Jump to content
Have You Played Atari Today?
2600|5200|7800|Lynx|Jaguar|Forums|Store  

dhe

+AtariAge Subscriber
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Content Count

    517

  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by dhe

  1. Posted

    What's your favorite simple console modification?

     

    The ones that come immediately to my head are:

    1) drill holes in the cartridge slot to allow more air to circulate over the power supply.

    2) a diode so the alpha lock doesn't hose joysticks.

    3) there was a mod, changing a resistor to improve video, I later read that was bogus.

    4) I saw a mod done by Gary Bowser, it was a diode on the console where none existed, he said it helped eliminate shorts.

    5) if still there, remove the felt over the cartridge port, or maybe change the felt.

    6) replacing the cartridge port with gold connectors, if you can find them...

     

    I'd like to put together a PDF that would be like a fun week of one hour projects to enhance your 4a console.

    • Like 3

  2. Posted

    SOOOO Many years. Most of my soldering stuff was obtained from Radio Shack in the 70's and 80's.

     

    I did, in the late 90's, on Tim Tesch recommendation, order a temperature controlled soldering iron.

     

    For desoldering I've depended on a RS Soldering IRON with a bulb and a RS plunger style de solder - and of course braid to clean up through holes.

     

    So I've noticed on some more modern you tube channels, people de soldering with a gun type arrangement. Can any one make a recommendation for or against soldering guns and if for, which one they recommend?

     

    Thanks,

    Dano

     

    When I moved to FL the town I'm in had two Radio Shacks, an two electronics parts houses (Skippers and Electronics Plus) and Hank's Electronics Repair. Now, they are all gone... =(

  7. Posted

    I was hoping the announcement would be ready for Christmas shipping! 😃

    Even in it's current state with DOS and storage it would be very handy to have around.

    I hope you'll release it, as soon as the hardware is done, I'm sure people will be happy to play with working sections and add in additional hardware capabilities when the software is ready!

    My Corcomp Micro Exansion Unit takes a dim view of this project! 😃 Cheers and thanks!

  13. Posted

    On the cyc, there is a 70 page manual for the digit card, but the relevant console mods that had to be done was in these two para:

     

    3.4.
    Modifying the console
    3.4.1.
    Cutting the trace
    The TI-99/4A was designed in such a manner that the video control data generated by the CPU was notmultiplexed onto the main system bus but went directly to the VDP. In order to control the AVPC in thePEB, it is necessary that the VDP and the CPU have free access to data via the main bus. To do this themultiplex control gate must be disconnected from the video block decoder. There is no way of doing thiswithout cutting a lead or trace on the printed circuit board.
    Take the computer printed circuit board with component side up and the I/O port to the right. Refer todiagram "Trace Cut Location" which is a simplified drawing of the lower right hand corner of the printedcircuit board. Locate the trace pattern between IC 74LS03 and IC 74LS32. Note that it consists of a 4 dothole pattern. It is necessary to cut only the lead from the topmost dot. The cut should be made with anX-ACTO knife or single edged razor blade. Carefully cut a piece the width of the trace, out of the trace.Inspect the area with a magnifying glass and verify that only this trace is cut and that the trace iscompletely severed.

     

    3.4.2.
    Video Processor jumper
    Congratulations, the messy work is done. Now we shall install the Jumper on the Video Display Processor.Note that it is one of the few socketed integrated circuits on the board. Also note the index on the chippoints toward the center of the printed circuit board. The index is the "U" shaped indentation on the topof the IC that guides automatic insertion machines involved in mass production.
    Refer to the diagram "VDP Jumper Detail". Pry the IC gently out of its socket with a flat blade orscrewdriver by alternately inserting it under each end. The pin to the left of the index is pin #1 and pinsare numbered counter-clockwise (CCW) from this point. Count down to pin #14 and, gripping it firmlywith a pair of needle-nosed pliers or tweezers, bend the pin out 90 degrees. Reinsert the VDP into itssocket by carefully engaging one row of pins in its respective side of the socket. Press gently and rotatethe IC until the other row of pins engages. Be sure all pins are engaged and that the index is pointingtoward the center of the board. Then press the IC uniformly and firmly into the socket until it is seated.
    Now remove the Jumper from its plastic bag and note that it has three legs: a Red hook-clip, a Blackhook-clip and a leg with a tiny one-pin socket. Slide the socket over pin #14 of the VDP. Clip the Blackhook onto pin #15 of the VDP making sure that the shank of the clip is in the pin #14 space and the hookis away from pin #14. Clip the Red hook on the capacitor lead on the opposite side of the VDP as shown.The use of clip hooks eliminates the need for soldering and is quite reliable. Dress the Jumper wires sothat they do not interfere with the replacement of the computer shields and secure them with a littlescotch tape or masking tape to prevent them from moving around when you replace the shielding.

     

    • Like 4

  15. Posted

    With Classic 99's Disk of Files, some smart person might be able to setup a FWEB build environment, and use github to manage the whole thing.

     I've always wondered if the TI community would see more.better collaboration if github was in use.

     

    Dan

  21. Posted

     

    My PDS World CC-40, after arriving and replacing the 8 year old Duracell batteries was working fine. But this week I started to loose pixels in the LCD display.

     Anyone repaired the display of a cc-40? From photo's I've seen online, this disappearing pixel problem seems fairly common.

    Thanks,

    Dan

     

AtariAge
Forums
Store
General
Follow AtariAge

Copyright ©1998-2021 AtariAge

×
×
  • Create New...