CrossBow

This is a topic I would usually reserve as a blog post. But it is pretty important one that effects many many 7800 consoles over their lifetime. So lets talk about it...
The main issue that comes up with the 7800 panel buttons is that over time, they start to fail in that they won't always register a press. The power button and reset seem to be the most problematic and that is likely due to them being used the most. So that is the problem but what is the cause?
Well here is the cause...


The above pictures are the remains and effects of left over flux from the factory when the consoles were manufactured. This one happens to be one of the worst I've seen, but it is crazy common how much I've seen similar. The extra flux is hiding under the switches and over time it can cause corrosion and gunk to build up around the switches and the vias they are attached to. This looks pretty nasty and the switches don't fair any better...

These are the original switches that were removed from the 7800. I did NOT add any additional flux when I removed them. The gunk and wet sheen you seen is the left over flux that has been left for nearly 40 years under those switches. This old flux finds its way into the switches internally and causes them to corrode. As a result, the switches start to loose their contact ability inside them due to this corrosion. 
I've heard of folks taking the switches apart to clean them and then use some super glue to put them back together. But honestly for the time that takes, and as cheap as the switches cost. I don't mess with that, an instead I replace them out whenever I find this. Now to be fair these switches were actually still working properly. But due to other massive amounts of flux that was left over on other parts of the main board, I decided to remove a few to look them over for inspection and once I saw this, I didn't want to take any chances in the future and decided to clean up the mess on the boards and install new higher quality switches. 

You can get OEM style replacements from Console5.com inexpensively here and they would likely serve you well for many years to come:
https://console5.com/store/tactile-switch-12mm-x-4-5mm-atari-7800-power-pause-select-reset.html
The switches I tend to order and use cost 2x more each, but they are a much better quality switch that is rated for 1million cycles of use. That means, the switches you see above are likely to outlive us all. The switches I order I get are made by Alps and use silver contacts internally vs the brass or alum that is likely used in cheaper switches. Because I've found the Alps switches cloned with much crappier versions that look just like them, I only order them from Mouser to be sure I'm getting legit swtiches.
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Alps-Alpine/SKHCBFA010?qs=4aVxpR%2FL9VKjnfNtzVhXNg%3D%3D
So if you find your 7800 panel buttons not working as good as they should. Just replace them out or find someone you trust that is good with a soldering iron to do it for you.
 

I wanted the more traditional looking version of this, but at the time I ordered this one, they didn't have the original grey and chrome original looking ones available, and I had NO idea that they would even re-release the original looking version as they did for their Black Friday sale...sigh.
But, that said, the color scheme might grow on me and it really does sound amazing! It is replacing the Bose Sondlink Mini II that I'd been using for the past few years on my desk at work.

I wanted the more traditional looking version of this, but at the time I ordered this one, they didn't have the original grey and chrome original looking ones available, and I had NO idea that they would even re-release the original looking version as they did for their Black Friday sale...sigh.
But, that said, the color scheme might grow on me and it really does sound amazing! It is replacing the Bose Sondlink Mini II that I'd been using for the past few years on my desk at work.

I don't have any issue with that. That is how I was approached to start testing games on the 7800 was via PM from the authors there and all discussions, bug reports..etc all happen within PMs for the most part dedicated to the game or program being tested at that time.

Well, I did find out that the palette issues with it on NTSC consoles is a well known issue and has been for years. But apparently due to the fact that most of the demoscene stuff and quite a lot of the more recent homebrews all require the use of PAL 8-bits, it was never considered a priority to create a core for the VBXE with NTSC palettes on it. Apparently if you have one of the U1MB upgrade boards in place, they did include an option on it to apparently program a new palette file to compensate but I hadn't really planned on getting one of those for as little as I play on my 130xe.
As for testing of games, I've done quite a few lately mainly on the 7800 side of things. But that is largely in part because I have a Dragon Fly cartridge and it supports a crazy amount of different bank schemes for different games along with the added hardware in it to play covox, dual pokey, and FM music. I don't know what testing would be possible on my 130xe as I'm limited to just my FujiNet cart that I mainly use and I have an UnoCart for the 8-bit that is much faster at loading games, but also more limited in what it supports.
I can understand the hesitation with letting folks test your games and programs. I don't know how feasible it is, but I would think it a good idea to put an ID code of some sort embedded within the coding so that if it were to be leaked out in the open, it would at least be possible to know who provided that initial leak or obviously was careless in who might have had access to their stuff and let it get slipped. 

I wanted the more traditional looking version of this, but at the time I ordered this one, they didn't have the original grey and chrome original looking ones available, and I had NO idea that they would even re-release the original looking version as they did for their Black Friday sale...sigh.
But, that said, the color scheme might grow on me and it really does sound amazing! It is replacing the Bose Sondlink Mini II that I'd been using for the past few years on my desk at work.

I wanted the more traditional looking version of this, but at the time I ordered this one, they didn't have the original grey and chrome original looking ones available, and I had NO idea that they would even re-release the original looking version as they did for their Black Friday sale...sigh.
But, that said, the color scheme might grow on me and it really does sound amazing! It is replacing the Bose Sondlink Mini II that I'd been using for the past few years on my desk at work.

There is another AA member that has designed a replacement 5200 controller in the original style design aesthetic that uses a self centering stick. But I don't believe any of them have gone on sale yet or what the current status of that project might be?
Only thing he did different in the layout was to put the start, pause, and reset buttons on the bottom end of the controller below the keypad section allowing him to raise the joystick up further. But aside from that, it looked to be about the same size and close shape of the originals.
 

I've looked around my local radio/electronics hobby shop here and they have a spot on their peg board for some, but haven't had any in stock for a few years now. Even when they did have them, they were huge. Not just the shaft on them which I think was about 2inches long, but the overall body of the trimmer pot was way too large to fit inside the 5200 controller housing.
I think about the only option we can hope for is that someone creates a kit that allow for modern trimmers to be used that drop into place of the original but provide signals to the console that mimic the originals readings. Like using a 1k trimmer or something and using some logic to halve the readings from it back to the 5200 logic for instance. There is enough space inside the 5200 controller for a small PCB with such logic to be fitted inside I think.
 

Well, some of these items exist already are possibly being looked into.
1. - the biggest issue with this is the size of the parts themselves. The controller storage lid and front facia are large single pieces of plastic. So it would likely take a commercial grade type 3D printer that is large enough to make these pieces. I've also been told that larger pieces that are also pretty flat like the ones needed here, will warp quite a bit during the printing process which, also complicates things. 
My thoughts on possible solutions for this has been to simply have someone make a good quality silicone mold and perhaps make resin casting replacements? But that is beyond my skill set.
2. There was another member over at AtariAge that actually did create replacement back expansion covers with holes already milled for the RCA jacks. However, he didn't seem convinced that enough space could be done to have all three RCAs and the s-video. I of course know this isn't true because I actually hand drill spaces on these covers already and have for years that allow for the RCA jacks and s-video to all fit. It is tight I won't deny that, but it can be done. I don't know what became of that project though. One thing I did suggest that was really only possible with 3D printing was that the s-video jack could be made with the flat side already in place to better hold the s-video jack and help prevent slipping and turning.
3. Again, recently over at AtariAge, someone did post a 3D printed 5200 cartridge shell. It wasn't an exact copy of the Atari made ones though and was more of a copy of the smoother shell design without dust cover similar to what the game Meteorites cartridge looks like.
Again, with all the ridges and detail on the 5200 Atari cartridge cases, it might be a bit too difficult to do with a 3D printer and likely require an actual injection mold to have to be made. I now that recently Albert at AtariAge has been looking into this for some time and I believe he now has replacement cartridge shells for the 2600 and 7800 now that are injection molded. 
I do have something new to share about the 5200 though!!! Evie over at Backbit.io has created a lot of cool products for the retro gaming community. One of her projects is the Backbit Pro flash cartridge. Now, the neat thing about this cartrige is that it is designed for multiple consoles and computers?! The main body of the cartridge contains the brains and SD card slot. But the end you plug into the console is done with an IDE type male connector on it and that allows the cartrige to use different PCB ends that plug into the cartridge allowing the flash cart to work on different kinds of systems. I have the cartridge and have the adapters to use it on the Intellivision and Vic-20. But... she did tell me that she is now designing a 5200 adapter for it?! So that would provide another means to have a flash cart for the 5200. Not sure it would have all the features that the AtariMax Ultimate SD cart can do, but it is still a nice additional option once released. Here latest firmware already pretty much has all the features needed to support the Intellivision games now including ECS bankswitching. While I haven't tested it myself fully yet, the cart can also be a RAM expander for my Vic-20. So..yeah it is a very versatile device. And having a 5200 adapter for it would be most welcome!
 

