Message-ID:
<atari-8-bit/faq_1255410233@rtfm.mit.edu>
X-Last-Updated:
2009/10/12
From:
Michael Current <michael@mcurrent.name>
Newsgroups:
comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject:
Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions
Date: 13
Oct 2009 05:04:03 GMT
Archive-name:
atari-8-bit/faq
Posting-Frequency:
60 days
Last-modified:
September 26, 2009
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 1200XL
Additions/suggestions/comments/corrections
are needed! Please send to:
Michael Current,
michael@mcurrent.name
Copyright (c) 1992-2009 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
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this FAQ list or its Maintainer, or the author of that section reproduced
when given.
This document is in a constant state of development and comes with no
guarantees. If you see any problems, I need to hear from you!
The latest version of this document is posted to the following Usenet
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Known mirrors of the latest version of this document:
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http://www.faqs.org/faqs/atari-8-bit/faq/preamble.html (Multipart ed.)
You may also request my latest working version at: michael@mcurrent.name
**********************************************************************
* For other 8-bit Atari related FAQs please see the "Welcome FAQ": *
* ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/faqs/atari-8-bit/welcome *
* http://faqs.cs.uu.nl/na-dir/atari-8-bit/welcome.html *
* http://www.faqs.org/faqs/atari-8-bit/welcome/ *
**********************************************************************
UPDATES SINCE PREVIOUS POSTING:
2009.09.26 6.9 added link to advice on cleaning drive heads
2009.08.31 11.1 Mario Bros. versions clarified
2009.08.21 5.1 the 1030 was by Penril
2009.08.09 1.11 substantial 6502 discussion revision
2009.08.06 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.11 late-run 400/800 include the SALLY 6502.
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 video game system?
1.11) What are SALLY, ANTIC, CTIA/GTIA/FGTIA, POKEY, and FREDDIE?
1.12) Why do the ANTIC Modes start with "Mode 2", what about 0 or 1?
1.13) What is the internal layout of the 8-bit Atari?
1.14) Who designed the Atari 8-bit computers?
1.15) What issues surround NTSC vs. PAL vs. SECAM computer versions?
1.16) What are the pinouts for the various ports on the Atari?
Video Display and Sound Speakers
2.1) What video display devices and speakers can I use with my Atari?
2.2) What is artifacting?
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) What hard drives were designed for my Atari?
3.9) How can my Atari utilize my PC's or Mac's storage drives?
3.10) How can I use SD/MMC cards with my Atari?
3.11) How can I use a USB flash drive with my 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?
4.5) How can my Atari utilize my PC's or Mac's printer?
MODEMs and networking hardware
5.1) What are the Atari 830, 835, 1030, XM301, and SX212 Modems?
5.2) What other modems can I use with my Atari?
5.3) How can I my Atari utilize my PC's modem/network?
5.4) What networking hardware is there for the Atari?
5.5) How can I connect my Atari to a high-speed/Ethernet network?
Hardware interfaces
6.1) What is the Atari 850 Interface Module?
6.2) What is the Atari XEP80 Interface Module?
6.3) How can I use a SCSI/SASI device with my Atari?
6.4) How can I use an IDE device with my Atari?
6.5) Can I attach an ISA card to my Atari?
6.6) How can I use a USB device with my Atari?
More hardware
6.7) What are the power requirements for my Atari components?
6.8) What accessories did Atari produce for their 8-bit computers?
6.9) What preventative maintenance can I do on my Atari system?
6.10) What graphics tablets were produced for the Atari?
6.11) What light pens were produced for the Atari?
6.12) What light guns were produced for the Atari?
6.13) What paddles were produced for the Atari?
6.14) What voice/sound synthesis hardware was produced for the Atari?
6.15) What sound-digitizers/samplers were produced for the Atari?
6.16) What sound-enhancement upgrades were produced for the Atari?
6.17) What MIDI enhancements are there for the Atari?
6.18) What graphics enhancements are there for the Atari?
6.19) What types of memory upgrades are there for the Atari?
Core software: OS, BASIC, DOS, Modem handlers
7.1) What versions of the Atari Operating System (OS) are there?
7.2) What other operating systems have been produced for the Atari?
7.3) What is the ATASCII character set?
7.4) What is Atari BASIC?
7.5) What are Atari DOS I, DOS II, DOS 3, DOS 2.5, and DOS XE?
7.6) What are MyDOS, SpartaDOS, and other popular DOS versions?
7.7) How do I modify Atari DOS to support more than two drives?
7.8) Are there Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) for the Atari?
7.9) 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 use a light pen or a light gun?
8.6) What programs have a trackball mode or support a mouse?
8.7) What programs use paddle controllers?
8.8) What programs have a CX85 Numerical Keypad mode?
8.9) What programs use: Touch Tablet or KoalaPad/Animation Station?
8.10) What kinds of extra RAM and RAMdisks can be installed?
8.11) What programs support more than 64K RAM?
8.12) What programs require more than 64K RAM?
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 PC utilize my Atari disk drive?
10.7) What about interoperating with the Apple Macintosh?
10.8) Are there 8-bit Atari tools for the Commodore Amiga?
Timeline
11.1) What is the history of Atari's 8-bit computers platform?
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 video game system.
Notable home computers that were introduced before the Atari 400/800:
1977: Apple II, Tandy Radio Shack TRS-80 (Model I), Commodore PET
Notable home computers that were introduced after the Atari 400/800:
1979: Texas Instruments TI-99/4
1980: Commodore VIC-20, TRS-80 Color Computer, Osborne 1
1981: Texas Instruments TI-99/4A, IBM PC, Sinclair ZX81 / TS 1000, BBC Micro
1982: Kaypro II, Sinclair ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64
1983: Coleco Adam, MSX
1984: Apple Macintosh, Amstrad CPC
1985: Atari ST, Commodore Amiga
1987: Acorn Archimedes
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, primarily due to the physically different cartridge ports.
Here are some of the performance specifications of the 8-bit Atari computers:
CPU: 6502B (most 400/800) or Atari SALLY 6502 (late 400/800 and all XL/XE)
CPU CLOCK RATE:
NTSC machines: 1.7897725 MHz
PAL/SECAM machines: 1.7734470 MHz
SCREEN REFRESH RATE:
59.94 Hz (NTSC machines) or 49.86 Hz (PAL/SECAM machines)
GRAPHICS MODES:
ANTIC GTIA CIO/BASIC Display Resolution Number of
Mode # Mode # Graphics # Type (full screen) Colors/Hues
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 1 9 Map 80 x 192 1 **
+F 2 10 Map 80 x 192 9
+F 3 11 Map 80 x 192 16 ***
* 1 Hue, 2 Luminances
** 1 Hue, 16 Luminances (GTIA); or, 1 Hue, 8 Luminances (FGTIA)
*** 16 Hues, 1 Luminance
+ require the GTIA/FGTIA chip. (1979-1981 400/800's shipped with CTIA.)
++ Not available via the BASIC GRAPHICS command in 400/800 version of OS.
(See a separate section in this FAQ list for a discussion of the "missing"
ANTIC Modes 0 and 1.)
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:
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.
DISPLAY LIST INTERRUPTS (DLI's):
Other screen attributes (color, player/missile horizontal position,
screen width, player/missile/playfield priority, etc.) can be adjusted
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:
Sound is monaural/monophonic (one channel output).
Up to 4 separate simultaneous voices can be produced, configured as one of
the following:
- 4 voices, each with one of 256 unique frequencies/pitches
- 2 voices, each with one of 65,536 unique frequencies/pitches
- 1 voice with one of 65,536 pitches and 2 voices with one of 256 pitches
Each voice may be produced with one of 8 available "noise" settings/
polynomial-counter combinations, commonly called "distortion" settings.
(There are actually only 6 distinct combinations of 3 poly-counters
offered, but one of the poly-counters has 2 available settings itself,
resulting in 2 additional noise settings for the total of 8 available.)
Each voice may be produced at one of 16 volumes.
Direct control of the position of the speaker cone is also available, with
4-bit (16 position) resolution. Known as "volume only mode" on the Atari.
A fifth "voice" is produced as a separate signal by the internal speaker
on the Atari 400/800. This is typically used only for keyclick and
buzzer. In XL/XE systems these sounds are output as part of the normal
monaural audio output signal.
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 48K RAM Expansion Kit for the 400, which required a little
soldering, to dealers only.
Most Atari 400 machines include a standard 6502 microprocessor, but late-
production units use a revised CPU Board that features Atari's SALLY 6502.
On the 400, joystick controller port #4 is the only port that supports a light
pen or light gun.
Features unique to the 400/800 models:
- Four controller (joystick) ports
- Internal speaker for keyclicks and system buzzer
- Memo Pad mode
- +12 volts on pin 12 of the SIO port
Boot options:
Memo Pad
- Turn on computer with no cartridge inserted and no powered disk drive.
Cartridge
- Turn on computer with cartridge inserted.
Cassette
1. Hold down [START] while turning on the computer.
(System buzzer sounds.)
2. Press [PLAY] on the program recorder.
3. Press [RETURN] to load and run cassette program.
Disk
- Turn on computer with disk inserted in powered disk drive.
Versions of the Atari 400:
o NTSC (North America) version
- TV Channel switch: (2 - 3)
- CTIA (early production) or GTIA (most)
o PAL (Europe) version
- TV Channel switch (channels vary by country)
- GTIA
Rare variation of the 400:
o At least some of the few Atari 400 units (PAL) sold by Atari in France
have been reported to include a built-in peritel cable. PICTURES, ANYONE???
http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=62346&st=25
Atari marketing used the trademark, The Basic Computer, as an alternative name
for the 400 from 1981-1982.
The 400 was made in the USA (early production) and Hong Kong (later
production).
Production of the 400 ended in May 1983.
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."
Most Atari 800 machines include a standard 6502 microprocessor, but late-
production units use a revised CPU Board that features Atari's SALLY 6502.
Features unique to the 400/800 models:
- Four controller (joystick) ports
- Internal speaker for keyclicks and system buzzer
- Memo Pad mode
- +12 volts on pin 12 of the SIO port
Boot options:
Memo Pad
- Turn on computer with no cartridge inserted and no powered disk drive.
Cartridge
- Turn on computer with cartridge inserted.
Cassette
1. Hold down [START] while turning on the computer.
(System buzzer sounds.)
2. Press [PLAY] on the program recorder.
3. Press [RETURN] to load and run cassette program.
Disk
- Turn on computer with disk inserted in powered disk drive.
Versions of the Atari 800:
o NTSC (North America) version
- TV Channel switch: 2 - 3
- CTIA (early production) or GTIA (most)
o PAL (Europe) version
- TV Channel switch (channels vary by country)
- GTIA
Rare variation of the 800:
o At least some of the few Atari 800 units (PAL) sold by Atari in France
have been reported to include an 8-bit DIN monitor port. PICTURES, ANYONE???
http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=62346&st=25
The 800 was made in the USA.
Production of the 800 ended in May 1983.
Subject: 1.4) What is the Atari 1200XL?
Introduced as a big brother to the 400/800 in 1982 and shipped in 1983, the
1200XL was the biggest single step forward in development of the 8-bit Atari
platform. Innovations in comparison to the 400/800 include a full 64K of RAM
and a newly revised and expanded 16K Operating System.
The 1200XL is the only Atari to feature two LED indicator lights (L1, L2).
Normally they are both <OFF>. L1 <ON> means the keyboard is disabled.
L2 <ON> means the new International Character Set is selected.
Keyboard enhancements introduced with the 1200XL include the new [HELP] key as
well as four programmable functions keys ([F1], [F2], [F3], [F4]). Clicks and
system beeps output through the built-in speaker on the 400/800 are heard from
the television or monitor speaker on the 1200XL.
1200XL Function key effects, redefinable:
[F1] Cursor up [SHIFT]+[F1] Cursor to upper-left corner
[F2] Cursor down [SHIFT]+[F2] Cursor to lower-left corner
[F3] Cursor left [SHIFT]+[F3] Cursor to start of physical line
[F4] Cursor right [SHIFT]+[F4] Cursor to end of physical line
1200XL Function key effects, non-redefinable:
[CONTROL]+[F1] Keyboard enable/disable (console keys unaffected)
[CONTROL]+[F2] Screen display enable/disable
[CONTROL]+[F3] Key click sound enable/disable
[CONTROL]+[F4] Domestic/International character set toggle
A few features from the 400/800 are lacking in the 1200XL. Most prominently,
the 1200XL has only 2 controller ports, and no Memo Pad mode. Also, the
1200XL lacks the chrominance video signal on pin 5 on the Monitor port, and
lacks the +12 volts on pin 12 of the SIO port. Furthermore, the 1200XL is the
only Atari that lacks the +5 volts on pin 10 of the SIO port.
Boot options:
"ATARI" rainbow logo/graphics demo screen
- Turn on computer with no cartridge inserted and no powered disk drive.
- Press [HELP] from the "ATARI" logo screen to access Self Test program.
Cartridge
- Turn on computer with cartridge inserted.
Cassette
1. Hold down [START] while turning on the computer.
(System buzzer sounds.)
2. Press [PLAY] on the program recorder.
3. Press [RETURN] to load and run cassette program.
Disk
- Turn on computer with disk inserted in powered disk drive.
Box: "A Step Into the Future"
The 1200XL was only produced in an NTSC version for North America.
Production of the 1200XL ended in June 1983.
According to 1200XL serial number analysis by Karl Heller (2007), about
105,000 1200XL units were produced in total:
o From Mid March to late May USA production was about 78500 units in not so
sequential order.
o From early April to late June Taiwan produced about 26000 units in
perfect sequential order.
AtariAge thread: http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=107234
Scott Stilphen mentioned this 1200XL easter egg on 10 Feb 2006:
On 1200XLs, if you select 'all tests', when it gets to the keyboard test
it'll type out the programmer's name.
1200XL visual tour: http://www.atari800xl.eu/public/1200xl/
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 4 Function keys, the 2 LED lights, and the "ATARI" logo
screen. But both the 600XL and 800XL 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 Atari 1064 Memory Module expands the 600XL from 16K to 64K RAM.
Boot options:
Atari BASIC (Rev. B)
- Turn on computer with no cartridge inserted and no powered disk drive.
Self Test program
- Hold down [OPTION] while turning on the computer with no cartridge
installed and no powered disk drive.
Cartridge
- Turn on computer with cartridge inserted.
Cassette
1. Hold down [START] while turning on the computer.
(System buzzer sounds.)
2. Press [PLAY] on the program recorder.
3. Press [RETURN] to load and run cassette program.
Disk, with Atari BASIC enabled
- Turn on computer with disk inserted in powered disk drive.
Disk, with Atari BASIC disabled
- Hold down [OPTION] while turning on computer with disk inserted in
powered disk drive.
Box: "Feature For Feature, Your Best Value"
Versions of the Atari 600XL:
o NTSC (North America) version, produced fall 1983 to summer 1984 by
Atari, Inc.
- No Monitor port
- TV Channel switch: 2 - 3
o PAL (Europe) version, produced fall 1983 to summer 1984 by Atari, Inc.
- Includes Monitor port, but this lacks the separate luminance and
chrominance video signals
- No TV channel switch
Rare variations of the 600XL:
o 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."
5 different types of 600XL/800XL keyboards were nicely documented by Beetle
here: http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=105170
The 600XL was made in Hong Kong and Japan.
Production of the 600XL was discontinued by July 1984.
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 4 Function keys, the 2 LED lights, and the "ATARI"
logo screen. But both the 600XL and 800XL 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.
Boot options:
Atari BASIC (Rev. B or Rev. C, see below)
- Turn on computer with no cartridge inserted and no powered disk drive.
Self Test program
- Hold down [OPTION] while turning on the computer with no cartridge
installed and no powered disk drive.
Cartridge
- Turn on computer with cartridge inserted.
Cassette
1. Hold down [START] while turning on the computer.
(System buzzer sounds.)
2. Press [PLAY] on the program recorder.
3. Press [RETURN] to load and run cassette program.
Disk, with Atari BASIC enabled
- Turn on computer with disk inserted in powered disk drive.
Disk, with Atari BASIC disabled
- Hold down [OPTION] while turning on computer with disk inserted in
powered disk drive.
Box: "More Memory Means More Power"
Versions of the Atari 800XL:
o NTSC (North America) version, produced fall 1983 to summer 1984 by
Atari, Inc.
- Monitor port lacks the chrominance video signal on pin 5
- TV Channel switch: 2 - 3
- Atari BASIC Revision B
- Made in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
- Some internal pics:
http://atarinside.dyndns.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=74
o PAL (Europe) version, produced fall 1983 to summer 1984 by Atari, Inc.
- Monitor port lacks the chrominance video signal on pin 5
- No TV channel switch
- Atari BASIC Revision B
- Visual tour: http://www.atari800xl.eu/public/800xlpal/
- More internal pics:
http://atarinside.dyndns.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=73
- Made in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
o PAL (Europe) version, produced fall 1984 by Atari Corp.
- "800XLF" motherboard
- FREDDIE memory management chip
- Earlier production: Monitor port lacks the chrominance signal on pin 5
Later production: chrominance signal is present on Monitor port pin 5
- No TV channel switch
- Atari BASIC Revision C
- Made in Taiwan.
o SECAM (France) version, produced fall 1984 by Atari Corp.
- "SECAM ROSE" motherboard
- FREDDIE memory management chip
- FGTIA, paired with the PAL ANTIC
- Monitor port has unique pinout, 6 pins instead of 5;
includes composite video but not chrominance nor luminance signals
- No TV jack
- No TV channel switch
- Internal color/monochrome switch
- Atari BASIC Revision C
- Visual tour: http://www.atari800xl.eu/public/800xlsecam
- More internal pics:
http://atarinside.dyndns.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=15
- Made in Taiwan.
5 different types of 600XL/800XL keyboards were nicely documented by Beetle
here: http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=105170
Production of the 800XL was discontinued by 1985.
Subject: 1.7) What is the Atari 65XE?
Introduced in 1985 as a direct replacement for the 800XL, the 65XE is a low-
end version of the 130XE.
The 65XE offers 64K RAM, and includes the FREDDIE memory management chip.
The 65XE does not include the PBI port as on the 600XL/800XL, but many 65XE
machines include the similar (though physically incompatible) Enhanced
Cartridge Interface (ECI).
Boot options:
Atari BASIC (Rev. C)
- Turn on computer with no cartridge inserted and no powered disk drive.
Self Test program
- Hold down [Option] while turning on the computer with no cartridge
installed and no powered disk drive.
Cartridge
- Turn on computer with cartridge inserted.
Cassette
1. Hold down [Start] while turning on the computer.
(System buzzer sounds.)
2. Press [Play] on the program recorder.
3. Press [Return] to load and run cassette program.
Disk, with Atari BASIC enabled
- Turn on computer with disk inserted in powered disk drive.
Disk, with Atari BASIC disabled
- Hold down [Option] while turning on computer with disk inserted in
powered disk drive.
Versions of the Atari 65XE:
o NTSC (North America) without ECI port (common production)
- TV Channel switch: 2 - 3
o NTSC (North America) with ECI port (uncommon/rare late production)
- NTSC 130XE motherboard
- TV Channel switch: 2 - 3
o PAL (Europe) version without ECI port (uncommon early production)
- No TV channel switch
o PAL (Europe) version with ECI port (common later production)
- (Identical to 800XE)
- PAL 130XE motherboard
- No TV channel switch
- Reports of some 65XE machines previously labeled as 800XE machines
and vice versa.
o PAL (Arabia) version
- "65XEN" motherboard
- ECI port
- No TV channel switch
- Arabic localized OS
- More info: http://www.savetz.com/vintagecomputers/arabic65xe/
- Visual tour: http://www.atari800xl.eu/public/65xearab
(The 65XE was not marketed in France.)
The 65XE was made in Taiwan (common) and China (late production).
Subject: 1.8) What is the Atari 130XE?
Released in 1985, the 130XE is the high-end version of the 65XE/800XE.
The 130XE offers 128K RAM, and includes the FREDDIE memory management chip.
The 130XE does not include the PBI port as on the 600XL/800XL, but it does
include the similar (though physically incompatible) Enhanced Cartridge
Interface (ECI).
Boot options:
Atari BASIC (Rev. C)
- Turn on computer with no cartridge inserted and no powered disk drive.
Self Test program
- Hold down [Option] while turning on the computer with no cartridge
installed and no powered disk drive.
Cartridge
- Turn on computer with cartridge inserted.
Cassette
1. Hold down [Start] while turning on the computer.
(System buzzer sounds.)
2. Press [Play] on the program recorder.
3. Press [Return] to load and run cassette program.
Disk, with Atari BASIC enabled
- Turn on computer with disk inserted in powered disk drive.
Disk, with Atari BASIC disabled
- Hold down [Option] while turning on computer with disk inserted in
powered disk drive.
Versions of the Atari 130XE:
o NTSC (North America) version
- TV Channel switch: 2 - 3
o PAL (Europe) version
- No TV channel switch
o SECAM (France) version
- FGTIA; PAL ANTIC
- No TV jack
- No TV channel switch
- Color/Monochrome switch
- a distant image of the rear of the unit, middle unit pictured here:
http://www.silicium.org/images/catalog/atari/atari_3xe_culs.jpg
The 130XE was made in Taiwan (common) and China (late production).
Subject: 1.9) What is the Atari 800XE?
Introduced in 1985 in markets including Germany and Eastern Europe as a
direct replacement for the 800XL, the 800XE is a low-end version of the 130XE.
The 800XE offers 64K RAM, and includes the FREDDIE memory management chip.
The 800XE does not include the PBI port as on the 600XL/800XL, but it does
include the similar (though physically incompatible) Enhanced Cartridge
Interface (ECI).
Boot options:
Atari BASIC (Rev. C)
- Turn on computer with no cartridge inserted and no powered disk drive.
Self Test program
- Hold down [Option] while turning on the computer with no cartridge
installed and no powered disk drive.
Cartridge
- Turn on computer with cartridge inserted.
Cassette
1. Hold down [Start] while turning on the computer.
(System buzzer sounds.)
2. Press [Play] on the program recorder.
3. Press [Return] to load and run cassette program.
Disk, with Atari BASIC enabled
- Turn on computer with disk inserted in powered disk drive.
Disk, with Atari BASIC disabled
- Hold down [Option] while turning on computer with disk inserted in
powered disk drive.
The 800XE was produced in a PAL (Europe) version only:
- Identical to common PAL 65XE version with ECI port:
- PAL 130XE motherboard
- TV channel switch: some include it, some do not
- Reports of some 800XE machines previously labeled as 65XE machines
and vice versa.
Some images of the 800XE:
http://www.silicium.org/atari/800xe.htm
Jindrich Kubec writes, "The problematic Chinese 800XEs with GTIA problems were
manufactured in 1992."
The 800XE was made in Taiwan (common) and China (late production).
The 800XE was last manufactured in 1992.
Subject: 1.10) What is the Atari XE video game system?
In a change of marketing strategy, Atari introduced the new XE video game
system in 1987. The XE System 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 XL/XE computers.
FREDDIE memory management chip included.
The full XE Video Game System package included Keyboard, Light Gun, joystick,
and the Flight Simulator II and Bug Hunt cartridges.
http://www.mr-atari.com/afbeeldingen/systems/xegamesystem.jpg
Also sold separately:
o XE System Console with joystick
http://www.mr-atari.com/afbeeldingen/hardwarediv/xesystem1.jpg
o XE System Keyboard with Flight Simulator II cartridge
http://www.mr-atari.com/afbeeldingen/hardwarediv/xesystem3toetsenbord.jpg
o XE System Light Gun XG-1 with Bug Hunt cartridge
http://www.mr-atari.com/afbeeldingen/hardwarediv/xesystemgun2.jpg
Boot options:
Missile Command
(a) With XE keyboard not connected:
- Turn on computer with no cartridge inserted and no powered disk
drive.
(b) With XE keyboard connected:
- Hold down [Select] while turning on the computer with no cartridge
inserted and no powered disk drive.
Self Test program
- Hold down [Option] while turning on the computer with no cartridge
installed and no powered disk drive.
Cartridge
- Turn on computer with cartridge inserted.
Cassette
1. Hold down [Start] while turning on the computer.
(System buzzer sounds.)
2. Press [Play] on the program recorder.
3. Press [Start] on the XE console to load and run cassette program.
Disk, with Atari BASIC enabled
(a) With XE keyboard not connected:
- Hold down [Select] while turning on computer with disk inserted in
powered disk drive.
(b) With XE keyboard connected:
- Turn on computer with disk inserted in powered disk drive.
Disk, with Atari BASIC disabled
- Hold down [Option] while turning on computer with disk inserted in
powered disk drive.
Versions of the Atari XE System produced:
o NTSC (North America) version
- TV Channel switch: 2 - 3
o PAL (Europe) version
- No TV channel switch
o SECAM (France) version
- FGTIA; PAL ANTIC
- No TV channel switch
The XE System Console was made in Taiwan.
Subject: 1.11) What are SALLY, ANTIC, CTIA/GTIA/FGTIA, POKEY, and FREDDIE?
Portions of this section are based on the "System Overview" Section, written
by Atari's Cris Crawford, of Atari's De Re Atari (Atari#APX-90008). The full
text of De Re Atari: http://www.atariarchives.org/dere/
The internal layout of the Atari 8-bit computer is very different from other
systems. It of course has a microprocessor (a 6502), random-access memory
(RAM), read-only memory (ROM), and a peripheral interface adapter (PIA,
CO12298/CO14795, a standard 6520). However, it also has three special-purpose
large-scale integration (LSI) chips known as ANTIC, one of CTIA/GTIA/FGTIA,
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/SALLY Central Processing Unit (CPU) -- 6502B (400/800,most):CO14377
========== SALLY 6502 (400/800,late)(XL/XE,all):CO14806
The Microprocessor Unit (MPU), typically (and less-precisely) described as the
Central Processing Unit (CPU), in most Atari 400/800 computers is a standard
40-pin 6502 microprocessor. More specifically, most Atari 400/800 computers
use a 6502B, which is a standard 6502 rated for a maximum operating frequency
of 3 MHz. The 6502 was designed by Chuck Peddle and Bill Mensch for
MOS Technology in 1975. In addition to MOS Technology, the 6502B has also
been produced by Synertek and Rockwell.
Late production 400/800 computers and all of the Atari XL/XE computer models
(plus the Atari 5200 and 7800 game systems) contain Atari's customized
version of the 6502 chip, known (eventually) as SALLY. The innovation of the
SALLY 6502 is the addition of the HALT' signal on pin 35. The SALLY 6502 also
has a second R/W' signal on pin 36 (in addition to pin 34). Pins 35 and 36
are not connected on a standard 6502.
The Atari's second microprocessor, ANTIC, must routinely interrupt the 6502 in
order to utilize the processor bus for itself for direct memory access (DMA).
HALT' on the SALLY 6502 facilitates this system design. Atari's earlier
implementation of the same functionality in the 400/800 with the standard 6502
requires a series of 4 additional chips that are unnecessary in computers
designed for the SALLY 6502.
Note that before finally adopting the name SALLY, Atari briefly referred to
their customized version of the 6502 by the name, "6502C". The Atari SALLY
"6502C" is not to be confused with the standard 6502C, which is a standard
6502 rated for a maximum operating frequency of 4 MHz.
6502.org "the 6502 microprocessor resource": http://www.6502.org/
ANTIC -- 400/800/1200XL,NTSC:CO12296 400/800,PAL:CO14887
===== 600XL/800XL/XE,NTSC:CO21697 XL/XE,PAL:CO21698
(The XL/XE PAL ANTIC is also used in SECAM XL/XE machines.)
ANTIC ("AlphaNumeric Television Interface Controller" --FD100001 Rev.02 p.1-8)
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 CTIA/GTIA/FGTIA.
ANTIC(NTSC) C012296 techical documentation by Atari:
http://www.retromicro.com/files/atari/8bit/antic.pdf
CTIA/GTIA/FGTIA -- CTIA(NTSC):CO12295 GTIA,PAL:CO14889
=============== GTIA,NTSC:CO14805 FGTIA(SECAM):CO20120
CTIA = "Color Television Interface Adaptor" --FD100001 Rev.02 p.1-10
GTIA = "Graphics Television Interface Adaptor" --FD100001 Rev.02 p.1-10
FGTIA = "French Graphics Television Interface Adaptor" (mc's guess)
The CTIA, GTIA, or FGTIA is the television interface chip. ANTIC directly
controls most of the operations of the CTIA/GTIA/FGTIA, although the 6502 can
also be programmed to intercede and control some or all of the functions of
the CTIA/GTIA/FGTIA. The CTIA/GTIA/FGTIA converts the digital commands
from ANTIC (or the 6502) into the video signal output.
In addition to its basic television/video interface function, the
CTIA/GTIA/FGTIA performs color-luminance control for the entire video signal,
player-missile control, and both priority control and collision detection
among player-missiles and the background. The CTIA/GTIA/FGTIA also reads the
controller port trigger inputs, it reads console keys (Start/Select/Option),
and it controls the built-in speaker in the 400/800.
Early North American NTSC 400/800 models shipped with CTIA. Later NTSC
400/800 models, all PAL 400/800's, and all NTSC XL/XE and PAL XL/XE systems
include GTIA. SECAM 800XL, 130XE and XE game systems include FGTIA.
The GTIA is backwards-compatible with the CTIA, with the GTIA simply making
available three additional graphics modes (GTIA Modes 1-3).
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."
The FGTIA is software compatible with the GTIA. However, in GTIA Mode 1 the
FGTIA can only display 8 distinct luminances, compared to the 16 distinct
luminances that can be displayed in GTIA Mode 1 by the GTIA.
The NTSC CTIA/GTIA were designed to interface with the NTSC ANTIC.
The PAL GTIA and the FGTIA were designed to interface with the PAL ANTIC.
Whether CTIA or GTIA/FGTIA is installed can be determined by observing what
happens as a result of trying to enter a GTIA graphics mode. In Atari BASIC,
at the "READY" prompt, type POKE 623,64 [RETURN]. If the screen blackens, you
have the GTIA or FGTIA chip. If it stays blue, you have the early CTIA chip.
Technical documentation by Atari:
GTIA(NTSC) C014805: http://www.retromicro.com/files/atari/8bit/gtia.pdf
FGTIA:
http://ftp.pigwa.net/stuff/collections/nir_dary_cds/Tech%2520Info/FGTIA.PDF
POKEY -- CO12294
=====
POKEY (name derived from POtentiometer 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.
POKEY Technical documentation by Atari:
http://www.retromicro.com/files/atari/8bit/pokey.pdf
FREDDIE -- 800XL(late),XE(all):CO61922/CO61991
=======
According to Atari's design specification, the "Freddie RAM" Memory Control
Unit (MPU) is a custom LSI chip providing dynamic RAM (DRAM) control
functions. It replaces a number of small-scale integration (SSI) and medium-
scale integration (MSI) transistor-transistor logic (TTL) parts, including a
custom delay line. FREDDIE multiplexes 16-bit RAM addresses from the
processor bus into 8-bit row and 8-bit column addresses for direct use in the
DRAM, and it generates row and column DRAM address timing strobes.
FREDDIE was initially designed by Atari Inc. in 1983 as chip that would cut
production costs for future XL computers. FREDDIE was finally incorporated by
Atari Corp. into late-production 800XL computers and in all XE computers
systems.
"FREDDIE" or "FREDDY"?
Atari technical documentation consistently uses "FREDDIE" while Atari end-user
documentation (Owner's Manuals for all XE systems) consistently uses "FREDDY."
This FAQ List adopts the original convention from Atari's technical
documentation: "FREDDIE"
FREDDIE technical documentation by Atari:
www.atarimuseum.com/ahs_archives/archives/pdf/computers/8bits/freddie-mcu.pdf
Subject: 1.12) Why do the ANTIC Modes start with "Mode 2", what about 0 or 1?
This section started by: Laurent Delsarte. Thanks also to Alphasys.
Actually, the ANTIC graphic mode numbers are directly used as instructions
in Display Lists (DL), to request the display of several lines of a specific
text or graphic mode. For instance, the instruction "2" (for "Mode 2") in an
ANTIC Display List requests 8 scan lines of "text 0".
But the instructions "0" and "1" already have other meanings in an ANTIC
Display List program:
"0" means "display one blank line"
"1" means "jump to location"
and to be comprehensive, 16 (hex: 10), also means something special:
"16" means "display two blank lines"
Consequently, the first ANTIC mode is the "Mode 2", and the last one is
"Mode 15".
Here is the context of the full ANTIC display list instruction set:
Instruction BASIC Scan Pixels Bytes Comments
Decimal Hex mode lines line line
Blank Line instructions
0 0 -- 1 -- -- 1 blank line
16 10 -- 2 -- -- 2 blank lines
32 20 -- 3 -- -- 3 blank lines
48 30 -- 4 -- -- 4 blank lines
64 40 -- 5 -- -- 5 blank lines
80 50 -- 6 -- -- 6 blank lines
96 60 -- 7 -- -- 7 blank lines
112 70 -- 8 -- -- 8 blank lines
Character Mode instructions (text modes)
2 2 0 8 40 40
3 3 -- 10 40 40 Not supported by OS
4 4 12 8 40 40 400/800: Not supported by OS
5 5 13 16 40 40 400/800: Not supported by OS
6 6 1 8 20 20
7 7 2 16 20 20
Map Mode instructions (graphics modes)
8 8 3 8 40 10
9 9 4 4 80 10
10 A 5 4 80 20
11 B 6 2 160 20
12 C 14 1 160 20 400/800: Not supported by OS
13 D 7 2 160 40
14 E 15 1 160 40 400/800: Not supported by OS
15 F 8 1 320 40
Jump instructions (three bytes long)
1 1 -- -- -- -- JMP -- jump to location (creates
one blank line on display)
65 41 -- -- -- -- JVB -- jump and wait until end of
next vertical blank (VBLANK)
Optional Modifiers to the above Character or Map Mode instructions:
add add
decimal hex bit
Vertical scroll 16 10 4
Horizontal scroll 32 20 5
LMS Load Memory Scan 64 40 6
Optional Modifier to the above Blank Line or Jump instructions:
DLI Display List Interrupt 128 80 7
More details of ANTIC display list programming can be found in the book
"Mapping the Atari", Appendix 8
http://www.atariarchives.org/mapping/appendix8.php
and also in the book "De Re Atari", Chapters 2, 5 and 6
http://www.atariarchives.org/dere/chapt02.php ANTIC and the display list
http://www.atariarchives.org/dere/chapt05.php Display List Interrupts
http://www.atariarchives.org/dere/chapt06.php Scrolling
Subject: 1.13) What is the internal layout of the 8-bit Atari?
ASCII art by Thomas Havemeister.
->
+---------------------------------------+
| +---------------+ |
| |CPU/SALLY(6502)| +-------+
| +---------------+ <- | I/O- |
| | +----------|release|
| +-+ | +-------+
| +---------+<- |p| | |
| | MMU |-----| | | <-+---------+-|----------+----------+
*-| memory- | |r| *---| PIA | | (trigger)|Controller|====\
| |managment|-----|-+--------| (6520) | |+---------| Ports |====/
| +---------+<- |o| -> | +---------+-|-+ <--> +----------+
| | | | ||| | |
| +-----+ |c| | <-+---------+ ||| |(light pen/light gun)
| | RAM |<-A/D | | *---| ANTIC | ||| | |
*---|8-128|-------|e|----|---|(2nd CPU)|---------------+ |
| |Kbyte|->D | | -> | +---------+ ||| +--------------+
| +-----+ |s| | || ||| |
| | | | <-+---------+-|||--------+(screen)
| +-------+ |s| *---|CTIA/GTIA|-|+| | |
| | Atari |<-A | |----|---| /FGTIA | | | | +----------+ +-----------+
| | 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: 8K or 16K standard
800: 8K, 16K, or 48K standard
600XL: 16K
1200XL/800XL/65XE/800XE/XEgs: 64K
130XE: 128K
* ROM: 400/800: 10K (OS)
1200XL: 16K (OS)
XEgs: 32K (16K OS + 8K Atari BASIC + 8K Missile Command)
all other XL/XE: 24K (16K OS + 8K Atari BASIC)
* CPU: 400/800(most): 6502B
400/800(late),XL/XE: Atari SALLY 6502
* 800 includes two Cartridge Slots, all others include one
* CTIA/GTIA/FGTIA: Most: GTIA. Early 400/800: CTIA. SECAM XL/XE: FGTIA
* 400/800 have 4 Controller Ports, all others have 2
* PBI is on 600XL/800XL only
* ECI is on 130XE/800XE/later 65XE only
* Some late XE's use a 68B21 for PIA; PIA is 6520/6520A on all others
Subject: 1.14) Who designed the Atari 8-bit computers?
