Task: Upgrade an Atari 400 to Composite Video with the Super Color CPU Card Needed: Super Color CPU Card and cables, soldering iron, Dremel or drill Time: 1-2 hours Introduction The Atari 400 was my first computer. It is an aesthetically pleasing computer but limited
Read morePurchase a 3D Printed Case for your SIO2PC (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase a 3D Printed Case for your SIO2PC Needed: Web browser Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction I have previously posted about the SIO2PC which is a very handy device for connecting your Atari or floppy drive to your PC for writing and reading files. This
Read morePurchase and Assemble a SpartaDOS X Cartridge (15-30 mins)
Task: Purchase and Assemble a SpartaDOS X Cartridge Needed: SpartaDOS X cartridge circuit board, battery, and cartridge shell Time: 15-30 mins Introduction I have previously posted about SpartaDOS and its modern successor SpartaDOS X (SDX). This is an incredibly powerful and flexible DOS for interacting
Read morePurchase an Evercade Retro Handheld Console (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase an Evercade Retro Handheld Console Needed: Web browser Time: 10-15 mins Introduction Playing Atari games on modern handheld devices has a lot of appeal. I have been particularly excited about the cartridge-based Evercade handheld device which was released in 2020. I got one
Read moreRun the CP/M Operating System on Your Atari 8-Bit Computer using FujiNet and RunCPM (15-30 minutes)
Task: Run the CP/M Operating System on Your Atari 8-Bit Computer using FujiNet and RunCPM Needed: Web browser, FujiNet, DT-80 cartridge Time: 15-30 mins Introduction CP/M was one of the early operating systems available for computers with 8080 and Z-80 processors. It was developed by
Read moreFlash the Firmware of a FujiNet for the Atari 8-Bit Computers (5-10 mins)
Task: Flash the Firmware of a FujiNet for the Atari 8-Bit Computers Needed: Web browser, FujiNet, microUSB cable Time: 5-10 mins Introduction I have previously posted about the revolutionary FujiNet SIO peripheral emulator and network device for Atari 8-bit computers. This is still a work
Read moreUpgrade an Atari 600XL to 64K of RAM (1-2 hours)
Task: Upgrade an Atari 600XL to 64K of RAM Needed: 64K RAM board from Lotharek, soldering iron, wire Time: 1-2 hours Introduction Many Atari 8-bit computer fans love the 600XL given its small footprint. It is perfect if you don’t have a lot of desk
Read morePurchase and Install an Ultimate Atari Video (UAV) Board for Better Composite Video from an 800XL (1-3 hours)
Task: Purchase and Install an Ultimate Atari Video (UAV) Board for Better Composite Video from Your 800XL Needed: Web browser, soldering iron, UAV board Time: 1-3 hours Introduction As I have previously reviewed, all of the Atari 8-bit computers have a monitor port that outputs
Read morePurchase and Install an Ultimate 1MB Board for Your Atari 800XL (1-3 hours)
Task: Purchase and Install an Ultimate 1MB Board for Your Atari 800XL Needed: Web browser, soldering iron, drill, U1MB board Time: 1-3 hours Introduction Modifications or mods are a great way to expand what your Atari 8-bit computer can do. The Ultimate 1MB (U1MB) mod
Read morePurchase a Hyperkin Ranger Gamepad for your Atari 8-Bit Computer or Console (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase a Hyperkin Ranger Gamepad for your Atari 8-Bit Computer or Console Needed: Web browser Time: 10-15 mins Introduction Finding a solid controller for your 8-bit computers and consoles can be a problem. This is especially true since the original controllers can break or
Read moreConnect an Atari 2600 to a TV via an RF to Coaxial Cable Adaptor (10-15 mins)
Task: Connect an Atari 2600 to an TV via an RF to Coaxial Cable Adaptor Needed: Web browser, RF to Coaxial Cable Adaptor Time: 10-15 mins Introduction The Atari 2600 outputs a Radio Frequency (RF) modulated TV signal which can be quite difficult to convert
Read morePurchase a SIDE3 Cartridge for Atari 8-Bit Computers (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase a SIDE3 Cartridge for Atari 8-Bit Computers Needed: Web browser, Atari 8-bit computer Time: 10-15 mins Introduction The ability to load files on an SD card and boot them on original Atari 8-bit computer hardware is very desirable and I have covered several
