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Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions |
Section 2 of 11 - Prev - Next
All sections - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11
available on Curt Vendel's web site, thanks to permission from Hasbro's Atari
Interactive Division's release of this data. See the TIFF scans:
http://www.atari-history.com/articles.html
Keith Howell has converted the hi-res TIFFs into clean HTML:
http://www.howell1964.freeserve.co.uk/Atari/800XL/Atari_800XL.htm
------------------------------
Subject: 1.12) What is the internal layout of the 8-bit Atari?
ASCII art by Thomas Havemeister.
->
+---------------------------------------+
| +------------+ |
| | CPU (6502) | +-------+
| +------------+ <- | I/O- |
| | +----------|release|
| +-+ | +-------+
| +---------+<- |p| | |
| | MMU |-----| | | <-+---------+-|----------+----------+
*-| memory- | |r| *---| PIA | | (trigger)|Controller|====\
| |managment|-----|-+--------| (6520) | |+---------| Ports |====/
| +---------+<- |o| -> | +---------+-|-+ <--> +----------+
| | | | ||| | |
| +-----+ |c| | <-+---------+ ||| |(lightpen)
| | RAM |<-A/D | | *---| ANTIC | ||| | |
*---|8-128|-------|e|----|---|(2nd CPU)|---------------+ |
| |Kbyte|->D | | -> | +---------+ ||| +---------------
| +-----+ |s| | || ||| |
| | | | <-+---------+-|||--------+(screen)
| +-------+ |s| *---| GTIA |-|+| | |
| | Atari |<-A | |----|---| /CTIA | | | | +----------+ +-----------+
| | BASIC |------|o| -> | +---------+ | | | | summary |===| modulator |
*--|8 Kbyte|->D | | | | | | |connection|===| ^^^^^^^^^ |
| | ROM | |r| | <-+---------+ | | | +----------+ +-----------+
| +-------+ | | +---| POKEY |-|-|-+ |(sound) |
| | |--------| |-|-|--------+ |
| +-------+ |b| -> +---------+ | +----------+ |
| |AtariOS|<-A | | | | | |
*--|10/16Kb|------|u| +--|----------+ | tv/monitor
| | ROM |->D | +----------------- | | | **********
| +-------+ |s| | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| +-+ +-+ | | |
| | | | | |
+--------------*---|------------*---| | | |
| | | | | | |
+-----------+ +-----------+ +------------+
|ParallelBus| | Cartridge | | Serial |
|Interface/ | | Slot | |Input/Output|
| Enhanced | | ROM | | (SIO) |
| Cartridge | +-----------+ +------------+
| Interface | | |
+-----------+ | |
| | |
- memory expansion -cartridge with - disk drive
- Z80 card programs - printer
- 80 char card (games , dos ) - modem
NOTES
* RAM: 400/800: 8K, 16K or 48K standard
600XL:16K standard
1200XL/800XL/65XE/800XE/XEGS: 64K standard
130XE:128K standard
* ROM: 400/800:10K OS, 1200XL:16K OS, all others:16K OS + 8K Atari BASIC
* CPU: 400/800:6502B, all others:6502C
* 800 includes two Cartridge Slots, all others include one
* early release 400/800 have CTIA instead of GTIA
* 400/800 have 4 Controller Ports, all others have 2
* PBI is on 600XL/800XL only
* ECI is on 130XE/800XE/many PAL 65XE only
* Some late XE's use a 68B21 for PIA; PIA is 6520/6520A on all others
The following are most of the team who originally designed the 400/800.
Credit for providing this information for the FAQ goes to:
Doug Neubauer (by way of James Finnegan), Jerry Jessop, Scott Emmons
VLSI HARDWARE:
Jay Miner - Creator and System architect, VSLI manager
Steve Mayer - Also one of the creators - Partner in "Cyan Engineering"
Lawrence D. Emmons - Also one of the creators - Partner in "Cyan
Engineering"
Joe Decuir - ANTIC and system and creator
???A French guy - ANTIC logic designer
George McLeod - CTIA and GTIA logic design
Doug Neubauer - POKEY logic design
Mark Shieu - POKEY chip design
Steve Stone - POKEY layout design
Steve Smith - Technician for ANTIC and GTIA
Delwin Pearson - Technician for POKEY
------------------------------
Subject: 1.13) What issues surround NTSC vs PAL versions of the 8-bit Atari?
