Cords Coming Through Parallel Bus Port?

[kjps86]

Hello,

 

So I picked up my first Atari 8 bit computer on eBay (really my first 8 bit computer, period) and it seems to work alright. Waiting on some cartridges now to go a little more in depth with testing. One thing puzzles me, however, which is that there is a pair of unlabeled wires coming out the back of the computer. Here is a picture of the wires:

 

Looking inside the computer, I can see where the white cable is soldered to several points under the keyboard and the black wire is tucked under the RF shield to be soldered to the motherboard. Here is an image of the bottom of the keyboard:

 

and an image of where the black wire goes under the RF shield:

 

I'd like to get rid of these wires and remove any mod that isn't useful. Based on the fact this machine came with an instruction manual for Paperclip and something that plugs in to the right joystick port as part of the Paperclip software, in addition to a Xetec Graphix AT device that would connect the system to a printer, I have to assume these wires are there for some printer interface, which I have zero interest in ever utilizing in any way, shape, or form.

 

Can anyone verify that it is safe to remove these by just clipping them off or (if need be) desoldering the components? Anyone know why these might have been installed in the first place? Any help is appreciated. I am thrilled to have the chance to tinker with this machine!

[Rybags]

Maybe it was to allow using an XEGS keyboard but for that the connections look all wrong.

 

How many wires coming from the black lead, and where are they soldered to?

[kjps86]

There are many wires coming from the black lead, but I'm not sure where they are soldered to as I have yet to get under the RF shield. As for using a XEGS keyboard, something tells me that this unit didn't see enough action from the previous owner to really warrant such trouble/expense, but I could be wrong in that assumption. My first guess with the white wires was that they supplied power to something, but soldering to the keyboard doesn't make sense in that situation, does it?

[+kheller2]

Yeah, very odd. I would think the white connector would be run to the star/select/option/reset section...

Edited April 18, 2015 by kheller2

[Kyle22]

I can't see any image. It would really help if we had a picture.

[Rybags]

I'm not sure the console keys would have any traces going near the main part of the kb. Not really any reason to do so.

 

Taking the shielding off would reveal all. If those wires are soldered on in between Pokey and the 2 multiplexor ICs, then for sure it'd be for an external kb.

On the XEGS, the multiplexors are within the keyboard housing, all other machines have them on the motherboard.

[Kyle22]

On the XEGS, the multiplexors are within the keyboard housing, all other machines have them on the motherboard.

The 1200XL, 1400XL, and 1450XLD have the multiplexors on the underside of the keyboard.

[Paul Westphal]

Just desolder it all. I don't see any reason it would hurt anything... If it's not stock, make it walk.

[Marius]

Just desolder it all. I don't see any reason it would hurt anything... If it's not stock, make it walk.

 

Haha! That is a brilliant quote!

[+David_P]

Looks like a homebrew addition to add an XEGS keyboard (the 15 pin connector). The white connector was probably for a homemade Start, Select, Option, Reset box. An interesting approach to get a detachable keyboard on an 800xl.