5200 Troubles...Again.

[Aswald]

As some of you know, a while back I was having trouble with my 5200.

Everything worked...except for the directional controls. It had just happened.

After looking over the 5200 schematics (4 pages), and some basic testing, I guessed that it was the POKEY chip.

So- I ordered one from Mike's Arcade.

It came.

After prying out the old one- the 5200 has an advantage over the CV there- I put in the new one, and hauled the works to the television.

Plugged in Missile Command, tried it with a standard 5200 controller...

It worked just fine! Goody!


A couple of weeks ago, my 5200 had a problem.

One of the pins from the console port 1 plug broke.

You can see where this is going, right?

It was pin 9.

The common for the directional controls.

My 5200 only had the one good plug.

So- everything works...except for the directional controls.

Again.

A couple of hours ago, I sent away for parts from Best Electronics.

That'll do it.


By the way- does anyone here know a good place to order a couple of Normally Closed low-power relay switches? I'd like to finish my 9-Pin Controller-to-5200 Console module. And yes, it does allow use of 2600 paddle controllers, too.

Thanks.

[Steve W]

Sorry, I don't know anything about relay switches... but have you considered a converter to plug in an Atari Jaguar controller with an analog-to-digital conversion for the D-pad? I'd love for someone to make those and put them online for sale.

[Rickstilwell1]

oh yeah an Atari Jaguar controller would be a better match because of the numberpad

[Aswald]

Actually, this module has its own keypad.

The problem with the "passive" design is that, on a typical 9-Pin controller, the direction and fire buttons have the same common.

The 5200 doesn't work that way; the fire buttons have their own common.

The one I'm working on needs a battery in order to operate the relays- at no time do the 5200 and module circuits directly connect. Therefore, the common wire problem does not apply here, plus, it works with CV controllers as well.

For paddle controllers, a switch must be thrown. This is strictly passive, and the paddle fire circuit (left or right joystick switches) is connected to the 5200 fire circuit, too. However, I am not bothering with separate circuits there- both paddle buttons activate the lower fire button. As a result, this is mostly for Super Breakout (and 5200 Warlords?).


But unless I can get a NC relay switch, or a one that does the same thing (e.g. DTDP) this is going nowhere.

[Greg2600]

You'll get a lot more answers by asking around on Atari Age, it's where the Pro's hang out!