Xebec

What were the main reasons for purchasing a Mega ST back in the day over a 1040ST(fm)? From what I can see it adds: - More memory out of the box (2/4MB) - Blitter installed by default (= faster TOS, desktop publishing?) - A non-standard expansion bus of some kind but I'm curious what was actually released for it? - Detached keyboard (= ergonomics improvements) - Battery backed clock - Somewhat reduced desk space usage (monitor stacks on case) - An opportunity for a noisy fan (hello Noctua from the future!) Anything else? The lack of real bus slots feels a bit like a miss here? Thanks..

Hey Atarians, Did BBS Express for the ST ever eventually support ZModem, or any other 'faster' protocols than Ymodem-1K? (even FModem which was basically 4K blocks YModem)? And did they ever add support 'lazy support' for storing files on multiple hard disk partitions? Background: I ran 3 different Atari BBSes over time back in the day.. BBS Express (Pro?) on the 8bit, BBS Express on the ST, and FoReM the ST, before switching to PCBoard.. While I loved BBS Express for the ST, and even co-wrote a trivial pursuit game with my Dad (that Keith Ledbetter eventually asked and then took over development of - Keith is awesome), the kid in me just wanted more games.. so after my father kinda got out of the BBS and Atari scene (but left me with a nice 65MB harddisk on the ST) I switched to FoReM for it's improvements in file transfer protocols, and also because I remember you could just feed it drive letters and it would store files "warez" across all of them with no fuss. Given my machine was probably TOS 1.02 (520STm) - I had 4 x 16MB partitions. I also remember Fidonet being interesting but I never quite got that running (or at least not for a long period of time). Thanks! John

It would be nice to have a version of this with higher clock speeds / cache or similar ideally too.. I think even a clock doubled 6502 without cache would help for a good number of instructions that aren't waiting on the bus..

Just want to echo this. I also sent a donation recently as Jon provides us with wonderful toys

Hey I resemble that remark!

Today I screwed up, but was able to fix it... I just wanted to document in case anyone else makes the same mistake. Mistake: You have a machine with an Ultimate 1MB installed, and a SIDE 2 cartridge, but flash the U1MB ROM to Incognito ROM accidentally. Symptoms: The system sits at a black screen when powered on (you might see a very fast bios screen/logo appear then disappear), unless you have the SIDE2 cartridge installed. When you power on with a SIDE2 cart installed, you see "Incognito" instead of Ultimate 1MB. The challenges: When the SIDE2 cartridge is installed, you can't mount .ATR files - regardless of settings in the BIOS in this configuration. With an older firmware SIDE2, the loader mounting will just fail. With a newer firmware SIDE2, the .ATR files won't even show in the Loader. In this config without the loader, the SIDE2 boots to SpartaDOS X regardless of whether it's disabled in the BIOS or not. The system also refuses to boot off D1: from an external device (i.e. SDRIVE-Max). If you run UFLASH.XEX from the SIDE 2 Loader, UFLASH will not see the hardware or give other errors on the opening screen. What I tried/didn't work: Updated SIDE2 to latest (v3.1 w/SDX as of today) firmware via a fully stock 800XL, various SIO, PBI, HardDisk, SpartaDOS X on/off, etc. What worked for me (system is 800XL + U1MB + UAV): - (Probably Optional) - Update the SIDE2 to the latest firmware in another system (See Flashjazzcat's excellent video for this) - Download the proper firmware zip for Ultimate 1MB - Boot into SpartaDOS X - Attach FIRMWARE.ATR to D2: via an external device -- SDRIVE, SIO2PC, etc. - Run UFLASH.XEX from D2: - Run the standard 'flash full ROM' procedure - Power OFF - and you're good!

Thanks - That's actually what I was looking at -- just humor me for a double check -- to connect from the inside of the Atari, I'm soldering to the 4th pin from left / 2nd pin from right?

Hi! Another Idiot here -- for Step 5 -- "The empty pin on the video DIN connector" - I can't tell which are empty and which are full?? .. I *think* Chroma is the end pin from the right? (the one on the right sticking out the most, or just right of the center pin)

Any recommendations for how to best avoid the noise of wiring up chroma/luma from the monitor socket to the retrotink? If I do this project I'll be want the 800 to still work with Chroma/Luma CRTs ..

Where would I get the 30W 9V A/C unit?

