Atari 5200 controllers

[JAK327]

Is it better to have best electronics rebuild 5200 controllers or look for the wilco version with keypad?

[Shingetter]

Either is better than an original stock controller. I'd probably go with which ever is cheaper and/or more available.
I have a set of Wilco's without a keypad that I'm pretty pleased with. I can't recall if they use a special adapter or not.

[Sanriostar]

Well, *Wico* 5200 sticks have a special and separate Y-adapter that plugs a normal 5200 stick (or I use a Trac-Ball) into the other end so you can use its keypad. If you get a Wico keypad for you stick, it has a port on it to plug in the stick.

In short if you get a 5200 Wico stick, make damned sure you get the Y-Adapter with it. And sticks are hard enough to find. Keypads could be the main prize in a Last-man-standing nerd Pitfight.

[Greg2600]

Or do what I did, get a stock controller, replace the flex circuit with the regular Atari rev. 9 if it has an older one, and glue aluminum foil to the bottom of each button.

[Sanriostar]

Greg speaks the truth: Replace the flex circuit if/when you can. If you can't, clean the one you've got with a pencil eraser or contact cleaner.

[QuickSciFi]

If you're handy with a soddering iron, you can follow in Thomas3120's footsteps:

MOD: PlayStation Dual Analog pad that will allow you to play Robotron and Space Dungeon (Not to mention other 5200 games):

Part 1 of 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8RZWtDAa9w

Part 2 of 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vayg2auUWxo

[Greg2600]

Greg speaks the truth: Replace the flex circuit if/when you can. If you can't, clean the one you've got with a pencil eraser or contact cleaner.
It's the best you can do with a 5200 controller. Best's options are a bit expensive, and while they do work, the advantage of all their gold painted/lined stuff is that it lasts forever. It's a bit higher success rate too in improving the button response. Rewiring a modern analog controller is of course good, too. There's a guy on Atari Age, and maybe here, too, with name bohoki who I believe makes a cable to connect a PC analog joystick to the 5200. Keep in mind that certain games, even after all that, simply don't have good control in its programming.