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From: Michael Current <mcurrent@carleton.edu>
Organization: Carleton College
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit,comp.answers,news.answers
Subject: Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions
Followup-To: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Date: 03 May 2002 10:03:54 GMT
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Last-modified: April 27, 2002
Welcome to the comp.sys.atari.8bit newsgroup!
Atari 8-Bit Computers
Frequently Asked Questions List
___________ _______________
| ///////// | _____________ | ||||||||||| |
|___________| | | | ||_______|| |
|______/////| |____[---]____| | / _________ \ |
|LLLLLLLLLLL| |LLLLLLLLLLL || | LLLLLLLLLLL L |
|LLLLLLLLLLL| |LLLLLLLLLLL || | LLLLLLLLLLL L |
|__[_____]__| |__[_____]____| |___[_____]_____|
130XE 800XL 800
___________ __---------__
| ///////// | | / _____ \ |
|___________| _____________ | / |_____| \ |
|______/////| |____[---]____| | ___________ |
|LLLLLLLLLLL| |LLLLLLLLLLL || | ========== =|
|LLLLLLLLLLL| |LLLLLLLLLLL || | ========== =|
|__[_____]__| |__[_____]____| |___[_____]___|
65XE 600XL 400
___________ _____________
| ///////// | ___________ | |
|___________| |/// / | | |
|______/////| |// / | /\___________ |=============|
|LLLLLLLLLLL| |/O\ |\/ |LLLLLLLLLLL| | LLLLLLLLLLL |
|LLLLLLLLLLL| |-----------| |LLLLLLLLLLL| | LLLLLLLLLLL |
|__[_____]__| |____O_O_O_O| |__[_____]__| |___[_____]___|
800XE XE Game System 1200XL
Additions/suggestions/comments/corrections are needed! Please send to:
mailto:mcurrent@carleton.edu
Copyright (c) 1992-2002 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 is in a constant state of development and comes with no
guarantees. If you see any problems, I need to hear from you!
Please refer to the latest version of this FAQ list whenever possible!
Available via these locations and Usenet FAQ archives everywhere:
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Or you can always ask me for a copy at mailto:mcurrent@carleton.edu
**********************************************************************
* For other 8-bit Atari related FAQs please see the "Welcome FAQ": *
* *
* http://www.faqs.org/faqs/atari-8-bit/welcome/ *
* *
* which is also posted to news:comp.sys.atari.8bit every 7 days. *
**********************************************************************
UPDATES SINCE PREVIOUS POSTING
2002.04.27 (7.8) established Modem device handlers section, no text yet
2002.04.27 (3.6) added SupraDrive info
2002.04.27 (5.2) added Supra 1200 AT, R-Verter info
2002.04.27 (3.7), (8.13) massive updates from Andreas
2002.04.20 (1.11) added GTIA and POKEY patent info (thanks Frank Schuster)
2002.04.20 (4.4) laser printer info added
2002.04.06 (8.3) ValForth info from JT
2002.03.25 (2.1) channel switch info from James Bradford added
2002.03.16 (2.1) channel switch choices: 2-3, 3-4, etc.
2002.03.16 (3.7), (8.12), (8.13) massive updates from Andreas
2002.03.16 (8.5) added Volleyball (PD game)
2002.03.16 (7.7) added Atari Desktop by ABC software, Windows XL by Joerg Forg
2002.03.16 (3.6) updated SIO2IDE 3.0 info from Marek Mikolajewski
2002.03.16 (many) account for PAL 65XE both with/without ECI
2002.03.16 (11.2) updated current Atari product info/links
2002.03.11 (1.10) tweaked (nothing new)
2002.03.04 (7.4) added DOS 3 disk info; chngd typog. conventions for DOS1,3
2002.03.02 (10.1) added URL for tips using AnaDisk/DeAna
2002.03.02 (1.13) new info from Jindroush
Subject: 0.1) Table of contents
0.1) Table of contents
The Computers
1.1) What is an Atari 8-bit computer?
1.2) What is the Atari 400?
1.3) What is the Atari 800?
1.4) What is the Atari 1200XL?
1.5) What is the Atari 600XL?
1.6) What is the Atari 800XL?
1.7) What is the Atari 65XE?
1.8) What is the Atari 130XE?
1.9) What is the Atari 800XE?
1.10) What is the Atari XE Game System?
1.11) What are the 6502, ANTIC, CTIA/GTIA, POKEY, and FREDDIE chips?
1.12) What is the internal layout of the 8-bit Atari?
1.13) What issues surround NTSC vs PAL versions of the 8-bit Atari?
1.14) What are the pinouts for the various ports on the Atari?
Video Display
2.1) What video display devices can I use with my Atari?
Mass Storage
3.1) What are the Atari 410, 1010, and XC12 Program Recorders?
3.2) How do I run a program from cassette?
3.3) What are the Atari 810, 1050, and XF551 Disk Drives?
3.4) What other floppy disk drives can I use with my Atari?
3.5) What kinds of 5.25" floppy disks can I use with my Atari drives?
3.6) How can I use a hard drive with my 8-bit Atari?
3.7) What is a RAMdisk?
Printers
4.1) What are the Atari 820, 822, and 825 Printers?
4.2) What are the Atari 1020, 1025, 1027, and 1029 Printers?
4.3) What are the Atari XMM801 and XDM121 Printers?
4.4) What other printers can I use with my Atari?
Modems
5.1) What are the Atari 830, 835, 1030, XM301, and SX212 Modems?
5.2) What other modems can I use with my Atari?
More hardware
6.1) What is the Atari 850 Interface Module?
6.2) What is the Atari XEP80 Interface Module?
6.3) What accessories did Atari produce for their 8-bit computers?
6.4) What "vaporware" computers/peripherals were never released?
6.5) What are the power requirements for my Atari components?
Core software: OS, BASIC, DOS, Modem handlers
7.1) What versions of the Atari Operating System (OS) are there?
7.2) What is the ATASCII character set?
7.3) What versions of Atari BASIC are there?
7.4) What are Atari DOS 1, DOS 2.0S, DOS 3, DOS 2.5, and DOS XE?
7.5) What's the best DOS for the Atari?
7.6) How do I modify Atari DOS to support more than two drives?
7.7) Are there Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) for the Atari?
7.8) What should I know about modem device handlers?
Software
8.1) What are the best terminal emulators available?
8.2) What BBS software can be used on the Atari?
8.3) What programming languages are available for the Atari?
8.4) What cartridges were released for the Right Slot of the 800?
8.5) What games support 4 or more simultaneous players?
8.6) What programs run only on the 400 and 800 models, and why?
8.7) What programs make use of the Light Gun or a light pen?
8.8) What programs have a track ball mode or support a mouse?
8.9) What programs have a paddle(s) or Koala Pad mode?
8.10) What programs have a CX85 mode?
8.11) What programs have a Touch tablet mode?
8.12) What programs support a RAMdisk?
8.13) What programs require a RAMdisk?
File Formats
9.1) What's this UUEncoding stuff (.uu, .uue files) all about?
9.2) What is an .arc file?
9.3) What are the .DCM, .ATR, .XFD, .SCP, and .DI disk image formats?
9.4) What are the .XMO and .BIN file formats?
9.5) How can I make my commercial boot disk (tape, cart) into a load file
or disk image?
9.6) How can I convert my commercial boot tape into a cassette image file?
File Transfer Solutions
10.1) Can I read/write 8-bit Atari disks on an IBM-PC?
10.2) How do I transfer files using a null modem cable?
10.3) What is SIO2PC?
10.4) What is the Atari Peripheral Emulator (APE)?
Timeline
11.1) How did Atari get its name?
11.2) What is the History of Atari?
Subject: 1.1) What is an Atari 8-bit computer?
Based in Silicon Valley in the U.S.A., the company known as Atari produced
a line of home computers from 1979 to 1992 often referred to collectively as
the "Atari 8-bits," the "8-bit Ataris," the "400/800/XL/XE series," etc.
The computers included the 400, 800, 1200XL, 600XL, 800XL, 65XE, 130XE, 800XE,
and the XE Game System.
These machines competed in the marketplace with the likes of the Commodore 64
series, the Apple II series, the Texas Instruments TI99/4A, and the Radio
Shack Color Computer. Of these, the 8-bit Atari is most similar to the
Commodore 64.
The 8-bit Atari computers do not use the same cartridges or floppy disks as
any other Atari platforms, such as the 2600 Video Computer System (VCS), the
5200 SuperSystem, the 7800 ProSystem, or the ST/TT/Falcon computers. All of
these but the 5200, however, do share the same joystick/controller hardware
port.
The 5200 SuperSystem is actually nearly identical to the 8-bit computers
internally, yet cartridges for the 5200 and the 8-bit computers cannot be
exchanged, primarly due to the physically different cartridge ports.
Here are some of the performance specifications of the 8-bit Atari computers:
(Some of the rest of this section by Bill Kendrick)
CPU: 6502 (MOS Technology)
CPU CLOCK SPEED:
NTSC machines: 1.7897725 MHz
PAL machines: 1.773447 MHz
SCREEN REFRESH RATE:
59.94 times per second (Hz) on NTSC Ataris
49.86 Hz on PAL machines
GRAPHICS MODES:
ANTIC CIO/BASIC Display Resolution Number of
Mode # Graphics # Type (full screen) Colors
---------------------------------------------------------------
2 0 Char 40 x 24 1 *
3 - Char 40 x 19 1 *
4 12 ++ Char 40 x 24 5
5 13 ++ Char 40 x 12 5
6 1 Char 20 x 24 5
7 2 Char 20 x 12 5
8 3 Map 40 x 24 4
9 4 Map 80 x 48 2
A 5 Map 80 x 48 4
B 6 Map 160 x 96 2
C 14 ++ Map 160 x 192 2
D 7 Map 160 x 96 4
E 15 ++ Map 160 x 192 4
F 8 Map 320 x 192 1 *
F 9 + Map 80 x 192 1 **
F 10 + Map 80 x 192 9
F 11 + Map 80 x 192 16 ***
* 1 Hue; 2 Luminances
** 1 Hue; 16 Luminances
*** 16 Hues; 1 Luminance
+ require the GTIA chip. 1979-1981 400/800's shipped with CTIA
++ Not available via the BASIC GRAPHICS command in 400/800's.
GRAPHICS INDIRECTION (COLOR REGISTERS AND CHARACTER SETS):
Nine color registers are available. Each color register holds any of 16
luminances x 16 hues = 256 colors. (Four registers are for player-missile
graphics.
Character sets of 128 8x8 characters, each with a normal and an inverse video
incarnation, are totally redefinable.
PLAYER-MISSILE GRAPHICS: (byte height and OR corrections from Piotr Fusik)
Four 8-bit wide, 120 or 240 byte high single color players, and four
2-bit wide, 120 or 240 byte high single color missiles are available.
A mode to combine the 4 missiles into a 5th 8-bit wide player is also
available, as is a mode to OR colors or blacken out colors when players
overlap (good for making three colors out of two players!) Players
and missiles have adjustable priority and collision detection.
DISPLAY LIST INTERRUPTS (DLI's):
Screen modes can be mixed (by lines) down the screen using the Display
List - a program which is executed by the ANTIC graphics chip every
screen refresh:
All other screen attributes (color, player/missile horizontal position,
screen width, player/missile/playfield priority, etc.) can be ajusted
at any point down the screen via DLI's.
SCROLLING:
Fine scrolling (both vertical and horizontal) can be enabled on any
line on the screen.
SOUND:
Four voices of 8-bit pitch-resolution, 4-bit volume-resolution,
8-distortion sound can be produced. 2 voices (1 and 2, and/or 3 and 4)
can be combined to make 16-bit pitch-resolution. Also 4-bit volume-only
modes can be enabled for digitally sampled sound replay.
A fifth "voice" is produced by the internal speaker on Atari 400/800's
(for keyclick and buzzer) and in the XL's and XE's this was
(fortunately!) rerouted through the normal audio output, and the
keyclick can be disabled.
Subject: 1.2) What is the Atari 400?
Released along with the 800 in 1979, the 400 was the low-end model of the two.
The only 8-bit Atari with a membrane keyboard rather than a full-stroke
keyboard. One of the few 8-bit Ataris lacking a composite monitor port.
Originally released with just 8K RAM, but most were sold with 16K RAM. There
was also a factory-authorized 48K upgrade available through dealers.
Only the 400 and 800 8-bit Atari models have four controller (joystick) ports.
Early 400 units include the CTIA chip; later units include the GTIA chip,
also present in all later 8-bit Ataris.
The 1982 Atari catalog calls the 400 "The Basic Computer".
The 400 was discontinued in 1983.
During development the 400 was known internally as "Candy."
Subject: 1.3) What is the Atari 800?
Released along with the 400 in 1979, the 800 was the high-end model of the
two. The 800 is the only 8-bit Atari with a Right Cartridge slot, in addition
to the Left Cartridge slot as present on all 8-bit Ataris. Originally
released with just 8K RAM, many were sold with 16K, later on 48K was standard.
The 800 is also the only 8-bit Atari with a four-slot modular design, where
the first slot holds the CX801 (CX801-P for PAL machines) 10K ROM module, and
the other three slots hold combinations of CX852 8K or CX853 16K RAM modules.
Only the 400 and 800 8-bit Atari models have four controller (joystick) ports.
Early 800 units include the CTIA chip; later units include the GTIA chip,
also present in all later 8-bit Ataris.
The 800 was discontinued in 1983.
During development the 800 was known internally as "Colleen."
Subject: 1.4) What is the Atari 1200XL?
Released as a big brother to the 400/800 in 1982, the 1200XL now uses Atari's
slightly customized 6502C microprocessor, and includes a full 64K RAM. The
1200XL was the first 8-bit Atari with just 2 controller ports. In addition,
the 1200XL includes 4 programmable Function keys and a Help key, 4 LEDs,
built-in diagnostic and graphics demonstration programs, and probably the
favorite keyboard of any 8-bit Atari computer. Clicks previously outputted
through the built-in speaker are now heard from the television or monitor's
speaker. The revised 16K Operating System offers many new features, including
an alternate International Character Set.
The 1200XL was the biggest single step forward in development of the 8-bit
Atari platform, but the corresponding software compatability problems hurt
its popularity.
The 1200XL lacks separate chroma video signal, and also lacks the +5 Volts
power on pin 10 of the SIO port.
The 1200XL was discontinued in 1983.
Subject: 1.5) What is the Atari 600XL?
Released in 1983 as a replacement for the 400, the 600XL is the low-end
version of the 800XL. The 600XL/800XL include most of the features of the
1200XL minus the Function keys and the demo program. But both the 800XL and
600XL have the Atari BASIC language built-in. In addition, these two systems
offer the Parallel Bus Interface (PBI), providing fast parallel access to the
heart of the computer. The 600XL has 16K RAM.
The 600XL can be expanded from 16K to 64K with the Atari 1064 Memory Module.
Normally boots with Atari BASIC (Revision B) enabled;
Hold down [Option] on startup to boot without BASIC.
The North American/NTSC 600XL does not include a composite monitor port;
The European/PAL 600XL includes the monitor port, but this lacks the chroma
video signal.
The 600XL was discontinued in 1985.
Subject: 1.6) What is the Atari 800XL?
Released in 1983 as a replacement for the 800 and 1200XL, the 800XL is the
high-end version of the 600XL. The 600XL/800XL include most of the features
of the 1200XL minus the Function keys and the demo program. But both the
800XL and 600XL have the Atari BASIC language built-in. In addition, these
two systems offer the Parallel Bus Interface (PBI), providing fast parallel
access to the heart of the computer. The 800XL contains 64K RAM.
Normally boots with Atari BASIC (Revision B) enabled;
Hold down [Option] on startup to boot without BASIC.
The 800XL lacks separate chroma video signal.
There was a late version of the 800XL in Europe, called 800XLF. The 800XLF
includes a redesigned motherboard (the XE design) and contains FREDDIE
for memory management and has chroma output. BASIC is Revision C.
Though Atari never disclosed sales figures, the 800XL was likely the most-
sold of all 8-bit Atari computer models.
The 800XL was discontinued in 1985.
Subject: 1.7) What is the Atari 65XE?
Released in 1985 as a replacement for the 600XL, the 65XE is the low-end
version of the 130XE. The 65XE is nearly identical to the 800XL in features,
minus the PBI. Many European (PAL) 65XE's include the ECI port, but no North
American (NTSC) 65XE's include the ECI port. All XE computers also include
the FREDDIE memory management chip.
Normally boots with Atari BASIC (Revision C) enabled;
Hold down [Option] on startup to boot without BASIC.
The 65XE was discontinued in 1992.
Subject: 1.8) What is the Atari 130XE?
Released in 1985 as a replacement for the 800XL, the 130XE is the high-end
version of the 65XE. The 130XE offers 128K RAM, plus the FREDDIE memory
management chip, supporting the unique (but rarely used) ability for the 6502
and the ANTIC to independently access RAM banks. In addition, the 130XE
replaces the PBI port with the Enhanced Cartridge Interface (ECI), continuing
the powerful feature of a fast parallel port.
Normally boots with Atari BASIC (Revision C) enabled;
Hold down [Option] on startup to boot without BASIC.
The 130XE was discontinued in 1992.
Subject: 1.9) What is the Atari 800XE?
Unseen and unknown in North America, the 800XE was sold in eastern Europe.
The 800XE is identical in features to the European version of the 65XE,
including the ECI port. The 800XE could also be described as a 64K version of
the 130XE.
Normally boots with Atari BASIC (Revision C) enabled;
Hold down [Option] on startup to boot without BASIC.
Jindrich Kubec writes, "The problematic Chinese 800XEs with GTIA problems were
manufactured in 1992."
The 800XE was discontinued in 1992.
Subject: 1.10) What is the Atari XE Game System?
In a change of marketing strategy, Atari introduced the new XE Game System in
1987. Despite its label, the XEGS is a true 8-bit Atari computer system. It
offers the convenience of a detachable keyboard and built-in Missile Command
game, while offering 64K RAM and full compatibility with the 65XE. It was
packaged with the Light Gun, and the Flight Simulator II and Bug Hunt
cartridges.
Keyboard connected/no cartridge: boots to Atari BASIC
No keyboard connected/no cartridge: boots to Missile Command
Keyboard connected/no cartdidge/[Select] held down at startup: boots to
Missile Command
James Bradford offers:
There is only 1 32K ROM in the XEGS, it has the OS, BASIC (Rev C) and
Missile Command on it.
The XE Game System was discontinued in 1992.
Subject: 1.11) What are the 6502, ANTIC, CTIA/GTIA, POKEY, and FREDDIE chips?
Some of the following text was written by Chris Crawford and appears in De
Re Atari (Atari#APX-90008), a book published and copyright by Atari, Inc.,
1981-1982. See: http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=90008
The internal layout of the Atari 8-bit computer is very different from other
systems. It of course has a microprocessor (a 6502), RAM, ROM, and a PIA.
However, it also has three special-purpose (LSI) chips known as ANTIC, GTIA,
and POKEY. These chips were designed by Atari engineers primarily to take
much of the burden of housekeeping off of the 6502, thereby freeing the 6502
to concentrate on computations. While they were at it, they designed a great
deal of power into these chips. Each of these chips is almost as big (in terms
of silicon area) as a 6502, so the three of them together provide a tremendous
amount of power. Mastering the Atari 8-bit computers is primarily a matter of
mastering these three chips.
6502 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
====
While the 400/800 models contain a generic 6502B CPU (a faster version of the
original 6502A microprocessor), all of the XL/XE models contain Atari's
customized 6502C chip.
On the Atari, there are two microprocessors, ANTIC and the 6502. To allow
them to coexist, ANTIC must shut off the 6502, a process called DMA. The
6502B supports DMA, but in Atari's implementation, it required 4 chips. The
6502C has an extra line called HALT. It is controlled by ANTIC which uses it
whenever it needs the data/address bus. The HALT line is on pin 35 of the
Atari 6502C and must be pulled high for the chip to work.
ANTIC
=====
ANTIC ("Alpha-Numeric Television Interface Circuit") is a microprocessor
dedicated to the television display. It is a true microprocessor; it has an
instruction set, a program (called the display list), and data. The display
list and the display data are written into RAM by the 6502. ANTIC retrieves
this information from RAM using direct memory access (DMA). It processes the
higher level instructions in the display list and translates these
instructions into a real-time stream of simple instructions to GTIA.
CTIA/GTIA
=========
CTIA ("Color Television Interface Adapter") / GTIA ("George's Television
Interface Adapter") is a television interface chip. ANTIC directly controls
most of GTIA's operations, but the 6502 can be programmed to intercede and
control some or all of GTIA's functions. GTIA converts the digital commands
from ANTIC (or the 6502) into the signal that goes to the television. GTIA
also adds some factors of its own, such as color values, player-missile
graphics, and collision detection.
Early 400/800 models included CTIA, later 400/800 models and all later 8-bit
Ataris included GTIA.
In BASIC, type POKE 623,64 [RETURN] and if the screen blackens, you have the
GTIA chip. If it stays blue, you have the old CTIA chip.
By the way, apparently no CTIA-equipped Ataris were shipped to Europe.
Clay Halliwell provides this tidbit:
A bit of trivia: CTIA 400/800s artifact in blue/green, GTIA 400/800s
artifact in green/blue, and all XL/XEs artifact in red/blue.
Jerry Jessop explains why French Ataris produce fewer colors:
I will tell you why it only has monochrome out, because it's SECAM and a
SECAM GTIA was never produced. The PAL GTIA is used in France and the Lum
outputs are run into an onboard encoder to produce a "psudo" color depending
on the Luminance output, composite only. This is why a SECAM VCS or 800 has
nowhere near the same number of colors (16) availible as a PAL or NTSC unit
(256).
The FGTIA was never completed as the market size did not warrant the expense.
The largest SECAM market is not France but the Soviet Union (former) and in
80-84 sales of these items there were not possible.
The USPTO granted U.S. Patent 4,324,401 to Atari on April 13, 1982 for a
"Method and system for generating moving objects on a video display screen" -
the GTIA. Inventors listed: David R. Stubben, Lyle V. Rains
POKEY
=====
POKEY (means "POT and KEY" as in the paddles and keyboard) is a digital
input/output (I/O) chip. It handles such disparate tasks as the serial I/O
bus, audio generation, keyboard scan, and random number generation. It also
digitizes the resistive paddle inputs and controls maskable interrupt (IRQ)
requests from peripherals.
