ATARI PORTABLE(now with pictures! And its tiny!)

bioniclebert · Post by **bioniclebert** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 1:41 pm

Well its kinda plain and simple. I went out and found a SEARS VIDEO ARCADE thing, and it was 3 bucks. I was wondering if anyone could give me a brief discription to it, and if the guts are wired similarly to the ataris so that when I preform any mods I have correct pinouts.

(oh and I got a copy of combat, Boxed! Its only my 3rd copy of the game, but Oh well, it was boxed. I also happened to get a copy of NES rambo, and NES jack nicholas golf boxed, but that is another story...)

daleighan · Post by **daleighan** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 1:50 pm

its an atari 2600 with a different brand name

Post by **SpongeBuell** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 1:53 pm

If you're trying to portablize it, though, you'll need something else (the guts aren't nearly as good for that as the 4-switch, which can be cut down) For gaming like normal people (yeah, right

) The Sears Video Arcade would be a good choice.

bioniclebert · Post by **bioniclebert** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 2:11 pm

Hmm.

after looking at bolth the atari board, and the sears board, I'd say they were identical.
I was wrong, 2 differences ive spotted.
#1 Is some type of diode on the bottom of the atari. This isint on the sears board. Also, the chips are slightly different, like mabye a newer version of it.

Yet after looking at that 4" square thing, Ive seen only 1 trace that NEEDED to be replaced(other than power), and it goes to the potentiometer that I had to reattach according to the atari diagram. Everything else was Joystick ports, difficulty switches, and power.

If you wouldnt mind explaining it a little bit more,like why it would be different, it would really appreciated, I dont want to mess this thing up.

thanks

Post by **SpongeBuell** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 2:16 pm

Well, er, I suppose it could be I'm not the best for this, but I figured I could kind of assume it couldn't be the same, since the Sears arcade would probably be closest to a 6-switch, if that, and the 4-switch model is by far the best for portabilization

bioniclebert · Post by **bioniclebert** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 2:19 pm

oh I totally agree that the 4 switch is easy, but this is a 4 switch sears, did they make a 6 switch?

Anyway, Thanks for the help. I dont have a power cord so I figured i'd Try to mod it up anyway.

EDIT:
oh appearently I have it on here:
http://www.atariage.com/2600/archives/consoles.html

Sears Video Arcade Rev. B

NO APPEARENT REASON THING:
I got 4 NIMH AAs from wallmart, they are duracells new 2500mAh AAs, I got 4 for 10$!

Go out and get em! They shure beat the 2200mAh ones i got for the same price!

bioniclebert · Post by **bioniclebert** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 6:41 am

A double post worth an update.

Ive made my own pinouts for this sears board, and then I compared them to bens, They're identical.

I'm suprised! The pins are inthe same locations, but Ive loooked at them enough to have them practially memorized...

So either way, If this atari works, Id guess im working on an atari portable.
Im guessing either to keep it really small and use a hip gear, or make it larger with a Psone screen. Im leading twoards smaller, but I havent even tested this thing yet. so dont let me get too far ahead of myself here, but I like to plan.

Im Thinking of a very compact design, hopefully if the hip gear is small enough. Il get the plans posted if this thing works, otherwise i'l save it for later.

bioniclebert · Post by **bioniclebert** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 11:50 am

HOLY POPSICLES IT WORKS!!!

I actually powers up! Wow, all Ive got to do Is rewire the joystick and get a suitable battery for a suitable screen, and Im set!

If its a hip gear, Im using several AAs.
If its a psone, I'm using a RC battery.

Just have to obtain a screen soon, and hopefully it can be done!

My design:
After a little bit of measuring and such, the width will be 4" long, The length no more than 6". I want this thing to be UBER small, And I can do this with a hip gear.

Mora to add later!

Post by **Triton** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 1:03 pm

yep the sears revB is EXACTLY the same thing as a 4 switch 2600

bioniclebert · Post by **bioniclebert** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:14 am

Yes, Ive FINALLY got the design! and its do-able!

Looks like a GBA SP, has a fold-down screen.
I was going to call it the ATARI SP, but thats kinda taken.

More info coming soon!

Post by **Sparkfist** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 11:07 am

Just so you know you can use a 7.2v R/C battery. If you get one with 2500 or more its totally worth it.

bioniclebert · Post by **bioniclebert** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 10:28 am

Well Ive got a controller working. Its a NES controller actually

Directional pad= obvious, Start= RESET, Select = SELECT, B or A= trigger.

Its pretty cool, and it only took me 3 tries to get the lines correct.

So I got it powering off of the 7.2V rc battery, 3000 mAh, but i'm not shure if Im going to use that, or 6 Rechargeables, with a hip gear. They Do put out 2500mAh!
I guess there shouldnt be any updates until I get a screen, which is whenever. Honestly I dont have More than 13$ For it, so it may be a while. (Christmas is coming!

mabye before then...)

Until I get the screen, the design isint real, and Im feeling its going to change anyway. More on this later, hopefully a full planned design, Only waiting on the screen. (similar to my NES-P)

shmagoogin77 · Post by **shmagoogin77** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 10:52 am

looks kick

trogdorian1 · Post by **trogdorian1** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 10:56 pm

Looks awesome, i say you go on E-bay and try a Playstation Screen thingy, i tried looking for the portable TV, they didnt have one that was even close to what u need.

bioniclebert · Post by **bioniclebert** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 3:17 pm

Yay Progress!

If you didnt know, I got the atari working in a small square, and its ready for its screen and case.

Yesterday I went to some craft store, got just what I needed!
2 cans spray paint
1 plastic box that fits atari perfectly and was only 2$
1 exacto knife.

My plans:
Ive got the case all gutted from all the little plastic dividers.
Then Im going to paint it white, and do all the stenciling in blue.
STENCILING!!? this isint a girly-man portable is it? flowers?

No not stencils you can buy from the store! What Ive done: I printed out the atari logo, then I'm going to cut it out from the paper, and paint the logo on. I plan to do the rest for the lettering, hopefully it works out.

No screen for a while, yes I need Money again!(Im buying christmas gifts you know!)

EDIT: LETTERING DOSENT WORK! but at least the atari logo will. Oh well...