Section credits: Jerry Jessop, Scott Emmons, http://www.digitpress.com/,
http://www.atarimuseum.com/
Special thanks: Mr. Doug Neubauer (via James Finnegan); Mr. Gregg Squires
Atari 400/800 ("Colleen") hardware engineers:
Steven T. Mayer - early system design, overall plan
Joseph C. Decuir - ANTIC logic design, early system design, overall plan
Jay G. Miner - System architect (became manager of development of both
VLSI custom chips and OS software), overall plan
Douglas G. Neubauer - POKEY logic design (also wrote: Star Raiders)
George McLeod - CTIA/GTIA logic design
Ronald E. Milner - early system design
Francois Michel - ANTIC design
Mark Shieu - POKEY chip design
Steve Stone - POKEY layout design
Steve Smith - Technician for ANTIC and GTIA
Delwin Pearson - Technician for POKEY
Kevin McKinsey - 400/800 case design
Atari 400/800 Operating System software engineers:
David Crane - OS design, programming
Larry Kaplan - OS design, programming
(also wrote: Video Easel, Super Breakout)
Alan Miller - OS design, programming (also wrote: Basketball)
Harry B. Stewart - consultant, OS design
Gary Palmer - worked on the I/O portion
Ian Shepard - disk drive functions
Michael P. Mahar - Revision B fixes
R. Scott Scheiman - Revision B fixes
Atari 1200XL (Sweet-16/"Elizabeth"/"Liz") computer hardware engineers:
(Atari NY Lab, then W.C.I. Labs, 300 E 42nd St, New York NY)
Steven T. Mayer - Head of NY Lab, then Chairman and CEO, WCI Labs, Inc.
Gregg Squires - Project Manager (previously of Racal-Vikonics)
Robert (Bob) Card - Principal Engineer (previously of Racal-Vikonics)
Steven Ray - Critical Electronics Layout Designer
(previously of Racal-Vikonics)
Joel Moskowitz - Mechanical Engineer
Philippe des Rioux - project engineer
Glenn Boles - project engineer
Henry Dreyfuss Associates - Early case design concepts
Risa Rosenberg - Secretary to Gregg Squires
Atari 1200XL computer hardware engineers: (California)
Regan Cheng - XL case design
Atari 1200XL Operating System ("Z800" revs 10, 11) software engineers:
Harry B. Stewart - External Reference Specification
Lane Winner - ?
R. Scott Scheiman - Handler Loader
Y. M. (Amy) Chen - Relocating Loader; International Character Set
Mike W. Colburn - Self Test
Richard K. Nordin - ?
Atari 600XL/800XL ("Surely"/"Surely Plus") computer hardware engineers:
? - ?
Regan Cheng - XL case design
? - FREDDIE
? - FGTIA
Atari 600XL/800XL Operating System ("Surely OS" Revs 1, 2) software engineers:
R. Scott Scheiman \
Richard K. Nordin --- Support PBI and on-board BASIC
Y. M. (Amy) Chen /
Atari Corp. 800XL and XE systems hardware engineers:
Jose A. Valdes - (at Atari from October 1979 - August 1989)
Ira Velinsky - designer of the XE game system
Atari Corp. XE Operating System (Revisions 3, 3B, 4) software engineers:
? - ?
Subject: 1.15) What issues surround NTSC vs. PAL vs. SECAM computer versions?
Some quick definitions first:
NTSC: "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.
o 525 lines per frame
o 60 half-frames per second (interlaced) = 60 Hz
o Complete frame refreshed 30 times per second
PAL: "Phase Alternation by Line"
TV signal standard used in the United Kingdom, most of the rest of Europe,
several South American countries, some Middle East and Asian countries,
several African countries, Australia, New Zealand, and other Pacific island
countries.
o 625 lines per frame
o 50 half-frames per second (interlaced) = 50 Hz
o Complete frame refreshed 25 times per second.
SECAM: "Sequentiel couleur avec memoire"
TV signal standard still used in France, the former USSR, and some African
countries. Until the 1980's SECAM was the standard in eastern Europe,
including East Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary.
o 625 lines per frame
o 50 half-frames per second (interlaced) = 50 Hz
o Complete frame refreshed 25 times per second.
While the above draws a clear distinction between NTSC and PAL/SECAM, a
further discussion of the NTSC/PAL/SECAM color encoding systems will help to
distinguish between all three standards.
=-=-=-=-=
This discussion by Laurent Delsarte (2008.12) (with minor edits by mc).
First of all, it is important to remind that NTSC, PAL and SECAM are all
color encoding systems. They are used in conjunction with older standards
for the base monochrome signals--the old standards that were used when all
the TV sets were still black & white.
In other words, the first televisions standards, referenced with letters
(M/B/G/I/K/etc.), were used to broadcast pure monochrome, black & white
images. The NTSC, PAL and SECAM standards were then introduced to add a
specific color signal to colorize this pure monochrome signal.
When the color was introduced, the idea was to remain compatible with the
existing old black & white TV sets, so that these old black & white TV sets
would still continue to be able to display the image (but in black & white,
obviously).
In the television world, the black & white image, also known as the
monochrome signal, is called the "luminance" ("Y" for short); whilst the
color information is called the "chrominance" ("C" for short).
For every dot defining the image, the "luminance" states how intense
(ranging from pure black to pure white) the dot is. For every dot defining
the image, the "chrominance" states what is the color of the dot (within
the limit of the color palette that the color standard allows).
In the Atari 8-Bit world, the "luminance" notion can be understood if you
use the standard Graphics mode 9: you have just one color at your disposal
(say, white), and all you can do is draw graphics using 16 intensities of
white (ranging from pure black to pure white). And the "chrominance" notion
can be understood if you use the standard Graphics mode 11: you have 16
colors at your disposal, but they all have the same intensity. You control
the color, but not the brightness of the color.
To display a black & white image, the "luminance" ("Y") signal is enough.
To display a color image, the "luminance" ("Y") and the "chrominance"
("C") signals are needed. When a black & white TV set receives a color
signal, it uses the "Y" signal as usual and remains unaware of the existence
of the "C" signal. When a color TV set receives the same color signal, it
processes both "Y" & "C".
In practice, the chrominance ("C") is transmitted with two separate
signals, "U" and "V". Now you probably recognize the familiar "YUV" acronym
you've surely seen in discussions related to TV signals.
To simplify, PAL & SECAM signals are quite similar, except that they use a
different way to transmit the "U" & "V" signals ("chrominance"). PAL
transmits "U" & "V" together, then the same "U" & "V" information again but
slightly differently, to increase the accuracy. SECAM transmits "U" then
"V".
The way that PAL vs. SECAM handle color is thus very different but since the
black & white TV standards were quite similar across Europe (625 lines / 50
Hz), a PAL TV set is very likely to be able to display a SECAM video signal
(and the other way around), but in black & white (because it can decode "Y"
but not "U" nor "V").
The situation is totally different with NTSC vs. PAL. Although they are very
similar in the way they handle color, they are based on totally different
black & white TV standards (625 lines/50 Hz for PAL, 525 lines/60 Hz for
NTSC). You have to remember that, by design, the 50 & 60 Hz display refresh
frequencies were based on the mains (household electric power supply)
frequencies: 110v 60Hz in USA and 220-240v 50Hz in Europe. Up to the mid-80s,
devices that were able to handle both 50 & 60 Hz video signals were very
expensive.
Nowadays (2009), almost any PAL TV set is able to display a 60 Hz NTSC video
signal.
While it often enough to distinguish between NTSC/PAL/SECAM, in practice each
color encoding system has been combined with multiple earlier monochrome
broadcast standards. Thus, to fully specify the broadcast signal standard
used in any given country, both color system and base monochrome system is
indicated. Common examples: NTSC M, PAL B/G, SECAM L. A more complete list:
NTSC M : USA
NTSC J : Japan
PAL B/G : Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Netherlands,
Italy, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Suisse, Algeria, Turkey, Ghana,
India, Israel, New-Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, etc.
PAL I : United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong.
PAL D/K : Romania, China, Burundi, Cameroun, etc.
PAL M : Brazil.
PAL N : Argentina, Uruguay.
SECAM L/L': France, Monaco
SECAM B/G : Greece, Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, etc.
SECAM D/K : Bulgaria, C.E.I., DOM TOM, etc.
In France (Europe), in the early 80s, it was possible to buy "SECAM" devices
(TV set, VCR, etc...) or "PAL/SECAM" devices; the latter - being able to
process both SECAM and PAL signals - were more expensive. For instance,
"PAL/SECAM" TV sets were popular among movies addicts (owning high end
equipment such as PAL LaserDisc players, etc) and for people living close to
a PAL-broadcasting country (at the Belgian border for instance, to receive
the PAL Belgian French-speaking programs). Last but not least, some
companies did manufacture some PAL-to-RGB "video translators" devices, to
convert a PAL signal into a universal RGB signal, that most SECAM TV sets
were able to accept as video input. These PAL-to-RGB "video translators"
were quite useful to display PAL signals (from various home computers,
including PAL Atari XL & PAL Commodore 64) on SECAM TV sets. The models
manufactured by "CGV" (the company still exists, www.cgv.fr) were very
popular and widely available in the computer shops.
(actual pictures available: http://www.atari800xl.eu/public/cgv-pvp80.zip )
Consequently, in 1984, Atari France was not afraid to distribute PAL 600XL
& 800XL computers in a SECAM country (although it could increase the total
cost of the solution). Indeed, it would have been dangerous to ignore this
market, where other US competitors were already present and successful
(Commodore 64, Apple II, etc). The French owners of the PAL Atari XL
computers had two choices:
- Use a PAL/SECAM TV set
- Buy a PAL-to-RGB converter, and use a common SECAM TV set
A couple of months later (Q4, 1984), the SECAM Atari 800XL computers were
finally available.
It is worth noting that in the early 80s the Atari 400 and 800 models had
also both been officially distributed in France, but only the PAL models,
and only in specialized computers shops. Consequently, they were more
difficult to acquire, very expensive and limited to wealthy amateurs.
=-=-=-=-=
Piotr Fusik writes (3/06):
In Poland we had PAL Ataris, which was a problem in the time
of SECAM. You could connect a PAL Atari to a SECAM TV, but there was
no color and (IIRC) no sound. The solution was to buy an inexpensive
converter mounted inside the TV, so the TV supported PAL in addition
to SECAM. This was quite popular, because the VCRs were PAL, too.
=-=-=-=-=
In some ways the specifications of the hardware in the 8-bit Atari computer
are closely linked to the specifications of the television signal standard
used in the market where the machine was designed to be used. Thus there were
different versions of the Atari computers produced for different markets,
based on the TV standards used in those markets:
NTSC versions: 400,800,1200XL,600XL,800XL,65XE,130XE,XEgs
PAL B versions: 400,800,600XL,800XL,65XE,130XE,800XE,XEgs
PAL I versions: 400,800,600XL,800XL,65XE,130XE,XEgs
SECAM versions: 800XL,130XE,XEgs
NTSC computers contain NTSC versions of the ANTIC and CTIA/GTIA chips;
PAL computers contain PAL versions of the ANTIC and GTIA chips;
SECAM computers contain a PAL version of the ANTIC chip, and the FGTIA chip.
=-=-=-=-=
So with all that out of the way...
What are the software compatibility issues surrounding all these different
NTSC/PAL-B/PAL-I/SECAM versions of the Atari 8-bit computers?
-- PAL B and PAL I computers differ only in the TV channel frequencies used
by the RF signal produced. So in terms of sofware compatibility, all PAL
Atari computers are indistinguishable.
-- The FGTIA is designed to be 100% software compatible with the PAL GTIA.
This fact, along with the fact that SECAM computer models include a PAL ANTIC,
mean that the PAL and SECAM versions of the Atari computers are completely
software compatible, but with one practical exception: in GTIA Graphics Mode 1
(BASIC Graphics mode 9), while the GTIA can display 16 distinct luminances,
the FGTIA can only display 8 distinct luminances.
Thus the situation essentially simplifies down to just two sets of Atari
computers that may have potential software compatibility issues between them:
NTSC computers vs. PAL/SECAM computers
=-=-=-=-=
What might happen if you run a software program designed with an NTSC Atari on
a PAL or SECAM Atari, or a program designed with a PAL or SECAM Atari on an
NTSC Atari? There are a number of possibilities:
1) The program may run faster or slower than intended.
In order to work with the different timings of the NTSC and PAL/SECAM video
signal standards, components of the NTSC versions of the Atari computers run
at slightly different speeds than they due on PAL/SECAM Atari computers.
The CPU clock rate of the PAL/SECAM Atari computer is slightly slower than
that of the NTSC Atari:
NTSC machines: 1.7897725 MHz
PAL/SECAM machines: 1.7734470 MHz
Software timing that is based exclusvely on the CPU clock rate would thus run
nearly 1% faster/slower on the opposite type of Atari. This effect, while
small, can be significant in applications that are computation- or timing-
sensitive, such as music players, or in any programs designed to simulate real
time.
The screen refresh rate of the PAL/SECAM Atari computer is considerably slower
than that of the NTSC Atari:
NTSC machines: 59.94 Hz
PAL/SECAM machines: 49.86 Hz
Software that operates as a Vertical Blank Interrupt (VBI), that is, software
that is repeatedly executed during the times between screen frame refreshes,
is thus executed at considerably different frequencies on NTSC machines vs.
PAL/SECAM machines. Based on this effect alone, a VBI programmed on an NTSC
machine would run 16.8% slower on PAL/SECAM machines. Conversely, a VBI
programmed on a PAL/SECAM machine would run 20.2% faster on NTSC machines.
(59.94Hz-49.86Hz=10.08Hz ; 10.08Hz/59.94Hz=16.8% ; 10.08Hz/49.86Hz=20.2%)
These calculations ignore the above-mentioned CPU clock rate differences,
which would also come into play.
2) The program may exhibit some sort of "screen flickering" effect.
The ANTIC display list is the software program responsible for the video
display, horizontal scan line by horizontal scan line. There are 262 lines
available in the (non-interlaced) NTSC video signal, while there are 312 lines
available in the (non-interlaced) PAL/SECAM video signal. If software written
on a PAL/SECAM machine sets up an ANTIC display list that is made up of more
scan lines than are available in the NTSC video standard, the program will
exhibit a "screen flickering" effect if run on the NTSC Atari.
3) The system may crash.
The different CPU clock rates and the different screen refresh rates between
NTSC and PAL/SECAM machines combine to lead to a difference in the number of
CPU clock cycles that occur during the vertical blank (VBLANK-- the period
during which the CRT beam returns to the top of the screen). This makes for a
difference in the number of CPU clock cycles that are available for software
to be executed as a vertical blank interrupt (VBI). Available CPU clock
cycles per VBI:
PAL/SECAM : 35468 clock-cycles/VBI
NTSC : 29829 clock-cycles/VBI
(source: http://members.chello.nl/taf.offenga/megazine/ISSUE5-PALNTSC.html )
Thus, software programmed as a VBI on a PAL/SECAM system will crash an NTSC
system if the VBI cannot be executed within the fewer CPU clock cycles
available per VBI on the NTSC Atari.
4) The colors displayed by the program are not what was intended.
When utilizing ANTIC graphics modes 2, 3, or 15, NTSC Atari computers exhibit
unique color artifacting effects that are not present on PAL/SECAM Atari
computers. (Artifacting is discussed elsewhere in this FAQ list.) As a
result, software that utilizes one of these high-resolution graphics modes can
appear to be using very different colors on NTSC machines in comparison to
PAL/SECAM machines.
Also, the additional color frequency generation circuitry present in PAL/SECAM
machines produces a color palette that is similar to, though different from,
the color palette of NTSC Atari computers. These differences are subtle
enough that they are generally not problematic.
5) The program may explicitly refuse to run on incorrect hardware.
Software may be designed to determine whether the Atari is NTSC or PAL/SECAM,
and refuse to run if the hardware present does not match what is expected.
6) The program may not load correctly at all.
This would mostly likely result from copy protection techniques based upon
precise hardware timing associated with disk drives, cassette recorders, or
components of the computer itself, where the timing was not anticipated to
vary depending upon NTSC vs. PAL/SECAM hardware.
According to Jindroush (2/26/02), two examples of programs that run on NTSC
machines but not PAL/SECAM machines as a result of timing-based copy
protection techniques (probably based on vblank timing) are Transylvania and
The Quest, both by Penguin Software.
7) The program may run fine on both NTSC and PAL/SECAM machines.
Either the differences are too slight to matter, or the software may be
sophisticated enough to detect NTSC vs. PAL/SECAM hardware, as described
above, and act accordingly.
An example of a program that alters its behavior depending upon detection of
NTSC versus PAL/SECAM is Ghostbusters by Activision (checks the GTIA type).
=-=-=-=-=-=-=
How can software determine whether it is running on NTSC or PAL/SECAM
hardware?
Several techniques are available to programmers, as follows:
(1) On XL/XE systems (not 400/800 systems), the OS provides a flag called
PALNTS at decimal memory location 98 (hex: $62). PALNTS indicates whether the
CTIA/GTIA/FGTIA has reported itself to be NTSC or PAL/SECAM, where 0 means
NTSC, or 1 means PAL/SECAM. In Atari BASIC, enter "? PEEK(98)" to determine
the value of the PALNTS flag.
(2) An approach which works on all 400/800/XL/XE systems is to use the same
method used by the XL/XE OS to set the value of the PALNTS flag described
above. That is, to read and interpret the "PAL" memory flag, decimal location
53268 (hex: $D014). The value of PAL is provided by the CTIA/GTIA/FGTIA chip
itself. Meanings are:
Bit 1-3 clear (xxxx000x) = PAL/SECAM
Bit 1-3 set (xxxx111x) = NTSC
(Proper interpretation of the value returned by PEEK(53268) in Atari BASIC
would thus be a bit of a programming challenge. This is left to the reader!)
(3) Software may determine NTSC or PAL/SECAM by determining how many scan
lines are being generated by ANTIC. The NTSC ANTIC generates 262 scan lines,
while the PAL ANTIC generates 312 scan lines. (This technique is utilized by
the "Numen" demo by Taquart, which refuses to run on an NTSC ANTIC.)
=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Bottom line:
Software written for NTSC machines (North America) will (almost) always work
on PAL/SECAM machines (Europe), but software designed on PAL/SECAM machines
sometimes won't work as intended on NTSC machines.
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/SECAM-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 might also obtain and use real European PAL or
SECAM Atari machines, with the same caveat concerning the display device.
Subject: 1.16) What are the pinouts for the various ports on the Atari?
Controller Port (male jack)(4 on 400/800, 2 on all others):
1 5
o o o o o
o o o o
6 9 trackball (CX22) meanings:
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/Light Gun Input (400 supports a light pen or
7. +5V light gun in port 4 only)
8. Ground
9. A Potentiometer Input
Serial I/O (SIO)/Peripheral port (male jack)(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 (1200XL lacks +5V thanks to current
4. Ground limit resistor R63. Replace R63 with a jumper
5. Data Output wire to enable +5V on this pin on the 1200XL.)
6. Ground 11. SIO Audio Input
7. Command' 12. 400/800: +12V ; XL/XE: Not Connected
13. Interrupt'
Monitor port (female jack): (all but 400, NTSC 600XL, SECAM 800XL,
3 o o 1 SECAM 130XE, XEgs)
o o
5 o 4
2
1. Composite Luminance (except PAL 600XL: Not Connected)
2. Ground
3. Audio Output
4. Composite Video
5. Composite Chrominance (except 1200XL: Not Connected; PAL 600XL: Ground;
all but very late-production 800XL: Not Connected)
Monitor port (female jack)(SECAM 800XL, SECAM 130XE):
THIS PINOUT REMAINS QUESTIONABLE. STILL LOOKING FOR DOCUMENTATION FROM A
NON-WEB SOURCE.
5 1 1. +12V 5mA max (Select - held at +5V to cause the TV to
o 6 o switch to this video source)
o 2. Audio (High Level - amplitude about 6 x regular Audio -
o o unused by Atari-distributed Peritel cable)
4 o 2 3. Audio
3 4. Composite Video
5. Ground (common for audio & video)
6. +5V 100mA max (UHF power modulator -
unused by Atari-distributed Peritel cable)
The standard video cable provided by Atari France with every
SECAM 800XL (? and 130XE ?) has the male 6-pin DIN on one end, and a
standard male Peritel connector on the other end, with this pinout:
2. Audio (right channel, from port pin #3) _20_________________2_
4. Ground (for audio, from port pin #5) \ o o o o o o o o o o |
6. Audio (left channel, from port pin #3) (21)\ o o o o o o o o o o|
8. +5V (Select, from port pin #1) 19------------------1
17. Ground (for video, from port pin #5)
20. Composite video (from port pin #4)
Power (female jack)(all but 400,800,1200XL):
7 6 1. +5V
o o 2. Shield
3 o o 1 3. Ground
o o 4. +5V
5 o 4 5. Ground
2 6. +5V
7. Ground
Cartridge Slot (present on all machines; Left Cartridge Slot on 800):
A B C D E F H J K L M N P R S
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
1 15
1. S4' Chip Select--$8000 to $9FFF A. RD4 ROM present--$8000 to $9FFF
2. A3 CPU Address bus line B. GND Ground
3. A2 CPU Address bus line C. A4 CPU Address bus line
4. A1 CPU Address bus line D. A5 CPU Address bus line
5. A0 CPU Address bus line E. A6 CPU Address bus line
6. D4 CPU Data bus line F. A7 CPU Address bus line
7. D5 CPU Data bus line H. A8 CPU Address bus line
8. D2 CPU Data bus line J. A9 CPU Address bus line
9. D1 CPU Data bus line K. A12 CPU Address bus line
10. D0 CPU Data bus line L. D3 CPU Data bus line
11. D6 CPU Data bus line M. D7 CPU Data bus line
12. S5' Chip Select--$A000 to $BFFF N. A11 CPU Address bus line
13. +5V P. A10 CPU Address bus line
14. RD5 ROM present--$A000 to $BFFF R. R/W' CPU read/write
15. CCTL' Cartridge control select S. B02,Phi2 CPU Phase 2 clock
Right Cartridge Slot (800 only):
A B C D E F H J K L M N P R S
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
1 15
1. R/W' CPU read/write late A. B02,Phi2 CPU Phase 2 clock
2. A3 CPU Address bus line B. GND Ground
3. A2 CPU Address bus line C. A4 CPU Address bus line
4. A1 CPU Address bus line D. A5 CPU Address bus line
5. A0 CPU Address bus line E. A6 CPU Address bus line
6. D4 CPU Data bus line F. A7 CPU Address bus line
7. D5 CPU Data bus line H. A8 CPU Address bus line
8. D2 CPU Data bus line J. A9 CPU Address bus line
9. D1 CPU Data bus line K. A12 CPU Address bus line
10. D0 CPU Data bus line L. D3 CPU Data bus line
11. D6 CPU Data bus line M. D7 CPU Data bus line
12. S4' Chip Select--$8000 to $9FFF N. A11 CPU Address bus line
13. +5V P. A10 CPU Address bus line
14. RD4 ROM present--$8000 to $9FFF R. R/W' Read/write
15. CCTL' Cartridge control select S. B02,Phi2 CPU Phase 2 clock
Parallel Bus Interface (PBI) (600XL and 800XL only):
1 49
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
2 50
1. GND Ground 2. EXTSEL' External Select
3. A0 CPU Address bus line 4. A1 CPU Address bus line
5. A2 CPU Address bus line 6. A3 CPU Address bus line
7. A4 CPU Address bus line 8. A5 CPU Address bus line
9. A6 CPU Address bus line 10. GND Ground
11. A7 CPU Address bus line 12. A8 CPU Address bus line
13. A9 CPU Address bus line 14. A10 CPU Address bus line
15. A11 CPU Address bus line 16. A12 CPU Address bus line
17. A13 CPU Address bus line 18. A14 CPU Address bus line
19. GND Ground 20. A15 CPU Address bus line
21. D0 CPU Data bus line 22. D1 CPU Data bus line
23. D2 CPU Data bus line 24. D3 CPU Data bus line
25. D4 CPU Data bus line 26. D5 CPU Data bus line
27. D6 CPU Data bus line 28. D7 CPU Data bus line
29. GND Ground 30. GND Ground
31. B02,Phi2 CPU Phase 2 clock 32. GND Ground
33. NC Reserved 34. RST' Reset output
35. IRQ' Interrupt request 36. RDY' Ready input
37. NC Reserved 38. EXTENB' CPU External decoder Enable
39. NC Reserved 40. REF' Refresh cycle
41. CAS' Column Address Strobe 42. GND Ground
43. MPD' Math Pack (FP) Disable 44. RAS' Row Address Strobe
45. GND Ground 46. LR/W' Latched read/write
47. 800XL: NC. 600XL: +5V 48. 800XL: NC. 600XL: +5V
49. Audio input 50. GND Ground
Enhanced Cartridge Interface (ECI)/Expansion port (130XE, 800XE, & later 65XE)
A B C D E F H
o o o o o o o
o o o o o o o
1 7
A. Reserved 1. EXTSEL' External Select
B. IRQ' Interrupt request 2. RST' Reset output
C. HALT' Halt CPU 3. D1XX' Chip select at area $D1xx
D. A13 CPU Address bus line 4. MPD' Math Pack (FP) Disable
E. A14 CPU Address bus line 5. Audio input
F. A15 CPU Address bus line 6. REF' Refresh cycle
H. GND Ground 7. +5V
Keyboard Port (XE System console 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 Keyboard 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 and speakers can I use with my Atari?
The Atari 8-bit computers produce a single video signal and monophonic audio.
The 400/800 models also produce some sounds (primarily the keyclick and system
buzzer sounds) by way of an internal speaker.
Most 8-bit Atari computers put out their video and audio signals in two
places:
1) Television cable (400/800) or jack (all XL/XE but SECAM 800XL, SECAM 130XE)
This provides an analog Radio-Frequency (RF) signal carrying both video and
audio.
The Atari's RF signal may be used on a television that:
- Supports use of an external RF antenna (normally for viewing over-the-air
TV broadcasts)
- Can decode an analog television signal (NTSC or PAL or SECAM, matching the
version of the computer)
- Has a tuner that can additionally tune to the necessary TV channel(s) used
by the Atari
If the television has a speaker then it should support the Atari's sound
output as well.
All NTSC (North America) Atari 8-bit computers make the RF audio/video signal
available on a choice of two television frequencies, selected with a physical
switch located on the back of the computer (on the side of the 800):
- 55.25MHz video/59.75MHz audio (TV Channel 2 in North America), or
- 61.25MHz video/65.75Mhz audio (TV Channel 3 in North America)
PAL (Europe) Atari 400/800 computers also make the RF audio/video signal
available on a choice of two television frequencies, selected with a physical
switch located on the back of the 400, or on the side of the 800.
PAL 400/800 computers intended for use in "PAL I" countries (UK) use:
- 607.25MHz video/613.25MHz audio (TV Channel 38 in the UK)
- 615.25MHz video/621.25MHz audio (TV Channel 39 in the UK)
PAL 400/800 computers intended for use in "PAL B" countries (Europe) use:
- 55.25MHz video/60.75 audio
` TV Channel 3 in Western Europe
` TV Channel 2 in Eastern Europe (approx.)
` TV Channel 1 in Australia (approx.)
- 62.25MHz video/67.75MHz audio
` TV Channel 4 in Western Europe
` TV Channel 2 in Eastern Europe (approx.)
` TV Channel 1 in Australia (approx.)
PAL (Europe) Atari XL/XE computers make the RF audio/video signal available on
a single television frequency.
PAL XL/XE computers intended for use in "PAL I" countries (UK) use:
- 591.25MHz video/597.25MHz audio (TV Channel 36 in the UK)
PAL XL/XE computers intended for use in "PAL B" countries (Europe) use:
- 62.25MHz video/67.75MHz audio
` TV Channel 4 in Western Europe
` TV Channel 2 in Eastern Europe (approx.)
` TV Channel 1 in Australia (approx.)
SECAM (France) Atari XE Game Systems make the RF audio/video signal available
on a single television frequency:
- 591.25MHz video/597.75MHz audio (TV Channel 36 in France)
Other than the frequency of the RF signal produced, there is no difference
between the "PAL I" and "PAL B" versions of PAL Atari computers.
If your country is not included above, Wikipedia has a nice table of
television channel frequencies used around the world that you may find
helpful for determining the channel to tune your TV to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_channel_frequencies
** NOTE: MC has worked with limited reports to determine the channels used
** around the world. I would greatly appreciate any corrections/additions to
** the information provided here! In particular, I'm looking to verify the
** actual RF signal frequencies produced by the Atari.
** The above frequency values are only taken from the channels reported to be
** used in various countries.
Accessories needed (typical setup):
a) RF Cable / TV Video Cable, a proprietary cable for Atari XL/XE computers
The input end is a phono plug that plugs into the Switch Box/
Television jack on the computer. The output end is a phono plug that
plugs into the TV Switch Box.
The 400/800 models have no Switch Box/Television jack. Instead, there is
a cable that comes out of the back of the computer. This cable carries
the RF signal. The output end is a phono plug that plugs into the TV
Switch Box.
b) TV Switch Box
This includes a phono jack for RF signal input from the Atari, input
connector(s) for your TV/cable/satellite antenna, and 75- and/or 300-ohm
output connector(s) for connection to the antenna input on the
television.
While the display quality of the RF video signal may be adequate, the quality
of the video provided at the Atari's Monitor port is noticeably superior.
2) Monitor port
A proprietary 5-pin DIN (SECAM: 6-pin) Monitor port, which along with the
audio signal actually provides two video signals:
a) Composite video
b) Y/C Video, also known as S-Video:
separate composite luminance (Y) and chrominance (C) signals
The separate chrominance/luminance video signal is noticeably superior to both
the RF television output and the composite video output.
Monitor port exceptions among Atari computer models:
-the 400, NTSC 600XL, and XE game system lack the Monitor port.
-the SECAM 800XL and SECAM 130XE have a different, 6-pin Monitor port that
provides composite video but not separate chrominance/luminance signals
-the XE game system includes a phono Monitor Video Jack providing the
composite video signal, and also a phono Monitor Audio Jack providing the
audio signal.
-The 1200XL, PAL 600XL, and 800XL(all but very late production) lack the
separate chrominance signal at the Monitor port, and the PAL 600XL also lacks
the separate luminance signal at the Monitor port.
Any video display monitor that supports composite video input (this generally
includes modern televisions) should be able to display the Atari's composite
video signal. Monitors with built-in speakers for audio support, and monitors
with support for separate chrominance/luminance video inputs, are preferred
for use with the Atari.
Commodore produced many monitors with separate chrominance and luminance
inputs, making them popular with Atari users. Lonnie McClure provides this
list of suitable Commodore monitors:
1701, 1702, 1802, CM-141, 1080, 2002, 1902, 1902A*, 1084**, 1084S**
* The 1902A used a DIN connector for chrominance/luminance, which makes
cabling a bit more of a problem. The composite and audio connectors are
standard phono jacks, however.
** The 1084 and 1084S had more than one version. Some used the a DIN
connector for chrominance/luminance connections, like the 1902A, while some
used standard phono 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 pinout for the Atari Monitor port is in the pinouts section of this FAQ
list.
The typical Atari monitor cable includes the male 5-pin DIN connector on one
end, and two phono plugs on the other end. One of the phono plugs will carry
the monophonic sound signal, and the other will carry the composite video
signal. Atari's own CX89 Color Monitor Cable is of this type.
You may find an Atari monitor cable where the video signal carried on the
second phono plug is not the composite video signal, but is rather the
composite luminance signal. These cables are for use with monochrome
composite video monitors (usually green or amber). Atari's own CX82 Black
and White Monitor Cable is of this type.
The ideal Atari monitor cable includes 4 phono plugs at the output end,
carrying the sound signal, the composite video signal, the composite
luminance signal, and the composite chrominance signal. Only the best
composite monitors include separate chrominance and luminance inputs. When
the separate chrominance and luminance connectors are used, the composite
video connector is not used.
There is no real standard for colors for the different monitor cable
connectors. It is safe to identify them by trial and error.
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/atarimods/svideo.html .
A "video scaler" or "up-converter" is an adapter that will accept an input
video signal such as RF, composite video, or s-video, and output a conversion
of the signal as a standard VGA video signal. With such a device, the 8-bit
Atari can be used with a standard PC VGA monitor. Examples:
- AV Toolbox manufactures several suitable adapters, listed at:
http://www.avtoolbox.com/upconpage.shtml
- Ambery markets their "Ultra Video to VGA Converter", see:
http://www.ambery.com/vitoxgacoscs.html
and other suitable, more expensive Video to VGA/RGBHV Converter Scalers:
http://www.ambery.com/vitovgcosc.html
- Earlier popular devices included:
- Cheese Video Box from AV Toolbox
- JAM!! from AIMS Lab.
Some people report good results viewing the Atari computer's video signal
through a PC using a TV/video capture card. Wikipedia's article about such
devices: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_capture_card
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. DGS sells such a cable,
see: http://www.dgs.clara.net/
Two current sources for Atari monitor connectivity products:
More Than Games produces "A8 A/V BOB", an audio/video breakout box featuring
phono jacks for composite video, chrominance, luminance, and mono audio; it
also features an s-video jack providing chrominance and luminance.
http://morethangames.a8maestro.com/proda8/adv-eh0101.htm
Vintage Computer Cables produces Atari monitor cables designed for use with
televisions, plus an Atari S-Video cable.
http://www.vintagecomputercables.com/
Subject: 2.2) What is artifacting?
The term TV artifacts refers to a spot or "pixel" on the screen that displays
a different color than the one assigned to it. --De Re Atari, p. D-1
There are two different types of artifacting associated with the Atari.
The first type is considerably more intuitive. Color cathode ray tube (CRT)
televisions and computer displays generate color by exciting red, green, and
blue phosphors arranged in either an aperture grille pattern (vertical wires)
or a shadow mask pattern (triads of dots).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aperture_grille
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_mask
The density of the phosphors defines the "dot pitch" of the display device.
If a video signal source defines a spot or pixel that is smaller than the dot
pitch of the display device, then accurate color cannot be reproduced by that
display device in that precise spot. This type of artifacting is relatively
minor with the Atari because of the relatively low resolution of Atari
graphics modes in comparison to the dot pitch of CRT display devices.
NTSC Atari computers exhibit a considerably more profound type of artifacting
than the above. The following is from Atari's De Re Atari, Appendix D:
"Television Artifacts": http://www.atariarchives.org/dere/chaptD.php
Appendix D is credited to Atari's Lane Winner with assistance from Jim Cox.
=-=-=-=-=-=
This section discusses how to get multiple colors out of a single color
graphics mode through the use of television artifacts.
The ANTIC modes with which this can be accomplished are 2, 3, and 15. ANTIC
mode 2 corresponds to BASIC mode 0, ANTIC mode 15 is BASIC mode 8, and ANTIC
mode 3 has no corresponding BASIC mode. Each of these modes has a pixel
resolution of one half color clock by one scan line. They are generally
considered to have one color and two luminances. With the use of artifacts,
pixels of four different colors can be displayed on the screen in each of
these modes.
A simple example of artifacts using the ATARI Computer is shown by entering
the following lines:
GRAPHICS 8
COLOR 1
POKE 710,0
PLOT 60,60
PLOT 63,60
These statements will plot two points on a black background; however each
pixel will have a different color.
To understand the cause of these differing colors one must first understand
that all the display information for the television display is contained in a
modulated television signal.
The two major components of this signal are the luminance, or brightness, and
the color, or tint. The luminance information is the primary signal,
containing not only the brightness data but also the horizontal and vertical
syncs and blanks. The color signal contains the color information and is
combined or modulated into the luminance waveform.
The luminance of a pixel on the screen is directly dependent on the amplitude
of the luminance signal at that point. The higher the amplitude of the signal,
the brighter the pixel.
The color information, however, is a phase shifted signal. A phaseshifted
signal is a constantly oscillating waveform that has been delayed by some
amount of time relative to a reference signal, and this time delay is
translated into the color.
The color signal oscillates at a constant rate of about 3.579 MHz, thus
defining the highest horizontal color resolution of a television set. This
appears on the screen in the form of 160 visible color cycles across one scan
line. (There are actually 228 color cycles including the horizontal blank and
sync, and any overscan.)
The term "color clock" refers to one color cycle and is the term generally
used throughout the ATARI documentation to describe units of measurement
across the screen. The graphics mode 7 is an example of one color clock
resolution, where each color clock pixel can be a different color. (There are
microprocessor limitations though.)
Atari also offers a "high resolution" mode (GRAPHICS 8) that displays 320
pixels across one line. This is generated by varying the amplitude of the
luminance signal at about 7.16 MHz, which is twice the color frequency.
Since the two signals are theoretically independent, one should be able to
assign a "background" color to be displayed and then merely vary the luminance
on a pixel-by-pixel basis. This in fact is the way mode 8 works, the
"background" color coming from playfield register 2, and the luminances coming
from both playfield registers 1 and 2.
The problem is that in practice the color and luminance signals are not
independent. They are part of a modulated signal that must be demodulated to
be used. Since the luminance is the primary signal, whenever it changes, it
also forces a change in the color phase shift. For one or more color clocks
of constant luminance this is no problem, since the color phase shift will be
unchanged in this area. However, if the luminance changes on a half color
clock boundary it will force a fast color shift at that point. Moreover, that
color cannot be altered from the transmitting end of the signal (the ATARI
Computer).
