Hello from Colorado USA - Atari ST, 68K hardware and too many projects
Posted: 30 Jul 2026 18:43
Hi all,
I realized I have been here for a while and never properly introduced myself.
I’m Patrick, posting as MEX68KECB, and I’m in Colorado in the United States. My first Atari was a 520ST when I was a teenager. I could not afford much of the hardware I wanted back then, so the ST and 68000 have retained a strong hold on me. I work as a line-of-business software developer on the .NET platform but I’m working toward a pivot into embedded systems.
These days I have a collection of Atari 16/32-bit systems, including 520/1040 machines, Mega STs, an STe, Falcons, a TT030 and two FireBees. I also have Phoenix H5 boards and an assortment of storage, expansion and repair projects. I’m trying to move away from simply collecting and toward carefully testing, repairing, documenting and actually using what I already have.
My electronics bench is reasonably well equipped, and my broader interests include Motorola 68000 development hardware, FPGA and HDL work, embedded systems, legacy buses, and recreating or extending older systems with modern hardware. I also continue to pursue related academic interests.
I have already received some very helpful advice here, particularly on safely testing my TT030, and I appreciate how technically knowledgeable and welcoming this forum is.
Thanks for having me, and apologies for taking three years to introduce myself properly!
Patrick
I realized I have been here for a while and never properly introduced myself.
I’m Patrick, posting as MEX68KECB, and I’m in Colorado in the United States. My first Atari was a 520ST when I was a teenager. I could not afford much of the hardware I wanted back then, so the ST and 68000 have retained a strong hold on me. I work as a line-of-business software developer on the .NET platform but I’m working toward a pivot into embedded systems.
These days I have a collection of Atari 16/32-bit systems, including 520/1040 machines, Mega STs, an STe, Falcons, a TT030 and two FireBees. I also have Phoenix H5 boards and an assortment of storage, expansion and repair projects. I’m trying to move away from simply collecting and toward carefully testing, repairing, documenting and actually using what I already have.
My electronics bench is reasonably well equipped, and my broader interests include Motorola 68000 development hardware, FPGA and HDL work, embedded systems, legacy buses, and recreating or extending older systems with modern hardware. I also continue to pursue related academic interests.
I have already received some very helpful advice here, particularly on safely testing my TT030, and I appreciate how technically knowledgeable and welcoming this forum is.
Thanks for having me, and apologies for taking three years to introduce myself properly!
Patrick