Read morePurchase a FujiNet (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase a FujiNet Needed: Web browser Time: 10-15 mins Introduction One of the most exciting aspects of Atari 8-bit computers is the emergence of new devices which expand our fun and simplify our experience. Flash-based cartridges and SIO devices were revolutionary in that way
Read morePurchase a RetroTINK for Conversion to Digital Video (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase a RetroTINK for Conversion to Digital Video Needed: Web browser, RetroTINK Time: 10-15 mins Introduction I have previously posted about the challenges of converting the composite signal from the Atari 8-bit computers to HDMI for display on an LED monitor or TV. I
Read moreFun with the Atari Light Pen (15-30 mins)
Task: Fun with the Atari Light Pen Needed: Web browser, Atari Light Pen, CRT monitor or TV Time: 15-30 mins Introduction One of my favorite things to do with my Atari was making art. I had an Atari Touch Tablet and several other graphics programs
Read moreWatch Jay Miner Give a Talk from 1989 (30 mins)
Task: Watch Jay Miner Give a Talk from 1989 Needed: Web browser Time: 30 mins Introduction Mr. Jay Miner led the design and development of the graphics chips used in the Atari 2600 and the 8-bit computers. This included the Television Interface Adaptor (TIA) used
Read moreExplore Atari Computer Sales Brochures and Catalogs (10-15 mins)
Task: Explore Atari Computer Sales Brochures and Catalogs Needed: Web browser Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction One of my favorite things to is to explore sales brochures and catalogs for the Atari 8-bit line of computers. Fortunately, my packrat father saved a number of these so
Read moreMake an Atari 8-bit Computer Cartridge (1-2 hours)
Task: Make an Atari 8-bit Computer Cartridge Needed: Cartridge parts, EPROM programmer, soldering station or iron Time: 1-2 hours Introduction As I have mentioned in previous posts, I had tons of fun making my own Atari 2600 game called Gene Medic. I sent the binary
Read morePurchase a Soldering Station for Atari Electronics and Hardware Projects (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase a Soldering Station for Atari Electronics and Hardware Projects Needed: Web browser Time: 10-15 mins Introduction I took a year of electronics in high school and did a lot of soldering. In fact, I used to fix tube televisions people from the community
Read moreBurn an Atari Binary File on an EPROM Chip (30-60 mins)
Task: Burn an Atari Binary File on an EPROM Chip Needed: EPROM burner, EPROM Time: 30-60 mins Introduction Read Only Memory (ROM) integrated circuits (IC) or chips were routinely used in the Atari 8-bit computers and video game consoles. For example, the Atari 800XL included
Read moreTips for Troubleshooting a Defective Atari 8-bit Computer (15-30 mins)
Task: Tips for Troubleshooting a Defective Atari 8-bit Computer Needed: web browser Time: 15-30 mins Introduction I have always been impressed with how reliable Atari 8-bit computers are. I have more than a dozen and they all work. What do you do if you get
Read moreInteract with Atari’s 6502 Processor in BASIC XL (10-15 mins)
Task: Interact with Atari’s 6502 Processor in BASIC XL Needed: A BASIC XL cartridge or Altirra emulator Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction The 6502 processor developed by Chuck Peddle and his team at MOS Technology was the first inexpensive CPU available in the 1970s. This CPU
Read moreAssemble a Minimal Atari 8-Bit Computer (30-60 mins)
Task: Assemble a Minimal Atari 8-Bit Computer Needed: Components listed below and about $200 to $225 for purchasing Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction I have a colleague at work who I have been helping set up his first ever Atari computer rig. I have been thinking
Read morePurchase a Retron77 Gaming Console for Emulating the 2600 (15-30 mins)
Task: Purchase a Retron77 Gaming Console for Emulating the 2600 Needed: Web browser Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction One of the most frustrating aspects of retrocomputing and retrogaming is getting old hardware to play nice with HDTVs over HDMI. This is especially true for the Atari
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