Contributors to this section:
Wayne Booth, Graham Thornton, Brent Buescher Jr., Thomas Richter, Jindroush
Some quick definitions first:
NTSC standard: Abbreviation for "National Television Standards Committee"
TV signal standard used in North America, Central America, a number of South
American countries, and some Asian countries, including Japan.
525 lines per frame
60 half-frames per second (interlaced) = 60 Hz
Complete frame refreshed 30 times per second
PAL: Acronym for "phase alternation by line"
TV signal standard used in the United Kingdom, much of the rest of western
Europe, several South American countries, some Middle East and Asian
countries, several African countries, Australia, New Zealand, and other
Pacific island countries.
625 lines per frame
50 half-frames per second (interlaced) = 50 Hz
Complete frame refreshed 25 times per second.
PAL-M: A modified version of PAL, used in Brazil.
SECAM: Acronym for "systeme electronique couleur avec memoire"
TV signal standard used in France, eastern European countries, the former
USSR, and some African countries.
625 lines per frame
50 half-frames per second (interlaced) = 50 Hz
Complete frame refreshed 25 times per second.
Now then, how do the differences among 8-bit Atari computers designed for the
different world television signal standards affect users trying to use
software written elsewhere in the world?
The 50Hz vertical refresh frequency of PAL machines translates into more
vertical blank interrupt (VBI) time for demos and other computation-intensive
graphics software, when compared to the time available for VBIs on NTSC
machines with the faster 60Hz refresh frequency. So PAL demos and games that
won't work on NTSC machines are usually returning from a VBI too late. Some
also attempt to use more vertical resolution ("longer" display lists) than an
NTSC display can handle.
Note that the reverse is also true. Software using VBIs will run more slowly
on a PAL Atari than on an NTSC Atari.
Replacing the NTSC ANTIC chip in an NTSC Atari with a PAL ANTIC changes the
screen refresh rate to 50Hz, allowing most of the PAL-only European software
to run on a North American NTSC Atari. However, make sure your display device
can support a 50Hz PAL signal first! North American Atari users can also
obtain and use real European PAL Atari machines, with the same caveat
concerning the display device.
Bottom line:
Software written for NTSC machines (North America) will (almost) always work
on PAL machines (Europe), but software designed on PAL machines won't
necessarily work on NTSC machines.
Jindroush contributes: (2/26/02)
Could there be a program which runs on NTSC Atari and not on PAL Atari? Yes,
if it uses some precise timing copy protection (probably based on vblank
timing). Examples of these are Transylvania and The Quest by Penguin Software.
Thomas Richter mentions another NTSC vs PAL issue:
Another point is that the popular pseudo-colors used in the ANTIC-F (Graphics
8) mode are not colorful at all when displayed on a PAL TV, because of
differences in the color encoding for the TV. The schematics of the XL
computers include however a hack how to change the PAL version to the NTSC
version (the PAL versions include two crystals, one with 5/4th of the
frequency of the other. One is used for the system clock, the other for the
color clock), but I never dared to apply it.
And on 10/16/03 Thomas Richter answered a related question this way:
>> Note that it's typically not too hard to get an NTSC Atari to run in PAL
>> by just swapping out the ANTIC chip.
>>
>> Unfortunately, some demos actually check the OS ROM for a particular
>> value to see if it's a PAL machine or not, and then refuse to run if
>> they are. *grumble* I'd rather have a warning than a refusal. :^P
> As far as I am aware, the only value to tell a PAL from a NTSC machine is in
> GTIA. Maybe swap that one as well and see what you get
Absolutey correct, GTIA keeps the PAL/NTSC register and the Os rom reads it
from there. However, besides the GTIA PAL and NTSC machines differ in other
aspects. For example, on PAL machines an additional oscillator of 5/4 of the
main frequency is present to generate the color frequencies needed to drive
GTIA. There is no such circuit in NTSC Ataris. Besides, this factor of 5/4 is
also the reason why you don't get "artifacted colors" on PAL machines (or, at
least, not very good ones.)
------------------------------
Subject: 1.14) What are the pinouts for the various ports on the Atari?