I've looked around my local radio/electronics hobby shop here and they have a spot on their peg board for some, but haven't had any in stock for a few years now. Even when they did have them, they were huge. Not just the shaft on them which I think was about 2inches long, but the overall body of the trimmer pot was way too large to fit inside the 5200 controller housing.
I think about the only option we can hope for is that someone creates a kit that allow for modern trimmers to be used that drop into place of the original but provide signals to the console that mimic the originals readings. Like using a 1k trimmer or something and using some logic to halve the readings from it back to the 5200 logic for instance. There is enough space inside the 5200 controller for a small PCB with such logic to be fitted inside I think.
 

Well, some of these items exist already are possibly being looked into.
1. - the biggest issue with this is the size of the parts themselves. The controller storage lid and front facia are large single pieces of plastic. So it would likely take a commercial grade type 3D printer that is large enough to make these pieces. I've also been told that larger pieces that are also pretty flat like the ones needed here, will warp quite a bit during the printing process which, also complicates things. 
My thoughts on possible solutions for this has been to simply have someone make a good quality silicone mold and perhaps make resin casting replacements? But that is beyond my skill set.
2. There was another member over at AtariAge that actually did create replacement back expansion covers with holes already milled for the RCA jacks. However, he didn't seem convinced that enough space could be done to have all three RCAs and the s-video. I of course know this isn't true because I actually hand drill spaces on these covers already and have for years that allow for the RCA jacks and s-video to all fit. It is tight I won't deny that, but it can be done. I don't know what became of that project though. One thing I did suggest that was really only possible with 3D printing was that the s-video jack could be made with the flat side already in place to better hold the s-video jack and help prevent slipping and turning.
3. Again, recently over at AtariAge, someone did post a 3D printed 5200 cartridge shell. It wasn't an exact copy of the Atari made ones though and was more of a copy of the smoother shell design without dust cover similar to what the game Meteorites cartridge looks like.
Again, with all the ridges and detail on the 5200 Atari cartridge cases, it might be a bit too difficult to do with a 3D printer and likely require an actual injection mold to have to be made. I now that recently Albert at AtariAge has been looking into this for some time and I believe he now has replacement cartridge shells for the 2600 and 7800 now that are injection molded. 
I do have something new to share about the 5200 though!!! Evie over at Backbit.io has created a lot of cool products for the retro gaming community. One of her projects is the Backbit Pro flash cartridge. Now, the neat thing about this cartrige is that it is designed for multiple consoles and computers?! The main body of the cartridge contains the brains and SD card slot. But the end you plug into the console is done with an IDE type male connector on it and that allows the cartrige to use different PCB ends that plug into the cartridge allowing the flash cart to work on different kinds of systems. I have the cartridge and have the adapters to use it on the Intellivision and Vic-20. But... she did tell me that she is now designing a 5200 adapter for it?! So that would provide another means to have a flash cart for the 5200. Not sure it would have all the features that the AtariMax Ultimate SD cart can do, but it is still a nice additional option once released. Here latest firmware already pretty much has all the features needed to support the Intellivision games now including ECS bankswitching. While I haven't tested it myself fully yet, the cart can also be a RAM expander for my Vic-20. So..yeah it is a very versatile device. And having a 5200 adapter for it would be most welcome!
 

I recently installed another UAV into one this past weekend does that count?

I recently installed another UAV into one this past weekend does that count?

