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Conference 7.286::atarist

Title:Atari ST, TT, & Falcon
Notice:Please read note 1.0 and its replies before posting!
Moderator:FUNYET::ANDERSON
Created:Mon Apr 04 1988
Last Modified:Tue May 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1433
Total number of notes:10312

320.0. "questions . . ." by NAC::LANDRY () Tue Nov 29 1988 19:21

	Hi,

	I'm new to the ST world - I just picked up a used 1040ST with
	color monitor that Santa's going to drop off on Christmas.
	I haven't had much of a chance to look around for available
	software.  Do any of you have any suggestions for kids of
	5 and 7?  Games, educational, etc.?

	Also, I don't have an external drive, but I'll go crazy
	swapping disks if I don't get one.  What's the best deal
	here?  Is it best to stick with Atari or are some other
	(cheaper?) brands just as good (or better)?

	thanks
	chris
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320.1Not only ATARI disks..PILOU::ANDERSENDeallocating my spare time to freeWed Nov 30 1988 05:226
    Cumana and others sell "ready to plug in" drives for the ST.
    Why don't you check out magasines covering the ST, normally there
    is a lot of advertising.(I don't know where you are located, but
    try looking for ST-world)
    
    Try using a RAM softdisk, as well, could help you out.
320.2Soft sampleSEDOAS::TAYLORWed Nov 30 1988 07:3315
    Chris,
    STWorld seems to be about the best general mag. around (U.K.) at
    the moment, and if you're quick, they have a reduced price subscription
    at the moment (19 Pounds). My kids are 8 & 9, they enjoy RANARAMA,
    OUTCAST, DUNGEON MASTER (believe it or not), MASTERMIND, TRIV.PURSUIT
    (they cheat), and many P.D. soft games. I use a RAM disk to copy
    P.D. soft, don't have much need for an extra floppy, and run EASYDRAW,
    FIRST WORD-PLUS, ST ACCOUNTS, etc. Watch out, if you plan to do
    any printing, make sure you get a compatible printer (they don't
    all do graphics, decenders, italic, etc).
    
    Happy STing!
    
    Ken.T.
    
320.3Some ideasSUBURB::WICKSWed Nov 30 1988 16:1133
    Chris, I asked my 7 year old (who is meant to be the owner of the
    ST in our house) what games he liked best and he gave me the following
    list in order of todays preferences.                                 
                                             
    Helicopter Gunship                       
    Carrier command                          
    Wizball*                                 
    Xenon                                    
    Thundercats                              
    Stir crazy*                              
    Lazer Chess*                             
    Backlash                                 
    Degas Elite                              
    1st word                                 
                                             
    The * means good to play with a friend which can be quite important
    if you don't want problems over who's turn it is.  
                                             
    In the UK we have a mag call ST Amega Format which has a disk with
    various games and utilities on the cover each month.  My son has given
    up on Mask comics to get the 2 pounds 95p to pay for it.  This gives
    him a lot of variety and the opportunity to learn a bit about the ST
    other than just putting in a disk and turning it on to run a game.
                                             
    As for educational software we don't have any, or do we?  My son
    has learnt about aerodynamics (Gunship), colours, (Wizball and Degas),
    principles of Radar (Gunship), Maps and plans, (Carrier Command),
    new words (instruction manuals) etc. etc.   
                                                                  
    Hope that you get the occasional chance to get on the ST yourself.                                         
                              
    malcolm
                   
320.4Compatible if you make cablesLEDDEV::WALLACEWed Nov 30 1988 16:146
    If you don't mind making up a couple of cables you can buy a Radio
    Shack DSDD drive (minus the power supply) when there on sale for
    $99.00. I just talked to a couple of people how have them and say
    they work great.
    
    	Ray
320.5on sale now !NAC::LANDRYMon Jan 16 1989 15:4017
>    If you don't mind making up a couple of cables you can buy a Radio
>    Shack DSDD drive (minus the power supply) when there on sale for
>    $99.00. I just talked to a couple of people how have them and say
>    they work great.
 

