Atari 800 issue

[Star castler]

I just got an old Atari 800, and it refuses to print a single letter on multiple printers. I've tried loading a file from cassette and it worked, so I'm wondering what could be wrong with this Atari 800?

[russg]

I just got an old Atari 800, and it refuses to print a single letter on multiple printers. I've tried loading a file from cassette and it worked, so I'm wondering what could be wrong with this Atari 800?

You don't mention how your 800 is connected to a printer. You must have an interface (850, PRC) with a parallel port. And port to centronics cable. If you're

trying a USB printer, I don't know how you would connect that. Once you have the interface and cable, you'd need a text program to send a file to printer.

A little more description of your interface and text program.

[Star castler]

Sorry that I didn't specify, but I'm using Atari SIO and I tried a 1025 and a XDM121. I'm using AtariWriter for the text files.

Edited March 21, 2015 by Star castler

[Joey Z]

do you know if the printers work? or are we unsure if this is a computer or printer problem?

 

Boot up a BASIC cart and give:

LPRINT "some test text here"

 

a try. That's about the simplest thing you could do with a printer AFAIK.

[Star castler]

do you know if the printers work? or are we unsure if this is a computer or printer problem?

 

Boot up a BASIC cart and give:

LPRINT "some test text here"

 

a try. That's about the simplest thing you could do with a printer AFAIK.

Sorry, I don't have a BASIC cart yet, but I may be getting one soon. The printers should work, I've used them on my 600XL before the keyboard broke.

Edited March 21, 2015 by Star castler

[ClausB]

So you have a parts machine? Good. Swap out the PIA and/or POKEY with your 600. Those chips run the SIO port.

 

Hey, it's my 1000th post! Hope it's a good one.

 

[russg]

Sorry, I don't have a BASIC cart yet, but I may be getting one soon. The printers should work, I've used them on my 600XL before the keyboard broke.

Here's a binary load BASIC B. If you can use MAKEATR.COM PC, you can put it on a DOS boot disk .ATR.

It is not RESET proof.

BASICB.zip

Edited March 22, 2015 by russg