All four of these LSI chips function simultaneously. Careful separation of
their functions in the design phase has minimized conflicts between the chips.
The only hardware level conflict between any two chips in the system occurs
when ANTIC needs to use the address and data buses to fetch its display
information. To do this, it halts the 6502 and takes control of the buses."
The USPTO granted U.S. Patent 4,314,236 to Atari on February 2, 1982 for an
"Apparatus for producing a plurality of audio sound effects" - POKEY.
Inventors listed: Steven T. Mayer, Ronald E. Milner
FREDDIE
=======
The 65XE/130XE/800XE/XEGS contain a small additional LSI called FREDDIE, a RAM
address multiplexer. According to James Bradford, "FREDDIE is a type of
memory controller. It takes the address and clock from the CPU and
multiplexes it with the appropriate timings and signals to use DYNAMIC memory.
FREDDIE also buffers the system clock crystal and divides it down then feeds
that to GTIA. The XEGS has a FREDDIE but it doesn't have the extended RAM.
Even if it did, you would still need the chip that does the REAL bank
switching. It is a small 16-pin chip (Atari/Best Electronics catalog number
CO25953: rev9/page 42). It gets RAS from FREDDIE, the bank select bits from
PIA, A14, A15 and the 6502 halt signal to control which bank of 8 chips RAS
goes to. A14 and A15 then go to FREDDIE for the address range of the extra
memory bank (or normal address range with no bank switching). The ANTIC/6502
select bits in combination with the 6502 halt line, control the switching of
the PIA bank number bits to A14/A15 and which bank of memory RAS goes to. Why
people say FREDDIE does the bank switching is beyond me. An 800XL can look
like a 130XE with that 16-pin chip installed (That's right NO FREDDIE) and an
extra 8 RAM chips."
And more recently James Bradford has written:
FREDDIE is just a memory decoder and timer. It replaces several chips in the
800XL. The small chip near FREDDIE does all the bank selection. CO25953.
One line from FREDDIE, Ras (or is it cas?) goes to this chip, Halt and the
bank /processor select lines go into this same chip and ras (cas?) comes out.
A pin for each bank. If I remember correctly, refresh also goes into this
small chip. It would be quite easy to make an 800XL work just like a 130XE
with this chip since Ras (Cas?) is required by ALL dynamic RAM.
======
Technical data and schematics for the ANTIC, GTIA, and POKEY chips are
available on Curt Vendel's web site, thanks to permission from Hasbro's
Atari Interactive Division's release of this data. See:
http://www.atari-history.com/articles.html
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.
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
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
2. Ground
3. Audio Output
4. Composite Video
5. Composite Chroma (not on 800XL,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, VHF channel(s) selectable between two choices
on many machines. Machine variations reported:
NTSC 2-3 very common, NTSC 3-4 rare?, Euro-PAL 3-4, PAL-UK 38-39,
Euro-PAL no switch what channel?
Richard Atkinson writes (3/02):
I've seen switches for 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4, although some of these may have been
PAL regions such as Australia or NTSC regions such as Japan. Here in UK PAL
land, the video channel was standardized at Channel 36, so there is no need
for such a switch.
James Bradford adds (3/02):
Here in Australia, most XL's don't have a channel switch. The track's there
on the board though. Channel 1 is used. On the 400/800, the channel switch is
for 1 or 2, but since channel 2 is used here, only channel 1 is used due to
lack of interference.
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 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.
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.
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. 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 TV One, http://www.tvone.com/
An earlier popular device was the JAM!! from AIMS Lab.
Subject: 3.1) What are the Atari 410, 1010, 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
- permanent SIO cable - must end SIO daisy chain
- power - plugs directly into wall
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
XC12 Program Recorder
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/
Subject: 3.2) 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: 3.3) What are the Atari 810, 1050, and XF551 Disk Drives?
Section includes contributions by Andreas Magenheimer.
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. 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 per 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
==> Atari 1050 --- a 5.25" floppy disk drive
Same as the 810, plus Dual-Density capability:
Single-Sided, Single-Density, 810 compatible
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:
ICD US Doubler SS SD/ED/DD UltraSpeed (US) 54Kbps, sector skewing
Happy 1050 SS SD/ED/DD Warp Speed 52Kbps, 36 sector buffer,
Happy Backup. also read/write 180K 5.25" MS-DOS floppies
CSS Super Archiver SS SD/ED/DD UltraSpeed 54Kbps (US Doubler clone)
CSS Super Archiver II 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 78,000Baud (Happy clone), 8kbytes
Track/Cache buffer, built-in DOS and/or HSS-Copy;
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)
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
Single-Sided, Single-Density, 810 compatible
Single-Sided, Enhanced-Density, 1050 compatible
Single-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, rendering it incompatible
with existing third-party 180K formats on the reverse side of the disk.
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.
With ROM or Eprom, with 8040CPU or 8050CPU
Shipped with DOS 2.5 or DOS XE.
DIP switches: Both dips down: Drive 1
Left down, right up: Drive 2
Left up, Right down: Drive 3
Left and Right up: Drive 4
Chinon-built XF551-cannot read/write/format backside if no timing hole
Mitsumi-built XF551--can read/write backside if to timing hole, if formatted
Third-party upgrades for the XF551:
CSS XF Single Drive Upgrade--3.5", 720K floppy drive replacement
also read 720K 3.5" MS-DOS disks
see http://www.nleaudio.com/css/products/XFsingdrup.htm
CSS XF Dual Drive Upgrade--add 3.5" drive w/o losing the 5.25" drive
also read 720K 3.5" MS-DOS disks
see http://www.nleaudio.com/css/products/XFdualdrup.htm
CSS XF551 Enhancer--overcomes sensor for index hole, create flippy disks
see http://www.nleaudio.com/css/products/XF551enh.htm
CSS XF Update--replace drive OS, adds UltraSpeed
see http://www.nleaudio.com/css/products/XFupdate.htm
Hyper-XF-OS--avaiable for 5.25" or 3.5" floppy versions; uses sector skewing
and UltraSpeed (but no track buffer!); can use disk partitions
(2 on 5.25", 4 partitions on 3.5") with mixed Densities (S/E/D)
or standard 360kbytes (5.25") / 720kbytes (3.5"); can
theoretically read/write ST/PC 720k disks (software is missing!)
OS created by Stefan Dorndorf/Germany;
Subject: 3.4) What other floppy disk drives can I use with my Atari?
Major contributors to this section: Glenn M. Saunders, Tomasz M. Tatar,
James Bradford, Konrad M. Kokoszkiewicz, Don Schoengarth, Andreas Magenheimer
SS=Single-Sided SD=Single-Density, 90K/disk side
DS=Double-Sided ED=Enhanced-Density, 128K/disk side
DD=Double-Density, 180K/disk side
Printer port=has a standard DB25 parallel printer port,+ maybe a print buffer
Master=includes drive controller, can add additional,non-Atari-specific drives
Top transfer rate=19.2Kbps unless stated otherwise
Floppy disk drives designed for the 8-bit Atari computers:
Atari 810 SS SD
Atari 1050 SS SD/ED
Atari XF551 DS SD/ED/DD, 38.4Kbps burst mode
Access Unlimited ATAR88-1 SS SD master
Access Unlimited ATAR40-1 SS SD/DD master
Amdek AMDC I SS SD/DD uses flippy Amdisk III 3" disk/carts,printer port,master
Amdek AMDC II SS SD/DD dual drives, printer port, master
AS SN-360 DS SD/ED/DD
Astra 1620 SS SD/DD dual drives
Astra 2001 SS SD/DD dual drives
Astra Big-D DS SD/DD dual drives
Astra The One DS SD/DD, printer port
B&C 810 SS SD, optional Happy Warp Speed 52Kbps
Concorde C-221M SS SD/DD master
Concorde C-222M DS SD/DD master
CSS Floppy Board, for the Black Box, master, support PC 720K and 1.44MB 3.5"
drives, support PC 1.2MB and 360kB 5.25" drives,
also read/write 5.25" and 3.5" MS-DOS disks
see: http://www.nleaudio.com/css/products/floppy.htm
High-Density Disk Interface (HDI) a PCB master,connect up to 4 standard drives
Indus GT SS SD/ED/DD, Synchromesh mode usable with SpartaDOS X
and DOS XL only. 72Kbps under SpartaDOS X, 37Kbps under DOS XL. Z-80 cpu
RAM-Charger--expansion card contains 64K RAM + software, for CP/M support
KARIN MAXI DS SD/ED/DD/QD
L.E. Systems LEDS5-01 SS SD/DD master, 134.4Kbps, 800 only
CP/M expansion: 4MHz Z80, 64K RAM
L.E. Systems LEFDC-04 SS SD Four drives, copies a disk in 22 secs, 800 only
L.E. Systems LEFDC-08 SS SD Eight drives, copies a disk in 22 secs, 800 only
LDW Super 2000 SS SD/DD, 19.2Kbps or 67Kbps
image: http://romualdl.multimania.com/images/atari/super2000.jpg
LDW CA2001 SS SD/DD, 19.2Kbps or 38.4Kbps "California Access"
image: http://romualdl.multimania.com/images/atari/ca2001.jpg
LDW CA2002 DS SD/ED/DD,19.2Kbps,70Kbps w/SpartaDOS. "Calif. Access"
Micro MainFrame MF-1681 SS SD/DD, printer port, 4K to 54K printer buffer,
hard disk firmware included, master, Z-80 CPU w/ 16K to 64K RAM for CP/M,
TRSDOS, MaxiDOS A, and OASIS. see: http://www.qnet.com/~dons/mmf.html
Micro MainFrame MF-1682 dual drives version of MF-1681
Percom RFD40-S1 SS SD/DD, master
Percom RFD40-S2 SS SD/DD dual drives, master
Percom RFD44-S1 DS SD/DD, master
Percom RFD44-S2 DS SD/DD dual drives, master
(80-track RFDs hinted at http://www.atarimagazines.com/v1n2/newproducts.html
Percom AT88 SS SD, master
Percom AT88-S1 PD SS SD/DD, printer port, master
Percom AT88-S2 PD SS SD/DD dual drives, printer port, master
Rana 1000 SS SD/ED/DD, stand alone disk formatting
RCP 810 SS SD
San Jose Computer Special Edition 810 SS SD, optional Happy Warp Speed 52Kbps
SWP ATR8000 4MHz Z80, 16K RAM, RS232, master, printer port
or 4MHz Z80, 64K RAM, RS232, master, printer port, CP/M 2.2
options: 128K or 256K CO-POWER-88 with MS-DOS; CP/M-86
TOMS 720 DS SD/ED/ID/DD/QD/ID printer port, MYDOS 4.50 on ROM, 70Kbps
- SS/SD - 40 tracks, 18 sects, 128 bytes = 90 KB
- SS/ED - 40 tracks, 26 sects, 128 bytes = 130 KB
- SS/ED - 40 tracks, 18 sects, 256 bytes = 180 KB
- SS/ID - IBM S-9 - 40 tracks, 9 sects, 512 bytes = 180 KB
- DS/DD - 40 tracks, 18 sects, 256 bytes = 360 KB
- DS/QD - 80 tracks, 18 sects, 256 bytes = 720 KB
- DS/ID - IBM D-9 - 40 tracks, 9 sects, 512 bytes = 360 KB
- known as Toms-Turbo Drive, Turbo format and speeder is compatible
with german Engl-Turbo-1050; (tools will work with both drives);
TOMS 710 DS SD/ED/ID/DD/QD/ID printer port, MYDOS 4.50 on ROM, 67Kbps
one more format: double sided, 80 tracks, IBM (720 KB)
also TOMS Navigator on ROM (like Norton Commander);
known as Toms-Turbo drive; Turbo format and speeder is compatible
with german Engl-Turbo-1050; (tools will also work with both drives);
Trak AT-1 SS SD/DD master.upgrade: printer port+4K/16K buffer
Trak AT-D1 SS SD master, printer port, 4K print buffer.upgrade:16K
Trak AT-D2 SS SD/DD master, printer port, 4K print buffer.upgrade:16K
Trak AT-D4 DS SD/DD, printer port, print buffer
Trak Champ SS SD master
Trak Champ2 SS SD/DD master
Trak AT-S1 SS SD/DD slave
XFD601B DS SD/ED/DD 70kbps,Top Drive,Synchromesh,UltraSpeed,XF551 compat.
XFD602B dual DS SD/ED/DD 70kbps,Top Drive,Synchromesh,UltraSpeed,XF551 compat
While any standard "slave" drive will work with "master" drives listed above,
the following are slave drives marketed specifically to Atari users:
Access Unlimited ATAR88-A1 SS SD slave
Access Unlimited ATAR40-A1 SS SD/DD slave
Concorde C-221S SS SD/DD slave
Concorde C-222S DS SD/DD slave
Percom RFD40-A1 SS SD/DD slave
Percom AT88-A1 SS SD/DD slave
RCP 100 DS SD/DD, slave
RCP 200 DS SD/DD dual drives, slave
Subject: 3.5) What kinds of 5.25" floppy disks can I use with my Atari drives?
Russ Gilbert writes:
If you're talking standard computer store, you can't use those 5 1/4" disks. I
mean you can't use high density disks. They must be double density to use
with the 1050. Almost all double density 5 1/4" disks have a hub ring, high
density disks don't have the hub ring.
RHamiIton5 elaborates: (5/12/01)
The Atari 8 drives do not have write heads and circuity which can handle the
type of oxide coating used on the high density floppy media; they cannot write
reliably to them. The hub ring has just become a sort of marker to distinguish
the high density from the standard double density diskettes.
Way back in your apple days of '79-'82, most disks were hubless and only the
really premium brands offered hubs to prevent slippage and out of round
problems; you could even buy little kits for adding you own hub rings.
When the home computer swell really hit around '83 and price wars began, hub
rings became common on good disks and eventually became standard down to
include most generic bargain diskettes.
The introduction of high density 5.25's required a different coercivity (=
magnetizability) to get more bits in a smaller space and suitable electronics
to do it. These disks were produced hubless; was it a differentiating label or
just unnecessary because of stronger mylar construction? Anyone?
Subject: 3.6) How can I use a hard drive with my 8-bit Atari?
Atari never produced hard drives for the 8-bit Atari, but a variety of options
have been produced over the years. No common DOS version was written with
drives the size of hard drives in mind, and very few 8-bit Atari users have
owned hard drives for the Atari. Yet, if you're serious about it, a hard
drive can make a tremendous addition to your system!
A couple of these options are hard drives designed specifically for the 8-bit
Atari computers; the rest are interfaces designed to let you attach an
industry standard SASI, SCSI, or IDE type hard drive. Customized software
(OS, DOS) is often involved as well.
Larry White contributed to some of these descriptions.
==> Corvus hard drive (10 megabytes)
Attaches via joystick ports 3 & 4 on the Atari 800 only.
See: http://www.atari-history.com/corvus.html
==> SupraDrive Atari Hard Disk, by Supra, later K-Products. 10MB or 20MB.
includes external Hard Disk Interface
Some limitations on drive type and size and total number of drives in sys.
Attaches via PBI, or ECI with adapter.
See: http://www.atarimagazines.com/v5n6/Supradrivefor8Bit.html
Maybe still available from Bob Klaas?
==> BTL Hard Disk System
BTL 2001 Connector for 600XL/800XL PBI
BTL 2002 Connector for 130XE/800XE/65XE ECI
BTL 2004 SASI Hard Disk Adapter
See: http://www.atarimagazines.com/v5n12/BTLHardDisk.html
==> Multi I/O (MIO) interface, by ICD. Includes:
- Parallel printer interface
- Serial interface, for modem or serial printer. will handle 19.2Kbps
- 256K or 1 MB RAM, for RAMdisk or printer spooler
- SASI/SCSI interface, supports up to 8 controllers.
Limited to drives with 256-byte sectors.
Attaches via PBI, or ECI with adapter.
==> CSS Black Box interface
RS-232 Serial Modem Port (19.2Kbps) w/ hardware flow control,
Parallel Printer Port,SASI/SCSI Hard Disk Port, Operating System Enhancements,
optional 64K printer buffer. Supports drives with 512-byte sectors.
PBI/ECI device. Available: http://www.nleaudio.com/css/products/black.htm
==> SmartIDE project by Bob Woolley
Uses 256 of the normal 512 byte sectors. Point-to-point wiring project.
http://www.redshift.com/~cdyson/smartide-1.html
==> IDE Hard Drive Interface 1.0
By Konrad M. Kokoszkiewicz and Jacek Zuk
PBI device. Logical sector length: 256 or 512 bytes
Availability???
==> Fine Tooned Engineering (FTe) Multi I/O II (MIO II) interface
An IDE interface. Several exist, but it was never really released
==> msc-IDE Controller
created by Steve Birmanns and Matthias Belitz
* real device for the parallel-port (PBI/ECI) of the Atari XL/XE
* up to 240 partitions per harddisk supported
* emulates D1: until D9: of disk devices (access to 9 partitions at one time)
* full bootable from any partition (with standard XL-OS)
* write protectition capability
* supports master/slave configuration
* more than 30 KB/s file access with SPARTA-DOS 3.2 gx (reading)
* more than 10 KB/s file access with SPARTA-DOS 3.2 gx (writing)
* software partially supports CD-ROM and ZIP drives.
Sold out.
http://www.birmanns.de/atari/
==> Gary Morton's BadSector"A" Project
Wants to connect his IDE drive to the SIO bus.
http://www.alma.demon.co.uk/Atari/AtariProjects.html
==> MyIDE interface and software by Mr Atari, Sijmen Schouten
Point-to-point wiring project. Different units for 800 and XL, including a
cartridge version for the XL.
http://www.atari.myweb.nl/hardware.htm
==> SIO2IDE, by Marek Mikolajewski
Available as a PCB or finished unit. 800 or XE/XE.
Limited to SIO speeds, but with no disk latency (as with APE/SIO2PC)
http://www.atari.cuprum.com.pl/ (SIO2IDE)
Latest SIO2IDE version 3.0 has the following features:
- is fully compatible with all 8bit Ataris (uses SIO bus)
- uses Atmel AVR ATmega161-8PI/PC micro @ 7.3728MHz
- 16bit IDE ATA support (CHS and LBA mode)
- FAT16 and FAT32 file systems support
- 16bit IDE ATAPI support
- ISO9660 file system support for CD-ROMs (now you can boot your Atari from
CD and much more ...)
- ATR files support (now you can play full-disk games i.e. Goonies without
any problems)
- gives full access to subdirectories
- emulates Atari disks D1 to D7
- HDD can be easy configured from PC or Atari
- package is available on
http://www.atari.cuprum.com.pl/arch/sio2ide3_0.zip
==> Nathan Hartwell's IDE projects
http://www.magelair.com/
Subject: 3.7) What is a RAMdisk?
This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
Atari Ramdisks - a short & very incomplete Overview:
(This is version 1.3 from April 2002)
Right from the start of the Atari 8-bit computer era in the late 70`s, Atari
users wanted to have as much RAM as possible (or as their purse could afford).
Having a 16k machine with a tape device was nice and cheap, but having full
48k or 64k and a floppy drive was much nicer (and very expensive). Thus many
Atari users began to create selfmade RAM extensions and enhancements, just to
save some money. Also a lot of firms provided extra RAM, RAM enhancements, RAM
extensions and Ramdisks. Besides Atari there were (and still are) quite a lot
of producers, manufacturers, distributors and authors of such RAM
enhancements...
This short and incomplete overview does not provide any docs or manuals, but
gives some info about the various Ramdisks on the market. Since these notes
are written by me, they will merely contain the information I have. And as you
all can see - it isn`t much information. So any help and extra info, as well
as corrections, are very welcome. It would be nice to see this text & info
growing. For now let us start here, the info-section is divided into 8 groups:
1) Name (Name of the RD, e.g. Megaram 2 or Rambo XL or MIO, etc.);
2) Vendor/Author (or distributor, manufacturer, producer, etc.);
3) Size (size of the Ramdisk only; NOT the full computer memory);
4) [Bankswitching] Area (for XL/XE computers usually 4000-7FFF);
5) Banks (hexadecimal input count, as in MyDOS or RAMDTEST.BIN);
6) Control Bits (which bits are used to control the RD);
7) Port (control Port - usually Port B for XL/XE machines);
8) Notes (any extra info, comments, miscelleanous things, etc.);
If you wish to add any other type of info, let me know. The above information
should be enough for most programmers to support a RD in their programs
(especially to support more than just one type of RD). Hopefully future
programs will take care about this info or just use a small setup program to
setup any kind of RD. Now let me begin:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.7.1 Atari 400/800 Ramdisks:
Name Vendor Size Area
Banks Bits Port Notes
- Axlon Axlon/Atari 64k 4000-7FFF
0 thru 3 0,1 (CFFF) plug-in-board
Note: total memory = 96kbytes (32k RAM + 64k RD);
- Axlon Axlon/Atari 128k 4000-7FFF
0 thru 7 0,1,2 (CFFF) plug-in-board
Note: total memory = 160kbytes (32k RAM + 128k RD);
- 288k800 D.Byrd and others 256k 4000-7FFF
0 thru 15 0,1,2,3 (CFFF) selfmade-board
Note: total memory = 288kbytes, Axlon compatible;
- 544k800 various authors 512k 4000-7FFF
0 thru 31 0,1,2,3,4 (CFFF) selfmade-board
Note: total memory = 544kbytes, Axlon compatible;
- 1056k800 various authors 1024k 4000-7FFF
0 thru 63 0,1,2,3,4,5 (CFFF) selfmade-board
Note: total memory = 1056kbytes, Axlon compatible;
- 2080k800 no authors known 2048k 4000-7FFF
0 thru 127 0,1,2,3,4,5,6 (CFFF) selfmade-board
Note: total memory = 2080kbytes, Axlon compatible,
- 4128k800 no authors known 4096k 4000-7FFF
0 thru 255 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7 (CFFF) selfmade-board
Note: total memory = 4128kbytes, Axlon compatible;
=> Note that all so-called Axlon "compatible" (256k-4096k) Ramdisks
normally do not homebank, when RESET is pressed! A fix should be
available somewhere (I have been told, but I do not know where!);
whereas original Axlon Ramdisks homebank properly !!
