2600 joystic port automatic diagnostic hardware

[+Propane13]

Hello all,

 

I remember somewhere in my travels seeing someone who had an interesting device that plugged into a 2600 joystick port; it had a red and a green LED on each side (I think).

 

I believe that you had to run some cartridge software with this thing in the joystick port, and afterward, it would light up "green" or "red" depending on success/failure. Unfortunately, it's been a long time since I saw this item, so I don't remememeber much about it.

 

1) Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Does anyone have this item? What is known about it?

 

2) If you don't have the device specified in my crappy paragraph above, but know of something else that was made for automatic joystick diagnostic purposes (not of the homebrew era), can you describe it here?

 

Thanks,

-John K. Harvey

[CPUWIZ]

I believe you are thinking of the Diagnostic Cart, it came with 2 blue joystick port loopback plugs but they only have one LED each and it's red.

 

http://www.atariage.com/software_page.html...wareLabelID=139

[+Propane13]

Thanks, CPUWIZ,

 

I think that sounds like it could be it.

 

There is no mention of this at the Diagnostic cart page on atariage. Does someone have a picture they could post, or know of one on the 'net?

 

Also, are these items rare, or can they still be obtained for a reasonable price (say, through Best Electonics or somewhere)?

 

If they can't be obtained easily, does anyone know how to replicate the hardware? I'd be interested in creating or buying one of my own, just for kicks, and for some experimentation.

 

Thanks,

-John K. Harvey

[CPUWIZ]

I have them but I can't find them at the moment.

[+Propane13]

Hello,

 

I just checked, and I found 'em at Best. Thanks for your help, CPUWIZ; you got me thinking about it, and I managed to track them down.

 

-John

[Rob Mitchell]

If you order a set of the "blue plugs" .. please tell how much ..

 

I've been interested in these plugs for some time .. I own an original Diagnostic Test Cart ..

 

Supposidly there is a pattern that is displayed when these plugs are in place and this is in the 2600 service manual .. But I have never seen the pic .. Does anyone have a good scan of this manual?

 

Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA