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- From: Michael Current <hunmanik@earthlink.net>
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- Subject: Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions
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- Last-modified: March 31, 2004
-
- Welcome to the comp.sys.atari.8bit newsgroup!
-
-
- Atari 8-Bit Computers
-
- Frequently Asked Questions List
- ___________ _______________
- | ///////// | _____________ | ||||||||||| |
- |___________| | | | ||_______|| |
- |______/////| |____[---]____| | / _________ \ |
- |LLLLLLLLLLL| |LLLLLLLLLLL || | LLLLLLLLLLL L |
- |LLLLLLLLLLL| |LLLLLLLLLLL || | LLLLLLLLLLL L |
- |__[_____]__| |__[_____]____| |___[_____]_____|
- 130XE 800XL 800
- ___________ __---------__
- | ///////// | | / _____ \ |
- |___________| _____________ | / |_____| \ |
- |______/////| |____[---]____| | ___________ |
- |LLLLLLLLLLL| |LLLLLLLLLLL || | ========== =|
- |LLLLLLLLLLL| |LLLLLLLLLLL || | ========== =|
- |__[_____]__| |__[_____]____| |___[_____]___|
- 65XE 600XL 400
- ___________ _____________
- | ///////// | ___________ | |
- |___________| |/// / | | |
- |______/////| |// / | /\___________ |=============|
- |LLLLLLLLLLL| |/O\ |\/ |LLLLLLLLLLL| | LLLLLLLLLLL |
- |LLLLLLLLLLL| |-----------| |LLLLLLLLLLL| | LLLLLLLLLLL |
- |__[_____]__| |____O_O_O_O| |__[_____]__| |___[_____]___|
-
- 800XE XE Game System 1200XL
-
- Additions/suggestions/comments/corrections are needed! Please send to:
-
- mailto:hunmanik@earthlink.net
-
- Copyright (c) 1992-2004 by Michael D. Current, and others where noted. Feel
- free to reproduce this file, in whole or in part, so long as the content of
- that portion reproduced is not modified, and so long as credit is given to
- this FAQ list or its Maintainer, or the author of that section reproduced
- when given.
-
- This FAQ list is in a constant state of development and comes with no
- guarantees. If you see any problems, I need to hear from you!
-
- Please refer to the latest version of this FAQ list whenever possible!
- Available via these locations and Usenet FAQ archives everywhere:
-
- http://www.faqs.org/faqs/atari-8-bit/faq/
-
- ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/faqs/atari-8-bit/faq
-
- news:comp.sys.atari.8bit news:comp.answers news:news.answers
-
- Or you can always ask me for a copy at mailto:hunmanik@earthlink.net
-
- **********************************************************************
- * For other 8-bit Atari related FAQs please see the "Welcome FAQ": *
- * *
- * http://www.faqs.org/faqs/atari-8-bit/welcome/ *
- * *
- * which is posted to news:comp.sys.atari.8bit every 7 days. *
- **********************************************************************
-
- UPDATES SINCE PREVIOUS POSTING
- 2004.03.31 8.1 updated to Revision 1.9 (2004-3-30), thanks Freddy Offenga
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 0.1) Table of contents
-
- 0.1) Table of contents
-
- The Computers
- 1.1) What is an Atari 8-bit computer?
- 1.2) What is the Atari 400?
- 1.3) What is the Atari 800?
- 1.4) What is the Atari 1200XL?
- 1.5) What is the Atari 600XL?
- 1.6) What is the Atari 800XL?
- 1.7) What is the Atari 65XE?
- 1.8) What is the Atari 130XE?
- 1.9) What is the Atari 800XE?
- 1.10) What is the Atari XE Game System?
- 1.11) What are the 6502, ANTIC, CTIA/GTIA, POKEY, and FREDDIE chips?
- 1.12) What is the internal layout of the 8-bit Atari?
- 1.13) What issues surround NTSC vs PAL versions of the 8-bit Atari?
- 1.14) What are the pinouts for the various ports on the Atari?
-
- Video Display
- 2.1) What video display devices can I use with my Atari?
-
- Mass Storage
- 3.1) What are the Atari 410, 1010, XC11, and XC12 Program Recorders?
- 3.2) What other cassette recorders can I use with my Atari?
- 3.3) How do I run a program from cassette?
- 3.4) What are the Atari 810, 815, 1050, and XF551 Disk Drives?
- 3.5) What other floppy disk drives can I use with my Atari?
- 3.6) What kinds of 5.25" floppy disks can I use with my Atari drives?
- 3.7) What can I do to extend the life of my floppy disks?
- 3.8) How can I use a hard drive with my 8-bit Atari?
-
- Printers
- 4.1) What are the Atari 820, 822, and 825 Printers?
- 4.2) What are the Atari 1020, 1025, 1027, and 1029 Printers?
- 4.3) What are the Atari XMM801 and XDM121 Printers?
- 4.4) What other printers can I use with my Atari?
-
- MODEMs
- 5.1) What are the Atari 830, 835, 1030, XM301, and SX212 Modems?
- 5.2) What other modems can I use with my Atari?
-
- More hardware
- 6.1) What is the Atari 850 Interface Module?
- 6.2) What is the Atari XEP80 Interface Module?
- 6.3) What accessories did Atari produce for their 8-bit computers?
- 6.4) What "vaporware" computers/peripherals were never released?
- 6.5) What are the power requirements for my Atari components?
- 6.6) What graphic tablets were produced for the Atari?
- 6.7) What lightpens were produced for the Atari?
- 6.8) What lightguns were produced for the Atari?
- 6.9) What paddles were produced for the Atari?
- 6.10) What voice/sound synthesis hardware was produced for the Atari?
- 6.11) What sound-digitizers/samplers were produced for the Atari?
- 6.12) What sound-enhancement upgrades were produced for the Atari?
- 6.13) What MIDI enhancements are there for the Atari?
- 6.14) What graphics enhancements are there for the Atari?
- 6.15) What types of memory upgrades are there for the Atari?
- 6.16) What networking hardware is there for the Atari?
- 6.17) Can I attach an ISA card to the Atari?
- 6.18) What preventative maintenance can I do on my Atari system?
-
- Core software: OS, BASIC, DOS, Modem handlers
- 7.1) What versions of the Atari Operating System (OS) are there?
- 7.2) What is the ATASCII character set?
- 7.3) What is Atari BASIC?
- 7.4) What are Atari DOS 1, DOS 2.0S, DOS 3, DOS 2.5, and DOS XE?
- 7.5) What are MyDOS, SpartaDOS, and other popular DOS versions?
- 7.6) How do I modify Atari DOS to support more than two drives?
- 7.7) Are there Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) for the Atari?
- 7.8) What should I know about modem device handlers?
-
- Software
- 8.1) What programming languages are available for the Atari?
- 8.2) What cartridges were released for the Right Slot of the 800?
- 8.3) What games support 4 or more simultaneous players?
- 8.4) What programs run only on the 400 and 800 models, and why?
- 8.5) What programs make use of the Light Gun or a light pen?
- 8.6) What programs have a track ball mode or support a mouse?
- 8.7) What programs have a paddle(s) or Koala Pad mode?
- 8.8) What programs have a CX85 Numerical Keypad mode?
- 8.9) What programs have a Touch tablet mode?
- 8.10) What kinds of RAMdisks can be set up on the Atari?
- 8.11) What programs support a RAMdisk?
- 8.12) What programs require a RAMdisk?
- 8.13) What voice/sound synthesis software is there for the Atari?
- 8.14) What programs support stereo and upgraded sound?
- 8.15) What games support online action via modem?
- 8.16) What programs support Atari computer networking?
-
- Working with Atari files: Compression, File formats, Copying
- 9.1) How can I work with .arc files on my 8-bit Atari?
- 9.2) What file formats for entire disks/tapes/cartridges are there?
- 9.3) How can I copy my copy-protected Atari software?
-
- Interoperating with "modern" computers
- 10.1) What programs can log in to other computers via modem?
- 10.2) What programs can I use to host a BBS on the Atari?
- 10.3) How can I read/write Atari disks on an MS-DOS PC?
- 10.4) How can I read/write MS-DOS PC disks on my Atari?
- 10.5) How do I transfer files using a null modem cable?
- 10.6) How can my Atari use my PC's HD using SIO2PC or Atari810?
- 10.7) How can my Atari use my PC's HD, printer and modem using APE?
- 10.8) How can I connect my 1050 drive to my PC with the APE ProSystem?
- 10.9) What about interoperating with the Apple Macintosh?
- 10.10) Are there 8-bit Atari tools for the Commodore Amiga?
-
- Timeline
- 11.1) How did Atari get its name?
- 11.2) What is the History of Atari?
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 1.1) What is an Atari 8-bit computer?
-
- Based in Silicon Valley in the U.S.A., the company known as Atari produced
- a line of home computers from 1979 to 1992 often referred to collectively as
- the "Atari 8-bits," the "8-bit Ataris," the "400/800/XL/XE series," etc.
-
- The computers included the 400, 800, 1200XL, 600XL, 800XL, 65XE, 130XE, 800XE,
- and the XE Game System.
-
- These machines competed in the marketplace most directly with the likes of the
- Commodore 64 series, the Apple II series, the Texas Instruments TI99/4A, and
- the Radio Shack Color Computer, among others. Of these, the 8-bit Atari is
- most similar to the Commodore 64.
-
- In marketing their computers to the public, Atari always had to contend with
- their company history and reputation as a maker of video games. While the
- 8-bit Atari computers in their heyday were technically quite comparable if not
- superior in the worlds of home and business personal computing, they also live
- up to the name "Atari" with a huge library of video games which were often
- outstanding for their time.
-
- The 8-bit Atari computers do not use the same cartridges or floppy disks as
- any other Atari platforms, such as the 2600 Video Computer System (VCS), the
- 5200 SuperSystem, the 7800 ProSystem, or the ST/TT/Falcon computers. All of
- these but the 5200, however, do share the same joystick/controller hardware
- port.
-
- The 5200 SuperSystem is actually nearly identical to the 8-bit computers
- internally, yet cartridges for the 5200 and the 8-bit computers cannot be
- exchanged, primarly due to the physically different cartridge ports.
-
- Here are some of the performance specifications of the 8-bit Atari computers:
-
- (Some of the rest of this section by Bill Kendrick)
-
- CPU: 6502 (MOS Technology)
-
- CPU CLOCK SPEED:
- NTSC machines: 1.7897725 MHz
- non-NTSC machines: 1.773447 MHz
-
- SCREEN REFRESH RATE:
- 59.94 times per second (Hz) on NTSC Ataris
- 49.86 Hz on PAL machines
-
- GRAPHICS MODES:
- ANTIC CIO/BASIC Display Resolution Number of
- Mode # Graphics # Type (full screen) Colors
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
- 2 0 Char 40 x 24 1 *
- 3 - Char 40 x 19 1 *
- 4 12 ++ Char 40 x 24 5
- 5 13 ++ Char 40 x 12 5
- 6 1 Char 20 x 24 5
- 7 2 Char 20 x 12 5
- 8 3 Map 40 x 24 4
- 9 4 Map 80 x 48 2
- A 5 Map 80 x 48 4
- B 6 Map 160 x 96 2
- C 14 ++ Map 160 x 192 2
- D 7 Map 160 x 96 4
- E 15 ++ Map 160 x 192 4
- F 8 Map 320 x 192 1 *
- F 9 + Map 80 x 192 1 **
- F 10 + Map 80 x 192 9
- F 11 + Map 80 x 192 16 ***
- * 1 Hue; 2 Luminances
- ** 1 Hue; 16 Luminances
- *** 16 Hues; 1 Luminance
- + require the GTIA chip. 1979-1981 400/800's shipped with CTIA
- ++ Not available via the BASIC GRAPHICS command in 400/800's.
-
- GRAPHICS INDIRECTION (COLOR REGISTERS AND CHARACTER SETS):
- Nine color registers are available. Each color register holds any of 16
- luminances x 16 hues = 256 colors. (Four registers are for player-missile
- graphics.
-
- Character sets of 128 8x8 characters, each with a normal and an inverse
- video incarnation, are totally redefinable.
-
- PLAYER-MISSILE GRAPHICS: (byte height and OR corrections from Piotr Fusik)
- Four 8-bit wide, 120 or 240 byte high single color players, and four
- 2-bit wide, 120 or 240 byte high single color missiles are available.
- A mode to combine the 4 missiles into a 5th 8-bit wide player is also
- available, as is a mode to OR colors or blacken out colors when players
- overlap (good for making three colors out of two players!) Players
- and missiles have adjustable priority and collision detection.
-
- DISPLAY LIST INTERRUPTS (DLI's):
- Screen modes can be mixed (by lines) down the screen using the Display
- List - a program which is executed by the ANTIC graphics chip every
- screen refresh:
-
- All other screen attributes (color, player/missile horizontal position,
- screen width, player/missile/playfield priority, etc.) can be ajusted
- at any point down the screen via DLI's.
-
- SCROLLING:
- Fine scrolling (both vertical and horizontal) can be enabled on any
- line on the screen.
-
- SOUND:
- Four voices of 8-bit pitch-resolution, 4-bit volume-resolution,
- 8-distortion sound can be produced. 2 voices (1 and 2, and/or 3 and 4)
- can be combined to make 16-bit pitch-resolution. Also 4-bit volume-only
- modes can be enabled for digitally sampled sound replay.
-
- A fifth "voice" is produced by the internal speaker on Atari 400/800's
- (for keyclick and buzzer) and in the XL's and XE's this was
- (fortunately!) rerouted through the normal audio output, and the
- keyclick can be disabled.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 1.2) What is the Atari 400?
-
- Released along with the 800 in 1979, the 400 was the low-end model of the two.
- The only 8-bit Atari with a membrane keyboard rather than a full-stroke
- keyboard. One of the few 8-bit Ataris lacking a composite monitor port.
- Originally released with just 8K RAM, but most were sold with 16K RAM. Atari
- sold the Atari 400 48K RAM Expansion Kit, which required a little soldering,
- to dealers only.
-
- Only the 400 and 800 8-bit Atari models have four controller (joystick) ports.
-
- Early 400 units include the CTIA chip; later units include the GTIA chip, also
- present in all later 8-bit Ataris.
-
- The 1982 Atari catalog calls the 400 "The Basic Computer."
-
- The 400 was discontinued in 1983.
-
- During development the 400 was known internally as "Candy."
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 1.3) What is the Atari 800?
-
- Released along with the 400 in 1979, the 800 was the high-end model of the
- two. The 800 is the only 8-bit Atari with a Right Cartridge slot, in addition
- to the Left Cartridge slot as present on all 8-bit Ataris. Originally
- released with just 8K RAM, many were sold with 16K, later on 48K was standard.
-
- The 800 is also the only 8-bit Atari with a four-slot modular design, where
- the first slot holds the CX801 (CX801-P for PAL machines) 10K ROM module, and
- the other three slots hold combinations of CX852 8K or CX853 16K RAM modules.
-
- Jason Harmon writes: (12 Feb 2004)
- "..the early ones had plastic cases on the ROM and RAM modules, and had two
- thumb tabs to remove the cover to access the modules. Later model 800s had
- 48K standard, and to improve cooling Atari installed them without the cases
- but put a small plastic strip across the tops of the cards to hold them in
- position. These machines also lost the thumb tabs and have regular screws to
- secure the cover over the memory slots."
-
- Only the 400 and 800 8-bit Atari models have four controller (joystick) ports.
-
- Early 800 units include the CTIA chip; later units include the GTIA chip, also
- present in all later 8-bit Ataris.
-
- The 800 was discontinued in 1983.
-
- During development the 800 was known internally as "Colleen."
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 1.4) What is the Atari 1200XL?
-
- Released as a big brother to the 400/800 in 1982, the 1200XL now uses Atari's
- slightly customized 6502C microprocessor, and includes a full 64K RAM. The
- 1200XL was the first 8-bit Atari with just 2 controller ports. In addition,
- the 1200XL includes 4 programmable Function keys and a Help key, 4 LEDs,
- built-in diagnostic and graphics demonstration programs, and probably the
- favorite keyboard of any 8-bit Atari computer. Clicks previously outputted
- through the built-in speaker are now heard from the television or monitor's
- speaker. The revised 16K Operating System offers many new features, including
- an alternate International Character Set.
-
- The 1200XL was the biggest single step forward in development of the 8-bit
- Atari platform, but the corresponding software compatability problems hurt its
- popularity.
-
- The 1200XL lacks separate chroma video signal, and also lacks the +5 Volts
- power on pin 10 of the SIO port.
-
- There is no PAL (European) version of the 1200XL.
-
- The 1200XL was discontinued in 1983.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 1.5) What is the Atari 600XL?
-
- Released in 1983 as a replacement for the 400, the 600XL is the low-end
- version of the 800XL. The 600XL/800XL include most of the features of the
- 1200XL minus the Function keys and the demo program. But both the 800XL and
- 600XL have the Atari BASIC language built-in. In addition, these two systems
- offer the Parallel Bus Interface (PBI), providing fast parallel access to the
- heart of the computer. The 600XL has 16K RAM.
-
- The 600XL can be expanded from 16K to 64K with the Atari 1064 Memory Module.
-
- Rarely, some late-model 600XLs were sold with 64K RAM. These may have only
- appeared in Canada. The box had a round gold foil sticker reading: "64k
- Memory -- Now with a full 64k of memory built-in."
-
- Normally boots with Atari BASIC (Revision B) enabled; Hold down [Option] on
- startup to boot without BASIC.
-
- The North American/NTSC 600XL does not include a composite monitor port; The
- European/PAL 600XL includes the monitor port, but this lacks the chroma video
- signal.
-
- The 600XL was discontinued in 1985.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 1.6) What is the Atari 800XL?
-
- Released in 1983 as a replacement for the 800 and 1200XL, the 800XL is the
- high-end version of the 600XL. The 600XL/800XL include most of the features of
- the 1200XL minus the Function keys and the demo program. But both the 800XL
- and 600XL have the Atari BASIC language built-in. In addition, these two
- systems offer the Parallel Bus Interface (PBI), providing fast parallel access
- to the heart of the computer. The 800XL contains 64K RAM.
-
- Normally boots with Atari BASIC (Rev. B, or late models with Rev. C) enabled;
- Hold down [Option] on startup to boot without BASIC.
-
- The 800XL lacks separate chroma video signal (exeception next paragraph).
-
- There was a late version of the 800XL in Europe, called 800XLF. The 800XLF
- includes a redesigned motherboard (the XE design) and contains FREDDIE for
- memory management and has chroma output. BASIC is Revision C.
-
- Though Atari never disclosed sales figures, the 800XL was likely the most-sold
- of all 8-bit Atari computer models.
-
- The 800XL was discontinued in 1985.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 1.7) What is the Atari 65XE?
-
- Released in 1985 as a replacement for the 600XL, the 65XE is the low-end
- version of the 130XE. The 65XE is nearly identical to the 800XL in features,
- minus the PBI. Many European (PAL) 65XE's include the ECI port, but no North
- American (NTSC) 65XE's include the ECI port. All XE computers also include
- the FREDDIE memory management chip.
-
- Normally boots with Atari BASIC (Revision C) enabled; Hold down [Option] on
- startup to boot without BASIC.
-
- The 65XE was discontinued in 1992.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 1.8) What is the Atari 130XE?
-
- Released in 1985 as a replacement for the 800XL, the 130XE is the high-end
- version of the 65XE. The 130XE offers 128K RAM, plus the FREDDIE memory
- management chip, supporting the unique (but rarely used) ability for the 6502
- and the ANTIC to independently access RAM banks. In addition, the 130XE
- replaces the PBI port with the Enhanced Cartridge Interface (ECI), continuing
- the powerful feature of a fast parallel port.
-
- Normally boots with Atari BASIC (Revision C) enabled; Hold down [Option] on
- startup to boot without BASIC.
-
- The 130XE was discontinued in 1992.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 1.9) What is the Atari 800XE?
-
- Unseen and unknown in North America, the 800XE was sold in eastern Europe. The
- 800XE is identical in features to the European version of the 65XE, including
- the ECI port. The 800XE could also be described as a 64K version of the
- 130XE.
-
- Normally boots with Atari BASIC (Revision C) enabled; Hold down [Option] on
- startup to boot without BASIC.
-
- Jindrich Kubec writes, "The problematic Chinese 800XEs with GTIA problems were
- manufactured in 1992."
-
- The 800XE was discontinued in 1992.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 1.10) What is the Atari XE Game System?
-
- In a change of marketing strategy, Atari introduced the new XE Game System in
- 1987. Despite its label, the XEGS is a true 8-bit Atari computer system. It
- offers the convenience of a detachable keyboard and built-in Missile Command
- game, while offering 64K RAM and full compatibility with the 65XE. It was
- packaged with the Light Gun, and the Flight Simulator II and Bug Hunt
- cartridges.
-
- Keyboard connected/no cartridge:
- boots to Atari BASIC
- Keyboard connected/no cartridge/[Select] held down at startup:
- boots to Missile Command
- No keyboard connected/no cartridge:
- boots to Missile Command
- No keyboard connected/no cartridge/[Select] held down at startup:
- boots from disk drive
- No keyboard connected/no cartridge/[Select]+[Start] held down at startup:
- boots from tape drive
-
- [Option] held down at startup = BASIC on
- [Option] not pressed at startup = BASIC off
- (opposite from all other XL/XE machines)
-
- Andreas Magenheimer writes:
- Tip: The confused XEGS Atarian should use the XEGS manager by Mat*Rat
- (Mathew Ratcliff). This assumes one knows at least how to boot a disk
- with the XEGS...
-
- James Bradford offers:
- There is only 1 32K ROM in the XEGS, it has the OS, BASIC (Rev C) and
- Missile Command on it.
-
- The XE Game System was discontinued in 1992.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 1.11) What are the 6502, ANTIC, CTIA/GTIA, POKEY, and FREDDIE chips?
-
- Some of the following text is taken from De Re Atari (Atari#APX-90008), a book
- published by Atari through the Atari Program Exchange (APX) and copyright 1982
- by Chris Crawford, et al. See http://www.atariarchives.org/dere/ where the
- full text of De Re Atari is now available online.
-
- The internal layout of the Atari 8-bit computer is very different from other
- systems. It of course has a microprocessor (a 6502), RAM, ROM, and a PIA.
- However, it also has three special-purpose (LSI) chips known as ANTIC, GTIA,
- and POKEY. These chips were designed by Atari engineers primarily to take
- much of the burden of housekeeping off of the 6502, thereby freeing the 6502
- to concentrate on computations. While they were at it, they designed a great
- deal of power into these chips. Each of these chips is almost as big (in terms
- of silicon area) as a 6502, so the three of them together provide a tremendous
- amount of power. Mastering the Atari 8-bit computers is primarily a matter of
- mastering these three chips.
-
- 6502 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
- ====
- While the 400/800 models contain a generic 6502B CPU (a faster version of the
- original 6502A microprocessor), all of the XL/XE models contain Atari's
- customized 6502C chip.
-
- On the Atari, there are two microprocessors, ANTIC and the 6502. To allow
- them to coexist, ANTIC must shut off the 6502, a process called DMA. The
- 6502B supports DMA, but in Atari's implementation, it required 4 chips. The
- 6502C has an extra line called HALT. It is controlled by ANTIC which uses it
- whenever it needs the data/address bus. The HALT line is on pin 35 of the
- Atari 6502C and must be pulled high for the chip to work.
-
- ANTIC
- =====
- ANTIC ("Alpha-Numeric Television Interface Circuit") is a microprocessor
- dedicated to the television display. It is a true microprocessor; it has an
- instruction set, a program (called the display list), and data. The display
- list and the display data are written into RAM by the 6502. ANTIC retrieves
- this information from RAM using direct memory access (DMA). It processes the
- higher level instructions in the display list and translates these
- instructions into a real-time stream of simple instructions to GTIA.
-
- Frank Schuster writes (6/1/02):
- the patent for the ANTIC processor:
-
- U.S. Patent 4,296,476 October 20, 1981 for a "Data processing system with
- programmable graphics generator". Inventors listed: Steven T. Mayer; Jay
- G. Miner; Douglas G. Neubauer; Joseph C. Decuir
-
- CTIA/GTIA
- =========
- CTIA ("Color Television Interface Adapter") / GTIA ("George's Television
- Interface Adapter") is a television interface chip. ANTIC directly controls
- most of GTIA's operations, but the 6502 can be programmed to intercede and
- control some or all of GTIA's functions. GTIA converts the digital commands
- from ANTIC (or the 6502) into the signal that goes to the television. GTIA
- also adds some factors of its own, such as color values, player-missile
- graphics, and collision detection.
-
- Early 400/800 models included CTIA, later 400/800 models and all later 8-bit
- Ataris included GTIA.
-
- In BASIC, type POKE 623,64 [RETURN] and if the screen blackens, you have the
- GTIA chip. If it stays blue, you have the old CTIA chip.
-
- By the way, apparently no CTIA-equipped Ataris were shipped to Europe.
-
- Clay Halliwell provides this tidbit:
- A bit of trivia: CTIA 400/800s artifact in blue/green, GTIA 400/800s
- artifact in green/blue, and all XL/XEs artifact in red/blue.
-
- Jerry Jessop explains why French Ataris produce fewer colors:
- I will tell you why it only has monochrome out, because it's SECAM and a
- SECAM GTIA was never produced. The PAL GTIA is used in France and the Lum
- outputs are run into an onboard encoder to produce a "psudo" color depending
- on the Luminance output, composite only. This is why a SECAM VCS or 800 has
- nowhere near the same number of colors (16) availible as a PAL or NTSC unit
- (256).
-
- The FGTIA was never completed as the market size did not warrant the
- expense. The largest SECAM market is not France but the Soviet Union
- (former) and in 80-84 sales of these items there were not possible.
-
- Frank Schuster writes (6/1/02):
- ..here a summary of Atari patents covering technical parts of the GTIA /
- CTIA or at least the steps of development to it. I found them by following
- the references made in the "newest" patent 4,324,401 which at the end
- stands for the GTIA.
-
- U.S. Patent 4,324,401 April 13, 1982 for a "Method and system for
- generating moving objects on a video display screen". Inventors listed:
- David R. Stubben, Lyle V. Rains. References: 4,116,444; 4,107,665
-
- U.S. Patent 4,189,728 February 19, 1980 for an "Apparatus for generating a
- plurality of moving objects on a video display screen utilizing
- associative memory". Inventor listed: David R. Stubben. References:
- 4,116,444; 4,045,789
-
- U.S. Patent 4,116,444 September 26, 1978 for a "Method for generating a
- plurality of moving objects on a video display screen". Inventors listed:
- Steven T. Mayer; Ronald E. Milner. References: 4,016,362; 3,793,483
-
- U.S. Patent 4,107,665 August 15, 1978 for an "Apparatus for continuous
- variation of object size on a raster type video screen". Inventors listed:
- Steven T. Mayer; Ronald E. Milner
-
- U.S. Patent 4,045,789 August 30, 1977 for a "Animated video image display
- system and method". Inventor listed: Stephen D. Bristow. References:
- 3,793,483
-
- U.S. Patent 4,016,362 April 5, 1977 for a "Multiple image positioning
- control system and method". Inventors listed: Stephen D. Bristow; Steven
- T. Mayer. References: 3,793,483
-
- U.S. Patent 3,793,483 February 19, 1974 for a "Video Image Control System
- for Amusement Device". Inventor listed: Nolan K. Bushnell
-
- POKEY
- =====
- POKEY (means "POT and KEY" as in the paddles and keyboard) is a digital
- input/output (I/O) chip. It handles such disparate tasks as the serial I/O
- bus, audio generation, keyboard scan, and random number generation. It also
- digitizes the resistive paddle inputs and controls maskable interrupt (IRQ)
- requests from peripherals.
-
- All four of these LSI chips function simultaneously. Careful separation of
- their functions in the design phase has minimized conflicts between the chips.
- The only hardware level conflict between any two chips in the system occurs
- when ANTIC needs to use the address and data buses to fetch its display
- information. To do this, it halts the 6502 and takes control of the buses."
-
- The USPTO granted U.S. Patent 4,314,236 to Atari on February 2, 1982 for an
- "Apparatus for producing a plurality of audio sound effects" - POKEY.
- Inventors listed: Steven T. Mayer, Ronald E. Milner
-
- FREDDIE
- =======
- The 65XE/130XE/800XE/XEGS contain a small additional LSI called FREDDIE, a RAM
- address multiplexer. According to James Bradford, "FREDDIE is a type of
- memory controller. It takes the address and clock from the CPU and
- multiplexes it with the appropriate timings and signals to use DYNAMIC memory.
- FREDDIE also buffers the system clock crystal and divides it down then feeds
- that to GTIA. The XEGS has a FREDDIE but it doesn't have the extended RAM.
- Even if it did, you would still need the chip that does the REAL bank
- switching. It is a small 16-pin chip (Atari/Best Electronics catalog number
- CO25953: rev9/page 42). It gets RAS from FREDDIE, the bank select bits from
- PIA, A14, A15 and the 6502 halt signal to control which bank of 8 chips RAS
- goes to. A14 and A15 then go to FREDDIE for the address range of the extra
- memory bank (or normal address range with no bank switching). The ANTIC/6502
- select bits in combination with the 6502 halt line, control the switching of
- the PIA bank number bits to A14/A15 and which bank of memory RAS goes to. Why
- people say FREDDIE does the bank switching is beyond me. An 800XL can look
- like a 130XE with that 16-pin chip installed (That's right NO FREDDIE) and an
- extra 8 RAM chips."
-
- And more recently James Bradford has written:
- FREDDIE is just a memory decoder and timer. It replaces several chips in the
- 800XL. The small chip near FREDDIE does all the bank selection. CO25953. One
- line from FREDDIE, Ras (or is it cas?) goes to this chip, Halt and the bank
- /processor select lines go into this same chip and ras (cas?) comes out. A pin
- for each bank. If I remember correctly, refresh also goes into this small
- chip. It would be quite easy to make an 800XL work just like a 130XE with this
- chip since Ras (Cas?) is required by ALL dynamic RAM.
-
- ======
- Technical data sheets and schematics for the ANTIC, GTIA, and POKEY chips are
- available on Curt Vendel's web site, thanks to permission from Hasbro's Atari
- Interactive Division's release of this data. See the TIFF scans:
- http://www.atari-history.com/articles.html
- Keith Howell has converted the hi-res TIFFs into clean HTML:
- http://www.howell1964.freeserve.co.uk/Atari/800XL/Atari_800XL.htm
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 1.12) What is the internal layout of the 8-bit Atari?
-
- ASCII art by Thomas Havemeister.
-
- ->
- +---------------------------------------+
- | +------------+ |
- | | CPU (6502) | +-------+
- | +------------+ <- | I/O- |
- | | +----------|release|
- | +-+ | +-------+
- | +---------+<- |p| | |
- | | MMU |-----| | | <-+---------+-|----------+----------+
- *-| memory- | |r| *---| PIA | | (trigger)|Controller|====\
- | |managment|-----|-+--------| (6520) | |+---------| Ports |====/
- | +---------+<- |o| -> | +---------+-|-+ <--> +----------+
- | | | | ||| | |
- | +-----+ |c| | <-+---------+ ||| |(lightpen)
- | | RAM |<-A/D | | *---| ANTIC | ||| | |
- *---|8-128|-------|e|----|---|(2nd CPU)|---------------+ |
- | |Kbyte|->D | | -> | +---------+ ||| +---------------
- | +-----+ |s| | || ||| |
- | | | | <-+---------+-|||--------+(screen)
- | +-------+ |s| *---| GTIA |-|+| | |
- | | Atari |<-A | |----|---| /CTIA | | | | +----------+ +-----------+
- | | BASIC |------|o| -> | +---------+ | | | | summary |===| modulator |
- *--|8 Kbyte|->D | | | | | | |connection|===| ^^^^^^^^^ |
- | | ROM | |r| | <-+---------+ | | | +----------+ +-----------+
- | +-------+ | | +---| POKEY |-|-|-+ |(sound) |
- | | |--------| |-|-|--------+ |
- | +-------+ |b| -> +---------+ | +----------+ |
- | |AtariOS|<-A | | | | | |
- *--|10/16Kb|------|u| +--|----------+ | tv/monitor
- | | ROM |->D | +----------------- | | | **********
- | +-------+ |s| | | | | |
- | | | | | | | |
- | +-+ +-+ | | |
- | | | | | |
- +--------------*---|------------*---| | | |
- | | | | | | |
- +-----------+ +-----------+ +------------+
- |ParallelBus| | Cartridge | | Serial |
- |Interface/ | | Slot | |Input/Output|
- | Enhanced | | ROM | | (SIO) |
- | Cartridge | +-----------+ +------------+
- | Interface | | |
- +-----------+ | |
- | | |
- - memory expansion -cartridge with - disk drive
- - Z80 card programs - printer
- - 80 char card (games , dos ) - modem
-
- NOTES
- * RAM: 400/800: 8K, 16K or 48K standard
- 600XL:16K standard
- 1200XL/800XL/65XE/800XE/XEGS: 64K standard
- 130XE:128K standard
- * ROM: 400/800:10K OS, 1200XL:16K OS, all others:16K OS + 8K Atari BASIC
- * CPU: 400/800:6502B, all others:6502C
- * 800 includes two Cartridge Slots, all others include one
- * early release 400/800 have CTIA instead of GTIA
- * 400/800 have 4 Controller Ports, all others have 2
- * PBI is on 600XL/800XL only
- * ECI is on 130XE/800XE/many PAL 65XE only
- * Some late XE's use a 68B21 for PIA; PIA is 6520/6520A on all others
-
- The following are most of the team who originally designed the 400/800.
- Credit for providing this information for the FAQ goes to:
- Doug Neubauer (by way of James Finnegan), Jerry Jessop, Scott Emmons
-
- VLSI HARDWARE:
- Jay Miner - Creator and System architect, VSLI manager
- Steve Mayer - Also one of the creators - Partner in "Cyan Engineering"
- Lawrence D. Emmons - Also one of the creators - Partner in "Cyan
- Engineering"
- Joe Decuir - ANTIC and system and creator
- ???A French guy - ANTIC logic designer
- George McLeod - CTIA and GTIA logic design
- Doug Neubauer - POKEY logic design
- Mark Shieu - POKEY chip design
- Steve Stone - POKEY layout design
- Steve Smith - Technician for ANTIC and GTIA
- Delwin Pearson - Technician for POKEY
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 1.13) What issues surround NTSC vs PAL versions of the 8-bit Atari?
-
- Contributors to this section:
- Wayne Booth, Graham Thornton, Brent Buescher Jr., Thomas Richter, Jindroush
-
- Some quick definitions first:
-
- NTSC standard: Abbreviation for "National Television Standards Committee"
- TV signal standard used in North America, Central America, a number of South
- American countries, and some Asian countries, including Japan.
- 525 lines per frame
- 60 half-frames per second (interlaced) = 60 Hz
- Complete frame refreshed 30 times per second
-
- PAL: Acronym for "phase alternation by line"
- TV signal standard used in the United Kingdom, much of the rest of western
- Europe, several South American countries, some Middle East and Asian
- countries, several African countries, Australia, New Zealand, and other
- Pacific island countries.
- 625 lines per frame
- 50 half-frames per second (interlaced) = 50 Hz
- Complete frame refreshed 25 times per second.
-
- PAL-M: A modified version of PAL, used in Brazil.
-
- SECAM: Acronym for "systeme electronique couleur avec memoire"
- TV signal standard used in France, eastern European countries, the former
- USSR, and some African countries.
- 625 lines per frame
- 50 half-frames per second (interlaced) = 50 Hz
- Complete frame refreshed 25 times per second.
-
-
- Now then, how do the differences among 8-bit Atari computers designed for the
- different world television signal standards affect users trying to use
- software written elsewhere in the world?
-
- The 50Hz vertical refresh frequency of PAL machines translates into more
- vertical blank interrupt (VBI) time for demos and other computation-intensive
- graphics software, when compared to the time available for VBIs on NTSC
- machines with the faster 60Hz refresh frequency. So PAL demos and games that
- won't work on NTSC machines are usually returning from a VBI too late. Some
- also attempt to use more vertical resolution ("longer" display lists) than an
- NTSC display can handle.
-
- Note that the reverse is also true. Software using VBIs will run more slowly
- on a PAL Atari than on an NTSC Atari.
-
- Replacing the NTSC ANTIC chip in an NTSC Atari with a PAL ANTIC changes the
- screen refresh rate to 50Hz, allowing most of the PAL-only European software
- to run on a North American NTSC Atari. However, make sure your display device
- can support a 50Hz PAL signal first! North American Atari users can also
- obtain and use real European PAL Atari machines, with the same caveat
- concerning the display device.
-
- Bottom line:
- Software written for NTSC machines (North America) will (almost) always work
- on PAL machines (Europe), but software designed on PAL machines won't
- necessarily work on NTSC machines.
-
- Jindroush contributes: (2/26/02)
- Could there be a program which runs on NTSC Atari and not on PAL Atari? Yes,
- if it uses some precise timing copy protection (probably based on vblank
- timing). Examples of these are Transylvania and The Quest by Penguin Software.
-
- Thomas Richter mentions another NTSC vs PAL issue:
- Another point is that the popular pseudo-colors used in the ANTIC-F (Graphics
- 8) mode are not colorful at all when displayed on a PAL TV, because of
- differences in the color encoding for the TV. The schematics of the XL
- computers include however a hack how to change the PAL version to the NTSC
- version (the PAL versions include two crystals, one with 5/4th of the
- frequency of the other. One is used for the system clock, the other for the
- color clock), but I never dared to apply it.
-
- And on 10/16/03 Thomas Richter answered a related question this way:
- >> Note that it's typically not too hard to get an NTSC Atari to run in PAL
- >> by just swapping out the ANTIC chip.
- >>
- >> Unfortunately, some demos actually check the OS ROM for a particular
- >> value to see if it's a PAL machine or not, and then refuse to run if
- >> they are. *grumble* I'd rather have a warning than a refusal. :^P
-
- > As far as I am aware, the only value to tell a PAL from a NTSC machine is in
- > GTIA. Maybe swap that one as well and see what you get
-
- Absolutey correct, GTIA keeps the PAL/NTSC register and the Os rom reads it
- from there. However, besides the GTIA PAL and NTSC machines differ in other
- aspects. For example, on PAL machines an additional oscillator of 5/4 of the
- main frequency is present to generate the color frequencies needed to drive
- GTIA. There is no such circuit in NTSC Ataris. Besides, this factor of 5/4 is
- also the reason why you don't get "artifacted colors" on PAL machines (or, at
- least, not very good ones.)
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 1.14) What are the pinouts for the various ports on the Atari?
-
- Controller Port (4 on 400/800, 2 on all others):
- 1 2 3 4 5
- o o o o o
- o o o o
- 6 7 8 9 CX22 trackball meanings from Steve Wallace:
- 1. (Joystick) Forward Input X Direction
- 2. (Joystick) Back Input X Motion
- 3. (Joystick) Left Input Y Direction
- 4. (Joystick) Right Input Y Motion
- 5. B Potentiometer Input
- 6. Trigger Input / Light Pen Input. Port 4 only on 400
- 7. +5V
- 8. Ground
- 9. A Potentiometer Input
-
- Serial I/O (SIO) Port (all machines):
- 2 12
- o o o o o o
- o o o o o o o
- 1 13
- 1. Clock Input 8. Motor Control
- 2. Clock Output 9. Proceed
- 3. Data Input 10. +5V/Ready (not on 1200XL)
- 4. Ground 11. Audio Input
- 5. Data Output 12. +12V (400,800 only. 1400XL/1450XLD?)