Controller Port (4 on 400/800, 2 on all others):
1 2 3 4 5
o o o o o
o o o o
6 7 8 9 CX22 trackball meanings from Steve Wallace:
1. (Joystick) Forward Input X Direction
2. (Joystick) Back Input X Motion
3. (Joystick) Left Input Y Direction
4. (Joystick) Right Input Y Motion
5. B Potentiometer Input
6. Trigger Input / Light Pen Input. Port 4 only on 400
7. +5V
8. Ground
9. A Potentiometer Input
Serial I/O (SIO) Port (all machines):
2 12
o o o o o o
o o o o o o o
1 13
1. Clock Input 8. Motor Control
2. Clock Output 9. Proceed
3. Data Input 10. +5V/Ready (not on 1200XL)
4. Ground 11. Audio Input
5. Data Output 12. +12V (400,800 only. 1400XL/1450XLD?)
6. Ground 13. Interrupt
7. Command
Cartridge Slot ("Left" slot on all machines; "Right" slot on 800 only):
A B C D E F H J K L M N P R S
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
1. ~S4(Left) R/~W late(Right) A. RD4(Left) B02(Right)
2. A3 B. GND
3. A2 C. A4
4. A1 D. A5
5. A0 E. A6
6. D4 F. A7
7. D5 H. A8
8. D2 J. A9
9. D1 K. A12
10. D0 L. D3
11. D6 M. D7
12. ~S5(Left) ~S4(Right) N. A11
13. +5V P. A10
14. RD5(Left) RD4(Right) R. R/~W
15. ~CCTL S. B02
Monitor Jack (all but 400, N. American 600XL, XE Game System, SECAM
systems):
3 1
5 4
2
1. Composite Luminance (Composite Video on 600XL)
2. Ground
3. Audio Output
4. Composite Video
5. Composite Chroma (not on 800XL(most),1200XL; grounded on 600XL)
Monitor Jack, SECAM systems: (thanks Jer Sobola)
V
5 1
3
4 2
6
1 +12V DC 5mA max
2 Audio 1 output
3 Audio 2 output
4 Video output
5 GND
6 +5V 100mA max
Amplitude Audio 2 is about 6 times closer than Audio 1
Power Adapter Plug (all but 400,800,1200XL,1400XL,1450XLD):
7 6
3 1
5 4
2
1. +5V
2. Shield
3. Ground
4. +5V
5. Ground
6. +5V
7. Ground
Parallel Bus Interface (PBI) (600XL and 800XL only):
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50
1. GND ground 2. External select
3. A0 Address output 4. A1
5. A2 6. A3
7. A4 8. A5
9. A6 10. GND
11. A7 12. A8
13. A9 14. A10
15. A11 16. A12
17. A13 18. A14
19. GND 20. A15
21. D0 Data (bidirectional) 22. D1
23. D2 24. D3
25. D4 26. D5
27. D6 28. D7
29. GND 30. GND
31. Phase 2 clock output 32. GND
33. NC Reserved 34. Reset output
35. (IRQ) Interrupt request 36. Ready input
37. NC 38. External decoder output
39. NC 40. Refresh output
41. Column address output 42. GND
43. Math pack disable input 44. Row addr strobe
45. GND 46. Latch read/write out
47. NC (+5V on 600XL only) 48. NC (+5V on 600XL only, used to power 1064)
49. Audio input 50. GND
Enhanced Cartridge Interface (ECI) (130XE, 800XE and many PAL 65XE only):
A B C D E F H
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
A. Reserved 1. ~EXSEL
B. ~IRQ 2. ~RST
C. ~HALT 3. ~D1XX
D. A13 4. ~MPD
E. A14 5. Audio
F. A15 6. ~REF
H. GND 7. +5V
Keyboard Port (XE Game System only):
1 8
o o o o o o o o
o o o o o o o
9 15
1. KR2 Keyboard Response 8. K2 Keyboard Scan
2. K3 Keyboard Scan 9. Ground
3. K4 Keyboard Scan 10. Not Connected
4. K5 Keyboard Scan 11. Ground
5. KR1 Keybaord Response 12. Not Connected
6. K0 Keyboard Scan 13. Trigger 2
7. K1 Keyboard Scan 14. 5 VDC
15. 5 VDC
------------------------------
Subject: 2.1) What video display devices can I use with my Atari?
Contributors to channel output variations list:
Jon Levy, Rene de Bie, Sysop Fox-1
Most 8-bit Atari computers put out video signals in two places:
1) Radio-Frequency (RF) signal, either one VHF channel, or two VHF channels
selectable by a switch on the computer. Variations depend primarily on the
part of the world that the particular version of the computer was desgined
for.