- Mosaic unknown 64k C000-FFFF?
unknown unknown (CFFF) plug-in-board
Note: total memory = 96 kbytes, not Axlon compatible?;
- Mosaic unknown 128k C000-FFFF?
unknown unknown (CFFF) plug-in-board
Note: total memory = 160kbytes; not Axlon compatible?;
- ...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.7.2 Atari XL/XE Ramdisks:
Due to an excellent article by John Picken, I`d like to present the
following overview first (found this info at Jindroush`s homepage):
RAM BANK ACCESS TABLE 64-1024K
PORTB Available on Type
E3,E7,EB,EF 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
C3,C7,CB,CF 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
A3,A7,AB,AF 2, 4,5,6,7
83,87,8B,8F 3,4,5,6,7
E1,E5,E9,ED 5,6,7
C1,C5,C9,CD 5,6,7 (short
A1,A5,A9,AD 5,6,7,8 overview)
81,85,89,8D 5,6,7,8
63,67,6B,6F 6,7
43,47,4B,4F 6,7
23,27,2B,2F 6,7
03,07,0B,0F 6,7
61,65,69,6D 7
41,45,49,4D 7
21,25,29,2D 7
01,05,09,0D 7
Type Upgrade Mapping
1 = 130 XE
2 = 256 XL Bucholz/Peterson/Rambo
3 = 256 XL Newell
4 = 320 XE Peterson
5 = 576 XE "
6 = 832 XE "
7 = 1088 XE "
8 = 832k+ " (BASIC on)
9 = 576 XE " " "
Note 1: The documentation by Scott Peterson on his upgrades indicates that
only 128k is available in XE-compatible mode (Types 8/9 above). Two more 64k
blocks are available as indicated with 832 or 1088k machines though not all RD
handlers will find and use them.
Note 2: Based on an article by Jeff McWilliams in the April 1993 edition of
AC, it appears the Newell 1-meg upgrade is mapped similarly to the Peterson.
Note 3: With version 2.1 of the SpartaDOS Wedge, Ed Bachman describes a simple
fix for Peterson upgrades to reenable Antic access to extended RAM. It is
definitely worth checking out, even if you don't use SpartaDOS.
Again thanks to John Picken for this information.
Now let`s continue with my own overview table (long overview):
Name Vendor Size
Area Bits Port
Banks
Notes
Note that PB4 is used in all Ramdisks by the CPU to access RAM or the
extra Ram/Ramdisk banks; when PB5 is unused, Antic may have RD access;
- 130XE-Ramdisk Atari 64k
4000-7FFF 2,3 B ($D301)
Banks: E3,E7,EB,EF;
Notes: old=8kbyte Chips (west), new=32kbyte Chips (east);
XEs made in China have faulty GTIAs => replace them!;
standard Atari ramdisk; Antic access: YES!
built in Atari Basic: YES!, XL/XE Selftest: YES!
- A.M. Ramdisk Atari Magazin 256k
4000-7FFF 2,3,5,6 B ($D301)
Banks: 81,85,89,8D,A1,A5,A9,AD,C1,C5,C9,CD,E1,E5,E9,ED;
Notes: manual and schematics, as well as a parts list can be found
in german Atari Magazin 2/1987 (includes also a test program);
seems to be incompatible to most other 192k/256k Ramdisks (?);
Atari Basic: YES!, XL/XE Selftest: YES!, Antic access: no!
- Mathy`s RD M.v.Nisselroy 1024k
4000-7FFF 0,1,2,3,6,7 B ($D301)
Banks: EF EE ED EC EB EA E9 E8 E7 E6 E5 E4 E3 E2 E1 E0
AF AE AD AC AB AA A9 A8 A7 A6 A5 A4 A3 A2 A1 A0
6F 6E 6D 6C 6B 6A 69 68 67 66 65 64 63 62 61 60
2F 2E 2D 2C 2B 2A 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20
Notes: uses PC-SIMMs (30-Pin-SIMMS), pin-switching in RD: 4,5;
XL/XE/XEGS: Selftest+Basic=YES, XEGS:Missile Command=YES!;
no use of any switches!; Antic access: YES!
- Megaram 1 Compyshop 256k
4000-7FFF 2,3,6,7 B ($D301)
Banks: 23,27,2B,2F,63,67,6B,6F,A3,A7,AB,AF,E3,E7,EB,EF;
Notes: uses 16kbyte Chips x16 (very big/huge platine);
originally designed (and maybe produced?) by Ralf David,
older Compyshop version; Antic access: no!
built in Atari Basic: YES!, XL/XE Selftest: YES!
- Megaram 2 Compyshop 256k
4000-7FFF 2,3,6,7 B ($D301)
Banks: 23,27,2B,2F,63,67,6B,6F,A3,A7,AB,AF,E3,E7,EB,EF;
Notes: uses 64kbyte Chips x4 (much smaller platine);
originally designed (and maybe produced?) by Ralf David,
newer Compyshop version; fully compatible to Megaram 1;
Atari Basic: YES!, XL/XE Selftest: YES!, Antic access: no!
- Megaram 3 K. Peters 256k
4000-7FFF 2,3,6,7 B ($D301)
Banks: 23,27,2B,2F,63,67,6B,6F,A3,A7,AB,AF,E3,E7,EB,EF;
Notes: uses 256kx4 Chips (514256-70); fully compatible to
Compyshop`s Megaram 1+2; originally designed by Ralf David;
Atari Basic: YES!, XL/XE Selftest: YES!, Antic access: no!
- Megaram 3 K. Peters 1024k
4000-7FFF 2,3,6,7 B ($D301)
0,1 (or switches) B ($D600)
Banks: 23,27,2B,2F,63,67,6B,6F,A3,A7,AB,AF,E3,E7,EB,EF;
Notes: uses 1Mx4 Chips (514400-70); can be a) 1 Ramdisk of 1 Mb
or b) 2 Ramdisks of 512kb each or c) 4 Ramdisks of 256kb each;
uses four (or more?) switches; Antic access: no!
built in Atari Basic: YES!, XL/XE Selftest: YES!
- Newell Newell Ind. 192k
4000-7FFF 2,3,5,6 B ($D301)
Banks: 83,87,8B,8F,C3,C7,CB,CF,E3,E7,EB,EF;
Notes: uses 64k as RAM and 192k as RD; Antic access: no!
NOT compatible to S.Peterson, C. Buchholz and Rambo XL Ramdisks;
built in Atari Basic: YES!, XL/XE Selftest: YES!
- Newell Newell Ind. 1024k
4000-7FFF 1,2,3,5,6,7 B ($D301)
Banks: 01,03,05,07,09,0B,0D,0F,21,23,25,27,29,2B,2D,2F
41,43,45,47,49,4B,4D,4F,61,63,65,67,69,6B,6D,6F
81,83,85,87,89,8B,8D,8F,A1,A3,A5,A7,A9,AB,AD,AF
C1,C3,C5,C7,C9,CB,CD,CF,E1,E3,E5,E7,E9,EB,ED,EF
Notes: uses 8 pc. 1Mx1 Chips (511000-70), if full 1MB is used,
then built-in Atari Basic is not avaiable; Antic access: no!
built in Atari Basic: no!, XL/XE Selftest: YES!
- Newell Patch by E.P. 1024k
4000-7FFF 1,2,3,5,6,7 B ($D301)
Banks: 01,03,05,07,09,0B,0D,0F,21,23,25,27,29,2B,2D,2F
41,43,45,47,49,4B,4D,4F,61,63,65,67,69,6B,6D,6F
81,83,85,87,89,8B,8D,8F,A1,A3,A5,A7,A9,AB,AD,AF
C1,C3,C5,C7,C9,CB,CD,CF,E1,E3,E5,E7,E9,EB,ED,EF
Notes: uses 8 pc. 1Mx1 Chips (511000-70), mod. by Erhard Puetz
(how?), full Basic and Selftest control; Antic access: no (?),
built in Atari Basic: YES!, XL/XE Selftest: YES!
- Newell Newell Ind. 4096k
4000-7FFF 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7 B ($D301)
Banks: 00,01,02,03,04,05,06,07,08,09,0A,0B,0C,0D,0E,0F
20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,2A,2B,2C,2D,2E,2F
40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,4A,4B,4C,4D,4E,4F
60,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,6A,6B,6C,6D,6E,6F
80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,8A,8B,8C,8D,8E,8F
A0,A1,A2,A3,A4,A5,A6,A7,A8,A9,AA,AB,AC,AD,AE,AF
C0,C1,C2,C3,C4,C5,C6,C7,C8,C9,CA,CB,CC,CD,CE,CF
E0,E1,E2,E3,E4,E5,E6,E7,E8,E9,EA,EB,EC,ED,EE,EF
Notes: uses 8 pc. 4Mx1 Chips (?); made by Newell, later by FTE;
seems to be very incompatible to existing software and bankswitching
cartridges (OSS, Atari, etc.), because normal RAM at 4000-7FFF is
NOT available (only extra Ram/Ramdisk banks); Antic access: no!
built in Atari Basic: no!, XL/XE Selftest: no (?)
- Peterson 256k S.Peterson 192k
4000-7FFF 2,3,5,6 B ($D301)
Banks: A3,A7,AB,AF,C3,C7,CB,CF,E3,E7,EB,EF;
Notes: compatible to Buchholz/ICD 192k, not Newell compatible!;
uses 64k as RAM and 192k as Ramdisk; Antic access: no!
built in Atari Basic: YES!, XL/XE Selftest: YES!
- Peterson 320k S.Peterson 256k
4000-7FFF 2,3,5,6 B ($D301)
Banks: 83,87,8B,8F,A3,A7,AB,AF,C3,C7,CB,CF,E3,E7,EB,EF;
Notes: compatible to TOMS (?), incompatible to Compyshop!;
there are still 64k RAM plus this 256k extra RAM;
Atari Basic: YES!, XL/XE Selftest: YES!, Antic access: no!
- Peterson 576k S.Peterson 512k
4000-7FFF 1,2,3,5,6 B ($D301)
Banks: 81,83,85,87,89,8B,8D,8F,A1,A3,A5,A7,A9,AB,AD,AF,
C1,C3,C5,C7,C9,CB,CD,CF,E1,E3,E5,E7,E9,EB,ED,EF;
Notes: should be fully compatible to TOMS-Ramdisk (?);
Atari Basic: no!, XL/XE Selftest: YES!, Antic access: no!
- Peterson 1088k S.Peterson 1024k
4000-7FFF 1,2,3,5,6 B ($D301)
Banks: 01,03,05,07,09,0B,0D,0F,21,23,25,27,29,2B,2D,2F
41,43,45,47,49,4B,4D,4F,61,63,65,67,69,6B,6D,6F
81,83,85,87,89,8B,8D,8F,A1,A3,A5,A7,A9,AB,AD,AF
C1,C3,C5,C7,C9,CB,CD,CF,E1,E3,E5,E7,E9,EB,ED,EF
Notes: fully compatible to Newell and TOMS - Ramdisks (?);
Atari Basic: no!, XL/XE Selftest: YES!, Antic access: no!
- Quarter-Mega-XL C.Buchholz 192k
4000-7FFF 2,3,5,6 B ($D301)
Banks: A3,A7,AB,AF,C3,C7,CB,CF,E3,E7,EB,EF;
Notes: compatible to ICD/Peterson 192k, NOT Newell compatible!;
uses 64k as RAM and 192k as Ramdisk; Antic access: no!
built in Atari Basic: YES!, XL/XE Selftest: YES!
- Rambo XL ICD 192k
4000-7FFF 2,3,5,6 B ($D301)
Banks: A3,A7,AB,AF,C3,C7,CB,CF,E3,E7,EB,EF;
Notes: compatible to Buchholz/Peterson, NOT Newell compatible!;
uses 64k as RAM and 192k as Ramdisk; Antic access: no!
built in Atari Basic: YES!, XL/XE Selftest: YES!
- Rambo=>512k Dan Schmid 512k
4000-7FFF 2,3,5,6 B ($D301)
Banks: 00,04,08,0C,20,24,28,2C,40,44,48,4C,60,64,68,6C,
80,84,88,8C,A0,A4,A8,AC,C0,C4,C8,CC,E0,E4,E8,EC;
Notes: this "project" should upgrade a Rambo XL to 576kbytes;
well, it is one of the most incompatible things I have seen;
the docs were found on Pooldisk Too (SUBDIR: ACE/Acec202 a+b);
Atari Basic: YES!, XL/XE Selftest: YES!, Antic access: no (?)
- TOMS-RD T.O. + M.S. 256k
4000-7FFF 2,3,5,6 B ($D301)
Banks: 83,87,8B,8F,A3,A7,AB,AF,C3,C7,CB,CF,E3,E7,EB,EF;
Notes: made+standard in Poland; supported in most polish demos;
should be compatible to S.Peterson (?); Antic access: no (?)
built in Atari Basic: YES!, XL/XE Selftest: YES!
- TOMS-RD T.O. + M.S. 512k
4000-7FFF 1,2,3,5,6 B ($D301)
Banks: 81,83,85,87,89,8B,8D,8F,A1,A3,A5,A7,A9,AB,AD,AF,
C1,C3,C5,C7,C9,CB,CD,CF,E1,E3,E5,E7,E9,EB,ED,EF;
Notes: should be fully compatible to S.Peterson Ramdisk (?)
Ramdisk made in Poland; Antic has RD access: no (?)
built in Atari Basic: no!, XL/XE Selftest: YES!
- TOMS-RD T.O. + M.S. 1024k
4000-7FFF 1,2,3,5,6 B ($D301)
Banks: 01,03,05,07,09,0B,0D,0F,21,23,25,27,29,2B,2D,2F
41,43,45,47,49,4B,4D,4F,61,63,65,67,69,6B,6D,6F
81,83,85,87,89,8B,8D,8F,A1,A3,A5,A7,A9,AB,AD,AF
C1,C3,C5,C7,C9,CB,CD,CF,E1,E3,E5,E7,E9,EB,ED,EF
Notes: made in Poland; compatible to Newell & S.Peterson (?)
Atari Basic: no!, XL/XE Selftest: YES!, Antic access: no (?)
- missing info for the following Ramdisks:
Bob Wooley Ramdisks, 600XL Ramdisks, Rambo XL (512k by ICD),
some more Compyshop Ramdisks as well as many other types;
- (?) means: info is missing or I am not absolutely sure about this
information; so this has to be verified by other Atarians;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.7.3 PBI-devices (XL=parallel Bus, XE=cart. Port+ECI):
Name Vendor Size Area
Banks Bits Port Note
- no information yet!
- missing info for the following Ramdisks:
ICD MIO (256k, 1024k), Yorky XL (256k), Turbo-Freezer XL (256k),
the Atari 1090 (this one should also have had a 64k extra RAM
expansion card), R.David/K.Peters Romdisk (512k) and many many
other PBI devices...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.7.4 other "Ramdisk" types and devices:
Name Vendor Size Area
Banks Bits Port Note
- no information yet !!
- missing info for the following types and devices:
Flashrom (512k), Ramcart (64, 128k), Rambox (64k-4096k), CP/M card
(with 64k extra RAM avaiable), ATR 8000 (also had 64k extra RAM),
Turbo 65816 (or 65801 / 65802), ARGS Romdisk cart. (64k) and many
other types...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
For this third edition special thanks go to: Lee Barnes, Russ Gilbert,
Mathy van Nisselroy, Erhard Puetz, Mathias Reichl and Ron Hamilton for
sharing their info with me. Also thanks to John Picken for writing an
excellent article about ramdisks and cartridges (especially about
bank-switching, which both devices can do). And thanks to Jindrich
Kubeck (Jindroush) for presenting this article on his homepage...
Thank you Folks !!
Well, thats it for today - there is still a lot of information missing, I
know, but any help is appreciated. If you have some more information or other
things that might help, let me know. Please do also send corrections (I am a
novice in this subject, so there will be quite some updates and corrections
nescessary). Thank you - Andreas Magenheimer.
Subject: 4.1) What are the Atari 820, 822, and 825 Printers?
The following printers were produced by Atari and styled to match the 400/800
computers.
Atari 820 Printer:
- 40-column impact printer
- 5x7 dot matrix
- 40 characters per line, upper & lower case alpha
- horizontal and vertical alphanumeric characters
- 6507 microprocessor, 6532 RAM I/O chip, 2K ROM
- 40 characters per second
- uses Standard Roll Paper/adding machine paper
Atari 822 Thermal Printer:
- 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:
- 4-color graphics: (black, red, blue, green). optional 8-pen rainbow package
- alphanumberics and X,Y plotting capability
- 10 cps (40-column mode)
- 20, 40 and 80-column modes
- horizontal and vertical alphanumerics, English and International chr sets
- water soluble ink pen technology
- 4-pen barrel print head
- microprocessor
- paper: standard roll paper (40 column width)
- AtariGraphics cassette software included
Frank McKenney writes: The printer/plotter mechanism for the Atari 1020 is (I
believe) the same one used in the Tandy/Radio Shack CGP series and the
Commodore 1520(?), and was made by a company named ALPS.
Atari 1025 80-Column Printer: ( = Okidata ML80 )
- 40 cps (80-column 10 cpi mode)
- 5 cpi expanded (40 col), 10 cpi (80 col), 16.7 cpi condensed (132-col)
- 5x7 character dot matrix
- buffer: 132 chrs at 16.7 cpi, 80 chrs at 10 cpi
- paper: roll,fanfold,single sheets. optional:roll paper holder, tractor feed
Atari 1027 Letter Quality Printer: ( = Mannesmann Tally Riteman LQ.)
- fully formed characters, prestige elite 12)
- 12 characters per inch (80 columns)
- 20 characters per second
- single sheets or roll paper
Atari 1029 Programmable Printer ( by Seikosha)
- 7-pin dot matrix, same as Commodore MPS-801
- Released for Europe only
Subject: 4.3) What are the Atari XMM801 and XDM121 Printers?
The following printers were produced by Atari and styled to match the XE
series computers.
Atari XMM801 Printer:
- 80 columns, dot matrix
- friction feed or pin feed
- pica 10 cpi, double width pica 5 cpi, elite 12 cpi,double width elite 6 cpi,
condensed 16.5 cpi, double width condensed 8.25 cpi
- Ribbon: Commodore 1526 and the Mannesman-Tally Spirit 80
Atari XDM121 Printer:
- 80 column, daisy wheel--letter quality
- underlining, subscripts, superscripts
- friction feed paper
- Ribbon: Silver Reed CF130, Olivetti ET201,ET221,Nu-Kote NK136
Subject: 4.4) What other printers can I use with my Atari?
Some third-party printers were marketed for use with the Atari 8-bit
computers:
Alphacom 42 + Atari interface cartridge
- requires 850 Interface or equivalent
- thermal
- 4 1/2" width paper
- supports complete ATASCII character set
Axiom AT-100 / GP-100AT (= 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 (by Seikosha)
- built-in Atari interface, cable and connector, 2nd SIO port
- dot matrix
- 86 cps draft, 43 cps NLQ
- Graph-AX graphics software package
Axiom GP-700AT (by Seikosha)
- built-in Atari interface, cable and connector, 2nd SIO port
- 4 hammer print heads, 4-color ribbon cartridge
- 25 colors
- 50 cps
- Graph-AX graphics software package
Epson HomeWriter 10
- plug-in cartridge interface for the Atari
- 80 column dot-matrix printer
- draft quality printing at 100 cps and near letter quality at 16 cps
General Electronic GE 3-8100 / TXP 1000
- GE Printer Interface Module for Atari
- dot-matrix
- 50 cps draft, 25 cps NLQ
Okidata Okimate 10 Personal Color Printer
- available Plug 'n Print Interface for Atari
- a thermal printer.
- single-sheet or tractor-feed paper.
- 26 colors
- 240 words per minutes
Beyond the above printer models, most any "industry-standard" line printer can
work well with the Atari. For many years, most printers marketed for home use
could be classified into one of two categories: parallel or serial interface.
Parallel line printers are much more commonly used than serial line printers,
with the Epson MX/FX/LX series defining the market.
The most common way to use an industry standard printer with the Atari has
been to attach it through the 15-pin 8-bit parallel port of the Atari 850
Interface Module or equivalent (such as the ICD P:R:Connection). One gotcha
here is that the 850's parallel port is DB15, where the PC world ended-up
standardizing on a DB25 configuration. So you need to find or build a cable
that provides the DB15 connector for the Atari end (and Centronics-type
parallel connector on the printer end) when attaching a standard parallel
printer to the Atari through an Atari 850 or equivalent.
Many 3rd-party disk drives for the Atari (along with the XEP80 Interface
Module) do include a DB25 parallel printer port, rendering the need for an
Atari-specific printer cable unnecessary.
The Atari 850 Interface Module and equivalents also provide standard DB9
serial RS232C ports, permitting use of standard serial line printers with the
Atari. But this is much less common than parallel, both in the Atari world
and in the industry at large.
Some folks have connected more modern inkjet and laser printers with parallel
connections to the 8-bit Atari with success. Graphics printouts from the
Atari may be less than ideal (look for a printer with an Epson MX/FX/LX
printer series emulation mode), but these types of printers should work fine
for plain text output if they can handle simple line print jobs. Anyone want
to contribute their experiences to be included here?
Bob Woolley wrote on Sun, 14 Apr 2002:
I use HP LaserJet 4Ps on my Ataris. They are one of the last front panel
selectable cheap printers - from which you can select your default fonts,
etc. The newer laser printers can only set fonts and operating modes thru
the interface, not impossible, but not as easy as selecting on the panel.
This does allow you to print just about any point size of the internal
fonts in the printer on your Atari.
Either way, you really have to do a little work to get properly formatted
output from a word processor. I have managed to use the proportional font
setting with AtariWriter and printer driver creation utilities to get good
results.
Mathy van Nisselroy provides an AtariWriter printer driver for the HP LaserJet
here: http://www-users.rwth-aachen.de/mathy.van_nisselroy/stuff.htm
Modern printers designed for home markets now tend to provide USB connectors.
So far, I'm not aware of any options for connecting a USB device to the Atari.
Subject: 5.1) What are the Atari 830, 835, 1030, XM301, and SX212 Modems?
A MODulator/DEModulator translates digital information from your computer into
acoustic tones that can be sent and received, from modem to modem, via
standard telephone lines.
Atari produced several modems for use with the 8-bit Atari computers:
Atari 830 Acoustic Modem: ( = Novation 'CAT' )
- a stand-alone, acoustically coupled, frequency shift keying (FSK) modem
- up to 300 bits per second
- Bell 103/113 modem compatible
- requires Atari 850 Interface Module or equivalent
Atari 835 Direct Connect Modem:
- 300 bps
- Bell 103/113 modem compatible
Atari 1030 Direct Connect Modem:
- 300 bps
- Bell 103/113 modem compatible
- built-in ModemLink software.