Since the luminance can change on half color clock boundaries, this implies
that two false color, or artifact pixel types can be generated. This is
basically true. However, these two pixels can be combined to form two types
of full color clock pixels. This is illustrated below:
TV Scan | | |
Line |<---1 color clock---->| |
| | |
| | | | |
|<-1 pixel->| | | |
| | | | |
Luminance 0 1 0 0 1/2 cc pixel color A
(0=off, 1 0 0 0 1/2 cc pixel color B
1=on) 1 1 0 0 1 cc pixel color C
0 1 1 0 1 cc pixel color D
Note that each of these pixels requires one color clock of distance and
therefore has a horizontal resolution of 160.
The colors A through D are different for each television set, usually because
the tint knob settings vary. Thus they cannot be described as absolute colors,
for example, red; but they are definitely distinct from each other, and
programs have been written that utilize these colors.
=-=-=-=-=-=
The actual colors seen depends upon the tint setting of the NTSC display
device, and also upon the version of the NTSC Atari computer used, as pointed
out by Bryan on Oct 7, 08:
It's well known that different models produce different artifact colors.
The 800 produces Blue/Green, the 1200XL produces Green/Purple, and the other
XL's produce Blue/Red. The reason for this doesn't lie with GTIA, but
rather with the delays inherent in the different video buffer circuits.
When you start modifying the video circuits, you slightly alter the time
alignment between chroma and luma and the artifact colors change. The TV's
decoder will be synched to the colorburst supplied by the chroma signal, but
artifact colors are produced by changing the luma level at the 3.579 color
frequency which the NTSC Atari models are inherently set up to do.
A classic example of a game that utilizes color artifacting on the NTSC Atari
is the Broderbund game, Choplifter. 2nd example: Drol, also by Broderbund.
More information about artifacting on the Atari 8-bit computers:
"Atari Artifacting" by Judson Pewther. Compute! #38, July 1983, p. 221:
http://www.atarimagazines.com/compute/issue38/096_1_ATARI_ARTIFACTING.php
or from Compute!'s Second Book of Atari Graphics:
http://www.atariarchives.org/c2bag/page193.php
"GRAPHICS 8 In Four Colors Using Artifacts" by David Diamond. Compute!'s First
Book of Atari Graphics:
http://www.atariarchives.org/c1bag/page203.php
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 storage 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)
- "410 P" 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."
See also: http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=39615
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
Upgrades for the Atari Program Recorders
========================================
Andreas Koch writes: (2004.05.24)
- turbo 6000: a turbo tape enhancement built in the former GDR (German
Democratic Republic); it worked with 6000 Baud and required special
loading/saving programs that were available as disk-files and also as
cartridges;
Information on the Turbo 6000 Baud Interface and the Chaos Loader:
http://www-user.tu-chemnitz.de/~sgl/atari/turb6000/turb6000.htm
- turbo 2000: a turbo tape enhancement built in Poland or the former
Czechoslovakia; it worked with different speeds (ranging from 600 Baud
to approx. 9600 Baud?) depending on the program itself and the transfer
program; also required a special loading/saving program, available as
disk-files and cartridges;
For more information on the Turbo 2000 (T2000) and SuperTurbo modifications
to Atari program recorders, with speeds up 9600 baud, see
http://jindroush.atari8.info/aturbo.htm
- rambit turbo tape: a turbo tape enhancement built in the UK by Richard
Gore and sold by Microdiscount (Derek Fern); it worked with 9600 Baud
and came with some special software on disk; Microdiscount also sold
many of its own commercial programs (Zeppelin games, etc.) on Rambit
turbo tape...
Subject: 3.2) What other cassette recorders can I use with my Atari?
Firstly Atari themselves put out several more obscure 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://membres.lycos.fr/romualdl/images/atari/ca12.jpg
XL12 Program Recorder -XC12 w/slight changed design. Czech/Slovak/Poland
box seen here: http://jpecher.sweb.cz/pic/sbirka.jpg
XC13 Program Recorder -XC12 which was "T2000 ready". Czech/Slovak/Poland
Unlike other microcomputer systems of the time period, only Atari-specific
cassette tape recorders could be used with Atari 8-bit computers. Several
such peripherals were produced:
Compu-Mate Computer Data Recorder by General Electric (GE, G.E.)
- 3-5148A (unit) / 3-5156 (box)
- "Extend the versatility of your home computer. Atari/Commodore Compatible."
- IFM Interface Module: Atari Computer compatible included
- 1st data cable: Data Recorder <-> IFM Interface or Data Recorder <-> C64
- 2nd data cable: IFM Interface <-> Atari computer SIO connector
- No second SIO port - must be at end of SIO chain.
- Battery operated or uses an external power supply
- switch on the bottom, Atari or "All other computers".
- partial source: http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=128505
Phonemark PM-4401A Data Recorder
- near clone of XC12
- power - plugs directly into wall, (240v, 50Hz) and has a captive power lead
in addition to the SIO lead.
- source of info:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phonemark-Atari-Data-Recorder.jpg
Datamark XG12
- absolute clone of XC12
- info source: http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=128505
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 - short inter-record gap - fastest speed - tokenized files
] SAVE "C:"/LOAD "C:" - long inter-record gap - middle speed - tokenized files
] LIST "C:"/ENTER "C:" - long inter-record gap - slowest - straight ATASCII -
] tape actually stops in between block reads/writes
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 a 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.
If your computer has Atari BASIC built-in, 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 Koch, TXG, KMK
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
The 810 drive has only one drive head, so it can only read/write to one side
of the disk. The reverse side of a 2-sided "flippy" disk may be used by
inserting the disk into the drive upside-down.
19.2Kbps transfer rate. 288RPM.
The 810 includes a 6507 microprocessor.
Shipped with DOS I (1980-1981) or DOS 2.0S (1981-1983)
earlier MPI version- push button door opening for disk access
later Tandon version- lift door, like a garage door disk access
two SIO ports
Production of the 810 ended in May 1983.
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
810 Fast Chip by Binary 10%-40% faster
810 Turbo (810T) by Neanderthal Computer Things (NCT) -- double-density,
track buffering, speed comparable to Happy 810 Warp Speed
Happy 810 -- Happy Backup, Warp Speed 52Kbps, 18 sector buffer
==> 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
The two drives in the 815 have only one drive head each, so each drive can
only read/write to one side of the disk. The reverse side of a 2-sided
"flippy" disk may be used by inserting the disk into the drive upside-down.)
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
The 815 was designed by Paul Mancuso and Levon Mitchell. (Atari History Museum)
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 Dual-Density Disk Drive --- 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 = 130K capacity
The 1050 drive has only one drive head, so it can only read/write to one side
of the disk. The reverse side of a 2-sided "flippy" disk may be used by
inserting the disk into the drive upside-down.)
19.2Kbps transfer rate. 288RPM
The 1050 includes a 6507 microprocessor.
Shipped with DOS 2.0S (1983), DOS 3 (1983-1985), or DOS 2.5 (1985-1988)
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):
1050 Duplicator SS SD/ED/DD "read 18 sectors in the time normally for 1"
(Duplicating Technologies (DT))
sources(Jim Patchell)http://www.oldcrows.net/~patchell/atari/duplicator.html
Happy Warp Speed and compatible:
-------------------------------
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
CheerUp Upgrade SS SD/ED/DD Warp Speed 52Kbps (Happy clone)
(Happy Computers, converts 1050 Duplicator to Happy 1050)
Hyper Drive (Chaos! Computers)
SS SD/ED/DD Warp Speed 52Kbps (Happy clone)
UltraSpeed and compatible:
-------------------------
US Doubler (ICD) SS SD/ED/DD UltraSpeed (US) 54Kbps, sector skewing
Mini-Speedy same as Speedy 1050, but without displays & speaker
(Compy-Shop, now ABBUC)
Speedy 1050 SS SD/ED/DD UltraSpeed 70Kbps 8kB buffer,
(Compy-Shop, now ABBUC) DOS, copier, track & density displays, beep speaker
http://www.mia-net.org/speedy.html
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)
SuperMax 1050 SS SD/ED/DD UltraSpeed 52Kbps
Super Speedy upgrade for Mini-Speedy, same specs but adds switches
(Compy-Shop, now ABBUC) and an LED display
1050 Turbo and compatible:
-------------------------
1050 Turbo SS SD/ED/DD Turbo speed 68.2Kbps
(Bernhard Engl, 1986) Backup software (name?). option: printer interface
Top Drive 1050 SS SD/ED/DD Turbo speed 68.2Kbps (1050 Turbo clone)
TOMS Turbo upgrade for 1050, LDW/Indus, and CA-2001:
adds 1050 Turbo speed (68.2 Kbps) and IBM densities
Add support for multiple above enhancements:
--------------------------------------------
I.S. Plate SS SD/ED/DD Ultra/Warp (USD/Happy clone)
(Innovated Software)
Lazer 1050 SS SD/ED/DD Warp Speed and UltraSpeed 54Kbps
(USD/Happy clone)
TOMS Multi upgrade for 1050, LDW/Indus, and CA-2001:
adds 1050 Turbo (68.2 Kbps) and UltraSpeed (54 Kbps),
and supports IBM densities
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, 130K, 1050 compatible
3) Single-Sided, Double-Density, 180K, Percom & other 3rd parties compatible
In the above 3 modes, the XF551 reads/writes to only one side of the disk.
The reverse side of a 2-sided "flippy" disk may be used by inserting the
disk into the drive upside-down. But note:
Chinon-built XF551--CANNOT read/write/format disk backside if the disk has
no 2nd timing hole
Mitsumi-built XF551--CAN read/write disk backside if the disk has no 2nd
timing hole, but CANNOT format the backside without the 2nd timimg hole.
The two types of XF551 drives are externally identical.
4) Double-Sided, Double-Density--
MFM 80 tracks x 18 sectors/track x 256 bytes/sector = 360K capacity
In this double-sided mode, the XF551 utilizes a 2nd drive head to read/write
to the 2nd side of the disk. The XF551 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.
Rotation 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 (1988-1989) or DOS XE (1989- ).
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
The key engineer/designer of the XF551 was Jose Valdes at Atari
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--available for 5.25" or 3.5" floppy versions; uses sector skewing
aka and UltraSpeed (but no track buffer!); can use disk partitions
HyperXF (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;
http://ftp.pigwa.net/stuff/collections/nir_dary_cds/Pictures2/035%20Hyper%20XF.jpg
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
Koch, TXG/MNX
SD=Single-Density, 90K/disk side
ED=Enhanced-Density, 130K/disk side
DD=Double-Density, 180K/disk side
SS=Single-Sided (drive has only one drive head, so it can only read/write to
one side of the disk. The reverse side of a 2-sided "flippy"
disk may be used by inserting the disk upside-down.)
DS=Double-Sided (one of 3 possible data-mappings, see below for details)
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 is 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,
printer port, master
Amdek AMDC II SS SD/DD dual drives, printer port, master
AS SN-360 DS SD/ED/DD
Astra 1001 SS SD/DD, printer port
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
Flop Roznov pod Radhostem VD 40 F
SS SS/ED/DD, XF551 compatible, printer port
see: http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=99716
High-Density Disk Interface (HDI) by Erhard Puetz. a PCB, master
connect up to 4 standard PC high-density 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
option: RAM-Charger 64K RAM + software, for CP/M support
Karin Maxi PBI/ECI device, master, WD1772 + 2KB driver ROM
DS formats use PC-standard 'head-first' mapping
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. Indus GT clone
"Logical Design Works"
image: http://membres.lycos.fr/romualdl/images/atari/super2000.jpg
LDW/California Access CA-2001
SS SD/DD, 19.2Kbps or 38.4Kbps
Indus GT/LDW Super 2000 clone
image: http://membres.lycos.fr/romualdl/images/atari/ca2001.jpg
LDW/California Access CA-2002
DS SD/ED/DD,19.2Kbps,70Kbps w/SpartaDOS
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.
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-S1PD SS SD/DD, printer port, master
Percom AT88-S2PD 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
Spider SS SS/ED/DD,XF551 compat,printer port,only 70 protos made
see: http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=99716
SWP ATR8000 4MHz Z80, 16K RAM, RS-232, master, printer port
or 4MHz Z80, 64K RAM, RS-232, 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/DD/ID/QD/ST
printer port, MYDOS 4.5 on ROM, 68.2Kbps
Intel 8085 microprocessor
SS/SD - 40 tracks, 18 sectors, 128 bytes/sector = 90 kB
SS/ED - 40 tracks, 26 sectors, 128 bytes/sector = 130 kB
SS/DD - 40 tracks, 18 sectors, 256 bytes/sector = 180 kB
SS/ID - IBM S-9 - 40 tr, 9 sc, 512 bytes/sector = 180 kB
DS/DD - 40 tracks, 18 sectors, 256 bytes/sector = 360 kB
DS/QD - 80 tracks, 18 sectors, 256 bytes/sector = 720 kB
DS/ID - IBM D-9 - 40 tr, 9 sc, 512 bytes/sector = 360 kB
DS/ST - Atari ST - 80 tr, 9 s, 512 bytes/sector = 720 kB
1050 Turbo speed and UltraSpeed
Optional RS-232 port
TOMS 710 features same as TOMS 720, plus:
- also has TOMS Navigator (like Norton Commander) on ROM
TOMS 360 features same as TOMS 720, except:
- no support for 720K formats
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
Viatronic Brno VD 40 SS SS/ED/DD, XF551 compatible, printer port
XFD601 (Jacek Zuk) DS SD/ED/DD 70kbps,Top Drive,Synchromesh,UltraSpeed,
XF551 compat.
http://atariki.krap.pl/index.php/XFD601
XFD602 (Jacek Zuk) DS SD/ED/DD dual drives,70kbps,Top Drive,Synchromesh,
UltraSpeed,XF551 compat
XF clones with indus GT speed, but have a FAST and TURBO
mode. The Fast mode is the same a INDUS GT and turbo is
also INDUS GT only works with SpartaDOS X. There is a
jumper for Fast/Turbo.
see: http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=113924
or: http://atariki.krap.pl/index.php/XFD602
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
The following information is taken from the documentation for HiassofT's
WriteAtr program, http://www.horus.com/~hias/atari/
Double-Sided drives for the Atari may use one of three different drive-
mapping possibilities.
* Most double-sided Atari disk drives:
First fill tracks 0-39 (or 0-79) on the first side, then switch
over to side 2 and again fill tracks 0-39 (0-79 for 3.5" disks).
* The XF551 first fills track 0 on the first side. Then it
fills track 1, then track 2, ... up to track 39 (on a 5.25" disk)
or 79 (on a 3.5" disk). Then it switches to side 2 and fills
the disk in reverse order (starting at track 39/79, then 38/78,
... til it has reached the end of the disk at track 0).
* The third possibility is the standard in the PC world, but on the Atari
it's possibly unique to drives connected via the Karin Maxi interface.
If your Atari disk drive uses this mapping, it first fills
track 0 on side 1, then track 0 on side 2, then seeks to track 1,
again first fills track 1 / side 1, then track 1 / side 2,
and so on, until it finishes with track 39 (79) / side 2.
The drive switches the heads (sides) first before switching
the track.
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 circuitry 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) What hard drives were designed for my Atari?
Atari never produced hard drives for the 8-bit Atari, but the following
were produced and marketed to Atari users by third parties.
==> Corvus hard drive (5MB, 10MB, or 20MB)
(some Corvus info from an eBay auction by Ben Corr, 7/03)
Attaches via joystick ports 3 & 4 on the Atari 800 only.
-- Corvus Integrator Board - allows 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
==> BTL Hard Disk System by Lurie Associates
10MB to 128 MB
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
Most hard drives are connected to the Atari via a SCSI or IDE interface.
Such interfaces are covered in other sections of this FAQ List.
Subject: 3.9) How can my Atari utilize my PC's or Mac's storage drives?
==> SIO2PC, by Nick Kennedy
From the SIO2PC home page:
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
http://pages.suddenlink.net/wa5bdu/sio2pc.htm
Another source for various SIO2PC cable design plans is Clarence Dyson's page
at http://www.wolfpup.net/atarimods/
Another (Czech language): http://raster.infos.cz/atari/hw/sio2pc.htm
==> Atari810, by Dan Vernon
A disk drive emulator in the tradition of SIO2PC, for the Windows NT/2000/XP
platform.
http://retrobits.net/
==> Atari Peripheral Emulator (APE), by Steven Tucker
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/
==> SIO2Linux, by Preston Crow
Pavel Machek made an initial attempt at communicating with the Atari through
an SIO2PC cable using Linux's serial port drivers. He came up with a simple
floppy emulator, femul.c. I rewrote that to add a bunch of features:
* No kernel modules.
Unlike the AtariSIO project, this is just a simple user-space program that
uses a serial port device.
* Create new dynamically sized images
Each image starts as a 3-sector image file, but grows to accommodate the
highest-numbered sector written.
* Mount your native file system as an Atari disk
It's read-only for now, and it doesn't support subdirectories, but each
file is mapped to a different starting sector, and as that sector is read,
it automatically maps in the rest of the file.
http://www.crowcastle.net/preston/atari/
==> Sio2OSX, by Mark Grebe
Sio2OSX is a peripheral emulator for the Atari 8-bit computers that allows
the Atari computer to use an OSX based Macintosh as a disk drive, a cassette
drive, and a printer. Sio2OSX performs functions similar to APE or SIO2PC on
Windows based computers.
http://www.atarimac.com/sio2osx.php
==> Multi-platform Distributive Operating System Professional for Atari,
by Krishna Software (Krishnasoft)
MPDOS Professional for Atari Features:
o Joystick simulation (2-button and single button)
o Digitized Paddle simulation (just extreme values)
o Allows for using PC joystick or keyboard to simulate Atari joystick
o Works with Atari 5200 (using Digital Joystick Adapter)
o Keyboard simulation (supplied software driver is needed)
o Simulates up to 4 Atari disk drives (D1:, D2:, D3:, D4:)
o Simulates Atari cassette player (C:)
o Includes easy to use parallel port cable (plug and play)
o Hardware level simulation (no drivers required, except for keyboard)
o Supports PC video overlay window
o KDOS4-- a fast binary file uploader
o Multimedia CDROM included (runs on PC and Atari using distributive
programming)
o Built-in editor for creating Atari ASM and Atari BASIC source files
o 6502 Assembler (compile and upload directly to Atari)
o Sample source code
o DOS-based utilities including 6502 disassembler
o Simple GUI interface for simulating peripherals, compiling, and uploading
o On-line 100+ page manual with technical and general information
Subject: 3.10) How can I use SD/MMC cards with my Atari?
Secure Digital (SD) is a flash memory (non-volatile) memory card format used
in portable devices, including digital cameras, handheld computers, PDAs and
GPS units. SD cards are based on the older MultiMediaCard (MMC) format.
==> SIO2SD, by Jakub Kruszona-Zawadzki
http://sio2sd.gucio.pl/
SIO2SD is a device which makes it possible to load games/applications into
8-bit Atari computers via SIO interface from SD/MMC cards.
Device abilities:
- Works with SD/MMC (FAT12, FAT16 and FAT32 formats)
- Handles ATR (rw), XFD (ro) and COM/XEX (ro) file types
- 16x2 LCD display allows to "walk" catalog tree and choose files to load
- Handles SIO with turbo (speed 51200kbps - hsindex 10)
- All densities with 128B and 256B sectors, including 16MB disks
- Handles drives d1 to d4 (special version d1 to d8 available)
==> SDrive, by C.P.U. (Radek Sterba (Raster) & Robert Petruzela (Bob!k))
http://raster.infos.cz/atari/hw/sdrive/sdrive.htm
The SDrive is a device that connects to Atari XL/XE's serial (SIO) port and
simulates an Atari floppy disk drive with full read/write access to programs
and data stored on a Secure Digital (SD) flash mamory card.
Main features:
- Supported flash cards: Secure Digital up to 2GB size, FAT16 filesystem
- Maximum number of drives: 4 (D1: to D4:) + 1 special boot drive
- Supported SIO transfer rates: 3.5 to 128kbps (standard 19 and 69kbps)
- Supported disk images: ATR, XFD, size up to 16MB, 128 or 256B sectors
- Supported executable files: COM, XEX, BIN.... (any filename extension).
- Device controlled by software running on Atari from the SD card, which can
be therefore easily updated/replaced
- Drives swappable on the fly by buttons
- Write protect/enable switch
- SDrive ID number selection switch - simultaneous use of up to 4 SDrives
- Low cost design - no LCD, a few LEDs, cheap DIL28 Atmega8 MCU, single sided
PCB
- Firmware and software source code freely available
Special features:
- Buffered reads for speedup
- Delayed writes for speedup and greatly reduced flash write cycles
- Built-in bootloader requiring less than 256 bytes including sector buffer,
relocatable in the $0500-$05F7 to $BE00-$BEF7 range, with SKCTL
initialization before every block. Supports executable files of up to 8MB
size.
- Directory with filename simulated for active files in drives, data handled
through standard 128B sectors. Executable files can be run from most DOSes
or Q-MEG. Random data files with arbitrary suffix can be activated and
opened by a program through DOS or copied to disk images. (Note: 80KB file
size limit applies to standard DOSes, 8MB to Q-MEG and MyDOS)
==> SDrive NUXX, by Steve Vigneau / c0nsumer (based on SDrive by C.P.U.)
http://nuxx.net/wiki/SDrive_NUXX
Based on SDrive by C.P.U. Changes from the original SDrive:
- A readily available enclosure and custom end panels with cutouts and
artwork.
- An SIO connector footprint. This allows a standard Atari SIO
connector to be used, allowing easy connectivity with any of the compatible
Atari 8-bit computers.
- Incorporates a low-cost AVR programmer allowing a SDrive builder who doesn't
have AVR programming hardware readily available an easy method of loading
the firmware on the microcontroller.
- The built-in Brown-Out Detector has been enabled with a 4.0V threshold.
Subject: 3.11) How can I use a USB flash drive with my Atari?
USB flash drives are NAND-type flash memory data storage devices integrated
with a USB (universal serial bus) interface. They are typically small,
lightweight, removable and rewritable.
==> SIO2USB, by ABBUC Regional Group Frankfurt / Main
The SIO2USB Interface is a peripheral device that can be attached to an ATARI
8-bit computer using the SIO-Bus. It emulates one or more ATARI Floppy-
Drive(s) and does not require any special drivers or Operating-Systems, it is
fully compatible with all ATARI DOS Systems and extensions. Because the
device is connected to the SIO-Bus, it is not necessary to open or modify the
ATARI. The device is powered by the SIO-Bus and does not need an external
Power Adapter. The data are stored on standard USB Mass Storage Devices (USB
FLASH Drives) as ATARI-Imagefiles (ATR or XFD) on a standard FAT filesystem.
SIO2USB features:
o Can boot an ATARI 8-bit Computer without physical Floppy Drive
o Emulation of up to 3 (virtual) Disk drives simultaneously
o Simple device, attached to SIO-Port, no modification of computer necessary
o Mixed operation of real Floppy and SIO2USB possible
o Fully compatible with all ATARI DOS and OS and all ATARI compatible
extensions
o Storage of ATARI-Imagefiles on standard USB FLASH Drives
o Configuration of the device by built-in keys and LC-Display or
configuration program on the ATARI
o Built-in Real Time Clock (RTC)
o Power supply for the device and USB FLASH Drive from SIO-Bus
o Updated SIO2USB Firmware can be applied from within the ATARI (no
additional device or computer required)
o Updates available via Internet (USB FLASH Drive) or direct from the ATARI
(real Disk Drive)
http://home.arcor.de/grasel/sio2usb_e.htm or
http://home.arcor.de/grasel/sio2usb_d.htm
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: ( = LRC 7000 / Eaton 7000 )
- 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 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
- alphanumeric 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)
- TX9032 Joystick Sketchpad graphics software cassette included
Atari 1025 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 it's 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 Dot Matrix Graphics 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 Letter-Quality Daisy Wheel Printer:
- 80 columns
- 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 / GP-100AT Economical Printer (= Seikosha GP-100A)
- 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 Dual Mode Printer (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 Full Color Printer (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
Tesla BT-100 (Tesla Prelouc, Czech Republic)
- plugs into 2 joystick/controller ports
- Dot matrix, 1 pin (!)
- carbon paper instead of ribbon
- 480 dots per line
- 150 dots per sec (A4 paper in 10 minutes)
- Input power 5 W
- http://jindroush.atari8.info/aczhwbt.htm
- Can be installed in the SP 210-T Data Cassette Recorder
Merkur Alfi (Kovopodnik Broumov, Czech Republic)
- Plotter
- Standard, size A4 paper
- Pens - Any
- Length of step - 0.15 mm
- sold only as kit
- http://jindroush.atari8.info/aczhwal.htm
Alfigraf
- plotter
- http://jindroush.atari8.info/aczhwag.htm
Minigraf 0507 Aritma (Aritma Praha, Czech Republic)
- plotter
- Paper - Standard, size A4
- Pens KIN 0577; Centropen 1939; KOH-I-NOOR 4443; Staedtler 40T06-S;
Staedtler 32T03-S
- Speed - max. 80 mm/s
- Length of step (error) - 0.125 mm (+- 0.005 mm)
- Input power 30 W
- http://jindroush.atari8.info/aczhwmi.htm
Graficka Jednotka XY4140 / XY4150 (Laboratorni Pristroje Praha)
- Plotters
- Paper Standard, size A4 (297 x 210 mm)
- Printable space 260 x 185 mm (2600 x 1850 steps)
- Step 0.1 mm
- Speed 100 mm/sec
- http://jindroush.atari8.info/aczhwxy.htm
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 were 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,
such as the Atari CX86 Printer Cable, that provides the DB15 connector for the
Atari end, and Centronics-type parallel connector on the printer end, in order
to attach a standard parallel printer to the Atari through an Atari 850 or
equivalent. The pinouts necessary for building such a cable are available
in the Atari 850 Interface section of this FAQ list.
Many 3rd-party disk drives for the Atari (along with the Atari 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 RS-232-C 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.
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.mathyvannisselroy.nl/special%20stuff.htm
Carsten Strotmann wrote on 30 Dec 2006:
I'm very happy with the Kyocery Mita Laserprinters. They still support
Epson and IBM ESC Codes (as well as PCL and Postscript), have all Codes
documented in the handbooks (downloadable as PDF from the company
webpage). Also the printers are very reliable and have low life cycle
costs. Be sure to check the Emulation Features, as they also have some
Windows only GDI Printer.
I have the FS1200D (with duplex printing feature).
Modern printers designed for "modern" PCs now normally utilize USB connectors
rather than the older standard Centronics parallel connector.
Subject: 4.5) How can my Atari utilize my PC's printer?
==> SIO2PC, by Nick Kennedy
From the SIO2PC home page:
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
http://pages.suddenlink.net/wa5bdu/sio2pc.htm
Another source for various SIO2PC cable design plans is Clarence Dyson's page
at http://www.wolfpup.net/atarimods/
Another (Czech language): http://raster.infos.cz/atari/hw/sio2pc.htm
==> Atari Peripheral Emulator (APE), by Steven Tucker
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/
==> Sio2OSX, by Mark Grebe
Sio2OSX is a peripheral emulator for the Atari 8-bit computers that allows
the Atari computer to use an OSX based Macintosh as a disk drive, a cassette
drive, and a printer. Sio2OSX performs functions similar to APE or SIO2PC on
Windows based computers.
http://www.atarimac.com/sio2osx.php
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: (by Racal-Vadic?)
- 300 bps
- Bell 103/113 modem compatible
- pulse dialing
- 2 SIO ports
- packaged with the TeleLink II cartridge
Atari 1030 Modem with ModemLink Telecommunications Program: (by Penril)
- 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 (developed by Russ Wetmore for Atari)
- permanent SIO cable, must be at end of SIO chain
- draws its power from the computer via SIO
Atari SX212 Modem:
- SIO & DB25 RS-232 serial ports, must be at end of SIO chain
- 1200 baud
- Bell 103/113/212A modem compatible
- SX Express! disk software (developed by Keith Ledbetter for Atari) to be
sold separately, packaged with an SIO cable.
- Key engineer/designer: Jose Valdes at Atari
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 The Microperipheral Corporation
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 RS-232-C 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 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 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://www.lenardspencer.com/Lenspencer/hyperspd.htm
Modern external modems designed for "modern" PCs now normally utilize a USB
connector rather than the older standard DB9 RS-232-C serial connector.
Subject: 5.3) How can my Atari utilize my PC's modem/network?
==> Atari Peripheral Emulator (APE), by Steven Tucker
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."
Greg Goodwin writes (2005):
Steven Tucker made this wonderful ability in the Windows version of Atari
Peripheral Emulator (APE, the program and cable that lets you make a PC an
Atari's bit...er..slave. :D) There is a great ability to tap into the PC's
Internet. Bring up the APE program on the PC, BobTerm on the Atari, and
BobTerm will notice the Internet out there. Now you can enter in a telnet
address and it will take you right to it. Nice and basically cheap setup, and
great way to take advantage of the Internet setup on your PC.
http://www.atarimax.com/
==> Sio2OSX, by Mark Grebe
Sio2OSX is a peripheral emulator for the Atari 8-bit computers that allows
the Atari computer to use an OSX based Macintosh as a disk drive, a cassette
drive, and a printer. Sio2OSX performs functions similar to APE or SIO2PC on
Windows based computers.
http://www.atarimac.com/sio2osx.php
Subject: 5.4) What networking hardware is there for the Atari?
==> CSS Deluxe Quintopus
Share SIO devices between 2 computers. The Deluxe Quintopus consists of a box
with two switched SIO ports and 4 unswitched SIO ports.
http://www.nleaudio.com/css/products/quintopus.htm
==> Supra MicroNet
Supports the connection of one SIO chain of peripherals to up to 8 computers.
When one computer accesses a peripheral device, the entire bus is occupied so
that the other computers on the "network" must wait. The bus is freed five
seconds after a computer finishes interacting with the peripheral.
A printer/data buffer can make the MicroNet more practical.
Supra also provided a modified Atari DOS 2.5 that would re-try disk accesses
repeatedly in response to SIO timeouts.
http://www.atarimagazines.com/v4n10/productreviews.html
==> CSS Multiplexer ("MUX")
Description from the CSS online catalog:
The Multiplexer is a collection of cartridge interface boards that allow up to
8 Ataris to read and write to the same drives (typically a hard disk), access
the same printer(s), and talk to each other. It is the first practical
networking system for the Atari 8-bit computer.
One "master" computer (any 8-bit) is equipped with the master Multiplexer
interface. Then up to 8 "slave" computers hook up to this master, each having
their own slave interface. The slave interface consists of a cartridge that
plugs into the cartridge port. It has its own socket on the top so you can
use whatever cartridges you desire with the system.
The "common" peripherals (things that are to be shared) are connected to the
master. On each slave, all disk and printer I/O is routed through the master
so no extra disk drives are needed. The master computer can be configured in
any manner you wish. You may have certain peripherals local to the slave or
routed to a different number on the master. Note that serial ports (R: RS-232
interfaces) are not multiplexed. All slaves are independent and do not need
to have the same program running on them.
http://www.nleaudio.com/css/products/multiplexer.htm
==> GameLink and GameLink II
This text by Andreas Koch:
In the late 80`s and early 90`s Chuck Steinman and Jeff Potter ("The ADGA
Group") 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 independent 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, hard disk,
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...
==> AT-Link (Alphasys)
Arianne Slaager writes:
I was actually surprised to read about the Gamelink-1, as I made a similar
cable myself, called the AT-Link. This cable could also be used to
communicate with Commodore 64 computers, and I made driver software for both
systems at the time. There were 2 drivers. One as relocatable machine code,
and another as device driver. Also in the package was a 2 player Battleships
type game where Side A had the Atari version, and Side B the Commodore 64
version.
...wasn't more than two old joystick cables in a crosslink configuration,
(Pin 1 and 2 linked to pin 3 and 4 of the other cable respectively)
==> EightLink (Alphasys)
Arianne Slaager writes:
I also made a special high-speed Atari to Atari cable, called the EightLink.
This one was cartridge based system, with a PIA inside, which boasted a 8 bit
bidirectional, parallel databus, and a 4 bit crosslinked control bus. Transfer
speeds were such that two Atari's on opposite ends of a large hall could
transfer disk data faster than it could be read or written. The actual cable
connecting the two was a flatcable with 33 leads, alternating ground and a
dataline across the width to minimise crossover disruption of data. Also for
this link system, I made drivers both in relocatable code, as well as a device
driver.
Subject: 5.5) How can I connect my Atari to a high-speed/Ethernet network?
Marius Diepenhorst has pioneered the following technique. He writes (2004):
"Try to get a LANTRONIX UDS-10 device. It acts like a modem but it is a LAN
-> RS-232 converter. So with that device you can have incoming and outgoing
'calls' like modem ones via the internet.
I ran my Atari 8bit bbs with such a thing. The Lantronix MSS-10 or MSS-100
will do too. But in that case you have to make a custom RS-232 cable (easy
job).
More info www.lantronix.com
this is the info of the UDS-10
www.lantronix.com/device-networking/external-device-servers/uds-10.html
Now see the newer model, the UDS1100:
www.lantronix.com/device-networking/external-device-servers/uds1100.html
It is REALLY a cool thing. Not only for you, but for more atari fans I guess."
Other, similar serial-to-Ethernet interfaces from Lantronix have been
successfully utilized, including the MSS100:
www.lantronix.com/device-networking/external-device-servers/mss100.html
as well as the discontinued MSS1-T.
Note that the UDS-10 lacks DNS support, while the MSS100 and MSS1-T include
DNS support.
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 RS-232-C serial ports
- One 15-pin Centronics-type parallel Printer 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. Also, Atari's own 825 printer and 830 modem are connected
to the computer via the 850 Interface Module.
RS-232-C is a technical standard of the Electronic Industries Association
(EIA). Published in August of 1969, it is titled "Interface Between Data
Terminal Equipment and Data Communication Equipment Employing Serial Binary
Data Interchange." The standard specifies electrical signal characteristics
and names and defines the functions of the signal and control lines which make
up a standard interface, called RS-232-C.
The 850 should be thought of as an RS-232-C "data terminal" (DTE, or Data
Terminal Equipment).
The 850's RS-232-C serial ports support the following baud rates:
45.5 bps*, 50 bps*, 56.875 bps*, 75 bps**, 110 bps, 134.5 bps, 150 bps,
300 bps, 600 bps, 1200 bps, 1800 bps, 2400 bps, 4800 bps, 9600 bps
* These Baud rates are useful for communications with Baudot teletypes, for
RTTY (radioteletype) applications. They are more commonly referred to as
60, 67, and 75 words per minute.
** This Baud rate is sometimes used for ASCII communications, and may also
be used for 5-bit Baudot RTTY. The latter is commonly referred to as
100 wpm.
While the Atari Operating System includes the necessary Printer Port software
handler, the RS-232 serial port handler is loaded into the computer's RAM via
a "Power-On Bootstrapping Operation" as follows:
Bootstrapping Operation Without Disk Drive:
When the Atari computer is turned on, it issues a disk request via SIO. If no
Drive 1 is present with power ON, the 850 responds to the disk request. The
computer then loads the bootstrapping program from the 850, as if it were
reading from a disk. The bootstrapping program is then run, and it gets the
RS-232-C handler from the 850 and relocates it into the computer's RAM. The
memory occupied by the bootstrapping program is then freed (but the handler
remains).
Bootstrapping Operation With Disk Drive:
If there is a disk drive attached to the system (Drive 1 only), it responds to
the disk request issued by the computer at power-on. The computer then reads
a start-up program from that disk, such as a DOS. The 850 does not respond to
the disk request if a disk drive responds first; therefore, the program loaded
from disk must load the handler from the 850. Many varieties of DOS for the
Atari include an explicit provision for loading and executing the
bootstrapping program from the 850, such as through the use of an AUTORUN.SYS
file. When the 850 bootstrapping program is executed, it gets the RS-232-C
handler from the 850 and relocates it into the computer's RAM. The memory
occupied by the bootstrapping program is then freed (but the handler remains).
PINOUTS
=======
850 Serial Port No. 1 (9-pin female connector):
1. Data Terminal Ready (DTR, Ready Out)
2. Carrier Detect (CRX, In)
5 1 3. Send Data (Out)
o o o o o 4. Receive Data (In)
o o o o 5. Signal Ground
9 6 6. Data Set Ready (DSR, Ready In)
7. Request to Send (RTS, Out)
8. Clear to Send (CTS, In)
Use a cable with the following connections to attach a standard RS-232 MODEM
to an Atari via the 850's Serial Port No. 1 (equivalent to the Atari CX87
Interface/Modem Cable):
DB25P (RS-232 MODEM) | DB9P (850 Interface)
20 1 - DTR
8 2 - CRX
2 3 - XMT
3 4 - RCV
7 5 - GND
6 6 - DSR
4 7 - RTS
5 8 - CTS
Frame - to the shield wire | No connection to shield
850 Serial Port Nos. 2 and 3 (9-pin female connector):
5 1 1. Data Terminal Ready (DTR, Ready Out)
o o o o o 3. Send Data (Out)
o o o o 4. Receive Data (In)
9 6 5. Signal Ground
6. Data Set Ready (DSR, Ready In)
850 Serial Port No. 4 (9-pin female connector): When used with a
1. Data Terminal Ready (DTR, Ready Out)* 20 mA loop device:
5 1 3. Send Data (Out) 1. Send data +
o o o o o 4. Receive Data (In) 3. Send data -
o o o o 5. Signal Ground 7. Receive data +
9 6 7. Request to Send (RTS, Out)* 9. Receive data -
9. - 8V
*These pins are not computer-controlled and are always ON (+10v).