- 6. Ground 13. Interrupt
- 7. Command
-
- Cartridge Slot ("Left" slot on all machines; "Right" slot on 800 only):
- A B C D E F H J K L M N P R S
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
- 1. ~S4(Left) R/~W late(Right) A. RD4(Left) B02(Right)
- 2. A3 B. GND
- 3. A2 C. A4
- 4. A1 D. A5
- 5. A0 E. A6
- 6. D4 F. A7
- 7. D5 H. A8
- 8. D2 J. A9
- 9. D1 K. A12
- 10. D0 L. D3
- 11. D6 M. D7
- 12. ~S5(Left) ~S4(Right) N. A11
- 13. +5V P. A10
- 14. RD5(Left) RD4(Right) R. R/~W
- 15. ~CCTL S. B02
-
- Monitor Jack (all but 400, N. American 600XL, XE Game System, SECAM
- systems):
- 3 1
- 5 4
- 2
- 1. Composite Luminance (Composite Video on 600XL)
- 2. Ground
- 3. Audio Output
- 4. Composite Video
- 5. Composite Chroma (not on 800XL(most),1200XL; grounded on 600XL)
-
- Monitor Jack, SECAM systems: (thanks Jer Sobola)
- V
-
- 5 1
- 3
- 4 2
-
- 6
- 1 +12V DC 5mA max
- 2 Audio 1 output
- 3 Audio 2 output
- 4 Video output
- 5 GND
- 6 +5V 100mA max
- Amplitude Audio 2 is about 6 times closer than Audio 1
-
- Power Adapter Plug (all but 400,800,1200XL,1400XL,1450XLD):
- 7 6
- 3 1
- 5 4
- 2
- 1. +5V
- 2. Shield
- 3. Ground
- 4. +5V
- 5. Ground
- 6. +5V
- 7. Ground
-
- Parallel Bus Interface (PBI) (600XL and 800XL only):
- 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49
- 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50
- 1. GND ground 2. External select
- 3. A0 Address output 4. A1
- 5. A2 6. A3
- 7. A4 8. A5
- 9. A6 10. GND
- 11. A7 12. A8
- 13. A9 14. A10
- 15. A11 16. A12
- 17. A13 18. A14
- 19. GND 20. A15
- 21. D0 Data (bidirectional) 22. D1
- 23. D2 24. D3
- 25. D4 26. D5
- 27. D6 28. D7
- 29. GND 30. GND
- 31. Phase 2 clock output 32. GND
- 33. NC Reserved 34. Reset output
- 35. (IRQ) Interrupt request 36. Ready input
- 37. NC 38. External decoder output
- 39. NC 40. Refresh output
- 41. Column address output 42. GND
- 43. Math pack disable input 44. Row addr strobe
- 45. GND 46. Latch read/write out
- 47. NC (+5V on 600XL only) 48. NC (+5V on 600XL only, used to power 1064)
- 49. Audio input 50. GND
-
- Enhanced Cartridge Interface (ECI) (130XE, 800XE and many PAL 65XE only):
- A B C D E F H
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
- A. Reserved 1. ~EXSEL
- B. ~IRQ 2. ~RST
- C. ~HALT 3. ~D1XX
- D. A13 4. ~MPD
- E. A14 5. Audio
- F. A15 6. ~REF
- H. GND 7. +5V
-
- Keyboard Port (XE Game System only):
- 1 8
- o o o o o o o o
- o o o o o o o
- 9 15
- 1. KR2 Keyboard Response 8. K2 Keyboard Scan
- 2. K3 Keyboard Scan 9. Ground
- 3. K4 Keyboard Scan 10. Not Connected
- 4. K5 Keyboard Scan 11. Ground
- 5. KR1 Keybaord Response 12. Not Connected
- 6. K0 Keyboard Scan 13. Trigger 2
- 7. K1 Keyboard Scan 14. 5 VDC
- 15. 5 VDC
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 2.1) What video display devices can I use with my Atari?
-
- Contributors to channel output variations list:
- Jon Levy, Rene de Bie, Sysop Fox-1
-
- Most 8-bit Atari computers put out video signals in two places:
-
- 1) Radio-Frequency (RF) signal, either one VHF channel, or two VHF channels
- selectable by a switch on the computer. Variations depend primarily on the
- part of the world that the particular version of the computer was desgined
- for.
-
- Most North American computers: VHF channels 2-3 switch-selectable.
- channels 3-4 switch selectable also reported
- European computers: VHF channels 3-4 switch-selectable,
- or no switch (what channel?) both reported
- UK computers: VHF channel 36, no switch,
- or channels 38-39 switch selectable both reported
- Australian computers: VHF channel 1 (400/800: channels 1-2 selectable)
-
- Any further clarifications would be appreciated!
-
- Accessories needed:
- a) RF Cable. (RF=radio frequency--video and audio signals in the same line)
- On the 400/800 models, the RF Cable does not detach from the computer.
- The output end of the cable is an RCA male connector.
-
- b) TV Switch Box. Includes an RCA female connector for RF signal input from
- the Atari, input connector(s) for your TV attenna and/or cable TV
- company, and 75- and/or 300-ohm VHF output connector(s) for connection to
- the VHF input on the television. (Radio Shack carries a suitable TV
- Switch Box.)
-
- 2) A proprietary 5-pin DIN Monitor Jack, which includes two video signals:
- a) Composite video.
- b) Y/C Video, also known as S-Video:
- separate composite luminance (Y) and chrominance (C) signals.
-
- Exceptions among the computer models:
- -the 400 and North American 600XL lack the Monitor Jack.
- -the XE Game System includes an RCA-style jack in place of the Monitor Jack,
- providing a plain composite video signal only.
- -the Monitor Jack on the 600XL, 800XL(most) and 1200XL lacks the separate
- chrominance signal. (But it exists internally, and can be restored to the
- monitor jack via hardware modification.)
-
- The pinout for the Atari Monitor Jack is in the pinouts sections of this FAQ
- list.
-
- The typical Atari Monitor Cable includes the male 5-pin DIN connector on one
- end, and two RCA male connectors on the other end. One of the RCA connectors
- will carry the monophonic sound signal, and the other will carry the composite
- video signal. Color composite monitors were common in the mid-80's, but these
- days many televisions have an RCA female composite video input connector which
- works fine with the Atari.
-
- You may find an Atari Monitor Cable where the video signal carried on the
- second RCA connector is not the composite video signal, but the composite
- luminance signal. These cables are for use with monochrome composite video
- monitors (usually green or amber).
-
- The ideal Atari Monitor Cable includes 3 RCA male connectors on the output
- end, carrying the sound signal, the composite luminance signal, and the
- composite chrominance signal. Only the best composite monitors include
- separate chrominance and luminance inputs. Commodore produced many fine
- monitors of this type, popular with Atari users.
-
- Lonnie McClure provides this information on suitable Commodore monitors:
- 1701, 1702, 1802, CM-141, 1080, 2002, 1902, 1902A*, 1084**, 1084S**
-
- * The 1902A used a DIN connector for chroma/luma, which makes cabling a
- bit more of a problem. The composite and audio connectors are standard
- RCA jacks, however.
-
- ** The 1084 and 1084S had more than one version. Some used the a DIN
- connector for chroma/luma connections, like the 1902A, while some used
- standard RCA jacks.
-
- The 1902 and 1902A are very different in appearance. The original 1902
- shares the same slightly rounded front case design as the 1080 and 2002,
- while the 1902A is has a rather square case design, and was manufactured
- by Magnavox (as were some of the 1084 and 1084S versions).
-
- The separate composite chrominance and luminance signals that the Atari puts
- out comprise what the world has since come to call Y/C video or S-video.
- S-video connectors are normally Mini4. It is possible to build a cable, or
- purchase several adapters, that can allow you to utilize the separate Y/C
- signals generated by the Atari with a television (or other display device)
- that provides a standard S-video Mini4 input jack. This is the ultimate
- display option for the 8-bit Atari. Clarence Dyson has a nice page about
- such a project at http://www.wolfpup.net/atari/svideo.html .
-
- Adapters also exist that will take in composite video or s-video, and output a
- conversion of the signal as a standard VGA video signal. These are often
- known as a "VGA converter" or "Scan doubler" or "Up-converter." With such a
- device, the 8-bit Atari can be used with a standard PC VGA monitor. One such
- adapter is the Cheese Video Box from AV Toolbox, http://www.avtoolbox.com. AV
- Toolbox produces several other similar devices. An earlier popular adapter
- was the JAM!! from AIMS Lab.
-
- SCART - an acronym for Syndicat des Constructeurs d'Appareils Radiorecepteurs
- et Televiseurs - is a 21-pin universal connecting cable/socket system used for
- audio/video components in Europe. The cables transmit RGB, composite video,
- S-Video, mono and stereo sound. SCART, which is also known as PERITEL, EURO
- AV BUS and EUROCONECTOR, is common throughout Europe, particularly in France,
- England, Germany, Switzerland, and Scandinavia. SCART is also very popular in
- the Russian Audio Video market. It is possible to interface the Atari's
- composite video signal, along with the audio signal, through a SCART
- connector, though there have been few reports of people actually doing this.
-
- Keith Howell has a nice page on some of these topics:
- http://www.howell1964.freeserve.co.uk/Atari/800XL/Atari_800XL_Video.htm
-
- December 2003--More Than Games announced "A8 A/V BOB", an audio/video
- breakout box featuring phono connectors for composite video, chroma,
- luminance, and mono audio; it also features an s-video jack providing chroma
- and luminance. http://www.a8maestro.com/sites/mtgcat/mtgcat.htm
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 3.1) What are the Atari 410, 1010, XC11, and XC12 Program
- Recorders?
-
- The Atari Program Recorders provide storage and retrieval of programs
- and data on cassette tape. In addition to the digital track that stores
- computer data, a second audio track is provided to play music or voice
- as the program runs.
-
- Data transmission rate: 600 bits per second.
- Data storate capacity: 100,000 bytes per 60-minute cassette.
- Track configuration: 4 track, 2 channel (digital data and audio track)
-
- 410 Program Recorder
- - early Japan version had a carrying handle
- - most versions made in Hong Kong
- - 410a--Taiwan version
- - built-in SIO cable - must end SIO daisy chain
- - power - plugs directly into wall (most versions)
- - "410P" version (rare). Karl Heller writes:
- "It came in the white 410 box with an Atari yellow/orange paper slip
- stating which power supply to use with it."
-
- 1010 Program Recorder
- - Chelco version has Stop/Eject, then Pause buttons
- - Sanyo version has Pause, then Stop/Eject buttons
- - two SIO ports
-
- XC11 Program Recorder
- - has a built-in SIO cable and one SIO port
-
- XC12 Program Recorder
- - built-in SIO cable - must end SIO daisy chain
- - Information on the Turbo 6000 Baud Interface and the Chaos Loader:
- http://www-user.tu-chemnitz.de/~sgl/atari/turb6000/turb6000.htm
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 3.2) What other cassette recorders can I use with my Atari?
-
- Firstly Atari themselves put out several models beyond the 410/1010/XC11/XC12,
- generally only known in eastern Europe:
-
- XCA12 Program Recorder -in same case as XC12...Poland
- CA12 Program Recorder -in same case as XC12...Poland
- image: http://romualdl.multimania.com/images/atari/ca12.jpg
- XL12 Program Recorder -XC12 w/slight changed design.
- Czech/Slovak/Poland
- XC13 Program Recorder -XC12 which was "T2000 ready".
- Czech/Slovak/Poland
-
- For more information on the Turbo 2000 (T2000) and SuperTurbo modifications to
- Atari program recorders, with speeds up 9600 baud, see
- http://jindroush.atari.org
-
- Unlike other microcomputer systems of the time, it was very unusual to use
- anything but Atari brand program cassette recorders. One third-party product
- released was the:
-
- Compu-Mate, by General Electric (GE, G.E.)
- Includes external interface module, a power cord/adapter, and SIO cable.
- No second SIO port - must be at end of SIO chain.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 3.3) How do I run a program from cassette?
-
- To run an Atari BASIC program from cassette:
-
- 1. Place the cassette in the recorder.
- 2. Press REWIND of FORWARD, if necessary, to bring the tape to the position
- where the program is located.
- 3. Boot the computer to the Atari BASIC READY prompt.
- 4. There are several possibilities for the next step, depending on how the
- program was saved, and whether you want to run the program or just load
- it into RAM. Enter one of the following four commands:
- a. CLOAD loads programs saved with CSAVE
- b. LOAD "C:" loads programs saved with SAVE "C:"
- c. ENTER "C:" loads programs saved with LIST "C:"
- d. RUN "C:" loads&runs programs saved with SAVE "C:"
-
- ] Relative efficiency of the three cassette tape recording techniques:
- ] CSAVE/CLOAD - most efficient - fastest saves/loads - tokenized files
- ] SAVE "C:"/LOAD "C:" - middle efficiency - middle speed - tokenized files
- ] LIST "C:"/ENTER "C:" - least efficient - slowest - straight ATASCII
-
- 5. The computer will "beep" as a signal for you to press PLAY on the recorder.
- 6. Press the RETURN key on the computer keyboard, and the program will load
- into the computer.
- 7. Press STOP on the recorder when loading has finished.
- 8. Unless you entered RUN "C:" above, now enter the command: RUN
-
- To run an Atari BASIC or machine language program from cassette upon
- startup:
-
- 1. Place the cassette in the recorder
- 2. Press REWIND of FORWARD, if necessary, to bring the tape to the position
- where the program is located.
- 3. Turn on the computer while holding down the START key.
- But if your computer has Atari BASIC built-in and you're running a machine
- language program, hold down both the START key and the OPTION key.
- 4. The computer will "beep" as a signal for you to press PLAY on the recorder.
- 5. Let go of the START/OPTION button(s).
- 6. Press the RETURN key on the computer keyboard, and the program will load
- into the computer.
- 7. Press STOP on the recorder when loading is complete and the program is
- running.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 3.4) What are the Atari 810, 815, 1050, and XF551 Disk Drives?
-
- Section includes contributions by Andreas Magenheimer, TXG.
-
- The Atari Disk Drives provide storage and retrieval of programs
- and data on 5.25" floppy disks.
-
- ==> Atari 810 --- a 5.25" floppy disk drive
- The least common denominator for the Atari. One mode of operation:
- 1) Single-Sided, Single-Density--
- FM 40 tracks x 18 sectors/track x 128 byte/sector = 90K capacity
- 19.2Kbps transfer rate. 288RPM.
- The 810 includes a 6507 microprocessor.
- Shipped with DOS 1 (very early) or DOS 2.0S
- earlier MPI version- push button door opening for disk access
- later Tandon version- lift door, like a garage door disk access
- two SIO ports
- accessories from Atari:
- CX8100 Atari 810 Blank Diskettes (5 per box)
- CX8111 Atari 810 Formatted Diskettes II (5 per box)
- CX8202 Atari 810/815 Blank Diskettes (5/box, certified for double density)
-
- Third-party upgrades for the 810:
- 810 Archiver -- copy many copy-protected programs
- Happy 810 -- Happy Backup, Warp Speed 52Kbps, 18 sector buffer
- 810 Fast Chip by Binary 10%-40% faster
- 810 Turbo by Neanderthal Computer Things (NCT) -- double-density
- see: http://www.qnet.com/~dons/810T.html
- 810 Duplicator (DT-Duplicating Technologies) -- copy disks, double-density,
- "read 18 sectors in the time normally for 1"
-
- ==> Atari 815 Dual Disk Drive --- dual 5.25" floppy disk drives in one unit
- Were produced (all hand-built), but are very rare. One mode of operation.
- Per drive:
- 1) Single-Sided, Double-Density--
- MFM 40 tracks x 18 sectors/track x 256 bytes/sector = 180K capacity
- 19.2Kbps transfer rate. 288RPM.
- The 815 includes a 6507 microprocessor.
- Shipped with DOS 2.0D
- MPI mechanism version- push button door opening for disk access
- Tandon mechanism version- lift door, like a garage door disk access
- accessories from Atari:
- CX8202 Atari 810/815 Blank Diskettes (5 per box, certified for double density)
- Stephen Knox writes (12/28/02):
- I believe the story on the 815s was Atari didn't want to release them due to
- severe QA problems with the drive but they had so many preorders they had to
- release something. I think they filled the preorders and then cancelled the
- model - Most of them got returned due to problems.
-
- ==> Atari 1050 --- a 5.25" floppy disk drive
- Same as the 810, plus Dual-Density capability. Two modes of operation:
- 1) Single-Sided, Single-Density, 90K, 810 compatible
- 2) Single-Sided, Dual-Density, otherwise known as "Enhanced Density" because
- it is not true double-density--
- MFM 40 tracks x 26 sectors/track x 128 bytes/sector = 128K capacity
- 19.2Kbps transfer rate. 288RPM
- The 1050 includes a 6507 microprocessor.
- Shipped with DOS 2.0S, DOS 3, or DOS 2.5
- DIP switches: Black & white left: Drive 1
- Black right, white left: Drive 2
- Black left, white right: Drive 3
- Black & white right: Drive 4
- Third-party upgrades for the 1050 (all add a true SSDD 180K capability):
- US Doubler (ICD) SS SD/ED/DD UltraSpeed (US) 54Kbps, sector skewing
- Happy 1050 SS SD/ED/DD Warp Speed 52Kbps, 36 sector buffer,
- (Happy Computers) Happy Backup. also read/write 180K 5.25" MS-DOS floppies
- I.S. Plate (Innovated Software) SS SD/ED/DD Ultra/Warp (USD/Happy clone)
- Hyper Drive (Chaos! Computers) SS SD/ED/DD Warp Speed 52Kbps (Happy clone)
- Super Archiver (CSS) SS SD/ED/DD UltraSpeed 54Kbps (US Doubler clone)
- Super Archiver II(CSS)SS SD/ED/DD UltraSpeed 54Kbps (US Doubler clone)
- Cheer-Up 1050 SS SD/ED/DD Warp Speed 52Kbps (Happy clone)
- Speedy 1050 SS SD/ED/DD Warp Speed 57Kbps (Happy clone), 8kb buffer,
- (Compy-Shop, now ABBUC) DOS, copier, track & density displays, beep speaker
- Mini-Speedy same as Speedy 1050, but without displays & speaker
- Super Speedy 1050 SS SD/ED/DD Warp Speed 96,000Baud (Happy clone),192K RAM
- SuperMax 1050 SS SD/ED/DD UltraSpeed 52Kbps (US Doubler clone)
- Lazer 1050 SS SD/ED/DD Warp Speed and UltraSpeed 54Kbps
- Engl-Turbo-1050 SS SD/ED/DD Turbo Speed approx. 70,000 Baud (uses
- (german Turbo) Sector skewing that differs from USDoubler)
- 1050 Duplicator (Duplicating Technologies (DT))
- SS SD/ED/DD "read 18 sectors in the time normally for 1"
- sources(Jim Patchell)http://www.oldcrows.net/~patchell/atari/duplicator.html
- Klone ???????
-
- Rich Mier professes:
- You've been plugging and unplugging the SIO cable with the 1050 power pack
- plugged in, right? That's a no-no. Most of the time it's Okay, but about 1
- in 10, 20 times, it will blow out 'U-1'. It's a CA/LM 3086 I.C. at the right,
- rear of the main board. A 14 pin DIL chip. Actually it is an array of 5
- transistors.
-
- Unplug the power pack from the 1050, then unplug the SIO cable. Power can be
- ON on the CPU. The problem has to do with the secondary winding of the Power
- Pack. Remember, the problem only occurs 1 out of 10 - 20 times that you do
- it, not all the time.
-
- It doesn't really matter if the 1050 Transformer has power on or off, it
- 'Might' happen if plugged into the 1050. It is really bad on 810's.
-
- One thing, if the system has been turned off for, oh say, 5 - 10 minutes it
- won't matter. By then all the capacitors should be bled(sc?) to 0 volts.
-
- ==> Atari XF551 --- a 5.25" floppy disk drive. Four modes of operation:
- 1) Single-Sided, Single-Density, 90K, 810 compatible
- 2) Single-Sided, Enhanced-Density, 128K, 1050 compatible
- 3) Single-Sided, Double-Density, 180K, Percom & other 3rd parties compatible
- 4) Double-Sided, Double-Density--
- MFM 80 tracks x 18 sectors/track x 256 bytes/sector = 360K capacity
- Writes "backwards" to the second side of the disk, when compared to a two-
- sided "flippy" disk with SSDD 180K format on each side
- High speed 38400 bps burst mode usable only with SpartaDOS X, SuperDOS 5.1,
- TurboDOS, DOS XE, and patched SpartaDOS 3.2.
- Rotaton rate: 300RPM. Since all other Atari-specific drives run at 288RPM,
- this results in rare compatibility issues. Specifically, these commercial
- disks do not load in, and can be damaged by, the XF551:
- - Flight Simulator II (subLOGIC)
- - Blue Max (Synapse)
- - Bank Street Writer (Broderbund). Conflicting reports about this one.
- 8040 cpu + external ROM or 8050 cpu with internal ROM
- Shipped with DOS 2.5 or DOS XE.
- DIP switches: Both dips down: Drive 1
- Left down, right up: Drive 2
- Left up, Right down: Drive 3
- Left and Right up: Drive 4
- Chinon-built XF551-cannot read/write/format backside if no timing hole
- Mitsumi-built XF551--can read/write backside if to timing hole, if formatted
- Third-party upgrades for the XF551:
- CSS XF Single Drive Upgrade--3.5", 720K floppy drive replacement
- also read 720K 3.5" MS-DOS disks
- see http://www.nleaudio.com/css/products/XFsingdrup.htm
- CSS XF Dual Drive Upgrade--add 3.5" drive w/o losing the 5.25" drive
- also read 720K 3.5" MS-DOS disks
- see http://www.nleaudio.com/css/products/XFdualdrup.htm
- CSS XF551 Enhancer--overcomes sensor for index hole, create flippy disks
- see http://www.nleaudio.com/css/products/XF551enh.htm
- CSS XF Update--replace drive OS, adds UltraSpeed
- see http://www.nleaudio.com/css/products/XFupdate.htm
- Hyper-XF-OS--avaiable for 5.25" or 3.5" floppy versions; uses sector skewing
- and UltraSpeed (but no track buffer!); can use disk partitions
- (2 on 5.25", 4 partitions on 3.5") with mixed Densities (S/E/D)
- or standard 360kbytes (5.25") / 720kbytes (3.5"); can
- theoretically read/write ST/PC 720k disks (software is missing!)
- OS created by Stefan Dorndorf/Germany;
- XF-Speedy--replaces the 8040 CPU with a 65C02 + ROM + Memory
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 3.5) What other floppy disk drives can I use with my Atari?
-
- Major contributors to this section: Glenn M. Saunders, Tomasz M. Tatar,
- James Bradford, Konrad M. Kokoszkiewicz, Don Schoengarth, Andreas
- Magenheimer
-
- SS=Single-Sided SD=Single-Density, 90K/disk side
- DS=Double-Sided ED=Enhanced-Density, 128K/disk side
- DD=Double-Density, 180K/disk side
-
- Printer port=has a standard DB25 parallel printer port,+ maybe a print buffer
- Master=includes drive controller, can add additional,non-Atari-specific drives
-
- Top transfer rate=19.2Kbps unless stated otherwise
-
- Floppy disk drives designed for the 8-bit Atari computers:
- Atari 810 SS SD
- Atari 1050 SS SD/ED
- Atari XF551 DS SD/ED/DD, 38.4Kbps burst mode
- Access Unlimited ATAR88-1 SS SD master
- Access Unlimited ATAR40-1 SS SD/DD master
- Amdek AMDC I SS SD/DD uses flippy Amdisk III 3" disk/carts,printerport,master
- Amdek AMDC II SS SD/DD dual drives, printer port, master
- AS SN-360 DS SD/ED/DD
- Astra 1620 SS SD/DD dual drives
- Astra 2001 SS SD/DD dual drives
- Astra Big-D DS SD/DD dual drives
- Astra The One DS SD/DD, printer port
- B&C 810 SS SD, optional Happy Warp Speed 52Kbps
- Concorde C-221M SS SD/DD master
- Concorde C-222M DS SD/DD master
- CSS Floppy Board, for the Black Box, master, support PC 720K and 1.44MB 3.5"
- drives, support PC 1.2MB and 360kB 5.25" drives,
- also read/write 5.25" and 3.5" MS-DOS disks
- see: http://www.nleaudio.com/css/products/floppy.htm
- High-Density Disk Interface (HDI) a PCB master,connect up to 4 standard drives
- Indus GT SS SD/ED/DD, Synchromesh mode usable with SpartaDOS X
- and DOS XL only. 72Kbps under SpartaDOS X, 37Kbps under DOS XL. Z-80 cpu
- RAM-Charger--expansion card contains 64K RAM + software, for CP/M support
- KARIN MAXI DS SD/ED/DD/QD
- L.E. Systems LEDS5-01 SS SD/DD master, 134.4Kbps, 800 only
- CP/M expansion: 4MHz Z80, 64K RAM
- L.E. Systems LEFDC-04 SS SD Four drives, copies a disk in 22 secs, 800 only
- L.E. Systems LEFDC-08 SS SD Eight drives, copies a disk in 22 secs, 800 only
- LDW Super 2000 SS SD/DD, 19.2Kbps or 67Kbps
- image: http://romualdl.multimania.com/images/atari/super2000.jpg
- LDW CA2001 SS SD/DD, 19.2Kbps or 38.4Kbps "California Access"
- image: http://romualdl.multimania.com/images/atari/ca2001.jpg
- LDW CA2002 DS SD/ED/DD,19.2Kbps,70Kbps w/SpartaDOS. "Calif. Access"
- Micro MainFrame MF-1681 SS SD/DD, printer port, 4K to 54K printer buffer,
- hard disk firmware included, master, Z-80 CPU w/ 16K to 64K RAM for CP/M,
- TRSDOS, MaxiDOS A, and OASIS. see: http://www.qnet.com/~dons/mmf.html
- Micro MainFrame MF-1682 dual drives version of MF-1681
- Percom RFD40-S1 SS SD/DD, master
- Percom RFD40-S2 SS SD/DD dual drives, master
- Percom RFD44-S1 DS SD/DD, master
- Percom RFD44-S2 DS SD/DD dual drives, master
- (80-track RFDs hinted at http://www.atarimagazines.com/v1n2/newproducts.html)
- Percom AT88 SS SD, master
- Percom AT88-S1 PD SS SD/DD, printer port, master
- Percom AT88-S2 PD SS SD/DD dual drives, printer port, master
- Rana 1000 SS SD/ED/DD, stand alone disk formatting
- RCP 810 SS SD
- San Jose Computer Special Edition 810 SS SD, optional Happy Warp Speed 52Kbps
- SWP ATR8000 4MHz Z80, 16K RAM, RS232, master, printer port
- or 4MHz Z80, 64K RAM, RS232, master, printer port, CP/M 2.2
- options: 128K or 256K CO-POWER-88 with MS-DOS; CP/M-86
- TOMS 720 DS SD/ED/ID/DD/QD/ID printer port, MYDOS 4.50 on ROM, 70Kbps
- - SS/SD - 40 tracks, 18 sects, 128 bytes = 90 KB
- - SS/ED - 40 tracks, 26 sects, 128 bytes = 130 KB
- - SS/ED - 40 tracks, 18 sects, 256 bytes = 180 KB
- - SS/ID - IBM S-9 - 40 tracks, 9 sects, 512 bytes = 180 KB
- - DS/DD - 40 tracks, 18 sects, 256 bytes = 360 KB
- - DS/QD - 80 tracks, 18 sects, 256 bytes = 720 KB
- - DS/ID - IBM D-9 - 40 tracks, 9 sects, 512 bytes = 360 KB
- - known as Toms-Turbo Drive, Turbo format and speeder is compatible
- with german Engl-Turbo-1050; (tools will work with both drives);
- TOMS 710 DS SD/ED/ID/DD/QD/ID printer port, MYDOS 4.50 on ROM, 67Kbps
- one more format: double sided, 80 tracks, IBM (720 KB)
- also TOMS Navigator on ROM (like Norton Commander);
- known as Toms-Turbo drive; Turbo format and speeder is compatible
- with german Engl-Turbo-1050; (tools will also work with both drives);
- Trak AT-1 SS SD/DD master.upgrade: printer port+4K/16K buffer
- Trak AT-D1 SS SD master, printer port, 4K print buffer.upgrade:16K
- Trak AT-D2 SS SD/DD master, printer port, 4K printbuffer.upgrade:16K
- Trak AT-D4 DS SD/DD, printer port, print buffer
- Trak Champ SS SD master
- Trak Champ2 SS SD/DD master
- Trak AT-S1 SS SD/DD slave
- XFD601B DS SD/ED/DD 70kbps,Top Drive,Synchromesh,UltraSpeed,XF551 compat.
- XFD602B dual DS SD/ED/DD 70kbps,Top Drive,Synchromesh,UltraSpeed,XF551 compat
-
- While any standard "slave" drive will work with "master" drives listed above,
- the following are slave drives marketed specifically to Atari users:
- Access Unlimited ATAR88-A1 SS SD slave
- Access Unlimited ATAR40-A1 SS SD/DD slave
- Concorde C-221S SS SD/DD slave
- Concorde C-222S DS SD/DD slave
- Percom RFD40-A1 SS SD/DD slave
- Percom AT88-A1 SS SD/DD slave
- RCP 100 DS SD/DD, slave
- RCP 200 DS SD/DD dual drives, slave
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 3.6) What kinds of 5.25" floppy disks can I use with my Atari drives?
-
- Russ Gilbert writes:
- If you're talking standard computer store, you can't use those 5 1/4" disks. I
- mean you can't use high density disks. They must be double density to use
- with the 1050. Almost all double density 5 1/4" disks have a hub ring, high
- density disks don't have the hub ring.
-
- RHamiIton5 elaborates: (5/12/01)
- The Atari 8 drives do not have write heads and circuity which can handle the
- type of oxide coating used on the high density floppy media; they cannot write
- reliably to them. The hub ring has just become a sort of marker to distinguish
- the high density from the standard double density diskettes.
-
- Way back in your apple days of '79-'82, most disks were hubless and only the
- really premium brands offered hubs to prevent slippage and out of round
- problems; you could even buy little kits for adding you own hub rings.
-
- When the home computer swell really hit around '83 and price wars began, hub
- rings became common on good disks and eventually became standard down to
- include most generic bargain diskettes.
-
- The introduction of high density 5.25's required a different coercivity (=
- magnetizability) to get more bits in a smaller space and suitable electronics
- to do it. These disks were produced hubless; was it a differentiating label or
- just unnecessary because of stronger mylar construction? Anyone?
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 3.7) What can I do to extend the life of my floppy disks?
-
- Lee Hart writes (January 2004):
-
- Personally, I have several hundred floppy disks for my Atari 800, Kaypro
- 4, Heathkit H89, and IMSAI 8080 computers that are 10-20 years old. What
- I can say in general:
-
- - Most disks stored in plastic boxes or ziplock baggies survived.
- - Most disks stored in cardboard boxes or just their sleeves
- did NOT survive.
- - Some brands lasted better than others, but I haven't collated the
- information so as to make any kind of definitive statements.
- - If a disk cannot be read, CLEAN THE DISK DRIVE HEAD before attempting
- to read another disk! Otherwise, crap from the bad disk will remain
- on the head, and will scar and destroy any SUBSEQUENT disk you put
- in the drive! (the voice of painful experience).
- - For lack of a better plan, for each of my surviving disks I am:
- a. reformatting another blank disk
- b. copying the data from an old disk onto the blank disk
- Then I have a more recently-produced backup disk in case the
- original disk later fails.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 3.8) How can I use a hard drive with my 8-bit Atari?
-
- Atari never produced hard drives for the 8-bit Atari, but a variety of options
- have been produced over the years. No common DOS version was written with
- drives the size of hard drives in mind, and very few 8-bit Atari users have
- owned hard drives for the Atari. Yet, if you're serious about it, a hard
- drive can make a tremendous addition to your system!
-
- A couple of these options are hard drives designed specifically for the 8-bit
- Atari computers; the rest are interfaces designed to let you attach an
- industry standard SASI, SCSI, or IDE type hard drive. Customized software
- (OS, DOS) is often involved as well.
-
- Larry White contributed to some of these descriptions.
- Additional Corvus info from an eBay auction by Ben Corr, 7/03.
-
- ==> Corvus hard drive (5MB, 10MB, or 20MB)
- Attaches via joystick ports 3 & 4 on the Atari 800 only.
-
- -- Corvus Integrator Board - alows access to the Corvus Disc without the
- Corvus software, so that any DOS that uses standard SIO calls will work.
-
- -- Corvus Multiplexer - used to network up to 8 Ataris to one Corvus Drive
-
- - Corvus Mirror card - back up the drive's contents onto video tape
-
- ==> SupraDrive Atari Hard Disk, by Supra, later K-Products. 10MB or 20MB.
- includes external Hard Disk Interface
- Some limitations on drive type and size and total number of drives in sys.
- Attaches via PBI, or ECI with adapter.
- See: http://www.atarimagazines.com/v5n6/Supradrivefor8Bit.html
- Maybe still available from Bob Klaas?
-
- ==> BTL Hard Disk System
- BTL 2001 Connector for 600XL/800XL PBI
- BTL 2002 Connector for 130XE/800XE/65XE ECI
- BTL 2004 SASI Hard Disk Adapter
- See: http://www.atarimagazines.com/v5n12/BTLHardDisk.html
-
- ==> Multi I/O (MIO) interface, by ICD. Includes:
- - Parallel printer interface
- - Serial interface, for modem or serial printer. will handle 19.2Kbps
- - 256K or 1 MB RAM, for RAMdisk or printer spooler
- - SASI/SCSI interface, supports up to 8 controllers.
- Limited to drives with 256-byte sectors.
- Attaches via PBI, or ECI with adapter.
-
- ==> CSS Black Box interface
- RS-232 Serial Modem Port (19.2Kbps) w/ hardware flow control,
- Parallel Printer Port,SASI/SCSI Hard Disk Port, Operating System Enhancements,
- optional 64K printer buffer. Supports drives with 512-byte sectors.
- PBI/ECI device. Available: http://www.nleaudio.com/css/products/black.htm
-
- ==> SmartIDE project by Bob Woolley
- Uses 256 of the normal 512 byte sectors. Point-to-point wiring project.
- Articles and software at http://www.wolfpup.net/atari/atari.html
-
- ==> IDE Hard Drive Interface 1.0
- By Konrad M. Kokoszkiewicz (Draco) and Jacek Zuk
- PBI device. Logical sector length: 256 or 512 bytes
- Availability???
-
- ==> Fine Tooned Engineering (FTe) Multi I/O II (MIO II) interface
- An IDE interface. Several exist, but it was never really released
-
- ==> msc-IDE Controller
- created by Steve Birmanns and Matthias Belitz
- * real device for the parallel-port (PBI/ECI) of the Atari XL/XE
- * up to 240 partitions per harddisk supported
- * emulates D1: until D9: of disk devices (access to 9 partitions at one time)
- * full bootable from any partition (with standard XL-OS)
- * write protectition capability
- * supports master/slave configuration
- * more than 30 KB/s file access with SPARTA-DOS 3.2 gx (reading)
- * more than 10 KB/s file access with SPARTA-DOS 3.2 gx (writing)
- * software partially supports CD-ROM and ZIP drives.
- Sold out.
- http://www.birmanns.de/atari/
-
- ==> Gary Morton's BadSector"A" Project
- Wants to connect his IDE drive to the SIO bus.
- http://www.alma.demon.co.uk/Atari/AtariProjects.html
-
- ==> MyIDE interface and software by Mr.Atari, Sijmen Schouten
- Point-to-point wiring project. Different units for 800 and XL, including a
- cartridge version for the XL.
- http://home.wanadoo.nl/mr.atari/
-
- ==> SIO2IDE, by Marek Mikolajewski (MMSoft)
- The SIO2IDE is a simple interface that allows you to attach any IDE Disk
- Drive to your 8-bit Atari computer. Latest interface version has the
- following main features:
-
- * ATARI side:
- - uses standard Atari SIO at a speed of 19200 baud
- - works with Atari High Speed SIO (US and Happy) at a speed of 52000 baud
- - emulates Atari disks D1: to D8:
- - can be used with any Atari DOS and OS
- - can be used without any problems with other SIO devices (disk drivers,
- printers, modems, SIO2PC, second SIO2IDE etc)
- - can be easy installed inside your Atari with 2.5' laptop HD
- - is easy to configure via special fdisk.com utility software
- (changing disks sequence and active directory)
- * IDE device side:
- - all IDE ATA/ATAPI devices can be used: Disk Drives (2.5' and 3.5'),
- CD-ROMs, Compact Flash cards etc.
- - supports PC file systems, FAT16 and FAT32
- - supports CD file system, ISO9660
- - supports ATR disk images (SD, DD up to 16MB)
- - supports directory change (multiconfig)
- - is easy to configure, many text configuration files (sio2ide.cfg) can
- be stored in different directories
- - disk configuration can be checked by special checkfs.exe PC utility
- NOTE: checkfs.exe does NOT work with HDD connected via USB port
- - standard disk utilities can be used (defrag.exe, scandisk.exe etc)
- * USB port side:
- - interface works as Mass Storage Class device (removable drive)
- - no drivers are needed for Windows 2K, ME, XP
- - driver for Win98 is included in this SIO2IDE package
-
- http://www.atari.cuprum.com.pl/sio2ide.htm
-
- ==> Nathan Hartwell's IDE projects
- http://www.magelair.com/
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 4.1) What are the Atari 820, 822, and 825 Printers?
-
- The following printers were produced by Atari and styled to match the 400/800
- computers.
-
- Atari 820 Printer:
- - 40-column impact printer
- - 5x7 dot matrix
- - 40 characters per line, upper & lower case alpha
- - horizontal and vertical alphanumeric characters
- - 6507 microprocessor, 6532 RAM I/O chip, 2K ROM
- - 40 characters per second
- - uses Standard Roll Paper/adding machine paper
-
- Atari 822 Thermal Printer: ( = Trendcom Model 100 )
- - 37 characters per second
- - 10 characters per inch
- - 40 characters per line, upper/lower case and point graphics
- - 5x7 dot matrix
-
- Atari 825 80-Column Printer ( = Centronics 737 )
- - 3 character sets:
- monospaced 7x8 dot matrix at 10 characters per inch
- monospaced condensed at 16.7 cpi
- proportionately spaced Nx9 dot matrix at avg of 14 cpi (N=6..18)
- - all characters can be elongated (printer double width)
- - characters per line: 80 at 10 cpi; 132 at 16.7 cpi
- - speed: 50 cps at 10 cpi; 83 cps at 16.7 cpi; 79 cps avg. proportional
- - print buffer: 1200 dot columns
- - paper: roll, fanfold, or cut sheets
- - requires Atari 850 Interface Module or equivalent
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 4.2) What are the Atari 1020, 1025, 1027, and 1029 Printers?
-
- The following printers were produced by Atari and styled to match the XL
- series computers.
-
- Atari 1020 Color Printer:
- ( = Commodore 1520 / Oric MCP40 / Tandy/Radio Shack CGP-115 /..; made by ALPS)
- - 4-color graphics: (black, red, blue, green). optional 8-pen rainbow package
- - alphanumberics and X,Y plotting capability
- - 10 cps (40-column mode)
- - 20, 40 and 80-column modes
- - horizontal and vertical alphanumerics, English and International chr sets
- - water soluble ink pen technology
- - 4-pen barrel print head
- - microprocessor
- - paper: standard roll paper (40 column width)
- - AtariGraphics cassette software included
-
- Atari 1025 80-Column Printer: ( = Okidata ML80 )
- - 40 cps (80-column 10 cpi mode)
- - 5 cpi expanded (40 col), 10 cpi (80 col), 16.7 cpi condensed (132-col)
- - 5x7 character dot matrix
- - buffer: 132 chrs at 16.7 cpi, 80 chrs at 10 cpi
- - paper: roll,fanfold,single sheets. optional:roll paper holder, tractor feed
-
- Atari 1027 Letter Quality Printer: ( = Mannesmann Tally Riteman LQ.)
- - fully formed characters, prestige elite 12)
- - 12 characters per inch (80 columns)
- - 20 characters per second
- - single sheets or roll paper
-
- Atari 1029 Programmable Printer ( by Seikosha)
- - 7-pin dot matrix, same as Commodore MPS-801
- - Released for Europe & Canada (not USA)
- - Rich_N_Feymus says:
- I think its a SEIKOSHA GP500, but not 100% sure. However, the
- Commodore MPS-801 ribbons should be much easier to find.
- - The Tandy DMP 110 is another model reported to be the same as the 1029.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 4.3) What are the Atari XMM801 and XDM121 Printers?
-
- The following printers were produced by Atari and styled to match the XE
- series computers.
-
- Atari XMM801 Printer: ( = SHINWA CP80 )
- - 80 columns, dot matrix
- - friction feed or pin feed
- - pica 10 cpi, double width pica 5 cpi, elite 12 cpi,double width elite 6 cpi,
- condensed 16.5 cpi, double width condensed 8.25 cpi
- - Ribbon: Commodore 1526 and the Mannesman-Tally Spirit 80
-
- Atari XDM121 Printer:
- - 80 column, daisy wheel--letter quality
- - underlining, subscripts, superscripts
- - friction feed paper
- - Ribbon: Silver Reed CF130, Olivetti ET201,ET221,Nu-Kote NK136
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 4.4) What other printers can I use with my Atari?
-
- Some third-party printers were marketed for use with the Atari 8-bit
- computers:
-
- Alphacom 42 + Atari interface cartridge
- - requires 850 Interface or equivalent
- - thermal
- - 4 1/2" width paper
- - supports complete ATASCII character set
-
- Axiom AT-100 / Seikosha AT-100 / Seikosha GP-100A Graphic Printer
- - built-in Atari interface, cable and connector, 2nd SIO port for daisy-chain
- - dot matrix
- - early model 30-cps, later version 50 cps
- - Graph-AX graphics software package
-
- Axiom GP-550AT (by Seikosha)
- - built-in Atari interface, cable and connector, 2nd SIO port
- - dot matrix
- - 86 cps draft, 43 cps NLQ
- - Graph-AX graphics software package
-
- Axiom GP-700AT (by Seikosha)
- - built-in Atari interface, cable and connector, 2nd SIO port
- - 4 hammer print heads, 4-color ribbon cartridge
- - 25 colors
- - 50 cps
- - Graph-AX graphics software package
-
- Epson HomeWriter 10
- - plug-in cartridge interface for the Atari
- - 80 column dot-matrix printer
- - draft quality printing at 100 cps and near letter quality at 16 cps
-
- General Electric GE 3-8100 / TXP 1000
- - GE Printer Interface Module for Atari
- - dot-matrix
- - 50 cps draft, 25 cps NLQ
-
- Okidata Okimate 10 Personal Color Printer
- - available Plug 'n Print Interface for Atari
- - a thermal printer.
- - single-sheet or tractor-feed paper.
- - 26 colors
- - 240 words per minutes
-
- Beyond the above printer models, most any "industry-standard" line printer can
- work well with the Atari. For many years, most printers marketed for home use
- could be classified into one of two categories: parallel or serial interface.
- Parallel line printers are much more commonly used than serial line printers,
- with the Epson MX/FX/LX series defining the market.
-
- The most common way to use an industry standard printer with the Atari has
- been to attach it through the 15-pin 8-bit parallel port of the Atari 850
- Interface Module or equivalent (such as the ICD P:R: Connection). One gotcha
- here is that the 850's parallel port is DB15, where the PC world ended-up
- standardizing on a DB25 configuration. So you need to find or build a cable
- that provides the DB15 connector for the Atari end (and Centronics-type
- parallel connector on the printer end) when attaching a standard parallel
- printer to the Atari through an Atari 850 or equivalent.
-
- Many 3rd-party disk drives for the Atari (along with the XEP80 Interface
- Module) do include a DB25 parallel printer port, rendering the need for an
- Atari-specific printer cable unnecessary.
-
- The Atari 850 Interface Module and equivalents also provide standard DB9
- serial RS232C ports, permitting use of standard serial line printers with the
- Atari. But this is much less common than parallel, both in the Atari world
- and in the industry at large.
-
- Some folks have connected more modern inkjet and laser printers with parallel
- connections to the 8-bit Atari with success. Graphics printouts from the
- Atari may be less than ideal (look for a printer with an Epson MX/FX/LX
- printer series emulation mode), but these types of printers should work fine
- for plain text output if they can handle simple line print jobs. Anyone want
- to contribute their experiences to be included here?
-
- Bob Woolley wrote on Sun, 14 Apr 2002:
- I use HP LaserJet 4Ps on my Ataris. They are one of the last front panel
- selectable cheap printers - from which you can select your default fonts,
- etc. The newer laser printers can only set fonts and operating modes thru
- the interface, not impossible, but not as easy as selecting on the panel.
- This does allow you to print just about any point size of the internal
- fonts in the printer on your Atari.
-
- Either way, you really have to do a little work to get properly formatted
- output from a word processor. I have managed to use the proportional font
- setting with AtariWriter and printer driver creation utilities to get good
- results.
-
- Mathy van Nisselroy provides an AtariWriter printer driver for the HP LaserJet
- here: http://www-users.rwth-aachen.de/mathy.van_nisselroy/stuff.htm
-
- Modern printers designed for home markets now tend to provide USB connectors.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 5.1) What are the Atari 830, 835, 1030, XM301, and SX212 Modems?
-
- A MODulator/DEModulator translates digital information from your computer into
- acoustic tones that can be sent and received, from modem to modem, via
- standard telephone lines.
-
- Atari produced several modems for use with the 8-bit Atari computers:
-
- Atari 830 Acoustic Modem: ( = Novation 'CAT' )
- - a stand-alone, acoustically coupled, frequency shift keying (FSK) modem
- - up to 300 bits per second
- - Bell 103/113 modem compatible
- - requires Atari 850 Interface Module or equivalent
-
- Atari 835 Direct Connect Modem:
- - 300 bps
- - Bell 103/113 modem compatible
-
- Atari 1030 Direct Connect Modem:
- - 300 bps
- - Bell 103/113 modem compatible
- - built-in ModemLink software.
- - 2 SIO ports
-
- Atari XM301 Modem:
- - 300 bps
- - Bell 103/113 modem compatible
- - with XE Term disk software
- - permanent SIO cable, must be at end of SIO chain
- - draws its power from the computer via SIO
-
- Atari SX212 Modem:
- - SIO & DB25 RS232 serial ports, must be at end of SIO chain
- - 1200 baud
- - Bell 103/113/212A modem compatible
- - rarely with SX-Express! disk software.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 5.2) What other modems can I use with my Atari?
-
- Some third-party modems were marketed for use with the Atari 8-bit
- computers:
-
- ==> Microconnection, by Microperipheral Corp.
- 300 bps, Bell 103 compatible, T-SMART software, pulse dialing (not touch tone)
- Four versions:
- buss-decoding version does not require 850 Interface or equivalent, includes
- DB25 parallel printer interface, with or without autodial
- Plain version requires 850 Interface or equivalent, with or without autodial
- and autoanswer
-
- ==> MPP-1000C, by Microbits Peripheral Products
- 300 baud, joystick port 2, Smart Terminal cartridge
-
- ==> MPP-1000E, by Microbits Peripheral Products
- 300 baud, joystick port 2, Smart Term software
- From: "Steven J Tucker" Sun, 13 Jan 2002 16:14:38 -0500
- The 1000E..had this strange problem in that it could never hang up the phone
-
- ==> MPP-1200A, by Microbits Peripheral Products
- Released? Vaporware?
- 1200 bps, joystick port 2
-
- ==> 300 AT, by Supra (same as MPP-1000E)
- 300 baud, joystick port 2, Smart Term software
-
- ==> 1200 AT, by Supra
- 1200 baud, Hayes compatible, connects to SIO via SupraVerter/R-Verter cable,
- Smart Terminal software
-
- ==> Volksmodem, by Anchor Automation
- 300 baud, 'F' Cable permits connection to joystick port 2
-
- ==> Q-MODEM, by Quantum Microsystems
- 300 baud, two SIO connectors, QuanTerm disk or cartridge
-
- Beyond the above modem models, most any "industry-standard" external serial
- modem can work well with the Atari. These have been commonly sold for PCs for
- many years. The Hayes Smartmodem more or less defined the market for these,
- initially.
-
- One common way to use an industry standard external serial modem with the
- Atari is to connect it to the SIO port via an Advanced Interface Devices
- (A.I.D., later Supra) R-Verter Serial Bus Modem Adapter cable, or
- equivalent.
-
- The other common way to use an industry standard external serial modem with
- the Atari is to attach it through the 9-pin RS232C serial port of the Atari
- 850 Interface Module or equivalent (such as the ICD P:R: Connection). One
- gotcha here is that the serial port on the 850 is DB9 female, where the PC
- world ended up standardizing on a DB9 male connector for this purpose. But
- gender converters are readily available.
-
- For using modems at speeds of 2400 bps and up with the Atari, it will be
- useful to have an understanding of data flow control. Here is a definition
- of flow control from www.modems.com:
-
- Often, one modem in a connection is capable of sending data much faster than
- the other can receive. Flow control allows the receiving modem to tell the
- other to pause while it catches up. Flow control exists as either software,
- or XON/XOFF, flow control, or hardware (RTS/CTS) flow control. With software
- flow control, when a modem needs to tell the other to pause, it sends a
- certain character, usually Control-S. When it is ready to resume, it sends a
- different character, such as Control-Q. Software flow control's only
- advantage is that it can use a serial cable with only three wires. Since
- software flow control regulates transmissions by sending certain characters,
- line noise could generate the character commanding a pause, thus hanging the
- transfer until the proper character (such as Control-Q) is sent. Also,
- binary files must never be sent using software flow control, as binary files
- can contain the control characters. Hardware, or RTS/CTS, flow control uses
- wires in the modem cable or, in the case of internal modems, hardware in the
- modem. This is faster and much more reliable than software flow control.
-
- Some 2400 bps modems, and probably all modems with 9600 bps speed capabilities
- and up, normally use V.42 standard error correction and V.42bis standard data
- compression. But V.42 requires either software or hardware flow control, and
- V.42bis requires hardware flow control (and V.42 error correction).
-
- Hardware flow control is not available with the Atari 850's serial ports.
-
- As a result, just before dialing out with your Atari telecom software, it's
- usually desirable, if not necessary, to disable your modem's flow control.
-
- The Hayes modem command to disable flow control looks like:
- AT&K0
-
- The top speed of the Atari 850's serial ports is 9600 bps.
-
- Clay Halliwell offers a tip on utilizing 9600 bps through the 850 Interface:
- On 11 Feb 1996, Marc G. Frank said:
-
- > I'm having problems getting a modem attached to my Atari 850 to
- > communicate at 9600 baud. When I set my communications program to 2400
- > baud, everything works fine. However, when I set it to 9600 baud, the
- > modem echoes my characters but doesn't act on them. That is, at 2400,
-
- The problem with the 850 is that some of them (like mine) don't produce a
- PERFECT 9600 baud signal. As a result modems can't train on it, and while
- they will echo characters back, for some nitpicky reason they won't pick up
- on the "AT" attention code.
-
- The solution is to do all your dialing at 2400 baud, but set the S37
- register to force the modem to try to connect at 9600. Then switch your
- Atari to 9600 after connecting.
-
- Through the use of an ICD MIO or a CSS Black Box, it is possible to utilize
- modems at speeds up to 14.4 Kbps (V.32bis) at full speed with no loss of data.
- The serial R: device handler for the Black Box supports hardware flow control
- natively. Optional for the Black Box, but essential for the MIO, is the
- HyperSpeed handler by Len Spencer.
-
- Hyperspd.arc is available at http://members.aol.com/lenspencer/atari8.htm
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 6.1) What is the Atari 850 Interface Module?
-
- While the Atari's SIO and controller ports did not conform to established
- industry standards, Atari produced the 850 Interface Module to address this
- issue. The 850 connects to the SIO port on the Atari, and provides:
-
- - four 9-pin serial EIA RS232C ports
- - One 15-pin 8-bit parallel Centronics-type port
-
- Many "industry standard" (of the time) printers, modems, and various other
- devices can be used with the Atari computer in combination with an 850
- Interface Module.
-
- Early 850's are in an all metal (black) case, but most are in a plastic beige
- case matching the 400/800 computers. Other features:
- - programmable baud rate on any port, including:
- 75, 110, 134.5, 150, 300, 600, 1200, 1800, 2400, 4800, and 9600 bps;
- baudot speeds of 60, 66, 75, 100 words per minute
- - uses standard ASCII. Baudot support for radio-teletype (RTTY).
-
- PINOUTS
-
- 850 R1: Serial port DB9P:
- 5 4 3 2 1 ____________________________
- 9 8 7 6 / DB25P
- 1. DTR - Data Terminal Ready (out) + 20
- 2. CRX - Signal (carrier) Detect (in) + 8
- 3. XMT - Transmitted Data (out) + 2
- 4. RCV - Received Data (in) + 3
- 5. GND - Signal Ground + 7
- 6. DSR - Data Set Ready (in) + 6
- 7. RTS - Request to Send (out) + 4
- 8. CTS - Clear to Send (in) + 5
- No connection to shield + Frame - to the shield wire
-
- 850 R2: Serial port DB9P:
- 5 4 3 2 1
- 9 8 7 6
- 1. DTR
- 3. Send Data
- 4. Receive Data
- 5. Signal Ground
- 6. DSR
-
- 850 R3: Serial port DB9P:
- 5 4 3 2 1
- 9 8 7 6
- 1. DTR
- 3. Send Data
- 4. Receive
- 5. Signal Ground
- 7. RTS
- 8. -8 Volts
-
- 850 R4: Serial port DB9P:
- 5 4 3 2 1
- 9 8 7 6
- 1. Send Data +
- 3. Send Data -
- 7. Receive Data +
- 9. Receive Data - (20 mA)
-
- 850 P: Parallel port DB15P:
- 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ____________________________
- 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 / 36 pin Centronics (male)
- 1. Data Strobe + 1
- 2. D0 + 2
- 3. D1 + 3
- 4. D2 + 4
- 5. D3 + 5
- 6. D4 + 6
- 7. D5 + 7
- 8. D6 + 8
- 9. Data Pull up (+5v) +
- 10. - +
- 11. Ground + 16
- 12. Fault + 32
- 13. Busy + 11
- 14. - +
- 15. D7 + 9
- No connection to shield + Frame - to the shield wire
-
- Because the 850 was relatively expensive, provided more capabilities than the
- average user was looking for, and was at times unavailable from Atari despite
- high demand, there were many 3rd-party interfaces designed to provide some
- compatible subset of the 850's features. Perhaps the most prominent example
- of such a product is the P:R: Connection from ICD.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 6.2) What is the Atari XEP80 Interface Module?
-
- This text written by Thomas Raukamp.
-
- Since the development of the Atari 8-bit line of computers in 1979, users
- wanted better text displays than the default 40x24. There has been some
- attempts to satisfy this need, like the Austin-Franklin board or the Ace
- 80/80xl cartridge. For more informations about these modifications read The
- Atari 8-bit Hardware Upgrade FAQ from David A. Paterson.
-
- The Atari XEP80 Interface Module is Atari's entry to the 80 column field. It
- lets a XL, XE, 400 or 800 computer system display a full 80 columns across
- your monitor screen. The XEP80 provides a 256-character wide by 25-line
- display window. Up to 80 characters are displayed horizontally at once, and
- you can scroll horizontally all the way to the 256th character, depending on
- the application you're running. The XEP80 is connected to your system via a
- joystick port.
-
- The XEP80 Module interprets commands from the computer for screen display or
- output to a printer. The module is supplied with an industry-standard 8-bit
- parallel port so you can connect a parallel printer to your Atari 8-bit (I
- even use a HP LaserJet IV on my 130XE ;) ).
-
- All programs that use the standard screen call (E:) should be compatible with
- the XEP80 Module. The software provided by Atari supports a 320x200 graphics
- mode - this mode only support direct bit images. Note that you can't use all
- of the standard graphic capabilities of the Atari anymore.
-
- Although Atari recommends a monochrome monitor for usage with the XEP80, it
- runs fine with any type of composite monitor. The output looks great on my
- Commodore 1084 for example.
-
- Along with the module comes a software-package containing an AUTORUN.SYS file,
- which is the XEP80 handler. If you want to use the module with an application
- that is compatible with the XEP80, which has it's own AUTORUN.SYS file, you
- can append the application's AUTORUN.SYS on the module's AUTORUN.SYS.
- ***********************
- Editors for the XEP80:
- AtariWriter 80 by Atari
- TurboWord by MicroMiser
- emacs subset by Stan Lackey
- MAE and its previous standalone editor ED
-
- XEP80 P: Parallel port:
- 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
- 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14
- 1. Strobe
- 2-9. Parallel Data
- 10. Not Used
- 11. Busy
- 12-17. Not Used
- 18-25. Ground
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 6.3) What accessories did Atari produce for their 8-bit computers?
-
- This should be a complete list of Atari "CX" accessories, two or three digit
- numbers, marketed for use with the 8-bit computers.
-
- CX30-04 Paddle Controller Pair
- CX40-04 Joystick Controller Pair
- CX40 Single Joystick Controller
- CX41 Joystick Repair Kit
- CX22 Trak-Ball Controller
- CX23 Kid's Controller
- CX24 Pro-Line Joystick
- CX42 Remote Control Wireless Joysticks
- CX50 Keyboard Controller Pair
- CX70 Light Pen (beige; the original Atari light pen)
- CX75 Light Pen (+ Atarigraphics cartridge)
- CX77 Touch Tablet ( + AtariArtist cartridge)
- CX78 Joypad (shipped with the 7800 in Europe)
- CX80 Trak-Ball
- CX81 I/O Data Cord (5 ft)
- CX82 Monitor Cable (Black and White Monitor)
- CX85 Numerical Keypad ( + software Handler on diskette)
- CX86 Printer Cable (included with 825 Printer)
- CX87 Interface/Modem Cable (included with 830 Acoustic Modem)
- CX88 Interface/Terminal Cable (null modem)
- CX89 Monitor Cable (Color Monitor)
- CX418 The Home Manager Kit (Personal Financial Management, Home Filing Manager
- -or- Family Finances, The Home Filing Manager)
- CX419 The Bookkeeper Kit/Atari Accountant (The Bookkeeper disk, CX85 keypad)
- CX481 The Entertainer (Star Raiders, (Missile Command or Pac-Man),2 joysticks)
- CX482 The Educator (410, BASIC cart., States & Capitals cassette)
- CX483 The Programmer (BASIC, BASIC Ref. Manual, BASIC Self-Teaching Guide)
- CX484 The Communicator (850, 830, TeleLink I cart.)
- CX488 The Communicator II (835, TeleLink II cart.)
- ????? The Arcade Champ (Pac-Man, Qix, 2 joysticks, cartridge storage case)
- ????? The BASIC Tutor I (Inside Atari BASIC bk,Invitation to Programming 2&3)
- CX852 8K RAM Memory Module (for 800 computer)
- CX853 16K RAM Memory Module (for 800 computer)
- XG-1 Light Gun (+ Bug Hunt cart.)
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 6.4) What "vaporware" computers/peripherals were never released?
-
- Atari was a HUGE company, dominating Silicon Valley, and included a massive
- research and development department which famously designed many, many
- products that never saw the light of day. Here is a brief listing of many
- Atari hardware model designations known to have existed internally to the
- company, but which were never sold and are extremely rare (if they ever
- existed at all). For definitive information on unreleased Atari products,
- see:
-
- Atari Historical Society, http://www.atari-history.com/ (Curt Vendel)
-
- Atari 8-bit vaporware computers: (note some are more vaporous than others)
- 800D (Developers Bus System)
- 1000 Sweet 16 Project, lower end model. Became the 1200XL
- 1000-X Sweet 16 Project, higher end model. Became the 1200XL
- 1200 1200XL internally, many slight cosmetic differences
- 1200XLS 1200XL Show prototype, top-mounted cartridge slot
- 600 early 600XL, all black case, joyports on the left, missing PBI
- 800XL brown prototype
- 800XLD low-cost 1450XLD,no modem&speech,incl disk drive controller&FREDDIE
- 800XLCR Cost Reduced, with CGIA chip ("Keri"), which is a combined GTIA&ANTIC
- 900XLF early name for 65XE
- 1250XLD Earlier name for the 1450XLD
- 1400XL brown prototype
- 1400XL 800XL plus modem, speech synth.(looks like a 1200XL)
- 1450XL 1400XL plus room for 2 internal 5.25" drives(controller not included)
- 1450XLD 1400XL plus 5.25" floppy drive (Epson SD521 360K disk drives)
- 1600XL Amiga/Amiga-like.Now appears that 1850XLD was the model name for this
- 1650XLD to use 1450XLD case and 1200XL keyboard
- 1850XLD "Mickey" Atari clone of the Amiga Lorraine
- 65XEP 65XE plus 3.5" floppy drive, 5" green monitor
- 65XEM 65XE plus AMY sound chip
-
- Atari 8-bit vaporware peripherals: (note some are more vaporous than others)
- 1027 PLUS -daisy-wheel, 80 columns
- 1053 -looks like a 1050, but supports DS/DD 360K format
- 1055 -a 1050 (SS/ED) with a 3.5" mechanism
- 1060 CP/M Add-On Module -"SweetPea" Z-80 CPU, 64K RAM, CP/M 2.2, 80col display
- 1090 XL Expansion System-5 PBI slots, CP/M/MS-DOS/Apple II compatible
- XM128 -12" green monitor w/ built-in 80-column card
- XC1411 -composite 14" color monitor (Goldstar)
- XF521 -5.25" floppy drive - 1050 compatible, in XE style
- XF351 -a 3.5" drive.
- XC35 -an XF551 with a 3.5" mechanism
- XTM201 -non-impact printer
- XTC201 -XE Thermal Color Printer
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 6.5) What are the power requirements for my Atari components?
-
- Thanks to Matthias Belitz for the European data in this section. I need more
- international help!
-
- As with the rest of this FAQ list, please let me know if any of this
- information conflicts with the units you have.
-
- The most important information is the voltage (in volts) required, and
- whether you need a transformer (AC output) or an adapter (DC output).
- The power (in voltamps or watts) and current (in amperes) specifications
- of the original equipment as presented here should be regarded as
- minimum values. Higher-than-specified power and current capacities are
- entirely usable, and often preferable because such supplies run cooler
- and last longer.
-
- Direct Current (DC):
- Power (in watts) = current (in amps) * voltage (in volts)
-
- Alternating Current (AC):
- Apparent Power (in voltamps) = current (in amps) * voltage (in volts)
- Effective/True Power (in watts) = current (in amps) * voltage (in volts)
- * (cosine of the angle of lag)
-
- N O R T H A M E R I C A INPUT = 115-120 V AC, 50/60Hz
- ========================
- AC supplies (external transformers)
- 9 V AC 5.4 VA (600 mA) Atari#CO62195/CO17539
- 1030
-
- 9 V AC 4.5 VA (500 mA) Atari#CO61516
- 1010
-
- 9 V AC 15.3 VA (1.7 A) Atari#CO14319
- 400,800,822,850,1010,1200XL
-
- 9 V AC 18 VA (2.0 A) Atari#CA014748/CA016804
- 400,800,822,850,1010,1200XL,810
-
- 9 V AC 31 VA (3.4 A) Atari#CO17945
- 400,800,822,850,1010,1200XL,810,1020,1050,XF551
-
- 9 V AC 50 VA (5.6 A) Atari#CA017964
- 400,800,822,850,1010,1200XL,810,1020,1050,XF551
-
- 9.5 V AC 40 VA (4.2 A) Atari#CO61636
- 1027,1090XL
-
- 20 V AC 6.6 VA (330 mA) Atari#CO60479/CA060535
- 835
-
- 20 VAC 8 VA (400 mA) Novation#901017
- 830
-
- 24 V AC 3.6 VA (150 mA) Atari#CA016751
- 830
-
- DC supplies (external adapters)
- 5 V DC 1.0 A (5.0 W) Atari#CO70042
- 600XL,65XE,XE Game System
-
- 5 V DC 1.5 A (7.5 W) Atari#CO61982/CA024814
- 600XL,800XL,65XE,130XE,XE Game System
- 4 varieties, detailed by Ben Poehland in Current Notes v10n9 Nov 1990:
- Type I: The Beauty Queen, 1983-84, made in Hong Kong
- matches XL hardware, repairs easy
- Type II: The Ugly Clunker, 1984-85, made in Taiwan
- all black, external RF interference supression box,
- entirely permanently sealed, unrepairable
- Type III: The Black Beauty, 1985, made in Taiwan, uncommon
- like Type I but all black, simplest design/easiest repairs
- Type IV: The Peanut, 1985-?, made in Taiwan
- black with silver plate, difficult/tedious repairs
-
- 6 V DC 300 mA (1.8 W) Atari#???????
- "410P"
-
- 9 V DC 500 mA (4.5 W) Atari#CO16353/CA014034/CO10472/CX261
- XEP80,SX212,2600 (center positive)
-
- 9.3 V DC 1.93 A (18 W) Atari#CO18187
- Indus GT,5200
-
- 11.5 V DC 1.95 A (22 W) Atari#CA019141
- Indus GT,5200
-
- 5 V / 12 V DC 1.1 A (5.5 W / 13.2 W) Atari#CO62297/DV1450
- 1400XL,1450XLD
-
-
- E U R O P E (and elsewhere?) INPUT = 220/240 V AC, 50 Hz
- =============================
- AC supplies (external transformers)
- 9 V AC 4.5 VA (0.5 A) Atari#CO61516/34 (UK)
- 1010
-
- 9.3 V AC 15.44 VA (1,66 A) (Atari# not printed)/FW 6799
- 400,800,822,850,1010,1200XL
-
- 9 V AC 27 VA (3.0 A) Atari#CO60592-34 (UK)
- 400,800,822,850,1010,1200XL,810,1020,1050,XF551
-
- DC supplies (external adapters)
- 5 V DC 1.8 A (9.0 W) Atari#CO61763-107
- 600XL,800XL,65XE,130XE,800XE,XE Game System
-
- 5 V DC 1.5 A (7.5 W) Atari#CO61763-34 (UK)
- 600XL,800XL,65XE,130XE,800XE,XE Game System
-
- 5 V DC 1.5 A (7.5 W) Atari#CO61763-11
- 600XL,800XL,65XE,130XE,800XE,XE Game System
- two ones with the same part number, but different cases and different
- input Values :#1, 65XE (Poland, made in Taiwan), Input 22 VA
- #2, 800XL, Input 26 VA
-
- 8.5 V DC Atari#CO61605
- 600XL,800XL,65XE,130XE,800XE,XE Game System
-
-
- M O R E I N F O
- ================
- These draw their power from the SIO +5 V:
- XM301 (60 mA),XC11,XC12,ICD P:R: Connection,Wizztronics MidiMax,R-Verter
-
- Draws power from the 600XL PBI:
- 1064
-
- These have built-in power supplies (plug directly into the wall):
- 410 (except "410P"),815,820,825,1025,1029,XMM801,XDM121
-
- OTHER:
- The ICD Multi I/O (MIO), all versions, can use both AC and DC supplies, BUT:
- stick to voltages of at least 6.2-7.2 V.
- On 2003.09.01 James Bradford wrote: "Doesn't matter what polarity the
- centre is, the MIO has a fullwave bridge rectifer in it.
- AC would be better because the diodes would be used half the time."
- Indus GT: see Atari#CO18187 or CA019141 above. What happens if power
- supplies for the Atari 1050 and Indus GT are mixed? Paul Alhart writes
- (20 Jan 2004): "The Indus requires DC, the 1050 uses AC. Plug an Indus
- supply into a 1050 and it will usually blow the rectifier diodes in the
- 1050. Plug an Atari supply into an Indus and it will blow the fuse in
- the supply. It can damage the mother board as well."
- Rana 1000: 9 VAC 3.4 AMPS
- MPP1000C modem: 9 V DC 200 mA (1.8 W)
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 6.6) What graphic tablets were produced for the Atari?
-
- This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
-
- - Atari Touch Tablet by Atari (came with Atari Artist cart., Micro
- Illustrator compatible),
- - Koala Pad by Koala Industries (came with Koala/Micro Illustrator
- cart.);
- - Powerpad by Chalkboard Inc. (came without software!); the following
- carts were available separately for the Powerpad: Micro Illustrator,
- Leo's Lectric, Micro Maestro, The Programmers Kit, Logic Games, Bear
- Jam (as refered to Antic, September 1984);
- - Animation Station by Suncom (came with Micro-Illustrator cart.);
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 6.7) What lightpens were produced for the Atari?
-
- This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
-
- - Atari Lightpen (came with Atari Graphics cart.; it produces pictures
- with 127 sectors in length, thus not Micro-Painter, nor Micro-
- Illustrator compatible; however appropriate converter programs can be
- found in the public domain, e.g. the Rapid Graphics Converter);
- - Edumate Lightpen (came with a disk with 6 Basic programs; a program
- called Peripheral Vision was available separately from Future House);
- - Tech-Sketch-Lightpen (came in two versions: a) the cheaper version
- which included a disk with Basic programs only and b) the more expensive
- version which included the disk with Basic programs and the Micro-
- Illustrator cartridge);
- - MC-Pen-Lightpen (came with a disk with 4 Basic programs);
- - Reston Lightpen (came with ???);
-
- Note: these infos were taken from Antic, September 1984; I am not sure,
- if all these items were really available as listed...
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 6.8) What lightguns were produced for the Atari?
-
- This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
-
- - Atari LG-1 Lightgun (came in two versions: a) complete with XEGS,
- keyboard, joystick, power supply, tv-cable, Lightgun, FS II cart and
- Bug Hunt cart all in one package and b) in a separate package,
- containing the Lightgun and the Bug Hunt cartridge); thats's why Bug
- Hunt does not have its own package, it was always included with the
- Lightgun package and/or the complete XEGS package...
- - BEST Lightgun by Best Electronics (a sort of selfmade (?) Lightgun);
- - Sega-Lightgun (normally not Atari compatible; but can be converted
- into an Atari compatible lightgun easily);
- - other lightguns (most of these have to be converted)...
-
- Note: After having 3-4 Atari and at least one (converted) Sega lightgun,
- it is my personal impression, that the Atari lightgun merely works ok
- on/with TV-sets (and not at all with a monitor), whereas the Sega lightgun
- works alright on TV's and (most) monitors. Since I never had a Best
- lightgun I cannot comment on this one... (Andreas Magenheimer);
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 6.9) What paddles were produced for the Atari?
-
- This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
-
- - Atari Paddles (usually a pair of Paddles);
- - Telegames Paddles (available as a) a single paddle and b) a pair
- of paddles);
- - Reston Paddles (available as a) a single paddle and b) a pair
- of paddles);
- - and many others...
-
- Note: Both single and duo (pair) paddles are compatible to each other,
- using only one port-connector (only one joystick port). Thus, with a pair
- of paddles you can connect up to 4 paddles (2 pairs) to the XL/XE models
- and up to 8 paddles (4 pairs) to the Atari 400/800 models.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 6.10) What voice/sound synthesis hardware was produced for the
- Atari?
-
- This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
-
- - Voice-Box II by The Alien Group (a software and hardware package);
- - 1400XL/1450XLD Voice Synthesizer (built-in chip inside the extreme rare
- Atari 1400XL/1450XLD models);
- - Talk is Cheap by Ed Stewart, Antic Volume 2 Number 4, July 1983,
- pages 64-66; hardware schematics only (a test/demo program is
- mentioned in the text, but not printed in the magazine!);
- - Cheap-Talk by Lee Brilliant, Analog Computing, issue 29, April 1985,
- pages 59-67; hardware schematics and software demos, for example
- "First Words");
- - many other voice synthesizers (mostly selfmade and based on a chip by
- National Semi Conductor);
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 6.11) What sound-digitizers/samplers were produced for the Atari?
-
- This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
-
- - Parrot (2-Bit) by Alpha Systems, Anthony Ramos;
- - Parrot-2 (2-Bit or 4-Bit?) by Alpha Systems, Anthony Ramos;
- - 2-Bit Replay (2-Bit) by 2Bit-Systems Ltd.
- - Sound N'Sampler (2-Bit) by Ralf David;
- - Sound Digitiser (2-Bit) by Ralf David;
- - Sound-Meister (2-Bit) by Irata;
- - Sound-Digitizer (2-Bit) by Irata;
- - Digitales Mikrofon (2-Bit) by Compyshop;
- - Voice-Master (2-Bit) by Covox Inc.;
- - Analog-Sample-Processor (2-Bit) by Steven Lashower (Analog Magazine);
- - Atari-Sound-Sampler (2-Bit) by Andreas Binner and Harald Schoenfeld
- (german Atari magazin 1/1989, pages 44-49, complete with schematics,
- documentation, sample-program and assembler-source);
- - Alphasys-Sound-Sampler cart. (4-Bit) by ANG/Mirage (released as a mono
- version; a stereo (two Pokeys!) version was promised/planned, but afaik
- never released);
- - ARGS-XE-Sampler (8-Bit) by ABBUC regional group ARGS (only one or
- two prototypes exist, alas the hardware was never released due to lack
- of (sampling/digitizing) software; maybe a good idea for the hardware
- and software experts out there!);
- - and many others ...
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 6.12) What sound-enhancement upgrades were produced for the Atari?
-
- This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
-
- a) enhancements for stereo-sound:
-
- - POPS, polyphonic-pokey-sound by Lee Brilliant (stereo-support with one
- Pokey!); refer to Analog Computing, issue 66, november 1988, pages
- 54-60; only 1-2 programs exist for this mod., see: 8.14 stereo-software
- for the Atari;
-
- - stereo with two Ataris (and thus 2 Pokey chips); use computer/pokey 1
- for the left channel and computer/pokey 2 for the right; no special
- hardware required for this trick (but specially programmed software!);
- see also: 8.14 stereo-software for the Atari;
-
- - stereo with 2 Pokey chips (in one Atari!); refer to an article written
- by Chuck Steinman (which probably appeared in Atari classic?) on how
- to upgrade your Atari internally with a second Pokey chip; or ask
- Freddy Offenga for a deluxe-stereo-version, that uses a PCB instead of
- the piggy-back method. For a list of software that supports this mod.
- see also: 8.14 stereo-software for the Atari;
-
- - Stereo-Blaster and Stereo-Phaser by Portronic/AMC-Verlag, these were
- hardware add-ons that connected via the monitor jack to the Atari and
- gave you "another" monitor jack and 2 cinch connectors to connect to
- the monitor and/or the hifi-system; various small paddles (4-10,
- depending on the model you have) make it possible to change amplitudes,
- frequencies, etc. and thus generate a "pseudo-stereo" sound. These
- add-ons also amplified the sound and thus made quality recordings of
- Atari sounds much easier. Alas, these hardware add-ons were quite
- expensive and thus not many (less than 100) were sold. Therefore no
- special software is required, every A8 sound can be changed or
- enhanced to "simulated-stereo"...
-
- - Stereo-Blaster-Pro, a hardware add-on by Portronic/AMC-Verlag similar
- to Stereo-Blaster and Stereo-Phaser, but programmable! This add-on had
- only 1 small paddle, to amplify the sound-volume; the stereo-sound
- could be generated via two simple Poke-Statements, a demo-disk therefore
- was included. Alas, not many items were sold and afaik no-one else
- programmed stereo-software for it. See also: 8.14 stereo-software for
- the Atari...
-
- b) other sound enhancements:
-
- - Covox-Sound-Enhancement, originally developed in Poland; with some
- electronic parts and pieces you can upgrade your Pokey's abilities, to
- playback any digitised/sampled sound with 8-Bit resolution, instead of
- its usual 4-Bit digi/sample playback resolution (see also 8.14).
-
- - SID-upgrade, the SID is the standard sound-chip in the C64 computers.
- Some polish freaks/nerds have found a way to include it into an A8,
- but allthough I have seen quite a lot of pictures (for example at
- atariarea.nostalgia.pl) with this mod. and already found 1 or 2
- programs that detect it (for example System Info 2.x by Draco), I
- have not yet found any schematics for this upgrade. Anyway, it exists,
- and with some programming skills it would surely be possible to write
- programs then, that playback SID sounds on those Ataris which have this
- upgrade installed...
-
- - Amie/Amy sound-chip, the Amie sound-chip was originally produced by
- Atari and installed into the 65XEM computer. Alas, it was never
- available to the public and only very few prototypes of this 65XEM
- (maybe less than 10?) do exist. Besides of that RUMOURS say, that
- Atari had quite some problems with this soundchip and never finished
- it completely/successfully. If the rumours are true, then this
- soundchip provided many more sound channels, more octaves and even
- more and better sound power than two Pokeys together (for more infos
- take a look at this URL: )
-
- - guess there are dozens of other sound enhancements, for example sound
- cards (like Adlib, etc.), sound-chips, midi-interfaces, etc. that could
- be attached or converted to the A8; I won't name them all here...(A.M.)
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 6.13) What MIDI enhancements are there for the Atari?
-
- This section by Andreas Magenheimer and Mathy van Nisselroy.
-
- Midi is standard on the Atari ST computers, because it is built-in into
- these computers. Nevertheless, Midi was long before the arrival of the
- ST computers on the market and thus, it is no surprise that there are
- even midi-interfaces and enhancements for the classic 8Bit Ataris. The
- following "types" do exist:
-
- - "Midi-Mate" and "Midi-Track" by Hybrid Arts (USA), comes with hardware
- + software, see reviews & tests in Antic, Analog and other magazines.
- MidiTrack requires 48k RAM, MidiTrack II 64k RAM and MidiTrack III
- 128k RAM (XE compatible, not Axlon compatible). MidiMate features
- MIDI IN+OUT and SYNC IN+OUT ports, but lacks a second SIO plug.
- MMS (MIDI Music System) is a MIDI version of AMS, also sold by Hybrid
- Arts and comes with AMS to MMS converter software...
-
- - "MIDI Master" by 2-Bit Software (UK), comes with hardware+software.
- Features MIDI IN+OUT ports, an extra SIO plug, but no SYNC ports.
- See also reviews and ads in (New) Atari User...
-
- - "MIDI interface" by DIGICOMM (UK), comes with hardware + 'example
- programs'. Features MIDI IN, THRU and OUT ports. There`s no word
- about a second SIO plug or any SYNC ports. See also reviews and ads
- in (New) Atari User...
-
- - "MIDIMAX" by Wizztronics (UK), comes with hardware and software.
- Features MIDI IN+OUT ports and a second SIO plug. The MMS software
- that comes with MidiMax requires 48k RAM and is fully compatible to
- the Hybrid Arts hardware+software. This means, one can use the
- software with both Midi-interfaces or use the interfaces with the
- software of both vendors...
-
- - "Atari-Midi-Interface" by Karlheinz Metscher (appeared in the german
- magazine Computer Kontakt June/July 1986, pages 69-75, complete with
- documentation, schematics and its first program "Midi-Receiver";
- in Computer Kontakt October/November 1986 appeared the second program,
- called "Midi-Disk" - a Midi Recorder and Player program);
-
- - "Midi-Interface for Atari XL/XE" by Ireneusz Kuczek (appeared in the
- german ABBUC magazine, issue 65, pages 3-6); the paper-mag. includes
- a schematic for the midi-interface and some translated descriptions for
- the software (translated from polish to german language), whereas the
- disk-magazine contains the midi-programs "Midiplay Version 1.3" by I.
- Kuczek, "Midi-Recorder Version 1.2" by I.Kuczek, "Rec to Mid" by I.
- Kuczek (a converter program for the IBM-PC!), "Midi-Sequencer V.1.15"
- by Maciej Sygit and "Midi-Pattern-Editor MPE V.2.3" by Radek Sterba.
- These programs and many additional demo sounds are also available in
- the ABBUC PD library (PD numbers 625-632).
-
- - guess there are several other (selfmade) midi-interfaces for the Atari
- 8Bit available, alas they also require a keyboard or synthesizer and
- self-created (or downloaded) midi-sounds can only be played back via
- such a midi-interface and the affore mentioned keyboard/synthesizer.
- As of yet, it seems there exists no midi-player program, that can
- playback any midi-sound via the Atari Pokey chip, nor any converter
- program, which can convert *.MID sounds into other Atari sound formats
- (that could be played back on the Atari then)...
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 6.14) What graphics enhancements are there for the Atari?
-
- This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
-
- - some 80 column interfaces made by Atari and third parties. Allthough
- these interfaces are there to provide a better text display with 80
- chars. per line, they can somehow be used as a simple graphic
- enhancement; think I have seen a graphic demo for the XEP-80 device
- somewhere, that used a higher graphic resolution in Gr. 0 or Gr. 8
- and also provided some animation (not only text, but also graphics),
- alas I don`t remember the name of that demo...;
- - the ultra-rare 1090XL box and probably graphic cards for it (who-ever
- owns this item, doesn't use it, who-ever would like to have + use it,
- doesn't own it or cannot afford it!);
- - more seriously: Antic and GTIA upgrade by Chuck Steinman. Afaik, an
- article about that topic appeared in Atari Classic, since I do not own
- it, I can merely speculate that it adds a second Antic and GTIA for
- higher resolution and/or more colours...;
- - many selfmade upgrades, using graphic chips or graphic cards from other
- computers...
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 6.15) What types of memory upgrades are there for the Atari?
-
- This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
-
- Just a short overview here, for a more detailed description (table), see
- also 8.10 kinds of atari ramdisks (and 8.11 + 8.12 for programs that
- support or require a ramdisk). The following memory enhancements do exist:
- - Atari 400/800: ramdisks on memory boards, that fit into the normal
- Atari 800 memory slots (Axlon and Mosaic types);
- - Atari XL/XE: a) internal memory enhancements:
- - piggy-back versions,
- - professionel PCB versions,
- - SIMM-module versions;
- b) external memory enhancements:
- - via XL-Parallel-Bus,
- - via XE-Cart.port+ECI,
- - Flash-ROM cart. versions,
- - other Cartridge versions,
- - RAM-Card versions,
- - SIO-cartridge versions,
- - ...
- Note that many of these XL/XE memory enhancements are just hobbyist or
- selfmade-projects. Most versions which use newer PC technologies
- (Flash-ROM cart., RAM-Card, SIO-cart., etc.) are still under development!
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 6.16) What networking hardware is there for the Atari?
-
- This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
-
- In the late 80`s and early 90`s an american "firm" called Dataque
- developed some networking-computer-hardware to link two or more Ataris
- together, so that multiplayer games are possible, where each user has
- its own computer and tv/monitor screen. The hardware was/is computer
- independant and will run fine on any Atari 8Bit computer (whereas most
- software for it will only work on XL/XE computers). During a 3-4 year
- period of development two different hardware add-ons were developed:
-
- a) Gamelink-1: This hardware was developed in 1989/90. It links two
- computers together via the joystick ports. It is limited to a maximum
- of 2 computers and thus 2 or 6 players, meaning one free port per
- XL/XE computer and 3 free ports per 400/800 computer. However, the
- few existing games for this hardware merely support 2 players, no
- matter, which computer you have...
-
- b) Gamelink-2: This hardware was developed in 1991/92. It links 2 to 8
- computers together via the SIO-port. One computer will then act as
- the master and has to boot up the software (from tape, disk, harddisk,
- etc.) first. Then all other "slave" computers connect to it and boot
- off of this master computer (one after another of course). In Europe
- we call this device "Multilink", mostly because of the games written
- by Bewesoft (Jiri Bernasek) called Multi-Dash, Multi-Race, Multi-Worms.
- A two-computer link-network can easily be done with one SIO cable, just
- open the end of the SIO cable and exchange cables number 3 and 5. You
- now have an easy two-computer (2-4 players) network-cable.
-
- For some available software, that supports this networking-computer
- hardware, see 8.16 which programs support networking computer hardware...
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 6.17) Can I attach an ISA card to the Atari?
-
- Yes, RoBu (Roland Buhler) of the Stuttgart ABBUC Regional Group has produced
- project plans for an ISA-Bus Interface for Atari 800XL/130XE Computer, ARGS.
- http://www.stud.uni-karlsruhe.de/~un55/Hardware/ISA-Interface/ReadME.html
-
- Carsten Strotmann has released sourcecode showing how to access a Hercules
- video card with the ISA-Bus Interface.
- http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/PgmFardwDriverHerc
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 7.1) What versions of the Atari Operating System (OS) are there?
-
- Most of this section by permission from:
- http://www.student.kun.nl/f.offenga/atari.htm or
- http://members.chello.nl/taf.offenga/atari.htm
-
- Atari 8-bit Operating Systems
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-
- Version 3.3, 6/27/1999.
- By Freddy Offenga (taf.offenga [at] chello.nl (replace " [at] " with "@")
-
-
- 400/800 10kB OS roms
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-
- Rev. TV Date CRC-32 Part Nr(s)
- ~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- A NTSC (?) (?) (?)
- A PAL (?) 0x72b3fed4 CO15199, CO15299, CO12399B
- B NTSC (?) 0x0e86d61d CO12499B, CO14599B, 12399B
- B PAL (?) (?) (?)
-
-
- XL/XE 16kB OS roms
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-
- Rev. System Date CRC-32 Part Nr(s)
- ~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- 10 1200XL 10/26/1982 0xc5c11546 CO60616A, CO60617A
- 11 1200XL 12/23/1982 (?) CO60616B, CO60617B
- 1 600XL 03/11/1983 0x643bcc98 CO62024
- 2 XL/XE 05/10/1983 0x1f9cd270 CO61598B
- 3 800XE 03/01/1985 0x29f133f7 C300717
- 4 XEGS 05/07/1987 0x1eaf4002 C101687
-
-
- (?) This information is missing. If someone can supply this info,
- please write me an e-mail.
-
-
- NOTES:
- The 400/800 O.S's consist of three ROMs (two 4kB and one 2kB).
- The 1200XL contains two ROMs for the OS (8k each), XL/XE's use a single
- 16k ROM and the 16k XEGS OS is stored in a 32k ROM (together with 8k
- BASIC and 8k for Missile Command).
-
-
- Origins of ROM information
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- 400/800 rev.A NTSC Could exist, since the PAL version exists and
- rev.A is mentioned in the rev.B source code.
- james adds (3/8/01):
- Did exist! My parents bought me an Atari 400 w/ 410 back in 1981 for
- entertainment when I was badly injured in a motorcycle accident. A
- year or so later I paid good money ($40 USD or so?) to have the OS A
- upgraded to OS B.
- 400/800 rev.A PAL All info found in two Atari 400's and Atari 800
- ROM module CX801.P
- 400/800 rev.B NTSC Information from a ROM dump and the rev.B source
- listing. The part numbers were listed in the
- catalog from 'Best Electronics'. According to
- 'Mapping the Atari' rev.B ROMs have a 'B' at the
- end of the part number, therefore I figure these
- part numbers are from rev.B.
- 400/800 rev.B PAL Could exist, since the NTSC version exists and
- there's some conditional PAL/NTSC assembly in
- the rev.B source code
- 1200XL rev.10 PAL/NTSC All info found in an Atari 1200XL. The XL/XE
- rev.2 source code refers to it as rev.10.
- 'Best Electronics' calls it rev.A.
- 1200XL rev.11 PAL/NTSC Refered to rev.11 by the XL/XE source code.
- 'Best Electronics' calls it rev.B.
- XL/XE rev.1 All info found in an Atari 600XL
- XL/XE rev.2 All info found in an Atari 800XL
- XL/XE rev.3 All info found in an 800XE
- XL/XE rev.4 All info found in an Atari XE Game System
-
-
- O.S. Authors and dates
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- The following info is from the Atari XL/XE rev.2 source code.
-
- Revision A (400/800)
- D.Crane / A.Miller / L.Kaplan / R.Whitehead
-
- Revision B (400/800)
- Fix several problems.
- M.Mahar / R.S.Scheiman
-
- Revision 10 (1200XL)
- Support 1200XL, add new features.
- H.Stewart / L.Winner / R.S.Scheiman /
- Y.M.Chen / M.W.Colburn 10/26/82
-
- Revision 11 (1200XL)
- Fix several problems.
- R.S.Scheiman 12/23/82
-
- Revision 1 (600XL/800XL)
- Support PBI and on-board BASIC.
- R.S.Scheiman / R.K.Nordin / Y.M.Chen 03/11/83
-
- Revision 2 (600XL/800XL)
- Fix several problems.
- R.S.Scheiman 05/10/83
- Bring closer to coding standard (object unchanged)
- R.K.Nordin 11/01/83
-
-
- Vapour-ware
- ~~~~~~~~~~~
- The following OS roms originate from rare Atari 8-bit systems.
- Since I don't own any of these (unfortunately), I don't have much
- information about these roms. Who can help me?
-
- I've got two 16K rom dumps from the 1450XLD. Both ID's are rev.3.
- The first dated 3/23/1984 comes from the 'Pooldisk Too' CD-ROM
- (filename: 1540os3.v0) and the second dated 6/21/1984 was send to
- me by Nir Dary (filename: os1450.128). Main differences between
- these two are in the first 3K ($C000 - $CBFF).
-
- The XL/XE OS rev.3B is from an Atari from Arabia. It's probably based
- on rev.3. There are changes in the fonts (Arab characters) and several
- patches in the code. More info at:
- http://www.savetz.com/vintagecomputers/arabic65xe/
-
- Rev. Found in Size CRC-32 Date
- ~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~
- 3 1450XLD 16kB 0x0d477aa1 3/23/1984
- 3 1450XLD 16kB 0xd425a9cf 6/21/1984
- 3B 65XE 16kB 0xf0a236d3 7/21/1984
-
-
- References
- ~~~~~~~~~~
- - The modified september Atari 400/800 computer operating system
- listing, revision B, (c)1982 Atari.
- - The Atari O.S. source code rev.2, (c)1984 Atari.
- - Atari XL addendum Atari home computer system operating system
- manual: supplement to Atari 400/800 technical reference notes.
- - Best Electronics, catalog of Atari 8-bit parts.
- - Mapping the Atari, revised edition, Ian Chadwick, Compute! books
- publication, 1985.
-
-
- Credits
- ~~~~~~~
- Special thanks to Nir Dary for the rev.2 source code, rom dumps and
- the 1200XL. It's in good hands.
-
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- More info on what is maybe either the 1985 or 1987 XL/XE OS versions listed
- above. From ST*ZMAGAZINE #36, Sept. 1, 1989 (as reprinted in PSAN Nov 89):
- by Mark Elliot, Innovative Concepts
- The following changes have been incorporated in the 130XE computer.
-
- The O.S. has minor changes like:
- A) The MEMORY TEST (from SELF TESTS) tests the extra 64K now! (in 4 squares)
- B) Also, the MEMORY TEST checks the first 48K over TWICE as fast as before!
- C) The KEYBOARD TEST has the F1-F4 keys missing on top. (function keys),
- although the code that interprets them is probably there (like XEGS).
- D) Also, it types out "COPYRIGHT 1985 ATARI" at the keyboard test, when all
- tests are done. (compared to COPYRIGHT 1983 ATARI, before)
- E) And, the O.S. chip itself, is on a 27256 EPROM, but only half of it is
- used! (comprared to the original, which was on a 16K x 8 ROM, 27128 comp.
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 7.2) What is the ATASCII character set?
-
- ASCII is an acronym for the American Standard Code for Information
- Interchange. Pronounced ask-ee, ASCII is a code for representing English
- characters as numbers, with each letter assigned a number from 0 to 127. For
- example, the ASCII code for uppercase M is 77. Most computers use ASCII codes
- to represent text, which makes it possible to transfer data from one computer
- to another.
-
- The 8-bit Atari computers use a modified version of the ASCII character set
- called Atari ASCII, or ATASCII.
-
- David Moeser produced this nice translation table.
- Piotr Fusik corrected the description of Atari character 5.
-
- ASCII TRANSLATION TABLE -- IBM & ATARI 8-BIT (ATASCII)
- ======================================================
-
- SECTION ONE: CONTROL CHARACTERS
- ===============================
-
- DECIMAL ATARI IBM <----> ATARI ASCII
- -HEX NAME KEY GRAPHICS CHARACTER FUNCTION
- ======= ==== === ====================== ========
- 0 00 NUL ^, none heart Null
- 1 01 SOH ^A smiley |- Start of header
- 2 02 STX ^B [smiley] right | Start of text
- 3 03 ETX ^C heart (9:00) End of last text
- 4 04 EOT ^D diamond -| End of transmission
- 5 05 ENQ ^E club (9:30) Enquiry
- 6 06 ACK ^F spade / Acknowledge (handshake)
- 7 07 BEL ^G rain dot \ Bell
- 8 08 BS ^H doorbell L triangle Backspace
- 9 09 HT ^I o low-R-sq. Horizontal tab
- 10 0A LF ^J [doorbell] R triangle Line feed
- 11 0B VT ^K Mars hi-R-sq. Vertical tab
- 12 0C FF ^L Venus hi-L-sq. Form feed
- 13 0D CR ^M note high bar Carriage return
- 14 0E SO ^N 2 notes low bar Shift out
- 15 0F SI ^O sun low-L-sq. Shift in
- 16 10 DLE ^P R pennant club Data link escape (break)
- 17 11 DC1 ^Q L pennant (3:30) Device #1 (P:)
- 18 12 DC2 ^R V arrows -- Device #2
- 19 13 DC3 ^S !! cross Device #3 (deselects P:)
- 20 14 DC4 ^T paragraph cloudy Device #4 (stop)
- 21 15 NAK ^U section low block Negative acknowl. (error)
- 22 16 SYN ^V short - left | Synchronous idle
- 23 17 ETB ^W base-V-arrs.low T End of block
- 24 18 CAN ^X up arrow hi perp. Cancel memory (in buffer)
- 25 19 EM ^Y DN arrow left half End medium (tape drive)
- 26 1A SUB ^Z R arrow (3:00) Substitute
- 27 1B ESC EE L arrow escape Escape
- 28 1C FS E^- (3:00) up arrow File separator
- 29 1D GS E^= ice needles DN arrow Group separator
- 30 1E RS E^+ up triangle L arrow Record separator
- 31 1F US E^* DN triangle R arrow Unit separator
- 32 20 SPC bar space space Space
-
-
- SECTION TWO: SPECIAL CHARACTERS
- ===============================
- 127 7F DEL ETB home plate R pennant Deleted
- 155 9B EOL RETURN box, etc. Atascii end of line
- (only at end of paragraphs or last column for data)
- 13,10 EOL ENTER ^M^J IBM end of line
- (at end of every 80-column screen line)
- 13 EOL ENTER ^M (or ^M and null) Unix end of line
-
-
- KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS:
- ====================
- ^ = control key L = left hi = upper
- S = shift key R = right low = lower
- E = escape key UP = points up [ ] = inverse
- BS = backspace DN = points down V = vertical
- TB = tab key sq = square perp = perpendicular
- (time) = position of hands on a clockface
-
- Where possible, descriptions of graphics characters are taken
- from standard symbols used in mathematics, weather, astronomy, etc.
- Note: Different computer platforms, operating systems, programs,
- printers, etc. will produce different graphics characters.
-
-
- SECTION THREE: KEYBOARD CHARACTERS
- ==================================
-
- DECIMAL IBM ATARI DECIMAL IBM ATARI
- -HEX KEY CHAR. KEY CHAR. -HEX KEY CHAR. KEY CHAR.
- ======= === ==== === ==== ======= === ==== === ====
- 32 20 bar space bar space 80 50 P P P P
- 33 21 S1 ! S1 ! 81 51 Q Q Q Q
- 34 22 S' " S2 " 82 52 R R R R
- 35 23 S3 # S3 # 83 53 S S S S
- 36 24 S4 $ S4 $ 84 54 T T T T
- 37 25 S5 % S5 % 85 55 U U U U
- 38 26 S7 & S6 & 86 56 V V V V
- 39 27 ' ' S7 ' 87 57 W W W W
- 40 28 S9 ( S9 ( 88 58 X X X X
- 41 29 S0 ) S0 ) 89 59 Y Y Y Y
- 42 2A S8 * * * 90 5A Z Z Z Z
- 43 2B S= + + + 91 5B [ [ S, [
- 44 2C , , , , 92 5C \ \ S+ \
- 45 2D - - - - 93 5D ] ] S. ]
- 46 2E . . . . 94 5E S6 ^ S* ^
- 47 2F / / / / 95 5F S- _ S- _
- 48 30 0 0 0 0 96 60 ` ` ^. `
- 49 31 1 1 1 1 97 61 a a a a
- 50 32 2 2 2 2 98 62 b b b b
- 51 33 3 3 3 3 99 63 c c c c
- 52 34 4 4 4 4 100 64 d d d d
- 53 35 5 5 5 5 101 65 e e e e
- 54 36 6 6 6 6 102 66 f f f f
- 55 37 7 7 7 7 103 67 g g g g
- 56 38 8 8 8 8 104 68 h h h h
- 57 39 9 9 9 9 105 69 i i i i
- 58 3A S; : S; : 106 6A j j j j
- 59 3B ; ; ; ; 107 6B k k k k
- 60 3C S, < < < 108 6C l l l l
- 61 3D = = = = 109 6D m m m m
- 62 3E S. > > > 110 6E n n n n
- 63 3F S/ ? S/ ? 111 6F o o o o
- 64 40 S2 @ S8 @ 112 70 p p p p
- 65 41 A A A A 113 71 q q q q
- 66 42 B B B B 114 72 r r r r
- 67 43 C C C C 115 73 s s s s
- 68 44 D D D D 116 74 t t t t
- 69 45 E E E E 117 75 u u u u
- 70 46 F F F F 118 76 v v v v
- 71 47 G G G G 119 77 w w w w
- 72 48 H H H H 120 78 x x x x
- 73 49 I I I I 121 79 y y y y
- 74 4A J J J J 122 7A z z z z
- 75 4B K K K K 123 7B S[ { ^; spade
- 76 4C L L L L 124 7C S\ | S= |
- 77 4D M M M M 125 7D S] } E^< left-turn
- 78 4E N N N N 126 7E S` ~ EBS L pennant
- 79 4F O O O O 127 7F none house ETB R pennant
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 7.3) What is Atari BASIC?
-
- BASIC is an acronym for Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code.
- Developed by John Kemeney and Thomas Kurtz in the mid 1960s at Dartmouth
- College, BASIC is one of the earliest and simplest high-level programming
- languages, incorporating components of FORTRAN and ALGOL.
-
- In 1978 Atari contracted with Shepardson Microsystems, Inc (SMI) to create a
- version of BASIC for their upcoming home computers. The following worked
- together on the project, which resulted in Atari BASIC:
-
- Paul Laughton (author of Apple DOS) - project leader, co-primary contributor
- Kathleen O'Brien - co-primary contributor
- Bill Wilkinson - floating point scheme design
- Paul Krasno - implemented the math library routines following guidelines
- supplied by Fred Ruckdeschel (author of the acclaimed text,
- BASIC Scientific Subroutines)
- Bob Shepardson - Modified IMP-16 Assembler to accept special syntax tables
- Paul invented
- Mike Peters - keypuncher/computer operator/junior programmer/troubleshooter
-
- Three Revisions of Atari BASIC were produced: A, B, and C:
- A - cartridge produced for use with the 400/800/1200XL
- B - built-in to the 600XL/800XL, also produced on cartridge
- C - built-in to the 800XL(late models)/65XE/130XE/800XE/XE Game System,
- also produced on cartridge.
-
- In order to find out what version you are running, at the READY prompt,
- enter "? PEEK(43234)"
-
- If the result is: You have Revision: Atari Part#:
- 162 A CO12402/CO14502
- 96 B CO60302A
- 234 C CO24947A
-
- On versions A, B, and C, Greg Miller writes:
- "Rev A had a number of bugs, not just the commonly described crash bug.
- Rev B fixed most (maybe all, I don't remember) of these, but in the
- process, they added a new bug. You see, the crashes were caused by a bug
- in one of OSS's memory move routines. When the bug was fixed, the fix
- mistakenly applied to a routine that actually worked in Rev A, causing the
- new lockup problem.
-
- Rev C differs in only a few bytes. AFAIK, the only change was to remove
- the alteration made to the routine that was broken by Rev B.
-
- Also concerning versions A, B and C, Russ Gilbert writes (3 Jul 2002):
- "I've got an opinion on this, my opinion is wrong to 95% of Atari users.
-
- B is a re-compile of A. C is a 12 byte patch to B.
-
- I've used Atari BASIC for a millenium (?). B has less hangs and
- ridiculous stuff like losing DIMs and stuff. C hangs like a lot. I must
- admit I don't have very much experience with C as I go back to B after
- using C for a short time.
-
- I prefer B. I know its foibles. Just LIST, NEW, ENTER, SAVE every 5 or
- 6 SAVEs. Also, 0 REM will help with ENTERs that aren't working (put a
- immediate 0 REM line before you ENTER.)"
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 7.4) What are Atari DOS 1, DOS 2.0S, DOS 3, DOS 2.5, and DOS XE?
-
- Here are short descriptions of the various Disk Operating Systems (DOS)
- versions produced by Atari for use with their 8-bit computers.
-
- The original Atari DOS shipped with all 810 disk drives from 1979-1981. It
- consists of a single file, DOS.SYS, which is loaded into memory from disk on
- startup.
- At the top of the menu screen it reads:
- DISK OPERATING SYSTEM 9/24/79
- COPYRIGHT 1979 ATARI
- Unless you are a collector, you probably have no reason to work with DOS 1.
- Trivia: The "N. DEFINE DEVICE" menu option does not work.
- The DOS 1 disk is labeled: Atari 810 Master Diskette (CX8101).
-
- DOS II Version 2.0S was shipped with all 810 disk drives, and early 1050 disk
- drives, from 1981-1983. It consists of two files:
- - DOS.SYS is loaded into memory from disk on startup
- - DUP.SYS, which contains the DOS menu, is loaded only when needed.
- MEM.SAV can be employed to preserve the contents of memory to disk when
- DUP.SYS is loaded, so that the data can be restored to memory when exiting
- from the DOS menu. DOS 2.0S supports Atari's proprietary single-sided, single
- density 90K 5.25" floppy disk format only. DOS 2.0S represents the lowest
- common denominator of Atari DOS versions--you can be assured than any Atari
- disk drive for the 8-bit Atari can work with disks formatted with DOS 2.0S.
- DOS 2.0S can read disks written with DOS 1; the reverse is not the case. The
- DOS 2.0S disk is labeled: Atari 810 Master Diskette II (CX8104).
-
- DOS II Version 2.0D was shipped with the rare Atari 815 Dual Disk Drive.
- Supports double-density disk drives; also supports single-density disk drives.
- The DOS 2.0D disk is labeled: Atari 815 Master Diskette (CX8201).
-
- DOS 3 shipped with 1050 disk drives from 1983-1985. It was created in part to
- take advantage of the 1050's Dual-Density capability, by employing a single-
- sided, enhanced-density 128K 5.25" floppy disk drive format. Atari called
- this format "dual-density," but the Atari community quickly came to refer to
- this format as "enhanced-density" to better differentiate it from widely
- available 3rd-party truly double density disk drives and supporting versions
- of DOS. DOS 3 uses a disk format incompatible with DOS 2.0S. It included a
- utility to convert files from DOS 2.0S to DOS 3, but not back again. It used
- disk space less efficiently than DOS 2.0S. For these reasons and others, DOS
- 3 was not widely accepted by the Atari community, and like DOS 1 is not
- generally used except for curiosity's sake. The DOS 3 disk is labeled: Master
- Diskette 3 (DX5052).
-
- DOS II Version 2.5 shipped with 1050 disk drives and early XF551 disk drives
- from 1985-1988. DOS 2.5 represented Atari's relenting to the masses,
- returning to DOS 2.0S compatability. DOS 2.5 very closely resembles DOS 2.0S,
- with just a few features added. It supports both DOS 2.0S single-density 90K
- formats, as well as an enhanced density 128K format for use with the 1050 disk
- drive. DOS 2.5 also includes a RAMdisk utility for use with the 128K 130XE
- computer, a utility to convert files from DOS 3 disks back to DOS 2.5, and
- other disk utilities. DOS 2.5 is just about as universal among Atari users as
- DOS 2.0S.
-
- DOS XE shipped with XF551 disk drives from 1988-1992. Like DOS 3, DOS XE
- introduced a whole new format for Atari floppy disks; but unlike DOS 3, DOS XE
- also preserved general compatability with DOS 2.0S/2.5. DOS XE supports the
- full capabilities of the double-sided, double density 360K per 5.25" floppy
- disk XF551 disk drive, including that drive's high-speed burst mode. DOS XE
- also fully supports the 90K SS/SD capability of the 810 disk drive, the 128K
- SS/ED capability of the 1050 disk drive, the 180K SS/DD capability of most
- 3rd-party disk drives for the Atari, and a RAMdisk for use with the 130XE.
- Date-stamping of files is supported. DOS XE requires an XL or XE computer; it
- is not compatable with the 400/800 computer models. Even though DOS XE was
- critically well-received, and represented a substantial jump in capabilities
- over DOS 2.5, its arrival came so late in the crouded realm of Atari and 3rd-
- party DOS versions that it never achieved much acceptance among real users,
- and is now relegated to the same status as DOS 1 and DOS 3 before it. Before
- its release, DOS XE was widely known as "ADOS."
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 7.5) What are MyDOS, SpartaDOS, and other popular DOS versions?
-
- Section includes contributions by Andreas Magenheimer (most DOS 2 clone
- descriptions).
-
- Atari DOS versions are very popular, but many 3rd-party DOS versions have also
- been developed over the years. Of these, MyDOS and SpartaDOS seem to be the
- most-used today.
-
- MyDOS 4.53
- ==========
- MyDOS is modelled after Atari DOS 2.0S/2.5, but provides subdirectory and
- hard-drive support, along with many other "high-end" features.
-
- MyDOS 4.53/3 was released as freeware by David R. Eichel on 1/1/90.
- Defaults to a 3 character file length/free sector count instead of MyDOS's
- normal 4. Supports multiple AUTORUNs at boot up (*.AR0 through *.AR9).
- Supports Axlon RAMdisks.
-
- MyDOS 4.53/4 is the same as 4.53/3, but uses a minimum of four characters in
- the sector count just like most versions of MyDOS.
-
- MYDOS 4.51 was developed by Wordmark Systems (Charles Marslett). Source code
- is available as "abandonware" at: http://www.wordmark.org/
-
- MYDOS 4.50 was released on 11/28/88, developed by C. Marslett & R. Puff
- http://www.nleaudio.com/css/files/MYDOS45M.ARC
-
- Mathy van Nisselroy's MyDOS page:
- http://www-users.rwth-aachen.de/mathy.van_nisselroy/mydos.htm
-
- SpartaDOS 3.2, 3.3, X (4.22)
- ============================
- SpartaDOS is a completely different command-line DOS modelled after MS-DOS,
- though it is perfectly capable of reading all Atari DOS and MyDOS disks.
-
- There are many versions available. Hopefully this list will help keep them
- all straight.
-
- SpartaDOS X (SDX) cartridge
- ---------------------------
- Greatly enhanced/expanded compared to disk- based SpartaDOS; completely
- different source code. Several versions produced:
- 4.22 11-05-95 released by Fine Tooned Engineering (FTe)
- 4.21 7-10-89 released by ICD
- 4.20 2-06-89 released by ICD
- 4.19 1-16-89 released by ICD
- 4.18 10-29-88 released by ICD
- 4.17 ?-?-88 released by ICD
-
- SpartaDOS Pro 3.3a, 3.3b, and 3.3c - 1994-
- ----------------------------------
- The SpartaDOS Pro 3.3 versions were developed by Stephen J. Carden, based upon
- a dissembled copy of the older (more stable?) 3.2c release from ICD.
- -- SpartaDOS Pro Ver 3.3a 3-Nov-94 -- Added MUX support and MS-DOS Commands.
- Highspeed SIO routines NOT included. Recommended for use in emulators
- (especially Xformer) only.
- -- SpartaDOS Pro Ver 3.3b 25-Dec-95 -- Has two different SIOV handlers, one
- for the MUX and one for the MIO.
- -- SpartaDOS Pro Ver 3.3c 1995 -- Looks at your system and by checking it
- determines what CIO handler to load, and has MS-DOS command set. Black
- Box, MUX, and MIO are fully supported, though none of these are required.
- -- SpartaDOS Pro Ver 3.3c 19-Dec-97 -- the same 3.3c produced on a 16K ROM
- cartridge by Video 61.
- -- SpartaDOS Pro Ver 3.3d -- exists, but is not in general release
-
- According to Lance Ringquist:
- K-Products contracted FTe to develop SpartaDOS Pro 3.3 for exclusive use and
- distribution with K-Products' BBS Express! Pro, to provide this BBS system
- with the most stable platform possible. As Video 61 now owns the rights to
- BBS Express! Pro, SpartaDOS Pro 3.3 is therefore now a product of Video 61.
-
- According to Stephen Carden:
- The SpartaDOS Pro 3.3 versions were never owned by K-Products, and are
- technically shareware owned by FTe, although FTe had no connection with the
- specific development of the 3.3 versions.
-
- SpartaDOS 3.2g and 3.2gx - Dated 6/4/94.
- ------------------------
- Last official disk-based versions, released as shareware by Fine Tooned
- Engineering (FTe), who had purchased the rights from ICD. 3.2g is the primary
- version; 3.2gx differs only in that it locates the disk buffers under the OS
- to save RAM. 3.2gx is intended for use in systems that include a PBI device
- (MIO, Black Box); it is not compatible with BASIC XE or any other programs
- using RAM under the OS.
-
- First shareware release from FTe: 3.2f.
-
- Earlier major releases from the original developer, ICD: 3.2d, 3.2c, 2.3, 1.1
-
- Only the SDX cartridges and the original version 1.1 are compatible with the
- 400/800 computer models; SpartaDOS 2.x, and 3.x require an XL/XE.
-
- Many disk-based SpartaDOS versions are available for download here,
- Thunderdome, kept by SysOp Fox-1:
- http://www7.brinkster.com/atari/ataridl/sdsys.htm
-
- One source of SpartaDOS documentation is Russ Gilbert's page at:
- http://my.en.com/~russg/
-
- BW-DOS 1.30 and BW-DOS Update #2 - Released: 12/95 ("BeWe")
- ================================
- Another popular, powerful DOS is BW-DOS, freeware by Jiri Bernasek. (it is
- pronounced "Bay Vay Dos") which is SpartaDOS compatible. Does not use any
- speeder internally, but comes with external XF551 speeder. Supports 4 drives
- and Ramdisk, comes with Ramdisk driver for XE compatible Ramdisks up to
- 1Megabyte; supports 4 densities: a) Single (90k), b) Enhanced/Medium (130k),
- c) Double (180k) and d) DSDD (360k); does not use any RAM under OS ROM; unlike
- SpartaDOS most commands are external, thus the DOS is only 5kbytes short;
- supports a PAL clock (made by ABBUC regional group "ARGS"); comes with many
- great utilities (which can also be used with SpartaDOS); paper printed German
- and disk printed English docs are avaiable; latest version 1.3 is avaiable as
- Freeware...
-
- The other DOS varieties mentioned below are all, like MyDOS, Atari DOS-2
- clones and thus DOS-2 compatible; avaiable as PD or Freeware...
-
- TOP-DOS 1.5+
- ============
- Carolyn Hoglin writes:
- This superior DOS was written by R. K. Bennett of Eclipse Software in
- Sunnyvale, CA. It was based on Atari DOS, but with many, many more features.
- It fully supports my double-density, double-sided Astra drives, automatically
- sensing the proper density and sidedness of both drives 1 and 2. (MYDOS only
- seemed to do that on drive 1.) Also supported are large ramdisks for Axlon,
- Mosaic, etc. The latest version was TOP-DOS 1.5+, which came with an excellent
- manual explaining how to use its powerful capabilities.
-
- SuperDOS 5.1
- ============
- supports 4 formats SD/ED/DD/DSDD; supports 256k Xtra RAM/RD; supports 4
- speeders: Happy+Speedy+XF551+US Doubler and its compatibles; has an AUX.SYS
- file with option to use / not use RAM under OS ROM; has unfortunately a very
- slow Ramdisk;
-
- BiboDOS 5.4 and 6.4
- ===================
- 3 versions avaiable, one without speeder - 5.4NT, one with Happy/Speedy
- support 5.4HS and one with XF support 6.4XF; supports 4 formats / up to 360k;
- supports 256k Xtra Ram / RD; the DUP.SYS uses RAM under OS ROM, thus Turbo-
- BASIC must load without DUP;
-
- Turbo-DOS 2.1
- =============
- Master-Disk produces 4 different versions: 2.1NT without speeders, 2.1HS for
- Happy/Speedy, 2.1XF for XF551 and 2.1EX for 3 speeders: Happy+Speedy+XF551;
- supports 256k Xtra RAM / RD and supports use of batchfiles; has converter for
- DOS 3 and DOS 4; supports 4 formats, up to 360k; does not use RAM under OS
- ROM; DUP uses a Command Processor; all commands are avaiable via HELP key;
- works with XL/XE computers only, does not load/boot on Atari 400/800 no clue
- why;
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 7.6) How do I modify Atari DOS to support more than two drives?
-
- Russ Gilbert writes:
-
- DOS 2 type DOSes default to two drives.
- Boot DOS and BASIC.
- ? PEEK(1802)
- if it is 3 then you only recognize two drives.
- To get the 3rd drive, poke 1802,7. Then go to dup.sys (type DOS)
- and write system files. Next time you boot that DOS, you'll recognize
- 3 drives.
- If you want four drives, poke 1802,15.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 7.7) Are there Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) for the Atari?
-
- Contributors: Andreas Magenheimer, Mathy van Nisselroy, Kathleen Ferrante
-
- - Diamond GOS version 1 (a cart and a PD demo-disk-version do exist),
- version 2 (cart only), version 3 (cart only); plus some applications
- (painter program, text program, etc.); Diamond GOS has been made
- freeware by the author Alan Reeve;
-
- - G.O.S., the Graphic operating system by Total Control systems; two different
- versions are avaiable (I call them GOS 1 and GOS 2) and they are PD;
-
- - G.O.E., the Graphic Operating Environment also by Total Control Systems
- (this one merely works under Sparta DOS, not with Bewe-DOS and not at all with
- DOS 2.x); so far I have found 3 different versions (GOE 1,2,3) with some
- applications (graphic/painting program, etc.); PD;
-
- - S.A.M., the Screen Aided Management (unfortunately it has the same name as
- SAM, the software aided mouth) from PPP/Germany. It is avaiable in two
- different versions: a) the type-in listing from Atari magazin and/or the Lazy
- finger disks (which are PD!) or b) the commercial version 2.0 which has many
- add-ons and can still be bought from Dean Garaghty/UK or
- PD-World-Versand/Germany; This GUI merely works correct under DOS 2.5 and
- Medium/dual density, however...
-
- - BOSS-XL, the XL-Desktop from Mirko Sobe; written in Turbo-BASIC; freeware;
- http://www.atarixle.de/
-
- - BOSS-XE, the XE-Desktop from Mirko Sobe; written in Turbo-BASIC;freeware,
- http://www.atarixle.de/
-
- - BOSS-X the newest desktop version from Mirko Sobe, needs an 128k+ Computer
- (128k or more memory), supports MyDOS up to 16MB and MyDOS subdirs...; still
- written in Turbo-BASIC; many applications and drivers; freeware;
- http://www.atarixle.de/
-
- - XL-TOS a small and "cheap" GUI version from Atari magazin (i.e. a type-in
- listing; the BASIC file, which consists of many data lines creates a short
- object code file); unfortunately this GUI only looks good, it loads almost
- nothing... PD;
-
- - ST-TOS a small BASIC program, that looks like a GUI; it can merely load
- BASIC files and do a few DOS commands, like lock, unlock, delete and such...
- (PD)
-
- - BASIC desktop, a GUI written in BASIC just as a sample, what can be done
- with an 8-bit computer; this one loads BASIC and text files (maybe also ML
- files); PD;
-
- - DCS, the desktop construction set from Tom Hunt; there are 3 different
- versions avaiable, a) for DOS 2.5, b) for MyDOS andc) for Sparta-DOS; I have
- tested the Sparta DOS version, which worked with batchfiles and could easily
- load some ML files, text files and BASIC files (which were already on the DCS
- disk); it also works with high densities and/or hard disk partitions up to
- 16MB and supports subdirs of course; hmm, freeware or shareware ?!?
-
- - ATOS - GUI by Tom Hunt/Closer To Home. http://cth.dtdns.net/atos/
- 1) Lets you use any demo or intro as a screen saver!!
- 2) Works with all Atari hardware, BB, MIO and Hard drives, SpartaDOS support
- 3) Lets you run files like full games and demos and then
- return back to the desktop. It uses Overlays.
-
- - Atari Desktop by ABC software (Poland), includes editors, converters,
- file copiers, sector copy, tape+turbo tape copy, small games, CMC finder
- and player and much much more; works with 64k RAM and keyboard input;
- disk manuals only in polish language...
-
- - Windows XL a Turbo-BASIC GUI with some nice add-ons, like calculator, editor
- and other things. written in 1986-1988 by Joerg Forg.
-
- - there are a lot more GUI programs, however many of them are written in BASIC
- or Turbo BASIC and are very restricted; most of them merely look like a GUI
- but need to much memory for everyday use. Thats why most users still prefer
- those DOS or Gamedos (Gameloader, Multiloader, etc.) programs...
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 7.8) What should I know about modem device handlers?
-
- In order to use a modem on the Atari, a modem software handler, or R: device
- handler, must be loaded into memory.
-
- There are several families of R: handlers, corresponding to the different ways
- in which a modem may be attached to the Atari.
-
- Except for family #7 below, these handlers are used in one of two ways.
- Either they are (A) loaded into memory from DOS just before running the main
- terminal application, or (B) the terminal program is appended to the handler,
- so that in practice, a single file is loaded from DOS which contains both the
- R: device handler and the application itself.
-
- 1) 835/1030/XM301 modems. Atari-only modems, interface via SIO
-
- 2) MPP/Supra modems. Atari-only modems, interface via joystick port
-
- 3) R-Verter cable. Connect standard Hayes-type modems via SIO
- / SX212 modem. A Hayes-compatible modem, interface via SIO
-
- 4) SWP ATR8000 interface. Standard Hayes-type RS232 modems via this interface.
-
- Richard Anderson writes (Oct 2 02):
- Mine originally came with a driver program; and, I believe, a BASIC program
- to set up the driver from BASIC. Later they shipped with a special version
- of MyDOS with the R: handler built in.
-
- 5) 850 Interface/P:R: Connection, internal
-
- This type of "mini handler" simply loads the R: device handler code from a ROM
- chip inside the RS232 serial interface. A long beep is heard through the
- speaker when the handler is loaded into the computer's RAM.
-
- Many varieties of DOS for the Atari include an explicit provision for loading
- this type of R: handler into memory from the 850 or compatible interface.
-
- Also, this type of R: handler is automatically loaded when any 8-bit Atari
- computer is turned on with a P:R: Connection or powered 850 connected, but no
- powered disk drive is present.
-
- 6) 850 Interface/P:R: Connection, external
-
- Used with the 850/P:R: Connection in place of these interfaces' built-in
- handlers.
-
- 7) MIO/Black Box interfaces, internal
-
- These interfaces utilitize the PBI or ECI parallel ports on the Atari. They
- include their own R: handlers in ROM, using no computer RAM at all.
-
- 8) MIO/Black Box interfaces, external: Len Spencer's Hyperspeed
-
- This handler is "optional" for the Black Box, but "essential" for the MIO
- in order to take full advantage of the high-speed hardware handshaking
- capabilities of these two interfaces.
-
- Hyperspd.arc is available at http://members.aol.com/lenspencer/atari8.htm
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 8.1) What programming languages are available for the Atari?
-
- This section is by Freddy Offenga.
-
- Revision : 1.9
- Date.... : 2004-3-30
-
- ==============================================================
- The goal is to give information about all available languages
- for the Atari 8-bit computer. This information includes:
- title, last version, author, date and a short description.
- It would also be nice to know how to get it and where to get
- more information (like reference cards, reviews and such).
-
- Maintainer: Freddy Offenga
- Email : taf.offenga [at] chello.nl (replace " [at] " with "@")
- URL : http://members.chello.nl/taf.offenga/atari.htm
-
- ==============================================================
-
- There are quite a lot! To get some structure in this section it's
- divided into the following categories;
-
- a) ASSEMBLER
- b) BASIC
- c) C
- d) PASCAL
- e) LISP
- f) FORTH
- g) PILOT
- h) LOGO
- i) All the rest
-
- The following format is used:
-
- - Language titel (medium)
- version, year : version, year
- author/company : author/company
- available..... : where/how to get it
- package....... : programs, documentation
- features...... : main features
- Description.
-
- The question marks (?) indicate that more information is
- required about that topic.
-
- Credits
- =======
- - The Multi-lingual Atari, Analog magazine 45, August 1986
- - A bunch of manuals
- - Some copy-pasted lines from the Atari 8-bit newsgroup
- - umich (University of Michigan Atari archive)
- - David Wyn Davies (PL65)
- - Kevin Savetz (APX titles)
- - Maury Markowitz
- - Michael Current
- - JT (ValForth)
- - Andreas Magenheimer
- - Winston Smith
- - Carsten Strotmann
-
- Revision history
- ================
-
- 1.9
- - X-Assembler updated
- - Added "QS FORTH" info from Winston Smith
- - Added FORTH section work from Michael Current (thanks to Carsten Strotmann)
- (see also: http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/LangForth)
- - Several updates in the assembler section
-
- 1.8
- Thanks to Adreas Magenheimer for these updates:
- - Added "Mesa-Forth"
- - Added "130XE Assembler 4.32"
- - Updated "SynAssembler"
-
- 1.7
- Thanks to Maury Markowitz for these updates:
- - Updated "A BASIC Compiler"
- - Added "Der BASIC Compiler", "MMG BASIC Compiler"
- - Added "Frost BASIC", "TT-BASIC XL"
-
- 1.6
- Synchronized with Atari 8-bit FAQ May-2002 :
- - Added "X-Assembler"
- - Added "CTH Fast Basic"
- - Added availability for "Deep Blue C"
- - Added availability for "Atari Pascal"
- - Ignored changes "Kyan Pascal" (need more info)
- - Updated "ValForth"
- - Updated "Extended fig-Forth"
- - Updated "fun-Forth"
- - Added "Extended WSFN"
- - Removed e-mail addresses
- - Added availability for "A65"
- - Updated "PL65"
-
- 1.0 .. 1.5
- Changes not noted.
- Old versions are available on request.
-
-
- a) ASSEMBLER
-
- - 130XE Makro Assembler (disk)
- version, year : 4.32, ?
- author/company : Torsten Karwoth
- available..... : freeware, ABBUC PD #297
- package....... : assembler, editor, menu, monitor,
- batch enhancement, linker/packer
- features...... : macros
- Two pass 6502 assembler with integrated menu, editor
- and monitor shell for 128KB RAM Ataris. Source format
- is derived from Atmas Makroassembler.
-
- - 130XE+ Makro Assembler (disk)
- version, year : 2.2, 1992
- author/company : Torsten Karwoth
- available..... : freeware, ABBUC PD #368
- package....... : assembler, editor, menu, monitor,
- batch enhancement, linker/packer
- features...... : macros
- New version with 128KB - 1088KB RAM support.
- Two pass 6502 assembler with integrated menu, editor
- and monitor shell. Needs extra RAM banks. Source
- format is derived from Atmas Makroassembler.
-
- - A65 (disk)
- version, year : ?, 1989
- author/company : Charles Marslett, WORDMARK Systems
- available..... : abandonware, http://www.wordmark.org/
- package....... : assembler, manual
- features...... : source include
- Two pass 6502 assembler. Source format is based on the
- Atari Macro Assembler. Assembler source included.
