive been rocking my 7800 since 1987, im PROUD of that.

Okay, so the 2600 power supply has arrived. I drilled and installed a 3.5mm jack. I found out what the negative and positive sides are from the transformer but.. I forgot to check the original power supply (before tossing it) for which was neg and which was the pos side. When you look at the atari from the back, which side of the plug is which? Sorry, i made a stupid mistake and forgot to check.

Well i already picked up a domed 3.5mm jack, the repro 2600 power supply and a male to female extension cord for it. 3.5mm is pretty standard, so even if this power supply does go out one day in the far future, it wont be an issue to mod another to use that jack. Im not about keeping my 7800 stock, im about keeping it functioning and adding possible non invasive improvements.

Great to here. I just bought one and a jack. Should have this atari modded by the end of the month.

So i found reproduction atari 2600 power supplies on ebay for only 7 bucks. I was thinking of scrapping my old 7800 power supply and replacing it with this modern one. They both output 9vdc and 1 amp and id only need to add a 3.5mm jack to the back of my 7800. My 7800 power supply has a brittle cord and is now taped up, so rather than add a new cord to it, i figured using a power supply with a standard jack would be beneficial. Is there anything that im missing, or not seeing to make this mod work? http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-9V-1A-Power-Supply-Adapter-Charger-Audio-3-5mm-Jack-Same-Day-Shipping-From-US/350912770823?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D23423%26meid%3D7712509397993883972%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D10050%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D370930190981&rt=nc

Perhaps the pcb board has some corrosion or dirt in it? dissasemble and clean the exposed copper bits with a q-tip and rubbing alcohol. Thats how i clean the end on cartridge games and they usually make great contact/work after that.

"that Instructable article is terrible advice to butcher a funtional 7800 controller for two resistors and a diode when the necessary components are readily obtainable at Radioshack or elsewhere." well this atari controller was a piece of junk, the interior plastic piece, under the joystick, that pressed the inner pcb buttons (up, down, left, right) was cracked and bent. I always wondered why it was so cruddy, i never thought to look inside it. I saved the remaining pieces, in case i need them to fix a stock controller one day, dont worry, im a pack rat As to WHY this is built like this, i havent a clue. I just followed instructions. The resistors are 620 ohms, so yes, they are available. I havent a clue as to what the diode would be. Im sure it could be found out though. Im thinking about buying some 10 foor db9 cords, so i could use those. It would be nice to have one long cord, rather than using cord extenders.

well a diode lets the electricity flow in only one direction (at least from what the instructables page says), it had to have the dimpled end going towards the Aand B buttons. http://www.instructables.com/id/Retro-Atari-7800-Mod-Sega-Master-System-controlle/

Well ive finished rewiring, wasnt too tough. but i admit that i was scared, just not wanting to screw it up! I didnt quite have the length to attach the resistors to the diode, so i added a short piece of wire, other than that, i followed the instructables link that i showed in my first post. Now i just have to build another, so ive matched controllers. Guess ill be searching ebay again

Okay, ive finally scored a sega master controller on ebay. Im getting ready to attempt my first controller mod. Ive seen a few people link this http://www.instructables.com/id/Retro-Atari-7800-Mod-Sega-Master-System-controlle/ and it looks fairly straight forward. Before I begin, any advice on this?

Thank you so much for the help. I will get on this in the morning, ive been getting my old 7800 back to funtional shape and well.. without the on/off LED, its not nearly as cool looking.

So this is a simple thing, yet I still need help. The LED for my 7800 has burned out. Id like to replace it with a modern blue one (im tired of red), its a new millenia, its getting updated So im at a loss to find out just what voltage of LED I need for this. If anyone knowns what the on/off buttons LED voltage is, please let me know. Thanks for all your help.