850 Printer Port (15-pin female connector):
1. Data Strobe'
2. Data bit 0
3. Data bit 1
8 1 4. Data bit 2
o o o o o o o o 5. Data bit 3
o o o o o o o 6. Data bit 4
15 9 7. Data bit 5
8. Data bit 6
9. Data pins pull-up (+5v)
11. Signal ground
12. Fault' (Must be +5 for printer port to operate)
13. Busy
15. Data bit 7
Use a cable with the following connections to attach a standard Centronics-
type parallel printer to an Atari via the 850's Printer Port (equivalent to
the Atari CX86 Printer Cable):
36-pin Centronics (male) | DB15P (850 Interface)
1 1 - Data Strobe
2 2 - D0
3 3 - D1
4 4 - D2
5 5 - D3
6 6 - D4
7 7 - D5
8 8 - D6
16 11 - Gnd
32 12 - Fault
11 13 - Busy
9 15 - D7
Frame - to the shield wire | No connection to shield
Very early 850's are in an all-black brushed steel case, but most are in a
beige plastic case matching the 400/800 computers.
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 have been some
attempts to satisfy this need, like the Austin-Franklin board or the ACE-80
and ACE-80XL cartridges. For more information 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 its own AUTORUN.SYS file, you
can append the application's AUTORUN.SYS on the module's AUTORUN.SYS.
***********************
The key engineer/designer of the XEP80 was Jose Valdes at Atari.
Lane Winner was software developer for the XEP80 at Atari.
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 1
o o o o o o o o o o o o o
o o o o o o o o o o o o
25 14
1. Strobe
2-9. Parallel Data
10. Not Used
11. Busy
12-17. Not Used
18-25. Ground
Subject: 6.3) How can I use a SCSI/SASI device with my Atari?
SCSI background sources include:
http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=scsi
SCSI - Small Computer Systems Interface. Pronounced "scuzzy."
SCSI is an ANSI standard for connection peripherals/devices to your computer
via a hardware interface, which uses standard SCSI commands.
In the early 1980's, Adaptec's founders, while at disk drive manufacturer
Shugart Associates, developed a parallel I/O interface called SASI for Shugart
Associated System Interface. When this specification was finalized, it was
released to several different manufacturers and enjoyed commercial success.
In 1982, SASI was presented to ANSI as a basis for standard. Because of the
commercial success and widespread market use of SASI, ANSI formalized and
extended the SASI specification and changed the name to SCSI (in part to
separate the specification from any one vendor in particular). In June 1986,
SCSI was formally adopted by ANSI.
The following hardware interface devices allow SASI/SCSI devices (such as hard
disk drives) to be connected to the Atari:
==> ICD Multi I/O (MIO)
- 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
- 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
Mathy van Nisselroy's Black Box page:
http://www.mathyvannisselroy.nl/blackbox.htm
ASPI - Advanced SCSI Programming Interface
Originally developed by Adaptec. It is a software layer that enables programs
to communicate with SCSI (and ATAPI) devices.
Mathy van Nisselroy's Atari ASPI page:
http://www.mathyvannisselroy.nl/aspi.htm
Subject: 6.4) How can I use an IDE device with my Atari?
IDE background from TechWeb,
http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=ide
IDE - Integrated Drive Electronics
IDE is a type of hardware interface widely used to connect hard disks, CD-ROMs
and tape drives to a PC. IDE was always the more economical interface,
compared to SCSI.
With IDE, the controller electronics are built into the drive itself,
requiring a simple circuit in the PC for connection. IDE drives were attached
to earlier PCs using an IDE host adapter card. Today, two Enhanced IDE (EIDE)
sockets are built onto the motherboard, and each socket connects up to two
drives via a 40-pin ribbon cable for CD-ROMs and similar devices and an 80-
wire cable for fast hard disks.
IDE drives are configured as master and slave. Jumper pins on the drive
itself are used to set up the first drive on the cable as master and the
second one, if present, as a slave.
The IDE interface is officially known as the ATA (AT Attachment)
specification. ATAPI (ATA Packet Interface) defines the IDE standard for CD-
ROMs and tape drives. ATA-2 (Fast ATA) defined the faster transfer rates used
in Enhanced IDE (EIDE).
The following hardware interface devices allow IDE devices (such as hard disk
drives) to be connected to the Atari:
==> 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/atarimods/
(Atari page by Clarence Dyson)
==> KMK/JZ IDE Hard Drive Interface
by Jacek Zuk and Konrad Kokoszkiewicz (Draco)
KMK writes (March 2005):
This is sort of cartridge fitting in ECI+CARTRIDGE slot in XE computers.
The box is about 1,5 cm high, 15 cm long, and its width is less or more
equal to the XE ECI+CARTRIDGE slot. You have an ECI+CARTRIDGE connector
at one end, and an IDE cable at the other end. The whole is cased with
black plastic case.
What advantage does it have over similar products?
1) it is available and still being made;
2) the software is maintained, you can download an upgrade for the
internal handler, for example;
3) it uses a well defined Atari parallel bus interface, thus no OS
modifications or other hacks are necessary to get the machine booting
from this device;
4) it works fine with unmodified SpartaDOS X, SpartaDOS 3.x, MyDOS (and
other DOS-es, but using it with DOS 2.x lacks sense);
5) it allows you to make true partitions (up to 16);
6) it can currently address up to 8 GB (and this is not a hardware
limit, so an upgraded internal ROM can do more);
7) it works with all devices which are ATA-compliant;
8) you can use two drives (master/slave);
The Interface's internal software provides two modes: native and emulation.
The native mode uses a 512 byte physical block as a logical data sector, the
emulation mode uses the physical block to store two 256 byte logical data
sectors. ALL existing DOSes require the emulation mode to work properly.
Maximum drive capacity: 8388607 physical blocks on each device.
Maximum number of partitions: 16
Maximum capacity of a partition: 8388607 logical sectors
Logical sector length: 256 or 512 bytes
Average speed: 58 kilobytes per second (native mode, R/W)
32 kilobytes per second (emulation mode, reading)
7 kilobytes per second (emulation mode, writing)
Booting from any partition
Write protection capability
8 jumpers to set the device number for the operating system
Note, that ALL existing DOSes limit the partition size to 16 MB.
Available: E-mail to: jurekQrembertow.net (q = @)
User's Manual and software downloads:
http://drac030.krap.pl/ or http://drac030.atari8.info
==> 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, by Matthias Belitz
* real device for the parallel-port (PBI/ECI) of the Atari XL/XE
* up to 240 partitions per hard disk 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 protection 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://www.mr-atari.com/
==> Atarimax "MyIDE+Flash" Cartridge
Atarimax "MyIDE+Flash" Cartridge is a professionally produced IDE interface
cartridge for all 64k Atari 8-bit computers.
The new MyIDE+Flash interface combines Sijmen "Mr. Atari" Schouten's popular
"MyIDE" interface with an Atarimax 1Mbit reprogrammable flash cartridge.
The cartridge's built in 1Mbit flash system allows you to utilize the
interface and your hard disk setup in any 64k XL/XE computer, using the built-
in boot OS, without modifications to the existing hardware or operating
system.
http://www.atarimax.com/myide/documentation/
==> 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:
disk D1: can be swapped with Common disk D1: (HD1_ZW jumper)
- 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)
- Long File Name (LFN) support for HDD
- TEST mode for checking HDD initialization
* 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.atariarea.krap.pl/sio2ide/
http://mega-hz.no-ip.com/Angebote/SIO2IDE33/SIO2IDE33.html
==> Nathan Hartwell's IDE projects
http://www.magelair.com/
Subject: 6.5) Can I attach an ISA card to my Atari?
ISA background from TechWeb,
http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=isa
ISA - Industry Standard Architecture. Pronounced "eye-suh."
An expansion bus formerly commonly used in PCs (but since phased-out in favor
of PCI). It accepts plug-in boards that control the sound, video display and
other peripherals.
Originally called the "AT bus," it was first used in the IBM AT, extending the
8-bit bus to 16 bits.
RoBue (Roland Buehler) of the Stuttgart ABBUC Regional Group has produced
project plans for an ISA-Bus Interface for Atari 800XL/130XE Computer, ARGS.
Carsten Strotmann has released source code showing how to access a Hercules
video card with the ISA-Bus Interface.
Visit: http://atariwiki.strotmann.de/xwiki/bin/view/Main//PgmFardwDriverHerc
Subject: 6.6) How can I use a USB device with my Atari?
Background from TechWeb,
http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=usb
USB - Universal Serial Bus
A hardware interface for low-speed peripherals such as the keyboard, mouse,
joystick, scanner, printer and telephony devices. USB has a maximum bandwidth
of 12 Mbits/sec (equivalent to 1.5 Mbytes/sec), and up to 127 devices can be
attached.
USB ports began to appear on PCs in 1997. It has now essentially replaced the
older RS-232 serial and Centronics-type parallel ports on modern PCs, and USB
has become the primary means for connecting most external devices to today's
computers.
The following project aims to provide USB compatibility to the Atari:
MicroUSB.org - Microprocessor USB Project, http://microusb.org/
Project USB Cartridge
* Project Name : USB Cartridge with two USB Slots
* Project Start : Summer 2002
* Project Member: Marc Brings, Thomas Grasel, Harry Reminder,
Guus Assmann, Carsten Strotmann
http://atariwiki.strotmann.de/xwiki/bin/view/MicroUSB//ProjUSBCart
In cooperation with the above,
Atarimax(Steven Tucker)/ABBUC USB Cartridge:
http://www.atarimax.com/usbcart/
Subject: 6.7) What are the power requirements for my Atari components?
The household mains electricity supply is an alternating current (AC) that can
be described with two parameters: the voltage (in volts) and the frequency
(in Hz).
In North America, the standard household wall outlet offers 120 V/60 Hz power.
In much of the rest of the world, the mains is now standardizing to
230 V/50 Hz. In the time of 8-bit Atari computers, most of continental Europe
used 220 V/50 Hz, and the UK used 240 V/50 Hz.
In any case, the household alternating current must be converted to a
direct current (DC) for use by electrical devices such as Atari computers
and peripherals.
In some cases, the entire conversion is done via an external "power supply"
that sits between the wall outlet and the electrical device. Such power
supplies both transform the household power to a lower voltage, and they
also rectify the current from AC to DC.
In some cases, the external "power supply" is simply a transformer that lowers
the household voltage. The lowered AC voltage is rectified to DC inside the
device.
In some cases, both the transformer and the rectifier are located inside the
computer or peripheral itself. The device plugs directly into the wall
outlet, with no external "power supply" needed.
The INPUT of an external power supply will indicate:
1) Input voltage in units of volts (110V for N.Am., 220V Euro, 240V UK)
2) Input frequency in units of hertz (60Hz for N.Am., 50Hz Euro)
The OUTPUT of an external power supply will indicate:
1) Output Voltage, in units of volts (V)
2) Whether the output voltage is AC or DC
3) one or sometimes both of:
- Output Current, in units of amperes ("amps") (A) or milliamps (mA)
- Output Power, in units of volt-amperes ("volt-amps")(VA) or watts (W)
An external power supply may also indicate a peak power rating. The power
rating is the highest amount of power the unit can supply, according to the
manufacturer, but this is only for a very brief time. The power rating may be
indicated in units of volt-amperes (VA) or in units of watts (W). The power
supplies themselves usually indicate this rating near the "Input" label (in
order to distinguish this rating from the sustained power output.) The
power ratings for Atari power supplies are given below as "Max:"
Higher-than-specified power and current capacities are entirely usable, and
often preferable because such supplies run cooler and last longer.
In practice the power units VA and W are used interchangeably, even though
they are not identical.
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(phase, or angle of lag)
cosine(phase) is known as the "power factor"
N O R T H A M E R I C A INPUT = 105-125 VAC 60Hz
====================================================
AC supplies (external transformers)
9 VAC 4.5 VA 500 mA Max:7.5va Atari #CO61515(unit)/CO61516(unit)
1010
9 VAC 5.4 VA (600 mA) Max:12va Atari#C062195(unit)
1030
9 VAC 15.3 VA 1.7 A Max:18.5W Power Adaptor
Atari#CO14319(unit)/CA014748(box - indicates 9.5 VAC 1.7 A)
400,800,822,850,1200XL,1010,1020
NOTE: This was also original equipment for the 810 disk drive, but Atari
later determined that the 810 required more power (21 W) for reliable
operation. This power supply is not recommended for disk drives.
NOTE also that this power supply is only barely adequate for the
400/800/1200XL computers: Atari eventually specified the power
requirement for the 400/800 at 19 W.
9 VAC 31 VA 3.4 A Max:50W Power Adaptor
Atari#C017945(unit)/CA017964(box)
http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/accession/102688424
400,800,810,822,850,1200XL,1010,1020,1050,XF551
9.5 VAC 4.2A (39.9 VA) Max:53W Atari#CO61636 Power Adaptor
1027
20 VAC 330 mA (6.6 VA) Max:7W Power Adaptor
Atari#CO60479(unit)/CA060535(box?)
835
20 VAC 400 mA (8 VA) Max:15W
Novation AC Adapter Model No 901017 / Atari#CA016751-01(box?)
830. Top: "ATARI" logo + "Use with 830 Modem Only"
http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/accession/102662648
NOTE: Both the 830 box and the 850 Operator's Manual indicate different
specs from this: 24 VAC/150mA. To date, no such power supply has
turned up.
DC supplies (external adapters)
5 V DC 1 A (5 W) Max:17W Atari#CO70042
65XE,XE game system
Two versions, as described by B&C ComputerVisions, see:
http://www.myatari.com/ebay/psxl.jpg
Version #5(bottom center), the Mini, is the smallest at 2" X 3" & 2" high.
It was shipped with most XE Game Systems. Not as rugged as version #6.
For continuous operation use #6 for a 1 Amp instead of #5. 17W rating.
Version #6(bottom right), the Logo, is the same size as Ver #4,
3" X 4 1/2" & 2 1/2" high but has an Atari Logo molded into the case.
It was shipped with most 65XE computers and later XE Game Systems.
Very reliable. Works great in most applications.
5 V DC 1.5 A 7.5 VA Max:varies, 25W 30W 40W Atari#C061982/CA024814
600XL,800XL,65XE,130XE,XE Game System
Four versions, as described by B&C ComputerVisions, see:
http://www.myatari.com/ebay/psxl.jpg
Version #1(upper left), the White Brick, has a white top and dark brown
bottom, 4" X 8" & 2 1/2" high. Version #1 was shipped with early
600XL/800XL computers. Very reliable. Very Rare. 30W rating.
Version #2(lower left), the Black Brick, is same shape and size as Version
#1 but all black, 4" X 8" & 2 1/2" high. Version #2 was shipped with
later 600XL/800XL computers. Very reliable. Very Rare.
Version #3(center top), the Ingot, is solid & all black,
3 1/4" X 5" & 2 1/2" high. It was shipped with most 600XL/800XL and some
65/130XE computers. If this version fails it can damage the computer if
not turned off quickly. Not recommended for unattended operations. If
hum bars are seen on the screen disconnect Version #3 power packs.
40W rating.
Version #4(top right), the Box, is slightly smaller than the Ver #3 at
3" X 4 1/2" & 2 1/2" high. It was shipped with most 130XE computers.
Very reliable. Getting hard to find. We recommend this version for 130XE
and 800XL computers. 25W rating.
6 V DC 300 mA (1.8 W) Max:? Atari#???????
"410 P" (rare version of 410) (center positive)
9 V DC 500 mA (4.5 VA) Power Adapter (Max:various ratings 9W to 12W)
Atari#CO16353(unit, newer)/CO10472(unit, older)/CX261(box)
XEP80,SX212,2600,CX42 (center positive)
E U R O P E INPUT = 216~264V 50Hz
===================================
AC supplies (external transformers)
8.5 VAC 4.25 VA (0.5 A) Max:? Input 240V 50 Hz (UK)
Atari#CO61516/34
1010
8.52 VAC 4.26 VA (0.5 A) Max:? Atari#CO61516-13 (New Zealand)
1010
9.3 VAC 15.44 VA (1,66 A) Max:? FW 6799/Atari#CA014748?(box?)
400,800,822,850,1010,1020
9.5 VAC 1.5 A (14.25 VA) Max:? TaMOD M 5496 Input: 240V 50 Hz (UK)
400,800,822,850,1010,1020 (shipped with UK PAL 400)
9 VAC 3.4 A 27 VA Max:0.037Kw Input: 240V 50Hz (UK)
Atari#CO60592-34(unit)/CA017964(box) Power Adaptor
TM 7498 or SA 8547
http://www.mr-atari.com/afbeeldingen/hardwarediv/adapterboxedxl.jpg
400,800,810,822,850,1010,1020,1050,XF551
9 VAC 3.0 A ( VA) Max:? Input: ?? (Europe?)
Atari#CO60592-11(unit)/CA017964?(box?)
PL028 or DV-9034A UP
400,800,810,822,850,1010,1020,1050,XF551
DC supplies (external adapters)
5 V DC 1.5 A (7.5 VA) Max:0.11A Input: 240V~50Hz (UK)
Atari#CO61763-34
600XL,800XL,65XE,130XE,800XE,XE Game System
5 V DC 1.5 A (7.5 W) Max:varies 22VA 26VA Input: 220V 50Hz
Atari#CO61763-11
600XL,800XL,65XE,130XE,800XE,XE Game System
(5 V DC) (1.7 A) 8.5 VA Max:? Input: 240V 50Hz (UK)
Atari#CO61605
600XL,800XL,65XE,130XE,800XE,XE Game System
5 V DC 1.8 A (9.0 W) Atari#CO61763-107 (Poland)
600XL,800XL,65XE,130XE,800XE,XE Game System
9 V DC 500 mA 4.5 VA Max:9W Input: 220V 50Hz (Germany)
Atari#CO18084-117 AC/DC Adaptor
XEP80,SX212,2600,CX42 (center positive)
9 V DC 500 mA (4.5 VA) Max:9W Input: 240V 50Hz (UK)
Atari#CO18084-309/CO18084-306?
XEP80,SX212,2600,CX42 (center positive)
9.5 V DC 650 mA (6.2 VA) Max:15W Input: 220V 50 Hz (France)
Atari#C016507
XEP80,SX212,2600,CX42 (center positive)
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:
Indus GT
11.5 V DC 1.95 A (22.4 VA) Max:33W DataByte#DV-9319A
Center positive
This is identical to the Atari power supply for earlier 2-port 5200s:
Atari#CO18187(unit, early version)/CA019141(box)
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."
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 rectifier in it.
AC would be better because the diodes would be used half the time."
Rana 1000: 9 VAC 3.4 A (30.6 VA)
MPP1000C modem: 9 V DC 200 mA (1.8 W)
Subject: 6.8) 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, and "KX" accessories, four digit numbers, marketed for or usable with
the 8-bit computers.
Controllers marketed by Atari for the 2600 and/or 7800 also work on the 8-bit
computers.
CX10 Joystick PCB replacement
CX11 Joystick plastic insert replacements
CX12 Joystick cable replacement
CX20-01 Pair of Driving Controllers. One controller per plug.
Used by Indy 500 for 2600
CX21 Video Touch Pad for 2600 Star Raiders. Compatible w/ CX23 and CX50.
CX22 (Pro-Line) Trak-Ball. Works in joystick or trackball modes. Round buttons.
The trackball controller from the Atari Consumer Division (2600/7800).
Various stylings (after the black 2600), functionally identical:
1) "Atari 2600 Trak-Ball": cream ball, black top, black buttons, black
label beneath ball with black lettering, black bottom. (Rare?)
2) "Atari 2600 Pro-Line Trak-Ball": cream ball, black top, black
buttons, black label beneath ball with silver lettering, black
bottom. (Rare?)
3) "Atari Trak-Ball": black ball, black top, black buttons, black label
beneath ball with silver lettering, white bottom. (Rare?)
4) "Atari Trak-Ball": cream ball, black top, black buttons, black label
beneath ball with silver lettering, white bottom. (COMMON)
CX23 Kid's Controller. Used by 2600 Sesame Street titles.
Compatible w/ CX21 and CX50
CX24 (Pro-Line / Deluxe) Joystick
CX30-04 Pair of Paddles
CX40 Joystick Controller (single)
CX40-04 Pair of Joystick Controllers
CX41 Joystick Repair Kit
CX42 Remote Control Wireless Joysticks
(requires XEP80/SX212/2600 power adapter)
CX43 (Pro-Line) Space Age Joystick
CX50 Keyboard Controller Pair. Compatible w/ CX21 and CX23
CX70 Light Pen (beige; the rare original Atari light pen)
CX75 Light Pen and AtariGraphics (cartridge)
CX77 Touch Tablet With AtariArtist software (cartridge) + DOS 2.0S (disk)
CX78 Joypad Controller (not in USA)
CX80 Trak-Ball. Works in joystick or trackball modes. Triangular buttons.
The trackball controller from the Atari Home Computer Division.
XL computer styling: black ball, black top, black buttons, silver label
above ball with black "Atari Trak-Ball" lettering, white or black bottom
2 versions, externally identical:
1) Trackball mode in earlier-production CX80's is compatible with the
trackball mode of the CX22 Trak-Ball.
2) Trackball mode in later-production CX80's is NOT compatible with the
trackball mode of the CX22 Trak-Ball, but IS compatible with the
Atari ST Mouse.
CX81 Atari I/O Data Cord
CX82 B & W Monitor Cable
CX85 Numerical Keypad ( + software Handler on diskette)
CX86 Printer Cable (included with 825 Printer)
CX87 Modem Cable (included with 830 Acoustic Modem)
CX88 Terminal Cable (null modem)
CX89 Color Monitor Cable
CX405 PILOT Educator's Kit
CX418 The Home Manager Kit (The Home Filing Manager disk +
(Personal Financial Management System disk or Family Finances disk))
CX419 The Bookkeeper Kit/The Atari Accountant (The Bookkeeper disk + CX85)
CX481 The Entertainer (Star Raiders + (Computer Chess(?) or Missile Command or
Pac-Man) + 2 joysticks). Atari computer product catalogs first mention
Missile Command, then Pac-Man as the second game. Text on the box
itself (thanks Bill Demian) indicates Computer Chess as the second
game. The illustration on the box actually shows a Music Composer box
underneath the Star Raiders box.
CX482 The Educator (410 + BASIC cart. + States & Capitals cassette)
CX483 The Programmer (BASIC + BASIC Ref Manual + BASIC Self-Teaching Guide)
CX484 The Communicator (850 Interface + 830 Acoustic Modem + TeleLink I cart)
CX488 The Communicator II (835 Direct Connect Modem + TeleLink II cart.)
CX852 8K RAM Memory Module (for 800 computer)
CX853 16K RAM Memory Module (for 800 computer)
KX7079 Logo Kit
KX7099 The BASIC Tutor I (Inside Atari BASIC book + An Invitation to
Programming 2: Writing Programs One and Two cassette + An Invitation to
Programming 3: Introduction to Sound and Graphics cassette)
http://www.rhod.fr/ataripics/basictutor.jpg
KX7102 The Arcade Champ (Pac-Man + Qix + 2 joysticks + cartridge storage case)
http://www.rhod.fr/ataripics/arcade_champ.jpg
KX7110 AtariWriter System (600XL + 1027 + AtariWriter)
http://www.rhod.fr/ataripics/hardwarewriterpackkompleet.jpg
KX7114 Programming System (800XL + 1010)
http://www.rhod.fr/ataripics/8001010.JPG
KX7400 Game Kit (Donkey Kong cart. + two (standard) Atari Joysticks)
http://www.rhod.fr/pages/atari/kx7400.html
Other:
G1 Light Gun ( + Bug Hunt cart. for 7800/2600)
XG-1 Light Gun ( + Bug Hunt cart. for XE)
Track & Field Controller
Subject: 6.9) What preventative maintenance can I do on my Atari system?
This new section could use more contributions! For starters, Russ Gilbert
writes (2004.11.05):
The main suggestion I have is to use your A8s. This keeps the keyboard
working. I didn't have a problem with my 800XLs, but my 1200XLs required
typing the keys a bunch to get them to respond to every keypress. USE YOUR
A8s.
The problem, I suspect, is oxidation of contacts, in the keyboard, at the
cartridge slot, maybe the SIO port. Use of a soft eraser on cart edge
connector is one thing I think helps.
I would guess one could take the 1200XL keyboard apart and clean the mylar
traces with ??? 90% isopropyl alcohol and a Q-Tip. I still have my
original 800XL, it has copper switches in the keyboard, no mylar. I don't
know what my 800s have in the keyboard, but I would guess copper switches.
My original 800XL has all socketed chips also.
=-=-=
Here is a thread at AtariAge concerning cleaning the heads of Atari floppy
disk drives:
http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/150716-disk-drive-cleaning/
Subject: 6.10) What graphics tablets were produced for the Atari?
According to Wikipedia, a graphics tablet (or digitizing tablet, graphics pad,
drawing tablet) is a computer input device that allows one to hand-draw images
and graphics, similar to the way one draws images with a pencil and paper.
At the time of the Atari computer the more popular term was, touch tablet.
Several graphics tablets were produced and marketed for the Atari 8-bit
computers:
o Animation Station by Suncom
- Shipped with DesignLab disk (Suncom version of Blazing Paddles)
- Fully compatible with the earlier, popular KoalaPad
- Work surface is about the same size as the one on the Atari Touch
Tablet - about 50% larger than the KoalaPad's
- A list of compatible software is elsewhere in the FAQ list.
o Atari Touch Tablet
- Shipped with AtariArtist cartridge (Atari version of Micro Illustrator -
by Steve Dompier & Robert Leyland for Island Graphics)
- Also shipped with CX8104 Atari 810/1050 Master Diskette II disk (DOS 2.0S)
- Similar to the popular, earlier KoalaPad, but returns reversed
y-position values compared to the KoalaPad/Animation Station tablets
- Device measures 7.5" x 9.5" x 1.25"
- Drawing surface measures 5" x 6.5"
- A list of compatible software is elsewhere in the FAQ list.
o KoalaPad Touch Tablet by Koala Technologies
- Shipped with KoalaPainter cartridge (Koala version of Micro Illustrator -
by Steve Dompier & Robert Leyland for Island Graphics)
- Device measures 8.5" x 6.5" x 2"
- The square drawing area is 4.25" on each side.
- Very popular
- A list of compatible software is elsewhere in the FAQ list.
o Kurta Graphics Tablet by Kurta Corporation
- Very early device
- 400/800 only: requires controller ports 1, 2, and 3
- Device measures 13" x 15.5"
- Shipped with Kurta Demo Disk
- Kurta Atari Graphics System, sold separately, includes software:
o Road Map Distance Analysis
o Length
o Area - Calculation of areas (any shape)
o Sound - display pen location by means of sound
o Drawing
o Graphics
- See ANALOG #1 for a review (p. 16) and an ad (p. 17)
o PowerPad by Chalk Board
- Shipped with Micro Illustrator cartridge (Chalk Board version for PowerPad
only - by Steve Dompier & Robert Leyland for Island Graphics)
- A unique and very large device
- Device measures 17" x 19" x 1.5"
- 12" square drawing area
- A list of compatible software is elsewhere in the FAQ list.
- Chalk Board released several cartridges for the PowerPad:
- BearJam
- CodeBreaker
- Leo's 'Lectric Paintbrush
- Leo's Links
- LogicMaster
- MicroMaestro
o Super Sketch by Personal Peripherals Inc. (PPI)
- Shipped with Super Sketch Graphics Master cartridge
- a 10" X 14" tablet
- Similar to the earlier VersaWriter - trace or freehand a drawing
into the computer.
o VersaWriter Drawing Tablet by Versa Computing
- Shipped with Graphics Software (2 disks)
- trace or freehand a drawing into the computer
- Dimensions: 12" x 13.5"
- See ANALOG #4 (1981) p. 46 for ad, p. 47 for review
- Reviewed (with picture) in Atari Classics June 1993 pp. 26-28
Subject: 6.11) What light pens were produced for the Atari?
- Atari Light Pen CX70 (beige; the rare original Atari light pen)
- Atari Light Pen CX75 (came with AtariGraphics 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 Light Pen by Futurehouse (came with a disk with 6 Basic programs; a
program called Peripheral Vision was available separately from Futurehouse)
- McPen light pen by Madison Computer (came with a disk with 4 Basic
programs)
- Stack Light Pen by Stack Computer Services
- Symtec Light Pen by Symtec
- Tech Sketch Light Pen (came with Micro Illustrator disk program by Island
Graphics)
Subject: 6.12) What light guns were produced for the Atari?
This section started by Andreas Koch.
- Atari XG-1 Light Gun (shipped with Bug Hunt cartridge for the XL/XE. Also
shipped as part of the XE Video Game System box package);
http://www.mr-atari.com/afbeeldingen/hardwarediv/xesystemgun2.jpg
- Atari G1 Light Gun (same as XG-1 but shipped with Bug Hunt cartridge for
the 7800/2600)
http://gamingmuseum.classicgaming.gamespy.com/g1lightgun.jpg
- "The Best" Light Gun by Best Electronics (a sort of self-made (?)
Light Gun);
* Sega Light Phaser for the Sega Master System (normally not Atari compatible;
but can be converted into an Atari compatible light gun easily);
- other light guns (most of these have to be converted)...
Note: After having 3-4 Atari and at least one (converted) Sega light gun,
it is my personal impression, that the Atari light gun merely works ok
on/with TV-sets (and not at all with a monitor), whereas the Sega light gun
works alright on TV's and (most) monitors. Since I never had a Best
light gun I cannot comment on this one... (Andreas Koch);
Subject: 6.13) What paddles were produced for the Atari?
This section by Andreas Koch.
- 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: 6.14) What voice/sound synthesis hardware was produced for the
Atari?
This section started by Andreas Koch.
- Voice-Box II by The Alien Group (a software and hardware package);
- 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 #29, April 1985,
pages 59-67; hardware schematics and software demos, for example
"First Words");
- many other voice synthesizers (mostly self-made and based on a chip by
National Semi Conductor);
Subject: 6.15) What sound-digitizers/samplers were produced for the Atari?
This section started by Andreas Koch.
- Parrot (2-Bit) by Alpha Systems, Anthony Ramos;
- Parrot-2 (2-Bit or 4-Bit?) by Alpha Systems, Anthony Ramos;
- Replay Cartridge (4-Bit) by 2-Bit Systems
- 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 Compy-Shop;
- 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 Sample Cartridge (8-Bit) by ANG/Mirage;
Accompanied software, made by Solarsystems, only used the upper 4 bits;
Cartridge also has a "Replay Cartridge compatibility mode" so people could
use it with the software by 2-bit systems.
- 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: 6.16) What sound-enhancement upgrades were produced for the Atari?
This section started by Andreas Koch.
a) enhancements for 2- or 3-channel sound:
- POPS, polyphonic-pokey-sound by Lee Brilliant (3-channel support with one
Pokey!); refer to ANALOG #66, november 1988, pages
54-60; only 1-2 programs exist for this mod., see: 8.14 stereo-software
for the Atari;
Lee Brilliant writes: (2006.08.09)
In reality, the POPS device was only a set of connections to the Atari.
The internal circuitry (Simple to build) was used ONLY to control the
volume of the sound and to add amplification to power speakers. One
could do without the amplifiers if they have their own. But the POPs
did not give just two channel sound, it gave _three_. My design
allowed for left, center, and right amplifiers and speakers. It always
caused a stir at Atari conventions and user groups. The software I used
with it was POKEY Player which was commonly available then. One had to
get that separately and then modify it slightly to drive the three
channels separately. At the time there was a lot of support for that
program and lots of music for it.
- 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 port to the Atari and
gave you "another" monitor port 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 as far as I know 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; digital to analog
(DAC) converter, uses a PIA and a resistor ladder to produce 8-bit sound
playback. (A viable way to reproduce the 8-bit samples captured from the
Alphasys Sample Cartridge.) (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 although 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...
- AMY sound-chip, the AMY 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 RUMORS say, that
Atari had quite some problems with this sound chip and never finished
it completely/successfully. If the rumors are true, then this
sound chip 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:
http://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/8bits/xe/xe_protos/65xem.html )
- 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.K.)
Subject: 6.17) What MIDI enhancements are there for the Atari?
This section started by Andreas Koch.
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 port.
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 Systems (UK), comes with hardware+software.
Features MIDI IN+OUT ports, 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 port 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 port. 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 (self-made) 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 aforementioned 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: 6.18) What graphics enhancements are there for the Atari?
This section started by Andreas Koch.
- some 80 column interfaces made by Atari and third parties. Although
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...;
- Antic and GTIA upgrade by Chuck Steinman. As far as I
know, 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 colors...;
- many self-made upgrades, using graphic chips or graphic cards from other
computers...
Subject: 6.19) What types of memory upgrades are there for the Atari?
This section by Andreas Koch.
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,
- professional 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
self-made projects. Most versions which use newer PC technologies
(Flash-ROM cart., RAM-Card, SIO-cart., etc.) are still under development!
Subject: 7.1) What versions of the Atari Operating System (OS) are there?
Atari 8-bit Operating Systems
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Version 3.6, 2009-05-05
By Freddy Offenga
http://members.chello.nl/taf.offenga/atari_dev.htm
400/800 10kB OS roms
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rev. TV Date CRC-32 Part Nr(s)
~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A NTSC 1979 0xc1b3bb02 CO12499A, CO14599A, CO12399B
A PAL 1979 0x72b3fed4 CO15199, CO15299, CO12399B
B NTSC 1981 0x0e86d61d CO12499B, CO14599B, 12399B
B PAL (*) (*) (*)
(*) a real PAL.B rom hasn't been found.
If you do have this or have more information, please let me know!
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 0x1a1d7b1b CO60616B, CO60617B
1 600XL 03/11/1983 0x643bcc98 CO62024
2 XL/XE 05/10/1983 0x1f9cd270 CO61598B
3 800XE 03/01/1985 0x29f133f7 C300717
3B 65XE 07/21/1984 0x45f47988 C101700
4 XEGS 05/07/1987 0x1eaf4002 C101687
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
All information from OS board C012989 (Rev D) and ROM dumps.
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].
According to [MAPPING] 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
All info found in an Atari 1200XL (both US and Taiwan).
[REV2] refers to it as rev.10. [BEST] calls it rev.A.
1200XL rev.11
Information from ROM dump. Needs confirmation.
[REV2] refers to it as rev.11. [BEST] calls it rev.B.
600XL rev.1
All info found in an Atari 600XL.
XL/XE rev.2
All info from Atari 800XL machines (PAL, NTSC and SECAM).
This version is also used in 130XE and 65XE machines.
800XE rev.3
All info found in an 800XE machine.
65XE (Arabic) rev.3B
The OS rev.3B is a 16K rom dump from an 65XE Atari from Arabia.
It's probably based on rev.3. There are changes in the fonts
(Arab characters) and several patches in the code [ARABIC2].
XL/XE rev.4
All info found in an Atari XE Game System (confirmed).
O.S. Authors and dates
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following info is from the Atari XL/XE rev.2 source code [REV2].
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?
1450XLD
~~~~~~~
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 [POOL2]
(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).
Rev. System Date CRC-32 Part Nr(s)
~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~
3 1450XLD 3/23/1984 0x0d477aa1 ?
3 1450XLD 6/21/1984 0xd425a9cf ?
References
~~~~~~~~~~
[ARABIC] Arabic 65XE, http://www.savetz.com/vintagecomputers/arabic65xe/
[ARABIC2] Arabic 65XE (2), http://www.atari800xl.eu/public/65xearab/
[BEST] Best Electronics, catalog of Atari 8-bit parts.
[MAPPING] Mapping the Atari, revised edition, Ian Chadwick, Compute! books
publication, 1985.
[POOL2] Atari Pooldisk Too,
http://members.home.nl/stack/Atari/atari-pooldisk.html
[REVB] The modified september Atari 400/800 computer operating system
listing, revision B, (c)1982 Atari.
[REV2] The Atari O.S. source code rev.2, (c)1984 Atari.
[XLADD] Atari XL addendum Atari home computer system operating system
manual: supplement to Atari 400/800 technical reference notes.
Thanks to
~~~~~~~~~
- Laurent Delsarte for Arabic ROM dump and additional info.
- Michael Current for good info about Rev.11 and the Arabic roms.
- Nir Dary for the rev.2 source code, rom dumps and the 1200XL.
- Sijmen Schouten for his reconstructed 400/800 Rev.B source code.
- Stephen Sheppard for 400/800 Rev.A/NTSC information and rom dumps.
