Task: Explore the Golden Rules of Using an Atari 8-Bit Computer Needed: Web Browser Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction The Golden Rules of Using and Atari 8-Bit Computer is another website I was not previously aware of. I love the simplicity of the site and the
Read moreExplore Gury’s Atari 8-bit Forever Portal (15-30 mins)
Task: Explore Gury’s Atari 8-bit Forever Portal Needed: Web Browser Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction I ran across Gury’s Atari 8-bit Forever Portal recently and was surprised I had not seen it before. The Gury site is a well-organized, no-nonsense catalog of Atari 400/800/XL/XE software, spanning
Read morePlay Poker with Your Friends Online Using FujiNet on an Atari 8-Bit Computer (15-30 mins)
Task: Play Poker with Your Friends Online Using FujiNet on an Atari 8-Bit Computer Needed: Atari 8-Bit Computer, FujiNet, WiFi Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction I have previously posted about purchasing a FujiNet or FujiNet Pro device for booting games and software as well as networking
Read moreExplore the Atari Protos Website to Learn about Unreleased or Rare Software and Games for Atari 8-Bit Computers and Game Consoles (10-15 mins)
Task: Explore the Atari Protos Website to Learn about Unreleased or Rare Software and Games for Atari 8-Bit Computers and Game Consoles Needed: Web Browser Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction One of the really fun things to do with Atari computers and game consoles is to
Read moreExplore the Atari Basics Website and Sign Up for the Atari Insights Newsletter (10-15 mins)
Task: Explore the Atari Basics Website and Sign Up for the Atari Insights Newsletter Needed: Web Browser Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction I learned recently about the Atari Basics website produced by Mr. John Zielke that provides really wonderful content about all things Atari 8-bit computing.
Read moreConnect Your Atari 8-Bit Computer to a Live Bulletin Board System or BBS (30-60 mins)
Task: Connect your Atari 8-Bit Computer to a Live Bulletin Board System or BBS Needed: Atari 8-bit computer or modern device, modem / FujiNet / Telnet / Altirra / web browser, internet connection, and terminal software Time: 30-60 minutes Guest Author: Rob Sherman from the
Read morePurchase Caverns of Mars for the Atari 2600 (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase Caverns of Mars for the Atari 2600 Needed: Caverns of Mars Cartridge, Atari 2600 / 2600+ / 7800 / 7800+ Time: 10-15 mins Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Introduction I am not a
Read moreRead the Book “Adventure” on the Atari 2600 by Jamie Lendino
Task: Read the Book “Adventure” on the Atari 2600 by Jamie Lendino Needed: Web browser for ordering Time: 3-6 hours to read Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Introduction Jamie Lendino is one of my favorite
Read moreBuild a Retro Atari Stream Deck for Launching Games on Your PC (2-4 hours)
Task: Build a Retro Atari Stream Deck for Launching Games on Your PC Needed: Pro Micro microcontroller with Atmega32U4 chip, wires, Kailh mechanical switches, micro-USB cable, soldering iron and solder, 3D printer and filament for case, Arduino IDE software for programming Time: 2-4 hours Disclosure:
Read morePurchase a Retro Base LED for Adding Some Colorful Bling to Your Atari 800XL and 130XE 8-Bit Computers (5-10 mins)
Task: Purchase a Retro Base LED for Adding Some Colorful Bling to Your Atari 800XL and 130XE 8-Bit Computers Needed: Web Browser for Purchase and LED Light Strip Time: 5-10 minutes Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying
Read moreBuild an A8PicoCart for Booting Software on an Atari 8-Bit Computer from a Raspberry Pi Pico Clone (30-60 mins)
Task: Build an A8PicoCart for Booting Software on an Atari 8-Bit Computer from a Raspberry Pi Pico Clone Needed: A8PicoCart circuit board, Raspberry Pi Pico Clone, 3D-printed case, soldering iron Time: 30-60 minutes Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn
Read morePurchase a 3D Printer for Designing and Printing Parts for Atari 8-Bit Computers and Game Consoles (30-60 mins)
Task: Purchase a 3D Printer for Designing and Printing Parts for Atari 8-Bit Computers and Game Consoles Needed: 3D Printer Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. The number of uses for 3D
Read moreDiagnose and Repair a Faulty Non-Maskable Interrupt (NMI) Signal on an Atari 8-Bit Computer (1-2 hrs)
