DrSidneyZweibel Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 (edited) Having read this thread and others on the subject, it appears that between the test models he sold at PRGE, and the remaining ones that were sold off to the board in batches there are approximately 40-50 concerto carts in the wild. And of them, only 2 documented cases of complete failure, 1 being Kosmic Stardust, and one other that was sold? Most others reported fairly consistent results with all the commercial roms, and some scattered issues with pokey attached to the concerto or homebrew roms. Sounds like a pretty useful beta phase. Pity Batari hasn't been around for updates in some time. Edited June 2, 2017 by DrSidneyZweibel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swami Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 (edited) I could not glean this from the threads, but I wonder if there are differences in the compatibility of the pokeys due to individual tolerances amongst pokey units or just limited to the Concerto is not handling POKEY@$0450 and ROM@$4000. Edited June 2, 2017 by Swami Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andromeda Stardust Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 Having read this thread and others on the subject, it appears that between the test models he sold at PRGE, and the remaining ones that were sold off to the board in batches there are approximately 40-50 concerto carts in the wild. And of them, only 2 documented cases of complete failure, 1 being Kosmic Stardust, and one other that was sold? Most others reported fairly consistent results with all the commercial roms, and some scattered issues with pokey attached to the concerto or homebrew roms. Sounds like a pretty useful beta phase. Pity Batari hasn't been around for updates in some time. FYI, this is incorrect. The Concerto was not a complete failure on my 7800, just corrupted every single ROM image I loaded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrSidneyZweibel Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 FYI, this is incorrect. The Concerto was not a complete failure on my 7800, just corrupted every single ROM image I loaded. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCv2qK7ggLU i guess your definition of failure is different from mine, but if the games don't load to a playable state, that's a failure. If it's all of them, that's a complete failure. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinks Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 One console of mine would not load a single 7800 game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swami Posted June 4, 2017 Share Posted June 4, 2017 (edited) So far I've tried Donkey Kong, Galaxian and Sentinel_NTSC.on the concerto cart. DK and Galaxian work good but the sound is a little squelchy. Sentinel sound is good and works with the light gun, but the sprites are all blocks, so the graphics are messed up ... tried three different roms. I have had some trouble getting the starting screen for the menu, but I think it may be cartridge placement. Placement is a little finicky. I don't know if there is a better rom for sentinel. Tried these three (upload to forum is failing): Sentinel (1988) (Atari) [!].a78 Sentinel (USA) (Proto).a78 Sentinel.A78 Console is 72R4BR X 014703 Edited June 4, 2017 by Swami Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPUWIZ Posted June 4, 2017 Share Posted June 4, 2017 I have had some trouble getting the starting screen for the menu, but I think it may be cartridge placement. That is what I was referring to, when I mentioned the cart connector. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swami Posted June 4, 2017 Share Posted June 4, 2017 (edited) That is what I was referring to, when I mentioned the cart connector. Sorry, just be clear, I meant PCB, not cartridge. Inserting the PCB is finicky. The PCB is naked! How does your cart connector help with successfully inserting the PCB? Edited June 4, 2017 by Swami 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPUWIZ Posted June 4, 2017 Share Posted June 4, 2017 Sorry, just be clear, I meant PCB, not cartridge. Inserting the PCB is finicky. The PCB is naked! How does your cart connector help with successfully inserting the PCB? Sorry, the "fingers" on the PCB are the connector to the 7800. Cartridge = MALE / 7800 = FEMALE Fred's connector is not properly aligned, which is why I told you getting it into a shell is tricky and not worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swami Posted June 4, 2017 Share Posted June 4, 2017 Sorry, the "fingers" on the PCB are the connector to the 7800. Cartridge = MALE / 7800 = FEMALE Fred's connector is not properly aligned, which is why I told you getting it into a shell is tricky and not worth it. All clear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trebor Posted June 4, 2017 Share Posted June 4, 2017 I don't know if there is a better rom for sentinel. Tried these three (upload to forum is failing): Sentinel (1988) (Atari) [!].a78 Sentinel (USA) (Proto).a78 Sentinel.A78 External (file) naming may change, and it could still be the same ROM. CRC32, MD5, and/or SHA-1 values better differentiate the ROMs. Try the attached, it is confirmed as a good (non-corrupt) ROM dump with a proper header: Sentinel (NTSC) (PAL Conversion).a78 Info: CRC32: 22D13113 MD5: 8D77D3F5FFC1549F400A2DAD45BF9073 SHA-1: B63D748F38A03E4856045C829BBE22AFB0E19724 If interested/curious, here is the same ROM without a header: Sentinel (NTSC) (PAL Conversion).bin Info: CRC32: 2FDDAD78 MD5: B697D9C2D1B9F6CB21041286D1BBFA7F SHA-1: BD7DE03A28B168C992BCAA96539C2310F3BFE30C This page contains a one download link for the vast majority of homebrews and the entire retail line of Atari 7800 ROMs, all confirmed as good, working ROMs having proper headers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinks Posted June 4, 2017 Share Posted June 4, 2017 Sorry, the "fingers" on the PCB are the connector to the 7800. Cartridge = MALE / 7800 = FEMALE Fred's connector is not properly aligned, which is why I told you getting it into a shell is tricky and not worth it. I have never put mine in a shell. Ya figure thats why it works better? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPUWIZ Posted June 4, 2017 Share Posted June 4, 2017 I have never put mine in a shell. Ya figure thats why it works better? Yep, you need to look at how you insert it and make sure the alignment is right. Not a big deal for me, all my 7800's are naked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swami Posted June 4, 2017 Share Posted June 4, 2017 I have never put mine in a shell. Ya figure thats why it works better? Yep, you need to look at how you insert it and make sure the alignment is right. Not a big deal for me, all my 7800's are naked. Just curious, do any of you notice a slight grind when you insert the naked PCB connector into the 7800? Is this due to the alignment issue? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinks Posted June 4, 2017 Share Posted June 4, 2017 Yes is sounds like something scraping against the plastic part of the board Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swami Posted June 5, 2017 Share Posted June 5, 2017 External (file) naming may change, and it could still be the same ROM. CRC32, MD5, and/or SHA-1 values better differentiate the ROMs. Try the attached, it is confirmed as a good (non-corrupt) ROM dump with a proper header: Sentinel (NTSC) (PAL Conversion).a78 Info: CRC32: 22D13113 MD5: 8D77D3F5FFC1549F400A2DAD45BF9073 SHA-1: B63D748F38A03E4856045C829BBE22AFB0E19724 If interested/curious, here is the same ROM without a header: Sentinel (NTSC) (PAL Conversion).bin Info: CRC32: 2FDDAD78 MD5: B697D9C2D1B9F6CB21041286D1BBFA7F SHA-1: BD7DE03A28B168C992BCAA96539C2310F3BFE30C This page contains a one download link for the vast majority of homebrews and the entire retail line of Atari 7800 ROMs, all confirmed as good, working ROMs having proper headers. Works! Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andromeda Stardust Posted June 5, 2017 Share Posted June 5, 2017 Sorry, just be clear, I meant PCB, not cartridge. Inserting the PCB is finicky. The PCB is naked! How does your cart connector help with successfully inserting the PCB? Sorry, the "fingers" on the PCB are the connector to the 7800. Cartridge = MALE / 7800 = FEMALE Fred's connector is not properly aligned, which is why I told you getting it into a shell is tricky and not worth it. Did I miss something? I never had any issues "cramming" my Concerto into a Ballblazer shell... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinks Posted June 5, 2017 Share Posted June 5, 2017 Did I miss something? I never had any issues "cramming" my Concerto into a Ballblazer shell... Putting it in a shell makes it so it does not contact the pins correctly on the 7800 I never was going to put mine in a shell till it was 100% Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swami Posted June 5, 2017 Share Posted June 5, 2017 I did this today with an Astroblast M Network 2600 cartridge shell. Involved some cutting and the space is too small for a pokey, but the width in both horizontal directions is perfect for snug fit without the pokey. Had to use the long twisters to loop around the pcb notches and over the locking nubs on the shell to "crimp" the twisters so they keep the pcb firmly in place so it doesn't move up during insertion as there is possibly about 6-8 mm of extra head space. Having used the pcb a few times it is about the same either way. Need to give the top of the cartridge a slight nudge toward the back of the console after insertion.Mainly just wanting to keep it clean and impact resistant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coleco82 Posted July 19, 2017 Share Posted July 19, 2017 Is there any news at all of the Concerto ? Development blogs ? I would rather wait and pay for the Concerto cart. I know Fred has a lot going on and I understand that. I just wish he would pop in even if to say "Sorry I have been busy but I'm still working on it." In summary some signs of life even if we have to wait 2 - 10 years, would be helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andromeda Stardust Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 Is there any news at all of the Concerto ? Development blogs ? I would rather wait and pay for the Concerto cart. I know Fred has a lot going on and I understand that. I just wish he would pop in even if to say "Sorry I have been busy but I'm still working on it." In summary some signs of life even if we have to wait 2 - 10 years, would be helpful. Someday SainT will come up with something that works right the first time. It's probably a few years off though. I already hacked my Concerto so it's permanently a 2600 flash cart that only fits into a 7800. I mostly got 7800 for the homebrew scene and I have most of the desirable games for it from a gameplay perspective so I'm set I guess... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarshipUK Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 Having read this thread and others on the subject, it appears that between the test models he sold at PRGE, and the remaining ones that were sold off to the board in batches there are approximately 40-50 concerto carts in the wild. And of them, only 2 documented cases of complete failure, 1 being Kosmic Stardust, and one other that was sold? Most others reported fairly consistent results with all the commercial roms, and some scattered issues with pokey attached to the concerto or homebrew roms. Sounds like a pretty useful beta phase. Pity Batari hasn't been around for updates in some time. That many minus one, remembering the crazy posts about that idiot who bastardised his cart cutting pins, rather than selling it to someone else who really wanted one. What a twat. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrSidneyZweibel Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 Batari did post a week ago in the 2600 Harmony forum, explaining that he's recently had serious health problems and went through a divorce, but hopefully his projects will be back on track very soon. So for everyone declaring this project dead out of their own impatience: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andromeda Stardust Posted August 9, 2017 Share Posted August 9, 2017 That many minus one, remembering the crazy posts about that idiot who bastardised his cart cutting pins, rather than selling it to someone else who really wanted one. What a twat.I am that "twat" of whom you speak. Well, I got a fine Hamony Concerto out of it that doesn't quite fit in a standard 2600 slot. Was it worth it to cut those pins? Probably not, but the Concerto was already broken to me anyway... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swami Posted August 9, 2017 Share Posted August 9, 2017 That many minus one, remembering the crazy posts about that idiot who bastardised his cart cutting pins, rather than selling it to someone else who really wanted one. What a twat. I am that "twat" of whom you speak. Well, I got a fine Hamony Concerto out of it that doesn't quite fit in a standard 2600 slot. Was it worth it to cut those pins? Probably not, but the Concerto was already broken to me anyway... Nothing ventured, nothing gained. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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