- Steve Tucker for the 1200XL OS ROM dumps.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(end of section content by Freddy Offenga)
Some additional info about the Rev. 3 XL/XE OS 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 TEST) 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! (compared to the original, which was on a 16K x 8 ROM, 27128 comp.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In Atari BASIC, PEEK(65528) and PEEK(65527) return the following unique values
depending upon the version of the Atari OS that is running:
PEEK(65528)
221 = 400/800 OS Rev. A NTSC
214 = 400/800 OS Rev. A PAL
243 = 400/800 OS Rev. B NTSC
34 = 400/800 OS Rev. B PAL (DOES THIS VERSION ACTUALLY EXIST???)
PEEK(65527)
10 = XL/XE OS Rev 10
11 = XL/XE OS Rev 11
1 = XL/XE OS Rev 1
2 = XL/XE OS Rev 2
3 = XL/XE OS Rev 3
59 = XL/XE OS Rev 3B (Arabic)
4 = XL/XE OS Rev 4
Subject: 7.2) What other operating systems have been produced for the Atari?
This section started by Arianne Slaager (Alphasys).
Args OS 3 CRC32: 0x5B1EADF3
- Mostly a copy of the REV 2 XL rom, but boasts a ROM disk driver by Ralf
David that activates by holding Select while resetting. How this works, I have
no clue. ARGS stands for Atari Regional Gruppe Stuttgart. Need extra info on
this one.
Bibomon V2.1 (c) 1084/85 E. Reuss CRC32: 0x41B80C28
- Option + Reset enters a built in machine language monitor. Also some colors
have changed. Looks like Basic is disabled by default, and no way to enable
it.
Highchip (c) Irata GmbH 1985 V.1.9 CRC32: 0x41BB4047
- Mostly a copy of REV 2 XL rom, but includes Happy Warp Speed boot and
changed colors. Special options menu can be initialised by pressing Option +
Select + Reset. Pressing Select + Start while booting, boots from casette.
Booting while holding Start tries to initialise Warp speed before booting.
Oldruner CRC32: 0x10ABFD80
- A copy of the OS-B for the 800, but tweaked to function with the XL/XE line
of computers. Makes the XL/XE line able to run 400/800 software.
Omnimon 87 CRC32: 0x9B4F8FAD
- Byte Eaters OMNIMON V_r 1987: Added monitor, through Select+Reset, which
replaced the self test, as was pretty much the standard at the time.
Compatible with most 800 software. Classified as translator rom.
Omnimon XL CRC32: 0xBFA09B66
- David Young OMNIMONXL (C)1984: Added monitor, through Select+Reset, which
replaced the self test, as was pretty much the standard at the time.
Compatible with most 800 software. Classified as translator rom.
Omnimon XE CRC32: 0x64B77137
- David Young OMNIMONXL (C)1984: Added monitor, through Select+Reset, which
replaced the self test, as was pretty much the standard at the time.
Compatible with most 800 software. Classified as translator rom.
Omniview 5 CRC32: 0x5987F5D8
- (c) 1985 David Young. Based on rev B 800 rom. The extra 6kB holds the main
feature: A 80 column E: handler that can be invoked from most programs
including basic. This mode uses a Graphics 8 screen, with a 4-bit wide font.
Not the best readability. Manual includes patches for (at the time) well known
word processor software: Speedscript 3.0.
Omniview 6 256K CRC32: 0xEB0C62EB
- Only difference with Omniview 5 is a change of tagline. David Young tagline
is replaced by the message " OS-80+ ext.256K rev.(C)1986". There is no
extra support for additional ram. I suspect it's a rip-off.
Omniview XE CRC32: 0xE4BF5B98
- (c) 1985 David Young. Very alike Omniview 5. Same base, same feature, but
with a reworked character set, which is a slight bit easier on the eyes. Minor
changes in the code.
Pud CRC32: 0x95EC9329
- Proof of concept rom for a Power-Up display, made by Aegaeis Softscape.
There might be many versions of this now, because it was advertised to sell,
tailored to suit anyone with a name to stick in. Has no SelfTest, since that
area is replaced with custom graphics/routines for the power-up display. Based
on XE rom. Fully compatible.
- If booted with Select, the startup screen will be skipped. If left by it's
own devices, the startup screen will show for about 2.5 seconds. If Select is
pressed in that time short time, it'll continue to show until Select is
released again.
Q-Meg V2 CRC32: 0x51939D37
- Q-Meg OS versions incorporate a Machine language monitor, support for
ramdisks, including BOOTING from them, without the need for a separate ramdisk
driver. HIO (high speed SIO for Speedy extended drives) is built in aswell.
- Compatible with the XL/XE roms for normal use. Not recommended for emulators
for all versions.
- Lower versions can adress drive 1-4 and 8, later ones can adress drive 1-8.
Configurable ramdisks with 256kB of memory can be either 2 single density
drives, 1 enhanced drive + one small x-drive, or one double density drive.
- Ramdisks may be filled from disk directly from the menu, aswell as written
to disk, including formatting. They can also be protected from being
overwritten by other software. Also Basic can be turned on/off.
Q-Meg V2.3 CRC32: 0xA1FB9BFA
Q-Meg V3.0 CRC32: 0xBE14E47E
Q-Meg V3.2 CRC32: 0x8CD48719
Q-Meg V3.8 CRC32: 0x78F2C102
Q-Meg V4.2 CRC32: 0x64CCFC53
Q-Meg V4.3 CRC32: 0xBE2442DA
Q-Meg V4.4 CRC32: 0x0547F499
Speedos CRC32: 0xA991769B
- I totally have no clue what this does, it just makes my computer crash like
there's no tomorrow. I get the feeling this has Happy extensions that my
drives just don't like, or something like that...
Supermon '85 CRC32: 0xBBD8A8BD
- All Supermon versions are based on the 800 rom, as far as I've noticed so
far.
- Machine language monitor through Select+Reset.
Supermon 2.0 CRC32: 0xFFDC4372
- This one is probably a rip off of the '86 version, as only the monitor
tagline differs.
Supermon '86 (BRD) CRC32: 0x28DD9BE4
- Same as Supermon 2.0, just gives a german header when invoking the monitor.
Supermon HTT CRC32: 0x1101FF93
- Same as Supermon '85, with different colors and charset. Modified build for
the High-Tech Team, a demo/developer group from the Netherlands.
Warpcopy CRC32: 0x21A89311
- Warp speed Happy extension included. Need extra info on this one.
Xos CRC32: 0x196C9B00
- Never found out how to get into special functions on this one yet. Need
extra info on this one.
Subject: 7.3) 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.
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 (newline)
13,10 CR/LF ENTER ^M^J Windows,DOS,CP/M newline
10 0A LF ENTER ^J UNIX,Mac OS X,Amiga newline
13 0D CR ENTER ^M Apple II,MacOS (pre-X) newline
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
A graphical ATARI / ASCII Table is available at:
http://www.akk.org/~flo/ATASCII.pdf
Subject: 7.4) 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 (along with a File Management System (FMS)) for the upcoming
Atari personal computers. The following worked together on the project, which
resulted in Atari BASIC (along with the original Atari DOS):
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
In late 1980/early 1981 the development rights to Atari BASIC were purchased
from Shepardson Microsystems by a new company, Optimized Systems Software
(OSS), headed by Bill Wilkinson.
Three Revisions of Atari BASIC were produced: A, B, and C:
A - cartridge produced for use with the 400/800/1200XL (abundant)
B - built-in to the 600XL/800XL, also produced on cartridge (rare)
C - built-in to the 800XL(late models)/65XE/130XE/800XE/XE Game System,
also produced on cartridge (rare)
Atari BASIC Rev. A was produced by Atari on cartridge in mass quantities
before Shepardson Microsystems had finished debugging it. One place these
bugs are documented is in this article by Steve Hanson from Compute! magazine,
Oct. 1981:
http://www.atarimagazines.com/compute/issue17/171_1_DOCUMENTED_ATARI_BUGS.php
When the 600XL/800XL computers were released in 1983 they included a mostly
debugged Atari BASIC Rev. B. Unfortunately, while most existing bugs were
fixed, Rev. B introduced a new bug more serious than any of the earlier
problems. In his article in the June 1985 issue of Compute!, Bill Wilkinson
writes:
Each time you LOAD (or CLOAD or RUN "filename") a program, rev B adds 16
bytes to the size of your program. If you then save the program, the next
time you load it in it grows by _another_ 16 bytes, and so on.
http://www.atarimagazines.com/compute/issue61/323_1_INSIGHT_Atari.php
The problem can be alleviated by periodically, if not exclusively, using
LIST instead of SAVE or CSAVE to save your programs.
Atari BASIC Rev. C, introduced in 1984, is the final "fully debugged" version.
When running Atari BASIC, memory location 43234 ($A8E2, BASIC ROM) indicates
which Revision of BASIC is 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
All 3 versions of Atari BASIC may be available for download here:
http://members.chello.nl/taf.offenga/atari_dev.htm
Subject: 7.5) What are Atari DOS I, DOS II, DOS 3, DOS 2.5, and DOS XE?
This FAQ section describes the various DOS versions produced by Atari for use
with their 8-bit computers.
The Atari Operating System includes a simple "resident disk handler" that
supports four functions for communicating with a disk drive connected via the
SIO hardware port:
FORMAT - Issue a format command to the disk controller
READ SECTOR - Read a specified sector
WRITE/VERIFY SECTOR - Write sector; check sector to see if written
STATUS - Ask the disk controller for its status
The resident disk handler is used to load a full "file management system"
(FMS) from disk into RAM at power-up.
The FMS may be distributed with additional programs that are optionally loaded
from disk into memory after the FMS is loaded.
On the Atari, then, a "Disk Operating System" (DOS) consists of:
1) The OS-resident disk handler
2) A FMS
3) Possible software extensions to the FMS
However, in practice it is much more common to think only of a FMS and any
additional programs distributed with the FMS as a "DOS" on the Atari.
In 1978 Atari contracted with Shepardson Microsystems, Inc. (SMI) to create a
FMS (along with a version of BASIC) for the upcoming Atari personal computers.
The following worked together on the project, which resulted in the original
Atari DOS (along with 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
The original Atari DOS shipped with 810 disk drives until 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
With the planned release of DOS II in 1981, Atari referred to this first
release of DOS as DOS I. Nearly all users quickly abandoned DOS I in favor of
DOS II.
Trivia: The DOS I "N. DEFINE DEVICE" menu option does not work.
Also, DOS I is not compatible with the 850 Interface Module.
The Atari DOS I disk is labeled: Atari 810 Master Diskette (CX8101).
DOS II Version 2.0S was shipped with 810 disk drives, and early 1050 disk
drives, from 1981-1983. It also shipped with the CX77 Touch Tablet.
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.
By splitting the menu screen off into a separate program that is not loaded
into memory until needed, more memory remained available for user programs in
comparison to the single-file approach of DOS I. 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. A file named
AUTORUN.SYS is launched on startup after DOS.SYS is loaded. 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 I; the reverse is not the case. The DOS 2.0S disk (CX8104) is labeled:
"Atari 810 Master Diskette II" (most) or "Atari 810/1050 Master Diskette II"
(later production). DOS 2.0S was delivered by Optimized Systems Software
(OSS), headed by Bill Wilkinson, for Atari.
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).
For much more about DOS II see Inside Atari DOS by Bill Wilkinson (1982),
online at: http://www.atariarchives.org/iad/
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 130K 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 consists of multiple files: FMS.SYS (the FMS), KCP.SYS,
KCPOVER.SYS, COPY.UTL, DUPDISK.UTL, INIT.UTL, CONVERT.UTL (converts files from
DOS 2.0S to DOS 3, but not back again) and HELP.UTL. It also has support for
MEM.SAV and AUTORUN.SYS. DOS 3 uses a disk format incompatible with, and less
efficient than, DOS 2.0S (DOS 3: 1024-byte "blocks"; DOS 2: 128-byte
"sectors"). For these reasons and others, DOS 3 was not widely accepted by
the Atari community, and like DOS I is not generally used except for
curiosity's sake. The DOS 3 disk is labeled: Master Diskette 3 (DX5052).
DOS II Version 2.5 (DOS 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 compatibility. 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 130K format for use with
the 1050 disk drive. In addition to the two main files DOS.SYS and DUP.SYS,
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.
The DOS 2.5 disk is labeled simply: DOS 2.5 (DX5075).
DOS XE shipped with XF551 disk drives after 1988. Like DOS 3, DOS XE
introduced a whole new format for Atari floppy disks; but unlike DOS 3, DOS XE
also preserved general compatibility 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 130K
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 compatible 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 crowded 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 I and DOS 3 before it. Before
its release, DOS XE was widely known as "ADOS." It was developed by Bill
Wilkinson for Atari. The DOS XE disk is labeled: DOS XE Master Diskette
(DX5090).
Subject: 7.6) What are MyDOS, SpartaDOS, and other popular DOS versions?
Section includes contributions by Andreas Koch (most DOS 2 clone
descriptions); Jeff Williams (12/6/04, Mike Gustafson wrote SpartaDOS)
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, including recent patches by Lee Barnes:
http://www.mathyvannisselroy.nl/mydos.htm
SpartaDOS 3.2, 3.3, 4.41
========================
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 4.41 (8 Feb. 2008)
----------------
Greatly enhanced/expanded compared to disk-based SpartaDOS; completely
different source code.
SDX upgrade project
The purpose of this project is to add new functions to the best disk
operating system for the Atari 8-bit computer ever created, and to clean
up few bugs at the occasion. The last SpartaDOS X version (4.22) was
released 10 years ago. Most users got used to its bugs and shortages. New
software and hardware developments, however, made us think about a new,
cleaned up and modernized version of the DOS, which would be compatible
with the 4.22 (from FTe), and enhanced both in software and hardware.
http://trub.atari8.info/index.php?ref=sdx_upgrade_en
CREDITS
- based on works done by: Prof!, MMMG, DLT Ltd.
- new code and design: DLT Ltd.
- hardware: Pasiu/SSG, Jad, Zenon/Dial, DLT Ltd.
- hosting: krap.pl
- devtools: DLT Ltd., Tebe/Madteam, others
- other support: ABBUC, Epi/TRS, Krap, Mikey, Pin/TRS
4.41 2-08-08 released by DLT
4.39RC 10-01-06 released by DLT
4.22 11-05-95 released by Fine Tooned Engineering (FTe, Mike Hohman)
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 X versions 4.17-4.21 were written by Mike Gustafson at ICD.
SpartaDOS Pro 3.3a, 3.3b, and 3.3c - 1994-1997
----------------------------------
The SpartaDOS Pro 3.3 versions were developed for FTe by programmers Stephen
J. Carden and Ken Ames, based upon a disassembled 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 and available for purchase from Video 61.
-- SpartaDOS Pro Ver 3.3d -- Contains additional fixes for MIO users.
unreleased?
According to Lance Ringquist of Video 61:
K-Products contracted with 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 purchased the rights to
the entire K-Products product line, SpartaDOS Pro 3.3 became a product of
Video 61.
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 nor 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
SpartaDOS 1.1-3.2d were written by Mike Gustafson at ICD.
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 from
Thunderdome, kept by SysOp Fox-1: http://thunderdome.atari.org/ or
http://www.mixinc.net/atari/download_a8/sdsys.htm
BW-DOS 1.30 - FreeWare, published 95-12-17 by ABBUC
===========
Another popular, powerful DOS is BW-DOS (it is pronounced "Bay Vay Dos"),
freeware by Jiri Bernasek - BEWESOFT. 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 (so it
works on an Atari 800 and with Turbo BASIC); 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).
BW-DOS 1.30 disk images and User Manual are available at:
http://atariwiki.strotmann.de/xwiki/bin/view/APG/BeweDOS
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The other DOS varieties mentioned below are all, like MyDOS, Atari DOS-2
clones and thus DOS-2 compatible; available 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 available, 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 available via HELP key;
works with XL/XE computers only, does not load/boot on Atari 400/800 no clue
why;
RealDOS Ver 1.0a Build 0024 2-Oct-06
====================================
Integrated Logic Systems (ILS - Stephen J. Carden)
A potential modern replacement for SpartaDOS.
http://www.tcpipexpress.com/realdos.html
Subject: 7.7) How do I modify Atari DOS to support more than two drives?
When running Atari DOS II and compatibles, memory location 1802 ($70A,
DRVBYT) indicates the number of disk drives allocated. At the Atari BASIC
READY prompt, enter "? PEEK(1802)" to read the value of this location.
Possible values include:
1 = Drive 1 only
3 = Drives 1 and 2 (default value)
7 = Drives 1, 2, and 3
15 = Drives 1, 2, 3, and 4
The value of DRVBYT can be changed with the Atari BASIC POKE command. For
example, "POKE 1802,7" to set DOS to support drives 1-3.
To save a changed value for DRVBYT that will be in effect when the computer
starts up, go to the DOS menu (enter "DOS" at the READY prompt), then choose
menu option H, Write DOS Files. This disk will now boot with support for the
number of disk drives of your choosing.
Subject: 7.8) Are there Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) for the Atari?
Contributors: Andreas Koch, 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 available (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;
- RAOS (Rat Actuated Operating System) by Zobian Controls
- S.A.M., the Screen Aided Management (unfortunately it has the same name as
SAM, the software aided mouth) from PPP/Germany. It is available 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 available, a) for DOS 2.5, b) for MyDOS and c) 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.
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.
- TRS Desktop by Tristesse. A graphic user interface for SpartaDOS X to be
used with hard drives.
http://www.atari8.info/trsdesktop.php
http://trub.atari8.info/sdx_files/TRS_desktop_v09d_alfa.zip
- 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 too much memory for everyday use. That's why most users still prefer
those DOS or Gamedos (Gameloader, Multiloader, etc.) programs...
Subject: 7.9) 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) SX212 modem/R-Verter Serial Bus Modem Adapter.
Standard Hayes-type RS-232 modems, interface via SIO
The R-Verter was distributed with four different R: handler versions:
RHAND1.OBJ - R: handler supporting DSR & RD
RHAND1C.OBJ - R: handler supporting DSR & CD
RHAND2.OBJ - R: handler supporting DSR & RD and translation tables
RHAND2C.OBJ - R: handler supporting DSR & CD and translation tables
4) SWP ATR8000 interface. Standard Hayes-type RS-232 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 RS-232 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.
The P:R: Connection was distributed with such a handler, called: PRC.SYS
7) MIO/Black Box interfaces, internal
These interfaces utilize 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://www.lenardspencer.com/Lenspencer/hyperspd.htm
Subject: 8.1) What programming languages are available for the Atari?
This section is by Freddy Offenga, reproduced here by permission from:
http://members.chello.nl/taf.offenga/atari_dev.htm
additions/edits to this version by mc:
2009.02 edits: The BASIC Compiler; BASIC XE;
Microsoft BASIC; Microsoft BASIC II; CLSN Pascal; Logo; PILOT;
Action!, Kyan Pascal, Lightspeed C versions from Atari Explorer mags
2006.01.16 added: Xasm 3.0.0, 2005 from Piotr Fusik
Revision : 2.0
Date.... : 2005-2-20
==============================================================
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 title (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 Koch
- Winston Smith
- Carsten Strotmann
- Brad Arnold
Revision history
================
2.0
- Added Atari Pilot info from Brad Arnold
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://atariwiki.strotmann.de/xwiki/bin/view/Main//LangForth)
- Several updates in the assembler section
1.8
Thanks to Andreas Koch 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..... : ?
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.
- Xasm
version, year : 3.0.0, 2005
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 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 (disk)
version, year : 1.0, 1981
author/company : developed by Microsoft, published by Atari
available..... : CX8126
package....... : BASIC interpreter
features...... : Based on the full language level of Microsoft BASIC
- Atari Microsoft BASIC II (cart + extensions disk)
version, year : 2.0, 1983, c1982
author/company : developed by Microsoft, published by Atari
available..... : AX2025 box contains:
* Microsoft BASIC II Programming Language cart. RX8035
* Microsoft BASIC II Extension Diskette DX5046
* [User's Guide] C061251 REV. A (1982)
* Reference Manual C061257 REV. A (1983)
* Quick Reference Guide C061253 REV. A (1982)
package....... : BASIC interpreter
features...... : Based on the full language level of Microsoft BASIC
"Programs developed under the diskette-based version of
Atari Microsoft BASIC can be run using Atari Microsoft
BASIC II."
- BASIC A+ (disk)
version, year : 3.05, 1981
author/company : OSS
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC interpreter
features...... : -
- The BASIC Compiler (disk)
version, year : 1.4, 1983
author/company : Datasoft
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC compiler
features...... : four-pass compiler; compiles Atari BASIC programs into
6502 machine language; produces DATASM compatible
assembler files
- BASIC XL (cart)
version, year : ?, ?
author/company : OSS
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC interpreter
features...... : -
- BASIC XE (cart + extensions disk)
version, year : 4.1, 1985
author/company : OSS
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC interpreter
features...... : requires XL/XE; supports 130XE extended memory
- CTH Fast Basic (disk)
version/year : ?
author/company : Tom Hunt/Closer to Home
available.......: 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;
available at Tom Hunt's homepage or elsewhere...
- 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 : 3.0, 1988
author/company : Clearstar Softechnologies
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.
- CLSN Pascal (disk)
version, year : 1989?
author/company : CLSN Software
available..... : ?
package....... : editor, compiler
features...... : generates 6502 machine code;
requires 128K XL/XE
- Draper Pascal (disk)
version, year : 2.1, 1989
author/company : Norm Draper
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : -
- Kyan Pascal (disk)
version, year : 2.02, 1986
author/company : Kyan Software
available..... : ?
package....... : editor, compiler, linker, macro-assembler
and manual
features...... : -
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://atariwiki.strotmann.de/xwiki/bin/view/Main//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://atariwiki.strotmann.de/xwiki/bin/view/Main//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://atariwiki.strotmann.de/xwiki/bin/view/Main//LangForthGraphicForth
package....... : ?
features...... : -
based on fig-FORTH 1.4S and TURBO-GRAPHICS-SYSTEM 256
- MesaForth
version, year : 12/03/81
author/company : ?
available..... :
http://atariwiki.strotmann.de/xwiki/bin/view/Main//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://atariwiki.strotmann.de/xwiki/bin/view/Main//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://atariwiki.strotmann.de/xwiki/bin/view/Main//ProjXForth
package....... : binary, source, disk image with samples & editor
features...... : aims to be compatible with new ANSI standard.
works with normal DOS.
g) PILOT
- PILOT with "Turtle" Graphics (cart; cart + tape)
version, year : 1981, c1980
author/company : Atari
available..... : ?
package....... : Two packages sold:
1) PILOT with "Turtle Graphics" (CXL4018) includes:
* PILOT Programming Language cartridge CXL4018
* Student PILOT: Reference Guide CO17811 Rev1 (1981)
* PILOT Pocket Reference Card C017812 Rev.2 (1981)
2) PILOT with "Turtle Graphics" Educator's Kit (CX405) includes:
* PILOT Programming Language cartridge CXL4018
* PILOT Primer: The PILOT Programming Language Instruction Manual
CO17809 REV.1 (c1980 DYMAX)
* Student PILOT: Reference Guide CO17811 Rev1 (1981)
* PILOT Pocket Reference Card C017812 Rev.2 (1981)
* 2 Demonstration Program Cassettes
- CX4113 Cassette A, Side 1: PILOT Programs for Children
Cassette A, Side 2: A PILOT Teaching Program
- CX4113 Cassette B, Side 1: PILOT "Turtle Graphics" Demonstration
Cassette B, Side 2: PILOT Do-It-Yourself Slide Show
* PILOT Demonstration Programs: Users Guide C01780 REV.1 (1981)
* binder CA017805 REV. 1
features...... : -
h) LOGO
- Atari Logo (cart)
version, year : 1983
author/company : Logo Computer Systems Inc. (LCSI), published by Atari
available..... : ?
package....... : Three packages sold:
1) Atari Logo: Programming Language Cartridge (RX8032) contains:
* Atari Logo Computer Program cartridge RX8032
* Atari Logo: Quick Reference Guide C061583 (1983)
2) Atari Logo: Atari Logo User Manuals (BX4208) contains:
* Atari Logo: Introduction to Programming Through Turtle Graphics
C061590 (1983)
* Atari Logo: Reference Manual C061589 (1983)
3) Logo Kit (KX7079) contains:
* Atari Logo: Programming Language Cartridge RX8032
* Atari Logo: Atari Logo User Manuals BX4208
features...... : -
i) All the rest
- Action! (cart)
version, year : 3.6, 1983
author/company : Action! Computer Services (Clinton Parker), pub. by 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?
This should be a complete list of commercial cartridges produced for use in
the Right Cartridge slot of the Atari 800.
ACE-80 by Claus Buchholz for Amiable Computer Enhancements / TNT Computing
(80 column editor, compatible with Atari BASIC, and patches available for:
OS/A+, EASMD, Letter Perfect v.6, Data Perfect, Atari Logo)
Austin 80 Console Software by Austin Franklin
Block (first right cart/first "backup" program hardware device)
Cartridge Maker by Radical Systems (EPROM burner)
KISS by Eastern House
Magic Dump by Geminisoft/Eric Wolz for Sar-An Computer Products (SCP)
Magic Dump II by Geminisoft/Eric Wolz for Sar-An Computer Products (SCP)
Monkey Wrench by Eastern House
Monkey Wrench II by Eastern House
R-Time 8 by ICD (battery-backed clock, for left or right cart slots)
Real Time Cartridge by Sunmark
Subject: 8.3) What games support 4 or more simultaneous players?
Section started by Andreas Koch.
a) The following games support 4 joystick head-to-head play:
(Only possible on the 400/800 since only these computer models have
4 controller ports)
- Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves by Quality Software
- 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);
- Asteroids cart. by Atari,
- Basketball cart. by Atari,
- Battle Room (CIA vs. KGB) a PD game by SNACC
- Dandy disk by APX,
- Depth Warrior by ??? from ROM magazine, Aug. 1984 ***
- Floyd of the Jungle
- Major League Soccer cart. by Thorn EMI,
- Major League Hockey cart. by Thorn EMI,
- Soccer by Gamma Software
- Hockey by Gamma Software
- Maze War disk or cart. by ???,
- M.U.L.E. disk by Electronic Arts,
- Roadblock by Brian Holness from Compute! magazine
- Silicon Warrior disk or tape by Epyx,
- Sky Warrior by ??? from ROM magazine, June 1984 ***
- Survivor disk or cart. by Synapse,
- Tank Battle by Fred Pinho from Antic magazine:
http://www.atarimagazines.com/v3n2/animate.html
- Volleyball by ??? (PD game written in Atari BASIC);
- 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!);
b) The following games support 4 paddle head-to-head play:
- Castle Crisis by Bryan Edewaard, 2004
- IQ by David S. Maynard for CRL, 1987 (same game as "Worms?")
- Warlords by ?, year? (pd version, unlicensed)
- Worms? by David S. Maynard for Electronic Arts, 1983
c) 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
d) 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);
e) 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):
- Astro4Road by Fandal
- Bremspunkt (demo-version) by T. Butschke
- Bremspunkt (full-version) by T. Butschke
- Card Grabber by F. Dingler
- Cervi by R.Sterba
- Cervi 2 by R. Sterba
- Fujirun by Schmutzpuppe (see below!)
- Hardwaretester/Peripheral Test 2.0 by Florian Dingler, 2008
- Icehockey by F. Dingler
- Multijoy-tester by Fandal or Raster
- Multris by R.Sterba
- Quadrotron-M4 by R. Sterba
- Sheep-Race by F.Dingler
- Shot'em All by R.Sterba
The following patches are available at:
http://mitglied.lycos.de/gunnarbusse/bajamar/download.htm
- Asteroids, modified for Multijoy by Schmutzpuppe
- Basketball, modified for Multijoy by Schmutzpuppe
- Tennis, modified for Multijoy by Schmutzpuppe
- Dandy, modified for Multijoy by Schmutzpuppe
- M.U.L.E., modified for Multijoy by Schmutzpuppe
And the following patches are available at:
www.atari.fandal.cz
- Wingman modified for Multijoy by Fandal
- (Thorn EMI) Hockey modified for Multijoy by Fandal
- (Thorn EMI) Soccer modified for Multijoy by Fandal
- (Gamma) Hockey modified for Multijoy by Fandal
- (Gamma) Soccer modified for Multijoy by Fandal
- Battle Room modified for Multijoy by Fandal
- Silicon Warrior by Epyx modified for Multijoy by Fandal
- Mazewar modified for Multijoy by Fandal
- Survivor modified for Multijoy by Fandal
- Floyd of the Jungle modified for Multijoy by Fandal
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. Many can nevertheless be made to run 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 Chalk Board
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 Chalk Board
Leo's Links Chalk Board
Letter Perfect (before v6) LJK
LogicMaster Chalk Board
Mac/65 [ver. 1.00, orange] OSS
Mario Bros. ('83) Atari
Maze Epyx
Micro Illustrator Chalk Board
MicroMaestro Chalk Board
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
XL/XE workaround: hold down START to skip the title screen,
which is where it locks up. --Scott Stilphen, 6 Jun 2007
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
XL/XE workaround: hold down START or SELECT to skip the title screen,
which is where it locks up.
A re-release by Americana/Synsoft corrects the incompatibility problem.
(http://www.atarimania.com/detail_soft.php?MENU=8&VERSION_ID=6174)
--Scott Stilphen, 6 Jun 2007
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 Koch 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 Self Test/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 behavior 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 use a light pen or a light gun?
Contributor to this section: Bertrand M. (LEXX), Andreas Koch
The Atari computer reads the horizontal and vertical positions of a light pen
or a light gun in the same way. Consequently, while software programs are
designed for one or the other, these two types of controllers may often
substitute for each other.
Programs designed for a light gun:
Alien Blast, Richard Gore for DGS, 1993
Alien Invaders (TB-XL or CTB) disk by R.Gore (available from DGS);
Barnyard Blaster, James V. Zalewski for Atari, 1987
Bembel Wo by Thorsten Butschke for Foundation Two, 1998
Bug Hunt, Alan Murphy and Rob Zdybel for Atari, 1987
Cementerio, Pelusa Software, 1989
Click!, Chris Martin, 2008
Crime Buster, Ron Andrzejewski & James Zalewski for Atari, 1988
Crossbow by Atari, 1988
Flyshot or Flyshoot a PD game by Kemal Ezcan
Gangsters by Houra, Pesout, Stefek, Sterba, Svoboda, 2007
Gangstersville, Emanuele Bergamini for Lindasoft, 1988
Geister-Schloss, KE-Soft, 1992
Hardwaretester/Peripheral Test 2.0 by Florian Dingler, 2008
Hit the Mole by Phoenix-Softcrew / Carsten Strotmann;
Invasion, Pelusa Soft
Light Gun Blaster, Andre Willey, Atari User Feb. 1988
Light Gun Blaster (enhanced) by Pedrokko
Matrix a PD game by Dave Oblad
Messe Hanau, Kemal Ezcan, 1995
Operation Blood (light gun) by Bulkowski & Kalinowski for ANG, light gun
conversion by The Missing Link
Operation Blood II - Special Forces disk, ANG/Mirage
Pajaki II, Arkadiusz Lubaszka for ArSoft, 1996
Schiessen, L. Franzky (Abbuc magazine)
The Scrolls of Abadon, Frank Cohen, 1984
Sharp Shooter, Matthew Ratcliff, 1989
Sniper, Premysl Stefek, Radek Sterba, Petr Svoboda and Fandal, 2007
Special Forces (light gun) by Mirage, light gun conversion by Homesoft
- See also Fandal site search for games that use a light gun:
http://atari.fandal.cz/search.php?search=light+gun&butt_details_x=x
- See also AtariMania list of games that use a light gun:
http://www.atarimania.com/lst_soft-MENU-8-TYPE_CODE-G-CONTROL_ID-5.html
Programs designed for a light pen:
- Alien Blast, Richard Gore for DGS, 1993
- AtariGraphics by Steve Gibson for Atari (RX8054, shipped with CX75)
- Bedtime Stories - Little Red Riding Hood by Futurehouse, 1983
- Blazing Paddles by Baudville, 1986
- Concentration by Stack Computer Services, 1983
- Crossword Twister by Stack Computer Services, 1983
- Draughts by Stack Computer Services, 1983
- Go by Stack Computer Services, 1983
- Hardwaretester/Peripheral Test 2.0 by Florian Dingler, 2008
- Language Skills - Alphabet Recognition by Futurehouse, 1982
- Language Skills - Different Symbol Discrimination by Futurehouse, 1982
- Language Skills - Letter Sequences by Futurehouse, 1982
- Language Skills - Like Symbol Discrimination by Futurehouse, 1982
- Letter Tutor by Edgework for Atari, 1984 prototype
- Life by Stack Computer Services, 1983
- Light Pen Doodle by John and Mary Harrison for Antic, 1984
- Lost in the Labyrinth by Stack Computer Services, 1983
- Math Fun for the Young - Level I by Tech-Sketch, 1983
- Math Fun for the Young - Level II by Tech-Sketch, 1983
- Matrix by Dave Oblad, 1985
- Micro Illustrator by Island Graphics for Tech Sketch (shipped with
Tech Sketch Light Pen)
- Othello by Stack Computer Services, 1983
- Paint-n-Sketch I by Tech Sketch, 1983
- Seek and Destroy by Stack Computer Services, 1983
- Shape and Color Recognition by Tech Sketch, 1983
- Shuffler by Stack Computer Services, 1983
- Simon by Stack Computer Services, 1983
- See also AtariMania lists of programs that use a light pen:
http://www.atarimania.com/lst_soft-MENU-8-TYPE_CODE-G-CONTROL_ID-6.html
http://www.atarimania.com/lst_soft-MENU-8-TYPE_CODE-U-CONTROL_ID-6.html
Note that on the 400, the light gun / light pen will only work in joystick
port 4. This renders much light gun and light pen software unusable on the
400.
Subject: 8.6) What programs have a trackball mode or support a mouse?
Programs that use the trackball mode of the Atari CX22 Trak-Ball or the
earlier-production CX80 Trak-Ball:
- Catch 88 by Simon Trew, 1991
- Supports Multi-Mouse Trakball Driver by Simon Trew
- Hardwaretester/Peripheral Test 2.0 by Florian Dingler, 2008
- Kriss Kross by Simon Trew, 1992
- Supports Multi-Mouse Trakball Driver by Simon Trew
- Knight Quest by Simon Trew, 1991
- Supports Multi-Mouse Trakball Driver by Simon Trew
- Missile Command by Atari ([CTRL+T] for trackball mode)
- Missile Command+ by Paul Lee, 2005 ([CTRL+T] for trackball mode)
- Multi-Mouse Trakball Driver by Simon Trew for New Atari User #42 1990
- Othello by Simon Trew, 1991
- Supports Multi-Mouse Trakball Driver by Simon Trew
- Slime by Steve Hales for Synapse, 1982 (press [T] for trackball mode)
- See also AtariMania lists of programs that use CX22 trackball mode:
http://www.atarimania.com/lst_soft-MENU-8-TYPE_CODE-G-CONTROL_ID-23.html
http://www.atarimania.com/lst_soft-MENU-8-TYPE_CODE-U-CONTROL_ID-23.html
- See also Fandal site search for games that use the CX22 trackball mode:
http://atari.fandal.cz/search.php?search=trak-ball&butt_details_x=x
Programs that use the Atari ST Mouse or the trackball mode of the later-
production CX80 Trak-Ball:
- 8Bit-Mouse (PD by BPAUG)
- AMC calculator
- Artprog (PD)
- Black Magic Composer by Sven Tegethoff for Ulf Petersen, 1991
- Bombdown, demo-version by Roemer of UNO
- Bombdown, full-version by Roemer of UNO
- BOSS-X by Mirko Sobe, 2003
- BOSS-XE by Mirko Sobe, 2000
- BOSS-XL by Mirko Sobe, 2000
- The Brundles by KE-Soft, 1993
- The Brundles Editor by KE-Soft, 1994
- CardStax 2.1 by David A. Paterson, 1993
- Catch 88 by Simon Trew, 1991
- Supports Multi-Mouse ST Mouse Driver by Simon Trew
- Celebrity Cookbook by U.S.A. Media
- Click! by Chris Martin, 2008
- Diamond GOS by Reeve Software
- Diamond Paint by Reeve Software, requires Diamond GOS
- Diamond Write by Reeve Software, requires Diamond GOS
- Enigmatix! by Stephen A. Firth for Page 6, 1993
- Faecher Patience by Kemal Ezcan for Zong mag, 1993
- FireBall (a Breakout game, requires SAM)
- GOE by Total Control Systems (PD)
- Hardwaretester/Peripheral Test 2.0 by Florian Dingler, 2008
- Hong kong by KE-Soft (ZONG mag.)
- KE-Mouse drivers by KE-Soft
- Kriss Kross by Simon Trew, 1992
- Supports Multi-Mouse ST Mouse Driver by Simon Trew
- Knight Quest by Simon Trew, 1991
- Supports Multi-Mouse ST Mouse Driver by Simon Trew
- Macao XL by KE-Soft (ZONG mag.)
- Minesweeper by Harald Schoenfeld for PPP, 1992
- Mine Sweeper by Raindorf Soft
- Mine Sweeper 3 (PD)
- Missile Command by Atari ([CTRL+T] for trackball mode)
- M.O.S. (from Abbuc mag.)