-
- - Alfasm, Turbo-Assembler/16 (disk)
- version, year : 1.0, 1990
- author/company : Jeff Williams, DataQue Software
- available..... : ?
- package....... : assembler, docs
- features...... : source include
- Two pass 6502/65816 assembler.
-
- - Assi (download)
- version, year : 0.0.41, 2000
- author/company : MacFalkner
- available..... : http://members.aol.com/macfalkner/atariindex.htm
- package....... : assembler, file linker
- features...... : source include, data include, code relocation
- Cross assembler for Win32. Source code is highly compatible with
- Atmas for the Atari.
-
- - Atari Assembler/Editor (cart)
- version, year : ?, 1981
- author/company : Atari
- available..... : ?
- package....... : assembler, editor, monitor, manual
- features...... : -
- Two pass 6502 assembler with integrated editor/monitor
-
- - Atari Macro Assembler (disk)
- version, year : 1.0C, 1981
- author/company : Atari, APX
- available..... : ?
- package....... : assembler, editor, debugger, manual
- features...... : macros, source include
- Two pass 6502 assembler.
-
- - ATasm (disk)
- version, year : 0.92, 1999
- author/company : Mark Schmelzenbach
- available..... : umich
- package....... : assembler
- features...... : macros, source include, optionally target .XFD
- disk images and machine state files (Atari800 / Atari800Win),
- conditional assembly. Two pass 6502 portable cross assembler.
- Highly compatible with MAC/65.
-
- - Atmas Makroassembler (disk)
- version, year : 2, 1985
- author/company : Peter Finzel, Hofacker
- available..... : ?
- package....... : assembler, editor, monitor, manual
- features...... : macros
- Two pass 6502 assembler with integrated editor/monitor.
-
- - Bibo Assembler (disk)
- version, year : 1.0, 13/12/1986
- author/company : E.Reuss, Compy-shop
- available..... : ?
- package....... : assembler, editor, monitor
- features...... : source include, data include
- Two pass 6502/65c02 assembler with integrated editor/
- monitor.
-
- - Datasm/65 assembler (disk)
- version, year : 2.0, 1981
- author/company : DataSoft Inc.
- available..... : ?
- package....... : assembler, editor, menu, manual
- features...... : -
- Two pass 6502 assembler.
-
- - EASMD (disk)
- version, year : 1.0, 1981
- author/company : OSS
- available..... : ?
- package....... : assembler, editor, monitor
- features...... : ?
- Two pass 6502 assembler with integrated editor/monitor.
-
- - Fast Assembler (disk)
- version, year : 1.5, 1995
- author/company : MMMG Soft
- available..... : ?
- package....... : assembler, editor, disassembler
- features...... : ?
-
- - Kasm65 (disk)
- version, year : 2.51, 1997
- author/company : Ken Siders
- available..... : shareware, umich
- package....... : assembler, editor, linker, docs
- features...... : macros, relocation, source include,
- conditional assembly
- Two pass 6502 assembler. Relocatable object files are
- compatible with ra65. Source format is derived from
- the Atari Macro Assembler.
-
- - MAC/65 Macro Assembler (disk|cart)
- version, year : 1.01, 1984
- author/company : Stephen D. Lawrow, OSS
- available..... : ?
- package....... : ?
- features...... : ?
-
- - MAC/65 Macro Assembler (disk|cart)
- version, year : 2.00, 1982
- author/company : Stephen D. Lawrow, OSS
- available..... : ?
- package....... : assembler, editor, monitor, manual
- features...... : macros, source include
- Two pass 6502 assembler with integrated editor/monitor.
- Mac/65 is a direct descendant of the Atari Assembler/
- Editor (via EASMD).
-
- - MAC/65 Macro Assembler (disk)
- version, year : 4.20, 1994
- author/company : Stephen D. Lawrow, Fine Tooned Engineering
- available..... : ?
- package....... : ?
- features...... : ?
-
- - MAC/65 Macro Assembler (disk)
- version, year : 4.20 demo version, 1982
- author/company : Stephen D. Lawrow, OSS
- available..... : ?
- package....... : ?
- features...... : ?
-
- - MAE (disk)
- version, year : .96, 1996
- author/company : John Harris
- available..... : umich
- package....... : assembler, menu, editor, monitor, docs
- features...... : macros, source include, data include,
- conditional assembly
- Two pass 6502/65816 assembler with integrated editor/
- monitor. Extra RAM supported.
-
- - NASM65 (disk)
- version, year : ?, 1992
- author/company : Nat!
- available..... : ?
- package....... : assembler, linker, librarian
- features...... : macros, relocation, source include
- One pass 6502 portable cross assembler (initially for
- the ST). Highly compatible with MAC/65.
-
- - PC-65 (disk)
- version, year : 1.0 beta, 1996
- author/company : Jan Feenstra & Freddy Offenga
- available..... : -
- package....... : assembler
- features...... : macros, source include, data include,
- boundary directive
- Two pass 6502 cross assembler for PC/DOS. The source
- format is highly compatible with the ST-65 assembler.
-
- - Quick Assembler (disk)
- version, year : 1.0, 1990?
- author/company : JBW, Avalon?
- available..... : ?
- package....... : assembler, editor, menu, debugger
- features...... : source include
- Two pass 6502 cross assembler with integrated editor.
- Very user friendly menu environment.
-
- - Ra65 (disk)
- version, year : 1.0, 1989
- author/company : John R. Dunning
- available..... : public domain, umich
- package....... : assembler, linker, librarian
- part of cc65 (c-compiler)
- features...... : ?
-
- - Synassembler (disk|cart)
- version, year : 4.0, 1982
- author/company : Steve Hales, Synapse Soft
- available..... : http://www.atariland.com/members/oldatarian/
- package....... : assembler, editor, monitor, manual
- features...... : source include
- Two pass 6502 assembler.
- An Adaptation by Steve Hales of the S.C. Assembler II.
-
- - ST-65 (disk)
- version, year : ?, 1991
- author/company : A. Stauffenberg, F. Offenga
- available..... : -
- package....... : assembler, menu shell, manual
- features...... : macros, conditional assembly,
- source include, data include,
- boundary directive
- Two pass 6502/65c02 cross assembler for the Atari ST
- written in 68000 assembly. As far as I know this is
- the first assembler with the boundary directive.
-
- - Xasm
- version, year : 2.5.2, 2002
- author/company : Piotr Fusik
- available..... : http://xasm.atari.org
- package....... : assembler, docs
- features...... : conditional assembly, source include,
- binary include, pseudo commands,
- pseudo addressing modes
- Two pass 6502 cross assembler for PC/DOS. The source
- format is backward compatible with Quick Assembler.
-
-
- b) BASIC
-
- - A BASIC Compiler (?)
- version, year : 1.05, 1987
- author/company : Monarch Data Systems
- available..... : ?
- package....... : BASIC compiler
- features...... : ?
-
- - Advan BASIC (disk)
- version, year : ?, ?
- author/company : Advan Language Designs
- available..... : ?
- package....... : BASIC compiler
- features...... : ?
-
- - Atari 800 Basic (disk)
- version, year : 1.0, 1981
- author/company : Microsoft
- available..... : ?
- package....... : ?
- features...... : ?
-
- - Atari BASIC (cart)
- version, year : Rev.C, 1983
- author/company : Atari
- available..... : standard ROM in Atari XL/XE
- package....... : BASIC interpreter, manual
- features...... : pretty plain BASIC implementation
-
- - Atari Microsoft BASIC II (cart)
- version, year : ?, 1991
- author/company : Atari
- available..... : ?
- package....... : BASIC interpreter
- features...... : ?
-
- - BASIC A+ (disk)
- version, year : 3.05, 1981
- author/company : OSS
- available..... : ?
- package....... : BASIC interpreter
- features...... : ?
-
- - BASIC XL (cart)
- version, year : ?, ?
- author/company : OSS
- available..... : ?
- package....... : BASIC interpreter
- features...... : ?
-
- - BASIC XE (cart)
- version, year : ?, 1985
- author/company : OSS
- available..... : ?
- package....... : BASIC interpreter
- features...... : ?
-
- - CTH Fast Basic (disk)
- version/year : ?
- author/company : Tom Hunt/Closer to Home
- avaiable.......: PD, Freeware or Shareware;
- package........: language plus several test files
- and examples; english docs;
- features.......: faster than Atari Basic, not much
- slower than TB, does not use Ram under OS;
- avaiable at Tom Hunt's homepage or elsewhere...
-
- - Der BASIC Compiler (?)
- version, year : ?, 1983
- author/company : Datasoft
- available..... : ?
- package....... : BASIC compiler
- features...... : ?
-
- - Frost BASIC (?)
- version, year : 1.04, 1985
- author/company : Frank Ostrowski, Happy Computer
- available..... : ?
- package....... : BASIC interpreter, compiler
- features...... : ?
- Version of Turbo Basic XL that runs on 48k machines (400/800).
-
- - MMG BASIC Compiler 2.0 (?)
- version, year : 2.0, 1984
- author/company : Special Software Systems
- available..... : ?
- package....... : BASIC compiler
- features...... : ?
- It appears that this is a newer version of Der BASIC Compiler,
- licensed to some other company.
-
- - TT-BASIC XL (disk)
- version, year : 2.11, 1985
- author/company : Frank Ostrowski, Happy Computer
- available..... : ?
- package....... : BASIC interpreter, compiler
- features...... : ?
- Published in the German magazine "Happy Computer".
- Appears to be a newer version of Turbo Basic XL.
-
- - Turbo Basic XL (disk)
- version, year : 1.5, 1985
- author/company : Frank Ostrowski, Happy Computer
- available..... : ?
- package....... : BASIC interpreter, compiler (V1.1)
- features...... : ?
- Published in the German magazine "Happy Computer".
-
-
- c) C
-
- - ACE C (disk)
- version, year : ?
- author/company : John Palevich & Ralph Walden
- available..... : ?
- package....... : ?
- features...... : ?
- This is a newer version of 'Deep Blue C'.
-
- - C/65 (?)
- version, year : ?
- author/company : OSS
- available..... : ?
- package....... : ?
- features...... : ?
- Probably derived from Dr.Dobbs "Small C". Compiles to 6502
- code which emulates the 8080 instruction set.
-
- - C65 (?)
- version, year : ?
- author/company : Keith Ledbetter
- available..... : ?
- package....... : ?
- features...... : good macro assembler
- This compiler does not support structs.
-
- - CC65 (disk)
- version, year : 1989
- author/company : John R. Dunning
- available..... : umich archive,
- http://www.umich.edu/~archive/atari/8bit/Languages/Cc65/
- package....... : compiler, linker, assembler, librarian
- features...... : ?
- Public domain compiler. Also used as cross compiler.
- Relocatable object linkage files, and the most thorough
- K&R C for the 8-bit. Comes with an relocatable assembler.
-
- - CC8 (disk)
- version, year : 2.3
- author/company : John Palevich & Steve Kennedy
- available..... : ?
- package....... : Compiler
- features...... : ?
- ACE C with more "real" C support (e.g. arrays of pointers
- to structs). Requires ACE C runtime libs and linker.
-
- - Deep Blue C (disk)
- version, year : 1.2, 1982
- author/company : John Palevich, APX
- available..... : http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20166
- Source code "Deep Blue Secrets" downloadable at
- http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20179
- package....... : Compiler, Linker
- features...... : ?
- Deep Blue C was originally an independent product, but it
- then became available from APX. It converts C to pseudo-
- code and then interprets the pseudo code (8080 instruction
- set emulation).
- Drawn from Ron Cain's public domain C-compiler (Small-C).
-
- - DVC C (disk)
- version, year : 1.05, 1985
- author/company : Ralph E. Walden
- available..... : ?
- package....... : Editor, Compiler, Optimizer, Linker
- features...... : Quite user friendly program
- The compiler generates special object files (.CCC)
- which can be optimized and linked. The package uses a
- special DOS called DVC DOS which contains runtime stuff.
-
- - LightSpeed C (disk)
- version, year : 1.08, 1986
- author/company : Clearstar Softechnology
- available..... : ?
- package....... : Compiler, Optimizer, Linker
- features...... : ?
- Runs under CLI DOS's and MENU DOS's.
-
- - Tiny-C
- version, year : ?
- author/company : OSS
- available..... : ?
- package....... : ?
- features...... : ?
- First sold C compiler by OSS. This compiler was used to
- compile itself! First true language "bootstrap" on any
- 8-bit machine (it was also available for Apple and CP/M
- machines). Derived from Dr.Dobbs "Small C". Compiles to
- 6502 code which emulates the 8080 instruction set.
-
-
- d) PASCAL
-
- - Atari Pascal (disk)
- version, year : 1.0, 1982
- author/company : APX
- available..... : APX-20102
- Information at http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20102
- package....... : ?
- features...... : ?
- Needs two drives.
-
- - Draper Pascal (disk)
- version, year : 2.1, 1989
- author/company : Norm Draper
- available..... : ?
- package....... : ?
- features...... : ?
-
- - Kyan Pascal (disk)
- version, year : 1986
- author/company : Kyan Software, APX
- available..... : ?
- package....... : editor, compiler, linker, macro-assembler
- and manual
- features...... : ?
- Kyan Pascal would run off a single floppy. The Atari (APX)
- version needs two drives. A version which runs entirely in
- 128k should be available too.
-
-
- e) LISP
-
- - INTER-LISP/65 (disk)
- version, year : 2.1, 1981
- author/company : Special Software Systems, DataSoft
- available..... : ?
- package....... : ?
- features...... : ?
-
- - INTER-LISP/65 (disk)
- version, year : 2.2, 1982
- author/company : Special Software Systems, DataSoft
- available..... : ?
- package....... : ?
- features...... : ?
-
-
- f) FORTH
-
- - ES-FORTH
- version, year : 1.2, 1984
- author/company : The English Software Company
- available..... :
- http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/LangForthESForth
- package....... : ?
- features...... : ?
- Seems to be based on fig-FORTH, but with some unique "Words".
- Works with normal DOS.
-
- - Extended fig-FORTH, (disk)
- version, year : 11/10/1981
- author/company : Patrick Mullarky, APX
- available..... : APX-20029
- http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20029
- package....... : ?
- features...... : ?
-
- - Extended fig-Forth (disk)
- version, year : 1.1 Rev. 2.0, 01/15/82
- author/company : Patrick Mullarky, APX
- available..... : APX-20029
- http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20029
- package....... : ?
- features...... : ?
-
- - fig-FORTH
- version, year : 1/26/81 and 4/01/82 releases
- author/company : Steven R. Calfee "Team FORTH"
- available..... :
- http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=unknown_fig
- package....... : ?
- features...... : ?
-
- - fig-FORTH
- version, year : 4/10/82
- author/company : Peter Lipson / Robin Ziegler "Team FORTH"
- available..... : ?
- package....... : ?
- features...... :
- based on 4/1/82 release of fig-FORTH by Steve Calfee
-
- - fig-FORTH
- version, year : 5/5/82 - 10/16/82
- author/company : Harald Striepe "Team FORTH"
- available..... : ?
- package....... : ?
- features...... :
- based on 4/10/82 release of fig-FORTH by Lipson/Ziegler
-
- - fig-FORTH, Antic (disk)
- version, year : 1.4S REV.H, 18Jun85
- author/company : John Stanley/Antic Magazine "Team FORTH"
- available..... :
- http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/LangForthAntic
- package....... : ?
- features...... :
- based on 10/16/82 release of fig-FORTH by Striepe
-
- - fun-Forth (disk)
- version, year : ?
- author/company : Joel Gluck, APX
- available..... : APX-20146
- http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20146
- package....... : ?
- features...... : ?
-
- - Grafik-FORTH
- version, year : 1990
- author/company : RAI Production
- available..... :
- http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/LangForthGraphicForth
- package....... : ?
- features...... : ?
- based on fig-FORTH 1.4S and TURBO-GRAPHICS-SYSTEM 256
-
- - MesaForth
- version, year : 12/03/81
- author/company : ?
- available..... :
- http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/LangForthMesa
- package....... : language, source code, documents, examples
- features...... :
- based on 6502 fig-Forth. The major difference is in the size of the
- screen on disk (512 bytes instead of 1024 bytes).
- Runs under ATARI DOS 2.0S.
-
- - QS FORTH
- version, year : 1.0, 3/27/81
- author/company : James Abanese / [QS] Quality Software
- available..... : http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/LangForthQS
- package....... : Editor, Assembler, I/O routines
- Single Density 5.25 Floppy and Manual in Binder
- features...... : Editor, Assembler, I/O Routines.
- based on fig-FORTH.
-
- - Turbo-4th
- version, year : January 1985
- author/company : Steven R. Calfee
- available..... : ?
- package....... : ?
- features...... :
- compatible with fig-FORTH and Team FORTH. It's fast.
- Not threaded, it is a true compiler
-
- - ValForth (disk)
- version, year : 1.1, 1982
- author/company : Valpar International
- available..... : ?
- package....... : (8) disks in the set including: 1)master disk,
- 2)display formatter, 3)text compression and auto text formatting,
- 4)valDOS-I, 5)valDOS-II, 6)player-missile graphics, character editor and
- sound editor, 7)general utilities and video editor, 8) Turtle &
- valGraphics and advanced floating point routines.
- features...... : ?
- based on fig-FORTH
-
- - X-FORTH
- version, year : 26 Jan 2003
- author/company : Carsten Strotmann
- available..... : http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/ProjXForth
- package....... : binary, source, disk image with samples & editor
- features...... : aims to be compatible with new ANSI standard.
- works with normal DOS.
-
-
- g) PILOT
-
- - Atari PILOT (cart)
- version, year : 1980
- author/company : Atari
- available..... : ?
- package....... : ?
- features...... : ?
-
-
- h) LOGO
-
- - Atari LOGO (cart)
- version, year : 1983
- author/company : LCSI, Atari
- available..... : ?
- package....... : ?
- features...... : ?
-
-
- i) All the rest
-
- - Action! (cart)
- version, year : 1983
- author/company : OSS
- available..... : ?
- package....... : compiler, editor, monitor and library
- features...... : fast compiler which generates good code
- Needs cartridge for runtime procedures. A PD runtime
- library is also available.
- All variables are static, so recursive routine calls
- are not possible. No floating point type (though a
- PD library should make this possible). No arrays of
- objects (arrays of POINTERS to objects are possible).
-
- - Extended WSFN, WSFN = Which Stands For Nothing
- version, year : ?
- author/company : Harry Stewart, APX
- available..... : APX-20026
- package....... : ?
- features...... : ?
- Info at http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20026
-
- - Quick (disk)
- version, year : 2.0, 1990
- author/company : Raindorf Soft
- available..... : ?
- package....... : ?
- features...... : ?
- This is the "poor man's Action!". Same restrictions as
- Action! apply also to Quick. Further restrictions are:
- only simple assignment expressions, no records and no
- pointers.
-
- - PL65 (disk)
- version, year : 1.0, 1987
- author/company : Noahsoft
- available..... : commercial, Extremely rare.
- package....... : compiler, editor, library, sample game
- features...... : Similar features to Action with same restrictions.
- Highly flexible language that includes inline assembler features and
- pointers. Robust and well-engineered editor. Does not require
- additional runtime library - automatically generated and included in
- the compiled code during compilation.
-
- - Test Computer Language (disk)
- version, year : 2.2, 1985-1990
- author/company : D.Firth
- available..... : public domain, ?
- package....... : compiler and editor
- features...... : ?
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 8.2) What cartridges were released for the Right Slot of the 800?
-
- Contributors: Gene, Larry White, others
-
- Austin Franklin Austin 80 Console Software
- Eastern House KISS
- Eastern House Monkey Wrench
- Eastern House Monkey Wrench II
- Geminisoft/Sar-An Magic Dump
- Geminisoft Magic Dump II
- Radical Systems Cartridge Maker (eprom burner)
- Block (first right cart/first "backup" program hardware device)
- R-Time 8 ICD (battery-backed clock, for left or right cart slots)
- Real Time Cartridge Sunmark, http://www.sunmark.com/
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 8.3) What games support 4 or more simultaneous players?
-
- Contributors to this section: Jeff M Lodoen, Vidar \"Hawk\" Olavesen, Pat
- Mulvey, Steven E. Posey (Party Quiz), Andreas Magenheimer, Florian Dingler
-
- a) The following games support 3 simultaneous players:
- (2 players via joystick, 1 player via keyboard)
-
- - Dynakillers by GMG/Slovakia (Freeware!)
- - Blastermind by Numbercruncher/Germany (Freeware!)
- - M.U.L.E. cracked+changed by CSS/Germany (pirate copy!)
- - some more PD and commercial games...
-
- b) The following games support 4-joystick head-to-head play:
- (Only the 400 and 800 computer models sport 4 controller ports)
-
- - Asteroids cart. by Atari,
- - Basketball cart. by Atari,
- - Dandy disk by APX,
- - M.U.L.E. disk by Electronic Arts,
- - Maze War disk or cart. by ???,
- - Silicon Warrior disk or tape by Epyx,
- - Survivor disk or cart. by Synapse,
- - Major League Soccer cart. by Thorn EMI,
- - Major League Hockey cart. by Thorn EMI,
- - Volleyball by ???
- (PD game written in Atari BASIC);
- - Tank Battle by Fred Pinho from Antic magazine:
- http://www.atarimagazines.com/v3n2/animate.html
- - Roadblock by Brian Holness from Compute! magazine
- - Battle Room (CIA vs. KGB) a PD game by SNACC
- - Aliens a PD-game by ??? using an altered Dandy program
- (the Dandy font and thus the graphics were changed, however,
- the levels remain the same and can be used in both games);
- - Sky Warrior by ??? from ROM magazine, June 1984 ***
- - Depth Warrior by ??? from ROM magazine, Aug. 1984 ***
- - Yellow-Brick-Road by ??? from ROM magazine, Feb. 1984 ***
-
- *** these programs are reported to be 4-player programs, I'm
- not sure if they are meant to be 4-players simultaneously
- or 4-players - one after another (try to find out!);
-
- c) The following games support 8 players on the 400/800 or 4 on the other
- computer models, using the 2 controllers-per-port CX30 Paddle controllers:
-
- - Super Breakout by Atari,
- - Worms? by Electronic Arts
- (has nothing to do with the PC game!)
-
- d) The following game supports 4 players on all machines, using special
- 4-button keypad controllers linked together with RJ-11 jacks (standard
- phone jacks) to a box with 2 joystick port connectors:
-
- - PQ: The Party Quiz Game by Suncom
-
- e) The following programs support multi-joystick games, using extra
- hardware called Quadrotron (from the german Atari magazin 2/1989):
-
- - test program for 4 joysticks (and assembler source);
- - Quadro-Tron by H.Schoenfeld (4-player Tron-clone);
-
- f) The following programs support multi-joystick games, using extra
- hardware called Multijoy (multijoy4 for up to 4 players, multijoy8
- for up to 8 players and multijoy16 for up to 16 players; originally
- developed by Raster/Radek Sterba, but also available from ABBUC):
-
- - Cervi by R.Sterba (up to 8-players Snake-clone);
- - Multijoy by R.Sterba (up to 4 players Tetris-clone)
- - Bremspunkt by T.Butschke (up to 4 players Car-race);
- - Sheeprace by F.Dingler (1 to 8 players Sheep-race);
- - Cardgrabber by F.Dingler (2 to 8 players grab-a-card-game);
- - Ice-Hockey by F.Dingler (4 to 8 players Icehockey-game);
- - Quadrotron-M4 by R.Sterba (patched Quadro-Tron for Multijoy);
- - Shoot Em' All by R.Sterba (16 players shooting-game)
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 8.4) What programs run only on the 400 and 800 models, and why?
-
- The following are reported as incompatible with models other than the
- original Atari 400/800. Most probably do work on XL/XE's if you use a
- translator to run the original 400/800 OS on your XL/XE.
-
- Apple Panic Broderbund
- Aquatron Sierra On-Line
- Astro Chase (by First Star Software) Parker Bros.
- Atari Word Processor Atari
- (this is not the same as AtariWriter!)
- Atlantis (some versions!) Imagic
- Attack at EP-CYG-4 (by Bram) Romox
- Bacterion! Kyle Peacock/Tom Hudson/ANALOG#20
- ( http://www.cyberroach.com/analog/an20/bacterion.htm
- patch for XL/XE available:
- http://www.cyberroach.com/analog/an20/bacterion_patch.htm )
- Bandits Sirius Software
- BearJam Chalkboard
- Boulders And Bombs CBS
- Chicken Synapse
- Dancing Feats (by Softsync) Romox
- Demon Attack Imagic
- Dreadnaught Factor, The Activision
- Drelbs Synapse
- File Manager 800+ Synapse
- Forbidden Forest Cosmi
- (later versions by different companies work ok on XL/XE!)
- Fort Apocalypse Synapse
- (cart version is 400/800 only! tape+disk versions work ok on XL/XE!)
- Galahad And The Holy Grail APX
- (Downloadable: http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20132)
- Go Hayden
- Gorf Roklan
- Jawbreaker II Sierra On-Line
- Jet Boot Jack English Software
- (can be found on various tapes/disks; at least the re-release
- version by Byte Back works alright on XL/XE computers!)
- Juggler IDSI
- K-Razy Antiks K-Byte
- K-razy Kritters CBS
- K-razy Kritters K-Byte
- Kangaroo Atari prototype
- KoalaPainter Koala
- Leo's 'Lectric Paintbrush Chalkboard
- Leo's Links Chalkboard
- Letter Perfect (before v6) LJK
- LogicMaster Chalkboard
- Mac/65 [ver. 1.00, orange] OSS
- Mario Bros. ('83) Atari
- Maze Epyx
- Micro Illustrator Chalkboard
- MicroMaestro Chalkboard
- Monkey Wrench Eastern House
- Monster Maze Epyx
- Ms. Pac-Man Atari
- (has problems with newer XE/XEGS computers!)
- M.U.L.E.(early release only) Electronic Arts
- Nautilus Synapse
- Pac-Man Jr. Atari prototype
- Picnic Paranoia Synapse
- Pool 1.5 IDSI
- Pool 400 IDSI
- Protector II Synapse
- QS Forth James Abanese / [QS] Quality Software
- Rack 'Em Up Rocklan
- Shamus Synapse
- Slime Synapse
- Snapper Silicon Valley Systems
- Space Dungeon Atari
- Squish 'Em Sirius
- Super Pac-Man Atari prototype
- Synassembler Synapse
- Text Wizard Datasoft
- Zaxxon (early release only!) Datasoft
-
- Konrad M.Kokoszkiewicz writes:
-
- XL/XE software won't work on 400/800 if:
-
- 1) it uses shadow RAM at $C000-$CFFF and $D800-$FFFF
- 2) it uses RAM expansions at $4000-$7FFF controlled by PORTB $D301
- 3) it uses specific XL OS functions (like JNEWDEVC)
- 4) it uses illegal XL OS addresses.
- 5) it uses European Charset :)
-
- Andreas Magenheimer adds:
-
- To get an overview or see a chart of OS changes from the 800 to the XL
- line, refer to Antic magazine Volume 3, Number 2 (June 1984), pages 10-14;
- (online: http://www.atarimagazines.com/v3n2/insideatari.html )
- Also note, that some software will not work correct (or not at all) on
- newer XE/XEGS versions (which have a new OS with a new version number,
- a new selftest/memory-test/keyboard-test, larger RAM chips, etc. etc.);
-
- Thomas Richter contributes further details (16 Jan 2004):
-
- There are a couple of reasons why some games don't run on the XL/XE
- models. I try to order them by "likeliness", of course biased by my
- personal observations:
-
- i) The printer buffer of the XL Operating System in page 3 is a couple
- of bytes shorter. The additional bytes are used for extended OS
- variables not available in the 800 series. Most prominent is the $3fa
- location, holding a shadow register of GTIA's TRIG3 signal. While a
- true joystick trigger line in the 400/800 series, this signal is used
- as "cart inserted" signal for XL/XE models. Unfortunately, the OS
- compares GTIA trig3 with the shadow register at $3fa in each vertical
- blank, running into an endless loop if the register contents don't
- match. This causes hangs for games using page 3 either as copy-buffer
- or for player-missile graphics. (Hangs by Ms. Pac-Man and
- Bacterion! are caused by this, and many others...) This is "fixable"
- either by the translator disk, or by a quick hack into the game,
- replacing the OS vertical blank or poking TRIG3 frequently into its
- shadow. The reason for the OS behaviour might be that Atari wanted to
- prevent crashes if the cartridge is inserted or removed while the
- machine is running. The 400/800 is powered down when a cart is
- inserted, the XL/XE lacks the cover of the older models that triggered
- a little switch to interrupt the power line.
-
- ii) Similar to the above, writes to $3f8. This OS equate defines
- whether on a warm start, the BASIC ROM shall be mapped back in. If
- its contents are altered, a program triggering a reset as part of its
- initialization will find itself then with 8K less RAM occupied by
- a BASIC ROM, making it crash. Similarly, writes to the cartridge checksum
- $3eb could cause a cold-start on a "reset initialization". This is
- fixable by the translator disk.
-
- iii) Some games use a four-joystick setup, or at least initialize
- PIA itself. If this happens inadequately, PIA Port B, bit 0 gets changed,
- disabling the ROM, and thus crashing the machine. This is not fixable
- by the translator since it is a hardware issue.
-
- iv) Direct jumps into the OS ROM, not using the documented vectors in
- the $e450 area. Interestingly, this fault is not as common as it may
- sound since games hardly ever use the OS. It causes failures of
- some "serious applications", most notably "QS Forth" and applications
- compiled by it. This is fixable by the translator disk.
-
- As a side remark, it is interesting to note that no such documented
- jump-ins exist for the math-pack ($d800 to $dfff). It is not really
- part of the OS, but looks more like a part of the BASIC interpreter
- that didn't make it into the OS because there was no room left. Thus,
- direct jump-ins have to be used here that are documented in the De Re
- Atari (for example). Atari never changed them, but it seems likely
- that this documentation happened more or less as an accident since the
- same source also lists some mathematics-related jump-ins into the
- Basic (namely, to compute SIN and COS and related) that are only valid
- for the Rev. A BASIC. Thus, the math pack might be a couple of
- routines that have been originally intended for "private use" of the
- BASIC ROM, but then have been found "too useful" by many others to
- remain "closed". Otherwise, it is hard to explain why the otherwise
- pretty cleaned-up OS comes with a construction like this.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 8.5) What programs make use of the Light Gun or a light pen?
-
- Bertrand M. (LEXX) writes:
-
- - Bug Hunt cart. by Atari;
- - Barnyard Blaster cart. by Atari;
- - Crossbow cart. by Atari;
- - Crimebuster cart. by Atari;
- - Operation Blood disk by ANG/Mirage;
- - Operation Blood II - Special Forces disk by ANG/Mirage;
- - Light Gun Blaster (PD from Page 6);
- - enhanced Lightgun Blaster (PD from Pedrokko);
- - Gangsterville disk by Linda Soft
- (an italian game written in BASIC);
- - maybe a couple more...
-
- James Bradford mentions:
- "On the 400, the light gun /pen will only work in joystick port 4."
- This renders much light gun and light pen software unusable on the 400.
-
- Andreas Magenheimer adds:
- All Lightgun games can be used with a lightpen (which is not as accurate
- as a Lightgun however). And all lightpen programs can be used with a
- lightgun. thus add:
-
- - Atari Graphics cart. by Atari
- (a painting/drawing program);
- - Matrix a PD game by Dave Oblad
- (a 4-wins or 5-wins clone!)
- - Alien Invaders disk by R.Gore (available from DGS);
- - Bembelwo a PD game by Thorsten Butschke
- (a sort of golf/minesweeper game, written in Quick);
- - Sharp Shooter by Mat*Rat a PD game from Analog,
- (also available on cart from Video 61/Lance Ringquist);
- - Lightgun Shooter by ??? from ABBUC mag.
- (a simple shooter game, at least PD!)
- - Flyshot or Flyshoot a PD game by Kemal Ezcan
- (a Turbo BASIC game from ZONG, the KE Soft magazine);
- - Geisterschloss game+editor disk by KE Soft;
- - Lightpen Doodle by ??? from Antic magazine;
- - some more PD programs and utilities for Lightpen or Lightgun;
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 8.6) What programs have a track ball mode or support a mouse?
-
- Contributors: Andreas Magenheimer, Mirko Sobe
-
- Title Keystroke Required
- -------------- ---------------------
- - Missile Command by Atari CTRL-T
- - Slime by Synapse [T]
- - Shanghai by Activision choose controller type: ST mouse !
- (plug it into port 2; if you do not
- have one, you have to reboot!!)
- - Bombdown by Roemer of Uno choose between Joystick, Amiga
- mouse, ST mouse or CX85 numeric
- keypad (use port 2 for any mice)
- - Minesweeper by Raindorf-Soft use an ST mouse in port 2
- - The Brundles by KE-Soft use an ST mouse in port 2
- - The Brundles Editor by KE-Soft, PD use an ST mouse in port 2
- - Geisterschloss by KE-Soft, PD choose Lightgun (port 1) or ST
- mouse (port 2)
- - Vanish (ZONG, Vol. 5+6/1993); use an ST-mouse in port 2
- - Hong Kong (ZONG, Vol. 5+6/1993); use an ST-mouse in port 2
- - Maus-DOS (ZONG 5+6/1993); use an ST-mouse in port 2
- - Faecher-Patience (ZONG 1/1993); use an ST-mouse in port 2
- - Macao (Zong 5+6/1994); use an ST-mouse in port 2
- - Multi-Mouse manager (PD) drivers for mice, TB, etc.
- - Multiplayer 2.1 by Madteam supports ST + Amiga mouse in port A
- - Unriagh I (german PD adventure) has drivers for ST mouse+Joystick
- (stick=port 1, mouse=port2)
- - Unriagh II (german PD adventure) has drivers for ST mouse+joystick
- (stick=port 1, mouse=port 2)
- - little Calculator (AMC-Verlag, PD) uses ST-mouse only (port 2)
- - big UPN calculator (PD) uses ST mouse, TB, Touch tab. and
- joystick; (there are different COM
- files, rename the one you wish to
- use to *.EXE; all drivers use port
- 1 - if I remember correctly)
- - Operation Blood (ANG/Mirage) press mouse fire or Select to start
- in ST mouse mode (port 2)
- - Operation Blood 2 / Special Forces press mouse fire or Select to start
- (ANG/Mirage) in ST mouse mode
- - Sprint XL (ABBUC Jahresgabe 1992) uses an ST mouse in port 2
- - M.O.S. (ABBUC magazine) uses an ST mouse in port 2
- - Diamond GOS (Reeve software) all three versions support an ST
- mouse in port 2
- - S.A.M. (Power per Post) german GUI, supports an ST mouse in
- port 2
- - G.O.E. (TCS) supports an ST mouse in port 1
- - BOSS-X (MS-Software, Mirko Sobe) supports ST-Mouse in Port 2
-
- RE: Missile Command, Andreas writes:
- there are many different versions available... I know the old Atari 800
- cart version, which works correct with Joystick and Trakball, but not at
- all with a mouse. The newer XL version works with Mouse, trackball and
- Joystick, also the newest (built-in) XEGS version of MC. But, there is
- also a tape version (and maybe a disk version) of MC available. I am not
- sure if this tape version behaves like the old 800 version or like the
- newer XL and XE/XEGS versions...
-
- And about mice, Andreas adds:
- Maybe you did not know, there is a little difference between Trackball
- and ST-mouse. Although MC works with both input devices does not mean,
- they are the same. they are not !! Connect the TB to an ST computer and
- you see: it does not work at all !! You have to do a small conversion to
- convert the TB to an ST mouse. (Plans are avaiable from ABBUC, Germany).
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 8.7) What programs have a paddle(s) or Koala Pad mode?
-
- Andreas Magenheimer contributes:
-
- - Super Breakout (Atari) breakout clone
- - Live Wire (Analog) tempest clone
- - Live wire 2 (Analog) tempest clone
- - Planetary Defense (Analog)
- - Pong (Antic) Pong clone
- - Pong (Analog) Pong clone
- - Super Ball (Compy Shop Magazin) Breakout clone
- - Arkanoid (Taito/Imagic) Breakout clone
- - Koala/Micro-Illustrator (Island graphics/Koala Ware) graphics program
- - Chiseler (Antic or Analog) a breakout clone
- - Slime (Synapse) a slimy shooter...
- - Chicken (Synapse) catch the chicken eggs...
- - One on One (Compute!) a breakout/warlords clone
- - Paratroop Attack by David Plotkin
- - all Pinballs created with the P.C.S.
- (use left paddle trigger for left flipper and right paddle trigger for
- right flipper; or simply use a joystick and left/right/fire button);
- - many more Pong and Breakout clones
- (forgot their names, maybe someone can help here!)
- - many more programs (which I do not remember right now!)
-
- for Koala Pad only: - Micro-Illustrator / Koala Painter
- - other Koala Pad painters or programs
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 8.8) What programs have a CX85 Numerical Keypad mode?
-
- Andreas Magenheimer contributes:
-
- - Bombdown (Roemer of Uno);
- - The Bookkeeper (Atari);
- - Multi mouse Management (PD);
- - UPN calculator (PD);
- - Ball Harbour (Zong 8/1992);
- - The Big Quest (Zong 7/1992);
- - Blob (Zong 2/1992);
- - Bomber Jack (KE-Soft);
- - Catch (Zong 6/1992);
- - Code table (Zong 11+12/1993);
- - CX-85-Driver (Zong 7+8/1994);
- - CX-85-Keycode-driver (Zong 7+8/1995);
- - Donald (by KE-Soft);
- - Drag (by KE-Soft);
- - Dragon Fire (Zong 1/1993);
- - Gravitar (Zong 4/1992);
- - Hungry Goblin (Zong 5/1992);
- - Invaders (Zong 5+6/1993);
- - Joshi (Zong 3+4/1993);
- - Lasermaze (by KE-Soft);
- - Lost in the Antarctic (Zong 2/1992);
- - Mampfman (Zong 8/1992);
- - Minipac (Zong 3/1992);
- - Minipac 2 (Zong 6/1992);
- - Money Raider (Zong 2/1992);
- - Monster Tracking (Zong 9/1992);
- - Oblitroid (by KE-Soft)
- - Pac-Man (Zong 11/1992);
- - Schlumpf/Smurf (Zong 5/1992);
- - Slurp (Zong 3/1992);
- - Techno Ninja (by KE-Soft)
- - Transsylvania (Zong 3+4/1993);
- - Viro-Mania (Zong 2/1993);
- - Zador XL (by KE-Soft)
- - Zador II (by KE-Soft)
- - many more games from KE-Soft and Powersoft;
- (forgot their names, help needed!)
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject 8.9) What programs have a Touch tablet mode?
-
- Andreas Magenheimer writes:
-
- - Atari Artist (Atari) graphics program
- - Pixel Artist Deluxe 1.3 (PD) graphics program
- - The Brundles (KE-Soft) Lemmings clone
- - Musorqua (Analog computing) educational program
- - many more (which I do not remember right now!)
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 8.10) What kinds of RAMdisks can be set up on the Atari?
-
- This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
-
- 8.10 Atari Ramdisks - An (incomplete) Overview:
- [This is version 2.10 from October 2003]
-
- Right from the start of the Atari 8-bit computer era in the late 70`s,
- Atari users wanted to have as much RAM as possible (or as their purse
- could afford). Having a 16k machine with a tape device was nice and
- cheap, but having full 48k or 64k and a floppy drive was much nicer
- (and very expensive). Thus many Atari users began to create selfmade
- RAM extensions and enhancements, just to save some money. Also a lot of
- firms provided extra RAM, RAM enhancements, RAM extensions and Ramdisks.
- Besides Atari there were (and still are) quite a lot of producers,
- manufacturers, distributors and authors of such RAM enhancements...
-
- This "short" and incomplete overview does not provide any docs or manuals,
- but gives some info about the various Ramdisks on the market. Since these
- notes are written by me, they will merely contain the information I have.
- And as you all can see - it is still incomplete. So any help and extra
- info, as well as corrections, are very welcome. It would be nice to see
- this text & info growing. For now let us start here, the info-section is
- divided into 8 groups:
-
- 1) Name (Name of the RD, e.g. Megaram 2 or Rambo XL or MIO, etc.);
- 2) Vendor/Author (or distributor, manufacturer, producer, etc.);
- 3) Size (size of the Ramdisk only; NOT the full computer memory);
- 4) [Bankswitching] Area (for XL/XE computers usually 4000-7FFF);
- 5) Banks (hexadecimal input count, as in MyDOS or RAMDTEST.BIN);
- 6) Control Bits (which bits are used to control the Rambanks);
- 7) Port (control Port - usually Port B for XL/XE machines);
- 8) Notes (any extra info, comments, miscelleanous things, etc.);
-
- If you wish to add any other type of info, let me know. The above
- information should be enough for most programmers to support a RD in
- their programs (especially to support more than just one type of RD).
