Tech advice on an Atari.....

[John Bennett]

[ukvac] Tech advice on an Atari.....
Hi,

Could someone possibly help.....

I've got myself an Atari Destroyer 1977.

It works, but.........

My question is this....
When the game is running the picture sometimes glitches and the game resets
itself, for no apparent reason.
There is also glitching on the high score/ player details ( character set
keeps changing...)
oh, the sound keeps crackling whilst the above takes place.
The self test mode says everythings Ok.

Is the problem generally related to the PSU (not out-putting a steady
voltage
to the PCB ?)

Is / could there be a problem with the edge connector ?. The contacts on the
PCB look like they've been re-silvered.

Should I be just looking at the PCB ( ROM's, etc...?)

Or is the PCB just knacked ????? :-((((

Christ - I must sound like a complete pratt, but If I can save some myself
some time by asking 'you' these questions - then that's what I've done
(hopefully).

Any help - even your best guesses - would be appreciated greatly !

Cheers,
Mike.

Small world till they loose your luggage though....

DATA Imported from archives: originally posted by Mike Stapley (merics@redhotant.com)

 

[P-Man]

Re: [ukvac] Tech advice on an Atari.....
> Hi,
>
> Could someone possibly help.....
>
> I've got myself an Atari Destroyer 1977.

niiice

> It works, but.........
[snip]
> Is the problem generally related to the PSU (not out-putting a steady
> voltage
> to the PCB ?)

quite possibly.

but you have added problems.. the voltage is regulated down actually on the
PCB, the PCB will take something like 25v and 16v AC from the transformer
and regulate it down to whatever it needs.. I don't have my destroyer manual
to hand right now. Check the regs tho.. they often go bad.

> Is / could there be a problem with the edge connector ?. The contacts on
the
> PCB look like they've been re-silvered.

maybe a good thing, i dunno.. always best to removed the board, and if the
edge connector will take it, rub it down with wire wool until it shines
being careful not to do this, or do this very carefully if there are already
lifted pads it may also be an idea the get a stiff bit of card or
plastic, wrap some tissue on it evenly, pour some meths on it, insert and
removed from edge connector several times..

this will improve the contact between the pcb and cabinet, to try an
eliminate that possibilty

if there is already burned pads on the edge connector, there's your first
clue. points towards certain areas of possible interest..

do you have a manual? i seriously reccomend you get one if you don't have,
they're a great read, Atari really had their act together in 70's, they lost
it in the 80's IMO manual-wise. In the manual you will find fault-finding
procedures, and theory of operation for the game which, even if there were a
problem with the pcb, anyone with half a brain between their eyes, and armed
with a logic probe, could easily fault-find..

> Should I be just looking at the PCB ( ROM's, etc...?)

also may possibly be ROMs, re-seat them. a good trick is to remove them, and
use something like a very fine steel bristled brush to brush the legs of the
roms. if you happen to bust any of the legs off while brushing them, or
whatever.. don't cry, better they break off now than find they break off in
the socket when you put 'em back in, making you think its a different
problem entirely. 2708's which are commonly used aren't in short supply,
finding someone to program them isn't too hard either

Then with a toothbrush, clean out the rom sockets.. in the extreme case, you
may have to replace the sockets.

> Or is the PCB just knacked ????? :-((((

ahh.. so many possibilities best go thru 'em step by step

> Christ - I must sound like a complete pratt, but If I can save some myself
> some time by asking 'you' these questions - then that's what I've done
> (hopefully).



> Any help - even your best guesses - would be appreciated greatly !
>
> Cheers,
> Mike.

hope it helps..

Andy