- 2 SIO ports
Atari XM301 Modem:
- 300 bps
- Bell 103/113 modem compatible
- with XE Term disk software
- permanent SIO cable, must be at end of SIO chain
- draws its power from the computer via SIO
Atari SX212 Modem:
- SIO & DB25 RS232 serial ports, must be at end of SIO chain
- 1200 baud
- Bell 103/113/212A modem compatible
- rarely with SX-Express! disk software.
Subject: 5.2) What other modems can I use with my Atari?
Some third-party modems were marketed for use with the Atari 8-bit
computers:
==> Microconnection, by Microperipheral Corp.
300 bps, Bell 103 compatible, T-SMART software, pulse dialing (not touch tone)
Four versions:
buss-decoding version does not require 850 Interface or equivalent, includes
DB25 parallel printer interface, with or without autodial
Plain version requires 850 Interface or equivalent, with or without autodial
and autoanswer
==> MPP-1000C, by Microbits Peripheral Products
300 baud, joystick port 2, Smart Terminal cartridge
==> MPP-1000E, by Microbits Peripheral Products
300 baud, joystick port 2, Smart Term software
From: "Steven J Tucker" Sun, 13 Jan 2002 16:14:38 -0500
The 1000E..had this strange problem in that it could never hang up the phone
==> MPP-1200A, by Microbits Peripheral Products
Released? Vaporware?
1200 bps, joystick port 2
==> 300 AT, by Supra (same as MPP-1000E)
300 baud, joystick port 2, Smart Term software
==> 1200 AT, by Supra
1200 baud, Hayes compatible, connects to SIO via SupraVerter/R-Verter cable,
Smart Terminal software
==> Volksmodem, by Anchor Automation
300 baud, 'F' Cable permits connection to joystick port 2
==> Q-MODEM, by Quantum Microsystems
300 baud, two SIO connectors, QuanTerm disk or cartridge
Beyond the above modem models, most any "industry-standard" external serial
modem can work well with the Atari. These have been commonly sold for PCs for
many years. The Hayes Smartmodem more or less defined the market for these,
initially.
One common way to use an industry standard external serial modem with the
Atari is to connect it to the SIO port via an Advanced Interface Devices
(A.I.D., later Supra) R-Verter Serial Bus Modem Adapter cable, or equivalent.
The other common way to use an industry standard external serial modem with
the Atari is to attach it through the 9-pin RS232C serial port of the Atari
850 Interface Module or equivalent (such as the ICD P:R:Connection). One
gotcha here is that the serial port on the 850 is DB9 female, where the PC
world ended up standardizing on a DB9 male connector for this purpose. But
gender converters are readily available.
For using modems at speeds of 2400 bps and up with the Atari, it will be
useful to have an understanding of data flow control. Here is a definition
of flow control from www.modems.com:
Often, one modem in a connection is capable of sending data much faster than
the other can receive. Flow control allows the receiving modem to tell the
other to pause while it catches up. Flow control exists as either software,
or XON/XOFF, flow control, or hardware (RTS/CTS) flow control. With software
flow control, when a modem needs to tell the other to pause, it sends a
certain character, usually Control-S. When it is ready to resume, it sends a
different character, such as Control-Q. Software flow control's only
advantage is that it can use a serial cable with only three wires. Since
software flow control regulates transmissions by sending certain characters,
line noise could generate the character commanding a pause, thus hanging the
transfer until the proper character (such as Control-Q) is sent. Also,
binary files must never be sent using software flow control, as binary files
can contain the control characters. Hardware, or RTS/CTS, flow control uses
wires in the modem cable or, in the case of internal modems, hardware in the
modem. This is faster and much more reliable than software flow control.
Some 2400 bps modems, and probably all modems with 9600 bps speed capabilities
and up, normally use V.42 standard error correction and V.42bis standard data
compression. But V.42 requires either software or hardware flow control, and
V.42bis requires hardware flow control (and V.42 error correction).
Hardware flow control is not available with the Atari 850's serial ports.
As a result, just before dialing out with your Atari telecom software, it's
usually desirable, if not necessary, to disable your modem's flow control.
The Hayes modem command to disable flow control looks like:
AT&K0
The top speed of the Atari 850's serial ports is 9600 bps.
Clay Halliwell offers a tip on utilizing 9600 bps through the 850 Interface:
On 11 Feb 1996, Marc G. Frank said:
> I'm having problems getting a modem attached to my Atari 850 to
> communicate at 9600 baud. When I set my communications program to 2400
> baud, everything works fine. However, when I set it to 9600 baud, the
> modem echoes my characters but doesn't act on them. That is, at 2400,
The problem with the 850 is that some of them (like mine) don't produce a
PERFECT 9600 baud signal. As a result modems can't train on it, and while
they will echo characters back, for some nitpicky reason they won't pick up
on the "AT" attention code.
The solution is to do all your dialing at 2400 baud, but set the S37
register to force the modem to try to connect at 9600. Then switch your
Atari to 9600 after connecting.
Through the use of an ICD MIO or a CSS Black Box, it is possible to utilize
modems at speeds up to 14.4 Kbps (V.32bis) at full speed with no loss of data.
The serial R: device handler for the Black Box supports hardware flow control
natively. Optional for the Black Box, but essential for the MIO, is the
HyperSpeed handler by Len Spencer.
Hyperspd.arc is available at http://members.aol.com/lenspencer/atari8.htm
Subject: 6.1) What is the Atari 850 Interface Module?
Atari 850 Interface Module:
- early design all metal (black) case
- most in plastic beige case
- four 9-pin serial EIA RS232C ports
- One 15-pin 8-bit parallel Centronics-type port
- programmable baud rate on any port, including:
75, 110, 134.5, 150, 300, 600, 1200, 1800, 2400, 4800, and 9600 bps;
baudot speeds of 60, 66, 75, 100 words per minute
- uses standard ASCII. Baudot support for radio-teletype (RTTY).
850 R1: Serial port DB9P:
5 4 3 2 1 ____________________________
9 8 7 6 / DB25P
1. DTR - Data Terminal Ready (out) + 20
2. CRX - Signal (carrier) Detect (in) + 8
3. XMT - Transmitted Data (out) + 2
4. RCV - Received Data (in) + 3
5. GND - Signal Ground + 7
6. DSR - Data Set Ready (in) + 6
7. RTS - Request to Send (out) + 4
8. CTS - Clear to Send (in) + 5
No connection to shield + Frame - to the shield wire
850 R2: Serial port DB9P:
5 4 3 2 1
9 8 7 6
1. DTR
3. Send Data
4. Receive Data
5. Signal Ground
6. DSR
850 R3: Serial port DB9P:
5 4 3 2 1
9 8 7 6
1. DTR
3. Send Data
4. Receive
5. Signal Ground
7. RTS
8. -8 Volts
850 R4: Serial port DB9P:
5 4 3 2 1
9 8 7 6
1. Send Data +
3. Send Data -
7. Receive Data +
9. Receive Data - (20 mA)
850 P: Parallel port DB15P:
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ____________________________
15 14 13 12 11 10 9 / 36 pin Centronics (male)
1. Data Strobe + 1
2. D0 + 2
3. D1 + 3
4. D2 + 4
5. D3 + 5
6. D4 + 6
7. D5 + 7
8. D6 + 8
9. Data Pull up (+5v) +
10. - +
11. Ground + 16
12. Fault + 32
13. Busy + 11
14. - +
15. D7 + 9
No connection to shield + Frame - to the shield wire
Subject: 6.2) What is the Atari XEP80 Interface Module?
This text written by Thomas Raukamp.
Since the development of the Atari 8-bit line of computers in 1979, users
wanted better text displays than the default 40x24. There has been some
attempts to satisfy this need, like the Austin-Franklin board or the Ace
80/80xl cartridge. For more informations about these modifications read The
Atari 8-bit Hardware Upgrade FAQ from David A. Paterson.
The Atari XEP80 Interface Module is Atari's entry to the 80 column field. It
lets a XL, XE, 400 or 800 computer system display a full 80 columns across
your monitor screen. The XEP80 provides a 256-character wide by 25-line
display window. Up to 80 characters are displayed horizontally at once, and
you can scroll horizontally all the way to the 256th character, depending on
the application you're running. The XEP80 is connected to your system via a
joystick port.
The XEP80 Module interprets commands from the computer for screen display or
output to a printer. The module is supplied with an industry-standard 8-bit
parallel port so you can connect a parallel printer to your Atari 8-bit (I
even use a HP LaserJet IV on my 130XE ;) ).
All programs that use the standard screen call (E:) should be compatible with
the XEP80 Module. The software provided by Atari supports a 320x200 graphics
mode - this mode only support direct bit images. Note that you can't use all
of the standard graphic capabilities of the Atari anymore.
Although Atari recommends a monochrome monitor for usage with the XEP80, it
runs fine with any type of composite monitor. The output looks great on my
Commodore 1084 for example.
Along with the module comes a software-package containing an AUTORUN.SYS file,
which is the XEP80 handler. If you want to use the module with an application
that is compatible with the XEP80, which has it's own AUTORUN.SYS file, you
can append the application's AUTORUN.SYS on the module's AUTORUN.SYS.
***********************
Editors for the XEP80:
AtariWriter 80 by Atari
TurboWord by MicroMiser
emacs subset by Stan Lackey
MAE and its previous standalone editor ED
XEP80 P: Parallel port:
13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14
1. Strobe
2-9. Parallel Data
10. Not Used
11. Busy
12-17. Not Used
18-25. Ground
Subject: 6.3) What accessories did Atari produce for their 8-bit computers?
This should be a complete list of Atari "CX" accessories, two or three digit
numbers, marketed for use with the 8-bit computers.
CX30-04 Paddle Controller Pair
CX40-04 Joystick Controller Pair
CX40 Single Joystick Controller
CX41 Joystick Repair Kit
CX22 Trak-Ball
CX23 Kid's Controller
CX24 Pro-Line Joystick
CX42 Remote Control Wireless Joysticks
CX50 Keyboard Controller Pair
CX70 Light Pen (beige; the original Atari light pen)
CX75 Light Pen (+ Atarigraphics cartridge)
CX77 Touch Tablet ( + AtariArtist cartridge)
CX78 Joypad (shipped with the 7800 in Europe)
CX80 Trak-Ball
CX81 I/O Data Cord (5 ft)
CX82 Monitor Cable (Black and White Monitor)
CX85 Numerical Keypad ( + software Handler on diskette)
CX86 Printer Cable (included with 825 Printer)
CX87 Interface/Modem Cable (included with 830 Acoustic Modem)
CX88 Interface/Terminal Cable (null modem)
CX89 Monitor Cable (Color Monitor)
CX418 The Home Manager Kit (Personal Financial Management, Home Filing Manager
-or- Family Finances, The Home Filing Manager)
CX419 The Bookkeeper Kit/Atari Accountant (The Bookkeeper disk, CX85 keypad)
CX481 The Entertainer (Star Raiders, (Missile Command or Pac-Man), 2 joysticks)
CX482 The Educator (410, BASIC cart., States & Capitals cassette)
CX483 The Programmer (BASIC, BASIC Ref. Manual, BASIC Self-Teaching Guide)
CX484 The Communicator (850, 830, TeleLink I cart.)
CX488 The Communicator II (835, TeleLink II cart.)
????? The Arcade Champ (Pac-Man, Qix, 2 joysticks, cartridge storage case)
????? The BASIC Tutor I (Inside Atari BASIC book,Invitation to Programming 2&3)
CX852 8K RAM Memory Module (for 800 computer)
CX853 16K RAM Memory Module (for 800 computer)
XG-1 Light Gun (+ Bug Hunt cart.)
Subject: 6.4) What "vaporware" computers/peripherals were never released?
For definitive information on unreleased Atari products, see:
Atari Historical Society, http://www.atari-history.com/ (Curt Vendel)
Atari 8-bit vaporware computers: (note some are more vaporous than others)
800D (Developers Bus System)
1000 Sweet 16 Project, lower end model. Became the 1200XL
1000-X Sweet 16 Project, higher end model. Became the 1200XL
1200 1200XL internally, many slight cosmetic differences
1200XLS 1200XL Show prototype, top-mounted cartridge slot
600 early 600XL, all black case, joyports on the left, missing PBI
800XL brown prototype
800XLD low-cost 1450XLD,no modem&speech,include disk drive controller&FREDDIE
800XLCR Cost Reduced, with CGIA chip ("Keri"), which is a combined GTIA&ANTIC
900XLF early name for 65XE
1250XLD Earlier name for the 1450XLD
1400XL brown prototype
1400XL 800XL plus modem, speech synth.(looks like a 1200XL)
1450XL 1400XL plus room for 2 internal 5.25" drives (controller not included)
1450XLD 1400XL plus 5.25" floppy drive (Epson SD521 360K disk drives)
1600XL Amiga/Amiga-like.Now appears that 1850XLD was the model name for this
1650XLD to use 1450XLD case and 1200XL keyboard
1850XLD "Mickey" Atari clone of the Amiga Lorraine
65XEP 65XE plus 3.5" floppy drive, 5" green monitor
65XEM 65XE plus AMY sound chip
Atari 8-bit vaporware peripherals:(note some are more vaporous than others)
815 Dual Disk Drive -2 x SS/DD 180K with DOS 2.0D. some were produced!
1027 PLUS -daisy-wheel, 80 columns
1053 -looks like a 1050, but supports DS/DD 360K format
1055 -a 1050 (SS/ED) with a 3.5" mechanism
1060 CP/M Add-On Module -"SweetPea" Z-80 CPU, 64K RAM, CP/M 2.2, 80 col display
1090 XL Expansion System-5 PBI slots, CP/M/MS-DOS/Apple II compatible
XM128 -12" green monitor w/ built-in 80-column card
XC1411 -composite 14" color monitor (Goldstar)
XF521 -5.25" floppy drive - 1050 compatible, in XE style
XF351 -a 3.5" drive.
XC35 -an XF551 with a 3.5" mechanism
XTM201 -non-impact printer
XTC201 -XE Thermal Color Printer
Subject: 6.5) What are the power requirements for my Atari components?
Thanks to Matthias Belitz for the European
data in this section. I need more international help!
As with the rest of this FAQ list, please let me know if any of this
information conflicts with the units you have.
The most important information is the voltage (in volts) required, and
whether you need a transformer (AC output) or an adapter (DC output).
The power (in voltamps or watts) and current (in amperes) specifications
of the original equipment as presented here should be regarded as
minimum values. Higher-than-specified power and current capacities are
entirely usable, and often preferable because such supplies run cooler
and last longer.
Direct Current (DC):
Power (in watts) = current (in amps) * voltage (in volts)
Alternating Current (AC):
Apparent Power (in voltamps) = current (in amps) * voltage (in volts)
Effective/True Power (in watts) = current (in amps) * voltage (in volts)
* (cosine of the angle of lag)
N O R T H A M E R I C A: INPUT = 115-120 V AC, 50/60Hz
========================
9 V AC 5.4 VA (600 mA) Atari#CO62195/CO17539 transformer:
1030
9 V AC 4.5 VA (500 mA) Atari#CO61516 transformer:
1010
9 V AC 15.3 VA (1.7 A) Atari#CO14319 transformer:
400,800,822,850,1010,1200XL
9 V AC 18 VA (2.0 A) Atari#CA014748/CA016804 transformer:
400,800,822,850,1010,1200XL,810
9 V AC 31 VA (3.4 A) Atari#CO17945 transformer:
400,800,822,850,1010,1200XL,810,1020,1050,XF551
9 V AC 50 VA (5.6 A) Atari#CA017964 transformer:
400,800,822,850,1010,1200XL,810,1020,1050,XF551
9.5 V AC 40 VA (4.2 A) Atari#CO61636 transformer:
1027,1090XL
20 V AC 6.6 VA (330 mA) Atari#CO60479/CA060535 transformer:
835
24 V AC 3.6 VA (150 mA) Atari#CA016751 transformer:
830
5 V DC 1.0 A (5.0 W) Atari#CO70042 adapter:
600XL,65XE,XE Game System
5 V DC 1.5 A (7.5 W) Atari#CO61982/CA024814 adapter:
600XL,800XL,65XE,130XE,800XE,XE Game System
6 V DC 300 mA (1.8 W) Atari#??????? adapter:
"410P" (vaporware)
9 V DC 200 mA (1.8 W) adapter:
MPP1000C (the modem from MPP, interfaces via a joystick port)
9 V DC 500 mA (4.5 W) Atari#CO16353/CA014034/CO10472/CX261 adapter:
XEP80,SX212,2600 (center positive)
9.3 V DC 1.93 A (18 W) Atari#CO18187 adapter:
Indus GT,5200
11.5 V DC 1.95 A (22 W) Atari#CA019141 adapter:
Indus GT,5200
5 V / 12 V DC 1.1 A (5.5 W / 13.2 W) Atari#CO62297/DV1450 adapter:
1400XL,1450XLD
E U R O P E (and elsewhere?) INPUT = 220/240 V AC, 50 Hz
=============================
9 V AC 4.5 VA (0.5 A) Atari#CO61516/34 transformer (UK):
1010
9.3 V AC 15.44 VA (1,66 A) (Atari# not printed), FW 6799 transformer:
400,800,822,850,1010,1200XL
9 V AC 27 VA (3.0 A) Atari#CO60592-34 transformer (UK):
400,800,822,850,1010,1200XL,810,1020,1050,XF551
5 V DC 1.8 A (9.0 W) Atari#CO61763-107 adapter:
600XL,800XL,65XE,130XE,800XE,XE Game System
5 V DC 1.5 A (7.5 W) Atari#CO61763-34 adapter (UK):
600XL,800XL,65XE,130XE,800XE,XE Game System
5 V DC 1.5 A (7.5 W) Atari#CO61763-11 adapter:
600XL,800XL,65XE,130XE,800XE,XE Game System
two ones with the same part number, but different cases and different
input Values :#1, 65XE (Poland, made in Taiwan), Input 22 VA
#2, 800XL, Input 26 VA
8.5 V DC Atari#CO61605 adapter:
600XL,800XL,65XE,130XE,800XE,XE Game System
These draw their power from the SIO +5 V:
XM301 (60 mA),XC11,XC12,ICD P:R:Connection,Wizztronics MidiMax,RVerter
Draws power from the 600XL PBI:
1064
These have built-in power supplies (plug directly into the wall):
410,815,820,825,1025,1029,XMM801,XDM121
OTHER:
The ICD Multi I/O (MIO), all versions, can use both AC and DC supplies, BUT:
stick to voltages of at least 6.2-7.2 V.
Rana 1000: 9 VAC & 3.4 AMPS
Subject: 7.1) What versions of the Atari Operating System (OS) are there?
Most of this section by permission from:
http://www.student.kun.nl/f.offenga/atari.htm or
http://members.chello.nl/taf.offenga/atari.htm
Atari 8-bit Operating Systems
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Version 3.3, 6/27/1999.
By Freddy Offenga (mailto:F.Offenga@student.kun.nl)
400/800 10kB OS roms
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rev. TV Date CRC-32 Part Nr(s)
~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A NTSC (?) (?) (?)
A PAL (?) 0x72b3fed4 CO15199, CO15299, CO12399B
B NTSC (?) 0x0e86d61d CO12499B, CO14599B, 12399B
B PAL (?) (?) (?)
XL/XE 16kB OS roms
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rev. System Date CRC-32 Part Nr(s)
~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10 1200XL 10/26/1982 0xc5c11546 CO60616A, CO60617A
11 1200XL 12/23/1982 (?) CO60616B, CO60617B
1 600XL 03/11/1983 0x643bcc98 CO62024
2 XL/XE 05/10/1983 0x1f9cd270 CO61598B
3 800XE 03/01/1985 0x29f133f7 C300717
4 XEGS 05/07/1987 0x1eaf4002 C101687
(?) This information is missing. If someone can supply this info,
please write me an e-mail.
NOTES:
The 400/800 O.S's consist of three ROMs (two 4kB and one 2kB).
The 1200XL contains two ROMs for the OS (8k each), XL/XE's use a single
16k ROM and the 16k XEGS OS is stored in a 32k ROM (together with 8k
BASIC and 8k for Missile Command).
Origins of ROM information
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
400/800 rev.A NTSC Could exist, since the PAL version exists and
rev.A is mentioned in the rev.B source code.
400/800 rev.A PAL All info found in two Atari 400's and Atari 800
ROM module CX801.P
400/800 rev.B NTSC Information from a ROM dump and the rev.B source
listing. The part numbers were listed in the
catalog from 'Best Electronics'. According to
'Mapping the Atari' rev.B ROMs have a 'B' at the
end of the part number, therefore I figure these
part numbers are from rev.B.
400/800 rev.B PAL Could exist, since the NTSC version exists and
there's some conditional PAL/NTSC assembly in
the rev.B source code
1200XL rev.10 PAL/NTSC All info found in an Atari 1200XL. The XL/XE
rev.2 source code refers to it as rev.10.
'Best Electronics' calls it rev.A.
1200XL rev.11 PAL/NTSC Refered to rev.11 by the XL/XE source code.
'Best Electronics' calls it rev.B.
XL/XE rev.1 All info found in an Atari 600XL
XL/XE rev.2 All info found in an Atari 800XL
XL/XE rev.3 All info found in an 800XE
XL/XE rev.4 All info found in an Atari XE Game System
O.S. Authors and dates
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following info is from the Atari XL/XE rev.2 source code.
Revision A (400/800)
D.Crane / A.Miller / L.Kaplan / R.Whitehead
Revision B (400/800)
Fix several problems.
M.Mahar / R.S.Scheiman
Revision 10 (1200XL)
Support 1200XL, add new features.
H.Stewart / L.Winner / R.S.Scheiman /
Y.M.Chen / M.W.Colburn 10/26/82
Revision 11 (1200XL)
Fix several problems.
R.S.Scheiman 12/23/82
Revision 1 (600XL/800XL)
Support PBI and on-board BASIC.
R.S.Scheiman / R.K.Nordin / Y.M.Chen 03/11/83
Revision 2 (600XL/800XL)
Fix several problems.
R.S.Scheiman 05/10/83
Bring closer to coding standard (object unchanged)
R.K.Nordin 11/01/83
Vapour-ware
~~~~~~~~~~~
The following OS roms originate from rare Atari 8-bit systems.