Task: Diagnose and Repair a Faulty Non-Maskable Interrupt (NMI) Signal on an Atari 8-Bit Computer Needed: Oscilloscope, Multimeter, Soldering Iron, Desoldering Iron, Hot Air Rework Station Time: 1-2 hours Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Introduction
Read moreDiagnose and Repair the Crystal Clock Oscillator Circuit in an Atari 8-Bit Computer (1-2 hrs)
Task: Diagnose and Repair the Clock Oscillator Circuit in an Atari 8-Bit Computer Needed: oscilloscope, clock circuit components, soldering iron, desoldering iron, hot air rework station Time: 1-2 hours Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Introduction
Read moreAdd HDMI Video Output to Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Using the LumaCode GTIA-dizer and RGBtoHDMI Devices (15-30 mins)
Task: Add HDMI Video Output to Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Using the LumaCode GTIA-dizer and RGBtoHDMI Devices Needed: Atari 8-bit computer with GTIA chip in a socket, GTIA-dizer board, RGBtoHDMI board, Raspberry Pi Zero, microSD card Time: 15-30 minutes Disclosure: Note that as an eBay
Read moreWatch My YouTube Video on the Diagnosis, Repair, and Modification of Vintage Computers (45 mins)
Task: Watch My YouTube Video on the Diagnosis, Repair, and Modification of Vintage Computers Needed: Web browser Time: 45 minutes Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Introduction I prepared a presentation on the diagnosis, repair, and
Read moreWatch the Ataventure Demo by DMA for the Atari 2600 (5-10 mins)
Task: Watch the Ataventure Demo by DMA for the Atari 2600 Needed: Ataventure binary, Atari 2600 with SD-card device or Stella emulator Time: 5-10 minutes Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Introduction The Atari 2600 VCS
Read morePurchase a Modern Atari 7800+ Video Game Console (15-30 mins)
Task: Purchase a Modern Atari 7800+ Video Game Console Needed: Atari 7800+ Video Game Console Time: 15-30 mins Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Introduction I have previously posted about the capable Atari 7800 game console
Read moreUse a Multichannel Oscilloscope to Test Multiple Pins of an Integrated Circuit Simultaneously (15-30 mins)
Task: Use a Multichannel Oscilloscope to Test Multiple Pins of an Integrated Circuit Simultaneously Needed: Multichannel Oscilloscope with Multiple Probes Time: 15-30 mins Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Introduction I have previously posted about using
Read moreLabel the 6502 CPU, ANTIC, GTIA, POKEY, and PIA Chips for Easier Troubleshooting Using a Multimeter or Oscilloscope (10-15 mins)
Task: Label the 6502 CPU, ANTIC, GTIA, POKEY, and PIA Chips for Easier Troubleshooting Using a Multimeter or Oscilloscope Needed: Printed Pinouts and Double-Sided Tape Time: 10-15 mins Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Introduction I
Read moreReplace the Track 0 Sensor on an Indus GT Floppy Disk Drive for the Atari 8-Bit Computers (30-60 mins)
Task: Replace the Track 0 Sensor on an Indus GT Floppy Disk Drive for the Atari 8-Bit Computers Needed: Web browser, Indus GT, Track 0 Sensor, Soldering Iron Time: 30-60 minutes Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying
Read moreTest Integrated Circuits Using a TL866 Universal Programmer (10-15 mins)
Task: Test Integrated Circuits Using a TL866 Universal Programmer Needed: Web browser, TL866 Universal Programmer, Compatible IC to Test Time: 10-15 minutes Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Introduction Troubleshooting a failed retrocomputer can often come
Read morePurchase a SpectraVideo CompuMate to Extend the Functionality of Your Atari 2600 Game Console (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase a SpectraVideo CompuMate to Extend the Functionality of Your Atari 2600 Game Console Needed: CompuMate SpectraVideo, Atari 2600 Time: 10-15 mins Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Introduction The Atari 2600 was a pioneer
Read morePurchase the Sys-Check Device for Diagnostic Testing of the RAM and ROM of Atari XL/XE 8-Bit Computers (5-10 mins)
Task: Purchase the Sys-Check Device for Diagnostic Testing of the RAM and ROM of Atari XL/XE 8-Bit Computers Needed: Sys-Check, Atari 8-Bit Computer with PBI Slot Time: 5-10 mins Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Introduction
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