Most North American computers: VHF channels 2-3 switch-selectable.
channels 3-4 switch selectable also reported
European computers: VHF channels 3-4 switch-selectable,
or no switch (what channel?) both reported
UK computers: VHF channel 36, no switch,
or channels 38-39 switch selectable both reported
Australian computers: VHF channel 1 (400/800: channels 1-2 selectable)
Any further clarifications would be appreciated!
Accessories needed:
a) RF Cable. (RF=radio frequency--video and audio signals in the same line)
On the 400/800 models, the RF Cable does not detach from the computer.
The output end of the cable is an RCA male connector.
b) TV Switch Box. Includes an RCA female connector for RF signal input from
the Atari, input connector(s) for your TV attenna and/or cable TV
company, and 75- and/or 300-ohm VHF output connector(s) for connection to
the VHF input on the television. (Radio Shack carries a suitable TV
Switch Box.)
2) A proprietary 5-pin DIN Monitor Jack, which includes two video signals:
a) Composite video.
b) Y/C Video, also known as S-Video:
separate composite luminance (Y) and chrominance (C) signals.
Exceptions among the computer models:
-the 400 and North American 600XL lack the Monitor Jack.
-the XE Game System includes an RCA-style jack in place of the Monitor Jack,
providing a plain composite video signal only.
-the Monitor Jack on the 600XL, 800XL(most) and 1200XL lacks the separate
chrominance signal. (But it exists internally, and can be restored to the
monitor jack via hardware modification.)
The pinout for the Atari Monitor Jack is in the pinouts sections of this FAQ
list.
The typical Atari Monitor Cable includes the male 5-pin DIN connector on one
end, and two RCA male connectors on the other end. One of the RCA connectors
will carry the monophonic sound signal, and the other will carry the composite
video signal. Color composite monitors were common in the mid-80's, but these
days many televisions have an RCA female composite video input connector which
works fine with the Atari.
You may find an Atari Monitor Cable where the video signal carried on the
second RCA connector is not the composite video signal, but the composite
luminance signal. These cables are for use with monochrome composite video
monitors (usually green or amber).
The ideal Atari Monitor Cable includes 3 RCA male connectors on the output
end, carrying the sound signal, the composite luminance signal, and the
composite chrominance signal. Only the best composite monitors include
separate chrominance and luminance inputs. Commodore produced many fine
monitors of this type, popular with Atari users.
Lonnie McClure provides this information on suitable Commodore monitors:
1701, 1702, 1802, CM-141, 1080, 2002, 1902, 1902A*, 1084**, 1084S**
* The 1902A used a DIN connector for chroma/luma, which makes cabling a
bit more of a problem. The composite and audio connectors are standard
RCA jacks, however.
** The 1084 and 1084S had more than one version. Some used the a DIN
connector for chroma/luma connections, like the 1902A, while some used
standard RCA jacks.
The 1902 and 1902A are very different in appearance. The original 1902
shares the same slightly rounded front case design as the 1080 and 2002,
while the 1902A is has a rather square case design, and was manufactured
by Magnavox (as were some of the 1084 and 1084S versions).
The separate composite chrominance and luminance signals that the Atari puts
out comprise what the world has since come to call Y/C video or S-video.
S-video connectors are normally Mini4. It is possible to build a cable, or
purchase several adapters, that can allow you to utilize the separate Y/C
signals generated by the Atari with a television (or other display device)
that provides a standard S-video Mini4 input jack. This is the ultimate
display option for the 8-bit Atari. Clarence Dyson has a nice page about
such a project at http://www.wolfpup.net/atari/svideo.html .
Adapters also exist that will take in composite video or s-video, and output a
conversion of the signal as a standard VGA video signal. These are often
known as a "VGA converter" or "Scan doubler" or "Up-converter." With such a
device, the 8-bit Atari can be used with a standard PC VGA monitor. One such
adapter is the Cheese Video Box from AV Toolbox, http://www.avtoolbox.com. AV
Toolbox produces several other similar devices. An earlier popular adapter
was the JAM!! from AIMS Lab.
SCART - an acronym for Syndicat des Constructeurs d'Appareils Radiorecepteurs
et Televiseurs - is a 21-pin universal connecting cable/socket system used for
audio/video components in Europe. The cables transmit RGB, composite video,
S-Video, mono and stereo sound. SCART, which is also known as PERITEL, EURO
AV BUS and EUROCONECTOR, is common throughout Europe, particularly in France,
England, Germany, Switzerland, and Scandinavia. SCART is also very popular in
the Russian Audio Video market. It is possible to interface the Atari's
composite video signal, along with the audio signal, through a SCART
connector, though there have been few reports of people actually doing this.
