ballyalley

I just wrote an email to the Astrocade discussion group asking how progress was going on the ICBM Attack controller. A moment after I pressed Send, I got the notification that it had been finished. This controller looks incredible and I love the B&W motif that was used. I hope that video can be made showing it being used. Great work! Adam

I posted a link to this thread in another thread on the Astrocade discussion group called "ICBM Attack Controller," here: https://groups.io/g/ballyalley/message/20029 It looks like you have all the information required to make this joystick and you don't need Mike White's note, but here is a link to them just in case you haven't run across them yet. https://ballyalley.com/documentation/spectre_systems/icbm_attack_joystick_notes.pdf If you need anything more, than let me know. Perhaps if you need inspiration for the art for the joystick you can find some here: https://ballyalley.com/documentation/spectre_systems/ICBM_Attack_concept_art/ICBM_Attack_concept_art.html or here: https://ballyalley.com/documentation/spectre_systems/ICBM_Attack_Notes.pdf Great stuff! Adam

Very nice! I've used those little Radio Shack controllers (nicknamed the "black beauty," I think) and they're okay for some games but terrible for others. I'm glad to see you tinkering around on the ol' Bally! Adam

Michael Matte posted more updates about his Hi-Res Astrocade project. Report 7 was posted on March 4, 2023 to the Astrocade discussion group, here: https://groups.io/g/ballyalley/topic/mcm_design_hi_res_news/97393082 His progress continues… ---------------------------------------- From: ballyalley@groups.io <ballyalley@groups.io> on behalf of Mister HR <Michael Matte> Sent: Saturday, March 4, 2023 2:32 PM To: ballyalley@groups.io Subject: [ballyalley] MCM Design Hi-Res News - Report 7 The final hi-res Astrocade project continues to progress slowly. Operation and compatibility issues had to be resolved. The project was placed on hold numerous times, so other projects could be completed. SIMPLIFIED HI-RES DRAM Astrocade For example, a 2nd wire wrapped (WW) low/high-res static RAM (SRAM) board 1 was built and tested. I decided to install this 2nd board into my original hi-res dynamic RAM (DRAM) Astrocade. The original WW board for this Astrocade is shown in the attached Photo 1. The original board has multiple schemes on it. The board has way too many chips on it. A board failure could be "messy" to diagnose. Breaking down the schemes into 2 boards would be better. The full size matrix keyboard interface and the Z80 DART schemes will be dropped. The original board will be tore down for parts. The upgrade for this hi-res DRAM Astrocade is really in the form of simplicity. For example, the original board utilizes 32 chips of hi-res DRAM. Now, I view the hi-res DRAM scheme as obsolete. The new board chip count reduces the old 32 chip requirement to only 6 chips (4 SRAM + 74F138 + 74F86). The old board requires a triple 5v/12v/-5v power supply plus a step down power transformer. The new board requires only a single 5v power supply. A dual 5v/12v power supply was installed in the Viper cabinet (no step down xfmr required). The 12v supply is used only for the power audio amp, which can drive a single 8 ohm remote speaker. Attached is Photo 2 showing the new board and dual power supply mounted underneath the Astrocade console, which can swing up and back, away from the add-under Viper cabinet. The User ROM/RAM and low/hi-res auto select schemes will be installed later on a 2nd smaller WW board 2, which will be mounted on top of the new board 1. The original 24 pin ribbon cable (RC) socket on the modified for hi-res Astrocade motherboard was replaced with a new 28 pin RC socket. Now, all 28 required motherboard tapped signal lines for hi-res operation are connected to the new board 1 via the 28 pin RC connect. This frees up the motherboard 50 pin expansion for optional hardware plug-ins. This motherboard is now compatible, for use as a diagnostic tool, with the upcoming final hi-res Astrocade. I actually have a 3rd compatible modified for hi-res motherboard, but it has a failure on it and will be diagnosed at a later time. The newly installed low/hi-res WW board 1 runs perfect. In the future, the motherboard and board 1 can be removed and placed flat on a table for easy diagnostic access. NEW HI-RES GRAPHICS BOARD Another project recently completed was the bread boarding and testing of a new optional hi-res graphics board. This is not the hi-res graphics pattern transfer board announced some time ago, which will be bread boarded and tested later. You will see this new graphics board operating in an upcoming YouTube video. This new video is expected to be released several weeks (?) from now, once the all new hi-res graphics are programmed. That will be fun creating new hi-res graphics. End of Report 7 MCM Design March 2023 ---------------------------------------- These pictures that he posts are great! Keep it up, Michael! Adam

