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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

711.0. "Mouse problems" by EVETPU::BRAMHALL (Mark Bramhall, CDA architecture, E PLURIBUS UNUM) Tue Dec 19 1989 23:26

    It looks like my mouse half died...  I'd like to describe the problem
    to this audience to see if it is something familiar -- and to see if
    there might be an easy fix!
    
    The mouse movement part works fine.  But, the left button doesn't seem
    to function at all.  I replaced the mouse with a joystick and can move
    the cursor (slooooooooooooooooooowly) and the fire button serves as the
    left button perfectly fine.  So, I conclude that the Atari itself (a
    1040 ST) is fine, etc.
    
    I opened the cover on the mouse and found the mouse button pads.  They
    appear to have four contact points to the PC board.  I tried some
    resistance measurements (with the mouse unplugged of course) and could
    not determine the wiring -- this may be because the button is all
    messed up!  I then tried the mouse and manually jumpering between the
    contact points to see if I could act like the button closing -- again
    to no avail.  So, I tried all of the hacking I can easily do.
    
    Is this a familiar problem?  Should I take the mouse to a dealer to
    test?  Can they repair micen?
    
    P.S. I live in Acton, MA, but work in Nashua, NH.  I bought the sysem
    at White Mountain up in Nashua...

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
711.1	Here are several suggestions	RODNEY::PETERS	Don Peters, CTC2-1/F10, 287-3153	`Wed Dec 20 1989 12:08`	14
	Sounds to me like the mouse button is bad. I've had to replace my left mouse button twice in the past 4 years. Replacements can be ordered from Best electronics for about $1.50 each. I suggest you unsolder the left button and check it out. In a pinch, you can swap the buttons since the right button probably works due to its being seldom used. You might also call White Mountain. Maybe they have a supply of replacement button switches. Or, you could call RF Microtech, in North Billerica, MA, as they do lots of Atari repair and are a registered Atari repair center. The owner and repair person there is Bob Fitzpatrick. (He will probably be coming to White Mountain tonite (Wednesday) for the meeting of the Nashua Area ST Users Society.)
711.2	Thanks	MARKB::BRAMHALL	Mark Bramhall, CDA architecture, E PLURIBUS UNUM	`Mon Jan 08 1990 16:51`	5
	Thanks for the pointer to RF Microtech. They fixed the mouse for a modest sum -- it needed both new buttons and a new cable. I "rang out" the cable with my v.o.m. and guessed it was bad. Easy to replace -- if you have easy access to Atari parts. Never did like molded-plug cables.
711.3	Cable problems	CHEFS::BAIN	Alex Bain @REO	`Tue Dec 18 1990 18:04`	21
	Help! I've suffered the same fate as in .1 In my case, I am pretty sure I've traced it to the mouse cable. The joystick test works fine and I've successfully bussed out the switch to the internal mouse connector. 1) Can anyone recommend an Atari parts supplier for the UK (preferably local to Reading/Basingstoke)? What does a mouse cable cost? 2) If I have to order it by post it will take for ever at this time of year, and I'm using my machine fairly heavily at the moment. Does anyone local happen to have a spare mouse they would be willing to lend until I get this fixed? 3) I am going to the 16 bit (Atari/Amiga) computer fair in Hammersmith on 4-6 Jan, and I'm now thinking of looking at one of the alternative mice available for the ST. Does anyone have any experience of these? Do they have much to offer over the standard item? Thanks for any help or advice Alex
711.4	NAKSHA MOUSE	BAHTAT::RIGBY	Gone but not forgotten	`Wed Dec 19 1990 10:34`	9
711.5		SIEVAX::JAMIE	Use me, Use me... Ooops! Excuse me!	`Wed Dec 19 1990 13:11`	16
	Computercare South in Reading is a fair bet. Either that or Computer Cavern or Ultima Computers. I bought an ST mouse in CCS about 18 months ago for 25 pounds. I wasn't aware of any alternatives at that time, though, and if I had've been, I'd have gone for an alternative. Jamie. Jamie.
711.6	Help is at hand!	CHEFS::BAIN	Alex Bain @REO	`Wed Dec 19 1990 16:10`	21
	Is'nt notes wonderful? Before lunch today I got two messages; one offering me the loan of a mouse, and the other asking for more facts on the Atari fair. I've actually ordered a replacement cable by mail order from Ladbroke Computing - wish I'd seen Jamies note before I did it - might have saved me some time! The all inclusive price from Ladbroke is 6.74 pounds. This compares with another MO source who wanted 8.95 pounds. (Amazing how these things vary is'nt it?) For anyone else who wants to know, the 16 bit Computer fair is at the Nvotel, Hammersmith, London W6, 4-6 Jan 91, 10am-6pm (Sun close 4pm). Admission is 5 pounds at the door. Organised by Westminster Exhibitions 081 547 1311 Any more suggestions/recommendations on alternative mice? Alex