bfollowell

IMHO, yes, things can go too far. In the example you gave, you said it yourself. The game is actually running on a Raspberry Pi and the cartridge circuitry basically turns the console into not much more than a glorified video circuit. At least that's my take on it.

This is awesome news! So, is this easily flashed to existing boards? I realize the term easily is likely open for debate.

I was beginning to wonder if this post would ever get a reply. Thank you for the information.

I don't know how I missed that. I guess I was focusing on the simple. Oh well, it won't really be a concern for mine as that's not how I use my 8-bits and they're not really near a computer with USB, So I'm not overly concerned with this first revision. I look forward to seeing your final design though, and maybe working it into a future revision of the PCB.

So, just that one diode between +5V and VSYS pin #39? That might be easy enough to add in even without a PCB change. I'll look into doing that on mine, just to be safe. Thanks @mytek!

Yeah, just because of my normal processes, not to mention the positions of my various computers around my home, it's really hard for me to relate to the accidental plugging in of a device into my 8-bit and to USB at the same time. Still, I'm sure it happens and, if there's some way to protect against that, I'd say it's certainly a worthwhile effort.

Exactly! As I said in the OP previous post, they're trying to do more advanced stuff that requires a disk drive or drive emulator with their extremely limited equipment and they're not at all receptive to purchasing the required equipment or listening to the good advice that they've been given. Can you take this six-disk-based game and put it on a cartridge so that I can play it on the equipment that I have? No, that isn't possible. Starts new post. Can you take this six-disk-based game and put it on a cassette so that I can play it on the equipment that I have? OP, I know that maybe oversimplifies what you're asking, but it's more or less the same. So, to reiterate. Unless you want to do something more simple than play an old game or two, you are going to need to purchase some form of drive/peripheral emulator. There is no way around this. The more advanced titles that you're wanting to use are not capable of being put onto a cassette or a cartridge, and even if they could be put on a cartridge, you don't have a multi-cart to put the image on, and I seriously doubt that anyone is going to create a physical cartridge for you. As I stated in your other post, and @Beeblebrox stated here, you really need to look into a FujiNet, an AVG Cart, or an SDrive-MAX. The bottom line is that we cannot help you if you won't help yourself. Most of us are more than willing to help new users out. Heck, most of us go out of our way and bend over backwards to help others, but you really need more equipment as you're not capable of doing what you want with what you have.

Agreed. Assuming a user has both devices installed in the same machine, which obviously some do not, but I'd say most do, then it's really something of a moot point.

I agree. I could easily see the U1MB without the VBXE, but not the other way around.

I agree. I don't recall the details, and maybe there's a good reason, but I don't see why we couldn't have an NTSC version and a PAL version, then each just has only the appropriate palette. There's a plug-in for the U1MB that allows you to select an NTSC palette though, assuming you have both installed in the same machine, correct?

That's pretty cool. Thanks @mytek!

Well, I had to order a minimum of five boards from PCBWay, and I ordered enough Purple Pico clones and switches to make five carts, so I'll have four extra eventually. I'll figure out a price later, but I'm not going to try to make much of any money on them. I'll just be looking to recover the cost of my supplies, so if anyone without the skills or time to make one is interested, you can let me know via private message. I figure, if things go well, everything should arrive in a couple of weeks. If so, I could have the four ready to ship in 3-4 weeks. I don't own a 3D printer, so I figure these will be caseless and everyone can make their own cases using their own equipment, or ordering through a 3D printer online like I will. Of course, if one of you wants an assembled and tested board in swap for printing and sending me a case using Robin's stl files, I might be open to that too. The more I think about it, I'd be glad to sell any combination of blank PCB, Pico clone board, and momentary switch too, if anyone is interested in going that route and assembling it on your own. It's not like I need five of these carts. Robin, I'll get a donation to you soon.

Thanks Robin!

Would someone be willing to post Gerber files for the PCB? I know that the KiCAD files are available for download, but I don't do PCB design work, and I hate to download and install KiCAD and putter around in it just to figure out how to create a Gerber file to send to PCBWay or whoever I decide to use. I'd be surprised if there aren't others in the same boat. Thanks in advance. Robin, thanks for posting all the files and details for this awesome little project. Your hard work and dedication to our community is much appreciated. Get well soon.

I think it probably does. I used to love Winrar and hate changing but I've been using 7-zip for ages. Best around IMHO.

Yeah, B/Graph was never released on cartridge. From your previous posts, it sounds like you really don't have much in the way of peripherals for your Atari, so you're really going to be extremely limited as to what you can run. Also, if you don't have or aren't willing to purchase a multi-cart, you aren't even going to be able to use a cart image if you find one, meaning you're going to be further limited by what you can find for sale on ebay or whatever. If you're serious about using your Atari, you really need to invest in a drive/peripheral/cart emulator. My suggestions would be a Fujinet, AVG Cart, Side3 Cart, in that order. Without a drive/peripheral/cart emulator, there's really not much that anyone is going to be able to do to help you. You really need to start by helping yourself.

I'm fairly certain that VisiCalc was never released in cartridge format, only disk. I really can't find much of anything on TurboCalc, so I can't say much about that one. It looks like it may have been released in cartridge format. I was able to find this image here on the forums from about five years ago, but it was one someone made themselves, not necessarily an official one.

I think I'm going to go ahead and order a few as well. I really don't know that I have any use for them other than to build this cart when everything becomes available, but for the price, I might as well pickup a few. I'm sure I can come up with some uses later. How long did yours take, if you don't mind me asking? I just bought some port saver cables for my STE off ebay from atarifreakz, the first time I've seen those available in a long time, and they came from the U.K. to Indiana in a week. I couldn't believe how quickly they arrived. Heck, I've ordered things from just a state or two away that took longer. Anyway, I'm anxious to see what you do with yours. You always come up with the best projects.

That's awesome news! Thanks for the update. I just emailed him about getting a new insulated composite cable. Hopefully, I'll hear back from him soon.

Well, now you can get all of the details here: https://atari.com/products/atari-2600-plus I'd be curious to know if it will be compatible with any 2600/7800 Harmony/multi-carts.

Yeah, I'm anxious to build one of these too, just as a cool little project, but I don't think it's to that point yet.

Congratulations on your excellent find!

Marlin, you and Gavin have always been two of the biggest assets our little community have had. Now that we've lost Gavin, temporarily at least, I pray you stay happy and healthy and put up with us for a long time to come. As long as I'm in a praying mood, I pray Gavin rejoins us sooner rather than later or never.

Personally, I've never had a problem with Brad. I guess I'm a lucky one, but I've read enough of these posts and seen enough hints of his, let's call it quirkiness, in my dealings with him to know that they're all no doubt 100% true. And the ever-changing rules?! @MrFish, that's just too spot on not to be funny! I hope I don't get banned for posting on this thread.

Hard to believe that I used to have all those brochures from back in the day and today they're just gone. I'm not even sure what happened to them. Those are sweet!