- Mouse-DOS by KE-Soft (ZONG mag.)
- Multi-Mouse ST Mouse Driver by Simon Trew for New Atari User #42 1990
- Multi-Player by Madteam
- Multi-DOS (PD)
- Najemnik - Powrot by Krysal Software
- Operation Blood by ANG/Mirage
- Operation Blood 2 by ANG/Mirage
- Othello by Simon Trew, 1991
- Supports Multi-Mouse ST Mouse Driver by Simon Trew
- Pad 1.2 (Padnoid) by Nelson Ramirez / New Age, 1995
- P-Graph(s) by ??? (PD)
- QUICK Ed Character Editor by PPP
- SAM (Screen Aided Management) by Power Per Post & Raindorf Soft (a GUI!)
- SAM Budget (80 column spreadsheet program, requires SAM)
- SAM Convert (text files to/from the SAM Texter format, requires SAM)
- SAM Creator (SAM Painter files to/from Micro Painter format, requires SAM)
- SAM Designer (drawing and design / desktop publishing, requires SAM)
- SAM Memobox (card filing program, requires SAM)
- SAM Monitor (view and change memory, requires SAM)
- SAM Painter (128 color paint program, requires SAM)
- SAM Texter (80 column word processor, requires SAM)
- Samurai's Game by Krysal Software, 1992
- Shanghai by Activision
- Special Forces by Mirage Software, 1993
- Sprint XL (from Abbuc)
- TRS Desktop by Tristesse, 2006
- UPN calculator (PD)
- Vanish by KE-Soft (ZONG mag.)
- Vier gewinnt (PD)
- See also Fandal site search for games that use the Atari ST mouse:
http://atari.fandal.cz/search.php?search=mouse&butt_details_x=x
- See also AtariMania lists of programs that use the Atari ST mouse:
http://www.atarimania.com/lst_soft-MENU-8-TYPE_CODE-G-CONTROL_ID-4.html
http://www.atarimania.com/lst_soft-MENU-8-TYPE_CODE-U-CONTROL_ID-4.html
Programs that use the Amiga mouse:
- Black Magic Composer by Sven Tegethoff for Ulf Petersen, 1991
- Bombdown, demo-version by Roemer of UNO
- Bombdown, full-version by Roemer of UNO
- Multi-Player by MadTeam (PD)
- TRS Desktop by Tristesse, 2006
Programs that use a Commodore 1351 mouse (mouse for Commodore 64/128):
- Klony by ArSoft, 2006
Programs that use The Rat (by Zobian Controls):
- Accu-Draw by Zobian Controls
- Control by Zobian Controls
- Master Disk Directory II by Zobian Controls
- Business Manager by Reeve Software
Programs that use the SuperRAT (by Zobian Controls):
- Accu-Draw by Zobian Controls
- RAOS (Rat Actuated Operating System) by Zobian Controls
- Z-DOS by Zobian Controls (requires RAOS)
Subject: 8.7) What programs use paddle controllers?
- AE (Jun Wada & Makoto Horai for Broderbund)
- Arkanoid (Taito)(Mike Hutchinson for Imagine, 1987; for The Hit Squad, 1987)
- Arkanoid II (Prof Soft Amsterdam, 1987)
- Asteraxis 2k (Waldemar Pawlaszek & Remigiusz Zukowski, 2001)
- Avalanche (Dennis Knoble for APX, 1980)
- Balloon Game (Kelly Jones & Bill Williams, 1984)
- Balloon Pop (White Bag Software, 1986)
- Bird-Man-3D demo (AMC-Verlag)
- Blazing Paddles (Baudville, 1986)
- Block Buster (Bradshaw & Griesemer for APX, 1981; Quality Software, 1981)
- Body Parts (Dominick A. Scalzo for PartlySoft Software, 1983)
- Breakout / Breakout!!! / brkwall.bas (public domain, author unknown)
- Burgers! (Douglas Crockford, 1983)
- Bust Out (Dennis Debro, 1989)
- Cascade (F. Neil Simms for ANALOG #28, March 1985)
- Castle Crisis (Bryan Edewaard, 2004)
- Checkers (David Slate for Odesta, 1982)
- Chess 7.0 (Larry Atkin for Odesta, 1982)
- Chicken (Mike Potter for Synapse, 1982)
- Chiseler (public domain, author unknown)
- Clowns and Balloons (Frank Cohen for Datasoft, 1982)
- Comment Compter ("Counter" by Al P. Casper for Atari France)
- Computer Quarterback (Dan Bunten for SSI, 1983)
- Counter (Al P. Casper for APX, 1982)
- David's Midnight Magic (David Snider for Broderbund, 1982)
- Descente a Ski ("Downhill" by Mark Reid for Atari France)
- Diamond Drop (Matthias M. Giwer for Compute!, 1983)
- Downhill (Mark Reid for APX)
- Dragonriders of Pern (Jim W. Connelley for Epyx, 1983)
- Etch-1 (public domain, author unknown)
- Frog (Stan Ockers 5/82 for A.C.E. Newsletter, July 1982)
- Frog (Stan Ockers 6/82 for Antic, Oct/Nov 1982)
- Golden Oldies Volume 1 v2.2 (Mike Fitch for Software Country, 1985)
- Golden Oldies Volume 1 v2.3 (Mike Fitch, The Software Toolworks, 1987 c1985)
- Hardwaretester/Peripheral Test 2.0 by Florian Dingler, 2008
- Horse of a Different Color V1.0 (Gus Makreas, 3/1/81)
- Insomnia (Bob Fraser for APX, 1981)
- IQ by David S. Maynard for CRL, 1987
- Kaboom! (Larry Kaplan & Paul Willson for Activision, 1983)
- JunkYard Racing (Tim Gearin, 1999)
- Landing Simulator (by Jake Jacobs for Creative Computing magazine,
written for Apple, Atari translation by Bruce Jordan)
- Laser Game (public domain, author unknown)
- Laser Wars (Mike Potter for Crystalware, 1981)
- Lie Detector (Michael Krueger for Antic, 1986)
- Livewire (Tom Hudson - ANALOG #12)
- Livewire 2 (Tom Hudson - ANALOG #12 - Modified by Wolf)
- Lunar Lander (Wes Newell)
- Midnight Strip (M. L. Clayton, 1982)
- M.U.L.E. (Ozark Softscape for Electronic Arts, 1983; for Ariolasoft, 1985)
- Night Driver (Dudek, Szpilowski, Ziembik, 2008)
- Nineball (Jay M. Ford for ZiMAG, 1982)
- One on One! (Chris York for Compute!, 1983)
- Paratroop Attack (David Plotkin for Compute!'s Second Book of Atari, 1982)
- "Perfected Pong" see: Pong! ("Perfected Pong") below
- Personal Fitness Program (Dave Getreu for APX, 1981)
- Pinball Construction Set (Electronic Arts)
- all pinball games created with Pinball Construction Set
- PlatterMania (Michael Farren for Epyx, 1982)
- Pong ("Super Pong")(Gary Domrow/Summit Software Group, ANALOG #39 Feb.1986)
- [Pong] ("Pong 2", pong2.com, public domain, author unknown)
- Pong! ("Perfected Pong") (Bob Ayik for Antic, May 1988)
- Pool 1.5 (Howard De St. Germain for IDSI, 1981)
- Popcorn! (Cathy Sloatman, Mark Sloatman)
- Prisonball (John Scarborough for Compute!, 1986)
- Probe One - The Transmitter (Lloyd Ollmann for Synergistic Software, 1982)
- Safe Cracker (Mike Starnes)
- Space Bombs (John Y. Hsu, 1984)
- Space Eggs (Dan Thompson for Sirius, 1981)
- Speedblaster (Pinball Construction Set Game by MR Datentechnik)
- Spy's Demise (Robert Hardy & Alan Zeldin for Penguin Software, 1983)
- Stardust (MR Datentechnik)
- Starshot (Matthias M. Giwer for Compute!, 1983)
- States and Capitals (David J. Bohlke for SoftSide, 1980)
- Stereo 3-D Graphics Package (Clyde Spencer for APX, 1982)
- Super Ball (Compyshop mag.)
- Super Ball 2 (Compyshop mag.)
- Super Ball 3 (Compyshop mag.)
- Super Ball 4 (Compyshop mag.)
- Super Breakout by Larry Kaplan for Atari, 1979
- "Super Pong" see: Pong ("Super Pong") above
- Stretch (public domain Gr. 15 pict. stretcher, author unknown)
- Superski (AMC, 1994 - patch for paddles by HOMESOFT)
- Tilter (public domain, author unknown)
- Uranium Core (Martin Stiby for Computer & Video Games mag, 1982/11)
- Warlords (The Webbed Sphere BBS)
- Wavy Navy (Rodney McAuley for Sirius, 1983)
- Wayout (Paul Allen Edelstein for Sirius, 1982)
- WildWest (Stan Ockers for ACE Newsletter, 1983)
- Word Radar (Jerry Chaffin & Bill Maxwell & Barbara Thompson for DLM, 1984)
- Worms? by David S. Maynard for Electronic Arts, 1983
- See also AtariMania lists of programs that use paddle controllers:
http://www.atarimania.com/lst_soft-MENU-8-TYPE_CODE-G-CONTROL_ID-2.html
http://www.atarimania.com/lst_soft-MENU-8-TYPE_CODE-U-CONTROL_ID-2.html
- See also Fandal site search for games that use paddle controllers:
http://atari.fandal.cz/search.php?search=paddle&butt_details_x=x
Note that the Atari Touch Tablet, the KoalaPad Touch Tablet and the Suncom
Animation Station are read by the computer in the same way that the computer
receives data from paddle controllers, making software designed for these
graphics tablets at least somewhat usable with paddles as well. See a
separate section in this FAQ list for a list of programs supporting these
graphics tablets.
Subject: 8.8) What programs have a CX85 Numerical Keypad mode?
This section started by Andreas Koch.
- Bombdown (Roemer of Uno);
- The Bookkeeper (Atari);
- Ball Harbour (Zong 8/1992);
- The Big Quest (Zong 7/1992);
- Blob (Zong 2/1992);
- Bomber Jack (KE-Soft);
- The Brundles by KE-Soft, 1993
- The Brundles Editor by KE-Soft, 1994
- UPN calculator (PD);
- Catch (Zong 6/1992);
- Click! (Chris Martin 2008);
- 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);
- FlickerTerm 80 v.0.51 by LonerSoft (Clay Halliwell)
- Gravitar (Zong 4/1992);
- Hardwaretester/Peripheral Test 2.0 by Florian Dingler, 2008
- 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);
- Numerical Keypad Handler Master Program Diskette CX8139 (Atari, 1982)
- 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 use: Touch Tablet or KoalaPad/Animation Station?
The Atari Touch Tablet and the KoalaPad/Animation Station tablets, while very
similar, are slightly incompatible with each other in that y-position values
are reversed.
The following programs use the Atari Touch Tablet:
- AtariArtist (Atari cartridge version of Micro Illustrator;
Distributed with the Atari Touch Tablet)
- CardStax 2.1 by David A. Paterson, 1993
- Catch 88 by Simon Trew, 1991
- Supports Multi-Mouse Touch Tablet Driver by Simon Trew
- Click! (Chris Martin, 2008)
- Desktop Performance Studio (Virtuoso)
- Diamond GOS by Reeve Software
- Diamond Paint by Reeve Software, requires Diamond GOS
- Diamond Write by Reeve Software, requires Diamond GOS
- Hardwaretester/Peripheral Test 2.0 by Florian Dingler, 2008
- Knight Quest by Simon Trew, 1991
- Supports Multi-Mouse Touch Tablet Driver by Simon Trew
- Kriss Kross by Simon Trew, 1992
- Supports Multi-Mouse Touch Tablet Driver by Simon Trew
- Multi-Mouse Touch Tablet Driver by Simon Trew for New Atari User #42 1990
- Othello by Simon Trew, 1991
- Supports Multi-Mouse Touch Tablet Driver by Simon Trew
- Pixel Artist Deluxe 1.3 (PD)
- The Print Shop (Broderbund)
- The Print Shop Companion (Broderbund)
- QUICK Ed Character Editor by PPP
- RAMbrandt by Bard Ermentrout for Antic, 1985
- Rubber Stamp (XLEnt)
- Typesetter (XLEnt)
- See also AtariMania lists of programs using the Atari Touch Tablet:
http://www.atarimania.com/lst_soft-MENU-8-TYPE_CODE-G-CONTROL_ID-21.html
http://www.atarimania.com/lst_soft-MENU-8-TYPE_CODE-U-CONTROL_ID-21.html
The following programs use the KoalaPad or the Animation Station:
- Blazing Paddles (Baudville)
- The Brundles by KE-Soft, 1993
- The Brundles Editor by KE-Soft, 1994
- Click! (Chris Martin, 2008)
- Desktop Performance Studio (Virtuoso)
- DesignLab (Suncom version of Blazing Paddles;
Distributed with the Suncom Animation Station)
- Diamond GOS by Reeve Software
- Diamond Paint by Reeve Software, requires Diamond GOS
- Diamond Write by Reeve Software, requires Diamond GOS
- Edmac
- Hardwaretester/Peripheral Test 2.0 by Florian Dingler, 2008
- KoalaPainter (Koala Technologies version of Micro Illustrator;
Distributed with the KoalaPad)
- Koalpad.BAS
- Ksketch.BAS
- Koalask.BAS
- News Station (Reeve)
- Pixel Artist Deluxe 1.3 (PD)
- Planetary Defense (Charles Bachand and Tom Hudson for ANALOG #17 March 1984)
- The Print Shop (Broderbund)
- The Print Shop Companion (Broderbund)
- RAMbrandt by Bard Ermentrout for Antic, 1985
- Reader Rabbit (The Learning Company)
- Rubber Stamp (XLEnt)
- Tablety.BAS
- Trails!
- Typesetter (XLEnt)
- See also AtariMania lists of programs using the KoalaPad/Animation Station:
http://www.atarimania.com/lst_soft-MENU-8-TYPE_CODE-G-CONTROL_ID-12.html
http://www.atarimania.com/lst_soft-MENU-8-TYPE_CODE-U-CONTROL_ID-12.html
The following are reported to use either the KoalaPad/Animation Station, the
Atari Touch Tablet, or both (TO BE VERIFIED):
- Edmac (PD)
- Hit the Mole by C. Strotmann
- Musorqua (Analog computing)
- Picture Enhancer (PD)
- Tablety.BAS (PD)
- TTCalib.BAS (PD)
- UPN calculator (PD)
- Word Search.BAS (PD)
Note that the Atari Touch Tablet, the KoalaPad Touch Tablet and the Suncom
Animation Station are read by the computer in the same way that the computer
receives data from paddle controllers, making software designed for paddles at
least somewhat usable with these graphics tablets as well. See a separate
section in this FAQ list for a list of programs that use paddle controllers.
Subject: 8.10) What kinds of extra RAM and RAMdisks can be installed?
This section by Andreas Koch -- Version 3.6 from June 2008
A) Atari 400/800 RAMdisks:
- Size: 64k XRAM (+ 32k RAM)
Banks: 0 thru 3 (total memory = 96k RAM)
Types: Axlon (=Atari) and compatibles;
- Size: 128k XRAM (+ 32k RAM)
Banks: 0 thru 7 (total memory = 160k RAM)
Types: Axlon (= Atari) and compatibles;
- Size: 256k XRAM (+ 32k RAM)
Banks: 0 thru 15 (total memory = 288k RAM)
Types: D. Byrd and other self-made / Axlon-compatible RDs;
- Size: 512k XRAM (+ 32k RAM)
Banks: 0 thru 31 (total memory = 544k RAM)
Types: self-made / Axlon-compatible RAMdisks;
- Size: 1024k XRAM (+ 32k RAM)
Banks: 0 thru 63 (total memory = 1056k RAM)
Types: self-made / Axlon-compatible RAMdisks;
- Size: 2048k XRAM (+ 32k RAM)
Banks: 0 thru 127 (total memory = 2080k RAM)
Types: self-made / Axlon-compatible RAMdisks;
- Size: 4096k XRAM (+32k RAM)
Banks: 0 thru 255 (total memory = 4128k RAM)
Types: self-made / Axlon-compatible RAMdisks;
=> 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 !!)
Axlon supporting software includes: MyDOS, TopDOS, Synfile +,
Syncalc +, and more (I cannot test it, alas)
- Size: 64k for 48k RAM and 4 banks of 4k XRAM
Banks: 4x 4k banks (bankswitching via $C000-CFFF)
Types: one Mosaic 64k "RAM-Select" board
- Size: 128k for 48k RAM and 20 banks of 4k XRAM
Banks: 20x 4k banks (bankswitching via $C000-CFFF)
Types: two Mosaic 64k "RAM-Select" boards
- Size: 192k for 48k RAM and 36 banks of 4k XRAM
Banks: 36x 4k banks (bankswitching via $C000-CFFF)
Types: three Mosaic 64k "RAM-Select" boards
Mosaic supporting software includes: Mosaic`s Super Drive (a kind of
virtual DOS), Visicalc, TopDOS, and more (again, I cannot test this!)
For the XL/XE Ataris there are some translator disks, that enable this
mode (e.g. the Ultra-Translator) with 48k + 4k RAM...
B) XL/XE - 64k base RAM plus XRAM:
- Size: 64k (total = 128k RAM, 4 banks)
- Banks: 3, 7, B, F
- Blocks: E, = 1 block * 4 banks
- Types: 130XE RAMdisk, Turbo-Freezer-XL + 64k, self-made RAMdisks...
- Size: 128k (total = 192k RAM, 8 banks)
- Banks: 3, 7, B, F
- Blocks: AE, = 2 blocks * 4 banks
- Types: Compy-Shop 600XL with 192k, Turbo-Freezer-XL + 128k,
self-made RAMdisks...
- Size: 256k / 26AE (total = 320k RAM, 16 banks)
- Banks: 3, 7, B, F
- Blocks: 26AE, = 4 blocks * 4 banks
- Types: Compy-Shop 800XL RD., Compy-Shop 130XE RD.,
Peters/David Megaram 1, Peters/David Megaram 2,
Peters/David Megaram 3 with 256k, self-made RDs...
- Size: 256k / 8ACE (total = 320k RAM, 16 banks)
- Banks: 3, 7, B, F
- Blocks: 8ACE, = 4 blocks * 4 banks
- Types: Newell, Rambo-XL, Scott Peterson, Atari Magazin,
TOMS, self-made RDs...
- Size: 512k / 26AE (total = 576k RAM, 32 banks)
- Banks: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, B, D, F
- Blocks: 26AE, = 4 blocks * 8 banks
- Types: none (that I know of) at the moment - but possible!
- Size: 512k / 8ACE (total = 576k RAM, 32 banks)
- Banks: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, B, D, F
- Blocks: 8ACE, = 4 blocks * 8 banks
- Types: Scott Peterson, TOMS, self-made RDs...
- Size: 512k / 02468ACE (total = 576k RAM, 32 banks)
- Banks: 3, 7, B, F
- Blocks: 02468ACE = 8 blocks * 4 banks
- Types: 1) upgrade / combination of 26AE and 8ACE RAMdisk
types to 512k RAM or into *one* 02468ACE RAMdisk;
idea by me, built by Bernhard Pahl
2) Upgrade of the Rambo XL to 512k by Dan Schmid
(see Pooldisk Too, Subdir ACE/ Acec202a.ATR and
Acec202b.ATR) and of course 3) self-made RAMdisks...
3) 512k SRAM upgrade by Bernd Herale, available
from mega-hz, Wolfram Fischer: www.
- Size: 1024k / 02468ACE (total = 1088k RAM, 64 banks)
- Banks: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, B, D, F
- Blocks: 02468ACE, = 8 blocks * 8 banks
- Types: Newell, Scott Peterson, TOMS, Satantronic`s 1MB-
PC-SIMM-RD, self-made RDs...
- Size: 1024k / 26AE (total = 1088k RAM, 64 banks)
- Banks: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F
- Blocks: 26AE, = 4 blocks * 16 banks
- Types: Mathy van Nisselroy`s 1024k XEGS-PC-SIMM-Upgrade!
(with some changes probably also usable for XL and XE,
see also: http://www.mathyvannisselroy.nl/)
- Size: 1024k / 8ACE (total = 1088k RAM, 64 banks)
- Banks: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F
- Blocks: 8ACE, = 4 blocks * 16 banks
- Types: none (that I know of) at the moment - but possible!
- Size: 1024k / 0123456789ABCDEF (total = 1088k RAM, 64 banks)
- Banks: 3, 7, B, F
- Blocks: 0123456789ABCDEF, = 16 blocks * 4 banks
- Types: luckily, none at the moment...
- Size: 1024k / ??? (max. memory = 1088k, 64 banks)
- Port-Bits / Control-Bits: $D301 = 2,3,6,7
$D600 = 0,1 (or switches);
- Banks: $D301: 3, 7, B, F, $D600: ???
- Blocks: $D301: 26AE, $D600: ???
- Types: David/Peters Megaram 3 with 1024k RAM (and the switches
positioned to 1 x 1024k)
- Size: 2048k / 02468ACE (total = 2112k, 128 banks)
- Banks: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F
- Blocks: 02468ACE, = 8 blocks * 16 banks
- Types: self-made RAMdisks...
- Size: 2048k / 0123456789ABCDEF (total = 2112k, 128 banks)
- Banks: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, B, D, F
- Blocks: 0123456789ABCDEF, = 16 blocks * 8 banks
- Types: self-made RAMdisks...
- Size: 4096k / 0123456789ABCDEF (total = 4160k, 256 banks)
- Banks: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F
- Blocks: 0123456789ABCDEF, = 16 blocks * 16 banks
- Types: Newell, FTE, self-made RAMdisks...
Well, I will not go into details with the disadvantages and possible
software-problems with RAMdisks beyond 512k RAM (possible problems
might be the unavailability of the Self Test, XL/XE Basic, RAM under the
OS, separate Antic access, etc. depending on the type of RD/XRAM)...
C) XL/XE - XRAM minus 64k Base-RAM:
- Size: 192k / 8AE (total = 256k RAM, usable = 12 banks)
- Banks: 3, 7, B, F
- Blocks: 8AE, = 3 blocks * 4 banks
- Types: older Newell RAMdisks (replace 64k by 256k);
- Size: 192k / ACE (total = 256k RAM, usable = 12 banks)
- Banks: 3, 7, B, F
- Blocks: ACE, = 3 blocks * 4 banks
- Types: newer Newell RDs, newer Buchholz-RDs, Rambo-XL,
self-made RAMdisks (replace 64k by 256k)...
- Size: 448k / 2468ACE (total = 512k, usable = 28 banks)
- Banks: 3, 7, B, F
- Blocks: 2468ACE, = 7 blocks * 4 banks
- Types: self-made RDs (replace 64k by 512k)...
- Size: 896k? / 0248ACE (total = 1024k, usable = 56 banks)
- Banks: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, B, D, F
- Blocks: 0248ACE = 7 blocks * 8 banks
- Types: Bob Woolley`s 1200XL 1MB Upgrade, self-made RDs
(replace 64k by 1024k)...
Although these RAM upgrades are relatively easy to build
(and to install into the computer), they make problems with
quite some software. Some programs tend to use the base RAM
as extra RAM / RAMdisk with these upgrades, which will most
often result in a crash of the computer. Next, most extra RAM
testers will show more extra RAM (or a bigger RAMdisk) than
there is really available (e.g. with a 256k upgrade you will
see 240k extra RAM, but there is only 64k base RAM + 192k
extra RAM). Alas, this is a typical hardware problem for these
upgrades and it cannot be solved or avoided with software...
D) XL/XE: Parallel-Bus-Devices:
(600XL/800XL = Parallel Bus, XE = Cart.-Port + ECI)
- Size: 64k / E (total = 128k RAM, 4 banks)
- Banks: 3, 7, B, F
- Blocks: E, = 1 block * 4 banks
- Types: Turbo-Freezer-XL by Bernhard Engl with 64k XRAM
- Size: 128k / AE (total = 192k RAM, 8 banks)
- Banks: 3, 7, B, F
- Blocks: AE, = 2 blocks * 4 banks
- Types: Turbo-Freezer-XL by Bernhard Engl with 128k XRAM
- Size: 256k / 9ABE (total = 320k RAM, 16 banks)
- Banks: 3, 7, B, F
- Blocks: 9ABE, = 4 blocks * 4 banks
- Types: Turbo-Freezer-XL by Bernhard Engl with 256k XRAM
- Size: 256k / ??? (total = 320k RAM, 16 banks)
- Banks: unknown !!
- Blocks: unknown !!
- Types: Yorky-XL by Richard Gore / Derek Fern (from
GB/UK) with 256k XRAM
- Size: 256k / ??? (total = 320k RAM, 16 banks)
- Banks: unknown !!
- Blocks: unknown !!
- Types: Multi-Input-Output-Hard disk-Interface (MIO) with 256k
XRAM by ICD and its re-release by MetalGuy
- Size: 1024k / ??? (total = 1088k RAM, 64 banks)
- Banks: unknown !!
- Blocks: unknown !!
- Types: Multi-Input-Output-Hard disk-Interface (MIO) with 1024k
XRAM by ICD and its re-release by MetalGuy
E) XL/XE: RAM/Flash-ROM/... Cartridges:
- Rambox II with 256k RAM by JRC (Czech Republic; with special
RAMdisk drivers for TT-DOS and Bewe-DOS!)
- Ramcart 64k by LK Avalon (Poland)
- Ramcart 128k by LK Avalon (Poland; binaries of the EPROM and GAL
chips of this cart can be found on ABBUC magazine 64)
- Ramcart 256k by Zenon/Dial (Poland)
- Ramcart 512k by Zenon/Dial (Poland)
- Ramcart 1024k by Zenon/Dial (Poland)
(for some hints and pics see: www2.asw.cz/~kubecj/acarts.htm)
- Flash-ROM cart 128k / 1Mbit "Atarimax" by Stephen Tucker
(although they are not usable as extra RAM / RAMdisk at the moment,
I am quite sure that it is possible to write some drivers and thus
use the Atarimax Flash-ROM carts as extremely fast floppy drives!)
- Flash-ROM cart 1024k / 8Mbit "Atarimax" by Stephen Tucker
(for information and complete documentation plus software see:
www.atarimax.com/flashcart/documentation/index.html )
- and many others I do not know and I do not have any info about;
Even cartridges can be used as RAMdisks (= fast floppy drives),
especially RAM-carts or Flash-RAM carts. But they function like
most other Super- or Mega-Carts, meaning the bank-switching
techniques are also used there. Since the subject carts and
bank-switching carts is quite enormous, I will not discuss it or
present any information here. Just try to find a large description
by John K. Picken ("RAM/ROM Control on an XL/XE") if interested in that
subject (e.g. at Jindrich Kubec`s homepage: www2.asw.cz/kubecj/... ).
Finally thanks and credits for this subject and lots of (used /
borrowed) information therefore go to: Lee Barnes, Russ Gilbert,
Mathy van Nisselroy, Erhard Puetz, Mathias Reichl, Ron Hamilton,
Wes Newell, Guy Ferrante, XI of Satantronic, Bernhard Pahl, Walter
Lojek and Voy/Dial. Also thanks to John K. Picken who wrote an
excellent article about A8 extra RAM / RAMdisks and A8 cartridges and
their technique of bank-switching. I know this list has still some
errors and is missing some information, alas, without your help I am
unable to correct the errors or to fill in the missing information...
Andreas Koch
Subject: 8.11) What programs support more than 64K RAM?
This section by Andreas Koch -- Version 3.6 from June 2008
The following Atari 8Bit programs support more than 64k RAM, but still
work alright (with multiple loads / disk-swaps) on standard 64k machines:
a) "TOOLS" that support more than 64k RAM:
A-Base (???, 64k RAMdisk, block E),
Alphasys-Sample Software (Mirage/ANG, 64k XRAM, block E),
A-Text (???, 64k RAMdisk, block E),
Atari Writer 80 (Atari, 64k RAMdisk, block E),
Atari Writer Plus (Atari, 64k RAMdisk, block E),
BASIC XE (OSS/ICD/FTE, 64k XRAM, block E),
Bewe-DOS 1.x (Bewesoft, up to 1024k RD, all banks),
Bibo-DOS 5.x (Compy-Shop, up to 256k RD, E/AE/26AE/8ACE),
Bibo-DOS 6.x (Compy-Shop, up to 256k RD, E/AE/26AE/8ACE),
Datei 4.x (N. Schlia, up to 256k XRAM, E/AE/26AE),
Desktop Atari (HBSF, 64k RAMdisk, block E),
Diskworker (Petsoft, 64k RAMdisk, block E),
Diskcommunicator 3.x (Robert "Bob" Puff, if there is more than 64k
RAM, answer the startup question with "Y" to use it as XRAM or with "N"
to use it as RAMdisk; up to 256k XRAM: E/AE/ACE/8ACE; RD = DOS depend.),
DOS 2.5 (Atari, original driver = 64k RD, block E; other
drivers: up to 2x 128k RAMdisks, E/AE/8ACE),
DOS II+D Version 6.x (S. D., up to 2x 128k RDs, E/AE/ACE/8ACE/26AE),
DOS XE 1.x (Atari, 64k RAMdisk, block E),
Extended Atari Basic (???, 64k XRAM, block E),
Extended Turbo Basic (???, 64k XRAM, block E),
Fampy 2.3 (Wolfgang Freitag, up to 128k XRAM, E/AE),
Fampy 6.1 (Wolfgang Freitag, up to 128k XRAM, E/AE),
Howfen DOS 3.x (???, up to 128k XRAM, E/AE),
Howfen Tape to Disk (???, up to 128k XRAM, E/AE),
Inertia 2.x (MadTeam, up to 256k XRAM, E/AE/8ACE),
Inertia 3.x (MadTeam, up to 256k XRAM, E/AE/(ACE)
Inertia 4.x (MadTeam, up to 1024k XRAM, all combinations !)
Midi Mate II (Hybrid Arts, 64k XRAM, block E),
Midi Pattern Editor (Raster, 64k XRAM, block E),
Midi Player (I. Kuczek, 64k XRAM, block E),
Midi Recorder (I. Kuczek, 64k XRAM, block E),
Midi Sequencer (M. Sygit, 64k XRAM, block E),
MSC-IDE-Software (M. Belitz + S. Birrmanns, 64k XRAM, block E),
My-DOS 3.x (Wordmark, up to ???k RAMdisk),
My-DOS 4.x (Wordmark, up to 1024k RAMdisk, all banks),
Paperclip II (Batteries Included, 64k XRAM, block E),
Super DOS 2.x (P. Nichols, up to 2x 128k RDs, E/AE/ACE/8ACE),
Super DOS 5.x (P. Nichols, up to 256k RD, E/AE/ACE/8ACE/26AE),
The [Sparta DOS] Browser (Tom Hunt, up to 1024k RAMdisk, RD-driver dep.),
The Sound Utility (Tom Hunt, up to 1024k XRAM?, bug-free only under
Sparta/Bewe-DOS, one can choose between 64k/128k/256k/576k/1088k RAM, alas
all setups with more than 64k RAM produced some strange sound noises on
my 576k XL when playing waves or samples...),
Theta Music Composer 2.x (Jaskier, 64k XRAM, block E),
Turbo DOS 1.x (Reitershan, up to 256k RD, E/AE/ACE/8ACE/26AE),
Turbo-DOS 2.x (Reitershan, up to 256k RD, E/AE/ACE/8ACE/26AE),
Top-DOS 1.x (R.K. Bennett, 64k RAMdisk, block E),
Top DOS Plus (R.K. Bennett, up to ???k RAMdisk),
Top DOS Prof. (R.K. Bennett, up to ???k RAMdisk),
Typesetter (XLent, 64k XRAM, block E),
X-DOS 2.x (S. D., up to 256k RD, E/AE/ACE/8ACE/26AE),
X-RAM 0.21 (Satantronic, tests up to 4 MB!, all banks!)
and most Text-Editors (e.g. Speedscript, Antic Writer, T-Edit, Page 6
Writer, Compy-Shop Editor, Textpro, etc.) as long as they are running
under a DOS 2.x (meaning a DOS 2 derivative) or Sparta / Bewe DOS and the
appropriate RAMdisk driver...;
b) "Games" that support more than 64k RAM:
Adalmar (Falk Buettner, 64k RAMdisk, block E),
A.R. - The Dungeon (Philipp Price, 64k XRAM, block E),
Bop N'Wrestle (Mindscape, 64k XRAM, block E),
The Brundles (KE-Soft, up to 256k XRAM, E/AE/26AE),
Human Torch & the Thing (Questprobe, 64k XRAM, block E),
Johnny`s Problem (ANG, 64k XRAM, block E),
Megablast 1 (Thorsten Karwoth, 64k XRAM, block E),
Mental Age (???, 64k XRAM, block E),
Problem Jasia (Mirage, 64k XRAM, block E),
[The Amazing] Spiderman (Questprobe, 64k XRAM, block E);
c) "Demos" that support more than 64k RAM:
ABBUC Magazine Intro 52 (Heaven, 64k XRAM, block E),
ABBUC Magazine Intro 55 (Heaven, 64k XRAM, block E),
Anime 4ever (Sente Software Group, 256k XRAM, 8ACE),
Grafik + Sound Demo (Peter Sabath, 64k XRAM, block E),
I. K. Plus Demo (???, 64k XRAM, block E),
Sweet Fantasy (Tight, 64k XRAM, block E),
The Top 3 Demo (WFMH, "Veronika Part", 64k XRAM, block E);
Thanks and credits for this subject go to: Bernhard Pahl, Russ Gilbert,
Ron Hamilton, Mathy van Nisselroy and Miker for sharing some information
with me. - Andreas Koch
Subject: 8.12) What programs require more than 64K RAM?
This section by Andreas Koch -- version 3.6 from June 2008
The following Atari 8Bit programs require more than 64k RAM, and thus
do not work at all (or not alright/bug-free) on standard 64k machines:
a) "Tools" that require more than 64k RAM:
128k Memory Testers (quite many programs, 64k XRAM, block E),
130XE Bank/Mem.-Testers (quite many programs, 64k XRAM, block E),
130XE Sectorcopiers (quite many programs, 64k XRAM, block E),
130XE Utilities (HAPS PD 0031, 64k XRAM, block E),
192k Memory Testers (some PD programs, 128k XRAM, blocks AE),
256k Memory Testers (Newell, ICD, etc., 192k XRAM, blocks ACE),
320k Mem. Testers 8ACE (Atari Mag., TOMS, etc., 256k XRAM, blocks 8ACE),
320k Mem. Testers 26AE (Compy-Shop, etc., 256k XRAM, blocks 26AE),
576k Memory Testers (Peterson, TOMS, etc., 512k XRAM, blocks 8ACE),
1088k Memory Testers (Newell, TOMS, etc., 1MB XRAM, blocks 02468ACE),
4160k Memory Tester (Newell, 4MB XRAM, blocks 0123456789ABCDEF),
APC Archiver 1.x (LBS/APC, 256k XRAM, 8ACE only!),
APC Packer 1.x (LBS/APC, 256k XRAM, 8ACE only!),
A. W. P. Super Menu (Ken Siders, min. 64k XRAM, block E),
A. W. P. XE Super Menu (Ken Siders, min. 192k XRAM, blocks ACE),
Audio/Studio Master (Mirage/ANG, 256k XRAM, 26AE only?),
Boot Majster (Electron, 64k XRAM, block E),
Boss X [Vers. 10.x] (M. Sobe, with any DOS min. 64k RAMdisk, block E;
with MyDOS 4.x it supports up to 1MB RD, subdirs and up to 16MB HD part.),
Boss XE [Vers. 8.x] (M. Sobe, with any DOS min. 64k RAMdisk, block E;
with Turbo-DOS or MyDOS 4.5x it supports bigger RAMdisks, but no subdirs!),
CAD XE (HAPS PD 0350, 64k XRAM, block E),
Diskettenverwaltung XE (ABBUC PD 86, 64k XRAM, block E),
Draw XE (ABBUC PD 387, 64k XRAM, block E),
Dream Vision (ABBUC PD 480, 192k XRAM, blocks ACE?),
Fraktale & Colorprint (P. Woetzel, 64k XRAM, block E),
Grafik Zeilen Editor (HAPS PD 0296, 64k XRAM, block E),
Hires Dump (ABBUC PD 113, 64k XRAM, block E),
Inertia 3.x (MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up to
256k XRAM, AE/ACE/26AE/8ACE with almost any DOS),
Inertia 4.x (MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up to
1024k XRAM - all possible bank combinations!),
Macro Assembler XE (T. Karwoth, 64k XRAM, block E),
Macro Assembler XE+ (T. Karwoth, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up
to 1024k XRAM - all possible bank combinations!),
Masher XE (???, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up to
256k XRAM: AE/ACE/8ACE),
Menu 130 (Les Howarth, 64k XRAM, block E),
Midi Mate III (Hybrid Arts, 64k XRAM, block E),
Monitors, Debuggers, ... (HAPS PD 0109, 64k XRAM, block E),
Multi DOS 130 (Kuchera/Excellent, 64k XRAM, block E),
Multi DOS 320 (Kuchera/Excellent, 256k XRAM, 8ACE only!),
Multi Tasking OS (???, min. 64k XRAM, block E),
MTOS 256 (Tom Hunt, 192k XRAM, blocks ACE),
MTOS XE (Tom Hunt, 64k XRAM, block E),
Neo-Tracker 1.x (Epi, min. 64k XRAM, block E; under MyDOS 4.5x
or Sparta DOS X cart. it supports up to 1MB XRAM, all bank combinations!)
