Author Topic: Games in space, with rocks and saucers......Atari Italy Asteroids  (Read 64091 times)

level42

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Re: Games in space, with rocks and saucers......Atari Italy Asteroids
« Reply #75 on: August 15, 2015, 11:22:28 AM »
Mmmm....OK I replaced the processor and ROM sockets but I still have that sometimes random vectors "flash" very quickly on the screen. Sometimes the game keeps running, but sometimes it makes the game crash and the watchdog kicks in, making the board to reset.
I checked this by shorting the watchdog, when it crashes then the screen goes black and nothing happens anymore, so somehow the program/processor crashes.

Could it be RAM/PROM ? All are socketed but I didn't replace those sockets.

 I checked voltages all seem OK. Also didn't replace the edge connector yet....it doesn't feel too bad but I will still replace it...it's my must do thing....

Does anyone have a reliable Asteroids PCB they can bring to Eurocade so at least I can bring the machine and have it run reliably ?

Etienne MacGyver

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Re: Games in space, with rocks and saucers......Atari Italy Asteroids
« Reply #76 on: August 15, 2015, 11:51:34 AM »
Also the way to mount the leaf switches (straight to the wood instead of the holders) and the CP clamps are exactely the way zacc does it.

it screams zacc style build  :D




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Re: Games in space, with rocks and saucers......Atari Italy Asteroids
« Reply #77 on: August 15, 2015, 12:36:58 PM »
Gentlemen......I have decided that it is an Atari.....  ;D ;D ;D

anunaki

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Re: Games in space, with rocks and saucers......Atari Italy Asteroids
« Reply #78 on: August 15, 2015, 12:54:34 PM »
hahaha, Andre has his 1st Zacc :spaceace:

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Re: Games in space, with rocks and saucers......Atari Italy Asteroids
« Reply #79 on: August 15, 2015, 01:59:40 PM »
No. It's an Atari.

Says so on the marquee. And on the coin door. And on the PCB. And on the AR-I. And on the screen. It's an Atari.









LOL  ;D ;D

Seriously...I have no problems with Zaccs at all. In fact....IF this is a "Zacc" it is the most beautiful Zacc ever ! HAH !  ;D

Q*ris

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Re: Games in space, with rocks and saucers......Atari Italy Asteroids
« Reply #80 on: August 15, 2015, 02:40:05 PM »
Does anyone have a reliable Asteroids PCB they can bring to Eurocade so at least I can bring the machine and have it run reliably ?
Yup, will do.

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Re: Games in space, with rocks and saucers......Atari Italy Asteroids
« Reply #81 on: August 15, 2015, 05:15:17 PM »
Awesome Chris !

Just replaced the sockets of all RAMs. No dice.
Replaced all RAMs. No Dice.

I mean it runs....but still produces random vectors sometimes and sometimes incl. reset.

Decided to go back to basics....since shit in = shit out....was going over the power supply board, cleaning everything and man, on THREE fuses the glass simply separated from the metal end cap just by lifting them out of the holders !!!

(By the way, kinda strange they DID use US-sized fuses here....)

Anyway, replaced them all...I wonder if.....maybe.....


Something else: all you Zaccaria fanboys.....if it is so similar, please tell me how to switch the transformer from 220VAC to 230VAC (or 240VAC).

I noticed there are a number of lugs for the primary but.....better nog guess....I guess :D
« Last Edit: August 15, 2015, 05:18:54 PM by Level42 »

Etienne MacGyver

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Re: Games in space, with rocks and saucers......Atari Italy Asteroids
« Reply #82 on: August 15, 2015, 05:44:08 PM »
Maybe this helps ? (if its the same transformer) it looks the same as the old style zacc's

This is Astro Wars.

By the way, funny they call fluorecent Neon....
« Last Edit: August 15, 2015, 05:48:41 PM by Etienne MacGyver »

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Re: Games in space, with rocks and saucers......Atari Italy Asteroids
« Reply #83 on: August 15, 2015, 06:02:36 PM »
Thanks, there's a number on the transformer, I'll check. 245VAC is a bit big step though...weird voltage...