Michael Matte posted a couple of updates about his Hi-Res Astrocade project. The first one was posted in November of 2022, to the Astrocade discussion group, here: https://groups.io/g/ballyalley/topic/94968415#19666 Somehow, I overlooked adding his update to this thread until today. ---------------------------------------- From: ballyalley@groups.io <ballyalley@groups.io> on behalf of Mister HR <Michael Matte> Sent: Friday, November 11, 2022 1:02 PM To: ballyalley@groups.io Subject: [ballyalley] MCM Design Hi-Res News - Report 6 Quick-Connect Composite Video and Audio Drivers Board Replaces Astec RF Modulator Nov 2022 The Astrocade's Astec RF modulator utilizes the LM1889 TV video modulator chip. Fortunately, all of the electronic RF components within the LM1889 scheme can be removed and still generate a composite video colored output. Seventeen resistor and capacitor (RC) components in the LM1889 scheme help process 5 video related signal lines from the Astrocade motherboard, fed to the Astec modulator via a quick-connect 8 pin connector. There are an additional 7 RC processing components near the motherboard's custom data chip, which are also connected to the 5 video related lines. The 8 pin connector also provides +10v, -5v power lines plus an audio output line. The underside of the Astec metal case is grounded to the Astrocade motherboard via a copper flex connector attached to the Astrocade's bottom RF shielding, which is fastened using tiny screws to the motherboard gnd contacts. MCM Design has bread boarded, tested and wire wrapped a quick-connect board which includes: 17 RC component LM1889 video processing scheme composite video driver audio driver 3.5 mm audio/video output jack. Rather than describe this board, attached to this posting are 4 photos and 2 electronic schematics. The A/V board has room to accommodate one of 2 options for a video driver: Option 1 The surface mounted THS7314 driver, Option 2 Datamax UV-1R two-transistor configuration driver. The THS7314 option is already posted on the Bally Alley website in the Miscellaneous Hardware Documents section. Which video driver is the better choice? The THS7314 driver might be a little clearer. The comparison is too close to determine which option is visually better. One obvious distinction was observed. The THS7314 driver displayed the somewhat transparent bottom text in the Astrocade Menu, differently. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: 1. The LM1889 scheme has some TV display graphic issues. For example, in Checkmate, there typically is a narrow white line along the top and sides of the score fields and the play area. The 2 video drivers documented in this report will NOT correct the already existing graphic issues generated by the LM1889 scheme. 2. An audio driver was included to help protect the custom I/O chip, should the audio cable accidentally be plugged into an OUTPUT jack on a TV or remote audio amplifier. 3. The audio video output jack faces the left side of the Astrocade instead of its back, which means the left side of the Astrocade console must have an opening to accommodate the A/V cable. This choice was made because MCM Design's final hi-res Astrocade console will have a keyboard connector mounted on the left side and near the back to accommodate an upgraded 24-key keyboard that will be located in front of the Astrocade. 4. Video driver transistors can NOT be plugged directly into a breadboard. Apparently, the underlying breadboard contacts affect the transistors video performance (incorrect colors). Instead, the transistors must be hard wired onto a tiny Vector Board, then placed on top of the breadboard. 5. Tested substitutions for 1st choice MPSH69 PNP transistor 2N3906 ok 2N4125 ok NTE159 no, slightly blurry text/graphics Tested substitutions for 1st choice 2N4401 NPN transistor 2N3904 ok 2N4123 ok TP3565 ok MPS5179 ok 6. To lower the risk of line noise: The LM1889 chip was located close to the Astrocade 8 pin connector. The A/V output jack was located close to the video driver output line. 7. For the LM1889 scheme, because one .02uf cap was missing in MCM Design's inventory, two .01uf caps were wired in parallel. 8. The LM386N chip has a very low output impedance, capable of driving an 8 ohm speaker. The A/V board's audio output line was surprisingly very quiet (in most cases, no line noise when hooked up to a 20" Toshiba CRT TV) any time the Astrocade did not output any sound. 9. The A/V board gnd can be connected to the Astrocade motherboard gnd using a wire with a small alligator clip. 10. The THS7314 chip, at this time, is in stock at Mouser Electronics, part# 595–THS7314D. End Of Posting MCM Design ---------------------------------------- Michael also post another update a few days ago, on March 4, 2023. I'll post that update here soon. I'm attaching the pictures from Michael's post here too. Adam

