classics

Thanks, yes I will write down what compnents have been replaced. From looking at the picture I would say they just changed the resistor values to tweak the horrible 800xl video somewhat. Screenshots of the 800XL cgi software are up. Its much better software and includes code to turn a VCR on and off via a timer.

Some 800s have the same flex circuit type keyboard as the 1200xl and end up with the same problems. If you take one of the keycaps off and it doesnt have the metal leaf contacts, this is likely your problem. You can try putting some conductive goop on the traces that leave the flex circuit, but even that has limited success since the whole thing tends to degrade at once.

Are the two dead-bug chips a 139 and a 153? If so its a Claus Buchholz upgrade.

800XL Teleprompter system/cartridge pictures are up. http://www.atarimax.com/technfo/cgixl/

Screenshots of the teleprompter software are online now at the same URL.

There is a BBS Express image in the 'bbs' folder where APE gets installed. In the APE config switch it to 'server mode' then boot that image and type BBS at the prompt. Its not set up, its just basic free BBS Express but it will get you started taking connections. I dont know how to setup Tom's proxy I've never used it but I'm sure its similar.

With APE you can make/accept Telnet connections to BBS software running on the Atari. Callers can call from a normal Atari using the APE outbound telnet client, or there is free ATASCII terminal software (ATS) on the APE home page you can use on windows. There are R: simulators in most of the computer emulators now as well, and a *nix proxy that I know someone is using.. Closer to Home BBS I believe.

Here are the disassembly photos for the CGI-800. http://www.atarimax.com/technfo/cgi800/ One of the pictures. I'll try and get the rom dump running in a emulator for some screenshots later tonight.

Possibly, I'm still rooting through what I picked up though at the moment. I'll post a link with some disassembly pictures soon. I also received 2 'Character Generator, Inc' Atari 800XL units that have been modified with a battery backup system and CG cartridge locked in a metal box on top of the unit.

I just got in 2 Atari 800s that were used as teleprompter systems. They have a rom card in place of the 3rd RAM card and a big DIN port on the back thats wired into the power circuit and a custom PCB with a 555 timer on it. Anyone seen these before? I'm dumping the software off the rom card at the moment, hopefully it will run in RAM on a normal computer.

AC/AC desktop transformers are getting harder to find since nearly everything operates off DC these days. You could check www.myatari.com too, they probably sell them as well.

e-Mail Brad @ Best, he has these for $15. bestelec@concentric.net If you want to find one locally, they are 9v AC output, at least 2 amps.

For those of you who would like to load this from disk or want it in Atari exe format you can download it here. It just the same rom image with an Atari binary load header attached. http://www.atarimax.com/crystal.zip

Is the 5v supply voltage ok on all the ICs?

Completely dead, as in no lights? Someone has probably plugged them in to a 9vAC Atari brick. Check the voltage regulator for open, also for shorted capacitors.

With trigger style I would fly Wico all the way. For anything else go with a TAC-2, there is no better stick IMHO.

Is this just a copy of 'The Pill'?

Boot MyDOS. Press O, select the drive to configure, the XF551. Is drive configurable: Yes Is it a high capacity drive: No Is drive double sided: Yes Tracks: 80 Step Rate: 0 Once back at the menu use the set density function to set it to double density. Insert a 720k floppy (or a 1.44m floppy with the media sense hole covered). There are various other issues with using 1.44mb media. Even if the 1.44mb disk is good, you may have to format it a couple times. Its just better to use 720k media if possible. Format, write dos files, done. You should have 2880 DD sectors free before writing DOS files. The controller setup in the XF551 will not support the higher data rate used for 1.44mb media.

I havent used the interface myself, but an Atari friend from the Philippines purchased this when it was new. A couple years ago he sent me the software disk because it had become corrupted and he couldn't back it up because of the protection. I removed the protection and made him some fresh backups. He says the humidity there really plays hell with floppies. Last I heard he was still using it, almost 20 years after buying it and swears its better than any new biofeedback machine hes ever used.

Anyone have stock of surplus 8-bit cartridge plastic casings? Dont really care what style as long as I can put a home made cartridge in them.

If you scrape a little off you should see the copper trace under it is still well attached to the fiberglass. Someone once told me the exact reason so many Ataris have this... something about the mask not being applied at the right step in PCB fabrication, or not being rated high enough for the temperature of the solder bath.

The 7800 SA joysticks are really hard to find... if your looking for more Atari 8-bit stuff some 2600 collector will probably throw a box at you for that.

Converting a 1541 to a Atari compabile drive would be an interesting hack. The source for the 1050 rom and 1541 roms are both available and they use the same CPU and floppy controller. It may be just a matter of adjusting the code so it uses the 1541s other hardware instead of the 1050 riot for timing/io/ram. I have 2 SIO2PC/APE cables for sale on eBay starting at $19 if thats cheap enough. (shameless advertising below, shield your eyes) http://cgi6.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?...&sort=3&rows=25

Magnavox RGB80. If you can find one, these are perhaps the best composite/RGB monitors ever made. Completely blows away my Commodore monitors, which I previously considered the best.

Those were packed with 2-port Atari 5200s. It will work as a standard RF switch with any device. As for the part number, with Atari there is no telling... They probably had a million of those left over from production of some other device and just put them into a box with a different part number for packing with another system.