dphirschler

I would love a black/silver console. Been looking for a good one. Darryl

So did one of us get the Myarc 512K card? It went for ~ $50! I was tempted to bid on it only because I have an unused label. It needed a case though. Darryl

Cool! Glad the volcano worked out! Can't wait to play the finished game. Darryl

I've completed the surgery, but I haven't tested it yet. But it did fit back together this time. :-) Darryl

I don't like the different solid color on the left side (behind the TI logo), no matter the color. Looks weird to me. Darryl

This is the one I got, but I've only tested it with the Atari joystick, paddle, and racing controller. So far, I love it! http://home.comcast.net/~tjhafner/2600-daptor.htm Update, I don't think it supports TI controllers (yet), so I emailed the guy. We'll see what happens. I really like the finished look of his "Daptor". Darryl

There's nothing quite like a brand new PEB, especially with the newer style switch. They just look so nice. I'd go for the blue LED mod. Darryl

FWIW, I have seen three variations outside of the beige Mitsumi keyboard and the two documented on Mainbyte (Alps and Hi-Tech). I have photographed them and here they are: Unknown (black). This one has had the Alpha-lock mod done to it by OLD_CS1: Futaba (black): General Instruments (beige): Darryl

Is there a documentation file for the ÜberGROM board? Darryl

For those having trouble downloading the large file, try jdownloader. Darryl

Thanks! Can't wait. I want to close up the patient.

gregallenwarner posted this link in my beige console LED mod thread: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11372 Darryl

Feel free to use any of my writings here. Darryl

I love both the F18A and the nanoPEB. They are both super useful. But I have issues with both of them. F18A needs a TI install kit. In fact, I have it all planned out on paper. It would include a paper template for cutting the console case, a precut backplate with vga and audio output, and installation instructions. NanoPEB is great, but needs refinement. The PC software could be better and could use a GUI. The size of the circuit board us too tall. And it needs a case. It's very difficult to remove the nanoPEB. It fits in so tight that it feels like I am damagibg it when I try to putt it out if the socket. But still... Those are great mode for the TI. I also like the 512K multicart board and the XB 2.7 Suite cart... But those don't really fit into the same category as a "mod". Darryl

Concerning the RF Modulator mod... I just discovered the connector easily come apart if you slide the rubber cover off. I desoldered the original connections and soldered in an A/V cable (Red and White=audio, Yellow=video). It looks profesh after I put it all together! Darryl

Joysticks that don't work right I had a joystick that would not go up. And it was not the Alpha-lock key. I described my problem here in this thread (http://atariage.com/forums/topic/230818-joystick-horror-story-with-a-happy-ending/). The solution is to clean the contacts on the flexible circuit board inside the joystick. I used 90% isoprohyl alcohol. Take care not to "clean" the silver pads painted inside the TI joystick. If you do, it will just rub away like a scratch-off lottery ticket. But even that can be saved by either painting it again with conductive paint, or applying a small square of conductive tape. Darryl

Bad (currupt/garbled) video When I first dug my TI's out of the basement and blew the dust off them, I powered up my beautiful beige console and the screen looked garbled, like this. I asked the folks here and they quickly identified bad VDP RAM as the culprit (http://atariage.com/forums/topic/228756-diagnose-this-sick-ti/?p=3053085). 1) Modify my console by installing an F18A board. The F18A is a snap-in replacement to the 9918A video processor which gives VGA output from the TI. This board uses its own VDP RAM (baypassing the bad VDP RAM on the motherboard). The TMS 9918A chip is socketed, so it literally is a snap-in mod. The more difficult part of the mod is cutting a hole in your console casing to make a spot for the VGA connector. There are some photos of other people's case mods for the VGA connector here http://atariage.com/forums/topic/228626-who-has-vga-out-on-their-console/. 2) Identify and replace the defective VDP RAM chip(s). It seems the easiest way to identify the bad one is to stack a good one on top of the supposed bad one, making sure all pins make good contact, and look for the video to improve. The technique was mentioned in the first thread above (diagnose-this-sick-ti). There was one other thread which described how to possibly identify a bad VDP chip out of circuit (http://atariage.com/forums/topic/229064-testing-4116-ram-chips-out-of-circuit/). I went with solution 1, and am happy about it. The TI never looked better than on this VGA screen. Darryl

Here's a keyboard overlay strip I don't remember seeing. Sorry for the poor quality. Not sure what software it goes to. Any clues? Darryl

Yes! Thanks! Darryl

No sound from the console One day my otherwise good console stopped producing sound. Two possible solutions were presented to me here on this forum (http://atariage.com/forums/topic/231542-no-sound-from-ti-console/). 1) Replace the sound chip, which might have gone bad. This solution fixed my issue. I just happened to have another TI motherboard which was bad. It powered on with an angry sound and glitchy video. The angry sound was enough to tell me that at least the sound chip worked. I swapped it out and my silent TI was again producing sound. It was an easy fix as the sound chip is in a socket. What I should have done before swapping the sound chip was to test speech. I am not certain, but I believe speech would have worked even with a bad sound chip. Am I correct? It would be an additional useful diagnostic step. PM me if you know the answer and I will correct this post. 2) Re-solder the back A/V connector which might have come loose through years of plugging/unplugging. One user reported that this was the problem and simply re-soldering the connection fixed it. The sound chip is highlighted in blue in the following picture. The audio/video is shown in the upper left corner. Darryl

The problem is (and I should have probably noticed before I soldered it in) that there isn't enough vertical clearance for the socket. grr! OLD_CS1, does yours fit in the closed shell? I'd just like to know for sure before I order one from Mouser. Darryl

Oh, that's good to know. Darryl

Well, what do you know? I replaced the sound chip and now I have sound! Simple fix. Good thing I had a trashed motherboard (with at least a good sound chip). Thanks everyone. Darryl

Well, the coin battery socket (from a CMOS battery in a PC) is too small. It's 20mm. The one in the Mini Memory cart is easily 24mm or more. So I don't think this is an equivalent replacement. Darryl

The three A?27C040 EPROM chips I gave to my friend programmed on his burner just fine. Not sure where that leaves me, but at least I can burn them at his house.