Keith Howell has a nice page on some of these topics:
http://www.howell1964.freeserve.co.uk/Atari/800XL/Atari_800XL_Video.htm
December 2003--More Than Games announced "A8 A/V BOB", an audio/video
breakout box featuring phono connectors for composite video, chroma,
luminance, and mono audio; it also features an s-video jack providing chroma
and luminance. http://www.a8maestro.com/sites/mtgcat/mtgcat.htm
------------------------------
Subject: 3.1) What are the Atari 410, 1010, XC11, and XC12 Program
Recorders?
The Atari Program Recorders provide storage and retrieval of programs
and data on cassette tape. In addition to the digital track that stores
computer data, a second audio track is provided to play music or voice
as the program runs.
Data transmission rate: 600 bits per second.
Data storate capacity: 100,000 bytes per 60-minute cassette.
Track configuration: 4 track, 2 channel (digital data and audio track)
410 Program Recorder
- early Japan version had a carrying handle
- most versions made in Hong Kong
- 410a--Taiwan version
- built-in SIO cable - must end SIO daisy chain
- power - plugs directly into wall (most versions)
- "410P" version (rare). Karl Heller writes:
"It came in the white 410 box with an Atari yellow/orange paper slip
stating which power supply to use with it."
1010 Program Recorder
- Chelco version has Stop/Eject, then Pause buttons
- Sanyo version has Pause, then Stop/Eject buttons
- two SIO ports
XC11 Program Recorder
- has a built-in SIO cable and one SIO port
XC12 Program Recorder
- built-in SIO cable - must end SIO daisy chain
- Information on the Turbo 6000 Baud Interface and the Chaos Loader:
http://www-user.tu-chemnitz.de/~sgl/atari/turb6000/turb6000.htm
------------------------------
Subject: 3.2) What other cassette recorders can I use with my Atari?
Firstly Atari themselves put out several models beyond the 410/1010/XC11/XC12,
generally only known in eastern Europe:
XCA12 Program Recorder -in same case as XC12...Poland
CA12 Program Recorder -in same case as XC12...Poland
image: http://romualdl.multimania.com/images/atari/ca12.jpg
XL12 Program Recorder -XC12 w/slight changed design.
Czech/Slovak/Poland
XC13 Program Recorder -XC12 which was "T2000 ready".
Czech/Slovak/Poland
For more information on the Turbo 2000 (T2000) and SuperTurbo modifications to
Atari program recorders, with speeds up 9600 baud, see
http://jindroush.atari.org
Unlike other microcomputer systems of the time, it was very unusual to use
anything but Atari brand program cassette recorders. One third-party product
released was the:
Compu-Mate, by General Electric (GE, G.E.)
Includes external interface module, a power cord/adapter, and SIO cable.
No second SIO port - must be at end of SIO chain.
------------------------------
Subject: 3.3) How do I run a program from cassette?
To run an Atari BASIC program from cassette:
1. Place the cassette in the recorder.
2. Press REWIND of FORWARD, if necessary, to bring the tape to the position
where the program is located.
3. Boot the computer to the Atari BASIC READY prompt.
4. There are several possibilities for the next step, depending on how the
program was saved, and whether you want to run the program or just load
it into RAM. Enter one of the following four commands:
a. CLOAD loads programs saved with CSAVE
b. LOAD "C:" loads programs saved with SAVE "C:"
c. ENTER "C:" loads programs saved with LIST "C:"
d. RUN "C:" loads&runs programs saved with SAVE "C:"
] Relative efficiency of the three cassette tape recording techniques:
] CSAVE/CLOAD - most efficient - fastest saves/loads - tokenized files
] SAVE "C:"/LOAD "C:" - middle efficiency - middle speed - tokenized files
] LIST "C:"/ENTER "C:" - least efficient - slowest - straight ATASCII
5. The computer will "beep" as a signal for you to press PLAY on the recorder.
6. Press the RETURN key on the computer keyboard, and the program will load
into the computer.
7. Press STOP on the recorder when loading has finished.
8. Unless you entered RUN "C:" above, now enter the command: RUN
To run an Atari BASIC or machine language program from cassette upon
startup:
1. Place the cassette in the recorder
2. Press REWIND of FORWARD, if necessary, to bring the tape to the position
where the program is located.
