flex curcuit replacement

[lowscore]

I tried this in the "wanted" section, but it seems like this might be a more appropriate question for 5200 the specific forum.

 

I recieved my usb multi-cart, and it is a thing of beauty! unfotunately I have the ever popular flaky controllers. I tried the foil trick and it works for one, partially. The other has cracked curcuits by the left fire button. I talked to Best Electronics yesterday, and sadly, they have sold their complete suply of flex curcuits to some other company and won't be able to have any manufactured for at least three weeks.

 

I don't think I can afford the Redemption right now, or I would get that. I just want to know if there is another place I can get a new flex curcuit (and set of buttons) to tide me over until the supply is replenished?

 

P.S. Steve's USB multi-cart is an awesome product and it was amazingly easy to use!

[Lord Helmet]

Ebay?

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-ATARI-5200-Control...1QQcmdZViewItem

[lowscore]

Ebay?

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-ATARI-5200-Control...1QQcmdZViewItem

 

I probobly need the keypad too, along with a new curcuit, because mine are covered in foil. The complete rebuild kits that these guys have do not include them. Won't the foil stuff cause damage to a new curcuit board?

[Paranoid]

It could.

 

Listen...

 

a complete gold-dot kit or replacement Best Electronics refurbed stick is going to cost as much as a redemption adapter.

 

Otherwise, if you just need a cheap fix for the near term, the flex circuit should hold you over. I mean, you're using the foil with an original flex circuit now, right? So if it works for that, why wouldn't it work with a modern circuit? The carbon flex *circuits* are the most likely to be damaged by abrassive foil fixes or erasers, but they're the most uncommon, and I'm sure a modern flex circuit is going to have metal leads.

 

Personally opinion, just bite the bullet and find the $50 for a Redemption. With the Atari 128-in-1 USB, you're going to want a digital stick for the lions share of games, anyhow.

 

One alternative that is less expensive is to find the DIY PMP 5200 RSI stick schematic online here and make your own digital stick. Well... it *may* be less expensive.

[lowscore]

 

Personally opinion, just bite the bullet and find the $50 for a Redemption. With the Atari 128-in-1 USB, you're going to want a digital stick for the lions share of games, anyhow.

 

 

Hey man, you steered me right on the USB cart, so I imagine your correct on this one as well. I am mulling it over. From what I understand, I can use any 2600 compatible joystick, and I still need to use my 2600 keypad too. Am I correct?

[+remowilliams]

From what I understand, I can use any 2600 compatible joystick, and I still need to use my 2600 keypad too. Am I correct?

You need a 5200 controller plugged in for its keypad and top function buttons.

 

The redemption adapters are the best way to go with the 5200. You'll spend a lot of time having fun with the system instead of getting pissed at, or trying to fix/calibrate 5200 controllers.

[lowscore]

 

You need a 5200 controller plugged in for its keypad and top function buttons.

 

The redemption adapters are the best way to go with the 5200. You'll spend a lot of time having fun with the system instead of getting pissed at, or trying to fix/calibrate 5200 controllers.

 

Bummer. It seems I still need a fully functional 5200 numeric keypad, which I don't, because the 3,6, and 9 do not work, so I guess I am back to finding rebuild parts before I can use the Redemption at all. Thanks.

[MrRetroGamer]

The complete rebuild kits that these guys have do not include them.

 

Sometimes the "ask seller a question" button is your friend!

 

 

...I still need a fully functional 5200 numeric keypad, which I don't, because the 3,6, and 9 do not work...

 

In my opinion, you probably have a bad joystick cable and not a bad keypad. Easy way to tell is take the controller apart and rotate the keypad assembly 180 degrees and then test the buttons without putting the controller back together. If the keypad buttons marked 3, 6 and 9 activate the traces under them now, then it's not the keypad, it is the cable.

Edited January 9, 2007 by MrRetroGamer

[Shawn]

From what I understand, I can use any 2600 compatible joystick, and I still need to use my 2600 keypad too. Am I correct?

You need a 5200 controller plugged in for its keypad and top function buttons.

 

The redemption adapters are the best way to go with the 5200. You'll spend a lot of time having fun with the system instead of getting pissed at, or trying to fix/calibrate 5200 controllers.

 

 

But you can adapt a 2600 keyboard controller to work as your 5200 keypad if you want to tally do away with the stock 5200 controller.

[Paranoid]

MrRetroGamer is your friend, also.

 

He probably has most of the parts you need, and he makes reasonable deals for AtariAge members.

 

PM him and go over what you need, he'll get you taken care of.

[Lord Helmet]

I fixed my keypad by putting a small amount of glue on each contact with a q-tip, then cpvered each contact with powdered graphite. After the glue dried, I dusted off the keypad. It worked flawlessly with my new flex circuit.

[lowscore]

But you can adapt a 2600 keyboard controller to work as your 5200 keypad if you want to tally do away with the stock 5200 controller.

This is exactly what I want to do. How, pray tell. I have a half dozen laying around that I never use anyway, so I have leeway to experiment.

Edited January 9, 2007 by lowscore

[vintagegamecrazy]

I would love to see how to do that with the keypad controller. Please tell how! How is the flex circuit replacements and buttons? Do they really boost the controllers performance that much?

[Paranoid]

Once you understand the pinout matrix, you can make a a telephone keypad the replacement for the 5200 keypad. Someone here has done it.

 

The 2600 keypad, I think you have to remove the resistor and rewire it so that the matrix from the 2600 keypad goes to the right wires on the 5200 joystick port. It isn't a very complex adaptation... no logic chips or PCBs or anything like that required.