Task: Benchmark Your Atari 8-Bit Computers Using BASIC Needed: Atari BASIC, the benchmark ATR file, one or more 8-bit computers, SIO2PC or FujiNet Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction During the early 1980s, as home computers exploded on the scene, programmers naturally wanted to know which systems
Read morePurchase and Use an ATR8000 for Booting the CP/M Operating System Using Your Atari 8-Bit Computer (1-2 hours)
Task: Purchase and Use an ATR8000 for Booting the CP/M Operating System Needed: ATR8000, Standard Shugart Floppy Drive and CP/M Disks or a Floppy Emulator, 34-Pin Connector Time: 1-2 Hours Introduction There are several options for booting the CP/M operating system on your Atari 8-bit
Read moreRepair an Atari 800XL That Does Not Boot Cartridges by Replacing the GTIA Chip (1 hour)
Task: Repair an Atari 800XL That Does Not Boot Cartridges by Replacing the GTIA Chip Needed: Working GTIA Chip, Atari 800XL, Screwdriver, Chip Lifter Time: About 1 Hour or Less Introduction I acquired a non-working Atari 800XL in 2025 that would boot to a black
Read moreConnect Your Atari 8-Bit Computer to a Live Bulletin Board System or BBS (30-60 mins)
Task: Connect your Atari 8-Bit Computer to a Live Bulletin Board System or BBS Needed: Atari 8-bit computer or modern device, modem / FujiNet / Telnet / Altirra / web browser, internet connection, and terminal software Time: 30-60 minutes Guest Author: Rob Sherman from the
Read moreBuild a Retro Atari Stream Deck for Launching Games on Your PC (2-4 hours)
Task: Build a Retro Atari Stream Deck for Launching Games on Your PC Needed: Pro Micro microcontroller with Atmega32U4 chip, wires, Kailh mechanical switches, micro-USB cable, soldering iron and solder, 3D printer and filament for case, Arduino IDE software for programming Time: 2-4 hours Disclosure:
Read morePurchase a Retro Base LED for Adding Some Colorful Bling to Your Atari 800XL and 130XE 8-Bit Computers (5-10 mins)
Task: Purchase a Retro Base LED for Adding Some Colorful Bling to Your Atari 800XL and 130XE 8-Bit Computers Needed: Web Browser for Purchase and LED Light Strip Time: 5-10 minutes Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying
Read moreBuild an A8PicoCart for Booting Software on an Atari 8-Bit Computer from a Raspberry Pi Pico Clone (30-60 mins)
Task: Build an A8PicoCart for Booting Software on an Atari 8-Bit Computer from a Raspberry Pi Pico Clone Needed: A8PicoCart circuit board, Raspberry Pi Pico Clone, 3D-printed case, soldering iron Time: 30-60 minutes Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn
Read morePurchase a 3D Printer for Designing and Printing Parts for Atari 8-Bit Computers and Game Consoles (30-60 mins)
Task: Purchase a 3D Printer for Designing and Printing Parts for Atari 8-Bit Computers and Game Consoles Needed: 3D Printer Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. The number of uses for 3D
Read moreDiagnose and Repair a Faulty Non-Maskable Interrupt (NMI) Signal on an Atari 8-Bit Computer (1-2 hrs)
Task: Diagnose and Repair a Faulty Non-Maskable Interrupt (NMI) Signal on an Atari 8-Bit Computer Needed: Oscilloscope, Multimeter, Soldering Iron, Desoldering Iron, Hot Air Rework Station Time: 1-2 hours Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Introduction
Read moreDiagnose and Repair the Crystal Clock Oscillator Circuit in an Atari 8-Bit Computer (1-2 hrs)
Task: Diagnose and Repair the Clock Oscillator Circuit in an Atari 8-Bit Computer Needed: oscilloscope, clock circuit components, soldering iron, desoldering iron, hot air rework station Time: 1-2 hours Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Introduction
Read moreAdd HDMI Video Output to Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Using the LumaCode GTIA-dizer and RGBtoHDMI Devices (15-30 mins)
Task: Add HDMI Video Output to Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Using the LumaCode GTIA-dizer and RGBtoHDMI Devices Needed: Atari 8-bit computer with GTIA chip in a socket, GTIA-dizer board, RGBtoHDMI board, Raspberry Pi Zero, microSD card Time: 15-30 minutes Disclosure: Note that as an eBay
Read moreWatch My YouTube Video on the Diagnosis, Repair, and Modification of Vintage Computers (45 mins)
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 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
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