"odesurfer.dev" pointed me to this thread and asked me: "I know you are into the Astrocade, but do you have any knowledge/experience with the C64? "I just posted in the commodore 8 bit section of the atariage forums my experiences so far with a C64 that I got from my neighbor. Do you or anyone in your network have experience with C64’s that I could pick their brains?" I figured that I would answer him here. I don't have any suggestions about what your hardware problem. If you don't get any response there, then try the Lemon64 website: https://www.lemon64.com/ There will be people falling over themselves to help you in those C64 forums. As to your question: yeah, I know about the C64. It was my first computer. I had it from around 1984-1986, and then I replaced it with a C128, which I ran nearly always in C64 mode until 1989/90, when I sold it. During that time, my C64 had to have parts replaced on numerous occasions. I'm not surprised to hear your having issues. Then again, it's to be expected. The computer is 40 years old! Over the years, I've had a few Commodore 64 computers, but I don't have any now. A couple of months back, Carl (from the TS2068 group) brought along his newly-acquired C64 when we had a Timex Day here at my place with Ryan. He had no accessories, but I still had a 1571 in the garage and we loaded and played some games on it. My buddy Brian bought a C64 Mini in 2022 and we covered it on his YouTube channel in a video. You might get something out of that video; general knowledge, at least: There is a sort-of part two to the video as well: A few years ago my friend Chris and I played a popular game on the C64 using emulation: If you visit my Orphaned Computer & Games website, then you'll find it has articles about the Commodore 64 in random places. My website is here: https://orphanedgames.com/ When Carl and Ryan were here, we played some C64 games that my buddy Chris wrote in the late 1990s/early-2000s. You can find disk images of them here: https://orphanedgames.com/c64.htm Give all four of 'em a try. "Super Space Carnage" thrilled both Carl and Ryan. It's not what you expect. One of my earliest c64 articles covers GEOS and it dates back to 1994 (!). Oh, boy, I'm getting old: https://orphanedgames.com/ocgs/Vol_I_Issue_1/ocgs_vol_I_issue_1_(June_1994)(GEOS_and_Commodore).html Have fun with the C64. You'll get it going! Adam

The Antic crew know about Wayne popping up already, as I told 'em all yesterday. I think Brad may pop into this thread looking for the right driver for his own ATR 8000. Adam

Thanks for filling in some details, Wayne. The next time I have my ATR 8000 out, then I'll look for the semi-secret message. I like to learn about inside information like this tid-bit. There are many Atari people here who probably will want to pick your brain and find out all that they can about how the hardware came to be designed. With some luck, someone from the Antic podcast will contact you and line-up an interview. They're magical and are able to help people remember tiny details that the interviewees believe that they have forgotten. Adam

I'm glad to see you made it over here, Wayne. I have a video on YouTube from about two years ago called "Atari 8-Bit Collection Part 4 - ATR8000 Overview and CP/M Books." Wayne commented over there that he created the ATR hardware, so I sent him over to these AtariAge forums. I'm glad a moderator moved this topic out of the general forum. Here is my video where I cover the ATR 8000. Wayne, although you mentioned in my comment that you don't remember too much about the development of this system, what do you recall? What can you tell us about you created it? Adam

Thanks for posting the picture of the "Muncher" cartridge, Tim. I'm glad you have your Atari blog. Keeping the hobby fun is what it's all about when we've been part of this classic gaming scene for so long. Adam

I looked around my hard drive and I don't have a picture of this re-release of "Muncher." I am surprised to see that Tim's 2600 Connection website is gone. Surely it is someplace else now. Tim Duarte does have an active blog, here: http://timduarte.blogspot.com/ Perhaps you can contact Tim directly for pictures? If he sends you some, or links to them, then please post them here. Adam

I nominate this twin-joystick setup for the ultimate do-it-yourself 8-bit hack of 2023. If there isn't such a contest then they're oughtta be one. Adam

I had time to only play with one Atari 7800 joystick, which I still had trouble getting to work correctly. Ah, well... it's been a long time since I've entered any score at all. I played three or four one-minutes games for a "high score" of 11,500. Does anyone wanna play for lowest score? Does the HSC end Saturday or Sunday evening? I played using my Supreme All-Play 4-8 controller by Edladdin. I didn't try my twin stick X-Arcade, as that acts like a keyboard and I'm not sure how to get Altirra to use it. Adam

Ah, great! It looks like Robotron won out this round. I'll have to drag out my twin-stick X-Arcade joystick from the garage and play this one under emulation. It's been quite a while since I've participated. This ought to be fun. I'll be in last place, but that's okay.