Since I don't own any of these (unfortunately), I don't have much
information about these roms. Who can help me?
I've got two 16K rom dumps from the 1450XLD. Both ID's are rev.3.
The first dated 3/23/1984 comes from the 'Pooldisk Too' CD-ROM
(filename: 1540os3.v0) and the second dated 6/21/1984 was send to
me by Nir Dary (filename: os1450.128). Main differences between
these two are in the first 3K ($C000 - $CBFF).
The XL/XE OS rev.3B is from an Atari from Arabia. It's probably based
on rev.3. There are changes in the fonts (Arab characters) and several
patches in the code. More info at:
http://www.savetz.com/vintagecomputers/arabic65xe/
Rev. Found in Size CRC-32 Date
~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~
3 1450XLD 16kB 0x0d477aa1 3/23/1984
3 1450XLD 16kB 0xd425a9cf 6/21/1984
3B 65XE 16kB 0xf0a236d3 7/21/1984
References
~~~~~~~~~~
- The modified september Atari 400/800 computer operating system
listing, revision B, (c)1982 Atari.
- The Atari O.S. source code rev.2, (c)1984 Atari.
- Atari XL addendum Atari home computer system operating system
manual: supplement to Atari 400/800 technical reference notes.
- Best Electronics, catalog of Atari 8-bit parts.
- Mapping the Atari, revised edition, Ian Chadwick, Compute! books
publication, 1985.
Credits
~~~~~~~
Special thanks to Nir Dary for the rev.2 source code, rom dumps and
the 1200XL. It's in good hands.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
More info on what is maybe either the 1985 or 1987 XL/XE OS versions listed
above. From ST*ZMAGAZINE #36, Sept. 1, 1989 (as reprinted in PSAN Nov 89):
by Mark Elliot, Innovative Concepts
The following changes have been incorporated in the 130XE computer.
The O.S. has minor changes like:
A) The MEMORY TEST (from SELF TESTS) tests the extra 64K now! (in 4 squares)
B) Also, the MEMORY TEST checks the first 48K over TWICE as fast as before!
C) The KEYBOARD TEST has the F1-F4 keys missing on top. (function keys),
although the code that interprets them is probably there (like XEGS).
D) Also, it types out "COPYRIGHT 1985 ATARI" at the keyboard test, when all
tests are done. (compared to COPYRIGHT 1983 ATARI, before)
E) And, the O.S. chip itself, is on a 27256 EPROM, but only half of it is
used! (comprared to the original, which was on a 16K x 8 ROM, 27128 comp.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
james adds (3/8/01):
Your faq, regarding OS Rev A, states:
Origins of ROM information
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
400/800 rev.A NTSC Could exist, since the PAL version exists and
rev.A is mentioned in the rev.B source code.
Did exist! My parents bought me an Atari 400 w/ 410 back in 1981 for
entertainment when I was badly injured in a motorcycle accident. A
year or so later I paid good money ($40 USD or so?) to have the OS A
upgraded to OS B.
Subject: 7.2) What is the ATASCII character set?
ASCII is an acronym for the American Standard Code for Information
Interchange. Pronounced ask-ee, ASCII is a code for representing English
characters as numbers, with each letter assigned a number from 0 to 127. For
example, the ASCII code for uppercase M is 77. Most computers use ASCII codes
to represent text, which makes it possible to transfer data from one computer
to another.
The 8-bit Atari computers use a modified version of the ASCII character set
called Atari ASCII, or ATASCII.
David Moeser produced this nice translation table.
Piotr Fusik corrected the description of Atari character 5.
ASCII TRANSLATION TABLE -- IBM & ATARI 8-BIT (ATASCII)
======================================================
SECTION ONE: CONTROL CHARACTERS
===============================
DECIMAL ATARI IBM <----> ATARI ASCII
-HEX NAME KEY GRAPHICS CHARACTER FUNCTION
======= ==== === ====================== ========
0 00 NUL ^, none heart Null
1 01 SOH ^A smiley |- Start of header
2 02 STX ^B [smiley] right | Start of text
3 03 ETX ^C heart (9:00) End of last text
4 04 EOT ^D diamond -| End of transmission
5 05 ENQ ^E club (9:30) Enquiry
6 06 ACK ^F spade / Acknowledge (handshake)
7 07 BEL ^G rain dot \ Bell
8 08 BS ^H doorbell L triangle Backspace
9 09 HT ^I o low-R-sq. Horizontal tab
10 0A LF ^J [doorbell] R triangle Line feed
11 0B VT ^K Mars hi-R-sq. Vertical tab
12 0C FF ^L Venus hi-L-sq. Form feed
13 0D CR ^M note high bar Carriage return
14 0E SO ^N 2 notes low bar Shift out
15 0F SI ^O sun low-L-sq. Shift in
16 10 DLE ^P R pennant club Data link escape (break)
17 11 DC1 ^Q L pennant (3:30) Device #1 (P:)
18 12 DC2 ^R V arrows -- Device #2
19 13 DC3 ^S !! cross Device #3 (deselects P:)
20 14 DC4 ^T paragraph cloudy Device #4 (stop)
21 15 NAK ^U section low block Negative acknowl. (error)
22 16 SYN ^V short - left | Synchronous idle
23 17 ETB ^W base-V-arrs.low T End of block
24 18 CAN ^X up arrow hi perp. Cancel memory (in buffer)
25 19 EM ^Y DN arrow left half End medium (tape drive)
26 1A SUB ^Z R arrow (3:00) Substitute
27 1B ESC EE L arrow escape Escape
28 1C FS E^- (3:00) up arrow File separator
29 1D GS E^= ice needles DN arrow Group separator
30 1E RS E^+ up triangle L arrow Record separator
31 1F US E^* DN triangle R arrow Unit separator
32 20 SPC bar space space Space
SECTION TWO: SPECIAL CHARACTERS
===============================
127 7F DEL ETB home plate R pennant Deleted
155 9B EOL RETURN box, etc. Atascii end of line
(only at end of paragraphs or last column for data)
13,10 EOL ENTER ^M^J IBM end of line
(at end of every 80-column screen line)
13 EOL ENTER ^M (or ^M and null) Unix end of line
KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS:
====================
^ = control key L = left hi = upper
S = shift key R = right low = lower
E = escape key UP = points up [ ] = inverse
BS = backspace DN = points down V = vertical
TB = tab key sq = square perp = perpendicular
(time) = position of hands on a clockface
Where possible, descriptions of graphics characters are taken
from standard symbols used in mathematics, weather, astronomy, etc.
Note: Different computer platforms, operating systems, programs,
printers, etc. will produce different graphics characters.
SECTION THREE: KEYBOARD CHARACTERS
==================================
DECIMAL IBM ATARI DECIMAL IBM ATARI
-HEX KEY CHAR. KEY CHAR. -HEX KEY CHAR. KEY CHAR.
======= === ==== === ==== ======= === ==== === ====
32 20 bar space bar space 80 50 P P P P
33 21 S1 ! S1 ! 81 51 Q Q Q Q
34 22 S' " S2 " 82 52 R R R R
35 23 S3 # S3 # 83 53 S S S S
36 24 S4 $ S4 $ 84 54 T T T T
37 25 S5 % S5 % 85 55 U U U U
38 26 S7 & S6 & 86 56 V V V V
39 27 ' ' S7 ' 87 57 W W W W
40 28 S9 ( S9 ( 88 58 X X X X
41 29 S0 ) S0 ) 89 59 Y Y Y Y
42 2A S8 * * * 90 5A Z Z Z Z
43 2B S= + + + 91 5B [ [ S, [
44 2C , , , , 92 5C \ \ S+ \
45 2D - - - - 93 5D ] ] S. ]
46 2E . . . . 94 5E S6 ^ S* ^
47 2F / / / / 95 5F S- _ S- _
48 30 0 0 0 0 96 60 ` ` ^. `
49 31 1 1 1 1 97 61 a a a a
50 32 2 2 2 2 98 62 b b b b
51 33 3 3 3 3 99 63 c c c c
52 34 4 4 4 4 100 64 d d d d
53 35 5 5 5 5 101 65 e e e e
54 36 6 6 6 6 102 66 f f f f
55 37 7 7 7 7 103 67 g g g g
56 38 8 8 8 8 104 68 h h h h
57 39 9 9 9 9 105 69 i i i i
58 3A S; : S; : 106 6A j j j j
59 3B ; ; ; ; 107 6B k k k k
60 3C S, < < < 108 6C l l l l
61 3D = = = = 109 6D m m m m
62 3E S. > > > 110 6E n n n n
63 3F S/ ? S/ ? 111 6F o o o o
64 40 S2 @ S8 @ 112 70 p p p p
65 41 A A A A 113 71 q q q q
66 42 B B B B 114 72 r r r r
67 43 C C C C 115 73 s s s s
68 44 D D D D 116 74 t t t t
69 45 E E E E 117 75 u u u u
70 46 F F F F 118 76 v v v v
71 47 G G G G 119 77 w w w w
72 48 H H H H 120 78 x x x x
73 49 I I I I 121 79 y y y y
74 4A J J J J 122 7A z z z z
75 4B K K K K 123 7B S[ { ^; spade
76 4C L L L L 124 7C S\ | S= |
77 4D M M M M 125 7D S] } E^< left-turn
78 4E N N N N 126 7E S` ~ EBS L pennant
79 4F O O O O 127 7F none house ETB R pennant
Subject: 7.3) What versions of Atari BASIC are there?
There were three versions of Atari BASIC produced: A, B, and C.
At the READY prompt, enter "? PEEK(43234)"
If the result is: You have Revision:
162 A
96 B
234 C
Freddy Offenga adds:
You can also take a look at the part numbers on the IC's
inside your Atari and compare them with the numbers from
the following table:
Part# Version
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~
CO12402 + CO14502 A
CO60302A B
CO24947A C
On versions A, B, and C, Greg Miller writes:
"Rev A had a number of bugs, not just the commonly
described crash bug. Rev B fixed most (maybe all, I don't remember) of
these, but in the process, they added a new bug. You see, the crashes
were caused by a bug in one of OSS's memory move routines. When the bug
was fixed, the fix mistakenly applied to a routine that actually worked
in Rev A, causing the new lockup problem.
Rev C differs in only a few bytes. AFAIK, the only change was to remove
the alteration made to the routine that was broken by Rev B.
You can get more details from the annotated source listing published by
Compute! books. Bill Wilkinson described many of the problems in detail.
He also talked about it in his column in Compute! magazine."
Wally Lang adds:
--- Warner's Atari issued Rev B in two formats:
(1) As a built-in Basic on 600XL and 800XL computers.
(2) As a special request order item for 400/800 and 1200XL computers.
--- Tramiel's Atari issued Rev C in both formats for XE series computers and
ALL previous Atari 8-Bit Computers.
Subject: 7.4) What are Atari DOS 1, DOS 2.0S, DOS 3, DOS 2.5, and DOS XE?
Here are short descriptions of the various Disk Operating Systems (DOS)
versions produced by Atari for use with their 8-bit computers.
The original Atari DOS shipped with all 810 disk drives from 1979-1981. It
consists of a single file, DOS.SYS, which is loaded into memory from disk on
startup.
At the top of the menu screen it reads:
DISK OPERATING SYSTEM 9/24/79
COPYRIGHT 1979 ATARI
Unless you are a collector, you probably have no reason to work with DOS 1.
The DOS 1 disk is labeled: Atari 810 Master Diskette (CX8101).
DOS II Version 2.0S was shipped with all 810 disk drives, and early 1050 disk
drives, from 1981-1983. It consists of two files:
DOS.SYS is loaded into memory from disk on startup
DUP.SYS, which contains the DOS menu, is loaded only when needed.
MEM.SAV can be employed to preserve the contents of memory to disk when
DUP.SYS is loaded, so that the data can be restored to memory when exiting
from the DOS menu. DOS 2.0S supports Atari's proprietary single-sided, single
density 90K 5.25" floppy disk format only. DOS 2.0S represents the lowest
common denominator of Atari DOS versions--you can be assured than any Atari
disk drive for the 8-bit Atari can work with disks formatted with DOS 2.0S.
The DOS 2.0S disk is labeled: Atari 810 Master Diskette II (CX8104).
DOS II Version 2.0D was shipped with the rare Atari 815 Dual Disk Drive.
This is the double density version of DOS 2.0S.
The DOS 2.0D disk is labeled: Atari 815 Master Diskette (CX8201).
DOS 3 shipped with 1050 disk drives from 1983-1985. It was created in part
to take advantage of the 1050's Dual-Density capability, by employing a
single-sided, enhanced-density 128K 5.25" floppy disk drive format. Atari
called this format "dual-density," but the Atari community quickly came to
refer to this format as "enhanced-density" to better differentiate it from
widely available 3rd-party truly double density disk drives and supporting
versions of DOS. DOS 3 uses a disk format incompatible with DOS 2.0S. It
included a utility to convert files from DOS 2.0S to DOS 3, but not back
again. It used disk space less efficiently than DOS 2.0S. For these reasons
and others, DOS 3 was not widely accepted by the Atari community, and like
DOS 1 is not generally used except for curiosity's sake.
The DOS 3 disk is labeled: Master Diskette 3 (DX5052).
DOS 2.5 shipped with 1050 disk drives and early XF551 disk drives from 1985-
1988. DOS 2.5 represented Atari's relenting to the masses, returning to DOS
2.0S compatability. DOS 2.5 very closely resembles DOS 2.0S, with just a
few features added. It supports both DOS 2.0S single-density 90K formats, as
well as an enhanced density 128K format for use with the 1050 disk drive.
DOS 2.5 also includes a RAMdisk utility for use with the 128K 130XE computer,
a utility to convert files from DOS 3 disks back to DOS 2.5, and other disk
utilities. DOS 2.5 is just about as universal among Atari users as DOS 2.0S.
DOS XE shipped with XF551 disk drives from 1988-1992. Like DOS 3, DOS XE
introduced a whole new format for Atari floppy disks; but unlike DOS 3, DOS
XE also preserved general compatability with DOS 2.0S/2.5. DOS XE supports
the full capabilities of the double-sided, double density 360K per 5.25"
floppy disk XF551 disk drive, including that drive's high-speed burst mode.
DOS XE also fully supports the 90K SS/SD capability of the 810 disk drive, the
128K SS/ED capability of the 1050 disk drive, the 180K SS/DD capability of
most 3rd-party disk drives for the Atari, and a RAMdisk for use with the
130XE. Date-stamping of files is supported. DOS XE requires an XL or XE
computer; it is not compatable with the 400/800 computer models. Even though
DOS XE was critically well-received, and represented a substantial jump in
capabilities over DOS 2.5, its arrival came so late in the crouded realm of
Atari and 3rd-party DOS versions that it never achieved much acceptance among
real users, and is now relegated to the same status as DOS 1 and DOS 3 before
it. Before its release, DOS XE was widely known as "ADOS."
Subject: 7.5) What's the best DOS for the Atari?
Section includes contributions by Andreas Magenheimer.
This is a matter of opinion, but general consensus is that all 8-bit Atari
users should treat themselves to either MYDOS or SpartaDOS to appreciate the
power of the system.
Either MYDOS or SpartaDOS will work with almost any disk drive, up to 8
drives or hard disk partitions, and ramdisk.
MYDOS is modelled after Atari DOS 2.0S/2.5, but provides subdirectory and
hard-drive support. MYDOS 4.51 is freeware from Wordmark Systems (Charles
Marslett). There are two versions of MYDOS 4.53, one uses 3 digit
sector numbers where possible, known as 4.53/3; the other, known as 4.53/4,
uses 4 digits minimum. Complete documentation about the disk formats and
commands, as well as the source code, is available. MyDOS 4.53/3 was released
by David R. Eichel on 12/31/89. Source code for MYDOS 4.51:
http://www.wordmark.org/
Mathy van Nisselroy's MyDOS page:
http://www-users.rwth-aachen.de/mathy.van_nisselroy/mydos.htm
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.
SpartaDOS 3.2g and 3.2gx are disk-based; SpartaDOS X 4.22 is cartridge-based
and includes many additional features. SpartaDOS 3.3a and 3.3b were rewritten
by Stephen J. Carden for use with BBS Express PRO!. SpartaDOS 3.3c is
produced on a 16K ROM cartridge from Video 61.
Sysop Fox-1 writes (1/02):
> What are the differences between Spartados 3.3a, b and c?
3.3a = no floppy highspeed routines
3.3b = US Doubler highspeed routines
3.3c = 3.3b on a cartridge
It is recommended that all 8-bit Atari users own at least DOS 2.5 for complete
compatibility with existing software, and then choose either SpartaDOS or MYDOS
as they see fit. DOS 2.5, MYDOS and SpartaDOS are all available on the
archives.
filenames: Os/dos25.arc (DOS 2.5)
Fte/fte32g.arc (SpartaDOS 3.2g)
Os/mydos453.dcm (MYDOS - latest version)
Os/mydos45m.arc (MYDOS - latest complete doc's)
Another popular, powerful DOS is BW-DOS, freeware by Jiri Bernasek.
(it is pronounced "Bay Vay Dos") which is SpartaDOS compatible.
Does not use any speeder internally, but comes with external XF551
speeder. Supports 4 drives and Ramdisk, comes with Ramdisk driver
for XE compatible Ramdisks up to 1Megabyte; supports 4 densities:
a) Single (90k), b) Enhanced/Medium (130k), c) Double (180k) and
d) DSDD (360k); does not use any RAM under OS ROM; unlike SpartaDOS
most commands are external, thus the DOS is only 5kbytes short;
supports a PAL clock (made by ABBUC regional group "ARGS"); comes
with many great utilities (which can also be used with SpartaDOS);
paper printed German and disk printed English docs are avaiable;
latest version 1.3 is avaiable as Freeware...
Carolyn Hoglin adds:
I didn't see TOP-DOS mentioned anywhere. 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.
More popular DOS versions:
- SuperDOS 5.1 (supports 4 formats SD/ED/DD/DSDD; supports 256k Xtra
RAM/RD; supports 4 speeders: Happy+Speedy+XF551+US Doubler and its
compatibles; has an AUX.SYS file with option to use / not use RAM
under OS ROM; has unfortunately a very slow Ramdisk;)
- BiboDOS 5.4 and 6.4 (3 versions avaiable, one without speeder - 5.4NT,
one with Happy/Speedy support 5.4HS and one with XF support 6.4XF;
supports 4 formats / up to 360k; supports 256k Xtra Ram / RD; the
DUP.SYS uses RAM under OS ROM, thus Turbo-Basic must load without DUP;)
- Turbo-DOS 2.1 (Master-Disk produces 4 different versions: 2.1NT without
speeders, 2.1HS for Happy/Speedy, 2.1XF for XF551 and 2.1EX for 3
speeders: Happy+Speedy+XF551; supports 256k Xtra RAM / RD and supports
use of batchfiles; has converter for DOS 3 and DOS 4; supports 4
formats, up to 360k; does not use RAM under OS ROM; DUP uses a Command
Processor; all commands are avaiable via HELP key; works with XL/XE
computers only, does not load/boot on Atari 400/800 no clue why;)
All of the above (SuperDOS, BiboDOS, TurboDOS, TopDOS) are DOS-2 clones
and thus DOS-2 compatible; avaiable as PD or Freeware...
Subject: 7.6) How do I modify Atari DOS to support more than two drives?
Russ Gilbert writes:
DOS 2 type DOSes default to two drives.
Boot DOS and BASIC.
? PEEK(1802)
if it is 3 then you only recognize two drives.
To get the 3rd drive, poke 1802,7. Then go to dup.sys (type DOS)
and write system files. Next time you boot that DOS, you'll recognize
3 drives.
If you want four drives, poke 1802,15.
Subject: 7.7) Are there Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) for the Atari?
Contributors: Andreas Magenheimer, Mathy van Nisselroy, Kathleen Ferrante
- Diamond GOS version 1 (PD disk version), version 2 (cart), version 3 (cart);
plus some applications (painter program, text program, etc.); Diamond GOS has
been made freeware by the author Alan Reeve;
- G.O.S., the Graphic operating system by Total Control systems; two different
versions are avaiable (I call them GOS 1 and GOS 2) and they are PD;
- G.O.E., the Graphic Operating Environment also by Total Control Systems
(this one merely works under Sparta DOS, not with Bewe-DOS and not at all with
DOS 2.x); so far I have found 3 different versions (GOE 1,2,3) with some
applications (graphic/painting program, etc.); PD;
- S.A.M., the Screen Aided Management (unfortunately it has the same name as
SAM, the software aided mouth) from PPP/Germany. It is avaiable in two
different versions: a) the type-in listing from Atari magazin and/or the Lazy
finger disks (which are PD!) or b) the commercial version 2.0 which has many
add-ons and can still be bought from Dean Garaghty/UK or
PD-World-Versand/Germany; This GUI merely works correct under DOS 2.5 and
Medium/dual density, however...
- BOSS-XL, the XL-Desktop from Mirko Sobe; written in Turbo-Basic; freeware;
http://www.atarixle.de/
- BOSS-XE, the XE-Desktop from Mirko Sobe; written in Turbo-Basic;freeware,
http://www.atarixle.de/
- BOSS-X the newest desktop version from Mirko Sobe, needs an 128k+ Computer
(128k or more memory), supports MyDOS up to 16MB and MyDOS subdirs...; still
written in Turbo-Basic; many applications and drivers; freeware;
http://www.atarixle.de/
- XL-TOS a small and "cheap" GUI version from Atari magazin (i.e. a type-in
listing; the basic file, which consists of many data lines creates a short
object code file); unfortunately this GUI only looks good, it loads almost
nothing... PD;
- ST-TOS a small basic program, that looks like a GUI; it can merely load
Basic files and do a few DOS commands, like lock, unlock, delete and such...
(PD)
- Basic desktop, a GUI written in Basic just as a sample, what can be done
with an 8-bit computer; this one loads basic and text files (maybe also ML
files); PD;
- DCS, the desktop construction set from Tom Hunt; there are 3 different
versions avaiable, a) for DOS 2.5, b) for MyDOS andc) for Sparta-DOS; I have
tested the Sparta DOS version, which worked with batchfiles and could easily
load some ML files, text files and basic files (which were already on the DCS
disk); it also works with high densities and/or hard disk partitions up to
16MB and supports subdirs of course; hmm, freeware or shareware ?!?
- ATOS - GUI by Tom Hunt/Closer To Home. http://cth.dtdns.net/atos/
1) Lets you use any demo or intro as a screen saver!!
