Advice for New (old) Setup--what to buy?

[bbking67]

I just unearthed some of my old Atari gear, and I have a working setup again. This is the first time using A8 gear for me since summer 1992 when I packed away everything. I still haven't found all of my stuff (it's possible some got tossed). In any case, I am interested in some advice on how I could use the my A8, and what would be the most interesting purchases.

 

My setup (at the moment):

 

RCA TV

Atari 130XE (as far as I can remember unmodified)

Atari 1050 x2 (both double density, probably US Doublers or clones)

ICD SpartaDOS X 4.19

ICD RTime 8 (needs battery)

ICD Multi I/O (no PBI adapter, might need new RAM)

 

I was thinking that a cable to connect to a PC would be cool, then I could set up a permanent PC to host Atari stuff. I also like the multi-carts. What are the best options here?

 

I probably won't hardware mod the 130XE. I have some 800XL's and an XEGS somewhere and I would mod those if and when I find them.

[KubaCZ]

I think easiest and cheapest way is to make a SIO2PC cable, it's basically TTL to RS232 converter so it's just one IC and few other components - you can find lot of versions of it (I don't recommend MAX232, some people say it killed their Ataris). Only problem is that you need to have PC near your Atari, I've solved that by using netbook when I have to move it somewhere.

Edited December 19, 2011 by KubaCZ

[bbking67]

With an SIO2PC cable what can I do? Can I emulate various hardware components on the PC? What PC software do I use?

 

Somewhere I have an old ST Xformer cable I bought from Darek Mihocka years ago... If I find that I'll bet it's close.

[KubaCZ]

Oh sorry for fogetting that, I have to sleep

 

There are two main SIO2PC programs, AspeQT and Atarimax's A.P.E... AspeQT is opensource and free, that's the one I'm using.

 

It can emulate up to 8 drives, mount directories as drives, emulate tape recorders, printers... A.P.E can do more than AspeQT, but it's expensive for me..my battery on notebook is near end so that's all I can write

[bbking67]

I like that ASPEQT runs under Linux... that could be interesting for me. APE is over $100 with the cable!

[BillC]

I like that ASPEQT runs under Linux... that could be interesting for me. APE is over $100 with the cable!

I haven`t tried it, but there is also SIO2BSD, available at http://drac030.krap....-inne-pliki.php, which is supposed to function under FreeBSD, Linux, MacOS X.

 

I noticed it when I was looking for information about the IDE + 2.0.

 

Bill

[Rybags]

XFormer cable is no good.

 

Either make your own SIO2PC or get onto sloopy's thread - he's doing USB -> SIO interfaces and can build into a plug for you.

 

So then you could run a stock drive with the interface plugged in the back. Run the real drive as D4: and use emulation for the rest.

[+Philsan]

Regarding storage devices, check out topic for newbies.