Atari Flashback Portable!

[Atari Flashback Portable!]

Just for the heck of it, I tried it out on my TV (CRT), and it's really not that bad. The picture's got a bit of color fringing (not sure that's the correct term), and it goes a little too far into the overscan, but otherwise it's decent. The scanline refresh has this diagonal thing going on, but it's like that on the built-in LCD also, and it's not that noticeable in most games.

 

BTW, here's a helpful diagram for anyone interested:

 

pinout.gif

 

So with a typical stereo audio cable, video would be right/red and audio would be left/white.

Thank you VERY much for the diagram! I've been looking for this.

[Atari Flashback Portable!]

So JimmyIpock,

 

Does your mod allow the D-Pad to still work also? Or does it Only function now with a joystick plugged in?

 

Good work BTW!

Yes, everything works as normal.

[Atari Flashback Portable!]

Suggestion here...... I'm electronically naive here so I'm just throwing out an idea.... it prob will not work.....

Is there a way to add a battery pack inside an Atari Paddle controller to add the extra power needed (difference between the 3.8v built in and the needed 5v)??

 

Like I said just an idea....

It might be possible to get the signal to 5 volts, but the real issue is that the portable doesn't have the paddle input lines into the controller. Also, i bet the atgames controller is running on 3.3 volts, 5 volts would likely destroy something.

 

I really don't know of any way to move forward without some schematics and seeing the lines needed. I doubt there are analog lines on the portable.

[Atari Flashback Portable!]

 

Truly awesome. Can you show pictures on how you wired it up? Maybe a little video of the joystick port in use. And yes, inquiring minds wants to know if it allowed the use of a paddle controller?

 

 

This. Paddles or GTFO. Also I doubt the VCC pin has a full +5v to work with on a portable powered by a LiIon cell.

 

 

Were you able to find all nine connections, or just the six that the joystick uses?

 

I don't think paddles are ever going to work, atari paddles (potentiometers) are specified for 5 volts. The portable is using 3.8 volts. Assuming the atgames chip is wired for paddles (no reason to believe it is) then the readout of the analog pots would be skewed. The portable is totally digital, paddles are analog. I don't think paddles will ever work on the portable.

 

Asaki, I found the six connections for the joystick (up, down, left, right, fire, ground). The other (+5v, paddle1, paddle2) don't exist on the portable circuit board.

 

I'm happy to post detailed pictures of how I did the mod..

 

 

 

[Atari Flashback Portable!]

Someone asked about putting a 9 pin joystick connector in, I was able to do it without too much complication.