2) Works with all Atari hardware, BB, MIO and Hard drives, SpartaDOS support
3) Lets you run files like full games and demos and then
return back to the desktop. It uses Overlays.
- Atari Desktop by ABC software (Poland), includes editors, converters,
file copiers, sector copy, tape+turbo tape copy, small games, CMC finder
and player and much much more; works with 64k RAM and keyboard input;
disk manuals only in polish language...
- Windows XL a Turbo-Basic GUI with some nice add-ons, like calculator, editor
and other things. written in 1986-1988 by Joerg Forg.
- there are a lot more GUI programs, however many of them are written in Basic
or Turbo Basic and are very restricted; most of them merely look like a GUI
but need to much memory for everyday use. Thats why most users still prefer
those DOS or Gamedos (Gameloader, Multiloader, etc.) programs...
Subject: 7.8) What should I know about modem device handlers?
Not written yet. Who wants to write it?
Subject: 8.1) What are the best terminal emulators available?
Here are some of the more popular PD/freeware/shareware terminal
programs available.
Ice-T XE v2.72 (128K XL/XE) or Ice-T 800 v1.1 (48K)
shareware by Itay Chamiel
Emulates: VT100
Text: 80 column via a fast-scrolling graphics 8 screen
File Xfer: X/Y/ZMODEM download
Autodial: Yes (2.72) or No (1.1)
Backscroll buffer: Yes--8 screens (2.72) or One screen (1.1)
Capture-to-disk: Yes--up to 16K (2.72) or No (1.1)
Summary: Outstanding flicker-free high-speed VT100 emulation.Recommended!
http://www.cs.huji.ac.il/~itayc
FlickerTerm 80 v.0.51, freeware by LonerSoft (Clay Halliwell)
Emulates: VT100, IBM ANSI
Text: 80 column via a special Graphics 0 screen (no hardware req'd)
File Xfer: None
Autodial: No
Backscroll buffer: No
Capture-to-disk: No
Summary: Fastest and most complete VT100 emulation; readability a minus
BobTerm 1.22, shareware by Bob Puff
(There's also a 1.23 that's specific to PC XFormer)
Emulates: VT52
Text: 40 columns in gr.0; 80 col. w/ XEP80
File Xfer: XMODEM, YMODEM, FMODEM
Autodial: Yes
Backscroll buffer: No
Capture-to-disk: Yes
Summary: Feature-filled; best for BBSing
filename: Telecomm/bterm12.arc
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: Telecomm/k65v37.arc - latest version
Telecomm/k65doc.arc - documentation
Telecomm/k65src.arc - source code
OmniCom by CDY Consulting
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; buggy at file Xfers
filename: Telecomm/omnicom.arc
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: Telecomm/vt850b1.arc
Subject: 8.2) What BBS software can be used on the Atari?
Contributors to this section: Winston Smith, Steven Sturza, Chad Hendrickson,
Don Fanning.
o A.M.I.S. BBS -- The A.C.E. Message Information Service.
The AMIS BBS was written in BASIC by people from the
Michigan Atari Computer Enthusiasts. It included designs for a ring-detector.
You needed a sector editor and had to allocate message space by hand, hex byte
by hex byte.
Steven Sturza adds:
The AMIS BBS was written by people from the Michigan Atari Computer
Enthusiasts.
o TODAMIS 1.0, for 1030/XM301, Copyright (C) 1986 Trent Dudley
Don Fanning writes:
TODAMIS was a spin off of AMIS written by Trent Dudley (of AMODEM fame).
o FoReM BBS -- Friends of Rickey Moose BBS.
At the time, there were a lot of BBSes 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 BBSes 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-XE -- FOREM using BASIC XE.
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).
FOREM-XE BBS is still currently in use as we speak, and may be reached via
the PRO! EXPRESS-NET as long as the cross-networking "transnet" is still in
effect.
o Forem-XE Pro -- by Len Spencer. http://members.aol.com/lenspencer/
o ABBCS -- The ANTIC Bulletin Board Construction Set.
The user design of the ABBCS was very good. It sported
features such as intra-line editors. Unfortunately, the coding of the
ABBCS was really poor. You could practically blow on your keyboard and
crash this BBS. The BBS would sometimes crash several times a day.
o NITE-LITE BBS -- Paul Swanson's BBS with RAM disk.
Paul Swanson was a programmer from the Boston,
Massachusetts, USA, area. I'm not sure whether his BBS for the
Atari 8-bit has been placed into the public domain or not. 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 BBSes 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 ATKEEP -- An Atari 8-bit version of CITADEL BBS.
I believe that AT-KEEP, like FOREM-XE, requires the use of
the commercial BASIC XE cartridge to run. This BBS program was very
popular around Louisiana, USA, from what I understand.
o Benton's SMART BBS -- BBS written in BASIC by Marco Benton.
This program is written entirely in BASIC. It
expects to be running under a SpartaDOS environment. This was a problem
until very recently, when the disk-based version of SpartaDOS was
re-released as shareware. 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 The BBS Express -- PRO! BBS demo program.
This is the public domain version of EXPRESS!-BBS,
which is the Keith Ledbetter companion project of the EXPRESS!-TERM
terminal program of days gone by. I am not familiar with this program. I
think that it is written in Action! and only supports XMODEM Checksum
transfers. I have never called or seen this program demonstrated.
o BBS Express! Professional -- a product of Video 61, www.atarisales.com
http://cth.dtdns.net/pro/pro1.html
o OASIS JUNIOR III -- OASIS BBS demo program.
OASIS JUNIOR III is the --ALL MACHINE LANGUAGE--
demo version of the OASIS BBS program. 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". This OASIS demo module comes with an
excellent message system. The OASIS file system is one of the most
complicated that I have ever seen. 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). There is a commercial version of OASIS called "OASIS IV" that
performs networking. There was an OASIS network between Boston,
Massachusets, USA and Murfreesboro(SP?), Tennessee, USA. Occasionally word
of the OASIS IV developers reaches the network from New Zealand or Canada.
o OASIS IV -- a product of Z INNOVATORS/Ralph Walden "Alf"
o Frank Walters BBS -- I know nothing about this BBS except that Frank
Walters wrote it.
o Carina BBS -- a shareware product of Shadow Software/David Hunt.
Subject: 8.3) What programming languages are available for the Atari?
This section primarily by Freddy Offenga, based upon a file located at
http://members.chello.nl/taf.offenga/atari.htm
Other contributors: Kevin Savetz (APX titles), JT (ValForth)
a) ASSEMBLER
- 130XE+ Makro Assembler (disk)
version, year : 2.2, 1992
author/company : Torsten Karwoth
available..... : freeware, ?
package....... : assembler, editor, menu, monitor,
batch enhancement, linker/packer
features...... : macros
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..... : freeware, ?
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.
- 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
available..... : ?
package....... : assembler, editor, debugger, manual
features...... : macros, source include
Two pass 6502 assembler.
- 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 : ?, 1986
author/company : 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 : 2.41, 1994
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 : 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).
- 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..... : mailto: F.Offenga@student.kun.nl
package....... : assembler
features...... : macros, source include, data include,
boundary directive
Two pass 6502 cross assembler for the PC. 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 : ?, 1982
author/company : Steve Hales, Synapse Soft
available..... : ?
package....... : assembler, editor, monitor, manual
features...... : source include
Two pass 6502 assembler.
- ST-65 (disk)
version, year : ?, 1991
author/company : A. Stauffenberg, F. Offenga
available..... : mailto: F.Offenga@student.kun.nl
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.
- X-Assembler
version, year : 2.4, 2001
author/company : Piotr Fusik
available..... : freeware, mailto: fox@scene.pl
package....... : assembler, docs
features...... : conditional assembly, source include,
binary include, pseudo commands,
pseudo addressing modes
Two pass 6502 cross assembler for PC. The source
format is backward compatible with Quick Assembler.
b) BASIC
- A BASIC Compiler (?)
version, year : 1.03, ?
author/company : Monarch Data Systems
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC compiler
features...... : ?
- Advan BASIC (disk)
version, year : ?, ?
author/company : Advan Language Designs
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC compiler
features...... : ?
- Atari 800 Basic (disk)
version, year : 1.0, 1981
author/company : Microsoft
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
- Atari BASIC (cart)
version, year : Rev.C, 1983
author/company : Atari
available..... : standard ROM in Atari XL/XE
package....... : BASIC interpreter, manual
features...... : pretty plain BASIC implementation
- Atari Microsoft BASIC II (cart)
version, year : ?, 1991
author/company : Atari
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC interpreter
features...... : ?
- BASIC A+ (disk)
version, year : 3.05, 1981
author/company : OSS
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC interpreter
features...... : ?
- BASIC XL (cart)
version, year : ?, ?
author/company : OSS
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC interpreter
features...... : ?
- BASIC XE (cart)
version, year : ?, 1985
author/company : OSS
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC interpreter
features...... : ?
- 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".
- CTH Fast Basic (disk)
version/year : ?
author/company : Tom Hunt/Closer to Home
avaiable.......: PD, Freeware or Shareware;
package........: language plus several test files
and examples; english docs;
features.......: faster than Atari Basic, not much
slower than TB, does not use Ram under OS;
avaiable at Tom Hunt's homepage or elsewhere...
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..... : www.cc65.org
package....... : compiler, linker, assembler, librarian
features...... : ?
Public domain compiler. Also used as cross compiler.
Relocatable object linkage files, and the most thorough
K&R C for the 8-bit. Comes with an relocatable assembler.
- CC8 (disk)
version, year : 2.3
author/company : John Palevich & Steve Kennedy
available..... : ?
package....... : Compiler
features...... : ?
ACE C with more "real" C support (e.g. arrays of pointers
to structs). Requires ACE C runtime libs and linker.
- Deep Blue C (disk)
version, year : 1.2, 1982
author/company : John Palevich, APX
available..... : http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20166
Source code "Deep Blue Secrets" downloadable at
http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20179
package....... : Compiler, Linker
features...... : ?
Deep Blue C was originally an independent product, but it
then became available from APX. It converts C to pseudo-
code and then interprets the pseudo code (8080 instruction
set emulation).
Drawn from Ron Cain's public domain C-compiler (Small-C).
- DVC C (disk)
version, year : 1.05, 1985
author/company : Ralph E. Walden
available..... : ?
package....... : Editor, Compiler, Optimizer, Linker
features...... : Quite user friendly program
The compiler generates special object files (.CCC)
which can be optimized and linked. The package uses a
special DOS called DVC DOS which contains runtime stuff.
- LightSpeed C (disk)
version, year : 1.08, 1986
author/company : Clearstar Softechnology
available..... : ?
package....... : Compiler, Optimizer, Linker
features...... : ?
Runs under CLI DOS's and MENU DOS's.
- Tiny-C
version, year : ?
author/company : OSS
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
First sold C compiler by OSS. This compiler was used to
compile itself! First true language "bootstrap" on any
8-bit machine (it was also available for Apple and CP/M
machines). Derived from Dr.Dobbs "Small C". Compiles to
6502 code which emulates the 8080 instruction set.
d) PASCAL
- Atari Pascal (disk)
version, year : 1.0, 1982
author/company : APX
available..... : APX-20102
Information at http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20102
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
Needs two drives.
- Draper Pascal (disk)
version, year : 2.1, 1989
author/company : Norm Draper
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
- Kyan Pascal (disk)
version, year : 1985,1987
author/company : Kyan Software
available..... : ?
package....... : editor, compiler, linker, macro-assembler
and manual
features...... : ?
versions: 1)64K XL/XE version supports 130XE RAMdisk 2)400/800 version
e) LISP
- INTER-LISP/65 (disk)
version, year : 2.1, 1981
author/company : Special Software Systems, DataSoft
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
f) FORTH
- 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...... : ?
- Extended fig-Forth (disk)
version, year : version 2.0 is dated 1/15/1982. An earlier version
(exact version number not known) is dated 11/10/1981
author/company : Patrick Mullarky, APX
available..... : APX-20029
http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20029
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
- fig-Forth (disk)
version, year : 1.4s
author/company : ?
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
- 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 : ?
author/company : ?
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
- QS Forth (?)
version, year : ?
author/company : Quality Software
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
g) PILOT
- Atari PILOT (cart)
version, year : 1980
author/company : Atari
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
h) LOGO
- Atari LOGO (cart)
version, year : 1983
author/company : LCSI, Atari
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
i) All the rest
- Action! (cart)
version, year : 1983
author/company : OSS
available..... : ?
package....... : compiler, editor, monitor and library
features...... : fast compiler which generates good code
Needs cartridge for runtime procedures. A PD runtime
library is also available.
All variables are static, so recursive routine calls
are not possible. No floating point type (though a
PD library should make this possible). No arrays of
objects (arrays of POINTERS to objects are possible).
- 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.
- Test Computer Language (disk)
version, year : 2.2, 1985-1990
author/company : D.Firth
available..... : public domain, ?
package....... : compiler and editor
features...... : ?
- 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
Subject: 8.4) What cartridges were released for the Right Slot of the 800?
Contributors: Gene, Larry White, others
Austin Franklin Austin 80 Console Software
Eastern House KISS
Eastern House Monkey Wrench
Eastern House Monkey Wrench II
Geminisoft/Sar-An Magic Dump
Geminisoft Magic Dump II
Radical Systems Cartridge Maker (eprom burner)
Block (first right cart/first "backup" program hardware device)
R-Time 8 ICD (battery-backed clock, for left or right cart slots)
Subject: 8.5) What games support 4 or more simultaneous players?
contributors to this section:
Jeff M Lodoen, Vidar \"Hawk\" Olavesen, Pat Mulvey,
Steven E. Posey (Party Quiz controllers description), Andreas Magenheimer
The following games support 4 player head-to-head play. Remember, only the
400 and 800 computer models sport 4 controller ports.
Asteroids, Basketball, Dandy, M.U.L.E., Maze War, Silicon Warrior, Survivor,
Thorn EMI Soccer, Major League Hockey
- Volleyball, a PD game written in Atari Basic; 4 players with 400/800
Atari;
The following support 8 players on the 400/800 or 4 on the other computer
models, using the 2 controllers-per-port CX30 Paddle controllers:
Super Breakout, Worms?
The following 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.
Party Quiz by Suncom
Andreas Magenheimer contributes the following:
- Networking 1-8 players/computers games:
Dataque once (1989-1992) developed a Network game+cable which lets you
connect 1-8 A8 computers together. The cable (octagon or so) could be
selfmade or bought. The game avaiable was Maze of Agdagon (shareware
from the Agda Group/Dataque). Maze of Agdagon worked on all 8Bit Ataris
with a minimum of 48k RAM. In 1999/2000 Bewesoft discovered this and
developed the game Multidash which is network-compatible to the previous
game, i.e. it can use the same network cable. But, because of its
interlaced grapic mode Multidash will only run on XL/XE computers.
Therfore Jiri included a good Gr. 8 picture how to built an easy network
cable for 2 players/computers (using a SIO cable as a nullmodem cable!)
and an -not so easy - network cable for 2-8 players/computers. The game
and its text+picture was released as freeware; it can be found on the
internet or the abbuc magazine...
in short: networking games with 1-8 players:
(known as Gamelink-2 games or Multilink software):
a) Maze of Agdagon, b) Multidash
- more multi-joystick games:
MULTIJOY device by Radek Sterba (Raster), supports 8 joysticks attached
to one controller port. http://www.infos.cz/raster/atari
Currently the following games by Raster/Radek Sterba are avaiable:
a) Cervi (an 8-player Snake or Tron clone)
b) Multris (a four player Tetris clone)
The device seems to be compatible with an old hardware enhancement from
german Atari magazin, published in Issue 2/1989 (and its Lazy Finger
diskmag), thus you will find further examples and a source code avaiable,
plus a game:
c) Quadro-Tron (a 4 player Tron clone)
d) a small basic test program for 4 joysticks and its source
e) more software (former 800 Atari games) coming soon...
Subject: 8.6) What programs run only on the 400 and 800 models, and why?
The following are reported as incompatable with models other than the original
Atari 400/800. Most probably do work on XL/XE's if you use a translator to
run the original 400/800 OS on your XL/XE.
Apple Panic Broderbund
Aquatron Sierra On-Line
Astro Chase First Star Software / Parker
Atlantis Imagic
Attack at EP-CYG-4 (by Bram) Romox
Bandits
BearJam Chalkboard Inc.
Boulders And Bombs CBS
Chicken Synapse
Demon Attack Imagic
Disk 50
Dreadnaught Factor, The Activision
Drelbs Synapse
Forbidden Forest Cosmi
Fort Apocalypse Synapse
Galahad And The Holy Grail APX
(Downloadable from http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20132)
Go Hayden
Gorf Roklan
Jawbreaker II
Jet Boot Jack English
Juggler IDSI
K-Razy Antiks K-Byte
K-razy Kritters CBS Software
K-razy Kritters K-Byte
Kangaroo Atari prototype
KoalaPainter Koala
Leo's 'Lectric Paintbrush Chalkboard Inc.
Leo's Links Chalkboard Inc.
LogicMaster Chalkboard Inc.
Lunar Leeper
Mario Bros. ('83) Atari
Maze Epyx
MicroMaestro Chalkboard Inc.
Monkey Wrench
Monster Maze Epyx
Ms. Pac-Man Atari [some problems
M.U.L.E.(early release only)Electronic Arts
Nautilus Synapse
Pac-Man Jr. Atari prototype
Picnic Paranoia Synapse
Pool 1.5 IDSI
Pool 400 IDSI
Protector II Synapse
Rack 'Em Up Rocklan
Shamus Synapse
Slime Synapse
Snapper Silicon Valley Systems
Space Dungeon Atari
Squish 'Em Sirius
Super Pac-Man Atari prototype
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 :)
Subject: 8.7) What programs make use of the Light Gun or a light pen?
Bertrand M. (LEXX) writes:
Bug Hunt, Barnyard Blaster, Crossbow, Crimebuster, Operation Blood, Operation
Blood II - Special Forces (not completely sure about that one), Light Gun
Blaster (PD), Gangsterville (Italian game written in BASIC), maybe a couple
more...
James Bradford mentions:
"On the 400, the light gun /pen will only work in joystick port 4." This
renders much light gun and light pen software unusable on the 400.
Andreas Magenheimer adds:
all Lightgun games can be used with a lightpen (which is not as accurate as a
Lightgun however). And: all lightpen games can be used with lightgun. thus
add:
- Atari Graphics (Atari) Lightpen graphic software
- 5 Matrix or Matrix 5, a PD game...
- Alien Invaders (DGS) a Space Invaders clone from the brits...
- Bembelwo (Thorsten Butschke) a sort of golf/minesweeper game, written
in Quick and PD!
- Sharp Shooter (Mat*Rat) a PD game from Analog, also avaiable on cart
from Video 61/Lance Ringquist
- Lightgun Shooter (ABBUC mag.) a simple shooter game, at least PD!
- Flyshot (or Flyshoot) a Turbo Basic game (PD) from ZONG, the KE Soft mag.
- Geisterschloss by KE Soft, 1992
- more PD programs and utilities for Lightpen or Lightgun;
Subject: 8.8) What programs have a track ball mode or support a mouse?
Contributors: Andreas Magenheimer, Mirko Sobe
Title Keystroke Required
-------------- ---------------------
Missile Command (Atari) CTRL-T
Slime (Synapse) [T]
Shanghai (Activision) choose controller type: ST mouse !
(plug it into port 2; if you do not
have one, you have to reboot!!)
Bombdown (Roemer of Uno) choose between Joystick, Amiga
mouse, ST mouse or CX85 numeric
keypad (use port 2 for any mice)
Minesweeper (PPP/PD-World Versand) use an ST mouse in port 2
The Brundles (KE-Soft/Kaisersoft) use an ST mouse in port 2
The Brundles Editor (KE-Soft, PD) use an ST mouse in port 2
Geisterschloss/Ghost Castle (KE-Soft, PD) choose Lightgun (port 1) or ST
mouse (port 2)
10-12 games from ZONG magazine ST mouse games !! (they use port 2
(KE SOFT, now PD) and a driver
called KEMAUS.COM)
Multi-Mouse manager (PD/shareware) drivers for mice, TB, etc.
Unriagh I (german PD adventure) has drivers for ST mouse+Joystick
(stick=port 1, mouse=port2)
Unriagh II (german PD adventure) has drivers for ST mouse+joystick
(stick=port 1, mouse=port 2)
little Calculator (AMC-Verlag, PD) uses mouse only (port 2)
big UPN calculator (PD) uses ST mouse, TB, Touch tab. and
joystick; (there are different COM
files, rename the one you wish to
use to *.EXE; all drivers use port
1 - if I remember correctly)
Operation Blood (ANG/Mirage) press mouse fire or Select to start
in ST mouse mode (port 2)
Operation Blood 2 / Special Forces press mouse fire or Select to start
(ANG/Mirage) in ST mouse mode
Sprint XL (ABBUC Jahresgabe 1992) uses an ST mouse in port 2
M.O.S. (ABBUC magazine) uses an ST mouse in port 2
Multi-(Tasking-)Operating-System,
Diamond GOS (Reeve software) Version 1.0 (disk), 2.0 & 3.0
(cart.)
support an ST mouse in port 2
S.A.M. (Power per Post) german GUI, supports an ST mouse in
port 2
G.O.E. (TCS) supports an ST mouse in port 1
BOSS-X (MS-Software, Mirko Sobe) supports ST-Mouse in Port 2
RE: Missile Command, Andreas writes:
there are many different versions avaible... I know the old Atari 800
cart version, which works correct with Joystick and Trakball, but not at
all with a mouse. The newer XL version works with Mouse, trackball and
Joystick, also the newest (built-in) XEGS version of MC. But, there is
also a tape version (and maybe a disk version) of MC avaiable. I am not
sure if this tape version behaves like the old 800 version or like the
newer XL and XE/XEGS versions...
And about mice, Andreas adds:
Maybe you did not know, there is a little difference between Trackball
and ST-mouse. Although MC works with both input devices does not mean,
they are the same. they are not !! Connect the TB to an ST computer and
you see: it does not work at all !! You have to do a small conversion to
convert the TB to an ST mouse. (Plans are avaiable from ABBUC, germany).
maybe somebody already did this with Harvey`s TB (and to make things
worse: the old Atari 800 version does not support a mouse; so if the TB
has been converted to a mouse this MC version will not work with it!).
Subject: 8.9) What programs have a paddle(s) or Koala Pad mode?