Possibly although the 5200 uses an odd 3 prong switch but I've never really tried to sus it out too much. I did manage to take one apart once and clean it I think? That said, I've likely got a switch or two from my donor boards I could remove if you need one. 

I recently installed another UAV into one this past weekend does that count?

Last time I pulled mine out of its box was to verify the cable I had would provide decent composite output from it and to check out my copy of Dragon's Lair 😉
 

Trust me when I say it isn't much. Compared to what I know @sramirez2008 and @TrekMD picked up plus others I saw walking about with several grocery sized cloth bags full of stuff. No... mine is a pittance in pickups for what a person might normally get a convention. 
And to be quite fair, there are quite a few more AtariAge releases I plan to get, but since many of them didn't have the boxes ready at the show, I decided I will wait until they hit the AA store next month. 
One game I've quite disappointed about is E.X.O. It was supposed to get released at PRGE, but due to issues with the HOKEY still not working right with it, that wasn't possible. It has been told to Muddyfunster that E.X.O. isn't likely to come out until 2nd or 3rd qtr of 2023 possibly.
 

My latest pickups are of course from PRGE 2022! I didn't get as much this year as I have in the past, but that was mostly due to just being very busy the entire weekend and also a lack of space in my suitcase for the return trip home. Additionally, I had a heads up that some of the new releases at AtariAge might not actually be available and boxes not available so I decided to wait until everything is in the store later for other stuff I'm wanting to get. That said...here is what I did grab.
First up is a new Atari 8-bit game from the AtariAge booth. I already own Adventure II with all the feelies for the 5200, but I know that Ron made some refinements to the game on this newer XE release and I just couldn't say no to that box art! The other 3 are new releases from the Intellivision Revolution booth. And yes, that Raiders is indeed a remake of the 2600 game but with enhanced Intelly graphics! Parsec is a port of the Ti-99 game and even retains the Ti logo in the background and makes use of the Intellivoice module!

 
These are my pickups mainly from the AtariAge booth. I was able to get the new release of Popeye for the 7800, along with Gorf Arcade for the 2600 and one of only about a dozen available working carts of Petscii Robots for the 7800. Petscii comes with a new SNES 2 Atari adapter that as the name implies, allows you to use the SNES controller with the game on a 7800. Astro Grover I picked up from John Hancock's booth and is one of the original 50 released and sold back during PRGE 2012. And I was even able to hand out a few of my new ITC cards to folks that were interested in console upgrades and services.

 
The last of my pickups came from the AA booth, Songbird, and another vendor that had some excellent prices on games and hardware. I picked up Asteroite for the Jaguar, a Jaguar Gamedrive (My biggest purchase of the event), one of Fred's latest Concerto's with a HOKEY chip pre-installed, an extra HOKEY to use in whatever I want, an extra AtariVox+ for use mainly with my Vectrex, and then an interesting but very decent controller and the Mr. Do and manual for the 2600. To give an idea on pricing, the Mr. Do with the manual was only $15. That was a great price and I saw at least one other Mr. Do at the event sans manual and with a much worse label that a vendor was asking $40 for?! 

So yeah, I didn't pick up that much but I still manage to spend about what I always do all the same LOL!
 

Pretty much arcade perfect near as I can tell and all the quarter munching difficulty that comes with it too! I'm likely to live stream some of the new games over the weekend to give others a look in more detail. But I wasn't even able to finish the second board on my play of it a bit last night.
 

I have a HOKEY in my concerto that I picked up at PRGE. However, I have seen some graphical glitches on a few games like Commando and speaking of that, the audio is still not quite right in some places with the HOKEY in place. Fred has confirmed these issues and states he is looking into it. In the meantime, I've put a spare HOKEY into my older Mateos 16 in 1 cart as for what I use that for these days, the HOKEY is fine for it and will stick with using my DragonFly for actual multi game playing until the 7800GD comes out.
HOKEY is a great thing to see and have, but it does require some specific tweaks to make it work on a game by game basis. All of the new homebrew releases for the 7800 at PRGE that required POKEY audio in fact used HOKEYs in them, but each game required the HOKEY to be tweaked to sound correctly and I think on some of the games, the code on them had to be altered for the HOKEY to work. So even popping in a normal POKEY into those games might not work due to the changes needed for the HOKEY to work in them. But I'm not cracking open my Popeye or Petscii Robots carts to test that.
I do hope that whatever small issues remain with the HOKEY, Fred is able to iron out soon and able to provide a means to update the current ones. 
 