I'm determined to try "Robotron" with my twin-joystick X-Arcade. I've used it to play the arcade version of "Robotron" using emulation, but I've not yet tried it under Atari 8-bit home computer emulation. I guess I can try it at anytime, but it would be better to give it a go during the HSC. Adam

That is so cool! Thanks for sharing that picture! I used to have the Atari 5200 version of "Robotron" and it came with a plastic controller holder that held two joysticks together. This worked better than you might expect, although it couldn't possibly help with the poor quality of the 5200's joystick design. In around 1985 my friend bought "Spy Hunter" for his Commodore 64 and it came with a plastic joystick holder for two Atari CX40 controllers. If memory serves me right, the second controller controlled the missile and the smokescreen. Adam

Does "Robotron" support duel-stick control? Adam

I love that poem about Atari! Thanks for showing us that screenshot of an Atari using that more-then-a-chat-bot chat. Adam

I was wondering why I got a notification about this topic. Now I know. But, since it's here, why not ask the Chat bot about the best Atari 800XL high scores, or something that might fit here in this sub-forum just as much. I love the small errors that this new "AI" makes, like the 512 colors of the Atari 800XL. If you didn't know much about the system, then you'd breeze right past that mistake. A couple of weeks ago, there was a discussion along these lines, but concerning the Bally Arcade/Astrocade, which you can read here: https://groups.io/g/ballyalley/message/19741 I suppose being in the HSC forum means that I ought to play the current game of Donkey Kong Jr. Something is calling me back here. Adam

First off, that's a mighty nice gift. You've got good friends/family. I've never seen this blue substance before on a chip, so I can't recommend how to remove it. If you don't get an answer here within a few days, then try asking this question over on the Bally Alley Astrocade discussion group on groups.io. Good luck! Adam

Here is another Hi-Res update from Michael. Adam -------------------- From: Michael Matte Sent: October 14, 2022 To: BallyAlley Discussion Group Subject: MCM Design Hi-Res News - Report 5 (Updates + Hi-Res Graphics Source Code) The full thread can be found here: https://groups.io/g/ballyalley/topic/94340628 The 8.5 x 8.5" low/hi-res screen SRAM Board 1 has been tested to run perfect with SRAM of various access times: 75, 85, 100, 120 and 150ns. The board runs perfect in low and hi-res. MCM plans to record a video demonstrating BD1, once the newly revised low-res only screen SRAM scheme plus the quick-connect composite video/audio drivers scheme are wire wrapped on Vector boards. How long will it take to WW these 2 boards? Not sure, 5 weeks, maybe longer. MCM is planning to WW a backup BD1 as a test for compatibility and as a quick check diagnostic tool. A fourth Astrocade motherboard MIGHT be modified for hi-res as a final test for compatibility. The second modified for hi-res Astrocade motherboard has a failure on it and needs to be diagnosed. The hi-res schematic DWGs 2, 3 and 4 archived on the Bally Alley should now be considered OBSOLETE (having limited compatibility). A bunch of improvements have been made on BD1. These DWGs should really be deleted from the website, to eventually be replaced with newly revised DWGs 1 thru 6, which will include a revision number. FYI, the 8KB BalcheckHR program package includes 3 hi-res graphic demos listed below: Move Critter, Wagon and Fish (original hi-res demo) Textured 10 Color Test Pattern Variation The Pixel Stringer Note that a low/hi-res software select scheme is required to run these 3 programs. They are not accessible using a manual low/hi-res mini-toggle switch. The BalcheckHR bin file and source code are archived on the Bally Alley. The source code includes extensive program comments. Two other hi-res programs are also included with BalcheckHR: Hi-Res SetScreen2 Hi-Res Screen RAM Test Program (similar to the low-res Balcheck screen RAM test). Both programs require the use of a dual 7-segment display to report specific diagnostic info. Finally, the entire BalcheckHR package will run in hi-res by changing only 13 bytes within the 8KB coding. This change is documented in the BalcheckHR User Manual. Low-res graphics will be displayed only within the top 1/4 (4000-4FFFH) area of the hi-res display. Because of the way the hi-res screen RAM is mapped, the low-res graphics will be split in two, on the left and the right sides. End Of Report 5 MCM Design Oct 2022 -------------------- Ken Lill replied, "Consider the fact that the first Bally's were run on 450uS DRAMS, almost any SRAM now will blow that timing out of the water." -------------------- On October 16, Michael Matte replied: Ken's posting #19534 indicated relating to my testing of the low/hi-res screen RAM BD1 using 70, 85, 100, 120 and 150ns SRAM, "Consider the fact that the first Bally's were run on 450uS DRAMS, almost any SRAM now will blow that timing out of the water". You were careful to suggest that ALMOST any SRAM speed would work on my BD1 scheme. Not to long ago, I breadboarded a "low-res only" SRAM scheme using the same DRAM interfacing scheme utilized on the Astrocade motherboard. This breadboard would connect to my "modified for hi-res" Astrocade motherboard, which has a 28 pin DIL connector mounted on it. The connector has 28 tapped motherboard signal lines wired to it. The breadboard generated the active low CS/RAS, CAS, WE lines and had access to the DATEN line, nearly identical to the same motherboard DRAM control lines. No 2K pull-up resistors were used. Also, there were no 1K pull-ups on the load side of U20 (74LS174) for the RAM A0-A5 lines. All I had to add to complete the SRAM interfacing scheme was a 74LS373 to latch in the SRAM row address. I tried SRAM with a 120ns and 70ns access time. This low-res SRAM scheme worked perfect. However, when I used a narrow package Cypress CY7C185 8KB SRAM with a 15ns access time, the SRAM scheme would not work right. I ran my Z80 Check and Fill Screen Write programs. These 2 programs only write graphics to screen RAM. The Z80 does not read screen RAM or utilize a stack area in it. It was obvious that the Z80 had some kind of an issue writing to this faster SRAM chip. I did not spend any time to determine if there was also a read issue with this faster chip. I may spend some time later trying to determine the cause of this write issue. Maybe my logic analyzer might reveal something. Any idea Ken why this 15ns SRAM chip is not operating perfect? I triple checked the wiring to the chip. The breadboarded low-res SRAM interfacing scheme described above is implying that the Astrocade motherboard U23 (DM81LS95) and 8 DRAM chips can be replaced with only a 74LS373 and one SRAM chip. All the RAM interfacing lines can be taken from the U23 and U24 (DRAM) solder pads, including the +5v and gnd lines. A DIL pc socket could be soldered onto each of these 2 solder patterns. This would provide a quick connect for a small pc board with a 74LS373 and one SRAM plus 2 DIL ribbon cable plugs on it. This pc board would sit on top of the motherboard were the 8 DRAM chips use to be. You might have to remove the 9 motherboard pull-up resistors. I may later test this implication on one of my "modified for hi-res" Astrocade motherboards. When I first breadboarded my low/hi-res SRAM scheme, I was using only 120ns SRAM. The scheme was working perfect in low and hi-res. Then later, I found out my low/hi-res SRAM scheme wouldn't work right using faster SRAM. If I recall correctly, the scheme had an issue with a 100ns SRAM. So, I was forced to return to my breadboard and had to revise the scheme, so it would run my 70, 85 and 100ns SRAM perfect in low and hi-res. Mister HR -------------------- Michael's progress continues a bit every month. Adam

