[The Amiga Mini?]

How's the controller, and when will it be available as a normal Amiga/CD32 controller? That's literally all I care about since the mouse isn't full-sized and thus probably won't get a native Amiga version.

[Replacement mouse cords?]

I can't seem to find a good source for new molded DB-9 mouse-type cords. The whole cable/cord has to have 9 conductors but be thinner/more flexible than the kind typically found in game controllers, so just cutting up extension cables is right out. And the connector has to be molded or it won't fit in every Amiga (see: the 600).

 

I've had some success using the cords from really really cheap third-party Genesis pads, the kind that are so cheap they don't bother populating the Mode button. For some strange (probably cost) reason they're really thin. The problem with those though is that the cord is usually too short.

 

Best Electronics has spare cords for the STM1, but I'd rather not deprive Atari ST owners of them, plus they probably don't have the third button line wired up.

 

There has to be a source for these somewhere, they'd be useful for other systems (i.e. pretty much any system that uses non-serial DB-9 mice). Anyone know?

[Announcing the Super Game Controller for the ColecoVision]

Some thoughts: Why not get a D-pad and colored buttons from the same source Handheld Legend gets them from? Would save you the cost of molding your own, and you'd be able to match the Super Game Controller button colors. Making the keypad fully rubberized might shave a few pennies too.

 

Any size comparisons with the original Coleco controllers? Would be nice if they could fit into the controller wells of an original console.

[Controller Potentiometers: Any Replacement?]

There's some CO18118 POTs on eBay currently.

[Change DIN to support stereo]

On 2/8/2022 at 3:21 AM, Mclaneinc said:

Never good to have 2 dins of the same number of pins on a machine, only needs that power connector in the wrong socket just once..

 

I'd follow what Jon does, call it abnormal or unique, but you won't plug the wrong cable in that socket!

 

I suppose it comes down to if you want the machine to be brought back to 'factory' condition if needed, if yes, I'd just run a paid of phono's out of a already made hole in the case. If no, the get your mad modders hat on and dremel away

This is why whenever I swap the video connector for a DIN-8, I change the power connector to DIN-5c. More work, but better to be safe than sorry.

[Laser Mouse Upgrade]

Nah. Dot switches just suck and upgrading from them is every bit as useful as switching out the ball & roller mechanism for an optical sensor. Modern mice with adaptors will feel good but not match the original hardware's case - sleeper upgrades have an appeal.

 

The mouse that shipped with the Amiga 4000 can actually be upgraded from dot switches to microswitches, as it has solder holes for both - and the change is night and day. Sadly the replacement PCB for the A4000 mouse on that site doesn't retain this feature, otherwise I would have bought it long ago.

[Laser Mouse Upgrade]

Retaining the original style of mouse button switches on these is a ridiculous choice. Those dot switches are clunky, painful to use and prone to wearing out. Competently designed mice moved to microswitches for a good reason. I know that the plastic spacers for the mouse buttons stick down too far, but it's trivial to file them down, and worth it.

[Concerto firmware thread]

Is there a UGC cover available for Concerto that I could print out?

[5200 case]

Not really, the prices on units in any condition are skyrocketing.

 

The big failure point on the controller compartment cover is the hinge, just replacing that part of it would be better than nothing. FWIW nobody, not even Best Electronics, has mentioned the part number for the controller compartment cover, which is CO18135A.

 

I don't have part numbers for the 2 or 4-port front cover, which cannot be removed non-destructively as it appears to be melt-tabbed/superglued to the front of the main upper case! How are so many of these things just falling off?

 

I'll ask the Best guy in my next order, but as of 2019 it appears he hasn't been able to track either part down. He's much more focused on controller parts, which is understandable.

[Change DIN to support stereo]

This is how I've done it on every A8 I've worked on:

 

https://gamesx.com/wiki/doku.php?id=alternate_power_a_v_connector

 

It's not that hard to trim down the extra 3 pins on the DIN-8, solder wires to them, and insulate them from the board. Most RGB upgrades for Turbografx systems that already have A/V out work the same way.

[1200XL Questions: Antonia, SIDE2, UAV, PAL ANTIC]

I really regret not buying those 1200XL PAL conversion boards when I had the chance. Is there even a schematic available anymore?

[C128 key plungers]

Many Amiga keyboards use the same plungers as the C128, so if you can find plungers out of one of them there's a decent chance it could work.

[Why C128 did stay longer than 1989?]

Commodore dropping the C128 before dropping the C64 weirdly mirrors Apple dropping the IIGS a year before it stopped selling the IIe. They were just selling to schools too well, so well that they wound up selling a card for LC Macs that would run Apple II software as a replacement.