I have a HOKEY in my concerto that I picked up at PRGE. However, I have seen some graphical glitches on a few games like Commando and speaking of that, the audio is still not quite right in some places with the HOKEY in place. Fred has confirmed these issues and states he is looking into it. In the meantime, I've put a spare HOKEY into my older Mateos 16 in 1 cart as for what I use that for these days, the HOKEY is fine for it and will stick with using my DragonFly for actual multi game playing until the 7800GD comes out.
HOKEY is a great thing to see and have, but it does require some specific tweaks to make it work on a game by game basis. All of the new homebrew releases for the 7800 at PRGE that required POKEY audio in fact used HOKEYs in them, but each game required the HOKEY to be tweaked to sound correctly and I think on some of the games, the code on them had to be altered for the HOKEY to work. So even popping in a normal POKEY into those games might not work due to the changes needed for the HOKEY to work in them. But I'm not cracking open my Popeye or Petscii Robots carts to test that.
I do hope that whatever small issues remain with the HOKEY, Fred is able to iron out soon and able to provide a means to update the current ones. 
 

I have a HOKEY in my concerto that I picked up at PRGE. However, I have seen some graphical glitches on a few games like Commando and speaking of that, the audio is still not quite right in some places with the HOKEY in place. Fred has confirmed these issues and states he is looking into it. In the meantime, I've put a spare HOKEY into my older Mateos 16 in 1 cart as for what I use that for these days, the HOKEY is fine for it and will stick with using my DragonFly for actual multi game playing until the 7800GD comes out.
HOKEY is a great thing to see and have, but it does require some specific tweaks to make it work on a game by game basis. All of the new homebrew releases for the 7800 at PRGE that required POKEY audio in fact used HOKEYs in them, but each game required the HOKEY to be tweaked to sound correctly and I think on some of the games, the code on them had to be altered for the HOKEY to work. So even popping in a normal POKEY into those games might not work due to the changes needed for the HOKEY to work in them. But I'm not cracking open my Popeye or Petscii Robots carts to test that.
I do hope that whatever small issues remain with the HOKEY, Fred is able to iron out soon and able to provide a means to update the current ones. 
 

My replacement Aquaventure manual arrived the other day. It is funny because I doubled checked all of my emails from AtariXP and none of them mentioned the manual and only the replacement carts. So I'm not complaining just odd that I didn't receive an email regarding it being on the way or anything.
In other news, I shipped my original carts back to them on Saturday, and they were already delivered by Monday?! USPS has been on their game with my shipments lately. I shipped a console back out to its owner on Monday afternoon and the owner got it yesterday morning?! It wasn't supposed to be delivered until today, so quite impressive times. And that was from here in Oklahoma to Connecticut.
I need to look carefully at the replacement manual, because it actually seems like it it might be smaller and more cut down content wise than the original was? But I only took a cursory glance through the original. Enough to verify the missing page anyway in my original.
 
 

My replacement Aquaventure manual arrived the other day. It is funny because I doubled checked all of my emails from AtariXP and none of them mentioned the manual and only the replacement carts. So I'm not complaining just odd that I didn't receive an email regarding it being on the way or anything.
In other news, I shipped my original carts back to them on Saturday, and they were already delivered by Monday?! USPS has been on their game with my shipments lately. I shipped a console back out to its owner on Monday afternoon and the owner got it yesterday morning?! It wasn't supposed to be delivered until today, so quite impressive times. And that was from here in Oklahoma to Connecticut.
I need to look carefully at the replacement manual, because it actually seems like it it might be smaller and more cut down content wise than the original was? But I only took a cursory glance through the original. Enough to verify the missing page anyway in my original.