3. Turn on the computer while holding down the START key.
But if your computer has Atari BASIC built-in and you're running a machine
language program, hold down both the START key and the OPTION key.
4. The computer will "beep" as a signal for you to press PLAY on the recorder.
5. Let go of the START/OPTION button(s).
6. Press the RETURN key on the computer keyboard, and the program will load
into the computer.
7. Press STOP on the recorder when loading is complete and the program is
running.
------------------------------
Subject: 3.4) What are the Atari 810, 815, 1050, and XF551 Disk Drives?
Section includes contributions by Andreas Magenheimer, TXG.
The Atari Disk Drives provide storage and retrieval of programs
and data on 5.25" floppy disks.
==> Atari 810 --- a 5.25" floppy disk drive
The least common denominator for the Atari. One mode of operation:
1) Single-Sided, Single-Density--
FM 40 tracks x 18 sectors/track x 128 byte/sector = 90K capacity
19.2Kbps transfer rate. 288RPM.
The 810 includes a 6507 microprocessor.
Shipped with DOS 1 (very early) or DOS 2.0S
earlier MPI version- push button door opening for disk access
later Tandon version- lift door, like a garage door disk access
two SIO ports
accessories from Atari:
CX8100 Atari 810 Blank Diskettes (5 per box)
CX8111 Atari 810 Formatted Diskettes II (5 per box)
CX8202 Atari 810/815 Blank Diskettes (5/box, certified for double density)
Third-party upgrades for the 810:
810 Archiver -- copy many copy-protected programs
Happy 810 -- Happy Backup, Warp Speed 52Kbps, 18 sector buffer
810 Fast Chip by Binary 10%-40% faster
810 Turbo by Neanderthal Computer Things (NCT) -- double-density
see: http://www.qnet.com/~dons/810T.html
810 Duplicator (DT-Duplicating Technologies) -- copy disks, double-density,
"read 18 sectors in the time normally for 1"
==> Atari 815 Dual Disk Drive --- dual 5.25" floppy disk drives in one unit
Were produced (all hand-built), but are very rare. One mode of operation.
Per drive:
1) Single-Sided, Double-Density--
MFM 40 tracks x 18 sectors/track x 256 bytes/sector = 180K capacity
19.2Kbps transfer rate. 288RPM.
The 815 includes a 6507 microprocessor.
Shipped with DOS 2.0D
MPI mechanism version- push button door opening for disk access
Tandon mechanism version- lift door, like a garage door disk access
accessories from Atari:
CX8202 Atari 810/815 Blank Diskettes (5 per box, certified for double density)
Stephen Knox writes (12/28/02):
I believe the story on the 815s was Atari didn't want to release them due to
severe QA problems with the drive but they had so many preorders they had to
release something. I think they filled the preorders and then cancelled the
model - Most of them got returned due to problems.
==> Atari 1050 --- a 5.25" floppy disk drive
Same as the 810, plus Dual-Density capability. Two modes of operation:
1) Single-Sided, Single-Density, 90K, 810 compatible
2) Single-Sided, Dual-Density, otherwise known as "Enhanced Density" because
it is not true double-density--
MFM 40 tracks x 26 sectors/track x 128 bytes/sector = 128K capacity
19.2Kbps transfer rate. 288RPM
The 1050 includes a 6507 microprocessor.
