Task: Watch My YouTube Video on the Diagnosis, Repair, and Modification of Vintage Computers Needed: Web browser Time: 45 minutes Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Introduction I prepared a presentation on the diagnosis, repair, and
Read moreWatch the Ataventure Demo by DMA for the Atari 2600 (5-10 mins)
Task: Watch the Ataventure Demo by DMA for the Atari 2600 Needed: Ataventure binary, Atari 2600 with SD-card device or Stella emulator Time: 5-10 minutes Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Introduction The Atari 2600 VCS
Read morePurchase a Modern Atari 7800+ Video Game Console (15-30 mins)
Task: Purchase a Modern Atari 7800+ Video Game Console Needed: Atari 7800+ Video Game Console Time: 15-30 mins Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Introduction I have previously posted about the capable Atari 7800 game console
Read moreUse a Multichannel Oscilloscope to Test Multiple Pins of an Integrated Circuit Simultaneously (15-30 mins)
Task: Use a Multichannel Oscilloscope to Test Multiple Pins of an Integrated Circuit Simultaneously Needed: Multichannel Oscilloscope with Multiple Probes Time: 15-30 mins Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Introduction I have previously posted about using
Read moreLabel the 6502 CPU, ANTIC, GTIA, POKEY, and PIA Chips for Easier Troubleshooting Using a Multimeter or Oscilloscope (10-15 mins)
Task: Label the 6502 CPU, ANTIC, GTIA, POKEY, and PIA Chips for Easier Troubleshooting Using a Multimeter or Oscilloscope Needed: Printed Pinouts and Double-Sided Tape Time: 10-15 mins Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Introduction I
Read moreReplace the Track 0 Sensor on an Indus GT Floppy Disk Drive for the Atari 8-Bit Computers (30-60 mins)
Task: Replace the Track 0 Sensor on an Indus GT Floppy Disk Drive for the Atari 8-Bit Computers Needed: Web browser, Indus GT, Track 0 Sensor, Soldering Iron Time: 30-60 minutes Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying
Read moreTest Integrated Circuits Using a TL866 Universal Programmer (10-15 mins)
Task: Test Integrated Circuits Using a TL866 Universal Programmer Needed: Web browser, TL866 Universal Programmer, Compatible IC to Test Time: 10-15 minutes Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Introduction Troubleshooting a failed retrocomputer can often come
Read morePurchase a SpectraVideo CompuMate to Extend the Functionality of Your Atari 2600 Game Console (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase a SpectraVideo CompuMate to Extend the Functionality of Your Atari 2600 Game Console Needed: CompuMate SpectraVideo, Atari 2600 Time: 10-15 mins Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Introduction The Atari 2600 was a pioneer
Read morePurchase the Sys-Check Device for Diagnostic Testing of the RAM and ROM of Atari XL/XE 8-Bit Computers (5-10 mins)
Task: Purchase the Sys-Check Device for Diagnostic Testing of the RAM and ROM of Atari XL/XE 8-Bit Computers Needed: Sys-Check, Atari 8-Bit Computer with PBI Slot Time: 5-10 mins Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Introduction
Read moreFix an Atari 8-Bit Computer Keyboard by Replacing the Mylar Membrane (15-30 mins)
Task: Fix an Atari 8-Bit Computer Keyboard by Replacing the Mylar Membrane Needed: Screwdriver, mylar membrane Time: 15-30 mins Introduction There were a variety of keyboard styles and technologies that were used in the entire Atari 8-bit line of computers. Some are mechanical and some
Read moreConnect the Chroma Signal to the 5-Din Video Jack of an Atari 800XL for S-Video Output (30-60 mins)
Task: Connect the Chroma Signal to the 5-Din Video Jack of an Atari 800XL for S-Video Output Needed: Soldering Iron, Solder, Atari 800XL, Cutters, Wire Time: 30-60 mins Introduction It remains a mystery to me why Atari did not connect both the chroma and luma
Read morePurchase a Smoke Absorber for Cleaning the Air While Soldering on Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Boards (5-10 mins)
Task: Purchase a Smoke Absorber for Cleaning the Air While Soldering on Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Boards Needed: Web browser Time: 5-10 minutes Introduction As you can tell from my recent posts, I am doing much more soldering and desoldering to mod and repair precious
Read morePurchase an ESD Soldering Mat to Prevent Electrostatic Discharge While Repairing Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Boards (5-10 mins)
Task: Purchase an ESD Soldering Mat to Prevent Electrostatic Discharge While Repairing Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Boards Needed: Web browser Time: 5-10 minutes Introduction When I started doing repairs and mods on Atari 8-bit computers I purchased a silicon soldering mat (see first photo below)