- Hopefully future programs will take care about this info or just use
- a small setup program to setup any kind of RD. Now let me begin:
-
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- A) Atari 400/800 Ramdisks:
-
- Name Vendor Size Area
- Banks Bits Port Notes
-
- - Axlon Axlon/Atari 64k 4000-7FFF
- 0 thru 3 0,1 (CFFF) plug-in-board
- Note: total memory = 96kbytes (32k RAM + 64k RD);
-
- - Axlon Axlon/Atari 128k 4000-7FFF
- 0 thru 7 0,1,2 (CFFF) plug-in-board
- Note: total memory = 160kbytes (32k RAM + 128k RD);
-
- - 288k800 D.Byrd and others 256k 4000-7FFF
- 0 thru 15 0,1,2,3 (CFFF) selfmade-board
- Note: total memory = 288kbytes, Axlon compatible;
-
- - 544k800 various authors 512k 4000-7FFF
- 0 thru 31 0,1,2,3,4 (CFFF) selfmade-board
- Note: total memory = 544kbytes, Axlon compatible;
-
- - 1056k800 various authors 1024k 4000-7FFF
- 0 thru 63 0,1,2,3,4,5 (CFFF) selfmade-board
- Note: total memory = 1056kbytes, Axlon compatible;
-
- - 2080k800 various authors 2048k 4000-7FFF
- 0 thru 127 0,1,2,3,4,5,6 (CFFF) selfmade-board
- Note: total memory = 2080kbytes, Axlon compatible;
-
- - 4128k800 various authors 4096k 4000-7FFF
- 0 thru 255 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7 (CFFF) selfmade-board
- Note: total memory = 4128kbytes, Axlon compatible;
-
- => Note that all so-called Axlon "compatible" (256k-4096k) Ramdisks
- normally do not homebank when RESET is pressed (a fix should be
- available somewhere), whereas original Axlon Ramdisks do homebank
- properly !! (Special thanks to Lee Barnes for this note !!)
-
- - Mosaic RAMpower by Mosaic Electronics is actually a Ramboard, that
- enhances the memory of your Atari 800; avaiable in 3 sizes: 16k,
- 32k and 64k (where max. 52k can be utilized from 64k). Looks like
- these are no Ramdisks, just (normal/main) RAM enhancements. But maybe
- the 64k Ramboard can be patched in some way to gain a small 16k or
- 32k Ramdisk (48k RAM + 16k RD or 32k RAM + 32k RD) ?!?
-
- - ...
-
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- B) Atari XL/XE Ramdisks:
-
- Name Vendor Size
- Area Bits Port
- Banks
- Notes
-
- => Note that bit 4 is always used in all Port B type memory upgrades to
- turn on the CPU's access to the extended memory. Thus, it is not reported
- in bit use tables as a used bit as it does not control which bank gets
- switched into the 4000-7FFF region. This seems to be a standard convention
- as the majority of ramdisk users don't want bit 4 counted as a control bit.
- And it's not a control bit - its the 'on' bit. Likewise, bit 5 is the 'on'
- bit for ANTIC's access to the extended memory for 'compatible' (to 130XE)
- machines as well. If bit 5 does show up in a bit use table, one can only
- assume that this is an incompatible machine which doesn't have or use ANTIC
- access at all. In that special case, bit 5 is then available for use in
- switching in the various banks and thus gets counted as a control bit in
- bit use tables. (Special thanks to Lee Barnes for this note !!)
-
- - 130XE-Ramdisk Atari 64k
- 4000-7FFF 2,3 B ($D301)
- Banks: E3,E7,EB,EF;
- Notes: old=8kbyte chips (west), new=32kbyte chips (east);
- XE`s made in China have faulty GTIAs => replace them!;
- XE`s and XEGS made in China also have a new OS which causes
- some incompatibility problems (try: Encounter / disk version
- by Novagen or try: Muad`Dib-Demo by Hurek, etc.); just replace
- the new OS with an older XL/XE one if you want less trouble!;
- standard Atari RD - available with all XE-compatible ramdisks;
- Antic access: YES! Atari Basic: YES! XL/XE Selftest: YES!;
-
- - 192k-600XL Compyshop 128k
- 4000-7FFF 2,3,? B ($D301)
- Banks: e3,e7,eb,ef,a3,a7,ab,af;
- Notes: early CS upgrade version for 600XL only!;
- afaik this was a piggy-back version...;
- Antic access: no! Atari Basic: YES! XL/XE Selftest: YES!;
-
-
- - 320k-800XL Compyshop 256k
- 4000-7FFF 2,3,6,7 B ($D301)
- Banks: 23,27,2b,2f,63,67,6b,6f,a3,a7,ab,af,e3,e7,eb,ef;
- Notes: afaik this was a piggy-back version...;
- Antic access: no! Atari Basic: YES! XL/XE Selftest: YES!;
-
-
- - 320k-130XE Compyshop 256k
- 4000-7FFF 2,3,6,7 B ($D301)
- Banks: 23,27,2b,2f,63,67,6b,6f,a3,a7,ab,af,e3,e7,eb,ef;
- Notes: afaik this was a piggy-back version with sep. Antic!;
- (XE meant 130XE only! this excluded 65XE and 800XE!);
- Antic access: YES! Atari Basic: YES! XL/XE Selftest: YES!;
-
-
- - 512k XL various authors 448k
- 4000-7FFF 2,3,4,5,6,7 B ($D301)
- Banks: ef,eb,e7,e3,cf,cb,c7,c3,af,ab,a7,a3,8f,8b,87,83
- 6f,6b,67,63,4f,4b,47,43,2f,2b,27,23;
- Notes: This 512k upgrade is not the same as the one thats on the
- British Underground. That one dont work, I had to fix it years ago.
- The new version will replace the 64k main RAM with 512k RAM, thus
- you gain 64k RAM and 448k Ramdisk. (A.M.: Afaik, it has the same
- problems as the 256k RAM enhancements [with 64k RAM and 192k Ramdisk],
- meaning *some* programs will try to use the main RAM as rambanks...)
- Atari Basic: YES! XL/XE Selftest: YES! Antic access: no!;
-
- - A.M. Ramdisk Atari Magazin 256k
- 4000-7FFF 2,3,5,6 B ($D301)
- Banks: 83,87,8B,8F,A3,A7,AB,AF,C3,C7,CB,CF,E3,E7,EB,EF;
- Notes: manual and schematics, as well as a parts list can be found
- in german Atari Magazin 2/1987 (includes a Basic test program!);
- bugfixes and updates in Atari Magazin 3/1987, 4/1988 and 5/1988;
- Atari Basic: YES! XL/XE Selftest: YES! Antic access: no!;
-
- - Bob Woolley`s Atari 1200XL 1MB upgrade 960k
- 4000-7FFF 1,2,3,5,6,7 B ($D301)
- Banks: EF, ED, EB, E9, E7, E5, E3, E1
- CF, CD, CB, C9, C7, C5, C3, C1
- AF, AD, AB, A9, A7, A5, A3, A1
- 8F, 8D, 8B, 89, 87, 85, 83, 81
- 4F, 4D, 4B, 49, 47, 45, 43, 41
- 2F, 2D, 2B, 29, 27, 25, 23, 21
- 0F, 0D, 0B, 09, 07, 05, 03, 01
- Notes: this upgrade uses 64k as main RAM and 960k as Ramdisk;
- Selftest: Yes!, Basic: "no" (not built-in), Antic access: no! ;
-
- - Mathy`s RD M.v.Nisselroy 1024k
- 4000-7FFF 0,1,2,3,6,7 B ($D301)
- Banks: EF EE ED EC EB EA E9 E8 E7 E6 E5 E4 E3 E2 E1 E0
- AF AE AD AC AB AA A9 A8 A7 A6 A5 A4 A3 A2 A1 A0
- 6F 6E 6D 6C 6B 6A 69 68 67 66 65 64 63 62 61 60
- 2F 2E 2D 2C 2B 2A 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20
- Notes: uses a PC-SIMM (30-Pin-SIMM), pin-switching in RD: 4,5;
- XL/XE/XEGS: Selftest+Basic=YES, XEGS: Missile Command=YES!;
- no use of any switches!; Antic access: YES!; (CS-compatible!);
-
-
- - Megaram 1 Klaus Peters 256k
- 4000-7FFF 2,3,6,7 B ($D301)
- Banks: 23,27,2B,2F,63,67,6B,6F,A3,A7,AB,AF,E3,E7,EB,EF;
- Notes: used 16kbyte Chips x16 (very big/huge pcb);
- originally designed (and maybe produced?) by Ralf David;
- Atari Basic: YES! XL/XE Selftest: YES! Antic access: no!
-
- - Megaram 2 Klaus Peters 256k
- 4000-7FFF 2,3,6,7 B ($D301)
- Banks: 23,27,2B,2F,63,67,6B,6F,A3,A7,AB,AF,E3,E7,EB,EF;
- Notes: uses 128kbyte Chips x2 (much smaller pcb);
- originally designed (and maybe produced?) by Ralf David;
- newer MegaRAM version; fully compatible to Megaram 1;
- Atari Basic: YES! XL/XE Selftest: YES! Antic access: no!
-
- - Megaram 1,2 => 512k B.Pahl 512k
- 4000-7FFF 2,3,5,6,7 B ($D301)
- Banks: 03,07,0B,0F,23,27,2B,2F,43,47,4B,4F,63,67,6B,6F,
- 83,87,8B,8F,A3,A7,AB,AF,C3,C7,CB,CF,E3,E7,EB,EF;
- Notes: upgrade for Megaram 1 or 2 to 512kbytes (which means
- a total of 576kbytes memory); requires a small pcb (in
- connection with the existing Megaram 1 or 2 pcb) and the
- following chips: 2x 414256 (RAM), 1x 74LS138 plus some more
- wires inside the computer; additionally one may install a
- switch to switch down to 320k or even 64k (no RD!) if needed;
- advantage: more RAM, Basic still there, 26AE & 8ACE banks...;
- Atari Basic: YES! XL/XE Selftest: YES! Antic access: no!
-
-
- - Megaram 3 Klaus Peters 256k
- 4000-7FFF 2,3,6,7 B ($D301)
- Banks: 23,27,2B,2F,63,67,6B,6F,A3,A7,AB,AF,E3,E7,EB,EF;
- Notes: uses 256kx4 Chips (514256-70); fully compatible to
- K.P./R.D. Megaram 1+2; originally designed by Ralf David;
- Atari Basic: YES! XL/XE Selftest: YES! Antic access: no!
-
- - Megaram 3 Klaus Peters 1024k
- 4000-7FFF 2,3,6,7 B ($D301)
- 0,1 (or switches) B ($D600)
- Banks: 23,27,2B,2F,63,67,6B,6F,A3,A7,AB,AF,E3,E7,EB,EF;
- $D600: F3,F7,FB,FF...
- Notes: uses 1Mx4 Chips (514400-70); can be a) 1 Ramdisk of 1 Mb
- or b) 2 Ramdisks of 512kb each or c) 4 Ramdisks of 256kb each;
- uses four switches; the 1MB mode seems to be very incompatible!!;
- Atari Basic: YES! XL/XE Selftest: YES! Antic access: no!
-
- => Note that all XL-type Megaram-Ramdisks (Megaram 1, 2, 3)
- have Refresh bugs/problems which can be solved quite easily
- with one 74LS08 chip (see ABBUC magazine 63, pages 19+20);
- None of the Megaram Ramdisks do have the separate Antic access
- built-in, but XE-types can be upgraded easily for this mode!!;
-
-
- - Newell Newell Ind. 192k
- 4000-7FFF 2,3,5,6 B ($D301)
- Banks: a) older version: 83,87,8B,8F,C3,C7,CB,CF,E3,E7,EB,EF;
- b) newer version: A3,A7,AB,AF,C3,C7,CB,CF,E3,E7,EB,EF;
- Notes: replaces the 8 RAM 4164 with 8 RAM 41256 and thus uses
- 64k as main RAM and 192k as Ramdisk/extra RAM (therefore some
- RD-testers will see 240k memory or 15 RD-banks which is untrue!);
- the older 256k Newell version was not compatible to Rambo XL,
- Buchholz and Peterson, since these were not available then;
- Newell was earlier on the market than Rambo and Peterson,
- while early Buchholz Ramdisks used 32k banks instead of 16k
- banks; all this changed with the appearance of the 130XE
- and thus Buchholz designed 16k Rambanks and finally Newell
- 256k Ramdisks became Buchholz/RamboXL/Peterson compatible !!
- Atari Basic: YES! XL/XE Selftest: YES! Antic access: YES!
-
- - Newell Newell Ind. 1024k
- 4000-7FFF 1,2,3,5,6,7 B ($D301)
- Banks: 01,03,05,07,09,0B,0D,0F,21,23,25,27,29,2B,2D,2F
- 41,43,45,47,49,4B,4D,4F,61,63,65,67,69,6B,6D,6F
- 81,83,85,87,89,8B,8D,8F,A1,A3,A5,A7,A9,AB,AD,AF
- C1,C3,C5,C7,C9,CB,CD,CF,E1,E3,E5,E7,E9,EB,ED,EF
- Notes: uses 8 pc. 1Mx1 Chips (511000-80); Basic: To be able to
- select the internal Basic, connect a toggle switch between ground
- and the motherboard where PB1 was removed (PIA `Hole' 11). The
- switch is not much different than the Option Key, and I found it
- more versatile. (Wes Newell) => see also ABBUC mag. 29, page 6+7;
- Atari Basic: yes/no! XL/XE Selftest: YES! Antic access: YES!
-
-
- => Note that so-called "Newell-compatible" Ramdisks (clones or
- selfmade ones...) most likely do NOT have Antic access, due to
- the lazyness of its creators or their intentions of simply not
- needing it. However, original Newell Ramdisks created and sold
- by Wes Newell do have the separate Antic access !!
-
-
- - Newell Newell Ind. 4096k
- 4000-7FFF 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7 B ($D301)
- Banks: 00,01,02,03,04,05,06,07,08,09,0A,0B,0C,0D,0E,0F
- 10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,1A,1B,1C,1D,1E,1F
- 20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,2A,2B,2C,2D,2E,2F
- 30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,3A,3B,3C,3D,3E,3F
- 40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,4A,4B,4C,4D,4E,4F
- 50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,5A,5B,5C,5D,5E,5F
- 60,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,6A,6B,6C,6D,6E,6F
- 70,71,72,73,74,75,76,77,78,79,7A,7B,7C,7D,7E,7F
- 80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,8A,8B,8C,8D,8E,8F
- 90,91,92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,9A,9B,9C,9D,9E,9F
- A0,A1,A2,A3,A4,A5,A6,A7,A8,A9,AA,AB,AC,AD,AE,AF
- B0,B1,B2,B3,B4,B5,B6,B7,B8,B9,BA,BB,BC,BD,BE,BF
- C0,C1,C2,C3,C4,C5,C6,C7,C8,C9,CA,CB,CC,CD,CE,CF
- D0,D1,D2,D3,D4,D5,D6,D7,D8,D9,DA,DB,DC,DD,DE,DF
- E0,E1,E2,E3,E4,E5,E6,E7,E8,E9,EA,EB,EC,ED,EE,EF
- F0,F1,F2,F3,F4,F5,F6,F7,F8,F9,FA,FB,FC,FD,FE,FF
- Notes: uses 8 pc. 4Mx1 Chips (541000-80); made by Newell, later by
- FTE; seems to be very incompatible to existing software and
- bankswitching cartridges (OSS, Atari, etc.), because normal RAM at
- 4000-7FFF is NOT available - only extra Ram/Ramdisk banks. With one
- PIA chip there is simply no bit left to switch between main RAM and
- extra RAM / Ramdisk. But with the installation of a second PIA chip
- one would be able to do so. Furthermore one may use (almost) any
- setup or banks he likes then (with a second PIA chip one could
- control up to 256 Megabytes of RAM). Basic: To be able to select the
- internal Basic, connect a toggle switch between ground and the
- motherboard where PB1 was removed (PIA `Hole' 11). The switch is not
- much different than the Option Key, and I found it more versatile.
- (Wes Newell); OS: It is possible to maintain OS bankink using 4 Megs.
- It requires moving the OS into RAM before any banking of that Bit
- occurs. Use MOVEOS File on the [Newell-Software-] Disk. (Wes Newell)
- Atari Basic: no! XL/XE Selftest: no (?) Antic access: no!
-
-
- - Peterson 256k S.Peterson 192k
- 4000-7FFF 2,3,5,6 B ($D301)
- Banks: A3,A7,AB,AF,C3,C7,CB,CF,E3,E7,EB,EF;
- Notes: compatible to Buchholz, Rambo XL and newer Newell versions;
- replaces the 8 RAM 4164 with 8 RAM 41256 and thus uses 64k as main RAM
- and 192k as Ramdisk (most RD-testers will therefore see 240k memory);
- Antic access: no!, Atari Basic: YES!, XL/XE Selftest: YES!
-
- - Peterson 320k S.Peterson 256k
- 4000-7FFF 2,3,5,6 B ($D301)
- Banks: 83,87,8B,8F,A3,A7,AB,AF,C3,C7,CB,CF,E3,E7,EB,EF;
- Notes: compatible to TOMS (?), incompatible to Compyshop!;
- there are still the 64k main RAM plus this 256k extra RAM;
- Atari Basic: YES! XL/XE Selftest: YES! Antic access: no!
-
- - Peterson 576k S.Peterson 512k
- 4000-7FFF 1,2,3,5,6 B ($D301)
- Banks: 81,83,85,87,89,8B,8D,8F,A1,A3,A5,A7,A9,AB,AD,AF,
- C1,C3,C5,C7,C9,CB,CD,CF,E1,E3,E5,E7,E9,EB,ED,EF;
- Notes: should be fully compatible to TOMS-Ramdisk (?);
- Atari Basic: no! XL/XE Selftest: YES! Antic access: no!
-
- - Peterson 1088k S.Peterson 1024k
- 4000-7FFF 1,2,3,5,6,7 B ($D301)
- Banks: 01,03,05,07,09,0B,0D,0F,21,23,25,27,29,2B,2D,2F
- 41,43,45,47,49,4B,4D,4F,61,63,65,67,69,6B,6D,6F
- 81,83,85,87,89,8B,8D,8F,A1,A3,A5,A7,A9,AB,AD,AF
- C1,C3,C5,C7,C9,CB,CD,CF,E1,E3,E5,E7,E9,EB,ED,EF
- Notes: fully compatible to Newell and TOMS (?) Ramdisks;
- Atari Basic: no! XL/XE Selftest: YES! Antic access: no!
-
- => Note that (separate) Antic access can be done to all Peterson
- and compatible XE-type Ramdisks; just refer to Ed Bachman`s fine
- article (supplied with the manual for the Wedge) on how to
- update/upgrade your Peterson or compatible Ramdisk for Antic access;
- (Afaik only XE-type computers can be upgraded for separate Antic
- access, since XL-type computers don`t have the Freddie and Gate
- Array chips; the Freddie chip controls the Gate-Array chip; the
- Gate-Array chip is responsible for the separate Antic mode...)
-
-
- - Quarter-Mega-XL C.Buchholz 192k
- 4000-7FFF 2,3,5,6 B ($D301)
- Banks: A3,A7,AB,AF,C3,C7,CB,CF,E3,E7,EB,EF (=newer version);
- Notes: compatible to Peterson, Rambo XL and newer Newell versions;
- replaces the 8 RAM 4164 with 8 RAM 41256 and thus uses 64k as main RAM
- and 192k as Ramdisk (therefore most RD-testers will see 240k memory);
- older versions were designed for 32k banks, but with the appearance of
- the 130XE as the new standard, the design had been changed to 16k banks;
- Atari Basic: YES! XL/XE Selftest: YES! Antic access: no!
-
- - Rambo XL ICD 192k
- 4000-7FFF 2,3,5,6 B ($D301)
- Banks: A3,A7,AB,AF,C3,C7,CB,CF,E3,E7,EB,EF;
- Notes: compatible to Buchholz, Peterson and newer Newell versions;
- replaces the 8 RAM 4164 with 8 RAM 41256 and uses 64k as main RAM and
- 192k as Ramdisk (therefore most RD-testprograms will see 240k memory);
- built in Atari Basic: YES!, XL/XE Selftest: YES! Antic access: no!
-
-
- - Rambo=>512k Dan Schmid 512k
- 4000-7FFF 2,3,5,6,7 B ($D301)
- Banks: 00,04,08,0C,20,24,28,2C,40,44,48,4C,60,64,68,6C, (Basic
- 80,84,88,8C,A0,A4,A8,AC,C0,C4,C8,CC,E0,E4,E8,EC; on??)
- Notes: this "project" should upgrade a Rambo XL to 576kbytes;
- the docs were found on Pooldisk Too (SUBDIR: ACE/Acec202 a+b);
- Atari Basic: YES! XL/XE Selftest: YES! Antic access: no (?)
-
- - Satantronic`s 1MB PC-SIMM Ramdisk 1024k
- 4000-7FFF 1,2,3,5,6,7 B ($D301)
- Banks: 01,03,05,07,09,0B,0D,0F,21,23,25,27,29,2B,2D,2F
- 41,43,45,47,49,4B,4D,4F,61,63,65,67,69,6B,6D,6F
- 81,83,85,87,89,8B,8D,8F,A1,A3,A5,A7,A9,AB,AD,AF
- C1,C3,C5,C7,C9,CB,CD,CF,E1,E3,E5,E7,E9,EB,ED,EF
- Notes: Extended RAM is not available from BASIC. But with a small
- patch it is possible to access 512 KB from Basic. This is compatible
- with 256 KB and 1024 KB SIMM modules. There also exists some light
- modified version of this RD with some switches for better
- compatibility with some "old" software. (XI of Satantronic);
- Atari Basic: no! XL/XE Selftest: YES! Antic access: no!
-
- - TOMS-RD T.O. + M.S. 256k
- 4000-7FFF 2,3,5,6 B ($D301)
- Banks: 83,87,8B,8F,A3,A7,AB,AF,C3,C7,CB,CF,E3,E7,EB,EF;
- Notes: made+standard in Poland; supported in most polish demos;
- should be fully compatible to A.M. and Scott Peterson Ramdisks (?);
- Atari Basic: YES!, XL/XE Selftest: YES!, Antic access: no (?);
-
- - TOMS-RD T.O. + M.S. 512k
- 4000-7FFF 1,2,3,5,6 B ($D301)
- Banks: 81,83,85,87,89,8B,8D,8F,A1,A3,A5,A7,A9,AB,AD,AF,
- C1,C3,C5,C7,C9,CB,CD,CF,E1,E3,E5,E7,E9,EB,ED,EF;
- Notes: should be fully compatible to S.Peterson Ramdisk (?)
- Atari Basic: no! XL/XE Selftest: YES! Antic access: no! (?)
-
- - TOMS-RD T.O. + M.S. 1024k
- 4000-7FFF 1,2,3,5,6,7 B ($D301)
- Banks: 01,03,05,07,09,0B,0D,0F,21,23,25,27,29,2B,2D,2F
- 41,43,45,47,49,4B,4D,4F,61,63,65,67,69,6B,6D,6F
- 81,83,85,87,89,8B,8D,8F,A1,A3,A5,A7,A9,AB,AD,AF
- C1,C3,C5,C7,C9,CB,CD,CF,E1,E3,E5,E7,E9,EB,ED,EF
- Notes: should be compatible to Newell & S.Peterson (?)
- Atari Basic: no! XL/XE Selftest: YES! Antic access: no (?)
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
- C) Parallel-Bus-Devices:
- (600XL/800XL = parallel bus, XE = cart-port + ECI and/or adapter)
-
-
- - Turbo Freezer XL Bernhard Engl 256k
- 4000-7FFF 2,3,4,5,6 B ($D301)
- Banks: E3,E7,EB,EF,93,97,9B,9F,A3,A7,AB,AF,B3,B7,BB,BF;
- Notes: The Turbo Freezer XL is an external device for the XL-PBI
- with its own Operating-Sytem. It has a built-in Freezer, Monitor
- and DOS. The Antic access for the RD can simply be built with one
- wire from CPU to PBI. The RD Access works with Port-Bits 2,3 for
- Bank Switching, Bits 4,5 for Groups and Bit 6 for "Mode-Select".
- PortB D7 = Selftest (0=on)
- D6 = Mode (1 = XE, 0 = Groups)
- D5 = XE: ANTIC-Access (0 = on), Groups: Group H
- D4 = XE: CPU-Access (0 = on), Groups: Group L
- D3 = Bank Number H
- D2 = Bank Number L
- D1 = BASIC ROM (0 = on)
- D0 = OS ROM (0 = off)
- Atari Basic: YES! XL/XE Selftest: YES! Antic access: optional;
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
- - missing info for the following Ramdisks:
- other Bob Woolley Ramdisks, more 600XL Ramdisks, Rambo XL (512k by
- ICD), some Irata Ramdisks, MIO, as well as many other types;
- - (?) means: info is missing or I am not absolutely sure about this
- information; so this has to be verified by other Atarians;
-
-
- For this 20th edition special thanks and credits go to: Lee Barnes,
- Russ Gilbert, Mathy van Nisselroy, Erhard Puetz, Mathias Reichl,
- Ron Hamilton, Wes Newell, Guy Ferrante, XI of Satantronic, Bernhard
- Pahl and Walter Lojek for sharing their info with me. Also thanks to
- John Picken for writing an excellent article about ramdisks and
- cartridges (especially about bank-switching, which both devices can
- do). And thanks to Jindrich Kubec (Jindroush) for presenting this fine
- article on his homepage... Finally thanks to Michael Current for
- publishing/including this "spam" in his A8FAQ and all the nice Atarians
- at comp.sys.atari.8bit for their help and patience. -Thank you Folks !!-
- Well, thats it for today - there is still a lot of information missing,
- I know, but any help is appreciated. If you have some more information
- or other things that might help, let me know. Please do also send
- corrections since there will always be some updates and corrections
- nescessary. Atarian Greetings - Andreas Magenheimer.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 8.11) What programs support a RAMdisk?
-
- This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
-
- 8.11 Ramdisk-supporting Software:
- (This is Version 2.10 from October 2003)
-
-
- Well, I will only list those programs here that have BUILT-IN! ramdisk
- support. Why? Simply, because most if not all PD programs can support
- a RD, as soon as the user a) has a certain DOS or RD driver or b) has
- a special OS inside the computer or c) has any kind of special and
- non-standard hardware. Just one example: With the use of QMEG+ OS it
- is possible to freeze ZORK (or any other protected / unprotected program)
- into the RD, then re-direct the RD as being drive 1 and finally boot
- Zork off of the Ramdisk, allthough Zork does not support a RD in any way.
- The same funny things can be done to other copy protected programs and
- especially to unprotected public domain programs... Now, let me begin:
-
-
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
- A) DOS programs:
-
-
- a) Name(s) b) Author(s)
- c) RD-type(s) d) max. size
-
-
- - Atari DOS 2.0 (Atari Corp.) OSS/Atari;
- a) Axlon-RDs (selfmade drivers!) 128k;
- b) XE-RDs (selfmade drivers!) 130XE (=64k);
- (there are some more selfmade RD-drivers available!)
-
-
- - Atari DOS 2.5 (Atari Corp.) OSS/Atari;
- a) 130XE-RD (standard driver!) 64 kbytes;
- b) XE-RDs (selfmade drivers!) max. 2x128 kbytes;
- c) Axlon-RDs (selfmade drivers!) 128 kbytes;
- (there are very many selfmade RD-drivers available!)
-
-
- - DOS 3.0 (Atari Corp.) ???/Atari;
- => there should be some selfmade drivers for 130XE Ramdisks (and
- maybe Axlon), but I have not yet seen any (nor used DOS 3);
-
-
- - DOS 4.0 (Atari/Antic) Michael Barall;
- => there should be some selfmade drivers for 130XE Ramdisks (and
- maybe Axlon), but I have not yet seen them (nor used DOS 4);
-
-
- - Bewe-DOS Bewesoft/J.Bernasek;
- a) XE-RDs (standard driver!) up to 1024 kbytes;
- b) Rambox (standard driver!) up to 256 kbytes;
- (Bewe-DOS is compatible to Sparta-DOS but does not use the RAM
- under the OS ROM! many tools can be used under both DOS versions);
-
-
- - Bibo DOS Compyshop/E.Reuss;
- a) XE-RDs (standard driver!) up to 256 kbytes;
- b) other RDs (selfmade drivers!) up to 256 kbytes;
-
-
- - DOS II+D Version 6.x Stefan Dorndorf;
- a) XE-RDs (standard driver!) max. 2x128 kbytes;
- b) Rambox (selfmade drivers!) up to 256 kbytes;
-
-
- - DOS-XE (Atari Corp.) ???/Atari;
- a) 130XE-RD (standard driver!) 64 kbytes;
- b) other RDs (really?!?) unknown;
- => has the same author as the unpopular (Atari) DOS 3.0 !!;
- (in the Atari scene it is as unpopular as DOS 3 and DOS 4!);
-
-
- - DOS-XF (Atari Germany) Reitershan Comp.
- => similar in function to Turbo-DOS 2.1XF (but with a nice
- DOS 2.0 / 2.5 DUP-menu! ) => see Turbo-DOS !!
-
-
- - My-DOS 4.5x Wordmark/R.Puff+C.Marslett
- a) XE-RDs (standard driver!) up to 1024 kbytes;
- b) Axlon-RDs (standard driver!) up to ??? kbytes;
- c) other RDs (MIO, BB, etc.) up to 1024 kbytes?;
-
-
- - Smart-DOS Version 6.1 Ron Bieber;
- a) XE-RDs (selfmade drivers!) up to 64 kbytes;
- b) Axlon-RDs (selfmade-driver!) up to 128 kbytes;
-
-
- - Sparta-DOS 1.x (400/800) ICD;
- a) Axlon-RDs (??? drivers) up to 128 kbytes;
- b) other RDs (??? drivers) up to ??? kbytes;
-
-
- - Sparta DOS 2.x, 3.x (XL/XE) ICD / FTE;
- a) XE-RDs (standard drivers!) up to 1024 kbytes?;
- b) others (MIO, BB, etc.) up to 1024 kbytes?;
- (maybe also RD-drivers for up to 16 Megabytes ?!?)
-
-
- - Sparta DOS 3.3x (XL/XE) Stephen J. Carden;
- => see Sparta DOS 2.x and 3.x !!
- (especially made for use with BBS-Express-Pro!)
-
-
- - Sparta DOS X / 4.x (XL/XE cart.) John Harris/FTE;
- => see Sparta DOS 2.x and 3.x !!
- (maybe with RD-driver for up to 16 Megabytes ?!?)
-
-
- - Super DOS 2.x Paul Nichols;
- a) XE-RDs (standard driver!) up to 128 kbytes;
- b) Axlon-RDs (standard driver!) up to 128 kbytes;
-
-
- - Super DOS 5.x Paul Nichols;
- a) XE-RDs (standard driver!) up to 256 kbytes;
- b) Axlon-RDs (standard driver!) up to 128 kbytes;
-
-
- - Top-DOS 1.x R.K. Bennett
- a) Axlon-RDs (standard driver!) up to 128 kbytes;
- b) 130XE-RD (standard driver!) 64 kbytes;
- c) other RDs (Mosaic?! driver!) up to ??? kbytes;
-
-
- - Turbo-DOS 1.x, 2.x Reitershan Comp.;
- a) XE-RDs (standard driver!) up to 256 kbytes;
- b) other RDs (MIO, Irata, etc.) up to 256 kbytes;
-
-
- - X-DOS 2.x Stefan Dorndorf;
- a) XE-RDs (standard driver!) up to 256 kbytes;
- b) other RDs (selfmade drivers!) up to 256 kbytes;
-
-
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
- B) Non-DOS programs:
-
-
- a) Name(s) b) Author(s)
- c) supported memory d) RD-type(s)
-
-
-
- - A-Base 130XE (TOOL) ??? (author unknown);
- 64k, 128k 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - ABBUC-Magazine-Intro 52 (DEMO) Karolij N./Heaven
- 64k, 128k 130XE-Ramdisk
- (has different intros on 64k / 128k machines!)
-
-
- - ABBUC-Magazine-Intro 55 (DEMO) Karolij N./Heaven
- 64k, 128k 130XE-Ramdisk
- (with different intros on 64k / 128k machines!)
-
-
- - Adalmar (GAME) F.Buettner (PPP);
- 64k, 128k 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Alphasys-Sample-Software (TOOLs) (Mirage+ANG);
- a) 64k, 128k 130XE-Ramdisk;
- b) 320k 26AE = YES!, 8ACE = ???;
- (there are several programs for 64k or 128k memory; there
- is also one -and only one- program for 320k Ataris)
-
-
- - Anime 4ever (DEMO) Sente-Software-Group;
- 64k, 320k 26AE ???, 8ACE ??? ;
- (on 64k Ataris all pics load from disk, on 320k Ataris from Ramdisk)
-
-
- - A.R.-The Dungeon (GAME) P.Price/Datasoft;
- 48k, 64k, 128k 130XE-RD;
-
-
- - A-Text (TOOL) ??? (author unknown);
- 64k, 128k 130XE-RD;
-
-
- - Atari-Writer-80 (TOOL) (Atari);
- 48k, 64k, 128k 130XE-RD;
-
-
- - Atari-Writer-Plus (TOOL) (Atari);
- 48k?, 64k?, 128k 130XE-RD;
-
-
- - Basic-XE (TOOL) OSS/ICD/FTE
- 64k, 128k 130XE-RD;
-
-
- - Bop N'Wrestle (GAME) (Mindscape)
- 64k, 128k 130XE-RD
- (on 64k Ataris the floppy will never stand still!)
-
-
- - [The] Brundles (GAME) A.R.+C.S.S. (KE-Soft);
- 64k, 128k, 192k, 320k 130XE-RD, AE & 26AE Ramdisks;
- (merely copies the levels into the RD and loads them from there;
- if you don't want to play all 100 levels at once, 64k is enough!)
-
-
- - Datei 4.x (database TOOL) Norbert Schlia;
- 64k, 128k, 192k, 320k 130XE-RD, AE & 26AE Ramdisks;
-
-
- - Desktop Atari (TOOL) H.B.S.F
- 64k, 128k RAM 130XE-RD;
- (the Key "7" in the Main Menu copies the whole program into the RD)
-
- - Diskcomm. 2.x, 3.x (TOOL) Robert "Bob" Puff;
- a) extra RAM (answer with Yes) detects up to 10 banks (hex.)?;
- b) Ramdisk (answer with No) all DOS 2, My-DOS and Sparta RDs;
- (Ramdisk size depends on the DOS and RD driver you are using, i.e.
- with TurboDOS up to 256k, with MyDOS or Sparta maybe up to 1 Megabyte)
-
-
- - Diskworker 130XE (Tools) PETSOFT
- 64k, 128k RAM 130XE-RD;
-
-
- - Extended-Atari-Basic (TOOL) ??? (author unknown);
- 64k, 128k (RAM under OS-ROM!) 130XE-RD;
-
-
- - Extended-Turbo-Basic (TOOL) ??? (author unknown);
- 64k, 128k (RAM under OS-ROM!) 130XE-RD;
-
-
- - Fampy 2.3 (Bootdisk; TOOL) Friday-Soft/W.Freitag;
- 64k, 128k, 192k, 320k 130XE-RD, AE & 26AE Ramdisks;
-
-
- - Fampy 6.1i+ (ML-File; TOOL) Friday-Soft/W.Freitag;
- 64k, 128k, 192k, 320k 130XE-RD, AE & 26AE Ramdisks;
-
-
- - Grafik+Sound Demo (DEMO) Dendrit-Soft/P.Sabath;
- (48k?) 64k, 128k 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Howfen-DOS 3.x, 4.x (TOOL) ??? (author unknown);
- 48k, 64k, 128k and more 130XE-RD and more;
-
-
- - Howfen-Tape-to-Disk (TOOL) ??? (author unknown);
- 48k, 64k, 128k and more 130XE-RD and more;
-
-
- - Human Torch & The Thing Questprobe (SAGA+Marvel);
- 48k/64k, 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk
- (The main program or some pics will be copied to the Ramdisk)
-
-
- - Inertia 2.9 (TOOL) Mad Team;
- a) 64k RAM (16k only) 16k usable memory (1 bank);
- b) 128k RAM (16k+64k) 130XE-Ramdisk; (5 banks);
- c) 320k RAM (16k+256k) 26AE & 8ACE RDs (17 banks);
-
-
- - I.K. Plus Demo (GameDEMO) ??? (authors unknown)
- a) 64k RAM only graphics;
- b) 128k RAM graphics + sound;
-
-
- - Megablast 1 (GAME) Thorsten Karwoth;
- 64k, 128k 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Midi-Mate II (Tool) Hybrid Arts;
- 64k, 128k 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Midi-Pattern-Editor (TOOL) Raster/Radek Sterba;
- 64k, 128k, 320k 130XE-RD, 26AE & 8ACE-RDs?;
-
-
- - Midi-Player (TOOL) Ireneusz Kuczek;
- 64k, 128k, 320k 130XE-RD, 26AE & 8ACE RDs?;
-
-
- - Midi-Recorder (TOOL) Ireneusz Kuczek;
- 64k, 128k, 320k 130XE-RD, 26AE & 8ACE RDs?;
-
-
- - Midi-Sequencer (TOOL) Maciej Sygit;
- 64k, 128k, 320k 130XE-RD, 26AE & 8ACE RDs?;
-
-
- - MSC-IDE interface software (TOOLs) M.Belitz+S.Birrmanns;
- 64k, 128k 130XE-Ramdisk
- (some programs/drivers use the Ramdisk, if no Ramdisk is
- available, they will use & erase the RAM area 4000-7FFF)
-
-
- - [The] Muppet-Movie (DEMO) Mad Team;
- 64k, 128k 130XE-Ramdisk;
- (on 128k Ataris some pics are loaded from the Ramdisk)
-
-
- - [The] Page Designer (TOOL) XLent
- 64k, 128k 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Paperclip II (TOOL) Batteries Included;
- 48k?, 64k, 128k 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Questprobe featuring Spiderman - see: Spiderman;
- (afaik, THE HULK does not support 128k RAM);
- - Questprobe featuring Human Torch and Thing - see Human Torch;
-
-
- - Spiderman Questprobe (SAGA+Marvel);
- 48k/64k, 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- (The main program or some pics will be copied to the Ramdisk)
-
-
- - Sweet Fantasy (DEMO) Tight;
- 64k, 128k 130XE-Ramdisk;
- (on 128k machines the gr.9 pics are loaded from the ramdisk,
- on 64k Ataris the gr.9 pics are loading from the disk drive);
-
-
- - Syncalc "+" (TOOL) Synapse;
- 48k, 64k, 128k RAM and more Axlon-Ramdisks;
-
-
- - Synfile "+" (TOOL) Synapse;
- 48k, 64k, 128k RAM and more Axlon-Ramdisks;
-
-
- - Synhome "+" (TOOL) Synapse;
- 48k, 64k, 128k RAM and more Axlon-Ramdisks;
-
-
- (other programs by Synapse should also support Axlon-Ramdisks)
-
-
- - Textpro 5.x (TOOL) Ronnie Riche;
- 48k, 64k, 128k and more 130XE-RD, 26AE & 8ACE RDs;
- (here the RD-bank Macros *.ADN and/or *.BNK will require extra RAM
- / Ramdisk; simply don`t use them if you merely have 48k or 64k !!)
-
-
- - The Browser (TOOL) CTH / Tom Hunt;
- 64k, 128k and more all Sparta-DOS Ramdisks;
-
-
- - The Top-3 Demo (DEMO) W.F.M.H.;
- 64k, 128k 130XE-Ramdisk;
- (the dancing girl -"Veronika"- supports 64k and 128k memory!)
-
-
- - Typesetter XL/XE (TOOL) XLent;
- 64k, 128k 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - [The] X-Files Shpoon;
- 64k, 128k, 320k 130XE-RD, 26AE or 8ACE RDs?;
-
-
- - thats all I remember right now...
-
-
- Note: - Axlon means any Axlon compatible Ramdisk;
- - 130XE means 128k memory (64k RAM + 64k RD);
- - AE means 192k memory (64k RAM + 128k RD);
- - 26AE means 320k memory (64k RAM + 256k RD)
- => Compyshop types (and compatibles, like Mathy`s RD);
- - ACE means 256k memory (64k RAM + 192k RD)
- => Newell, Buchholz, Peterson, Rambo XL (and compatibles);
- - 8ACE means 320k memory (64k RAM + 256k RD)
- => Newell?, TOMS, Peterson, Rambo XL? (and compatibles);
- - ? means I am (generally) unsure -or:- I am not sure if
- the given information is correct (just check it out!);
-
-
- Thats all for now. Thanks and credits go to Russ Gilbert, Lee Barnes
- Bernhard Pahl and Mathy van Nisselroy for sharing some info with me.
- Any further help or info is welcome !! -Andreas Magenheimer.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 8.12) What programs require a RAMdisk?
