ATTENTION HARDWARE HACKERS: Request for a new piece of badly needed hardware.

[- Ω -]

Many of us in the 5200 community use the Atarimax cartridge.  Also many of us switch games, which currently requires us to REPEATEDLY get off our collective butts and walk across the room to recycle the power to get back to the menu to select another cartridge image.   What I'd like to see is some type of remote power interrupt, preferably plug and play, or at the very least one requiring minimal soldering.  Ease of installation would sell more units as well.

Ultimately I'd prefer a wireless remote button solution, but I'd settle with a wired device barring no other alternatives.  When the 5200 was released, I'm sure no one ever considered the concept of the Atarimax, so switching cartridges required you to physically be at the unit, which is no longer the case.

 

[Justin]

@- Ω - Problem solved! All you need is an Etekcity ZAP 5LX-S Remote Outlet Switch (5 Outlets 2 Remotes):

 

https://www.etekcity.com/products/remote-outlet-zap-5lx-s

 

 

[- Ω -]

1 hour ago, Justin said:

@- Ω - Problem solved! All you need is an Etekcity ZAP 5LX-S Remote Outlet Switch (5 Outlets 2 Remotes):

Nice thought, we think alike, but sadly those do not work.  They will turn it off, but NOT back on, you still have to press the button on the console to turn it back on.  

[RickR]

How about a broom handle?  One long enough to reach from the couch to the console.  Low tech yet effective. 

<Yes, this is in jest> 

[CrossBow]

Sometime back I remember that the AMax cart PCB had a spot for a reset switch on it? But I think I was drinking my bathwater. I think the issue is that there ins't a way to reset the console in a manner to cold boot it that is needed to reload back to a menu on the AMax from within the console. Many of my flash carts for my 130xe still require me to power cycle the 130xe as well to get back to my menus. Although now that I know about the "bye" command from the basic prompt, it has helped with a little less stress on the power switch.

But you know now that I think about it, all of my flash carts require me to get up and push something or hit reset to get back to a main menu so I guess it is just how it is?

We had to do the same with original carts after all? 

 

[- Ω -]

36 minutes ago, CrossBow said:

But you know now that I think about it, all of my flash carts require me to get up and push something or hit reset to get back to a main menu so I guess it is just how it is?We had to do the same with original carts after all? 

Yeah, but I've never been one for the status quo when there is a need for invention/innovation.  I'm betting some little control circuit (before the switch) could be installed and as soon as power was applied turn the unit on, in this way, those remote power units like the ones Justin posted would work.  Many have spent untold hundreds on video upgrades, super joysticks, trackballs multi-carts and the like, so what's a few more bucks for added convenience?

[CrossBow]

Well it would be possible to simply bypass the flip flop IC and just have the console be in an always powered on state. But would have to replace the current switch in the console with an actual actuated on/off switch and not the momentary type it uses now. I'm sure it would be possible.

 

[- Ω -]

On 10/20/2021 at 11:35 AM, CrossBow said:

Well it would be possible to simply bypass the flip flop IC and just have the console be in an always powered on state. But would have to replace the current switch in the console with an actual actuated on/off switch and not the momentary type it uses now. I'm sure it would be possible.

 

I gave a little bit more thought to that, but have not opened up my 5200 for verification of application.  But, what about shorting the momentary contacts?  If it worked, one could install a small toggle switch and route into the joystick holder area to make it behave normally if desired, or to use a remote switch.

[CrossBow]

1 hour ago, - Ω - said:

I gave a little bit more thought to that, but have not opened up my 5200 for verification of application.  But, what about shorting the momentary contacts?  If it worked, one could install a small toggle switch and route into the joystick holder area to make it behave normally if desired, or to use a remote switch.

Yes, you can short out the momentary switch, but it will still act the same as it did before because it is the 4013 IC chip that is toggling the on/off state to the rest of the circuit. But what you could do is wire up some sort of secondary switch after that point that would kill power to the rest of the system and have it be remotely activated. I know such devices exist as I've heard of people wiring up non smart appliances so they can still operate them using a phone app to turn them on/off etc. through the use of a blue tooth receiver and relay. But... I think I'm good with just keeping the 5200 nearby and power cycling it like normal.

Okay...wait now that I'm thinking about this more. You are wanting to just short the contacts on the power switch so it acts as if it is always in the down pressed state then? Yes, I suppose this is possible but not sure what that would do long term with the constant voltage going to the signal pin on the 4013 like that? But in theory...yes. And then after that point you would wire up a standard spst on/off switch to either complete the +5 or disconnect it.

 

Edited June 7, 2022 by CrossBow