Andreas Magenheimer contributes:
- Super Breakout (Atari) breakout clone
- Live Wire (Analog) tempest clone
- Live wire 2 (Analog) tempest clone
- Planetary Defense (Analog)
- Pong (Antic) Pong clone
- Pong (Analog) Pong clone
- Super Ball (Compy Shop Magazin) Breakout clone
- Arkanoid (Taito/Imagic) Breakout clone
- Koala/Micro-Illustrator (Island graphics/Koala Ware) graphics program
- Chiseler (Antic or Analog) a breakout clone
- Slime (Synapse) a slimy shooter...
- Chicken (Synapse) catch the chicken eggs...
- all Pinballs created with the P.C.S. use left paddle trigger for
left flipper and right paddle trigger for right flipper; or use
a joystick and left/right/fire button;
- many more dozens of Pong and Breakout clones
(forgot their names, maybe someone can help here!)
- many more programs (which I do not remember right now!)
for Koala Pad only: - Micro-Illustrator / Koala Painter
- other Koala Pad painters or programs
Subject: 8.10) What programs have a CX85 mode?
Andreas Magenheimer writes:
- Multi mouse Management (PD)
- UPN calculator (PD)
- the Bookkeeper (published by Atari ?!?)
- Bombdown (Roemer of Uno)
- Zador XL and Zador II
- Donald
- Oblitroid
- Techno Ninja
- Bomber Jack
- many more games from KE-Soft and Powersoft
(forgot their names, help needed!)
------------------------------
Subject 8.11) What programs have a Touch tablet mode?
Andreas Magenheimer writes:
- Atari Artist (Atari) graphics program
- Pixel Artist Deluxe 1.3 (PD) graphics program
- The Brundles (KE-Soft) Lemmings clone
- many more (which I do not remember right now!)
Subject: 8.12) What programs support a RAMdisk?
This section by Andreas Magenheimer. This is version 1.2 from March 2002.
Well, I will only list commercial or former commercial programs here, that
have built-in ramdisk support. Why? Simply, because most if not all PD
programs can support a RD, as soon as the user a) has a special DOS or RD
driver or b) has a special OS inside the computer or c) has any kind of
special and non-standard hardware. Just one example: With the use of QMEG+ OS
it is possible to freeze ZORK (or any other protected / unprotected program)
into the RD, then re-direct the RD as being drive 1 and finally boot Zork off
of the Ramdisk, allthough Zork does not support a RD in any way. The same
funny things can be done to other copy protected programs and especially to
unprotected public domain programs...
Ok, enough said, let me begin:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
8.12.1 DOS programs:
- Atari DOS 2.0 (selfmade RD drivers for Axlon and XE avaiable);
- Atari DOS 2.5 (driver for XE-RD and various selfmade drivers);
- MyDOS (supports Axlon and XE compatible Ramdisks up to 1MB?);
- Sparta-DOS (supports XE compatible RDs and others up to 1MB?);
- Happy DOS II+D (supports XE compatible Ramdisks up to 256k);
- BiboDOS (supports XE compatible RDs up to 256k);
- TurboDOS (supports XE comp. RDs, MIO, Irata, etc. up to 256k)
- TopDOS (supports XE comp. RDs and Axlon RDs);
- BeweDOS (supports XE comp. RDs and Rambox);
- SuperDOS (supports XE comp. RDs up to 256k)
- guess there are dozens of other DOS versions that support a RD...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
8.12.2 non-DOS programs:
- Synfile (+) by Synapse supports Axlon-RDs;
- Syncalc (+) by Synapse supports Axlon-RDs;
- Synhome (+) by Synapse supports Axlon-RDs;
- other Synapse applications should also support Axlon-RDs;
- A.R.-The Dungeon by Datasoft supports 48k, 64k and 128k (XE-RD);
- Paperclip-II by Batteries Inc. supports 130XE-RDs;
- Atari-Writer-Plus by Atari supports 130XE-RDs;
- Atari-writer-80 by Atari supports 130XE-RDs;
- A-Text 130 or Austro-Text 130 supports 130XE-RDs;
- Page-Designer by XLent supports 130XE-RDs;
- Type-Setter by XLent supports 130XE-RDs;
- other applications by XLent support 130XE-RDs;
- 4bit-Sampler by Mirage/ANG, some programs support 64k, 128k and/or 320k
memory;
- The Brundles by KE-Soft supports 64k, 128k and 320k memory;
(hold down/press Select key upon bootup to get the setup menu)
- Lightraces (Tron) by Power per Post supports both 64k and 128k memory;
- Adalmar by Power per Post supports both 64k and 128k memory (?)
- Megablast 1 by Thorsten Karwoth supports both 64k and 128k memory;
- thats all I remember right now...
Note: - Axlon means any Axlon compatible Ramdisk;
- 130XE means only 128k (for more extra Ram you have
to change the program, the DOS or the RD driver);
- 320k memory means any (?) XE-compatible RD with 64k RAM
plus 256k extra Ram / Ramdisk;
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thats all for now. Thanks to Russ Gilbert and Lee Barnes for sharing some info
with me. Any further help or info is welcome !! Andreas Magenheimer.
Subject: 8.13) What programs require a RAMdisk?
This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
Atari programs which require extra Ram / Ramdisk:
(This is version 1.3 from April 2002)
The memory values given are not always fully correct, since I do not
have all kinds of memory settings or Ramdisk types. At the moment I
merely have machines with 64k, 128k and 320k memory. Thus I cannot
tell if a program may work with 192k or 256k (or more than 320k), since
I do not have such machines. Any help or correction is welcome...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
8.13.1 non-Demo programs:
- The Wedge 2.x by Ed Bachman needs 128k memory (a 130XE is
enough; but: Antic must have RD access!!)
- Space Harrier by Speedy needs 128k memory (130XE is enough);
- The Works by Tom Hunt needs 128k minimum memory (supports
also bigger machines up to 256k, but no CS Ramdisks);
- T-34 by Mirage/ANG needs 128k memory (a 130XE is enough);
- Mister X by Power per Post needs 128k memory (130XE);
- Castle of Blackthorne by Thimo Graef needs 128k memory;
(a simple ripp-off of Dungeonmaster & Bardstale, written in
Turbo-Basic XL; unfinished and thus very limited playability);
- Gizmo`s Castle by Black Panther is avaiable in two versions:
the 64k version and the 128k version; if you have the 128k
version you will need a 130XE or compatible machine;
- Oelbaron by ??? (author unknown) also comes in two versions:
a 64k and a 128k version; a 130XE or comp. is needed for 128k;
- Boss-XE by Mirko Sobe needs 128k minimum memory (XE or bigger);
- Boss-X by Mirko Sobe needs 128k minimum memory (XE or bigger)
(works best with MyDOS 4.5x, supports Subdirs & Harddisks);
- ATOS the Mega-Multimedia GUI / Desktop by Tom Hunt requires
a 16Megabyte Harddisk partition or any XL/XE Atari with a
big Ramdisk (256k, 512k, 1024k) and/or a big Floppydrive (180k,
360k, 720k, 1440k densities); this mega-application will not
work on a non-expanded 64k Atari with only 810 or 1050 disk
drive; works best from Harddisk, should also work (slower)
from big floppies and/or big Ramdisks (untested yet);
- MTOS 1.0 and 1.1 by Tom Hunt need 128k memory (XE), there is
also a 256k version of MTOS (64k RAM + 192k RD; probably Newell?);
- Snapshot by ??? (author unknown) needs 128k minimum memory;
- XL2 by J.K. Picken needs 128k minimum memory; supports also
bigger XE-compatible machines of up to 1Megabyte (?);
- the CTH-Sound-Utility by Tom Hunt (a Wave+DIG Player) supports
64k, 128k, 256k, 576k and 1088k machines; uses 16k RAM+RD for the
Digi-Sound, thus a 64k machine (where only 16k can be used) is
much to small!; does not support 320k machines, nor Compyshop-RDs;
- Datei 4.0 and 4.1 by ??? (author unknown) both support 128k (XE)
and 320k (Compyshop) machines;
- various Filemanagers/Filecopiers support XE-comp. Ramdisks;
i.e. you need 2 drives if 48 or 64k RAM, only 1 drive + RD if
extra Ram / RD is avaiable (for example: Professionel Copy 1.x
and 2.x, Dos Control, Turbo-DOS Filecopy, the RAF-Commander,
Tight-Filecopy, TOMS Navigator, Spartados' The Browser, Spartados'
The Wedge 2.x, Spartados' Menu, Bewedos' Menu, etc.);
- various 130XE-test programs need 128k RAM, e.g. for bankswitching
tests and/or other things (can be found in many magazines);
- various System-test programs support 48k or 64k as well as extra
RAM; since they were (mostly) written to detect the extra RAM /
Ramdisk, you "should" have more than 48k or 64k memory...
(for example Sytem Info 2.x, System Test 1.x, Memory test, etc.);
- some XE-Sectorcopiers absolutely need a minimum of 128k RAM
(for example: XE-Copier, 130XE-Sectorcopy and many others);
- there are also some Tape programs (Tape-Disk-Copier, Tape-Tape
Copier, Disk-Tape-Copier, etc.) that need a minimum of 128k RAM,
for example VampireSofts 130XE Coolcopy and others;
- there are also some Tape-Ramdisk programs or drivers (which provide
a RD for the Tape users) that need 128k minimum memory;
- no more ideas...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
8.13.2 Demo programs:
- Amiga Boink XE by ???, minimum 128k RAM; XE=yes, CS=yes;
- American Natives Demo by FOX-1, needs 256k RAM; XE=no, CS=yes, AM=yes;
(any RD with min. of 192k should do - just use your own RD driver!)
- Asskicker by Shadows, minimum 128k RAM; XE=yes, CS=yes;
- Anime-4ever by ???, minimum 320k RAM; XE=no, CS=yes;
- Base33 by AIDS, minimum 320k RAM; has a RD-setup menu;
- Bill-Pie-Demo by ???, minimum 128k RAM; XE=yes, CS=yes;
(uses $05 banks with $36 frames or $0D banks with $96 frames)
- BMW-Ani by Mirko Sobe, minimum 128k RAM; XE=yes, CS=yes;
- CES-Demos by XANTH (full version) needs 128k RAM; XE=yes, CS=yes;
- Cogito by AIDS, minimum 192k RAM; XE=no, CS=no;
- Comet-Demo by Madteam needs minimum 128k RAM; XE=yes, CS=yes;
(uses $05 banks with $36 frames or $0D banks with $96 frames)
- Danielle-Gr.9-Ani by Bill Kendrick has a length of 64kbytes and
therefore should load off of a RD or a Harddisk (a Floppy drive is
verrryy slowww); for a RD-machine 128k total memory is enough;
XE=yes, CS=yes; (any RD should do - use your own RD driver!)
- Edelweiss-Demo by A.R. & CSS needs minimum 320k RAM; XE=no, CS=yes;
(a 256k sound sample + a picture; the much better intro works
without any extra RAM and is also avaiable as a separate file);
- Ergo-Bibamus by Quasimodos, minimum 128k RAM; XE=yes, CS=yes;
- Glashead/HTPPD by AR+CSS, minimum 320k RAM; XE=no, CS=yes;
- Grafik+Sound-Demo by P.Sabath needs 128k memory; XE=yes, CS=yes;
(many different versions, there is also a 64k version avaiable;)
- Halle 1994B (Wormhole) by AR+CSS, needs 320k?; XE=no, CS=yes;
- (Atari) Hardware-Demo by AR+CSS, needs 320k RAM; XE=no, CS=yes;
- I.B.R.-Demo by MacGyver/AIDS, needs 256k RAM; has a RD-setup menu;
- Igor, Side A by Madteam needs 128k minimum RAM; XE=yes, CS=yes;
- Igor, side B by Madteam needs 192k minimum RAM; XE=no, CS=yes;
- Journey by Polynomials needs minimum 128k RAM; XE=yes, CS=yes;
(uses $05 banks with $36 frames or $0D banks with $96 frames)
- Khai-Et by AIDS needs 320k minimum RAM; XE=no, CS=yes;
- Killer-Whales by Madteam needs 320k minimum RAM; XE=no, CS=yes;
- Lajf-Demo by Madteam needs 128k memory; XE=yes, CS=yes;
- Megablast-Sounddemo by DGS needs 128k memory; XE=yes, CS=yes;
- Muppet-Movie by Madteam probably needs 128k memory?; XE=yes, CS=yes;
- Nascar-Ani by Mirko Sobe needs 128k memory; XE=yes, CS=yes;
- Nonejm by Tight (pre-release) needs 128k memory; XE=yes, CS=yes;
- Owca-Demo by ??? needs 128k memory; XE=yes, CS=yes;
- Owca-2 Demo by ??? needs 128k memory; XE=yes, CS=yes;
- Parrot-X-Mas-Demo by A.Ramos needs 128k memory; XE=yes, CS=yes;
- Pedrokko-Parrot-Sounds (10 Disks / 20 Disksides by Pedrokko)
partially need 128k memory; XE=yes, CS=yes; (use your own RD-driver!)
- Raving Vierpz by Pentagram needs 128k memory; XE=yes, CS=yes;
- Raytracing XE by K.Pelzer needs 128k memory; XE=yes, CS=yes;
(also known as "Landscape-XE" Demo or just "Landscape" Demo)
- Raytracing 320k by Elsni needs 320k memory; XE=no, CS=no, AM=yes;
(written in Turbo Basic - patch the listing for your own RD!)
- 1MB Raytracing-Demo by ??? needs 1088k memory; XE=no, CS=no, KP=yes;
(comes as a Bootdemo on 8 disksides; coded in Assembler...)
- Revenge of Hacker by Rasero Team needs 320k minimum RAM; XE=no, CS=yes;
- Sweet Fantasy by Tight needs 128k memory?; XE=yes, CS=yes;
- Sheol by Bit Busters needs minimum 320k RAM; XE=no, CS=no; TO=yes;
- Shiny Bubbles by ??? needs 128k memory; XE=yes, CS=yes;
(there is also a shortened 64k RAM version avaiable);
- Stash-Demo by Rasero Team needs 320k minimum RAM; has a RD-setup menu;
(first use B for manual choice, then again a) for TOMS or c) for any
other type of RD; do not use b) for Compyshop, since it is faulty!)
- Starwars-Demo by AR+CSS needs 320k minimum RAM; XE=no, CS=yes;
(always boot with Option pressed / Basic off, to avoid stripes...);
- Timekeep(er) by New Generation needs 320k RAM?; XE=no, CS=no; TO=yes;
- Tit-Demo by Madteam needs minimum 256k RAM; has a RD-setup menu;
- Too-Hard-2 by Animkomials needs 128k memory; XE=yes, CS=yes;
- TheTop-3 by WFMH partially needs 128k memory; XE=yes, CS=yes;
- Total Dazed by Tight needs 128k memory; XE=yes, CS=yes;
- Trabant/HTPPD by AR+CSS needs minimum 320k RAM; XE=no, CS=yes;
- Trip6-Demo by Shadows needs 128k memory; XE=yes, CS=yes;
- Ultra by Taquart needs 128k memory; XE=yes, CS=yes;
- Vengeance by Excellent needs 128k memory; XE=yes, CS=yes;
- Vent by Exc.+Pent. needs 128k memory; XE=yes, CS=yes;
- Video Blitz by Helvetica Bold needs 128k memory; XE=yes, CS=no;
(Antic must have RD access, otherwise the Demo doesn`t work!);
- WAF-Demo, Side B by WAF members, two parts need 128k memory
(Raytracing Part and Vector Part); XE=yes, CS=yes;
- Worms-Demo by Datri needs 320k minimum RAM; XE=no, CS=no;
(on a XE or CS-RD you can see the ani with many bugs);
- X-Demo by Madteam needs 320k minimum RAM; has a RD-setup menu;
- X-Files Demo by ??? needs 128k memory; XE=yes, CS=yes;
- XE-Demo by ??? needs 128k memory; XE=yes, CS=yes;
- XE-Demo by SAG needs 128k memory; XE=yes, CS=yes;
- Xyberscape-XE by Bill LeMasurier/TAF needs 128k memory; XE=yes, CS=yes;
(there is also a 64k version avaiable separately);
- Zero-Demo by New Generation needs 128k memory; XE=yes, CS=yes;
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: - XE means 130XE Ramdisk (size: 64k);
- CS means Compyshop Megaram 1 or 2 (size: 256k);
(schematics avaiable from ABBUC)
- AM means Atari Magazin Ramdisk (size: 256k);
(schematics can be found in AM 2/1987)
- KP means Klaus Peters Megaram 3 (size: 1024k);
(schematics avaiable from ABBUC)
- TO means TOMS Ramdisk (size 256k), this is
standard in Poland and compatible to S.Peterson;
- NE means Newell Ramdisk (size 256-1024k),
distributed by Newell Ind. and patched by users;
- RA means Rambo XL Ramdisk (size: 192k),
distributed by ICD and selfmade by users;
- SP means Scott Peterson Ramdisk (size 192-1024k),
where the 1MB version is Newell compatible;
- has a RD-SETUP menu means, that you have to hold
down SHIFT upon bootup to get the setup-menu; here
it should be possible to setup any XE-compatible RD;
- I could only test XE and CS Ramdisks, since
I do not have any other kind of RD;
Thats all so far. Any additions or corrections are welcome.
Greetings, Andreas Magenheimer.
Subject: 9.1) What's this UUEncoding stuff (.uu, .uue files) all about?
UUEncode/UUdecode is a UNIX utility that will convert a binary file into
100% printable ASCII characters, so that the file may be posted or e-mailed
anywhere a text message can go. The 8-bit Atari is perfectly capable of
UUEncoding/UUdecoding as well. On the archives:
Uudecode 1.2a by John Sangster - very functional.
filenames: Archivers/uudecode.bas, Archivers/uudecode.doc
Yet Another UU-coder by John Dunning - both decoding/encoding.
filename: Archivers/yau.arc
Uudecode.com, Uuencode.com by ??? - "newer, cleaner, easier to use."
filename: Utilities/uue.arc
Dumas UU-coder by John Dunning
filename: Cc65/dumasuu.arc
Subject: 9.2) What is an .arc file?
A file with the extender .arc has been archived in a standard manner that
is common in the MS-DOS world. This is done to make the file shorter,
so it takes up less space on your disk and it takes less time to transfer
between computers. The archives contains several 8-bit Atari archivers
fully compatible with this standard, including:
Super Un-Arc 2.3, Super Arc 2.0 by Bob Puff - highly recommended.
filenames: superarc.arc - both Super Un-Arc & Super Arc
suprarc2.arc - Super Arc
supunarc.com - Super Un-Arc
supunarc.uue - Super Un-Arc
location: http://www.umich.edu/~archive/atari/8bit/Archivers/Arc/
Subject: 9.3) What are the .DCM, .ATR, .XFD, .SCP, and .DI disk image formats?
These are all filename extensions used to name files containing entire 8-bit
Atari floppy disk images.
DCM - Image format invented by Bob Puff, for his Disk Communicator 3.2 utility.
Used when working with native Atari hardware.
DCM specs at: http://home.planet.nl/~ernest/diskcomm.zip
ATR - Image format invented by Nick Kennedy, for his SIO2PC project.
Used with most 8-bit Atari emulators running on other computer platforms.
XFD - Image format invented by Emulators Inc, for their ST Xformer emulator.
Identical to ATR except without the 16 byte header.
Used with ST Xformer and PC Xformer emulators.
PRO - Image format invented by Steven Tucker, for his APE ProSystem device.
Used with APE, the Atari Peripheral Emulator.
SCP - SpartaDOS SCOPY image file.
DI - Image format invented by Kolja Koischwitz & Christian Kruger for their
800XL DJ emulator for the Atari ST.
One tool for converting among all of these disk image formats is:
Acvt v1.07 by Jindrich Kubec
Latest version can be found at http://jindroush.atari.org/
Subject: 9.4) What are the .XMO and .BIN file formats?
XMO stands for XMODEM. The idea was that the file was not plain text,
but was a binary file. As a binary file, it had to be downloaded using a
file transfer protocol such as XMODEM. The use of ".xmo" as a filename
extender was popular once, but has been discouraged for years.
BIN - another filename extension sometimes used to designate binary-load
files. Like .xmo, use of .bin is discouraged.
On 10/5/01 Ron Hamilton wrote:
> Originally .COM files used the file start load address as the execution
> point; they were normally called by their name typed at the command
> processor prompt. Often these were external components of the file
> management system or similar utilities and expected to find data in
> predetermined buffers and code or pointers present from a specific DOS
> version.
>
> .EXE files used the Atari DOS 2.0 convention of appending a load segment
> containing the execution address to be placed into $2E0-1 or $2E2-3.
> Usually these were complete applications and were rarely DOS specific.
>
> .BIN files in their simplest form were just binary RAM images of data or
> code; they were not intended to execute immediately after the load.
> Multiple load stages were possible, but typically no INIT or RUN address
> was included.
Subject: 9.5) How can I make my commercial boot disk (tape, cart) into a load
file or disk image?
Russ Gilbert writes:
The disk image part is a matter of taking a copyable boot
disk and making an atr, xfd, dcm or other disk image type
file out of it, usually for use with an emulator. Before
emulators, the Bob Puff .dcm format was used to
store/archive/retrieve boot disk images.
Almost all commercial software for the A8 is/was copy
protected. For boot disks, this usually involved a large
number of special formatting that couldn't be copied using
ordinary sector copiers. Usually the boot process involved
checking to see if a certain sector error occurred, then
proceeding. If the error did not occur, the disk was a copy
and would not work.
For carts, usually the method of protection was to write to
the cart area of memory and see if the value changed. If the
value changed, the cart program was in RAM, not ROM and
would fail to operate.
For tapes, again a fair number of schemes were used. Some
varied the speed at which the tape loaded. I'm not familiar
with tape protection schemes.
With all software media (cart, tape, disk), there may be
program encryption, which must be decrypted before the
program can run. This to make more difficult disassembly of
the program.
There were/are a number of products to defeat copy
protection/allow copying of protected software for the A8.
The most common way to defeat copy protection was to
disassemble the software and revise sections of code so that
the copy protection was defeated. A software with defeated
copy protection is called a 'cracked' software. The basic
procedure is to understand how cart/tape/disk software
initializes, loads and runs. Usually make a file out of the
software and 'follow the code', starting with loading of
the program, to decryption to the actual running of the
program. Today, it is unnecessary to copy original
commercial A8 software because it has already been defeated
and may be found at a few ftp sites. (Note umich archive has
no commercial/non-shareware software.)