Shipped with DOS 2.0S, DOS 3, or DOS 2.5
DIP switches: Black & white left: Drive 1
Black right, white left: Drive 2
Black left, white right: Drive 3
Black & white right: Drive 4
Third-party upgrades for the 1050 (all add a true SSDD 180K capability):
US Doubler (ICD) SS SD/ED/DD UltraSpeed (US) 54Kbps, sector skewing
Happy 1050 SS SD/ED/DD Warp Speed 52Kbps, 36 sector buffer,
(Happy Computers) Happy Backup. also read/write 180K 5.25" MS-DOS floppies
I.S. Plate (Innovated Software) SS SD/ED/DD Ultra/Warp (USD/Happy clone)
Hyper Drive (Chaos! Computers) SS SD/ED/DD Warp Speed 52Kbps (Happy clone)
Super Archiver (CSS) SS SD/ED/DD UltraSpeed 54Kbps (US Doubler clone)
Super Archiver II(CSS)SS SD/ED/DD UltraSpeed 54Kbps (US Doubler clone)
Cheer-Up 1050 SS SD/ED/DD Warp Speed 52Kbps (Happy clone)
Speedy 1050 SS SD/ED/DD Warp Speed 57Kbps (Happy clone), 8kb buffer,
(Compy-Shop, now ABBUC) DOS, copier, track & density displays, beep speaker
Mini-Speedy same as Speedy 1050, but without displays & speaker
Super Speedy 1050 SS SD/ED/DD Warp Speed 96,000Baud (Happy clone),192K RAM
SuperMax 1050 SS SD/ED/DD UltraSpeed 52Kbps (US Doubler clone)
Lazer 1050 SS SD/ED/DD Warp Speed and UltraSpeed 54Kbps
Engl-Turbo-1050 SS SD/ED/DD Turbo Speed approx. 70,000 Baud (uses
(german Turbo) Sector skewing that differs from USDoubler)
1050 Duplicator (Duplicating Technologies (DT))
SS SD/ED/DD "read 18 sectors in the time normally for 1"
sources(Jim Patchell)http://www.oldcrows.net/~patchell/atari/duplicator.html
Klone ???????
Rich Mier professes:
You've been plugging and unplugging the SIO cable with the 1050 power pack
plugged in, right? That's a no-no. Most of the time it's Okay, but about 1
in 10, 20 times, it will blow out 'U-1'. It's a CA/LM 3086 I.C. at the right,
rear of the main board. A 14 pin DIL chip. Actually it is an array of 5
transistors.
Unplug the power pack from the 1050, then unplug the SIO cable. Power can be
ON on the CPU. The problem has to do with the secondary winding of the Power
Pack. Remember, the problem only occurs 1 out of 10 - 20 times that you do
it, not all the time.
It doesn't really matter if the 1050 Transformer has power on or off, it
'Might' happen if plugged into the 1050. It is really bad on 810's.
One thing, if the system has been turned off for, oh say, 5 - 10 minutes it
won't matter. By then all the capacitors should be bled(sc?) to 0 volts.
==> Atari XF551 --- a 5.25" floppy disk drive. Four modes of operation:
1) Single-Sided, Single-Density, 90K, 810 compatible
2) Single-Sided, Enhanced-Density, 128K, 1050 compatible
3) Single-Sided, Double-Density, 180K, Percom & other 3rd parties compatible
4) Double-Sided, Double-Density--
MFM 80 tracks x 18 sectors/track x 256 bytes/sector = 360K capacity
Writes "backwards" to the second side of the disk, when compared to a two-
sided "flippy" disk with SSDD 180K format on each side
High speed 38400 bps burst mode usable only with SpartaDOS X, SuperDOS 5.1,
TurboDOS, DOS XE, and patched SpartaDOS 3.2.
Rotaton rate: 300RPM. Since all other Atari-specific drives run at 288RPM,
this results in rare compatibility issues. Specifically, these commercial
disks do not load in, and can be damaged by, the XF551:
- Flight Simulator II (subLOGIC)
- Blue Max (Synapse)
- Bank Street Writer (Broderbund). Conflicting reports about this one.
8040 cpu + external ROM or 8050 cpu with internal ROM
Shipped with DOS 2.5 or DOS XE.
DIP switches: Both dips down: Drive 1
Left down, right up: Drive 2
Left up, Right down: Drive 3
Left and Right up: Drive 4
Chinon-built XF551-cannot read/write/format backside if no timing hole
Mitsumi-built XF551--can read/write backside if to timing hole, if formatted
Third-party upgrades for the XF551:
CSS XF Single Drive Upgrade--3.5", 720K floppy drive replacement
also read 720K 3.5" MS-DOS disks
see http://www.nleaudio.com/css/products/XFsingdrup.htm
CSS XF Dual Drive Upgrade--add 3.5" drive w/o losing the 5.25" drive
also read 720K 3.5" MS-DOS disks
see http://www.nleaudio.com/css/products/XFdualdrup.htm
CSS XF551 Enhancer--overcomes sensor for index hole, create flippy disks
see http://www.nleaudio.com/css/products/XF551enh.htm
CSS XF Update--replace drive OS, adds UltraSpeed
see http://www.nleaudio.com/css/products/XFupdate.htm
Hyper-XF-OS--avaiable for 5.25" or 3.5" floppy versions; uses sector skewing
and UltraSpeed (but no track buffer!); can use disk partitions
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