As you said, it isn't likely that you'll find an Astrocade already upgraded with a video output. If you ask on the Bally Alley Astrocade discussion forum on Groups.io, then maybe Allen S. can modify one for you. Adam

If you don't have any Astrocade games, then get the multicart for the system. It's made in low-volume, but it's still made. The cartridge is called the UltiMulti. Pictures of it are here: https://ballyalley.com/pics/cartridge_pics/Carts_(Multicarts)/multicart_(GaMBITS)/multicart_(GaMBITS).html Allen Schweitzer is the person who makes these cartridges that were designed by Ken Lill. There is also the new BackBit cartridge and adapter for the Astrocade. You can read about it here, in this thread: While this BackBit cartridge, which uses a MicroSD card, and thus can be updated by the end-user, might seem ideal, it can only be used to play normal games from cartridge, so there are quite a few games that can't be used. Also, Allen still makes another expansion, in small quantities, called the Lil' White Ram, which looks like this: https://ballyalley.com/pics/hardware_pics/Lil_White_RAM/Lil-White-Ram.html This is a RAM expansion unit that allows the user to play most of the games on the UltiMulti cart that require extra RAM. I hope you enjoy your Bally Arcade console, no matter how it's hooked up to a TV. Adam

Yeah, the picture looks great for composite. I have a similar setup using different hardware, but the results seem about the same. In your next post you mention Blue Jeans Cable. I'm not familiar with them. Are you referring to this RF cable that they sell: https://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/rf/index.htm Maybe I'll pick one up. Adam

I don't own a Channel F, but my friend has one. His wife calls it the "Channel Fail." He uses RF and it looks okay on a flatscreen LCD TV that has RFin. Using a quality RF cable may improve a poor signal, but I just go with old-school cables from the 1970s. If it was good enough in the 1970s, then I guess it's good enough now. Adma