Besides 'cracking' software, there were/are hardware devices
to copy commercial protected software. The Happy 1050 and
the Archiver, and probably other modifications to the 810,
or 1050 allowed 'bit image' copying and reproduction of the
special formatting that copy protected disks had. Using
these archiving disk drives, a copy of the original disk,
including all special formatting and the original code is
copied, thus making a copy protected copy, not cracked, just
like the original.
For carts, copying could involve cracking or again there
were/are products to reproduce the cart and simulate a ROM.
Or the cart might be copied and burned on the correct type
of eprom, to make a plug in cart. 'The Impersonator', the
'Pill' are two cart copy schemes copy the cart to a file,
then don't change the code, but use a 'dummy cart' to fool
the software into thinking there is a ROM present.
Basic tools for copying, then cracking, carts and disks are
a sector editor and disassembler. Carts are usually most
easily dumped using a special OS, like Omnimon, to interrupt
the cart and dump memory to disk. There are a few pd cart
copiers that have the user plug the cart in when the program
is running, I don't believe these pd cart copiers are very
good or very wise to use.
So, the basic answer to 'how do I make a copy of my copy
protected commercial software' is don't bother. Find it on
the net.
There is one exception, in that this 'solution' involves a
minimum of effort and is relatively safe. I refer to
'Chipmunk' and 'Black Patch' software to make cracked boot
disk copy of commercial disks. HOWEVER, even if you use
these two commercial archival tools, be sure you write
protect your originals, and be careful not to accidentally
write to the original disk.
Finally, I'll mention a very modern (I mean 1997) product.
The APE Pro system, 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: 9.6) How can I convert my commercial boot tape into a cassette
image file?
Ernest R. Schreurs writes:
For those of you that like ALL classic Atari software, there is now a
way to store all software that has been recorded on cassette tapes on
the hard disk of your PC. I have written a program that is similar to
the SIO2PC utility written by Nick Kennedy. But this one is intended
for use with cassette software. You will need the following items:
Any PC equipped with a sound card and about 50 to 100 Megs of free
disk space to work with. The sound card should be able to sample sound
at a sample rate of 44.100 Hz mono. The sample must be recorded into
a .wav file.
You need the wav2cas program to convert the .wav file to a .cas file.
The .cas file is a digital cassette image file that only contains the
data that is on the cassette tape. Once you have that, you can throw
away the .wav file. The .cas files are typically 16 to 64K, so they
are relatively small.
To load cassette files into your Atari (i.e. boot a digital cassette
image) you do not need a sound card. You do need a SIO2PC cable or
similar device. You also need the cas2sio program.
The wav2cas and cas2sio programs should be available from the archives
of Umich by now. They have been put together in one zip file
wav2cas.zip, along with the documentation and the 'C' source code.
You can download it through the web interface at the URL
http://www.umich.edu/~archive/atari/8bit/Emulators/Peripherals/wav2cas.zip
Note the capital in Emulators and in Peripherals.
Thanks to William Kendrick for helping me get it uploaded there!
You can also try the gopher stuff:
gopher://gopher.archive.umich.edu:7055/11/atari/8bit/Emulators/Peripherals/
Steven Tucker, the author of APE, has added support for this file
format as of version 1.15 of APE. It looks real neat, so try that out
too! Thanks to Steven for adding a nice user interface for these
cassette images. He did a nice job. I am hoping other using are
willing to write some programs to get more enjoyment out of this
underrated storage medium.
My stuff is available totally free for personal use, so I hope you
enjoy it. Read the docs about the conditions.
Subject: 10.1) Can I read/write 8-bit Atari disks on an IBM-PC?
There are several programs that allow an MS-DOS system to work with an
Atari-format diskette. The following require a DOS and disk drive on the
Atari end capable of the SS/DD 180K format:
ATARIO by Dave Brandman w/ Kevin White - Reads SS/DD 180K Atari disks.
filename: Diskutils/atario21.arc
SpartaRead by Oscar Fowler - Reads SS/DD 180K SpartaDOS disks.
filename: Diskutils/sr.arc
UTIL by Charles Marslett - Reads/Writes SS/DD 180K Atari disks. Use MyUTIL!
filename: Diskutils/dskutil.arc
(Older versions are contained in pcxfer.arc, util.arc, and ataridsk.arc)
Wordmark: http://www.wordmark.org/
MyUTIL by Charles Marslett with Mark Vallevand, and
SpartaDOS disk utility by Mark Vallevand
filename: Diskutils/myutil.zip
includes best version of UTIL for read/write of SS/DD 180K Atari disks,
plus Mark's SpartaDOS disk utility v0.1e to access 180K SpartaDOS disks
Ataridsk V1.2 (c) 95-12-09 by HiassofT (Matthias Reichl)
http://www.horus.com/~hias/atari/
MyUTIL and the XF551 - tips from JTKIRK:
]MyUtil works fine with the XF551. The XF551's speed is 300 rpm (sometimes even
]up to 303 rpm). I've got two XF551s and can read/write disks written on a PC
]with MyUtil on both with no problems. MyUtil even can write to a DS/DD disk,
]for a total of 360 K, BUT: the ATARI disks not only have the bits inverted,
]the second side is also read BACKWARDS respect to PC disks. That is, when
]MyUtil on the PC writes to what it thinks is sector 721, it really is writing
]to sector 1440! Worse, if you take an ATARI disk with a file whose sectors
]get past sector 720, MyUtil will attempt to read the sector 2161-n instead of
]'n', and you'll get a 'truncated record' error. The solution is simply to
]rewrite the code to take into account this (if sec>720 then sec=2161-sec).
]Let me know if you modify this. You don't know how frustrating it is to have
]to use only 180 K of a 360 K disk! I'm going to analyze the source code, but
]I don't know if I will be able to modify it properly. If someone does it
]before, please email me and send me an uuencoded copy or tell me where to get
]it.
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 themb when sharing 360KB floppies among 360KB &
1.2MB drives is: Never do any writes with a 1.2MB drive to a disk that
has been previously written to in a 360KB drive....UNLESS... you only
plan on ever using that disk in the 1.2Mb drive from then on out. Of
course a disk can be reformated in a particular drive any time for use
in that drive. As long as you follow that rule, you can utilize the
backwards compatible 360KB modes that most 1.2MB drives offer.
While the above work with SS/DD 180K Atari-format disks, the following
combination of utilities can be used to work with SS/SD 90K Atari-format
disks, and is currently the best bet for reading SS/ED 128K Atari-format
disks.
AnaDisk 2.07, shareware by Sydex - Reads/Writes "any" 5.25" diskette
filenames: Xf2/anad207.zip, Xf2/anadisk.txt
Apparently 2.07 is buggy.
Anadisk 2.06 is available at: http://ch.twi.tudelft.nl/~sidney/atari/
Deana by Nate Monson - converts AnaDisk dump files from Atari format
filenames: Xf2/deana.com, Xf2/deana.txt
See http://ch.twi.tudelft.nl/~sidney/atari/ for tips on using this
combination of utilities.
Explanation --> According to Preston Crow:
"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: 10.2) How do I transfer files using a null modem cable?
This section by Russ Gilbert.
Q: How do I connect two cmputers 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, 'Express 850' does not. I have
only used 'Procomm 2.4.3' (the last shareware version of
Procomm) on the PC and Bob Term 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
Bob Term, rather than X-modem. X-modem will often append
bytes to a file transfer, an undesirable event. There is
also a very nice Z-modem recieve program for the Atari,
called AtarZmodem by Larry Black for the Atari.
A convenient way to make a null modem cable, up to about
30 feet long, is to use two female DB25 connectors
(Radio Shack) some three or more conductor cable. Using
the two DB25 female connectors allows unplugging your
modems and plugging in the null modem cable into the two
modem cables. This also avoids the confusion of
variations in the computer ports. Most computers connect
into the modem end via a standard RS232 DB25 connection.
With this both ends 25 pin cable, you would cross pins 2
and 3 and connect the #7s together to make a null modem
cable.
The SIO port on the Atari cannot be used directly. An
850, P:R: connection, MIO, Black Box or similar device
that provides an RS232 port must be used.
Following are pin assignments for a DB25 pin RS 232 C
port.
1. Protective Ground 12. Select Alternate Rate
2. Transmit Data 15. Transmit Clock (sync)
3. Receive Data 17. Receive clock (sync)
4. RTS (Request to Send) 20. Data Terminal Ready
5. CTS (Clear to Send) 22. Ring indicator
6. Data Set Ready 23. Select Alternate Rate
7. Signal Ground 24. Transmit Clock
8. Carrier Detect
For higher speed connections, above 4800 or 9600, you
need the flow control lines and Atari term software that
has flow control built in. You also need an MIO or Black
Box, which uses the PBI (parallel bus). A high speed
cable would need not only XMT, RCV, and GND, but also
flow control lines. I suggest a commercial null modem
from computer store to ensure correct lines. A null
modem is a small adapter with the correct lines already
crossed. I don't know how to correctly connect the CTS,
RTS, DTR, DSR, CRX lines for a high speed null modem.
With a null modem, you just plug it into the 25 pin
connectors of the two modem cables you might already
have connected to your Atari and PC or Mac. You may need
a straight thru 25 pin gender changer also.
Following is in this FAQ elsewhere, but I summarize here:
(Figure out or look for pin numbers on the ports.) Note
that these are pin assignments, and NOT null modem
connections with the XMT, RCV crossed and GND straight
thru.
Atari 8-bit PC AT 25 PC AT 9 pin
-------------------------------------
1. DTR 20 4*
2. CRX 8 1*
3. XMT 2 3
4. RCV 3 2*
5. GND 7 5
6. DSR 6 6
7. RTS 4 7
8. CTS 5 8
9. No connect? shield RI
22 RI
Note: * above indicates the difference between an AT 9 pin
and a Atari 8-bit 9 pin cable connector. eg. If you check
continuity from pin 3 of 25 pin end and it goes to pin
4 of nine pin end, you have an Atari serial cable. If pin
3 of 25 pin goes to pin 2 of 9 pin end, you have a PC
serial cable.
(updated 3/1/99)
(DTE = Data Terminal Equipment ie. your computer.
DCE = Data Communications Equipment ie. your modem.)
Subject: 10.3) What is SIO2PC?
From the SIO2PC home page, written by Nick Kennedy:
SIO2PC is a hardware & software package interfacing the 8-bit Atari to PC
compatible computers.
The original idea was to have the PC emulate Atari disk drives so Atari
programs could be stored on the PC's hard (or floppy) drives. It turned out to
be quite successful. About 95% of my work was in the software, but a hardware
device to convert logic levels was also necessary. This device is now commonly
referred to as an SIO2PC cable.
Features:
Emulates 1 to 4 Atari disk drives
Store your Atari files on PC hard or floppy drives
Boot from the PC, real drive not needed to start-up
No software or drivers required for the Atari;
no conflicts: use your favorite DOS
Twice as fast as an Atari 810 drive and more reliable
Co-exists with real drives in the Atari daisy chain
Compatible down to the hardware level: use sector copiers, etc.
Print-Thru captures Atari print-out and routes to PC's printer
Convert Atari files to PC files and vice versa
1050-2-PC version connects PC directly to Atari disk drive
Nick Kennedy
http://www.cswnet.com/~nkennedy/
Another source for building SIO2PC cables is Clarence Dyson's page at
http://www.redshift.com/~cdyson/atari.html
Atari810
========
Atari810 1.1, by Dan Vernon, is a disk drive emulator in the tradition of
SIO2PC, for the Windows NT/2000/XP platform
http://www.bitsofthepast.com/atari
Subject: 10.4) What is the Atari Peripheral Emulator (APE)?
David A. Paterson writes:
"Steven J. Tucker took SIO2PC one better and wrote new software. The
Atari Peripheral Emulator (APE for short) lets your PC act as high-speed
drives. It lets you print to your PC printer. And it lets you use your
PC modem on the 8-bit."
The APE ProSystem goes even further. 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 device designed to allow direct connection
of a stock 1050 disk drive directly to a PC for use by the PROSYS.EXE
software.
APE home page: http://www.atarimax.com/
Subject: 11.1) How did Atari get its name?
Graham Thornton types:
This article was published in "I/O - The Magazine of the Atari Home
Computer Club" in issue 3 - Summer 1983. The magazine was the official
mouthpiece of Atari UK. The article was not attributed to any one person.
The words are theirs, not mine.
How Atari Got It's Name
-----------------------
The name Atari actually comes from Japan. And yet the company is most
definitely American. Every wondered why? It's an interesting story and
one well worth telling.
In 1972 three friends decided to invent and market the first commercially
feasible video game. They were Nolan Bushnell, Ted Dabney and Larry Bryan.
To become a partner each man had to submit $100 to the project - a
remarkably small sum when you consider the company's success! The next
step was to find a name.
Drinking beer and thumbing through the dictionary one day, the three
friends came across an interesting entry under "S". The word was Syzygy,
or "the straight-line configuration between three celestial bodies". What
a perfect name they thought, for three such astronomically talented people!
Now they could get on with the business of inventing games. Their first,
Computer Space, was produced and all seemed to be going well.
But then things started to get a little shaky. Larry Bryan decided not to
ante up his $100 and pulled out, leaving Bushnell and Dabney to go it
alone.
The set up a shop in Santa Clara, California, and incorporated the
business. A little later they invented Pong(r).
Busnell and Dabney applied for the name Syzygy to the Office of the
California Secretary of State, which regulates Californian corporations,
but were told that they were too late. The name was already taken.
Following unsuccessful attempts to buy the rights to the name from the
first Syzygy corporation, which appeared to be inactive, the friends'
solicitor pressed them to think up an alternative.
This proved difficult. BD Inc and DB Inc were tested and then rejected in
turn: the first bore too close a resemblance to Black & Decker, the second
to Dunn and Bradstreet.
Inspiration occurred at last, once again in an informal atmosphere.
Bushnell and Dabney were both keen players of Go, a Japanese strategy game,
and their best brainstorming always occurred over a good game and a bottle
of beer.
This time, they decided to make a list of several Go words to see if one of
them would fly as the new corporate name.
First choice was "Sente", which means "the upper hand" - something that
greatly appealed. Second and third choices were "Atari", which has a
similar meaning to the English word "check", and "Hanne", an
acknowledgement of an over-taking move.
Busnell and Dabney submitted the list once again to the Office of the
Californian Secretary of State, which approved "Atari". The rest is
history.
When the company name changed, Bushnell and Dabney decided to update the
logo too. They incorporated the "S" from Syzygy and the "A" from Atari
into the new design.
It was not until later, as the company became increasingly successful, that
an advertising agency designed the slicker and now famous Atari logo - the
"fuji" or stylised "A" design.
Subject: 11.2) What is the History of Atari?
Here is a very condensed history of Atari, centered around their 8-bit
computers.
1972
Atari Inc. is formed by Nolan Bushnell, incorporated on Tuesday, June 27.
Atari created the first coin-operated arcade video game with the introduction
of Pong. The video game industry was launched and has shaped pop culture ever
since.
1976
Warner Communications acquires Atari Inc.
1977
Atari launches the Video Computer System (VCS), later known as the 2600, giving
birth to home video game systems.
1978
In December, Atari announces the Atari 400 and 800 personal computers, using
the 6502 microprocessor.
ATARI BASIC: (according to Atari BASIC Sourcebook)
Paul Laughton and Kathleen O'Brien - Most of Atari Basic
Paul Krasno - Helped with Trnscendental routines
Bill Wilkinson - Designed Floating Point Scheme
Bob Shepardson - Modified IMP-16 Assembler to accept special syntax tables
Paul invented
Mike Peters - Key punching and operating
1979
Atari files with the USPTO for a patent for a "Data processing system with
programmable graphics generator" (the 400/800 computer system) on
January 8, 1979. Inventors listed:
Mayer, Steven T. (Auburn, CA);
Miner, Jay G. (Sunnyvale, CA);
Neubauer, Douglas G. (Santa Clara, CA);
Decuir, Joseph C. (Mountain View, CA)
The Atari 400 and Atari 800 Home Computers debut at the Winter Consumer
Electronics Show (CES) in early January.
Jerry Jessop writes:
"The first official small shipment of the 400/800 was on August 29th 1979.
These were hand built pilot run units to Sears that needed to be in stock by
Sept. 1 so they could be placed in the big fall catalog. The units were
placed in the Sears warehouse and then immediatly returned to Atari after
the "in stock" requirment had been meet.
The first "real" consumer units were shipped in Nov. of 79 and were 400's to
Sears followed very shortly by 800's."
All Atari computers are tested at the factory by a master computer called the
Atari Sentinel System.
1981
From Atari Connection magazine:
"At the National Computer Conference in Chicago on May 5, 1981 Atari announced
that the 8K Atari 400 was being discontinued and that the price on the 16K
version was being reduced to $399."
The USPTO grants U.S. Patent 4,296,476 to Atari on October 20, 1981 for the
400/800 computer system. Read the full text of the patent here:
http://makeashorterlink.com/?M2561456
November: 400/800's begin shipping with the new GTIA chip in place of CTIA,
increasing the palette of simultaneously displayable colors to 256 and adding
3 new graphics modes. CTIA is totally phased out by the end of the year.
Jerry Jessop adds:
"The very first proto systems did have the GTIA, but it had some
problems and was not released in the consumer version until 1981. The
GTIA was completed before the CTIA."
1982
The introduction of the 1200XL in late 1982 marks the single largest advance
in the 8-bit Atari system.
1983
In 1983 Atari replaced the 1200XL/800/400 line-up with the new 800XL and
600XL.
1984
Warner Communications sells Consumer Electronics and Home Computer
divisions of Atari Inc. to Tramiel Technologies on Monday, July 2.
Atari Corporation is formed by Tramiel Technologies and its products marketed
under the Atari brand.
(
Atari Games Corporation is also formed from the former coin-op
division and markets coin-operated games under the Atari Games brand.
Atari Games inherits Atari copyrights/trademarks/patents for use in the
coin-operated arcade video game market only.
Atari Games was acquired by Midway Games on March 29, 1996.
January 2000: Atari Games is renamed Midway Games West, and games produced
by the group will sport the Midway Games brand. The last coin-op game with
the Atari Games logo: San Francisco Rush 2049, released in 1999.
June 22, 2001: Midway Games announces it is exiting the coin-operated
arcade video game market; its game development efforts will now be focused
on games for home game platforms.
)
1985
The new Atari Corp. delivered on its promise to advance the 8-bit Atari system
by replacing the 800XL/600XL with the new 130XE and 65XE in 1985.
1987
In a change of marketing strategy, Atari introduced the new XE Game System
in 1987. Despite its label, the XEGS is a true 8-bit Atari computer system.
1992
Atari (US) officially dropped all remaining support of their 8-bit computer
line on January 1, 1992. (Some 800XE's were still being manufactured in China
in 1992.)
1996
On July 31, 1996, Atari Corp. became a JTS subsidiary. JTS Corp., with
headquarters in San Jose, Calif., was founded in 1994 to design, manufacture
and supply enhanced-capacity hard disk drives for the notebook and desktop
personal computer markets.
1998
On February 23, 1998, JTS sold its Atari Division to HIACXI Corp., a wholly-
owned subsidiary of Hasbro Interactive, Inc., which is a subsidiary of Hasbro,
Inc., for $5 million in cash.
(JTS filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection on December 11, 1998, and
then converted it to Chapter 7 on February 28, 1999)
Hasbro Interactive produced games for several platforms, including PCs
running MS-Windows. Some of Hasbro's games, including several re-makes of
classic Atari titles, were marketed under the Atari label. The Atari
Interactive brand was termed "a Hasbro Affiliate."
Games produced by Atari under Hasbro ownership included:
Atari Arcade Hits 1 & 2, Breakout, Centipede, Missile Command,
Nerf ArenaBlast, Pong, Q*Bert, The Next Tetris, Atari Greatest Hits
2001
On January 29, 2001 Infogrames Entertainment announced completion of its
acquisition of Hasbro Interactive from Hasbro. The purchase included the Atari
titles and intellectual properties.
TODAY
Atari is a brand of Infogrames.
Infogrames, Inc. develops video games for all consoles (Sony, Nintendo and
Microsoft), PCs, and Macintosh systems. Infogrames' catalogue of more than
1,000 titles includes award-winning franchises such as Alone In The Dark(TM),
Civilization(TM), Deer Hunter(R), Driver(TM), Roller Coaster Tycoon(R), Test
Drive(R), and Unreal(R), and key licenses including Survivor(TM), Warner Bros.
Looney Tunes(TM), Nickelodeon's Blue's Clues(TM), Dragon Ball Z, Mission
Impossible(R), Harley-Davidson(R), Major League Baseball(R), and the National
Football League(R), among many others. The Company's Humongous Entertainment
and MacSoft labels are leaders in children's entertainment software and
Macintosh entertainment software, respectively.
Infogrames, Inc. is a majority-owned subsidiary of France-based Infogrames
Entertainment SA (IESA), a global publisher and distributor of
video games for all platforms, as well as interactive digital television,
mobile smart devices (WAP, HDML) and in-flight entertainment systems. In 2001,
IESA acquired Infogrames Interactive, Inc. (formerly Hasbro Interactive),
including its line of software based on well-known licenses such as
Monopoly(R),
Jeopardy(R), Tonka(R), and Atari(R).
Corporate web home: http://www.infogrames.com/
The Atari website: http://www.atari.com/
Current Atari releases:
The Next Tetris (PC CDROM) http://us.infogrames.com/games/the_next_tetris/
Atari Anniversary Edition (Dreamcast, PlayStation, Game Boy Advance, PC CDROM)
http://us.infogrames.com/games/atari_anniv/
http://us.infogrames.com/games/atari_anniv_gba/
http://us.infogrames.com/games/atari_psx_arcade/
http://us.infogrames.com/games/atari_anniv_dc/
Atari Revival (PC CDROM)
http://us.infogrames.com/games/atari_revival_pc_arcade/
Splashdown (Sony PlayStation2) http://www.gosplashdown.com/
MXrider (Sony PlayStation2) http://www.mxrider-game.com/
TransWorld Surf (Microsoft Xbox) http://www.transworldgames.com/surf/
Test Drive (Sony PlayStation2, Microsoft Xbox) http://www.tdgame.com/
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End of atari-8-bit/faq
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Last Update June 26 2002 @ 10:02 PM