Read morePurchase a FujiNet Pro for Booting Software for Your Atari 8-Bit Computer from an SD Card and the Internet (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase a FujiNet Pro for Booting Software from an SD Card and the Internet Needed: FujiNet Pro, Atari 8-bit computer Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction I have previously posted about the open-source FujiNet peripheral device that plugs into the SIO port of an Atari 8-bit
Read moreTroubleshoot the 6502 Processor on Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Board Using an Oscilloscope (15-30 mins)
Task: Troubleshoot the 6502 Processor on Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Board Using an Oscilloscope Needed: Atari 8-bit computer, oscilloscope Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction Nothing is more frustrating than a beloved Atari 8-bit computer that isn’t booting properly into Memo Pad on the 400/800 or
Read moreReplace Faulty RAM on Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Board (30-60 mins)
Task: Replace Faulty RAM on Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Board Needed: New DRAM and perhaps sockets, desoldering iron, hot air rework station, soldering iron and solder Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction I recently received two nonworking Atari 800XLs that would boot straight to the RAM
Read moreReplace Faulty Capacitors on Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Board (30-60 mins)
Task: Replace Faulty Capacitors on Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Board Needed: New capacitors, desoldering iron, hot air rework station, soldering iron and solder Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction Electrolytic capacitors are notoriously unreliable on retrocomputers. The capacitors used in 1970s and early 1980s on the
Read morePurchase Sockets to Make it Easy to Seat Chips on Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Boards (5-10 mins)
Task: Purchase Sockets to Make it Easy to Seat Chips on Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Boards Needed: Web Browser Time: 5-10 minutes Introduction I have been posting about tools and technology that can be used to assist with the repair of non-working Atari 8-bit computers.
Read morePurchase Contact Cleaner for Reseating Chips and Cleaning Contacts on Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Boards (5-10 mins)
Task: Purchase Contact Cleaner for Reseating Chips and Cleaning Contacts on Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Boards Needed: Contact Cleaner Time: 5-10 minutes Introduction I have been posting about tools and technology that can be used to assist with the repair of non-working Atari 8-bit computers.
Read morePurchase a Hot Air Rework Station for Removing Bad Chips from Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Boards (30-60 mins)
Task: Purchase a Hot Air Rework Station for Removing Bad Chips from Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Boards Needed: Desoldering Iron, Circuit Board, Hot Air Rework Station Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction I previously posted about purchasing and using a desoldering iron to remove bad chips from
Read morePurchase a Desoldering Iron for Removing Bad Chips from Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Boards (30-60 mins)
Task: Purchase a Desoldering Iron for Removing Bad Chips from Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Boards Needed: Desoldering Iron, Circuit Board, Hot Air Rework Station Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction Repairing Atari 8-Bit Computers inevitably requires removing and replacing bad chips. Some 800XLs, such as those made
Read morePurchase an Oscilloscope for Troubleshooting Problematic Atari 8-Bit Computers (30-60 mins)
Task: Purchase an Oscilloscope for Troubleshooting Problematic Atari 8-Bit Computers Needed: An oscilloscope Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction As I reviewed in my previous post about multimeters, I have been learning how to troubleshoot and repair Atari 8-bit computers. Central to this effort is an oscilloscope
Read morePurchase a Multimeter for Troubleshooting Problematic Atari 8-Bit Computers (15-30 mins)
Task: Purchase a Multimeter for Troubleshooting Problematic Atari 8-Bit Computers Needed: A multimeter Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction The Atari 8-bit line of computers were well-made and remarkably resilient even after more than 40 years. I have had several dozen 8-bits pass through my hands over
Read moreRead the Atari 800 Salesperson’s Guide (15-30 mins)
Task: Read the Atari 800 Salesperson’s Guide Needed: Atari 800 Salesperson’s Guide Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction I wasn’t old enough to have a job selling Atari 8-bit computers in the late 1970s or early 1980s. Part of me wishes I could have had that experience.
Read more