Newspaper Editor (HAPS PD 0294, 64k XRAM, block E),
Protracker 1.5 (MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up to
256k XRAM: AE/ACE/8ACE/26AE),
Rechnen fuer Kinder (ABBUC PD 85, 64k XRAM, block E),
Rund um die RAMdisk (ABBUC PD 383, HAPS PD 1084, contains info texts
and pgms. for upgrading the 800 or XL/XE and testing its XRAM up to 1 MB;
the docs use English language and provide detailed information for Axlon
compatible 800 XRAM and Newell/Buchholz/Peterson compatible XL/XE XRAM),
Sample Art XE (Mozart/WSL, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up
to 1024k XRAM, all bank combinations, alas the program is faulty/buggy!),
Shrink XE (P. Fitzsimmons, 64k XRAM, block E),
Snapshot (???, 64k XRAM, block E),
Tape RAMdisk Drivers (Pokey, SAG, etc., 64k XRAM, block E),
Text 130 (B. Russmann, 64k XRAM, block E),
Textpro "+" [e.g. 4.54+] (Ronnie Riche, 64k XRAM, block E),
Textpro 5.x (Ronnie Riche, 64k XRAM, block E),
The Code Cruncher 2.x (Soused Teat, min. 64k XRAM, block E),
The Code Cruncher 3.x (Soused Teat, min. 64k XRAM, block E),
The Cruncher 5.x (MSL/Magnus, min. 64k XRAM, block E),
The Small Printery (W. Lojek, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up
to 1024k XRAM, all bank combinations!),
The [Sparta DOS] Wedge (Ed Bachmann, 64k XRAM, block E, sep. Antic!),
The Works (Tom Hunt, min. 64k XRAM, block E),
Wuerttemberger Disk (ABBUC PD 361, HAPS PD 1050, 64k XRAM, block E;
mainly/only because side 2 contains the XE version of Gizmo's castle),
XL-2 (J.K. Picken, min. 64k XRAM, block E; under MyDOS
or Sparta DOS it supports up to 1024k XRAM !),
Zeitungsredakteur (ABBUC PD 121, 64k XRAM, block E);
b) "Games" that require more than 64k RAM:
Castle of Blackthorne (T. Graef, 64k RD, block E),
Cavepack XE (XE-version by K. Ezcan, 64k RD, block E),
Computer Baseball (D. Blackwell, 64k XRAM, block E),
Der Neffe (XE-version by ???, 64k XRAM, block E),
Gizmo's Castle (XE-version by M. Kugler, 64k XRAM, block E),
Kaiser II (128k version by C. S., 64k XRAM, block E),
Kaiser II (320k version by C. S., 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE),
Minesweeper 1-4 (4 versions by J.R. Chicko, 64k XRAM, block E),
Mister X (S. Soelbrandt, 64k RD, block E),
Oelbaron (XE-version by ???, 64k RD, block E),
Space Harrier (C. Hutt, 64k XRAM, block E),
Strategy Baseball (HAPS PD 0302, 64k XRAM, block E),
T-34 the Battle (ANG, 64k XRAM, block E),
Yie Ar Kung Fu (???, 256k XRAM, blocks ???, get the latest
versions from Fandal`s or Homesoft`s homepage...),
Zargon XE (ABBUC PD 611, HAPS PD 0485, 64k XRAM, block E),
Please note, that hackers, crackers and pirates also made file versions
of (most of) the XE / XEGS 64k and 128k carts available. Due to cart.
bankswitching, a 64k XL/XE was enough for these super-carts; not so with
the file versions, they do (mostly) require more than 64k memory...
Next, there are also "un-official" (pirated, hacked, cracked, patched)
cart. versions of former disk-based games, that require XRAM, which they
originally did not (example: Conan, the multi-stage disk-version by
Datasoft requires 64k RAM, whereas the single-stage version of the
Sunmark multicart. req. 128k RAM). It is quite likely, that more games
will occur in the Atari scene with the same behavior...
c) "Demos" that require more than 64k RAM:
130XE Artshow (HAPS PD 0013, 64k XRAM, block E),
130XE Autoshow (HAPS PD 0637, ABBUC PD 191, 64k XRAM, block E),
130XE Demo (S.A.G., 64k XRAM, block E),
130XE Impossible Demo (R. Haegemann, 64k XRAM, block E),
3D Scroll (Jaskier/TQA, 64k XRAM, block E),
American Natives (Fox-1, 192k RD, RAMdisk = DOS dependant),
Amiga Boink XE (B. Armour, 64k XRAM, block E),
Animkom. meet B. V. (Animkomials + B.V., 64k XRAM, block E),
(The) Asskicker (Shadows, 64k XRAM, block E; hold Select!),
Back to Life 2 (Jaskier/TQA, 256k XRAM, auto-setup!),
Base 33 (AIDS, 256k XRAM, hold SHIFT for setup!),
Bill Pie Demo (MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up
to 256k XRAM: AE/8ACE with more frames),
BMW Animation (Mirko Sobe, 64k XRAM, block E),
Brull (Pin/Trs, 1MB XRAM for a sample demo),
CES XE Demo (full 580 sectors version by XANTH, 64k XRAM,
block E; includes the Swan-, Fuji-Boink- and Robot-Demo all in one file!),
Cogito Demo (AIDS, uses blocks 8C, thus 8ACE only!),
Critical Sounddemo (Innovative, 64k XRAM, block E),
Danielle (Gr.9) Ani (B. Kendrick, 64k XRAM, block E),
DoXEpin (AIDS, 64k XRAM, block E),
Edelweiss Demo (A.R.+C.S.S.+S.V.L., 256k XRAM, 26AE only!),
Ergo Bibamus (Quasimodos, 64k XRAM, block E),
Extract Slideshow (Replay/Bit Busters, 64k XRAM, block E),
Fat Bottomed Girls (???, 64k XRAM block E for a Queen sample),
Forever 1ktro (New Generation, 64k XRAM block E for a 1k demo),
Forsaken Love (New Generation, 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE; simply
delete "BANKS.DAT", reboot and create a new one for your kind of XRAM!),
Glasshead Demo (A.R.+C.S.S., 256k XRAM, 26AE only!),
Halle 1994: The Wormhole (Magic Arts, 256k XRAM, 26AE only!),
Hardware Demo (A.R.+C.S.S., 256k XRAM, 26AE only!),
Igor Demo (Side A) (MadTeam, 64k XRAM, block E - use 128k.BAT),
Igor Demo (Side B) (MadTeam, 128k XRAM, blocks AE - use 192k.BAT),
Igor Demo (Side A+B) (MadTeam, 256k XRAM, 8ACE only - use 320k.BAT),
Imperial Sounddemo (Innovative, 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE),
Impossible but Real (MacGyver, 192k XRAM, auto-setup!),
Incredible (Excellent, 64k XRAM, block E),
Inside Out (Taquart, 64k XRAM, block E),
Isolation Demo (M.E.C., 64k XRAM, block E),
Journey Demo (Boot version by Polynomials, min. 64k XRAM,
block E; supports up to 256k XRAM: AE/8ACE),
Journey Demo (File version by MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block
E; supports up to 192k XRAM: AE/ACE),
Journey into Sound (DGS / D. Garaghty, 64k XRAM, block E),
Khai Et (AIDS, 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE, SHIFT for Setup!),
Killer Whales Ani (MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block E, supports up
to 256k XRAM: AE/8ACE with more frames!),
Landscape-XE Demo (Karl Pelzer, 64k XRAM, block E),
Manga Ani (MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block E),
Megablast Sounddemo (DGS / D. Garaghty, 64k XRAM, block E),
MTV's Danielle = Danielle (Gr.9) Ani,
Nascar Ani (M. Sobe, 64k XRAM, block E),
Nonjm Demo (Tight, 64k XRAM, block E),
Numen Demo (Taquart, 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE, auto-setup!),
Ogluszacz Sounddemo (AIDS, 64k XRAM, block E),
Owca Demo (Animkomials, 64k XRAM, block E),
Owca 2 Demo (Animkomials, 64k XRAM, block E),
Pacem in Terris (Quasimodos, 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE, auto-setup),
Parrot XMAS Demo (A. Ramos, 64k XRAM, block E),
Pedrokko Sounddemos (a collection of 10 disks / 20 sides by Pedrokko,
the player program assumes a 64k RD, block E),
Raytracing Ani/128k (K. Pelzer, 64k XRAM, block E),
Raytracing 320k (Elsni / S. Elsner, 256k XRAM, 8ACE only!),
Raytracing 1088k (Solocoder of A.C.E., 1024k XRAM, works only on
K.P. 1MB Megaram III, 8 bootdisks, loading time approx. 17 minutes !!),
Reditus Demo (Zelax, 192k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE, auto-setup),
Render Ani (MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block E),
Revenge of Hacker (Rasero Team, 128k XRAM, blocks AE),
Running Cow ASCII Ani (MadTeam, 64k XRAM, block E),
Sheol Demo (Bit Busters, 256k XRAM, 8ACE only!),
Shiny Bubbles (XE version by B. Paul, 64k XRAM, block E),
Stash 98 Demo (Rasero Team, 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE via a buggy
setup: 1) for 8ACE XRAM press A in the 1st or 2nd menu, 2) for 26AE press
B in the 1st menu and C in the 2nd menu; don't use the CS auto-setup!),
Starwars Demo (A.R.+C.S.S., 256k XRAM, 26AE only!),
The Wormhole (Magic Arts, 256k XRAM, 26AE only!),
Timekeep(er) (New Generation, 256k XRAM, 8ACE only! wait!),
Tit Demo (Mad Team, 192k XRAM, auto-setup!),
Too Hard 3 Demo (Animkomials, 128k XRAM, blocks AE),
Too Hard 4 Demo (Animkomials, 256k XRAM, auto-setup!),
Total Dazed (Tight, 64k XRAM, block E),
Trabant Demo (A.R.+C.S.S., 256k XRAM, 26AE only!),
Trip 6 (Shadows, 64k XRAM, block E),
Turtles Demo (Ultra Software, 64k XRAM, block E),
Ultra Demo (Taquart, 64k XRAM, block E),
Ultra 2 Preview (Taquart, 64k XRAM, block E, unfinished!),
Vengeance (Excellent, 64k XRAM, block E),
Vent XE (Exc.+Pentagram, 64k XRAM, block E),
WAF-Demo (W.A.F., diskside B = 64k XRAM, block E),
Worms Demo (Datri, 256k XRAM, 8ACE otherwise buggy!),
X-Demo (MadTeam, 256k XRAM, 26AE),
X-Files Ani (MadTeam, 64k XRAM, block E),
X-Files 2 (TV-Ani) (MadTeam, 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE),
Xyberscape XE (XE version by Bill Le Masurier, 64k XRAM, E),
Zero Demo (New Generation, 64k XRAM, block E);
Thanks and credits for this subject go to Russ Gilbert, Bernhard Pahl,
Ron Hamilton, Mathy van Nisselroy, Stephan Pollok and Miker for sharing
their information with me. Any corrections and/or updates are welcome...
-Andreas Koch
Subject: 8.13) What voice/sound synthesis software is there for the Atari?
This section by Andreas Koch.
- 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, although 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 Koch.
(POPS info updated 8/15/06 by mdc thanks to Lee Brilliant)
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:
- 3 channels with one Pokey (POPS-software): As far as I know 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 #66, November 1988, pages 54-60;
- stereo with two computers (thus two Pokeys): As far as I know 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 simultaneously (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 simultaneously. 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): As far as I know
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 simultaneously 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!);
- 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 stereo-patch available, as well as various patched
CMC stereo-versions on the internet);
- (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!);
- 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 2.4s by Jaskier/Taquart, (original mono version
by SoTE; 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 or stereo *.RMT sounds that can be played back
on the A8 or any Atari 800/XL/XE emulator);
- *.RMT stereo-sounds created by Raster Music Tracker;
- Stereo-Patch for Pokey Player by Chuck Steinman
(=> 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 Jaskier/Taquart
(=> thus *.TMC sounds can be generated in stereo!);
- Theta-Music-Composer version 2.x by Jaskier/Taquart
(supports 1, 2 or even 4 Pokey sound-chips !)
- (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!);
- that's all what I found so far...
b) software for other sound enhancements:
- enhanced-sound with Covox: As far as I know this upgrade will playback
digitized or sampled sound in 8Bit resolution rather than in 4Bit
resolution. The following programs support the Covox-Upgrade:
- Inertia 2.x, a MOD-player by MadTeam;
- Inertia 3.x, a MOD-player by MadTeam
- Inertia 4.5, a MOD player by MadTeam;
- Protracker 1.5, a MOD-editor and player by MadTeam;
- NeoTracker 1.x, a MOD+NEO+SMP player by EPI/Allegresse;
- that's all I have found so far;
note that all these programs will still work with pokey...
Subject: 8.15) What games support online action via modem?
This section by Andreas Koch.
- Modem Chess, a PD game in Basic by ???
- Modem-Battleships, a PD game in Basic by ???
- Tele-Chess, a PD game in Basic by ???
- Jelly Beans a ML game by Chris Martin
- "Battleships ST-XL" by Florian Dingler
(German name: Schiffe versenken ST-XL)
- Midi Maze by XANTH (prototype)
- Commbat by Adventure International
(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.K.)
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. Emulator users have it a little
easier and can use the built-in modem emulation in Ape-DOS, Ape-Win,
Atari 800 DOS, Atari 800 Win, etc.
Subject: 8.16) What programs support Atari computer networking?
This section by Andreas Koch.
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):
- Maze of Agdagon demo (1 player only) by Dataque;
- Maze of Agdagon (full version, 2-8 players) by Dataque;
- Multi-Dash (2-8 players, XL/XE only) by Bewesoft;
- Multi-Race (2-16 players, XL/XE only) by Bewesoft;
- Multi-Worms (2-8 or 2-16? players, XL/XE only) 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);
- Speed-Up by Radek Sterba
- Speed-Up Gold by Radek Sterba
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
de facto 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.
.ATR -Image format invented by Nick Kennedy, for his SIO2PC project.
Very similar to .XFD but with an added 16 byte header.
This is the most common image format, used with most 8-bit Atari
emulators running on other computer platforms.
SIO2PC is at http://pages.suddenlink.net/wa5bdu/sio2pc.htm
.ATX -Image format invented by Jorge Cwik, for VAPI project. Goal of Vapi is
the preservation of Atari software in its original unmodified form,
including custom format or copy protection. http://vapi.fxatari.com/
.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/
.DCM -Image format invented by Bob Puff for his Disk Communicator 3.2 utility.
Used when working with native Atari hardware. A compressed data format.
DISKCOMM is at http://www.nleaudio.com/css/files/DISKCOM.ARC
.DCM specs at: http://home.planet.nl/~ernest/diskcomm.zip
.DD -Early filename extension used with double density disk images for use
with the Xformer emulators. Replaced by the .XFD extension.
.DI -Image format invented by Kolja Koischwitz & Christian Kruger for their
800XL DJ emulator for the Atari ST.
.PRO -Proprietary 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. A compressed
data format.
.SD -Early filename extension used with single density disk images for use
with the Xformer emulators. Replaced by the .XFD extension.
.XFD -"Xformer Floppy Disk" image format invented by Emulators, Inc. (Darek
Mihocka) for the Xformer emulators (ST, PC). Known earlier, before
support for arbitrary disk sizes was added, as .SD or .DD depending on
the density of the imaged disk. The format consists simply of a raw
sector dump of a disk. Used with ST Xformer, PC Xformer, and
Xformer 2000 emulators.
Xformer emulators are at http://www.emulators.com/
See also:
Atari Disk Image FAQ (Steve Tucker)
http://www.atarimax.com/ape/docs/DiskImageFAQ/
Subject: 9.3) How can I copy my copy-protected Atari software?
This section by Russ Gilbert.
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.
Alphasys adds (2009.03):
Some protection schemes involved special sector skewing, which involved
special timing during loading, duplicate sector numbers with differing
content, or tracks with more or less than the usual number of sectors.
With duplicate sector numbers, I mean physical duplication, involving
sector header code that is read by the drive only, not any part of the
sector data transferred to the computer.
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.
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.
Alphasys (2009.03):
For the Speedy, there is a special program called Speedy Backup, which can
copy about 80% of the protected disks.
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
BobTerm 1.23, 1993, shareware by Bob Puff
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 complete package)
http://www.mixinc.net/atari/download_a8/datacom/bobt123.lzh (ver. 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 required)
File Xfer: None
Autodial: No
Backscroll buffer: No
Capture-to-disk: No
Summary: Fast and complete VT100 emulation; readability a minus
Ice-T XE v2.72 (128K XL/XE) or Ice-T 800 v1.1 (48K), 1997, 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!
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.)
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)
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?
"A BBS, plain and simple, is some hobbyist setting up their own computer to
answer incoming calls from other hobby computers. The visiting person
leaves messages on this computer for other visitors, plays games while
visiting, sends and receives files, and all that." -- Greg Goodwin, 2005
The 8-bit Atari was particularly popular for hosting a dial-up Bulletin Board
System (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, Rod Roark
o AMIS BBS -- The Atari Message Information Service
original version by Tom Giese of Michigan Atari Computer Enthusiasts. pd.
The "granddaddy" of BBS programs for the 8-bit Atari.
The AMIS BBS was written in BASIC. 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, original version by Tom Giese
* MACE AMIS - from the Michigan Atari Computer Enthusiasts,
by Larry Burdeno and Jim Steinbrecher
* Fast AMIS
* MPP AMIS by Matt Pritchard
* Comet AMIS by Matt Pritchard and Tom Johnson, with Trent Condollone
"AMIS so modified that it didn't resemble AMIS"
* AMIS XM301 - Mike Olin and Mike Mitchell
* TODAMIS 1.0, for 1030/XM301, 1986, Trent Dudley
* Carnival BBS, see below
* FoReM was derived from AMIS, see below
o ARMUDIC, by Frank Huband
From the Atari club of Washington, D.C.
Greg Leslie writes "It was written (in BASIC with machine language
subroutines) by Frank Huband, and the name came from the numbers used to dial
the original BBS.
o ATABBS - Atari Bulletin Board System
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 AtariLink -- by Pab Sungenis.
From his blog at http://atari8programming.blogspot.com/ on 3/20/06:
In 1985-1986 I wrote and eventually released the AtariLink BBS software. This
came out of necessity, since most Atari BBS programs at the time (especially
FoReM and its bastard children) didn't fully support the 1030 modem that I
used (or the XM301 that followed afterward). I eventually adapted the program
to work with Atari's 1200 bps SX212 modem when that was released, and in the
process threw the program open to just about every modem out there. AtariLink
floated in the wild, passed from BBS to BBS for a while, before an Atari
magazine (I forget which one) distributed the software as its disk of the
month.
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 accommodate 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 its 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, Keith 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 released in 1988 by Keith Ledbetter and Chris King from Orion Micro
Systems. Later purchased by Bob Klaas of K-Products, before most recently
being purchased by Lance Ringquist/Video 61.
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.
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 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." -- Antic
o FoReM BBS -- Friends of Rickey Moose BBS. By Matthew R. 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 MPP BBS -- by Matt Singer, sold by MPP
FoReM BBS version for the MPP direct-connect modems.
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 available at: http://www.lenardspencer.com/Lenspencer/fxep.htm
o MBBBS (Message Base Bulletin Board System)
-- early name for ATKeep, see above
o NITE-LITE BBS -- Paul Swanson's BBS with RAMdisk.
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)
The original OASIS BBS System was written by Rich Renner and Ralph Walden with
tech support and input from Leo Newman. It was first published by OASIS BBS
Systems (Renner/Walden/Newman) in 1986, and distributed by Leo Newman. Later,
the rights were transferred to Glenda Stocks/Z INNOVATORS, then later (1991)
to Jeff Williams ("Alf").
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. SpartaDOS 3.2x
recommended, but any DOS supported. R-Time 8 clock cartridge supported.
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".
o TART-BOARD, by Bob Alleger
Early Atari BBS.
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:
Atari-Link PC (AtariDsk) V1.2 (c) 95-12-09 by HiassofT (Matthias Reichl)
Ataridsk is a program for MSDOS-PCs that allows you to access Atari floppy
disks in double density (180k). All you need is a PC (XT or 286 should be
sufficient) and a 5.25" floppy drive. Features of this tool:
* Menu driven user interface
* read, write and format Atari disks on the PC
* small size (only 35k)
http://www.horus.com/~hias/atari/
Also by HiassofT (Matthias Reichl):
WriteAtr V0.92b
With WriteAtr you can write double density ATR-images to Atari floppy disks
on your MSDOS-PC. You can also create ATR-images of double density floppy
disks! All you need is a PC and a 5.25" and/or a 3.5" floppy drive.
Version 0.92b added experimental support for the enhanced density (1040
sectors/128 bytes per sector) format. Please note: this format doesn't work
with a lot of floppy controllers - use it at your own risk!
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 reformatted 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 receive 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 RS-232 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 RS-232 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, i.e., your computer.
DCE = Data Communications Equipment, i.e., your modem.)
Subject: 10.6) How can my PC utilize my Atari disk drive?
==> 1050-2-PC, by Nick Kennedy
1050-2-PC is a device used to allow the PC to communicate directly with an
Atari disk drive. It requires hardware which is very similar to the SIO2PC
but configured differently. It allows direct sector I/O with the Atari drive
and can be used to create disk images which will emulate copy protection
schemes when run on SIO2PC.
More 1050-2-PC information: http://pages.suddenlink.net/wa5bdu/1050.txt
SIO2PC home page: http://pages.suddenlink.net/wa5bdu/sio2pc.htm
==> APE ProSystem, by Steve Tucker
The APE ProSystem goes beyond Steve Tucker's Atari Peripheral Emulator (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: 10.7) 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/
Mark Grebe is the author of two modern solutions for Mac OS X,
Atari800MacX - Atari 8bit Computer Emulator
and Sio2OSX - Atari 8Bit Peripheral Emulator
http://www.atarimac.com/
Subject: 10.8) 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) What is the history of Atari's 8-bit computers platform?
Information presented here has been collected by MC from public sources, such
as magazine and newspaper articles, press releases, corporate annual reports,
and SEC filings. I have no special access to inside information.
For a broader Atari history may I suggest: http://mcurrent.name/atarihistory/
1973
With financial support from Atari, a group of engineers led by Larry Emmons
and Steve Mayer created the Cyan Engineering research and development group in
Grass Valley, CA.
1974
Winter: Atari started an exclusive relationship with Cyan Engineering, and the
facility became known as the "Grass Valley Think Tank."
1975
Summer: At Cyan Engineering, Ron Milner and Steve Mayer created the first
concept prototype of the home video game system that would become the Video
Computer System (VCS). The hardware was built by Milner.
December: Joe Decuir was hired by Atari, initially to work with Ron Milner and
Steve Mayer at Cyan Engineering. Decuir would help debug the existing concept
prototype of the VCS, and Decuir built the first gate-level prototype of the
VCS.
1976
March: As Atari VCS development continued, Joe Decuir moved to Los Gatos,
Calif. to apprentice for Jay Miner, who would become the lead chip designer
for the VCS.
The group who would turn out to be the key engineers of the Atari VCS had now
been assembled: Steve Mayer, Ron Milner, Joe Decuir, and Jay Miner.
Development work would continue into 1977.
Fall: Atari purchased Cyan Engineering outright, and the facility became more
formerly known as the Grass Valley Research Center.
1977
June: Atari introduced the Video Computer System (VCS) at the Summer CES in
Chicago.
Summer: Engineers Ron Milner, Steve Mayer, and Joe Decuir, veteran designers
of the VCS, began work on a next-generation home video game machine at Atari's
Grass Valley Research Center. This project became known as "Oz" inside Atari.
1978
March: Manny Gerard at Warner Communications arranged for Raymond E. Kassar,
who had recently departed from his executive vice president position at fabric
maker Burlington Industries, to work with Atari as a consultant.
Gerard then had Kassar installed as president of Atari's Consumer Division.
Ray Kassar, directed that the video game technology already under development
as the "Oz" project would now form the basis for the development of a personal
computer system. The newly-redefined project became known as "Colleen" inside
Atari.
The overall engineering plans for "Colleen" were conceived by:
Steve Mayer, Joe Decuir, and Jay Miner
The "Colleen" computer project evolved into two specific computer models:
o "Colleen" - the full machine - would be released as the Atari 800.
o "Candy" - a reduced-feature version - would be released as the Atari 400.
Fall: Atari pre-announced that the Atari computer would debut at the January
1979 CES. [EVIDENCE NEEDED!]
September/October: Atari VCS game programmers David Crane, Larry Kaplan, and
Alan Miller were assigned to create an Operating System and BASIC for the
Atari computer, after Jay Miner, manager of both custom chip and OS software
development for the computer, had determined that both the existing work-in-
progress OS and the work-in-progress port of Microsoft BASIC could not meet
the January 1979 CES deadline.
October: Freeing Crane/Kaplan/Miller to focus on developing the core OS, Atari
contracted with Shepardson Microsystems, Inc. (SMI, headed by Bob Shepardson)
to create both a version of BASIC and a File Management System (FMS) for the
upcoming Atari personal computers. The contract called for delivery by
April 6, 1979. Atari planned to take an early, 8K Microsoft BASIC to the
CES (in Las Vegas) in January, 1979, and then switch BASICs later.
November: At the Warner Communications annual budget meeting in New York,
Atari chairman Nolan Bushnell warned against launching an Atari computer
division unless Warner was prepared to absorb extensive short-term financial
losses in establishing the new product line. Bushnell also predicted that a
properly-funded Atari computer line would ultimately be profitable.
December: Manny Gerard at Warner Communications appointed Ray Kassar President
and CEO of Atari, and Joe Keenan replaced company founder Nolan Bushnell as
Chairman.
December 21: SMI delivered working versions of a BASIC and a FMS to Atari,
nearly four months early.
December 28: Actual date of Atari purchase order with SMI for a BASIC and a
FMS. (They had already been delivered the week before.)
1979
January: Atari introduced the Atari 800 and Atari 400 Personal Computer
Systems at the Winter CES in Las Vegas. The 800 would ship with 8K RAM (user-
expandable in 8K or 16K increments to 48K) and retail for US$1,000; the 400
would come standard with 8K RAM and retail for US$500. The computers were
scheduled to ship in limited quantities in August 1979, with full availability
later in the fall. Also introduced: the 410 program recorder, 810 disk drive,
and 820 printer. Software introduced: Atari BASIC. Coverage of the
introduction of the Atari 400/800 from Creative Computing magazine:
http://mcurrent.name/atari1979/
January: Atari ran an advertisement for the 400/800 on pp. 54-55 of
Merchandising, vol. 4, no. 1, January 1979. See:
http://mcurrent.name/atariads/gallery.htm for these and other early Atari
computer print ads from 1979-1981.
April: Crane/Kaplan/Miller finished their work on the Operating System for
the Atari 400/800 computers.
May 11-13: At the 4th West Coast Computer Faire in San Francisco Atari again
showed the Atari 400/800 computer systems, which were expected to ship within
months.
June: At the Summer CES in Chicago Atari again showed the Atari 400/800
computers, which were expected to ship within weeks. The retail price for the
400 system would be US$550 (up from US$500). Also introduced: the Atari
Talk & Teach Educational System, including the Master Cartridge and 17
cassette packs in the Cassette Courseware series (4 tapes per pack; 4 lessons
per tape; developed by Dorsett Educational Systems for Atari). More software
titles introduced: Basketball, Super Breakout, Computer Chess.
Peter N. Rosenthal was Director of Marketing, Personal Computer Systems.
Summer: Atari received FCC approval for the 400/800 computers.
August:
"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 immediately returned to Atari after
the "in stock" requirement had been met." --Jerry Jessop
September 4: The New York Times reported on p. D7, "Atari Inc., the maker of
home video games, will introduce two new personal computer systems in the
fall. The inaugural ad campaign, created by Doyle Dane Bernbach, will break
in October in 12 national publications. TV commercials will also be aired in
Los Angeles in November and December."
October: "Atari's production lines were stalled for about a week in October
due to yield problems at one of its chip suppliers, Synertek. The low yields
at the semiconductor manufacturer resulted in significantly reduced delivery
of the MPU to Atari, resulting in about a 3-week delay in getting the
computers into the marketplace." Electronic News, December 10, 1979, p. 83.
November:
"The first "real" consumer units were shipped in Nov. of '79 and were 400s
to Sears followed very shortly by 800s." --Jerry Jessop
November: Michael J. Moone became president of the Consumer Division at Atari
(home video games and computers).
November/December: The initial Atari 400 personal computer package consisted
of the 400 computer (8K RAM), 400 Operator's Manual, power supply, TV switch
box, CXL4002 Atari BASIC (cartridge), Atari BASIC: A Self-Teaching Guide
(book, see http://www.atariarchives.org/basic/), 3-ring binder. Package
retail: US$549.99.
November/December: The initial Atari 800 personal computer package consisted
of the 800 computer with 8K RAM module, 800 Operator's Manual, power supply,
TV switch box, 410 program recorder, CXL4001 Educational System Master
Cartridge, CXL4002 Atari BASIC (cartridge), CX-4101 An Invitation to
Programming 1: Fundamentals of Programming (cassette), Atari BASIC: A Self-
Teaching Guide (book, see http://www.atariarchives.org/basic/), 3-ring binder.
Package retail: US$999.99.
November/December: In addition to the $549.99 Atari 400 package, the Sears
catalog also listed the 410 program recorder for $85.00, the Educational
System Master Cartridge for $34.99, Basketball, Super Breakout, and Life
(released as Video Easel) for $49.99 each, Music Composer for $69.99,
Joystick pair for $19.99, Paddles pair for $19.99, and these 9 cassette titles
for use with the Educational System Master Cartridge for $39.99 each:
Basic Sociology, Basic Psychology, Spelling, History of Western World,
Great Classics of Eng Lit, Principles of Economics, U.S. History,
Principles of Accounting, Business Communications
December: "Atari is funneling large quantities of its 400 and 800 personal
computers and software to Sears, Roebuck, while retail computer stores have
been faced with late hardware deliveries and received very little, if any,
software. Sears is offering the Atari 400, priced at $549.99, through its
catalog, and is spot-marketing the machine in its retail stores throughout
California and the Chicago area. In addition, the firm is selling the Atari
800, priced at $999.99, in its California stores, but not through the catalog,
a Sears spokesman said." Electronic News, December 10, 1979, p. 83.
1980
January: Atari introduced the 825 printer, 830 modem, and 850 interface at
the Winter CES in Las Vegas. Also, list prices for the 400 and 800 packages
increased to US$630 and US$1,080 (up from US$550 and US$1,000). Software
titles introduced: Assembler Editor, Video Easel, Music Composer,
3-D Tic-Tac-Toe, Star Raiders, TeleLink 1
Winter: Atari shipped the 810 disk drive and the 820 printer (US$449.95).
March: Atari shipped Star Raiders.
June 15: Atari introduced the 815 dual disk drive, 822 printer, and CX70 light
pen at the Summer CES in Chicago. Also introduced: the Atari Accountant
series of software programs (developed by Arthur Young & Co. for Atari):
General Accounting System, Accounts Receivable System, Inventory Control
Program.
Summer: Atari modified the 800 computer package. The computer would now ship
with 16K RAM (up from 8K); the 410 program recorder and Educational System
Master Cartridge were removed from the package; the Atari BASIC Reference
Manual was added to the package. The retail price remained US$1,080.
Summer/Fall: Atari shipped the 825 printer (US$999.95), 830 modem, and
850 interface (US$219.95).
Fall?: The Atari 800 arrived in the UK: 649 pounds for the 800 with 16K RAM,
39 pounds for Atari BASIC, 69 pounds for a 16K RAM module for the 800.
(Atari User May 1988)
October 21: Roger H. Badertscher was named president of the newly established
Computer Division at Atari. He was previously vice president and general
manager of the microprocessor division of Signetics, an electronics
semiconductor manufacturer.
October: Visicorp introduced the Atari version of VisiCalc.
By the end of 1980, Atari had sold 35,000 computers.
1981
January 8-11: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas Atari announced that the list
price for the 400 computer package with 8K RAM installed was reduced to
US$499.95 (previously: US$630), and that the list price for the 16K RAM
version of the 400 package would be US$630. Also introduced: Asteroids,
Astrology (ultimately released via APX), Atari Word Processor,
An Invitation to Programming 2, An Invitation to Programming 3,
Missile Command, Personal Financial Management System,
Personal Fitness Program (ultimately released via APX), PILOT,
SCRAM (A Nuclear Reactor Simulation)
Winter: Atari shipped the 822 printer.
Winter: The development rights to Atari BASIC, the Atari FMS (DOS) and the
Atari Assembler/Editor program were purchased from SMI by Bill Wilkinson for
his new company, Optimized Systems Software (OSS).
Spring: First issue of The Atari Connection, the glossy magazine published by
the Atari Computer Division in support of the 400/800.
April 3-5: Atari Software Acquisition Program (ASAP) staff attended the 6th
West Coast Computer Faire in San Francisco, offering a grand prize of
US$25,000 in cash and US$75,000 in Atari products to runners-up for Atari
computer software authors. In order to qualify for the awards, programs would
have to be accepted and sold through the soon-to-be-launched Atari Program
Exchange.
May 5: At the National Computer Conference in Chicago, Atari announced that
the 8K Atari 400 was being discontinued and that the price on the 16K version
was being reduced to US$399 (was US$630); also, the 400 would no longer be
sold with the Atari BASIC cartridge and the Atari BASIC: A Self-Teaching Guide
book. Other price reductions: CX852 8K RAM module now US$49.95 (was
US$124.95), CX853 16K RAM module now US$99.95 (was US$199.95), 820 printer now
US$299.95 (was US$449.95). Also introduced: Dow Jones Investment Evaluator,
Atari Microsoft BASIC, Macro Assembler and Program-Text Editor.
May: Atari launched the Atari Program Exchange (APX), a user-written software
distribution unit within the Atari Computer Division. The APX concept had
been the brain-child of Dale Yocam, and APX was guided by Fred Thorlin since
its inception in February 1981. See http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/
Summer?: Atari created the Atari Institute for Educational Action Research,
which began awarding major grants of Atari home computer products, cash
stipends, and/or consulting services to selected individuals and non-profit
institutions or organizations interested in developing new educational uses
for computers in schools, community programs, or in the home. Founded and
directed by Dr. Ted M. Kahn, Ph.D. More than US$250,000 would be awarded in
the program's first year.
August 26: Date of the internal Atari document "Z800 Product Specification,
Revision 1" reflecting Operating System work for the SWEET16 project to create
a new series of computers to replace the 400/800. See:
http://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/8BITS/1200xl/1200xl.html
September: Ingersoll Electronics was the exclusive sales distributor for
Atari 400 and 800 computers in the UK.
Fall: Atari began shipping the 810 disk drive with DOS 2.0S (replacing
the original Atari DOS). Developed by SMI/OSS for Atari.
October: Atari 810 disk drives began shipping with ROM C, supporting a more
efficient "C" sector layout (about 20% faster than the original "B" layout),
and the Data Separator Board, improving reliability.
Fall: Atari shipped the book, De Re Atari.
November: Atari 400/800's began 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. 400/800's also began shipping with OS ROM
version B, improving peripheral I/O control routines.
December 30: Atari said that it would cut the retail price for the 800 home
computer (with 16K RAM) to US$899 from US$1,080.
1982
January 5: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas Atari introduced Pac-Man ($44.95),
Centipede ($44.95), Caverns of Mars ($39.95), The Bookkeeper, and The Home
Filing Manager. Greg Christensen's Caverns of Mars would be the first APX
title to be transferred into Atari's standard product line. Previewed at the
show: the Atari Video System X (would ship as the 5200).
January 6: Atari announced the publication, Atari Special Editions, a catalog
of more than 400 products for the Atari computers from 117 vendors.
January 16: At San Francisco's Maxwell's Plum restaurant in Ghiradelli
Square, Atari awarded the first annual Atari Star Award and US$25,000 to
Fernando Herrera for his APX title, My First Alphabet. My First Alphabet
would ultimately be transferred into Atari's standard product line.
Winter: Ted Richards' name first appeared as editor of The Atari Connection
magazine.
June 8: Atari announced the 5200 Home Entertainment System. Later dubbed the
SuperSystem, the cartridge-based 5200 would be marketed alongside the ultra-
popular Atari VCS (soon to be known as the 2600). While the 5200 required
unique game cartridges and controllers, the internal hardware and operating
system were nearly identical to that of the 400/800 computers. Suggested
retail price: US$299.95.
