What on Earth is This?

[KevinMos3]

I've had this for probably 20 years and I've never known what it is. Can anyone identify this?

 

[Pioneer4x4]

test plug for diagnostics?

[+save2600]

Or a dongle? Required for certain programs as a form of copy protection. Scala for the Amiga had one.

[yllawwally]

What's on the orange end?

[HatefulGravey]

I have seen these before that made the controller have rapid fire. You would plug the device into the machine and then plug the controller into the device and hold the fire button to make the game fire as often as it could in the game.

 

Have you ever tried to do anything with it?

[Rex Dart]

Looks like some sort of serial loopback test dongle. May not be intended for game systems at all.

[KevinMos3]

I've never wanted to plug it into a game system without knowing what it is. The 2nd controller port of the 2600 Jr I grew up with quit working when I was probably around 12 or so. I'm sure this wouldn't hurt anything, but after that experience I never wanted to take any chances.

 

Here is a pic of the other end.

 

[yllawwally]

Since nothing can plug into it and considering it's age, I would guess it's a loop back, or security dongle. If it was modern, then it could be something like a savekey. It probably wouldn't hurt the atari by plugging it in. However since it wouldn't do anything useful by using it, no sense trying it.

Edited October 1, 2012 by yllawwally

[fiddlepaddle]

There were several programs for the amiga that required a dongle similar to that.

[SlowCoder]

I only ever saw dongles for high powered or expensive apps like AutoCAD. Did they come with games too?

[HatefulGravey]

With the back sealed like that my idea is certainly out. Maybe its just what happens when people have parts setting around and get board. Someone just melted something into an extra part sitting around one day and you have been wondering about it for all this time. You never know, but it makes a good story.