-
- This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
-
- 8.12 Atari-programs that require Extra-RAM / Ramdisk:
- [This is version 2.10 from October 2003]
-
-
- A) Non-Demo-Programs:
-
-
- a) name(s): b) author(s):
- c) memory (min.): d) RD-Type(s):
- e) notes
-
-
- - 130XE-(Bank-)Tester (TOOL) various authors (PD);
- 128k memory (64k RAM + 64k RD) 130XE-Ramdisk (E3,E7,EB,EF);
- (1 block with 4 banks, overall: 4 banks);
-
-
- - 192k-Memory-Tester (TOOL) various authors (PD);
- 192k memory (64k RAM + 128k RD) A,E Ramdisk blocks;
- (2 blocks each with 4 banks, overall: 8 banks);
-
-
- - 256k-Memory-Tester (TOOL) various authors (PD);
- 256k memory (64k RAM + 192k RD) A,C,E or 8,A,E blocks;
- (3 blocks each with 4 banks, overall: 12 banks);
-
-
- - 320k-Memory-Tester (TOOL) various authors (PD);
- 320k memory (64k RAM + 256k RD) 8,A,C,E or 2,6,A,E blocks;
- (4 blocks each with 4 banks, overall: 16 banks);
-
-
- - 576k-Memory-Tester (TOOL) various authors (PD);
- 576k memory (64k RAM + 512k RD) (overall: 32 banks);
- (8 blocks x 4 banks -or- 4 blocks x 8 banks);
-
-
- - 1088k-Memory-Tester (TOOL) various authors (PD);
- 1088k memory (64k RAM + 1024k RD) (overall: 64 banks);
- (4 blocks x 16 banks for Mathy van Nisselroy`s RD and maybe others);
- (8 blocks x 8 banks for Newell, Peterson, TOMS and compatibles);
- (16 blocks x 4 banks should also be possible, but do not exist yet!);
-
-
- - 2112k-Memory Tester (TOOL) Satantronic`s XRAM 0.18;
- 2112k memory (64k RAM + 2048k RD) (overall: 128 banks);
- (8 blocks x 16 banks -or- 16 blocks x 8 banks);
-
-
- - 4160k-Memory-Tester (TOOL) ??? (authors unknown);
- 4160k memory (64k RAM + 4096k RD) (overall: 256 banks);
- (16 blocks x 16 banks, means blocks 0-F each with banks 0-F);
- (note: with 1 PIA chip the main RAM 4000-7FFF is not available!);
-
-
- - 8256k-Memory-Tester (TOOL) ??? (authors unknown);
- 8256k memory (64k RAM + 8192k RD) (overall: 512 banks);
- (afaik, this upgrade requires 2 PIA chips or some uncool tricks!);
-
-
- - 16448k-Memory-Tester (TOOL) ??? (authors unknown);
- 16448k memory (64k RAM + 16384k RD) (overall: 1024 banks);
- (afaik, this upgrade requires 2 PIA chips or some uncool tricks!);
-
-
- => Note that 2MB-16MB extra RAM / Ramdisks are very uncommon
- in the Atari scene! These upgrades were once sold by ICD and
- Newell (maybe a few ones also by FTE) and of course they were
- and still are selfmade by some crazy Atarians. It is not clear
- if there is any software (games, apps., demos) available, that
- supports these mega-upgrades fully. Afaik, only few Atarians
- have and use them, mostly users of mailboxes / BBS`es...;
-
-
- - APC-Archiver 1.0 (TOOL) LBS/APC;
- 320kbytes minimum memory 26AE = no!, 8ACE = YES!;
- (It seems like this program does not work on Ataris which have
- more than 320kbytes of RAM, i.e. it crashes on my 576k Atari)
-
-
- - APC-Packer 1.1 (TOOL) LBS/APC;
- 320kbytes minimum memory 26AE = no!, 8ACE = YES!;
- (It seems like this program does not work on Ataris which have
- more than 320kbytes of RAM, i.e. it crashes on my 576k Atari)
-
-
- - Atari Writer Plus Super Menu Ken Siders;
- a) AWP + Super Menu 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- b) AWP-XE + Super Menu 256k RAM 26AE = ???, 8ACE = ???;
-
-
- - ATOS/ATari Operating System (TOOL) CTH / Tom Hunt;
- 64k RAM + 16MB-HDD-Partition all Sparta-DOS Ramdisks;
- (the standard system is configured for a 16MB harddisk partition,
- however it is possible to change this and use an Atari with a big
- floppy drive and/or ramdisk; but this requires quite some work!)
-
-
- - Audio/Studio Master ANG/Mirage;
- minimum 320k RAM 26AE = YES!, 8ACE = ???;
- (the program is a part of the 4Bit A/D converter software!)
-
-
- - Boot-Majster (TOOL) Electron;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Boss-X - Version 10.x (TOOL) MS-Soft / Mirko Sobe;
- 128k RAM and more all DOS 2 und MyDOS RD`s;
-
-
- - Boss-XE - Version 8.x (TOOL) MS-Soft / Mirko Sobe;
- 128k RAM and more all DOS 2 und MyDOS RD`s;
-
-
- - CAD-XE (TOOL) (HAPS-PD 0350);
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Castle of Blackthorne (GAME) L.o.D. / Thimo Graef;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Cavepack (Game) KE-Soft / Kemal Ezcan;
- XE-Version = 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Computer Baseball (GAME) Douglas Blackwell
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk
-
-
- - Degas-View-XE (Tool) Mat*Rat / Mathew Ratcliff;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Diskettenverwaltung 130XE (TOOL) (ABBUC PD 86);
- (database 130XE) 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Draw XE (TOOL) (ABBUC PD 387);
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Dream Vision (TOOL) (ABBUC PD 480);
- (IFF-Viewer) 256k RAM 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = ??? ;
-
-
- - Filemanager/Filecopiers (TOOLS) various authors (PD);
- 128k=> 1 floppy is enough Sparta and DOS 2.x RD`s;
-
-
- - Fraktale & Colorprint (TOOLS) (ABBUC PD 349); P.Woetzel;
- (fractals & colorprint) 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Gizmo`s Castle (GAME) Black Panther / M. Kugler
- XE-Version = 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Grafik-Zeilen-Editor (TOOL) (HAPS PD 0296);
- (graphic-line-editor) 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Hi-Res Designer (TOOL) (HAPS PD 0015);
- (gr.8 drawing program) 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Hires-Dump (TOOL) (ABBUC PD 113);
- (gr.8 print-program) 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Inertia 4.5 (MODplayer TOOL) MadTeam
- a) 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk
- b) more than 128k RAM 26AE = YES!, 8ACE = YES!;
-
-
- - Kaiser II (GAME) Phoenix Softcrew / C.Strotmann;
- a) 64k RAM Version any 64k XL/XE computer;
- b) 128k RAM Version 130XE-Ramdisk;
- c) 320k RAM Version 26AE = YES!, 8ACE = YES!;
- (this game comes in 3 separate versions; plays good on 64k
- computers, but needs less disk-swaps on bigger machines !!)
-
-
- - Kassettencopy (TOOL) (ABBUC PD 466); J.Gernreich;
- (Cass.copy) Copy64 = 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Kemna-Video (TOOL) (ABBUC PD 185);
- (intro-creator) 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Koala Slideshow XE (TOOL) Charles Johnson/Analog
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk
-
-
- - Koenigsdiamanten (Game) KE-Soft / Kemal Ezcan;
- XE-Version = 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Lightraces (Game) (Power per Post);
- XE-Version = 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Macro-Assembler-XE 4.32 (TOOL) (ABBUC PD 297); T.Karwoth;
- (older version!) 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
- - Macro-Assembler-XE+ 2.x (TOOL) (ABBUC PD 368); T.Karwoth;
- (newer version!) a) 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk (MyDOS only!);
- b) 128k - 1088k (MyDOS only!) 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
- (has a rambank-finder program that can be loaded from Basic or the
- menu!; the assembler does not work on a CS ramdisk with refresh bugs!)
-
-
- - Masher-XE V1.0 ??? (author unknown);
- minimum 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- 192k, 256k and max. 320k RAM AE, ACE and max. 8ACE RDs;
-
-
- - Memdrv10 (RAM-Tester TOOL) Andre 'MacFalkner' Bertram
- $D301 all Portbits 16k up to 4 MB (all standard RD`s);
- $D600 up to ??? MB (Klaus Peters Megaram 3 Ramdisk)
- includes 16k Bankswitching and exotic 32k (Buchholz) Bankswitching
-
-
- - Menu 130 (TOOL) Les Howarth/Page 6
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk
-
-
- - Midi Mate III Hybrid Arts;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Minesweeper 1-4 (GAMEs) J.R.Chiko/S.A.S.;
- 128k RAM (4 game versions) 130XE-Ramdisk
-
-
- - Mister X (Game) (Power per Post);
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Monitors, Debuggers & more (TOOLS) (HAPS PD 0109);
- some programs require 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Multi-DOS 130 (TOOL) Kuchera/Excellent;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Multi-DOS 320 (TOOL) Kuchera/Excellent;
- 320k RAM 26AE = ???, 8ACE = ???;
- (note that Multi-DOS 130 and 320 are no DOS-Versions, they can
- be used as *.CMC players; all the rest is unknown to me...)
-
-
- - Multi-Tasking-OS (various ABBUC magazines);
- 128k RAM minimum 130XE-Ramdisk (+ST-mouse);
-
-
- - MTOS XE (Tool) CTH / Tom Hunt;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - MTOS 256 (Tool) CTH / Tom Hunt;
- 256k RAM (64k+192k) 26AE = NO!! , 8ACE = YES!!;
-
-
- - [Der] Neffe (Game) (ABBUC PD 52);
- (the Nephew) XE-Version = 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Neo-Tracker (TOOL) EPI/Allegresse;
- 192k RAM minimum 26AE = ??? , 8ACE = ???;
-
-
- - [The] Newspaper-Editor (TOOL) (HAPS PD 0294 english!);
- XE-Version = 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Oelbaron (Game) ??? (author unknown);
- XE-Version = 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Programmverwaltung 130XE (TOOL) (HAPS PD 0434);
- (database 130XE) 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Protracker 1.5 (TOOL) MadTeam;
- 128k RAM minimum 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - (various) Ramdisk drivers (TOOLs) various authors (PD);
- 128k RAM and more XE-RD`s, Axlon-RD`s, etc.;
-
-
- - Rechnen fuer Kinder (TOOLs) (ABBUC PD 85);
- (calculations for children) 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Rund um die Ramdisk (TOOLs) (ABBUC PD 383, HAPS PD 1084);
- (RD-testers, etc.) 256k RAM and more various XE-RD`s & Axlon-RD`s;
-
-
- - Sample-Art-XE Mozart/WSL
- a) minimum 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- b) more than 128k RAM 26AE = ???, 8ACE = ???;
- (on my 576k-XL the program has some gr.-bugs and crashes very often!)
-
-
- - Shrink-XE Peter Fitzsimmons;
- min. 128k RAM 130XE-comp.-Ramdisks;
-
-
- - [The] Small Printery (TOOL) Walter Lojek;
- 128k RAM or more (up to 1MB) 130XE-Ramdisk (minimum!);
-
-
- - Snapshot (Tool) ??? (author unknown);
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - [The] Sound-Utility (TOOL) CTH / Tom Hunt;
- (64k), 128k, 256k, 576k, 1MB 130XE-RD; 8,A,C,E Ramdisks;
-
-
- - Space Harrier (Game) Sheddy / Chris Hutt;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Strategy Baseball (Game) (HAPS PD 0302);
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Studio/Audio Master ANG/Mirage
- minimum 320k RAM 26AE = YES!, 8ACE = ???;
- (the program is a part of the 4Bit A/D converter software!)
-
-
- - Super-Print-Lab-XE (TOOL) (HAPS PD 0909);
- (demo-version) 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - System+Memory Tester (TOOLs) various authors (PD);
- 128k RAM and more XE-RD`s, Axlon-RD`s, etc.;
-
-
- - T-34 (Game) (ANG / Mirage);
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - (various.) Tape-Copiers (TOOLs) various authors (PD);
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Tape-Ramdisk-Drivers (TOOLs) various authors (PD);
- 128k RAM and more XE-Ramdisks;
-
-
- - Text-130 (TOOL) B.Russmann;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Textpro "+" (TOOL) Ronnie Riche;
- (e.g. Vers. 4.54+) 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - The Code Cruncher (TOOL) Soused Teat / A.Bienias;
- 128k RAM and more XE-Ramdisks;
-
-
- - The Cruncher 5.0 (Tool) MSL / Magnus;
- 128k RAM and more XE-Ramdisks;
-
-
- - The [Sparta DOS] Wedge (TOOL) Ed Bachman;
- 128k RAM and more + sep. Antic! XE-RD`s with separate Antic!;
-
-
- - The Works (Tool) CTH / Tom Hunt;
- 128k RAM and more 130XE and A,C,E Ramdisks;
-
-
- - [Die] Wuerttemberger-Disk (TOOLS) (ABBUC PD 361, HAPS PD 1050);
- also contains the XE-version of Gizmo`s castle => see Gizmo`s Castle!;
-
-
- - (various) XE-Sectorcopiers (TOOLs) various authors (PD);
- 128k RAM and more XE-Ramdisks;
-
-
- - XE-Utilities (10 XE-TOOLs) (HAPS PD 0031);
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - XL-2 (Tool) John K. Picken;
- 128k RAM and more all Sparta und DOS 2.x RD`s;
-
-
- - Zargon (german text-adv. GAME) (ABBUC PD 611, HAPS PD 0485);
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - [Der] Zeitungsredakteur (ABBUC PD 121, german!);
- (newspaper-editor) 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
-
- B) Demo-Programs:
-
-
- - 130XE-Artshow (Koala!) (HAPS PD 0013);
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- (simply exchange the picture viewer for use with 48k or 64k Ataris!)
-
-
- - 130XE-Autoshow (Oldtimers!) (ABBUC PD 191, HAPS PD 0637);
- (130XE carshow) 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- (simply exchange the picture viewer for use with 48k or 64k Ataris!)
-
-
- - 130XE-Demo S.A.G. (Netherlands);
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- (written in TB; change all D8: entries into D1: for use with 48k and
- 64k Ataris; exchange Turbo-Basic XL with TB 3.2q, TB 400 or Frost
- Basic for use with older 48k Ataris or (most versions of) Sparta-DOS)
-
-
- - 130XE-Impossible-Demo Rudy Haegemann / V.T.B.;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Amiga-Boink-XE Bob Armour;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - American Natives Fox-1 / R.Verdaasdonk;
- 256k RAM all DOS 2 und MyDOS RD`s;
-
-
- - (X-Files) Animation-Demo Mad Team;
- 128k RAM ($04 banks / $4b frames) 130XE-Ramdisk;
- (the real name of this demo is unknown to me; maybe it is also called
- X-Files-Demo, like the X-Files (picture) demo by Sphoon, maybe it has
- a different name; on all tested XL/XE Ataris this demo has graphic bugs)
-
-
- - Animkomials meet Boris Valleyo Animkomials+Boris Valleyo;
- 128k RAM (gr.9+11 pictures!) 130XE-Ramdisk; (has a setup!);
-
-
- - Base-33 AIDS / AIDZ;
- 320k RAM (with Setup!) 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
- (=> hold down SHIFT upon bootup to get to the Setup-menu!)
-
-
- - Bill-Pie-Demo ??? (maybe Mad Team?);
- a) 128k RAM ($1E frames) 130XE-Ramdisk; RD-block E;
- b) 192k RAM ($36 frames) RD-blocks A+E (CS, Rambo, etc.);
- b) 320k RAM ($4C frames) RD-blocks 8+A+C+E (TOMS, etc.);
- (=> this demo chooses the Ramdisk & Setup automatically! users of
- a Compyshop or compatible RD can merely see the 192k version!)
-
-
- - BMW-Animation MS-Soft / Mirko Sobe;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - CES-XE-Demo XANTH (full version);
- 128k RAM (580 sectors) 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Cogito-Demo AIDS / AIDZ;
- 192k RAM 26AE = no?! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
-
-
- - Comet-Ani MadTeam;
- a) 128k RAM ($36 frames) 130XE-Ramdisk; RD-block E;
- b) 192k RAM ($6D frames) RD-blocks A+E (CS, Rambo, etc.);
- b) 320k RAM ($96 frames) RD-blocks 8+A+C+E (TOMS, etc.);
- (=> this demo chooses the Ramdisk & Setup automatically! users of
- a Compyshop RD and compatible can merely see the 192k version!)
-
-
- - Critical-Sound-Demo Innovative;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Danielle-(Gr.9-TB-)Ani NBS / Bill Kendrick;
- a) 64k RAM (499 sectors) Disk = very slowww!;
- b) 128k RAM or Harddisk RD/HD = much faster !!;
- (=> use your favourite DOS, Turbo-Basic and a RD/HD driver!)
-
-
- - Edelweiss-Demo A.R. + C.S.S. + S.V.L.;
- 320k RAM 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = yes!? ;
- (with 8ACE-RD`s you can see all demo-parts, however the mainpart,
- known as the Edelweiss-Digi-Sample is shorter & sounds strange!)
-
-
- - Ergo-Bibamus Quasimodos;
- 128k RAM (with Setup!) 130XE-Ramdisk;
- (well, for 130XE and compatible Ramdisks no setup needed!)
-
-
- - Extract-Slideshow Bit Busters / Replay;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Glasshead / HTPPD A.R. + C.S.S.;
- 320k RAM 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = yes!? ;
- (with 8ACE-RD`s the animation uses only A+E blocks and is shorter!)
-
-
- - Halle 1994b: The Wormhole Magic Arts;
- 320k RAM 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = NO!! ;
- (well, this demo does not work at all on 8ACE-Ramdisks!)
-
-
- - (Atari) Hardware-Demo A.R. + C.S.S.;
- 320k RAM 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = yes!? ;
- (with 8ACE-RD`s the animation uses only A+E blocks and is shorter!)
-
-
- - Igor Demo MadTeam;
- a) 128k (Part 1, Part 2) 130XE-Ramdisk;
- b) 192k (Part 3) 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
- c) 320k (Parts 1+2+3) 26AE = NO!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
- (=> the demo normally runs a setup for 320k memory; but there are 2-3
- batch files for each Setup; goto DOS and install the one you want or
- need with the JOB command: JOB @xxxx.BAT [RETURN], then reboot disk)
-
-
- - Imperial (Sounddemo) Innovative;
- 320k RAM 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
-
-
- - Impossible but Real! MacGyver / AIDS;
- 256k RAM (with Setup!) 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
- (=> press A for 8ACE-RDs, press B for manual setup of other RDs)
-
-
- - Isolation Demo Masters of Electric City;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Journey Polynomials
- a) 128k RAM ($36 frames) 130XE-Ramdisk;
- b) 320k RAM ($96 frames) 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = yes!? ;
- (=> this demo chooses the Ramdisk & Setup automatically! the demo
- has quite some graphic bugs on 8ACE ramdisks, but is viewable!)
-
-
- - Journey into Sound DGS / Dean Garaghty;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Khai-Et AIDS / AIDZ;
- 320k RAM (with Setup!) 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
- (=> hold down SHIFT key upon bootup for the Setup-menu)
-
-
- - Killer-Whales MadTeam
- a) 128k RAM ($2E frames) 130XE-Ramdisk; RD-block E;
- b) 192k RAM ($54 frames) RD-blocks A+E (CS, Rambo, etc.);
- b) 320k RAM ($94 frames) RD-blocks 8+A+C+E (TOMS, etc.);
- (=> this demo chooses the Ramdisk & Setup automatically! users of
- a Compyshop RD and compatible can merely see the 192k version!)
-
-
- - Lajf-Demo MadTeam;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Landscape-XE-Demo Karl Pelzer;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Megablast-Sounddemo DGS / Dean Garaghty;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - MTV`s-Danielle see: Danielle-Ani.;
-
-
- - Nascar-Animation MS-Soft / Mirko Sobe;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Nonjm-Demo TIGHT;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Numen-Demo Taquart;
- 320k RAM (with Setup!) 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
- (=> the newer/updated version has an auto-setup for 26AE & 8ACE RD`s!)
-
-
- - Owca-Demo Animkomials;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Owca-2-Demo Animkomials;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Parrot-X-MAS-Demo Anthony Ramos;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Pedrokko-Sounddemos Pedrokko (10 Disks / 20 S.);
- 128k RAM (some demos) 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - P.I.T. - Demo Quasimodos;
- 320k RAM (with Setup!) 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
- (=> a menu appears automatically; setup 15 banks to run the demo!
- this demo does not work correct on Ramdisks with refresh-bugs!)
-
-
- - Raving Vierpz Pentagram;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Raytracing 320k Elsni/Stephan Elsner;
- 320k RAM (TB listings!) 26AE = NO!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
-
-
- - Raytracing 1MB Solocoder of A.C.E.;
- 1088k RAM (K.Peters Megaram 3) works only on K.P.-1MB-RD !!;
- (=> Bootdisk with 8 disksides; loading time: approx. 17 minutes!)
-
-
- - Raytracing Animation Karl Pelzer;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Revenge of Hacker Rasero Team;
- 192k RAM (RD-blocks A+E) 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
-
-
- - Sweet Fantasy TIGHT;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Sheol Bit Busters;
- 320k RAM 26AE = NO!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
- (on 26AE / CS - Ramdisks you will merely receive an error
- message like this: sorry, this demo needs 256k of xms RAM)
-
-
- - Shiny-Bubbles-XE Brian Paul / LACE;
- XE-Version = 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Stash-Demo Rasero-Team;
- 320k RAM (with Setup!) 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
- (=> in the first menu press A for 8ACE Ramdisks or press B for
- manual setup of other Ramdisks like Compyshop; in the second menu
- press A for 8ACE Ramdisks or C for manual input of Rambanks; don`t
- press B -Compyshop- here, since this CS setup is faulty/wrong)
-
-
- - Starwars-Demo A.R. + C.S.S.;
- 320k RAM (hold down Option-Key!) 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = yes!? ;
- (the program checks if Basic is disabled via the Option key, thus
- an OS with inverted Basic / Option-key function does not work here!;
- with 8ACE-RD`s the animation uses only A+E blocks and is shorter!)
-
-
- - The Asskicker Shadows Computer Group;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - The Turtles-Demo (Animation!) Ultra-Software;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- (the file version by John E. requires 128k, maybe this bootdisk also)
-
-
- - The Wormhole Magic Arts;
- 320k RAM 26AE = YES!!, 8ACE = NO!!;
- (this demo is part of the Halle Project 1994 demo, side B!)
-
-
- - Timekeep(er) New Generation;
- 320k RAM ??? 26AE = NO!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
- (after loading on an 8ACE-RD be patient! the demo requires some time
- for depacking - don`t switch off when you see a black screen, wait!)
-
-
- - Tit-Demo MadTeam;
- 256k RAM (with Setup!) 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
- (=> the Setup appears automatically; accept or change it !)
-
-
- - Too-Hard-2 Animkomials (Rippers!);
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Too-Hard-3 Animkomials (Rippers!);
- 192k RAM 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = YES ;
- (=> the Setup appears automatically; accept or change it!)
-
-
- - Too-Hard-4 Animkomials (Rippers!);
- 320k RAM 26AE = YES!!, 8ACE = YES!!;
- (=> the Setup appears automatically; accept or change it!)
-
-
- - Total Daze TIGHT;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Trabant Demo / HTPPD A.R. + C.S.S.;
- 320k RAM 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = yes!? ;
- (with 8ACE-RD`s the animation uses only A+E blocks and is shorter!)
-
-
- - Trip-6-Demo Shadows Computer Group;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Ultra Taquart;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Vengeance Excellent;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Vent Excellent+Pentagram;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Video Blitz Helvetica Bold;
- 128k RAM (+sep. Antic!) 130XE-Ramdisk + sep. Antic!;
-
-
- - WAF-Demo (Side B) ABBUC regional group W.A.F.;
- 128k RAM (2 Parts!) 130XE-Ramdisk;
- (=> here the Raytracing and Vector part require 128k memory!)
-
-
- - Worms-Demo Datri;
- 320k RAM 26AE = yes!? ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
- (with 8ACE-RD`s you see the complete+bug-free version; with 26AE
- RD`s you see a shorter and very buggy version with many deja-vues!)
-
-
- - X-Demo Mad Team;
- 320k RAM 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = NO!! ;
-
-
- - Xyberscape-XE Bill Le Masurier;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- - Zero-Demo New Generation;
- 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
-
- Notes: - 256k Compyshop-Ramdisks, 256k K.Peters-Megaram 1,2,3
- and Mathy`s 1024k RD have/use 26AE Ramdisk blocks;
- - afaik all other 192k / 256k Ramdisks have ACE (8CE)
- or 8ACE blocks (Newell, Peterson, Buchholz, TOMS, etc.);
- - ??? means unknown; TB means Turbo-Basic (XL);
- - HTPPD means Hobby-Tronic-Power-Pack-Demo;
- - YES!! means the demo works as it should (100% correct);
- - yes!? means the demo works but has some bugs or is shorter
- (50-80% correct);
- - no?! means the demo almost does not work and has many bugs
- (10-40% correct);
- - NO!! means the demo does not work at all - it refuses to load
- or crashes shortly after loading (0% correct);
- - sep. Antic means separate Antic access of the Ramdisk;
- (only 2 programs seem to exist: Video Blitz & The Wedge);
-
-
- Thanks and credits go to Russ Gilbert, Bernhard Pahl and Mathy van
- Nisselroy for sharing their info with me. Any corrections and/or updates
- are welcome... - Andreas Magenheimer
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 8.13) What voice/sound synthesis software is there for the Atari?
-
- This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
-
- - S.A.M. - the Software Automated Mouth by Don't Ask Software (a
- software package; you can find it at Don`s / the author's homepage:
- http://www.retrobits.net)
- - Softsynth (a PD program, that creates sounds and sound effects via
- modulation of the tv/monitor speaker; available from the ABBUC library);
- - MOD-Sounds (sound-MODulation, allthough I do not know any software to
- create such sounds on an A8, some programs to edit (Protracker) and
- playback (Inertia, Modplayer, Neotracker, etc.) these sounds do exist);
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 8.14) What programs support stereo and upgraded sound?
-
- This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
-
- There is already a lot of stereo software for the upgraded Atari computers
- available, of course most of these programs are limited to certain/special
- upgrades and merely perform their stereo effects on these items (with
- otherwise upgraded or non-upgraded Ataris, the sounds or programs will
- only play in mono):
-
- a) software for the various stereo-upgrades:
-
- - stereo with one Pokey (POPS-software): Afaik for this kind of upgrade,
- there merely exists a patched version of the Pokey player program, I am
- not sure if there is anything else for it; anyway, refer to Analog
- Computing, issue 66, november 1988, pages 54 -60;
-
- - stereo with two computers (thus two Pokeys): Afaik for this simple trick
- there merely exist two programs, they are "Perestroyka" and "Sky
- Network" by T.Liebich. In order to achieve the stereo effect, you
- have to boot/load one of these demos on two computers (connected to
- different TV's or monitors, there is no need to connect the computers to
- each other!). When done, press 1-5 on the first computer while pressing
- Shift-1-5 on the second computer. Meaning, if you want to hear the first
- sound in stereo then press 1 on computer 1 and press Shift-1 on
- computer 2 simultanously (that`s a little tricky, I know). If you want
- to hear sound 5 in stereo, then press 5 on computer 1 and Shift-5 on
- computer 2 simultanously. Tricky at first, but sooner or later you will
- get the hang of it. Of course you can also connect the two Ataris to
- a hifi-system, using the sound output of one Atari for the left channel
- and the sound output of the other Atari for the right channel...
-
- - stereo-sound with Stereo-Blaster Pro (Portronic/AMC): Afaik there was
- at least one demo disk (early version was single-sided only, later
- versions were double-sided), that contained some demo-software, namely
- the simple "Stereo-demos" (by AMC, side 1) and the "Stereoblaster-Demo"
- (by HU-Soft, side 2 if available). The Stereoblaster demo was written
- in Turbo-Basic and played back via Compiled-Turbo-Basic, it uses Chaos
- Music-Composer Sounds (*.CMC) and a few of these provide stereo effects,
- if equipped with a stereo-blaster-pro and a hifi-system. The simple
- stereo-demos included some programs written in Atari Basic, for example
- a (pong-like) bouncing ball and a flying helicopter. Equipped with a
- stereo-blaster-pro and a hifi-system, one could see the ball bouncing
- left and right and simultanously hear the sound fx on the left or right
- channel. The helicopter started at the left side and produced a loud
- sound on the left channel, when it was flying to the right side, the
- sound faded on the left channel and got louder on the right channel,
- until the helicopter disappeared (and the sound completely faded away).
- There were some more of these simple demos available, but I don`t
- remember them anymore.
-
- - Stereo with two Pokeys: There already exist dozens of sounds and demos,
- that support this upgrade, most of these programs were made in Poland,
- but a few sound-demos were also made in other countries. Anyway, the
- following programs support stereo via two Pokey chips:
-
- - Alf-Demo by the Unknown Base (Netherlands);
- - Alpha-Demo by GMG (Slovakia);
- - AMS-Stereo player by ??? (author unknown), USA;
- (there are at least two AMS-stereo-players, that let you play
- *.AMS sounds in true stereo or at least simulated stereo!);
- - ARS-Mori 16k Intro by Tristesse (music shortened and ripped from
- Drunk Chessboard by Infinity!), Poland of course;
- - Ballada sound by DJ V / BK (Poland);
- - Base 33 by AIDS (msx by Greg, Poland);
- - Chaos Music Composer version x.x patched by ??? , Poland;
- (=> the original version by Janusz Pelc / LK Avalon is only mono,
- but there is a patch available, as well as various patched CMC
- versions on the internet; thus *.CMC sounds can be generated in
- stereo!);
- - (many) *.CMC sounds created by one of the many stereo-versions of
- Chaos Music Composer;
- - Cogito-Demo by AIDS (Poland)
- - Do you see the light? sound-demo by Roemer of UNO (Germany);
- - Draconus, patched version by ANG and/or Micro Discount (NL/UK)
- (the original version by Zeppelin games is only mono!);
- - Drunk Chessboard by Infinity (music by X-Ray!), Poland;
- - Dynakillers (Game) by GMG, Slovakia;
- - First of All (sound) by Raster, Czech Republic;
- - Impossible but Real Demo by MacGyver (Poland);
- - King of Aggregat by X-Ray / Slight (Poland);
- - Megaplayer Versions 1.6 and 2.0 by MacGyver (Poland)
- (=> and thus all *.CMC, *.MPT, *.TMC, etc. sounds played with
- this sound-player tool can be heard in true or simulated stereo!);
- - Multi-Pro-Tracker 2.4 (various versions) by Jaskier/Taquart?
- (=> thus *.MPT sounds can be generated in stereo!), Poland;
- - (many) *.MPT sounds created by the stereo-version of Multi Protracker;
- - Nazebany by DJ V / BK (Poland);
- - Overload sound by X-Ray / Slight (Poland);
- - Raster Music Tracker 1.x by Raster, Radek Sterba (a PC program
- that creates mono/4-channels or stereo/8-channels *.RMT sounds that
- can be played back on the A8 or any Atari 800/XL/XE emulator);
- - (most) *.RMT sounds created by Raster Music Tracker;
- - Stereo-Patch for Pokey Player by ??? (author unknown)
- (=> thus all Pokey-Player / *.V sounds can be heard in stereo!);
- - Stereo-Patch for Softsynth by Freddy Offenga (Netherlands)
- (=> thus Softsynth will create stereo-sounds!);
- - Stereo Patch for World of Wonders by Freddy Offenga (Netherlands)
- (World of Wonders is a great Softsynth sound-demo!);
- - Still Alive (TMC-sound) by Greg, Poland;
- - Time sound by X-Ray / Slight (Poland);
- - Theta-Music-Composer version 1.x by Greg (Poland)
- (=> thus *.TMC sounds can be generated in stereo!);
- - (most) *.TMC sounds created by Theta Music Composer;
- - Vanity sound by Kuchara / Excellent (Poland) ;
- - Worms (320k-Demo) by Datri, Czech Republic;
- - Zybex, patched version by ANG and/or Micro Discount (NL/UK)
- (the original version by Zeppelin games is only mono!);
- - thats all what I found so far... (A.M.)
-
- b) software for other sound enhancements:
-
- - enhanced-sound with Covox: Afaik this upgrade will playback digitised or
- sampled sound in 8Bit resolution rather than in 4Bit resolution. The
- following programs support the Covox-Upgrade:
- - Inertia 2.9, a MOD-player by MadTeam;
- - Inertia 4.5, a MOD player by MadTeam;
- - Protracker x.x, a MOD-editor and player by ???;
- - NeoTracker 1.x, a MOD+NEO+... player by EPI/Allegresse;
- - that's all I have found so far;
- note that all programs (except neo-tracker?) will still work with pokey...;
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 8.15) What games support online action via modem?
-
- This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
-
- - Modem Chess, a PD game in Basic by ???
- - Modem-Battleships, a PD game in Basic by ???
- - Tele-Chess, a PD game in Basic by ???
- - probably some more games...
-
- (I have also seen an advert from GCP in Analog or Antic, that listed
- the following games: The City, Cybertank, Cybership, Bio-War, Lords
- of Space; I am not sure if they are all available for the Atari, A.M.)
-
- To play these games online, one would not only require an Atari computer,
- but also a modem, a modem-driver and/or a terminal program (like Kermit,
- Bobterm, Teleterm, A-Term, Ice-T, BBS Express Pro, etc.). See also the
- sections 7.8, 10.1 and 10.2 which tell you more about modem/terminal
- programs and modem hardware for the Atari...
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 8.16) What programs support Atari computer networking?
-
- This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
-
- There are two different hardware add-ons which provide a "computer-
- network" (two or more Ataris linked together). Thus, there is software
- that supports either one or the other hardware (namely Gamelink-1 or
- Gamelink-2). The following software supports the networking hardware:
-
- - Gamelink-1 (by Dataque):
- - info-text about GL-1 and where to buy it, by Dataque;
- - Tic-Tac-Two by J.Potter/Dataque, a tic-tac-toe clone;
- - Modem-Battleships, patched by Rick Detlefsen for Gamelink-1;
-
- - Gamelink-2 / Multilink (by Dataque & Bewesoft):
- - info-text about GL-2 and where to buy it, by Dataque;
- - info text about Maze of Agdagon demo, by Dataque;
- - Maze of Agdagon demo (1 player only) by Dataque;
- - documentation for Maze of Agdagon (full version) by Dataque;
- - Maze of Agdagon (full version, 2-8 players) by Dataque;
- - description of multilink/gamelink-2 hardware and schematics by
- Bewesoft (two texts, one in czech and one in english; schematics
- presented as an Atari Gr.8 picture for a) easy-2-computer hardware
- and b) more complicated 2-8 computer hardware);
- - Multi-Dash (2-8 players, XL/XE only) by Bewesoft;
- - Multi-Race (2-16 players, XL/XE only) by Bewesoft;
- - description of "how to program networking games for multilink
- [gamelink-2] hardware" (text available in english and czech, with
- lots of source codes and OS adresses/variables/...) by Bewesoft;
- - Multi-Worms (2-8 or 2-16? players, XL/XE only) by Bewesoft;
- - complete + documented source code for Multi-Worms by Bewesoft;
- - "starter-kit" module to use in your own networking-games by Bewesoft
- (free use of this module is granted by Bewesoft/Jiri Bernasek);
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 9.1) How can I work with .arc files on my 8-bit Atari?
-
- ARC.EXE for MS-DOS was released by System Enhancement Associates (SEA) around
- 1985. It will compress and store groups of files as one file, making it
- easier and quicker to download programs and support files at once. Because of
- the ease of use and availability of this program, it quickly became the
- defacto standard for file archives on Intel-based IBM machines. Files
- compressed and stored with ARC or a compatible utility are normally given the
- filename extender ".arc".
-
- The 8-bit Atari computers have several software utility options that are fully
- compatible with ARC.EXE, the most important being:
-
- Super UnArc 2.4 and Super Arc 2.4 - shareware by Bob Puff, released 01/31/89
- Available:
- http://www.nleaudio.com/css/files/superarc.arc (complete package + docs)
-
- Also, SpartaDOS X includes a fully compatible ARC command for both creating
- and extracting .arc files.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 9.2) What file formats for entire disks/tapes/cartridges are there?
-
- It is now common, especially when working on Windows PCs or Macs, to work with
- Atari software as files or "images" containing the data from an entire disk,
- data cassette, or cartridge as duplicated from the native media for the Atari.
-
- Here is a list of file formats, arranged by their associated filename
- extensions. These are all filename extensions used to name files containing
- entire 8-bit Atari floppy disk images, cassette tape images, or cartridge
- images.
-
- .DCM -Image format invented by Bob Puff for his Disk Communicator 3.2 utility.
- Used when working with native Atari hardware.
- DISKCOMM is at http://www.nleaudio.com/css/files/DISKCOM.ARC
- DCM specs at: http://home.planet.nl/~ernest/diskcomm.zip
-
- .ATR -Image format invented by Nick Kennedy, for his SIO2PC project.
- Used with most 8-bit Atari emulators running on other computer
- platforms. SIO2PC is at http://www.tcainternet.com/wa5bdu/
-
- .XFD -Image format invented by Emulators Inc, for their ST Xformer emulator.
- Identical to ATR except without the 16 byte header.
- Used with ST Xformer and PC Xformer emulators.
- Xformer is at http://www.emulators.com/
-
- .PRO -Image format invented by Steven Tucker, for his APE ProSystem device.
- Used with APE, the Atari Peripheral Emulator.
- APE and APE ProSystem are at http://www.atarimax.com/
-
- .SCP -SpartaDOS SCOPY image file. SCOPY was a utility by ICD.
-
- .DI -Image format invented by Kolja Koischwitz & Christian Kruger for their
- 800XL DJ emulator for the Atari ST.
-
- .CAS -Cassette image format invented by Ernest R. Schreurs, for his
- Digital Cassette Image system (includes CAS2SIO, WAV2CAS, and CAS2WAV
- MS-DOS utilities. See: http://home.planet.nl/~ernest/
-
- See also:
- Atari Disk Image FAQ (Steve Tucker)
- http://www.atarimax.com/ape/docs/DiskImageFAQ/
-
- One tool for converting among all of these disk image formats is:
- Acvt v1.07 by Jindrich Kubec, found at http://jindroush.atari.org
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 9.3) How can I copy my copy-protected Atari software?
-
- Russ Gilbert writes:
-
- Almost all commercial software for the A8 is/was copy protected. For boot
- disks, this usually involved a large number of special formatting that
- couldn't be copied using ordinary sector copiers. Usually the boot process
- involved checking to see if a certain sector error occurred, then proceeding.
- If the error did not occur, the disk was a copy and would not work.
-
- For carts, usually the method of protection was to write to the cart area of
- memory and see if the value changed. If the value changed, the cart program
- was in RAM, not ROM and would fail to operate.
-
- For tapes, again a fair number of schemes were used. Some varied the speed at
- which the tape loaded. I'm not familiar with tape protection schemes.
-
- With all software media (cart, tape, disk), there may be program encryption,
- which must be decrypted before the program can run. This to make more
- difficult disassembly of the program.
-
- There were/are a number of products to defeat copy protection/allow copying of
- protected software for the A8. The most common way to defeat copy protection
- was to disassemble the software and revise sections of code so that the copy
- protection was defeated. A software with defeated copy protection is called a
- 'cracked' software. The basic procedure is to understand how cart/tape/disk
- software initializes, loads and runs. Usually make a file out of the software
- and 'follow the code', starting with loading of the program, to decryption to
- the actual running of the program. Today, it is unnecessary to copy original
- commercial A8 software because it has already been defeated and may be found
- at a few ftp sites. (Note umich archive has no commercial/non-shareware
- software.)
-
- Besides 'cracking' software, there were/are hardware devices to copy
- commercial protected software. The Happy 1050 and the Archiver, and probably
- other modifications to the 810, or 1050 allowed 'bit image' copying and
- reproduction of the special formatting that copy protected disks had. Using
- these archiving disk drives, a copy of the original disk, including all
- special formatting and the original code is copied, thus making a copy
- protected copy, not cracked, just like the original.
-
- For carts, copying could involve cracking or again there were/are products to
- reproduce the cart and simulate a ROM. Or the cart might be copied and burned
- on the correct type of eprom, to make a plug in cart. 'The Impersonator', the
- 'Pill' are two cart copy schemes copy the cart to a file, then don't change
- the code, but use a 'dummy cart' to fool the software into thinking there is a
- ROM present.
-
- Basic tools for copying, then cracking, carts and disks are a sector editor
- and disassembler. Carts are usually most easily dumped using a special OS,
- like Omnimon, to interrupt the cart and dump memory to disk. There are a few
- pd cart copiers that have the user plug the cart in when the program is
- running, I don't believe these pd cart copiers are very good or very wise to
- use.
-
- So, the basic answer to 'how do I make a copy of my copy protected commercial
- software' is don't bother. Find it on the net.
