Linking An Atari

JackFrost22 · Post by **JackFrost22** » Fri Jun 04, 2004 4:12 pm

I have an Atari 2600 4 Switch and would like to know how to do the V-link like Ben has on some of his Vcsps. Any input would be appreciated[/quote]

someone · Post by **someone** » Fri Jun 04, 2004 5:16 pm

ummm isn't it on his site? under how to's?
http://www.classicgaming.com/vcsp

Post by **SpongeBuell** » Fri Jun 04, 2004 5:32 pm

nope, it isn't there.

Basically what you could do for a simple link is have a DB-15 connector, and put something in for each pin. (one for each direction, ground, paddles, A/V signal, etc) if you wire it right, you won't even need another power plug

I suppose I can write anothr thing to abbibi if there is enough demand

someone · Post by **someone** » Fri Jun 04, 2004 8:14 pm

I didn't really know what he was asking for (no atari for me yet)

JackFrost22 · Post by **JackFrost22** » Sat Jun 05, 2004 6:59 am

Thanks a lot. I get it now.

someone · Post by **someone** » Sat Jun 05, 2004 9:36 am

post some pics when you can

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 2:40 am

The atari Controller port has 9 poles like most cords. If you can find a cord and jacks that are just like atari's, you can use the metal trim for GND and the 5 poles for the controller and the others could be the sound, video, ?power?, paddle.

You can find the extra cords and jacks off junked computers.

A.J. Franzman · Post by **A.J. Franzman** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 6:04 pm

Ben's scheme appears to use the 2 existing controller ports (Player 1 EXT and Player 2) as the Vlink ports. The controller lines just match to how the controllers are already standardized (including ground and power - even though joysticks don't use the +5V). This leaves 2 pins for audio and video.

The Player 2 controller port is also the Vlink Slave port (going TO the slave unit - the unit with a cable plugged here becomes the master), so in Vlink mode this port only needs to take in the normal set of signals for second player controller inputs the same as it does when used as a second controller port, plus carry audio and video out. With a controller connected, it just acts like a normal second player controller input (audio and video may always be "live" but of course a controller will not be able to do anything with them).

The Player 1 controller port is the Vlink Master port (going TO the master unit - the unit with a cable plugged here becomes the slave, and so does not need a cartridge installed), so in Vlink mode this port needs to SEND controller signals and RECEIVE audio + video. Sending the controller signals is easy, the pins only need to be wired in parallel with the unit's built in controller lines. But there will need to be a switch to enable the slave unit to receive outside video instead of its own video. The same switch might also cut power to the slave unit's VCS motherboard to save batteries (unless having power on the ICs controller port pins without power to the chips would fry them or screw up the controller signals). Also, since the slave unit will have a cable in its Player 1 port, the person with his unit in slave mode will not be able to use an external controller, unless he uses a "Y" adapter cable (or the Vlink cable is built as a "Y" cable).

But what we all need to know, is which pin did Ben use for audio, and which for video? OR, we could also put in a "swap" switch in case we meet someone who used the pins the other way around...

Post by **SpongeBuell** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 6:07 pm

why do you keep bringing up old threads?

A.J. Franzman · Post by **A.J. Franzman** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 6:12 pm

Maybe because they never got to a conclusive answer, and I want those answers...

Once in a while I might even HAVE the missing answer.

HK-47 · Post by **HK-47** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 6:21 pm

A.J. Franzman wrote:Maybe because they never got to a conclusive answer, and I want those answers...

But you already have them!

A.J. Franzman · Post by **A.J. Franzman** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 6:33 pm

Not this time. Ben still hasn't told us which pins he used, or anything else for that matter. I'd like to know if I missed something (or got something wrong).

Post by **Sparkfist** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 6:44 pm

Have you looked under downloads and seen if the info is in either of the howto guides for the rev5 or rev6? Thats the most likely spot you'll find them short of directly asking Ben through PM or email.

A.J. Franzman · Post by **A.J. Franzman** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 7:42 pm

I just looked at the rev 5 plans, nothing useful there just drawings of case parts. The vagabond demo video doesn't tell anything about the vlink. Ditto the making of rev 6 video.

JackFrost22 · Post by **JackFrost22** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 8:00 pm

Well i eveltually figuresd out howe to link them and I did it the wayh you were talking about so i dont care
Closing...