The Naked Atari 800

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stephen_usher
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Re: The Naked Atari 800

Post by stephen_usher »

When I used an ATTiny85 I used the Arduino IDE to generate a file which I then used the TL866 to program onto the chip.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: The Naked Atari 800

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: 11 Jan 2026 18:43 When I used an ATTiny85 I used the Arduino IDE to generate a file which I then used the TL866 to program onto the chip.
Mine has a USB interface so I should be able to do it directly. I hope...
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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stephen_usher
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Re: The Naked Atari 800

Post by stephen_usher »

Oh, you've got it on a board with USB boot code built in. I just use the stock chips. :-)
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: The Naked Atari 800

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: 11 Jan 2026 20:02 Oh, you've got it on a board with USB boot code built in. I just use the stock chips. :-)
Yeah I'm a cheater 😁
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
Maximilian
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Re: The Naked Atari 800

Post by Maximilian »

Code: Select all

print("Si5351 programmed successfully.")
LOL, I have a funny memory of this kind of code, it went like this:

Code: Select all

print("Tape backup made successfully.")
They thought tape backups were really quick because the backup never took more then one or two seconds..
(I was able to get their software and databases running again after a lot of work)
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: The Naked Atari 800

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Maximilian wrote: 12 Jan 2026 15:22

Code: Select all

print("Si5351 programmed successfully.")
LOL, I have a funny memory of this kind of code, it went like this:

Code: Select all

print("Tape backup made successfully.")
They thought tape backups were really quick because the backup never took more then one or two seconds..
(I was able to get their software and databases running again after a lot of work)
Well this is only for programming via RPi so it doesn't really matter that much as that isn't the long term plan :)

If only I could get my ATTiny85 to play ball it might actually go somewhere!
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
Maximilian
Posts: 407
Joined: 28 Feb 2019 17:02

Re: The Naked Atari 800

Post by Maximilian »

Should be pretty simple with Arduino and a scope that can decode I2C.

Nice project!
Just ordered a few of those SI chips.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: The Naked Atari 800

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Maximilian wrote: 12 Jan 2026 17:09 Should be pretty simple with Arduino and a scope that can decode I2C.

Nice project!
Just ordered a few of those SI chips.
Thanks. I think my ATTiny has died so I'll just wait for replacements to arrive. I2C is working on the clock generators and for programming via the RPi, which is fine for testing but I want to add the ATTiny so that it will run code on boot to inject the config to the clock generator on power up with no need for the RPi, so all autonomous.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
Maximilian
Posts: 407
Joined: 28 Feb 2019 17:02

Re: The Naked Atari 800

Post by Maximilian »

They normally do not die. (that quick)

Did you perhaps disable the internal clock on your last project?
You can feed a clock(1 mhz) in CLKI (PB3) to make sure.
Set the programmer to 250kHz. (not more than 1/4 of the clock)

Or use a high voltage programmer to reset it.

If you really killed it, you get a badge with "Killer of AVR's"
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: The Naked Atari 800

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Maximilian wrote: 12 Jan 2026 22:30 They normally do not die. (that quick)

Did you perhaps disable the internal clock on your last project?
You can feed a clock(1 mhz) in CLKI (PB3) to make sure.
Set the programmer to 250kHz. (not more than 1/4 of the clock)

Or use a high voltage programmer to reset it.

If you really killed it, you get a badge with "Killer of AVR's"
I've had a lot of trouble getting both my Mac and Windows machines to work with it and it half programmed at one point (As far as I can tell) and then after that it stopped playing nicely. I pulled the ATTiny off the USB board and it seemed to behave when soldered to an adapter in my TL866. I reset the fuses but it wouldn't play after after I resoldered it to the USB adapter board.

Will have another look to see if I've jostled some other component when using hot air. I'm not desperately upset as they are cheap and I have some more coming tomorrow.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...

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