-
- There is one exception, in that this 'solution' involves a minimum of effort
- and is relatively safe. I refer to 'Chipmunk' and 'Black Patch' software to
- make cracked boot disk copy of commercial disks. HOWEVER, even if you use
- these two commercial archival tools, be sure you write protect your originals,
- and be careful not to accidentally write to the original disk.
-
- Finally, I'll mention a very modern (I mean 1997) product. The APE ProSystem,
- by Steven Tucker, in the registered version of this shareware allows making
- disk images called 'Pro' images. APE (Atari Peripheral Emulator) requires a
- cable, called the SIO2PC cable, that connects the A8 13 pin serial port to a
- serial port on the IBM PC clone. To make 'Pro' images, a special adapter
- cable is needed, not just the 'standard' SIO2PC cable. The 'Pro' image can
- 'capture' the copy protection of an original commercial disk. The 'Pro' image
- can then be loaded into an A8 using the APE registered version software, thus
- backing up your original disk software. Note the 'Pro' image will only be of
- use to person(s) owning registered APE software and 'Pro' adapter cable.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 10.1) What programs can log in to other computers via modem?
-
- Here are some of the more popular PD/freeware/shareware terminal emulator and
- related programs available. Use one of these programs for accessing a dial-up
- Bulletin Board System (BBS) with your Atari, or for accessing a dial-up "shell
- account" with your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Dial-up shell accounts
- are no longer widely available here in the 21st century! (There is no
- general-purpose PPP capability for the 8-bit Atari that I am aware of.)
-
- ATAR-Z-MODEM 1.2, 5/29/94, shareware by Larry Black
- Emulates: n/a
- Text: 40 columns in gr.0
- File Xfer: ZMODEM download
- Autodial: No
- Backscroll buffer: No
- Capture-to-disk: no
- Summary: Intended to be used as an external ZMODEM receive utility in
- conjunction with other terminal programs, especially BobTerm
- http://www.umich.edu/~archive/atari/8bit/Telecomm/Protocols/atzmod12.arc
-
- BobTerm 1.22, shareware by Bob Puff
- (There's also a 1.23 release that's specific to PC XFormer)
- Emulates: VT52
- Text: 40 columns in gr.0; 80 col. w/ XEP80
- File Xfer: XMODEM, YMODEM, FMODEM
- Autodial: Yes
- Backscroll buffer: No
- Capture-to-disk: Yes
- Summary: Feature-filled; best for BBSing
- Available: http://www.nleaudio.com/css/ (version 1.21)
- ftp://ftp.spudster.org/pub/atari/cth/terminal_programs/BOBTM122.ARC (com only)
- http://people.a2000.nl/becotel/archive/bobt123.arc (1.23)
-
- FlickerTerm 80 v.0.51, freeware by LonerSoft (Clay Halliwell)
- Emulates: VT100, IBM ANSI
- Text: 80 column via a special Graphics 0 screen (no hardware req'd)
- File Xfer: None
- Autodial: No
- Backscroll buffer: No
- Capture-to-disk: No
- Summary: Fastest and most complete VT100 emulation; readability a minus
- ftp://ftp.spudster.org/pub/atari/cth/terminal_programs/FLICK051.ARC
-
- Ice-T XE v2.72 (128K XL/XE) or Ice-T 800 v1.1 (48K)
- shareware by Itay Chamiel
- Emulates: VT100
- Text: 80 column via a fast-scrolling graphics 8 screen
- File Xfer: X/Y/ZMODEM download
- Autodial: Yes (2.72) or No (1.1)
- Backscroll buffer: Yes--8 screens (2.72) or One screen (1.1)
- Capture-to-disk: Yes--up to 16K (2.72) or No (1.1)
- Summary: Outstanding flicker-free high-speed VT100 emulation.Recommended!
- Available: http://www.cs.huji.ac.il/~itayc/
-
- Kermit-65 3.7, PD by John R. Dunning
- Emulates: VT100
- Text: 40 columns in gr.0; 80 col. in gr.8; 80 col. w/ XEP80 (sort of)
- File Xfer: Kermit
- Autodial: No
- Backscroll buffer: No
- Capture-to-disk: No
- Summary: Excellent VT100 emulation; rock-solid Kermit Xfers
- filenames: k65v37.arc ; k65doc.arc - docs ; k65src.arc - source
-
- OmniCom by CDY Consulting (David Young)
- Emulates: VT100
- Text: 80 columns in gr.8
- File Xfer: XMODEM, Kermit
- Autodial: No
- Backscroll buffer: No
- Capture-to-disk: No
- Summary: Only option combining VT100, XMODEM, Kermit
- filename: omnicom.arc
-
- PabQwk 2.0, 1 Feb 1994, shareware by Low-Budget Productions (Pab Sungenis)
- Requires: 128K XL/XE
- Emulates: n/a
- File Xfer: QWK upload/download
- Summary: The Professional QWK reader for the Atari 8-bits. (QWK is a
- packet format created in the IBM BBS community for reading mail
- offline.)
- http://people.a2000.nl/becotel/archive/pabqwk20.arc
-
- Term80 1.6 (8.25.95), by CTH Enterprises (Tom Hunt)
- Requires: MIO or Black Box
- Emulates: ANSI
- Text: 80 columns in gr.8
- File Xfer: XMODEM receive, YMODEM send/receive
- Autodial: Yes
- Brackscroll buffer: No
- Capture-to-disk: Yes
- Summary: Designed for calling IBM ANSI BBSs at the highest possible
- speeds supported by the MIO and Black Box (14.4 Kbps)
- Available: http://cth.dtdns.net/Featured/term80/term80.html
-
- VT850 B1, shareware by Curtis Laser
- Emulates: VT100/VT102 (plus complete VT220 keymap)
- Text: 40 columns in gr.0; 80 col. w/ XEP80
- File Xfer: None
- Autodial: No
- Backscroll buffer: No
- Capture-to-disk: Yes
- Summary: Only option for VT100 emulation on the XEP80; 1200bps top speed
- filename: vt850b1.arc
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 10.2) What programs can I use to host a BBS on the Atari?
-
- The 8-bit Atari was particularly popular for hosting a dial-up Bulletin Board
- System (BBS). Uploading/downloading files, online messaging, even online
- gaming services can all be hosted on an 8-bit Atari operated as a dial-up BBS.
-
- This section attempts to list all BBS programs for the Atari. Of these, BBS
- Express! Professional and Carina II BBS seem to be programs that stand up well
- even today.
-
- Contributors to this section include: Winston Smith, Steven Sturza, Chad
- Hendrickson, Don Fanning, Matt Singer, Pete Davis, Jeff Williams
-
- o AMIS BBS -- The Atari Message Information Service, public domain.
- The "granddaddy" of BBS programs for the 8-bit Atari.
-
- The AMIS BBS was written in BASIC by people from the Michigan Atari Computer
- Enthusiasts. It included designs for a ring-detector. You needed a sector
- editor and had to allocate message space by hand, hex byte by hex byte.
-
- Several versions of AMIS:
- * Standard AMIS
- * MACE AMIS - from the Michigan Atari Computer Enthusiasts
- * Fast AMIS
- * MPP AMIS by Matt Pritchard
- * TODAMIS 1.0, for 1030/XM301, 1986, Trent Dudley
-
- o ATABBS -- Rod Roark writes (3/12/03):
- This is really straining my memory -- don't recall exactly
- when I wrote the thing (maybe '80 or '81), but as far as I
- know ATABBS was the world's first BBS for the Atari 400/800.
-
- I ran it out of my condo in Atlanta on a 48K 400 with an 80K
- floppy drive and a 300 bps Hayes Smartmodem. The 48K memory
- module was a third party add-on, not Atari's.
-
- It was written in Atari BASIC with a few bytes of machine
- language thrown in.
-
- o ATKeep -- An Atari 8-bit version of CITADEL BBS, by Brent Barrett
- ATKeep is a Citadel-like BBS system for eight-bit Ataris. ATKeep runs under
- SpartaDOS and requires BASIC XE and 128K of RAM. Originally "MBBBS (Message
- Base Bulletin Board System) 1.0, March 24th, 1986" MBBBS was changed to Atari
- Keep, or, ATKeep for short, around version the time version 4.0 was released
- (June 15, 1986).
-
- ATKeep 7.0 finally took the aide and cosysop commands out of a menu section
- and put them into extended commands, where they belonged. It also added a
- SYSOP level command set. Users were no longer "users" "aides" or "cosysops,"
- they had become level "A" (SYSOP) through level "Z" (READ ONLY). The system
- had become extremely complex. Public, hidden OR password protected PRIVATE
- rooms. Each room now had its own access level (thus keeping people of lower
- level from getting in EVEN if they knew the room name). Each room was
- assigned a RWRT (or Read WRiTe status), which determined who could enter
- messages in it, and whether or not public or private messages, or both were to
- be allowed.
-
- Before version 7.0, ATKeep only worked with the Atari 1030 or XM301 modems.
- ATKeep 7.0 was rewritten to accomodate the 850 or PRC interface allowing use
- of any Hayes compatible modem.
-
- ATKeep version 7.50 was released (1987), was version 8 released?
-
- o BBCS -- Bulletin Board Construction Set, by Scott Brause/Antic, 1985
- A machine language program, developed as the Jersey Atari Computer Group
- (JACG) BBS system.
-
- BBCS was known for it's great flexibility. The sysop was offered easy
- customization by the use of menus. Many BBSes before it required that you had
- to actually change the BASIC code in order to customize your BBS.
-
- Unfortunately, it also suffered from a reputation for stability problems.
-
- o BBS Express! -- 1986, Leith Ledbetter/Orion Micro Systems
- Written in compiled Action!. 1030/XM301 and 850 versions.
-
- o BBS Express! Professional ("Pro!")--6.0b 1999, Lance Ringquist/Video 61
- Originally by Keith Ledbetter/Orion Micro Systems.
- See also http://cth.dtdns.net/pro/pro1.html
-
- Written in 100% machine language.
-
- Requires XL/XE, SpartaDOS 3.2+, hard drive highly recommended, or at least a
- large ramdisk. R-Time 8 is fully supported.
-
- o Carina II BBS -- v2.7 (1995), David Hunt/Shadow Software
- Carina II was originally developed by Jerry Horanoff.
-
- Requires an XL or XE computer, at least 500K of storage capacity (including
- ramdisk and drives), and SpartaDOS version 2.3 or greater.
- Recommended: 192K ramdisk or greater, and an R-Time cartridge.
- Fully supported: An MIO interface and a hard drive.
-
- More Carina II information and links:
- http://jybolac.virtualave.net/carina/
-
- Pete Davis writes (15 Aug 2002):
- Carina was a pretty powerful BBS system. Though it was written in BASIC (with
- a number of machine language routines), it was expandable and had was able to
- load new BASIC programs with the BBS running. In fact, it was quite modular
- and would load different sections of the BBS at runtime. I actually used it
- when I ran a BBS some time back.
-
- o Carnival BBS -- essentially AMIS with an overlay to allow for private
- messages and passwords.
-
- o FoReM BBS -- Friends of Rickey Moose BBS. By Matt Singer.
- At the time, there were a lot of BBSs around called things such as "FORUM-80"
- and "BULLET-80", ergo the name. FoReM BBS was the first truly RBBS-like BBS
- for the ATARI 8-bit. It was programmed in BASIC and was somewhat crashy. I
- think that this is the great-grandparent of the FOREM-XE BBSs that survive
- today.
-
- Matt Singer writes:
- FoReM BBS derived from an early AMIS. When multiple message areas were
- added the name was extended to FoReM 26M. Then, When OSS released BASIC
- XL the program was rehacked and called FoReM XL... Bill Dorsey wrote most
- of the Assembler routines (where is he now?).
-
- o FoReM XL BBS -- by Matt Singer.
- FoReM BBS updated to take advantage of BASIC XL from OSS.
-
- o FoReM XE BBS -- by Matt Singer
- This version of FOREM BBS requires the commercial BASIC XE cartridge in order
- to run. It is in the public domain and can import and export messages from
- the Atari PRO! BBS EXPRESS-NET (7-bit text only, control ATASCII graphics are
- reserved for message data-structure bytes).
-
- o FoReM XE Professional BBS / FoReM XEP BBS -- by Len Spencer
- A re-write of FoReM XE BBS, last version was 5.4, Jan 5 1993.
- FXEP requires an XL/XE computer with at least 128k of memory, the BASIC XE
- cartridge from OSS/ICD, SpartaDOS 3.2 (this program will NOT work with any
- other version), and at least 500K of storage.
-
- FXEP is in the public domain, http://members.aol.com/lenspencer/
-
- o NITE-LITE BBS -- Paul Swanson's BBS with RAM disk.
- Paul Swanson was a programmer from the Boston, Massachusetts, USA, area.
-
- "1983: Nite-Lite B.B.S. goes on the air. (Was it running A.M.I.S. ?) It is
- called "Nite-Lite" because the computer monitor casts an eerie glow about the
- room. 1984: Paul Swanson writes his own BBS hosting software for the ATARI
- 6502 8-bit computer. He names it "Nite-Lite". The Nite-Lite BBS hosting
- software goes on to be the most successful commercial BBS software ever
- written for the ATARI 6502 8-bit computer. 1989: Nite-Lite BBS puts in a
- second line. (MichTron boards eventually take the place of all of the ATARI
- Nite-Lite boards.)" - Winston Smith
-
- This BBS was the first to support a RAMdisk, which Paul Swanson called a "V:"
- device for "virtual disk". This BBS was written in Atari BASIC and required a
- joystick hardware "dongle" device. This was notable as being one of the first
- Atari 8-BIT BBSs that could actually go for a week without having to be
- rebooted. Pointers to the message base were kept in an Atari "very long
- string" (for which Atari BASIC is famous). The BBS would only have problems
- (for the most part) if this string became corrupted.
-
- o OASIS (the commercial version) / OASIS Jr. (the pd version)
- Originally by Ralph Walden, then Leo Newman took it over, followed by
- Glenda Stocks/Z INNOVATORS, then Alf (Jeff Williams).
-
- All machine language. OASIS is very crash-resistant and comes with a "dial
- out" screen so that the Sysop can use the BBS as a terminal program to call
- and fetch files without having to bring the BBS down and reload a terminal
- program. OASIS supports "Door programs" which it refers to as "OASIS PAL
- modules". An excellent message system, and a complex file system. It
- consists of "file libraries" with suites of "file types". There is quite a
- bit of overhead involved in performing a download (which may be a good thing,
- as it discourages file hogs). OASIS IV performs networking.
-
- Glenda Stocks writes at http://world.std.com/~snet/glenda.htm :
- I purchased the source code rights to OASIS and began marketing the BBS
- software to Atari 8-bit enthusiasts around the world. I felt that I had the
- superior BBS software because I had programmed in the ability to run external
- programs, including online games and user surveys. I also had added color
- prompts for IBM clone users who called Atari boards running my OASIS software.
- Sometime in 1991...I sold the rights to OASIS to a man in Canada..
-
- Jeff Williams ("Alf") writes: (12/6/02)
- OASIS was around prior to either PRO or BBS Express IIRC. I don't know when
- exactly it showed up, version 3.09 was the first one I remember seeing. What
- made it nifty was it was very fast, being all assembler, and having some
- different features that things like Forem & Carina didn't have. Compared to
- something like Forem MPP at the time, it was kind of amazing.
-
- Ralph Walden sold it to Glenda Stocks, who chopped it up into modules and sold
- it as ver 4.7. PRO was out by then, and was a much more complete offering
- imo. Glenda wrote some modules for 4.7, but it never really went anywhere
- because the architecture was so cramped with her changes.
-
- Eventually she gave up and sold me the source. I looked it over and realized
- it was a mess and nothing was going to happen with it. I worked on a version 5
- for a while, but never made much progress.
-
- o SMART BBS -- by Marco Benton.
- This program is written entirely in BASIC. It expects to be running under a
- SpartaDOS environment. This BBS program uses a "modem clock string" rather
- than an R-Time 8 cartridge in order to retrieve the current time. It also
- comes with an Atari BASIC game door called "Sabotage".
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 10.3) How can I read/write 8-bit Atari disks on an MS-DOS PC?
-
- There are several programs that allow an MS-DOS system to work with an
- Atari-format 5.25" diskette. Each of these work with the Atari SS/DD 180K
- format, so you'll need an Atari DOS and disk drive capable of this format.
-
- #1 Choice:
- AtariDsk V1.2 (c) 95-12-09 by HiassofT (Matthias Reichl)
- http://www.horus.com/~hias/atari/
-
- #2 Choice:
- MyUTIL by Mark K Vallevand. Based on Charles Marslett's UTIL.
- http://www.umich.edu/~archive/atari/8bit/Diskutils/Transfer/myutil.zip
- Includes SpartaDOS disk utility v0.1e to access 180K SpartaDOS disks
-
- Other similar utilities:
- ATARIO by Dave Brandman w/ Kevin White - Reads SS/DD 180K Atari disks.
- www.umich.edu/~archive/atari/8bit/Unverified/Diskutils-redist/atario21.arc
- SpartaRead by Oscar Fowler - Reads SS/DD 180K SpartaDOS disks.
- http://www.umich.edu/~archive/atari/8bit/Diskutils/Transfer/sr.arc
- UTIL by Charles Marslett - Reads/Writes SS/DD 180K Atari disks.
- http://www.wordmark.org/
-
- Here's some advice on using the above utilities from Hans Breitenlohner:
-
- There are two technical obstacles to interchanging disks between
- DD Atari drives and PC drives.
-
- 1. The Atari drive spins slightly slower (288 rpm instead of 300 rpm).
- If you format a disk on the Atari, then write sectors on the PC, it is
- possible that the header of the next physical sector will be overwritten,
- making that sector unreadable. (The next physical sector is usually
- the current logical sector+2). The solution to this is to format all
- disks on the PC.
- (Aside: Does anybody know how this problem is handled on the
- XF551? Is it also slowed down?)
- Konrad Kokoszkiewicz answers:
- "The XF551 disk drive is not slowed down - these drives are spinning
- 300 rotations per minute. To prevent troubles with read/write disks
- formatted and written on normal Atari drives (288 rot/min), the main
- crystal frequency for the floppy disk controller is 8.333 MHz
- (not 8 MHz, as in 1050, for example)."
-
- 2. If the PC drive is a 1.2M drive there is the additional problem of the
- track width.
- The following is generally true in the PC world:
- - disks written on 360k drives can be read on either drive
- - blank disk formatted and written on 1.2M drives can be read on
- either kind
- - disks written on a 360k drive, and overwritten on a 1.2M drive,
- can be read reliably only on a 1.2M drive.
- - disks previously formatted on a 360k drive, or formatted as 1.2MB,
- and then reformatted on a 1.2M drive to 360k, can be read reliably
- only on a 1.2M drive.
- (all this assumes you are using DD media, not HD).
-
- Solution: Use a 360k drive if you can. If not, format disks on the
- Atari for Atari to PC transfers, format truly blank disks on the PC
- for PC to Atari transfers.
-
- Jon D. Melbo sums it up this way:
- So a basic rule of thumb when sharing 360KB floppies among 360KB &
- 1.2MB drives is: Never do any writes with a 1.2MB drive to a disk that
- has been previously written to in a 360KB drive....UNLESS... you only
- plan on ever using that disk in the 1.2Mb drive from then on out. Of
- course a disk can be reformated in a particular drive any time for use
- in that drive. As long as you follow that rule, you can utilize the
- backwards compatible 360KB modes that most 1.2MB drives offer.
-
- While the above mentioned utilities work with SS/DD 180K Atari-format disks or
- SS/DD 180K SpartaDOS disks, the following combination of utilities has been
- used successfully to read SS/SD 90K Atari-format disks. So if you only have
- standard Atari 810 and/or Atari 1050 drives, you could look into:
-
- AnaDisk -- now a product of New Technoligies Inc. (NTI)
- See: http://www.forensics-intl.com/anadisk.html
- The current version is "not made available to the general public" (!)
- Previously a product of Chuck Guzis @ Sydex, http://www.sydex.com/
- Older versions available: http://ch.twi.tudelft.nl/~sidney/atari/
- - Reads/Writes "any" 5.25" diskette
-
- DeAna by Nate Monson
- Available: http://ch.twi.tudelft.nl/~sidney/atari/
- - converts AnaDisk dump files from Atari format
-
- See http://ch.twi.tudelft.nl/~sidney/atari/ for tips on using this
- combination of utilities.
-
- Preston Crow writes:
- "As best as I can figure it out, if your PC drive happens to read
- FM disks (I'm not sure what the criteria for that is), then you
- can read single density disks on your PC by dumping the contents
- to a file with AnaDisk, and then using Deana.com to convert the
- dump file into a usable format.
-
- For enhanced density disks, Anadisk generally only reads the first
- portion of each sector, but it demonstrates that it is possible for
- a PC drive to read enhanced density disks."
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 10.4) How can I read/write MS-DOS PC disks on my Atari?
-
- Several 3rd-party hardware upgrades add the capability of working with
- MS-DOS diskettes to your Atari system:
-
- Happy 1050 upgrade for the Atari 1050
- -- read/write 180K 5.25" MS-DOS floppies
-
- CSS XF Single Drive Upgrade for the Atari XF551
- -- replace the 5.25" mechanism with a 3.5" mech.
- -- read 720K 3.5" MS-DOS disks
- see http://www.nleaudio.com/css/products/XFsingdrup.htm
-
- CSS XF Dual Drive Upgrade for the Atari XF551
- -- add 3.5" drive without losing the 5.25" drive
- -- read 720K 3.5" MS-DOS disks
- see http://www.nleaudio.com/css/products/XFdualdrup.htm
-
- CSS Floppy Board, for the CSS Black Box
- -- adds support for PC 720K and 1.44MB 3.5" drives to your Atari system
- -- adds support for PC 1.2MB and 360K 5.25" drives to your Atari system
- -- read/write 5.25" and 3.5" MS-DOS disks in your PC drives with your Atari
- see: http://www.nleaudio.com/css/products/floppy.htm
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 10.5) How do I transfer files using a null modem cable?
-
- This section by Russ Gilbert.
-
- Q: How do I connect two computers using a null modem cable?
-
- A: You need a term program and RS 232 ports on both
- computers. The RS 232 ports need to be connected
- together using a 'null modem cable'.
-
- For up to 4800 baud, no flow control lines need be
- connected. Just cross the transmit and receive lines
- and join the grounds together. Transmit is pin #2,
- receive is pin #3 and ground is pin #7 on the 25 pin
- port. 25 pin #2 goes to Atari #4 (XMT to RCV), 25 pin
- #3 goes to #3 on Atari (RCV to XMT) and #5 of 850 goes
- to #7 of 25 pin (GND to GND).
-
- The right hand pin on the 'long' side of a female 'D'
- connector is #1. There are 13 holes on this 'long'
- side, 12 holes on the 'short' side. The numbers go
- to the left 1 to 13 then #14 is under #1 and left again
- so that #25 is under #13.
-
- Most term programs allow a null connection, without a
- carrier detect. Notably, '850 Express!' does not. I have
- only used 'Procomm 2.4.3' (the last shareware version of
- Procomm) on the PC and BobTerm on the Atari, but other
- term programs may work.
-
- To check your null modem connection, start both PC and
- Atari term programs, set baud to 2400 or 4800 on both
- computers. No parity, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit on the PC.
- Be sure to use the correct COM port on the PC. Go to
- 'terminal' mode and you should now be able to type on
- either computer and see it on the other screen. To
- accomplish a file transfer, use Y-modem probably from
- BobTerm, rather than X-modem. X-modem will often append
- bytes to a file transfer, an undesirable event. There is
- also a very nice Z-modem recieve program for the Atari,
- called ATAR-Z-MODEM by Larry Black for the Atari.
-
- A convenient way to make a null modem cable, up to about
- 30 feet long, is to use two female DB25 connectors
- (Radio Shack) some three or more conductor cable. Using
- the two DB25 female connectors allows unplugging your
- modems and plugging in the null modem cable into the two
- modem cables. This also avoids the confusion of
- variations in the computer ports. Most computers connect
- into the modem end via a standard RS232 DB25 connection.
- With this both ends 25 pin cable, you would cross pins 2
- and 3 and connect the #7s together to make a null modem
- cable.
-
- The SIO port on the Atari cannot be used directly. An
- 850, P:R: Connection, MIO, Black Box or similar device
- that provides an RS232 port must be used.
-
-
- Following are pin assignments for a DB25 pin RS 232 C
- port.
- 1. Protective Ground 12. Select Alternate Rate
- 2. Transmit Data 15. Transmit Clock (sync)
- 3. Receive Data 17. Receive clock (sync)
- 4. RTS (Request to Send) 20. Data Terminal Ready
- 5. CTS (Clear to Send) 22. Ring indicator
- 6. Data Set Ready 23. Select Alternate Rate
- 7. Signal Ground 24. Transmit Clock
- 8. Carrier Detect
-
- For higher speed connections, above 4800 or 9600, you
- need the flow control lines and Atari term software that
- has flow control built in. You also need an MIO or Black
- Box, which uses the PBI (parallel bus). A high speed
- cable would need not only XMT, RCV, and GND, but also
- flow control lines. I suggest a commercial null modem
- from computer store to ensure correct lines. A null
- modem is a small adapter with the correct lines already
- crossed. I don't know how to correctly connect the CTS,
- RTS, DTR, DSR, CRX lines for a high speed null modem.
- With a null modem, you just plug it into the 25 pin
- connectors of the two modem cables you might already
- have connected to your Atari and PC or Mac. You may need
- a straight thru 25 pin gender changer also.
-
- Following is in this FAQ elsewhere, but I summarize here:
- (Figure out or look for pin numbers on the ports.) Note
- that these are pin assignments, and NOT null modem
- connections with the XMT, RCV crossed and GND straight
- thru.
-
- Atari 8-bit PC AT 25 PC AT 9 pin
- -------------------------------------
- 1. DTR 20 4*
- 2. CRX 8 1*
- 3. XMT 2 3
- 4. RCV 3 2*
- 5. GND 7 5
- 6. DSR 6 6
- 7. RTS 4 7
- 8. CTS 5 8
- 9. No connect? shield RI
- 22 RI
-
- Note: * above indicates the difference between an AT 9 pin
- and a Atari 8-bit 9 pin cable connector. eg. If you check
- continuity from pin 3 of 25 pin end and it goes to pin
- 4 of nine pin end, you have an Atari serial cable. If pin
- 3 of 25 pin goes to pin 2 of 9 pin end, you have a PC
- serial cable.
- (updated 3/1/99)
- (DTE = Data Terminal Equipment ie. your computer.
- DCE = Data Communications Equipment ie. your modem.)
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 10.6) How can my Atari use my PC's HD using SIO2PC or Atari810?
-
- SIO2PC
- ======
- From the SIO2PC home page, written by Nick Kennedy:
-
- SIO2PC is a hardware & software package interfacing the 8-bit Atari to PC
- compatible computers.
-
- The original idea was to have the PC emulate Atari disk drives so Atari
- programs could be stored on the PC's hard (or floppy) drives. It turned out to
- be quite successful. About 95% of my work was in the software, but a hardware
- device to convert logic levels was also necessary. This device is now commonly
- referred to as an SIO2PC cable.
-
- Features:
- - Emulates 1 to 4 Atari disk drives
- - Store your Atari files on PC hard or floppy drives
- - Boot from the PC, real drive not needed to start-up
- - No software or drivers required for the Atari;
- no conflicts: use your favorite DOS
- - Twice as fast as an Atari 810 drive and more reliable
- - Co-exists with real drives in the Atari daisy chain
- - Compatible down to the hardware level: use sector copiers, etc.
- - Print-Thru captures Atari print-out and routes to PC's printer
- - Convert Atari files to PC files and vice versa
- - 1050-2-PC version connects PC directly to Atari disk drive
-
- Nick Kennedy
- http://www.cswnet.com/~nkennedy/
-
- Another source for building SIO2PC cables is Clarence Dyson's page at
- http://www.wolfpup.net/atari/atari.html
-
-
- Atari810
- ========
- Atari810 1.4d, by Dan Vernon, is a disk drive emulator in the tradition of
- SIO2PC, for the Windows NT/2000/XP platform
- http://retrobits.net/
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 10.7) How can my Atari use my PC's HD, printer and modem using APE?
-
- David A. Paterson writes:
-
- "Steven J. Tucker took SIO2PC one better and wrote new software.
- The Atari Peripheral Emulator (APE for short):
-
- - lets your PC act as high-speed drives.
- - It lets you print to your PC printer.
- - And it lets you use your PC modem on the 8-bit."
-
- http://www.atarimax.com/
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 10.8) How can I connect my 1050 to my PC with the APE ProSystem?
-
- The APE ProSystem goes beyond APE. The ProSystem has two components:
-
- - The program PROSYS.EXE is used to create the protected and unprotected
- disk images which are then used by APE.
-
- - The ProSystem hardware is a cable designed to allow direct connection
- of a stock 1050 disk drive directly to a PC's serial port for use by the
- PROSYS.EXE software.
-
- http://www.atarimax.com/
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 10.9) What about interoperating with the Apple Macintosh?
-
- Mark L. Simonson keeps a nice set of web pages which he calls "Mac/Atari
- Fusion: Atari 8-bit Resources for Mac Users." Please visit:
-
- http://www2.bitstream.net/~marksim/atarimac/
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 10.10) Are there 8-bit Atari tools for the Commodore Amiga?
-
- '551conv', freeware by Achim Hartel:
- Converts a real Atari-800-disk, .xfd-image or .atr-image into a real
- Atari-800-disk, .xfd-image, .atr-image or extracts the files of the
- disk (-image). All 4 formats of the XF551-station supported: Single,
- Medium, Double, Quad. Version 1.03.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 11.1) How did Atari get its name?
-
- Graham Thornton types:
-
- This article was published in "I/O - The Magazine of the Atari Home
- Computer Club" in issue 3 - Summer 1983. The magazine was the official
- mouthpiece of Atari UK. The article was not attributed to any one person.
- The words are theirs, not mine.
-
- How Atari Got It's Name
- -----------------------
-
- The name Atari actually comes from Japan. And yet the company is most
- definitely American. Every wondered why? It's an interesting story and
- one well worth telling.
-
- In 1972 three friends decided to invent and market the first commercially
- feasible video game. They were Nolan Bushnell, Ted Dabney and Larry Bryan.
-
- To become a partner each man had to submit $100 to the project - a
- remarkably small sum when you consider the company's success! The next
- step was to find a name.
-
- Drinking beer and thumbing through the dictionary one day, the three
- friends came across an interesting entry under "S". The word was Syzygy,
- or "the straight-line configuration between three celestial bodies". What
- a perfect name they thought, for three such astronomically talented people!
-
- Now they could get on with the business of inventing games. Their first,
- Computer Space, was produced and all seemed to be going well.
-
- But then things started to get a little shaky. Larry Bryan decided not to
- ante up his $100 and pulled out, leaving Bushnell and Dabney to go it
- alone.
-
- The set up a shop in Santa Clara, California, and incorporated the
- business. A little later they invented Pong.
-
- Busnell and Dabney applied for the name Syzygy to the Office of the
- California Secretary of State, which regulates Californian corporations,
- but were told that they were too late. The name was already taken.
-
- Following unsuccessful attempts to buy the rights to the name from the
- first Syzygy corporation, which appeared to be inactive, the friends'
- solicitor pressed them to think up an alternative.
-
- This proved difficult. BD Inc and DB Inc were tested and then rejected in
- turn: the first bore too close a resemblance to Black & Decker, the second
- to Dunn and Bradstreet.
-
- Inspiration occurred at last, once again in an informal atmosphere.
- Bushnell and Dabney were both keen players of Go, a Japanese strategy game,
- and their best brainstorming always occurred over a good game and a bottle
- of beer.
-
- This time, they decided to make a list of several Go words to see if one of
- them would fly as the new corporate name.
-
- First choice was "Sente", which means "the upper hand" - something that
- greatly appealed. Second and third choices were "Atari", which has a
- similar meaning to the English word "check", and "Hanne", an
- acknowledgement of an over-taking move.
-
- Busnell and Dabney submitted the list once again to the Office of the
- Californian Secretary of State, which approved "Atari". The rest is
- history.
-
- When the company name changed, Bushnell and Dabney decided to update the
- logo too. They incorporated the "S" from Syzygy and the "A" from Atari
- into the new design.
-
- It was not until later, as the company became increasingly successful, that
- an advertising agency designed the slicker and now famous Atari logo - the
- "fuji" or stylised "A" design.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Subject: 11.2) What is the History of Atari?
-
- Here is a very condensed history of Atari, centered around their 8-bit
- computers.
-
- 1972
- Atari Inc. is formed by Nolan Bushnell, incorporated on Tuesday, June 27.
- Atari created the first coin-operated arcade video game with the introduction
- of Pong. The video game industry was launched and has shaped pop culture ever
- since.
-
- 1976
- Warner Communications acquires Atari Inc.
-
- 1977
- Atari launches the Video Computer System (VCS), later known as the 2600,
- giving birth to home video game systems.
-
- 1978
- In December, Atari announces the Atari 400 and 800 personal computers, using
- the 6502 microprocessor.
-
- 1979
- Atari files with the USPTO for a patent for a "Data processing system with
- programmable graphics generator" (the 400/800 computer system) on January 8,
- 1979. Inventors listed:
- Mayer, Steven T. (Auburn, CA);
- Miner, Jay G. (Sunnyvale, CA);
- Neubauer, Douglas G. (Santa Clara, CA);
- Decuir, Joseph C. (Mountain View, CA)
-
- The Atari 400 and Atari 800 Home Computers debut at the Winter Consumer
- Electronics Show (CES) in early January.
-
- Jerry Jessop writes:
- "The first official small shipment of the 400/800 was on August 29th 1979.
- These were hand-built pilot run units to Sears that needed to be in stock by
- Sept. 1 so they could be placed in the big fall catalog. The units were
- placed in the Sears warehouse and then immediatly returned to Atari after
- the "in stock" requirement had been met.
-
- The first "real" consumer units were shipped in Nov. of '79 and were 400s to
- Sears followed very shortly by 800s."
-
- All Atari computers are tested at the factory by a master computer called the
- Atari Sentinel System.
-
- 1981
- From Atari Connection magazine:
- "At the National Computer Conference in Chicago on May 5, 1981 Atari announced
- that the 8K Atari 400 was being discontinued and that the price on the 16K
- version was being reduced to $399."
-
- The USPTO grants U.S. Patent 4,296,476 to Atari on October 20, 1981 for the
- 400/800 computer system. Read the full text of the patent here:
- http://makeashorterlink.com/?M2561456
-
- November: 400/800's begin shipping with the new GTIA chip in place of CTIA,
- increasing the palette of simultaneously displayable colors to 256 and adding
- 3 new graphics modes. CTIA is totally phased out by the end of the year.
-
- Jerry Jessop adds:
- "The very first proto systems did have the GTIA, but it had some
- problems and was not released in the consumer version until 1981. The
- GTIA was completed before the CTIA."
-
- 1982
- The introduction of the 1200XL in late 1982 marks the single largest advance
- in the 8-bit Atari system.
-
- 1983
- In 1983 Atari replaced the 1200XL/800/400 line-up with the new 800XL and
- 600XL.
-
- 1984
- Warner Communications sells the Consumer Electronics and Home Computer
- divisions of Atari Inc. to Tramel Technology on Monday, July 2.
-
- Atari Corporation is formed by Tramel Technology and its products marketed
- under the Atari brand.
-
- { Warner sells the AtariTel division of the former Atari Inc. to Mitsubishi
- Electric, and the former AtariTel becomes Luma Telecom.
-
- A complete line of cutting-edge telecommunications products had been under
- development at AtariTel since 1981, but no products had been released under
- Atari.
-
- However, the Atari Videophone was nearly completed, and the product
- eventually surfaced as the Mitsubishi Luma Video Phone, aka Luma-Phone,
- aka LumaPhone. "The Visual Telephone"
-
- Mitsubishi has since shut down Luma.
- }
- (
- Warner also initially retains the arcade division of the former Atari Inc.,
- and renames it Atari Games Corporation. Soon thereafter, Atari Games is a
- private, independent entity, though Warner remains a major investor.
-
- Atari Games inherits Atari copyrights/trademarks/patents for use in the
- coin-operated arcade video game market.
-
- 1987
- Atari Games creates the Tengen label for the purpose of marketing games for
- home game systems (potentially competing directly with Atari Corp.)
-
- 1993
- Atari Games is (re-)purchased by Time Warner.
-
- 1994
- Time Warner consolidates Atari Games into Time Warner Interactive. Use of
- both the Atari Games and the Tengen brands are discontinued.
-
- 1996
- On March 29, 1996 WMS Industries (Williams, Bally and Midway) completes its
- purchase of Time Warner Interactive. Upon the sale, Time Warner
- Interactive adopts the Atari Games name and logo, and Atari Games is made a
- division of Midway Games.
-
- 1998
- In April of 1998 WMS spins off to shareholders its entire stake of Midway
- Games, making Midway Games essentially an independent entity. Atari Games
- remains a division of Midway Games.
-
- 1999
- Atari Games releases San Francisco Rush 2049. This turns out to be the
- last coin-operated arcade game sporting the Atari Games name and logo.
-
- January 2000: Atari Games is renamed Midway Games West, and games produced
- by the group will sport the Midway Games brand.
-
- June 22, 2001: Midway Games announces it is exiting the coin-operated
- arcade video game market; its game development efforts will now be focused
- on games for home game platforms. The Midway Games West division lives on,
- developing games for home systems for Midway Games.
-
- February 7, 2003: Midway Games shuts down their Midway Games West division.
- )
-
- 1985
- The new Atari Corp. delivered on its promise to advance the 8-bit Atari system
- by replacing the 800XL/600XL with the new 130XE and 65XE in 1985.
-
- According to Atari Explorer magazine, the 130XE was engineered by Jose Valdes.
-
- 1987
- In a change of marketing strategy, Atari introduced the new XE Game System in
- 1987. Despite its label, the XEGS is a true 8-bit Atari computer system.
-
- 1992
- Atari (US) officially dropped all remaining support of their 8-bit computer
- line on January 1, 1992. (Some 800XE's were still being manufactured in China
- in 1992.)
-
- 1996
- On July 31, 1996, in a "reverse merger," Atari Corp. purchased JTS, with the
- new parent company taking the JTS name while Atari was immediately designated
- a JTS subsidiary. JTS Corp., with headquarters in San Jose, Calif., was
- founded in 1994 to design, manufacture and supply enhanced-capacity hard disk
- drives for the notebook and desktop personal computer markets.
-
- 1998
- On February 23, 1998, JTS sold its Atari Division to HIACXI Corp., a wholly-
- owned subsidiary of Hasbro Interactive, Inc., which was a subsidiary of
- Hasbro, Inc., for $5 million in cash.
-
- (JTS filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection on December 11, 1998, and then
- converted it to Chapter 7 on February 28, 1999)
-
- Hasbro Interactive produced games for several platforms, including PCs running
- MS-Windows. Some of Hasbro Interactive's games, including several re-makes of
- classic Atari titles, were marketed under the Atari Interactive name and logo.
- Atari Interactive was termed "a Hasbro Affiliate."
-
- Games produced by "Atari" under Hasbro ownership included:
- Atari Arcade Hits 1 & 2, Breakout, Centipede, Missile Command,
- Nerf ArenaBlast, Pong, Q*Bert, The Next Tetris, Atari Greatest Hits
-
- 2001
- On January 29, 2001 Infogrames Entertainment announced completion of its
- acquisition of Hasbro Interactive from Hasbro, renaming the subsidiary
- "Infogrames Interactive." The purchase included the Atari titles and
- intellectual properties (known at Hasbro as "Atari Interactive").
-
- Between 2001 and 2003 Infogrames placed the Atari brand on some of its
- "premiere" gaming titles.
-
- 2003
- Beginning May 7, 2003 Infogrames Entertainment adopts the Atari brand and
- registered trademark for all operations, effectively changing the name of the
- entire company to Atari.
-
- Additionally, the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Infogrames Interactive,
- Inc., which develops many of the game derived from the Hasbro line of board
- games, changes its name to Atari Interactive, Inc.
-
- TODAY = http://www.atari.com/
-
- Infogrames Entertainment
- ========================
- Founded in 1983 by Bruno Bonnell and Christophe Sapet, Infogrames
- Entertainment SA today has more than 1,800 employees worldwide (approximately
- 60% in Europe and 40% in the U.S.). A publicly traded company, Infogrames
- Entertainment SA (Euronext: 5257) is one of the top five publishers of
- interactive entertainment software in the world and is widely regarded for
- developing and distributing quality games for the mass entertainment audience.
-
- Infogrames SA comprises two main subsidiaries: 1) the U.S. based, publicly
- traded Atari, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATAR); and 2) Atari Europe, which represents the
- Company's original operations. Atari, Inc. includes the former GT
- Interactive; Atari, Inc. also manages Atari Interactive, Inc. (the former
- Hasbro Interactive) on behalf of its parent company.
-
- ===================================================================
- End of atari-8-bit/faq
- ===================================================================
-
-