June 6-9: At the Summer CES in Chicago Atari announced Atari Speed Reading
(US$74.95), Music Tutor (title never shipped. MC's speculation: this would
have been an Atari-branded re-release of the APX title, Musical Computer-The
Music Tutor), Juggles' House, Juggles' Rainbow, TeleLink II (US$79.95), and
the Communicator II kit (new 835 modem + Telelink II) (US$279.95). Atari also
announced the new retail price for the 400 computer was US$349 (previously,
US$399). (CC Oct82 p180) Keith Schaefer was vice-president of sales for
Atari's Home Computer division.
June: Roger Badertscher resigned from his position as president of Atari's
Home Computer Division.
Summer: First year of Atari Computer Camps, held in 3 locations: The
University of San Diego (CA), The Asheville School (Asheville, NC), and East
Stroudsburg State College (PA). (Camp was cancelled at the fourth announced
site of Lakeland College (Sheboygan, WI).) The camps were managed for Atari
by Specialty Camps, Inc. Curriculum developed by Robert A. Kahn at Atari.
Program overseen by Linda Gordon, Atari vice president for special projects.
August 24: John C. Cavalier was named president of Atari's Home Computer
Division. His most recent job was vice president and general manager of
American Can Company's Dixie and Dixie/Marathon unit, makers of consumer paper
products.
September: Steve Mayer resigned as senior vice president of engineering at
Atari to form, and serve as chairman and CEO of, WCI Labs, Inc. The location
was previously known as the Atari NY Lab. Like Atari, WCI Labs would be a
wholly owned subsidiary of Warner Communications. With Gregg Squires as
project manager, WCI Labs would be responsible for the hardware engineering
for the Sweet-16 ("Elizabeth" or "Liz") computer project, which would lead to
the release of the 1200XL.
September 29: Date of the internal Atari document, "Sweet-16 Product
Specification". As of this document, the Sweet-16 project had evolved into
two specific computer model designs, a 16K RAM version tentatively named
"1200" and a 64K RAM version tentatively named "1200X" (earlier: a 16K "600"
and a 64K "1200"), with both models now sharing the same case design.
However, also as of this document, plans called for manufacture of only the
64K version. The project would soon lead to the release of the 1200XL.
http://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/8BITS/1200xl/1200xl.html
October: Atari shipped the 5200 SuperSystem.
Fall: The suggested retail price for the Atari 800 was US$679 with 48K RAM
standard (previously: US$899/16K). The Atari 400 retail price was US$299
(previously, $349).
December: Atari shipped Galaxian, Defender, and Visicalc in time for the
holiday shopping season.
December 13: Atari introduced the 1200XL home computer at a press conference
at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. "We believe that the Atari 1200XL will
set the standard for a new generation in home computing and, once again,
positions Atari on the leading edge of electronic technology and creative
computing," Atari chairman Ray Kassar said. The list price for the 1200XL
would be "well under $1,000." The 1200XL was the first computer resulting
from the Sweet-16/"Elizabeth"/"Liz" project inside Atari. Peripherals
introduced: the 1010 program recorder (US$99), 1020 printer/plotter (US$299),
and 1025 printer (US$549).
Atari sold 400,000 of its 400 and 800 computers in 1982, according to The
Yankee Group, a Boston-based computer consulting firm, accounting for 17
percent of all home computer sales.
1983
January: The retail price for the Atari 800 (with 48K RAM, without Atari
BASIC) was reduced from US$679 to US$499. The retail price for the Atari 400
was reduced from US$299 to US$199.
Winter 82/83: First issue of I/O, later known as Atari Input/Output, the
magazine of the Atari Home Computer Club (operated by Atari in the UK).
January 6-9: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas Atari showed the 1200XL, 1010,
1020, and 1025, introduced Qix, E.T. Phone Home!, Dig Dug, Donkey Kong,
Family Finances, Timewise, and AtariWriter, and also announced the upcoming
Disney Educational Series. The CX22 Trak-Ball was introduced, marketed for
the 2600 but compatible with the computers. The retail price for the 1200XL
was announced to be US$899.
January 15: At San Francisco's St. Francis Hotel, Atari awarded the second
annual Atari Star Award and US$25,000 to David Buehler for his APX title,
Typo Attack.
Winter: Atari shipped the AtariWriter cartridge. AtariWriter was programmed
by William V. Robinson (author of DataSoft's Text Wizard) with Mark Rieley for
DataSoft, for product manager Gary Furr at Atari.
Winter/Spring: "Computers: Expressway to Tomorrow" was an Atari-produced
assembly program for junior and senior high schools in the U.S., offering both
entertainment and computer education using films, slides, music, and a live
host to explore the role of computers in society. (MC's note: I remember that
this came to my school!)
March: Atari shipped the 1200XL, suggested retail price US$899.
March 18-20: At the 8th Annual West Coast Computer Faire in San Francisco,
Atari announced the 1050 disk drive, and introduced Atari Logo (developed by
Logo Computer Systems, Inc. (LCSI) for Atari).
April: Atari announced that Michael Moone would no longer serve as president
of the Consumer Electronics Division, as the division would be consolidated
with the Home Computer Division.
April/May: Production of the 1200XL shifted from the USA to Taiwan.
May: Production of Atari 400/800 computers and 810 disk drives ended.
May: The retail price for the Atari 400 was reduced from US$199 to US$100.
June 1: Atari consolidated the businesses of the Home Computer Division with
the Consumer Electronics (home video games) Division. There would now be
three Divisions for both home computers and home video games:
- Atari Products Company (development & marketing, John Cavalier, president)
- Atari Sales and Distribution Company (Donald Kingsborough, president)
- Atari Manufacturing Company (Paul Malloy, president)
June: Atari introduced the 600XL and 800XL home computers at the Summer CES in
Chicago. The 400/800/1200XL would be discontinued. (The 1400XL and 1450XLD
computers were also introduced, but these never made it into production.)
Peripherals introduced: the 1027 printer, 1030 modem, Light Pen +
AtariGraphics, Touch Tablet + AtariArtist, Remote Control Wireless Joysticks,
CX80 Trak-Ball, AtariLab Starter Set With Temperature Module, AtariLab Light
Module (AtariLab developed by Dickinson College). Software introduced by
Atari: DOS 3, Microsoft BASIC II, Pole Position, Ms. Pac-Man, Donkey Kong
Junior, Pengo, Robotron: 2084, Joust, Football, Tennis, Paint, AtariMusic I,
AtariMusic II, Mickey in the Great Outdoors, Battlezone. (Also shown but never
shipped: the 1060 CP/M Add-On Module, the 1090 XL Expansion System, Tempest,
Soccer, Peter Pan's Daring Journey, The Mysteries of Wonderland, and the
AtariLab Modules: Timekeeper, Lie Detector, Reaction time, Heartbeat,
Biofeedback, Mechanics)
The 600XL had been known as "Surely" and the 800XL had been known as
"Surely Plus" inside Atari.
June 11-Sept 10: Atari co-sponsored the Punta Cana Club Med/Atari Computer
vacation getaway on the island of Hispaniola in the Dominican Republic.
June: Production of the Atari 1200XL computer ended.
Summer: Atari Computer Camps expanded to seven sites nationwide (U.S.):
Greenfield MA, Faribault MN, East Stroudsburg PA, Asheville NC, Glencoe MD,
Danville CA, and San Diego CA. It was the second and final year of the
program.
Summer: Atari released the Atari 400 Home Computer 48K RAM Expansion Kit,
compatible with both the 8K and 16K versions of the 400.
July 7: Warner Communications announced that Atari chairman Ray Kassar had
resigned, to be replaced by James J. Morgan. Morgan was previously executive
vice president of Philip Morris USA, handling the company's US$4.3 billion
cigarette operations. Until Morgan's arrival, Emanuel Gerard would serve as
interim chairman and CEO.
August: Atari Chairman-to-be James Morgan instituted another major management
reorganization at Atari. Atari Sales and Distribution Company and Atari
Manufacturing Company were both dissolved, their functions to be merged into
the Atari Products Company division (home computers and home video game
systems), with 5 divisions of its own:
- Atari Products Company (no division head)
- - Management (marketing) (John Cavalier, president)
- - Sales (Donald Kingsborough, president)
- - Manufacturing (Paul Malloy, president)
- - Engineering (John Farrand, president)
- - International (Anton Bruehl, president)
The presidents of all Atari Products Co. divisions would report directly to
Morgan.
Sept83-June84: The "Catch On to Computers" program, a joint effort between
Atari and General Foods' Post Cereals, offered Atari computers, equipment, and
educational software to schools for collecting Post cereal proof-of-purchase
points over the 1983-1984 school year.
September: Ted Kahn stepped down as executive director of the Atari Institute
for Educational Action Research. More than US$1 million worth of computers,
software, and cash stipends had been awarded to over 100 nonprofit
organizations since the program's founding in 1981.
September: The Atari 800 (with 48K RAM, without Atari BASIC) would now retail
for US$165 while supplies lasted.
Fall: Atari begin shipping the 1050 disk drive with DOS 3 (replacing DOS
2.0S).
Fall: The Atari 600XL/800XL both shipped, retail price US$199/$299.
Fall: Atari shipped the Communicator II package, containing the 835 modem.
October 7: John Cavalier departed from his position as president of the
Management (marketing) division of the Atari Products Company.
October: Atari launched Atari Learning Systems, a new division dedicated to
product development, sales, and support for K-12 educators in the U.S.
Directed by Linda Gordon.
October: Atari France launched the "L'Atarien" magazine, issue 0 (pilot ?),
the "magazine of the Atari Club". In its first issues, the magazine was
mostly centered on the 2600 VCS and 400/800 computers, but the focus quickly
shifted to the XL computers in the next issues. Officially the magazine was
issued by "Rive Ouest - Cato Johnson France" on behalf of "PECF Atari France"
(Issue #0, Page 3). "PECF" was the nickname of the company "Productions et
Editions Cinematographiques Francaises", a company 100% owned by Warner
Communications.
October-December: "Catch on to Computers" computer literacy training programs
for children, adults, and teachers, sponsored by Atari and General Mills' Post
Cereals, ran in 10 cities across the U.S.
November: Atari announced that because of production snags in Hong Kong, it
would be able to fill only 60 per cent of its Christmas orders for the 600XL/
800XL. Atari also said that the 1400XL and 1450XLD would not ship until 1984.
November: Atari opened the Atari Adventure center in St. Louis, MO. The
concept combined a traditional video game arcade with a hands-on public
computer classroom/lab featuring Atari XL computers, along with a new
technology display area.
"Atari sold roughly 250,000 of its 800 series computers last year"
- Time magazine, July 16, 1984
1984
January 1: Atari increased U.S. dealer prices for the Atari 600XL and 800XL
by US$40 each, to US$180 and US$280, respectively.
January 7-10: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas Atari introduced: the 1064 Memory
Module (for the 600XL), The Atari Translator, Typo Attack, Moon Patrol,
Jungle Hunt, Millipede, Sky Writer, SynFile+, SynCalc, SynTrend, The Legacy
(shipped as Final Legacy), Player Maker, Screen Maker. (Atari confirmed that
the unshipped 1400XL computer was canceled. Atari CEO James Morgan said the
unshipped Atari 1450XLD was "exhibited only as a demonstration of the
company's intent to market a high-end computer in 1984, although the specifics
of such a product are currently under review." --Creative Computing May 1984.
Software introduced by Atari but never shipped: Atari Pascal 2.0,
Atari Super PILOT, Captain Hook's Revenge, Berserk, Pop'R Spell, Mario Bros.
(a completely rewritten Mario Bros. was ultimately released in 1989))
January 14: At San Francisco's St. Francis Hotel, Atari awarded the third
annual Atari Star Award and US$25,000 to Mark Reid for his APX title,
Getaway!.
January 23: Atari chairman and CEO James Morgan announced another management
reorganization at Atari. John Farrand was promoted to president of Atari, and
would also now serve as president and COO of the Atari Products Company
(home computers, home video games, and now coin-operated arcade games).
February: Atari 5200 production ended.
March: Fred Thorlin, director of APX since 1982, left Atari.
Spring: Issue Five turned out to be the final issue of Atari Input/Output, the
magazine of the Atari Home Computer Club (Atari UK).
April: Atari shut down the APX operation. Software rights were returned to
the original authors.
May 8: In an elaborate press event, Atari and Lucasfilm introduced Ballblazer
and Rescue on Fractalus!, developed by Lucasfilm, to be shipped by Atari on
cartridge for the 400/800 computers and the 5200 SuperSystem. (The Atari
computer versions were finally shipped on disk by Epyx (USA) and Activision
(UK) in 1985. The 5200 versions were finally released by Atari Corp. in
1986.)
May 21: Atari disclosed that the 5200 was no longer in production. More than
1 million 5200's had been sold to date. (Washington Post, May 22, 1984, C3)
June 3: Atari motto at the Summer CES in Chicago: "June 3, 1984--The Day The
Future Began." (The previously announced then cancelled 1450XLD, or some new
model similar to it, was now to ship in time for Christmas 1984. The 1090 XL
Expansion System was shown again, and Atari also offered specs for a new high-
end computer under development. None of these shipped.) Atari introduced:
Proofreader (for AtariWriter), Track and Field, Crystal Castles. Atari also
introduced The Last Starfighter, which was ultimately re-worked and shipped as
Star Raiders II in 1986. (Also introduced by Atari but never shipped:
MindLink hardware device, Jr. Pac-Man, Peek-A-Boo, Hobgoblin, This Is Ground
Control, Through the Starbridge, Find It!, Elevator Action, Yaacov Agam's
Interactive Painting, The ABC of CPR: First Aid, Wheeler-Dealer, Simulated
Computer, Telly Turtle, Word Tutor, Letter Tutor, Gremlins, Pole Position II)
June: Atari France announced the SECAM model of the 800XL. (The SECAM 600XL
was also announced, but this never made it into production.) List prices:
600XL PAL: 2200 FRF ; 600XL SECAM: 2500 FRF ; 800XL PAL: 3200 FRF ;
800XL SECAM: 3500 FRF ; 1010: 890 FRF ; 1050: 3690 FRF ; 1020: 2590 FRF;
1027: 3490 FRF ; Atari Touch Tablet: 890 FRF
July 1: Agreed on this date, effective June 30, the assets of the Atari home
computer and home video game businesses were sold by Warner Communications to
Tramel Technology Ltd., which had been formed on May 17, 1984 by its chairman
and CEO Jack Tramiel (pronounced truh-MELL), the founder and former president
of Commodore International. The transaction included exclusive use of the
"Atari" name and "Fuji" logo in the home computer and home video game markets,
along with the intellectual property rights (patents, trademarks, and
copyrights) owned by Atari in conjunction with its home computer and home
video game businesses. The home computer and home video game rights to Atari
coin-operated arcade games developed to date were included as well.
Tramel Technology adopted the new name, Atari Corporation. Jack Tramiel would
continue as chairman and CEO, and (son) Sam Tramiel would serve as president.
Summer: The new Atari Corp. halted all manufacturing, and dismissed most of
its inherited Silicon Valley workforce, roughly 1,000 people.
Upon a review of the existing product lines and inventories, it was
determined to resume production of the 800XL computer and the 2600 VCS.
The 600XL was discontinued, and further work on prototype new XL computer
models was halted. There would be no new game releases for the already-
discontinued 5200. (Atari would go on to release three 5200 titles in 1986).
An unannounced new cost-reduced design for the 2600 was also shelved.
(This "2600jr" would finally be released in 1986.)
Atari Connection magazine was shut down.
July 13: Warner Communications announced the sale of 78% of its WCI Labs
subsidiary (internal co-developer of the Atari XL computers) to WCI Labs'
management. As a result of the transaction, which was made effective
retroactive to June 1, 1984, a new privately held company, the Take One
Company, was formed, with Steven T. Mayer as chairman and chief executive.
Warner Communications initially retained 22% ownership of Take One.
August: Atari engineers completed the prototype "800XLF" motherboard design,
to be used in new-production 800XL computers. The new 800XL machines would
include the new FREDDIE memory management chip (previously developed at
Atari, Inc.), the new Revision C of Atari BASIC, and a reinstated chrominance
video signal on the Monitor port (missing on the 1200XL/600XL/800XL produced
by Atari, Inc.). The new 800XL machines would be produced in PAL and (for
the first time, France-specific) SECAM versions, but not the NTSC version due
to ample existing supply of NTSC 800XL machines.
August: Atari reduced the retail price for the 800XL from US$250 to US$179.
November 13: Atari held a press conference at company headquarters in
Sunnyvale, CA in which they outlined their basic marketing strategy for 1985.
The U.S. price for the 800XL was reduced from US$179 to US$119.
December 6: It was reported that Atari would make an immediate 23 per cent
reduction to DM 499 (US$160) in the price of its 800XL home computer in West
Germany and similar cuts in the UK and Italy. Atari estimated the company's
share of the West German home computer market at 8%, compared with 2% in 1983.
In the UK, the 800XL price cut was from 169 to 129 pounds.
December: Atari France announced the new prices of the XL computers range:
600XL PAL: 1599 FRF ; 800XL PAL: 2199 FRF ; 800XL SECAM: 2499 FRF;
1010: 449 FRF ; 1050: 2699 FRF ; 1020: 899 FRF ; 1027: 3399 FRF;
Atari Touch Tablet: 649 FRF
December: Atari France resumed L'Atarien magazine with issue #5. (It had been
on hold since issue #4, June 1984.)
December: Atari engineers completed the prototype "900XLF" motherboard design,
to be used in the forthcoming 65XE computer.
"The 800XL has sold almost 500,000 units through 1984" --Atari's Sigmund
Hartmann, Atari Explorer magazine, Summer 1985, p. 33.
"By the end of 1984, the Atari 800XL will have sold more than 600,000 units
since its introduction more than a year ago, according to Kenneth Lim of
Dataquest, a market research firm in San Jose." InfoWorld January 7/14, 1985
1985
January 5: Atari introduced the 65XE and 130XE home computers at the Winter
CES in Las Vegas. (The 65XEP and 65XEM computers were announced, but these
never made it into production.) The 800XL would be discontinued. XE
peripherals introduced: the XMM801 and XDM121 printers and the XM301 modem.
XE Software introduced: AtariWriter Plus, Silent Butler, Song Painter (later
renamed Music Painter), The Learning Phone (PLATO). (Also introduced but
never shipped: the XTM201 and XTC201 printers, the XC1411 and XM128 monitors,
and the XF521 disk drive. XE Software: Infinity (integrated word processor/
spreadsheet/database/telecomm software, developed for Atari by Matrix
Software / Vincent Garafolo), Shopkeeper, Atari Tutorial.
Epyx introduced Ballblazer and Rescue on Fractalus for the Atari 8-bit
computers, both announced but not shipped by the old Atari, Inc.
Winter: Atari shipped the The Learning Phone cartridge, designed at Atari by
Vincent Wu. Atari access software for the PLATO Service Network (Control
Data Corporation) had been in development at Atari since 1981.
February: First issue of Atari Explorer magazine, the glossy published by
Atari (U.S.) Corp. in support of the XE and ST computers. Headed by Neil
Harris.
February: The new "L'Atarien" magazine was now issued by "Pressimages" on
behalf of "PECF Atari France" (Issue #6, Page 3).
February: Retail prices from Atari France: 800XL SECAM: 1700 FRF ;
1050: 2600 FRF ; 1027: 2600 FRF
March 5: At the San Leandro Computer Club Atari announced that they had
"postponed plans to produce an 8-bit portable computer, due to lack of
interest." Also, "plans for an XEM 8-bit music computer have been postponed
indefinitely due to problems with finalizing the AMY sound chip." (The AMY
chip had been developed at Atari, Inc. Atari Corp. now owned the technology,
but had not retained the original design team. Thus, the new plan to
integrate AMY into the XE system, as the announced 65XEM computer, turned out
to be prohibitively expensive. Atari ultimately sold the AMY chip and
technologies to a Milwaukee based audio design house called Sight & Sound.
See: http://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/8bits/xe/xe_protos/65xem.html )
John Skruch was introduced as software product manager for the 8-bit XE line.
(CN, Apr85, p. 19)
April: Atari shipped the 130XE, retail price US$149.95.
(The 65XE was held out of production due to ample supply of the 800XL.)
April: Atari France announced the availability of the Atari 1029 printer. The
price was not announced.
April/May: Atari began shipping the 1050 disk drive with DOS 2.5 (replacing
DOS 3).
June: At the Summer CES in Chicago Atari introduced Planetarium (prototypes
sometimes called Home Astronomer). (Atari also introduced VIP Professional
and GEM Desktop for the XE, but these never shipped.) DataSoft re-introduced
3 titles for the XE previously shipped by Atari: Pole Position, Pac-Man, and
Dig Dug.
June: Atari France retail price for the 130XE SECAM: 1990 FRF
Fall: Atari shipped the disk-based AtariWriter Plus. Designed and
programmed from scratch by William Robinson (the core word processor),
Ron Rosen (Mail Merge module), and R. Stanley Kistler (Proofreader module) for
Micro Fantasy, for Atari. Manual by Jeffrey D. Bass. Package included a
version for 48K/64K Atari computers as well as a version supporting the 128K
RAM of the 130XE.
Fall: Atari shipped the XM301 modem.
November 15: Atari announced the creation of an electronic entertainment
division, to be headed by Michael V. Katz, formerly head of Epyx.
November: At the fall COMDEX in Las Vegas Atari again showed the XMM801,
The Silent Butler, and Atari Planetarium, each to ship by Christmas.
1986
January 9: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas Atari introduced Star Raiders II
for the XE, and also announced (but did not show) the XC11 program recorder.
A redesigned version of the 2600 (unofficially, "2600 Jr."; previously
designed by Atari, Inc.) was introduced.
February: Cover date of Issue #10, the final issue of L'Atarien magazine from
Atari France.
February: Atari France retail prices: 130XE SECAM: 1490 FRF ; 1010: 490 FRF ;
1050: 1490 FRF ; 1029: 1490 FRF
March: Database Exhibitions staged the first Atari User Show at the Novotel
in Hammersmith, London, UK. (Atari User May 1988)
March: At the Hanover Fair, Germany, Atari introduced a working prototype of
what would ultimately ship as the XEP80 interface, and they also described a
new DOS, which was later named ADOS, and which ultimately shipped as DOS XE.
(Atari also introduced plans for a 3.5" disk drive (the XF351) but this never
shipped.)
Spring: Atari shipped the 65XE, retail price US$99.95.
April 28-May 1: Atari introduced a working prototype of what would ultimately
ship as the SX212 modem at the Spring COMDEX (Computer Dealer's Exhibition)
in Atlanta. Atari also announced that the 80 Column Card would be out "late
this summer." (Atari also reiterated plans for a 3.5" disk drive (the XF351)
but this never shipped.)
June 1: Atari announced that David H. Ahl was the new editor of Atari Explorer
magazine.
June 1-4: Atari introduced the XEP80 interface at the Summer CES in Chicago.
Summer: Bob Gleadow, previously of Commodore, became the new general manager
of Atari UK. Max Bambridge, the outgoing head of Atari UK, was transferred
to the Far East to oversee Atari manufacturing. (Atari User May 1988)
Sept/Oct: First issue of Atari Explorer magazine produced by the new
subsidiary, Atari Explorer Publications Corp. of Mendham, NJ, headed by David
H. Ahl, founder and former editor of Creative Computing magazine.
1987
January 8: Atari previewed the XE game system at the Winter CES in Las Vegas.
February: Atari introduced the XE video game system at the American
International TOY FAIR in New York.
June: "Flying High" was Atari's motto at the Summer CES in Chicago. Atari
introduced the XF551 and ADOS (renamed DOS XE when shipped), AtariWriter 80,
and SX Express!. Atari introduced the two pack-in games for the XE game
system, Bug Hunt (proto names had been Troubleshooter or Blast 'Em) and
Flight Simulator II. Atari announced that they would be re-releasing many
of their own 400/800/XL/XE cartridge titles for the XE, including Battlezone,
Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., and the former disk title, Star Raiders II.
Atari also announced many new Atari XE cartridge titles, including Crossbow,
Hardball!, Fight Night, One-On-One Basketball, Archon, Ballblazer,
Rescue on Fractalus, Lode Runner, Blue Max, David's Midnight Magic, Gato, and
Barnyard Blaster.
Summer: Atari shipped the XDM121 printer.
September: Atari shipped the XEP80 interface and the SX212 modem (SX Express!
disk software to be sold separately).
Fall: Atari shipped the XE game system in late September, and it reached most
dealer shelves by mid-October, retail price US$150. Package included:
Missile Command and Atari BASIC on ROM, keyboard, Joystick, Light Gun,
Bug Hunt cartridge and Flight Simulator II cartridge.
December: Atari sold 100,000 XE Game Systems in the U.S. at Christmas and did
not meet demand (Antic magazine, May 1988, p. 39)
December 31: From the Atari Annual Report: "In Czechoslovakia, the German
Democratic Republic, and Poland the Atari 800XE and 65XE computers have gained
brand dominance and are among the most popular systems being sold in these
countries."
Atari game cartridges re-released by Atari in 1987:
Caverns of Mars, Centipede, Donkey Kong Jr., Eastern Front (1941),
Final Legacy, Football, Galaxian, Joust, Millipede, Moon Patrol, Ms. Pac-Man,
Pac-Man, Pole Position, Super Breakout, Tennis
1988
Winter: Atari shipped 12 new XE game cartridges: Archon, Ballblazer,
Barnyard Blaster, BattleZone, Blue Max, David's Midnight Magic, Fight Night,
HardBall, Lode Runner, One-On-One Basketball, Rescue on Fractalus,
Star Raiders II
April: Atari shipped the XF551 disk drive (with DOS 2.5).
May: Sam Tramiel became CEO of Atari (replacing father Jack Tramiel). Sam
Tramiel would also continue as president. Jack Tramiel remained chairman.
June: Atari promoted the XE game system at the Summer CES in Chicago, under
their "Winning Package" theme.
Summer: Atari shipped the new XE game cartridge, Gato.
Fall: Atari opened an office of the Entertainment Electronics Division in
Chicago, headed by Larry Siegel, vice president of software development.
Mike Katz, based in Sunnyvale, remained president of the Entertainment
Electronics Division.
Fall?: Atari shipped the new XE game cartridge, Necromancer.
December 31: From the Atari Annual Report: "Our XE line of 8-bit computer
systems is extremely popular throughout Eastern Europe, and most recently, has
begun to appear on retail shelves in the Soviet Union."
Atari game cartridges re-released by Atari in 1988:
Donkey Kong, Super Breakout.
Atari also re-released the AtariWriter cartridge in 1988.
1989
January: Atari shipped DOS XE, and also began shipping the XF551 disk drive
with DOS XE (replacing DOS 2.5). Developed by Bill Wilkinson for Atari.
Winter: Atari shipped 3 new XE game cartridges: Ace of Aces, Desert Falcon,
Mario Bros.
February: Mike Katz departed from Atari as president of the Entertainment
Electronics division.
Spring: Atari shipped the new XE game cartridges: Food Fight, Karateka,
Crystal Castles, Dark Chambers, Crossbow, Thunderfox, Choplifter,
Into the Eagle's Nest, Crime Buster, Airball, Summer Games
May/June: Premier issue of Atarian magazine, "the official magazine of the
Atarian Video Game Club sponsored by Atari (U.S.) Corp." Published by Atari
Explorer Publications, David H. Ahl, Publisher/Editor.
Summer: Atari shipped AtariWriter 80, programmed by William Robinson and Ron
Rosen for Micro Fantasy. The package included Proofreader (programmed by
R. Stanley Kistler) and Mail Merge modules, and required the XEP80 interface.
Like AtariWriter Plus, the package included a version for 48K/64K Atari
computers as well as a version supporting the 128K RAM of the 130XE.
October: Third and final issue of Atarian magazine.
December 31: From the Atari Annual Report: "sales of games products such as
the 2600 and 7800 game systems and the range of older XE 8 bit computers
decreased by 35% to $101.6 million, or 24% of total net sales for the year
ended December 31, 1989, from $155.5 million, or 34%, of total net sales in
1988." From the Atari 10-K: "The Company's traditional video game offerings
include the 2600 VCS, the 7800 ProSystem, and the XE Game System."
1990
March 15: Atari Explorer Publications was shut down, and Atari Explorer
magazine went on hiatus.
May?: At the Atari shareholders meeting, Atari stated that last year, 250,000
XE computers were sold. In Poland, the XE sold 70,000 units, making it the
most popular computer in Poland. (Atari Interface, June/July 1990, p. 6)
1991
Jan/Feb: Return of Atari Explorer magazine, now headed by John Jainschigg and
published in-house at Atari.
May: "Atari Canada's General Manager Geoff Earle announces a new trade up
program for owners of Atari 8-bit computers to a 520STFM for $250. The 8-bit
computer line is admitted to be discontinued." (AtariUser Jan'92, p. 20)
May 14: At the Atari shareholders meeting, Atari stated that the XE was still
in production, being sold in South America, Eastern Europe and the Middle
East. (Atari Interface magazine, June 1991, p. 10)
November 23-24: Chicago Computerfest by Atari / Lake County Atari Computer
Enthusiasts (LCACE), Ramada Hotel O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois. Atari (U.S.)
brought substantially all of their remaining inventory of 8-bit computer
products for clearance sales.
December: "..as of Christmas 1991, Atari decided to discontinue the XEGS,
2600, and 7800 systems." --Tim Duarte, AtariUser magazine, July 1992, p. 22.
December 28: From the Atari 10-K SEC filing: "Atari's XE series computers are
targeted for the price conscious markets. The 65XE and 130XE have 64k and
128k of internal RAM, and generally retail for less than $100 and $150,
respectively. Both are supported by a variety of peripheral equipment and a
variety of software titles including entertainment software. This computer
line retains compatibility with the Company's previous generation 8-bit
computer systems, i.e., the 400 and 800XL computers."
1992
Atari announced that support for all 8-bit products was discontinued as of the
beginning of this year, according to Atari Classics magazine. (Dec. 1992, p.4)
June 2: At the Atari stockholders meeting, Atari stated that the XE line of
computers was still being made. Though not available in the U.S. market, XE
systems were being made for sale in Mexico, South America, Eastern Europe and
Germany. (Atari Interface magazine, Fall 1992, p. 19)
December 31: For the first time, the XE was not mentioned in Atari's Annual
Report to Shareholders.
1993
Jan/Feb: Final issue of Atari Explorer magazine.
1994
January 1: From the Atari Annual Report: "The Company also has some inventory
of its older 16-bit computer products and 8-bit game products, namely ST and
TT series of computers, 2600 and 7800 video games systems and XE computer and
Portfolio products. As a result of these inventories being technologically
obsolete and noncompetitive, the Company has written off these inventories.
The Company is expecting minimal sales from these products in the future."
1996
July 30: Atari Corp. merged with JT Storage, Inc. into a new company,
JTS Acquisition Corp. The merged company immediately adopted the new name,
JTS Corp. The prior business of Atari would now be conducted through the
Atari Division of JTS; however "the Atari Division was not expected to
represent a significant portion of JTS business," JTS said.
1998
February 23: JTS sold substantially all of the assets of its Atari Division,
consisting primarily of the Atari intellectual property rights and license
agreements, to HIAC XI Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hasbro Interactive
(itself a unit of toy company Hasbro, Inc.), for US$5 million. HIAC XI was
then renamed Atari Interactive, Inc.
2001
January 29: Infogrames Entertainment announced completion of its acquisition
of Hasbro Interactive from Hasbro, renaming the subsidiary Infogrames
Interactive, Inc. Atari Interactive was included in the transaction.
2003
May 7: Infogrames Entertainment folded its Infogrames Interactive (the former
Hasbro Interactive) subsidiary into its Atari Interactive subsidiary.
2009
May 29: The name of Infogrames Entertainment was changed to Atari.
TODAY: The Atari copyrights/trademarks/patents associated with the
400/800/XL/XE 8-bit Atari computer line are owned by Atari Interactive, Inc.,
a subsidiary of Atari, S.A. of Lyon, France. http://corporate.atari.com/
===================================================================
End of atari-8-bit/faq
===================================================================
ari shipped the new XE game cartridges: Food Fight, Karateka,
Crystal Castles, Dark Chambers, Crossbow, Thunderfox, Choplifter,
Into the Eagle's Nest, Crime Buster, Airball, Summer Games
May/June: Premier issue of Atarian magazine, "the official magazine of the
Atarian Video Game Club sponsored by Atari (U.S.) Corp." Published by Atari
Explorer Publications, David H. Ahl, Publisher/Editor.
Summer: Atari shipped AtariWriter 80, programmed by William Robinson and Ron
Rosen for Micro Fantasy. The package included Proofreader (programmed by
R. Stanley Kistler) and Mail Merge modules, and required the XEP80 interface.
Like AtariWriter Plus, the package included a version for 48K/64K Atari
computers as well as a version supporting the 128K RAM of the 130XE.
October: Third and final issue of Atarian magazine.
December 31: From the Atari Annual Report: "sales of games products such as
the 2600 and 7800 game systems and the range of older XE 8 bit computers
decreased by 35% to $101.6 million, or 24% of total net sales for the year
ended December 31, 1989, from $155.5 million, or 34%, of total net sales in
1988." From the Atari 10-K: "The Company's traditional video game offerings
include the 2600 VCS, the 7800 ProSystem, and the XE Game System."
1990
March 15: Atari Explorer Publications was shut down, and Atari Explorer
magazine went on hiatus.
May?: At the Atari shareholders meeting, Atari stated that last year, 250,000
XE computers were sold. In Poland, the XE sold 70,000 units, making it the
most popular computer in Poland. (Atari Interface, June/July 1990, p. 6)
1991
Jan/Feb: Return of Atari Explorer magazine, now headed by John Jainschigg and
published in-house at Atari.
May: "Atari Canada's General Manager Geoff Earle announces a new trade up
program for owners of Atari 8-bit computers to a 520STFM for $250. The 8-bit
computer line is admitted to be discontinued." (AtariUser Jan'92, p. 20)
May 14: At the Atari shareholders meeting, Atari stated that the XE was still
in production, being sold in South America, Eastern Europe and the Middle
East. (Atari Interface magazine, June 1991, p. 10)
November 23-24: Chicago Computerfest by Atari / Lake County Atari Computer
Enthusiasts (LCACE), Ramada Hotel O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois. Atari (U.S.)
brought substantially all of their remaining inventory of 8-bit computer
products for clearance sales.
December: "..as of Christmas 1991, Atari decided to discontinue the XEGS,
2600, and 7800 systems." --Tim Duarte, AtariUser magazine, July 1992, p. 22.
December 28: From the Atari 10-K SEC filing: "Atari's XE series computers are
targeted for the price conscious markets. The 65XE and 130XE have 64k and
128k of internal RAM, and generally retail for less than $100 and $150,
respectively. Both are supported by a variety of peripheral equipment and a
variety of software titles including entertainment software. This computer
line retains compatibility with the Company's previous generation 8-bit
computer systems, i.e., the 400 and 800XL computers."
1992
Atari announced that support for all 8-bit products was discontinued as of the
beginning of this year, according to Atari Classics magazine. (Dec. 1992, p.4)
June 2: At the Atari stockholders meeting, Atari stated that the XE line of
computers was still being made. Though not available in the U.S. market, XE
systems were being made for sale in Mexico, South America, Eastern Europe and
Germany. (Atari Interface magazine, Fall 1992, p. 19)
December 31: For the first time, the XE was not mentioned in Atari's Annual
Report to Shareholders.
1993
Jan/Feb: Final issue of Atari Explorer magazine.
1994
January 1: From the Atari Annual Report: "The Company also has some inventory
of its older 16-bit computer products and 8-bit game products, namely ST and
TT series of computers, 2600 and 7800 video games systems and XE computer and
Portfolio products. As a result of these inventories being technologically
obsolete and noncompetitive, the Company has written off these inventories.
The Company is expecting minimal sales from these products in the future."
1996
July 30: Atari Corp. merged with JT Storage, Inc. into a new company,
JTS Acquisition Corp. The merged company immediately adopted the new name,
JTS Corp. The prior business of Atari would now be conducted through the
Atari Division of JTS; however "the Atari Division was not expected to
represent a significant portion of JTS business," JTS said.
1998
February 23: JTS sold substantially all of the assets of its Atari Division,
consisting primarily of the Atari intellectual property rights and license
agreements, to HIAC XI Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hasbro Interactive
(itself a unit of toy company Hasbro, Inc.), for US$5 million. HIAC XI was
then renamed Atari Interactive, Inc.
2001
January 29: Infogrames Entertainment announced completion of its acquisition
of Hasbro Interactive from Hasbro, renaming the subsidiary Infogrames
Interactive, Inc. Atari Interactive was included in the transaction.
2003
May 7: Infogrames Entertainment folded its Infogrames Interactive (the former
Hasbro Interactive) subsidiary into its Atari Interactive subsidiary.
2009
May 29: The name of Infogrames Entertainment was changed to Atari.
TODAY: The Atari copyrights/trademarks/patents associated with the
400/800/XL/XE 8-bit Atari computer line are owned by Atari Interactive, Inc.,
a subsidiary of Atari, SA of Lyon, France. http://corporate.atari.com/
===================================================================
End of atari-8-bit/faq
===================================================================