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Re: PhilCs blog / the latest things hes broken(fixed)
Posted: 08 Feb 2025 10:13
by PhilC
So it turned out yesterday that some of the "problems" with the Atari 400 weren't problems with it at all but with the power supply I'd used. I plugged it in to the 800s PSU and it worked great for hours
It did confuse me a little when the screen colours started to change randomly, with my thinking the GTIA was failing but it turns out it was a trick Atari used in the 400 & 2600 to try and limit CRT screen burn in when the console was idle. Funny though as my 800 doesn't do this.
Re: PhilCs blog / the latest things hes broken(fixed)
Posted: 08 Feb 2025 10:48
by rubber_jonnie
PhilC wrote: 08 Feb 2025 10:13
So it turned out yesterday that some of the "problems" with the Atari 400 weren't problems with it at all but with the power supply I'd used. I plugged it in to the 800s PSU and it worked great for hours
It did confuse me a little when the screen colours started to change randomly, with my thinking the GTIA was failing but it turns out it was a trick Atari used in the 400 & 2600 to try and limit CRT screen burn in when the console was idle. Funny though as my 800 doesn't do this.
The colour change is an early version of the screensaver that Atari used. It is still there in the XL series but it doesn't always appear. Sometimes it's suppressed by software, other times it comes along when the machine is idle.
Star Raiders II has it if you leave it long enough, but the original Star Raiders doesn't. I'd be surprised if the 800 doesn't have it.
Re: PhilCs blog / the latest things hes broken(fixed)
Posted: 08 Feb 2025 11:08
by PhilC
@rubber_jonnie I'll have to dig out the 800 later on and leave it running for a couple of hours but never seen it on there before.
Re: PhilCs blog / the latest things hes broken(fixed)
Posted: 08 Feb 2025 11:59
by rubber_jonnie
PhilC wrote: 08 Feb 2025 11:08
@rubber_jonnie I'll have to dig out the 800 later on and leave it running for a couple of hours but never seen it on there before.
I'd be surprised if it didn't.
Re: PhilCs blog / the latest things hes broken(fixed)
Posted: 11 Feb 2025 10:20
by PhilC
Had a bit more of a play with the Atari 400, it all seems to be working okay so far. I think though, that I'll probably sell it on and use the 800 instead as it has the Incognito etc installed.
Re: PhilCs blog / the latest things hes broken(fixed)
Posted: 23 Feb 2025 16:46
by PhilC
So today I was looking for my Z88 to sell it to another forum member when I came across some TI-99/4As in the loft. I remember getting the first one but when on earth did I get the other 4? :shock: and three spare motherboard :dizzy:
Re: PhilCs blog / the latest things hes broken(fixed)
Posted: 23 Feb 2025 17:34
by JezC
Sounds like they have been breeding... maybe the cases are the last step in them growing up ;)
:hide:
Re: PhilCs blog / the latest things hes broken(fixed)
Posted: 23 Feb 2025 18:12
by PhilC
JezC wrote: 23 Feb 2025 17:34
Sounds like they have been breeding... maybe the cases are the last step in them growing up ;)
:hide:
Is this some kind of weird insight into life in the JezC household?
Re: PhilCs blog / the latest things hes broken(fixed)
Posted: 23 Feb 2025 19:50
by JezC
PhilC wrote: 23 Feb 2025 18:12
JezC wrote: 23 Feb 2025 17:34
Sounds like they have been breeding... maybe the cases are the last step in them growing up ;)
:hide:
Is this some kind of weird insight into life in the JezC household?
Could be
@PhilC ...if only to try and explain how on earth so many Atari's ever ended up in the household (without in any way admitting for one moment that some of them might have been impulse buys ;) )
:D
Re: PhilCs blog / the latest things hes broken(fixed)
Posted: 23 Feb 2025 21:09
by rubber_jonnie
PhilC wrote: 23 Feb 2025 16:46
So today I was looking for my Z88 to sell it to another forum member when I came across some TI-99/4As in the loft. I remember getting the first one but when on earth did I get the other 4? :shock: and three spare motherboard :dizzy:
You probably bought the second one when you shouldn't have and hid it from Mrs PhilC as soon as it arrived.
Then forgot about it...