Replacing the fuses did nothing...still the same issue.

Popped in my "old" (once working....before I screwed it up trying to get it to run in my Asterock....sigh) Asteroids board but that produces some tiny vectors on the center of the screen so I quickly removed that again.

Also....to my own pretty big surprise....I found an Asteroids Deluxe board.....I have a blank hole in my memory how and why I got this....interestingly there is an AD to Lunar Lander adapter on it.....I wonder if I could put it in the Asteroids without blowing stuff up (again).....

Maybe someone wants to trade 1 defective plus 1 flaky Asteroids PCB for 1 good working one ? :D

PaulSwan

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Re: Games in space, with rocks and saucers......Atari Italy Asteroids
« Reply #84 on: August 16, 2015, 05:22:40 AM »
I used to have a DLX in my Asty LL that I sold, maybe it was that one?
Paul.
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Re: Games in space, with rocks and saucers......Atari Italy Asteroids
« Reply #85 on: August 16, 2015, 10:48:19 AM »
Yep.....must be.....it crossed my mind when I looked at it again and saw the Lunar Lander adapter.

Tried it but it doesn't run.

The transformer is a 2C 1009, that schematic shows a 1005 but I'm pretty sure it's only the secondary voltages that differ, mainly because of the vector requirements.....

The only thin I haven't tried yet is swapping the processor.

Next would be getting out the Fluke 9100A but I don't trust my 6502 pod (converted from 6800) at the moment, it never completes self test but that may be due to a bad ZIF socket on the pod....I'll give it a shot.

If the pod is not OK I can borrow one from a former Fluke employee (and he also offered to lend me a 9010a so I could try to repair my pod).

and there's still the edge connector to do :) But it looks remarkably well, rarely saw such an unburnt Atari vector edge connector....not a trace of heat on it....maybe the Italians used a better quality edge connector ?
The game sure saw some use, the counter is well into the 60000.

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Re: Games in space, with rocks and saucers......Atari Italy Asteroids
« Reply #86 on: August 16, 2015, 12:15:58 PM »
CPU Amanda ROMs exchanged, no difference.

Interesting fact: the ROMs on the "Italian" board are Revision 1 (shows "Asteroids by Atari".
From what I've read this version has a bug that makes you in invulnerable when you are in the area where the scores are.....I tried this but I died every time a rock hit me....but maybe I'm not at the right spot.

 It's time for the Fluke.

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Re: Games in space, with rocks and saucers......Atari Italy Asteroids
« Reply #87 on: August 16, 2015, 10:06:08 PM »

Sir, I sent you a pm regarding the Asteroids parts like the CP for example....
I have a dream....that one day....all members of forum are the same....no matter how long ago they have joined, how many games they own or how many posts they wrote ;)

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Re: Games in space, with rocks and saucers......Atari Italy Asteroids
« Reply #88 on: August 16, 2015, 10:52:32 PM »

Sir, I sent you a pm regarding the Asteroids parts like the CP for example....
Yup I know and I replied in the dedicated for sale thread....

https://www.dragonslairfans.com/smfor/index.php?topic=6523.msg95269#msg95269

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Re: Games in space, with rocks and saucers......Atari Italy Asteroids
« Reply #89 on: August 16, 2015, 11:29:09 PM »
OK I needed to be sure the cause of the resets wasn't the famous Big Blue capacitor.

In my 10 years of collecting and repairing Atari machines I have found the following number of bad Big Blues:



This does NOT mean that they _never_ go bad....but I havent seen one yet...

This also doesn't mean you shouldn't test it. So I checked it:

ESR meter results: more than perfect ! (Capacity is rated at 27000....it's a big higher (which is always better in this situation)

BUT....let's double check....turn on power, set DVM to AC and measure across the terminals...

Mmmm, 0,145V....that's well within expectations AFAIK.

EVEN so, I also tried another Big Blue just to be 1000% sure....no difference still occasional resets so, the Big Blue is certified.