	These drive are on sale at this price this week.  I assume from
	the above comment the RS drives need a power supply.  Anyone
	know what voltages must be supplied?  Is the drive cable
	straightforward - that is can I just connect the matching
	signal names?  Are the connectors available - especially the
	Atari end?

	thanks
	chris

320.6STREPORT issue # 57.PRNSYS::LOMICKAJJeff LomickaMon Jan 16 1989 19:353
The detailed instructions are in a recent issue of one of the on-line magazines
that Buzz Hamilton keeps on VINO::, specifically issue 57 of STREPORT.

320.7Have power supply, will arc-weld ...DEMING::HLQARTue Jan 17 1989 03:1119
    
    re .5
    
    If I'm not mistaken, the power supply reqs for the RS drive are
    +5v @ 200mA and +12v @ 1.2A.  The 5v drives the logic, while the
    12v runs the drive motor.  I whipped up a quick supply using a 7805
    and a 7812 with despiking caps, a bridge rectifier, and an 18vac
    transformer, all courtesy of the aforementioned overrated (and
    overpriced) Radical Shock.  The 7812 is only good to 1A w/ heatsink,
    so it takes about three seconds for the drive to spin up, and once
    it's running, the current demand drops to about 1 quarter amp.
    Since the drive doesn't run constantly, there should be no overheating
    problem, and if I remember correctly, I stuffed the power board
    inside the disk drive housing (with a tin foil rf shield, of course)
    and ran the plug out the back of the case.  It ran like a charm.
     The drive itself was salvaged from an old Atari 8 bit after a
    spectacular mushroom cloud.  Seems the smart drive circuits had
    a lobotomy ...
    				Speedo the Hack
320.8STREPORT articleNAC::LANDRYTue Jan 17 1989 20:2580
Here's the instructions from STREPORT to connect a RS drive (in case
anyone beside me is interested):

================================================================================
                      ST REPORT WEEKLY ONLINE MAGAZINE
                            Monday, OCT. 17, 1988
                               Vol II  No. 57
                                ===========

            APEInc., P.O.  BOX 74,  Middlesex, N.J.  08846-0074

  PUBLISHER                                              GENERAL MANAGER
  Ron Kovacs                                               R.F.Mariano

          =======================================================
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                             TANDY + ATARI ST?
                             =================

                     Connect the Tandy 3 1/2 inch drive 
                              to the Atari ST

     To connect the Tandy 3 1/2 inch external drive to the ST, the 
following connections must be made:

  ST Floppy Port Pin           Function            Tandy Drive Pin
          1                   Read Data                  30
          2                 Side 0 Select                32
          3                     Ground                Any Odd
          4                      Index                   8
          5                Drive 0 Select                10
          6                Drive 1 Select                12
          7                     Ground                Any Odd
          8                    Motor On                  16
          9                 Direction In                 18
          10                    Step                     20
          11                 Write Data                  22
          12                 Write Gate                  24
          13                  Track 00                   26
          14                Write Protect                28

     These connections may be made using two methods. The easiest 
would be to take an ST drive cable, cut off one connector, and 
connect the cable directly to the 34 pin header on the drive 
itself.  This will directly bypass the circuit board inside the 
Tandy drive case. The major drawback to this method is the fact 
that you will not be able to unplug the cable from the drive.

     The other method, although more complicated, will allow you 
to utilize the 30 pin edge connector mounted in the back of the 
Tandy drive case. First remove all paths leading to the upper pads 
of the edge connector and all paths on the bottom side that do not 
lead to ground.  Wire all connector pads on the bottom side 
together so that they all are connected to ground.  At the point 
where the ribbon cable from the drive is attached to the circuit 
board, wire the necessary connections to the pads of the 30 pin 
edge connector.  Remember, any odd number pin on the drive itself 
is ground, so connect one to the bottom connector pads of the 
circuit board being modified. Be sure to note each connector pad 
you are using, and it's corresponding function.  Now attach the ST 
drive cable to a 30 pin edge plug in accordance with the wiring 
accomplished on the circuit board.

     Once wiring has been completed, place the jumper on the drive 
mechanism to the A0 position. If your computer won't recognize the 
drive, try the A1 position.

     The drive requires 12V 230mA and 5V 240mA for power. I use a 
standard PC power supply using either connectors P10 or P11. 




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