Thanks! - Website said 1A but had not checked manual - thank you!

Hey Atari fans - I'm messing around with the idea of putting a Retrotink 2X inside an 800, so an HDMI cable can just come straight out the back of the computer (instead of RF).. I have two questions: 1. If I 'create' a short S-Video cable by tapping into the monitor output ports (or elsewhere on the board), will that create noticeable additional noise on the video out if I use the regular monitor port with a CRT? (and when not using the HDMI out) 2. I see the Retrotink 2X needs a "5V at least 1A" psu - so assuming it needs up to 5W at certain times -- is there any chance an 800 w/Incognito (instead of 3 ancient giant 16KB RAM boards ) -- would have enough margin to sustain this on the 5V output? I plan to measure the retrotink for 'real' output via a USB power meter once I get it.. Thanks..

Awesome, That's it - thank you so much!!

Hey Atarians, I'm looking for the name of a game that was released in about the last 5 years (Sometime after 2012's Ridiculous Reality, but probably not in the last year or two). The game was a top-down RPG that was ultima-like, but more focus on direct combat. You started in a prison cell and were breaking out with a party before the real adventure began. The game had a nice colorful opening graphic and scrolling text telling you what the story was, and it had a great soundtrack. I'm sorry this is vague, but I can't seem to find on various Atari sites - sorting by recent releases, etc.. Now that my Ataris are all functional again I want to play this Thanks..

Behold the TRUE power of the internet is to publicly document mistakes such as me not being able to count pins properly.. Thank you guys! It works great now!

Thanks - Just an update - I ran the wire - MMU 18 to PIA 11 (pic below), and I still can't disable BASIC. I also have a XL ROM that defaults to BASIC disabled, but unfortunately I can't flash it because.. BASIC is enabled :). If I boot off of the AVGCART and run ANT.EXE -- when I go to 'L'oad it won't see any disks, even ones connected via SIO. If I boot off of D1: SIO, when I try to load ANT.EXE, it tells me to disable cartridges (BASIC presumably). I guess the next step is get an 800XL.. Move Antonia to that, try to flash the "BASIC OFF" ROM.. and then move Antonia back to the 1200XL and see if that at least works .

Also, bonus damage pics of the metal shield.. This must have gotten pretty hot..

And here's the original power board for this 800, I guess that's one way to remove the SIO connector?

Awesome, thank you Simius! One last question - what is the name of the adapter / connector I need to go from the USB Blaster to the Antonia board? My antonia board has a red female 'cap' on the end that I need to interface with my blaster's 10 pin female plug. I looked on the videos but couldn't figure out what that is.. Thank you!

Thanks. I do have a USB blaster but will run the wire tonight :).

Hey folks, I have a 3rd Atari 800 I received from someone years ago, and finally got a chance to open up and see why it wasn't working in detail. I did a quick glance a few years ago, and saw the SIO port was literally broken off of the power supply board, so I ordered a new supply board. I also did some "plug and play" testing and found the ROM and a couple of the RAM Modules weren't working in another 800 (or at least that's what my notes say), and that the brick power supply was good. Today I finally opened up, what I saw is below. This is already a kinda rough 800 - a few holes in the top of the case from too long screws being used in the past, a few missing keys, etc. I plan to keep this at least as a parts 800 in case I ever need in the future, but I was was wondering if something like this is even potentially fixable, as these are getting somewhat rare/special. How many layers is the 800 PCB? Note, the IC (POKEY) I took a pic of was installed with one pin 'outside', and it looks like the die in the middle tried to push upward (overheat/overvolt?)

Oh I see - I did order this for an 800XL originally, and didn't realize they had different configs. I assume this isn't just an Atari ROM difference but rather a firmware difference on Antonia itself? If yes - is there any way to update that firmware? If not, no biggie - Soldering iron it is -- Thank you very much Simius!

EDIT/Update: Working now - It didn't work because ATR Swap button was DISABLED In the BIOS. Duh me ! :). (Thanks Jeff for the nudge !)

Thanks Bob! I figured that might be the expected behavior. I'm just curious here as there was another user having the same type of issues here: If I remember correctly, this Antonia worked fine in an 800XL with AVGCart. I'll mess around tomorrow with a spare 800XL and verify that's still the case.

OK Good to know; unfortunately different result for me Which ROM are you using with your Antonia?