• Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions (1/29)

    From Michael Current@21:1/5 to Marc G. Frank on Mon Apr 8 21:54:58 2019
    XPost: comp.sys.atari.8bit, news.answers

    Archive-name: atari-8-bit/faq
    Last-modified: April 7, 2019

    Welcome to the comp.sys.atari.8bit newsgroup!

    Atari 8-Bit Computers

    Frequently Asked Questions List
    ___________ _______________
    | ///////// | _____________ | ||||||||||| |
    |___________| | | | ||_______|| |
    |______/////| |____[---]____| | / _________ \ |
    |LLLLLLLLLLL| |LLLLLLLLLLL || | LLLLLLLLLLL L |
    |LLLLLLLLLLL| |LLLLLLLLLLL || | LLLLLLLLLLL L |
    |__[_____]__| |__[_____]____| |___[_____]_____|
    130XE 800XL 800
    ___________ __---------__
    | ///////// | | / _____ \ |
    |___________| _____________ | / |_____| \ |
    |______/////| |____[---]____| | ___________ |
    |LLLLLLLLLLL| |LLLLLLLLLLL || | ========== =|
    |LLLLLLLLLLL| |LLLLLLLLLLL || | ========== =|
    |__[_____]__| |__[_____]____| |___[_____]___|
    65XE 600XL 400
    ___________ _____________
    | ///////// | ___________ | |
    |___________| |/// / | | |
    |______/////| |// / | /\___________ |=============|
    |LLLLLLLLLLL| |/O\ |\/ |LLLLLLLLLLL| | LLLLLLLLLLL |
    |LLLLLLLLLLL| |-----------| |LLLLLLLLLLL| | LLLLLLLLLLL |
    |__[_____]__| |____O_O_O_O| |__[_____]__| |___[_____]___|
    800XE XE 1200XL

    Additions/suggestions/comments/corrections are needed! Please send to:

    Michael Current, michael@mcurrent.name
    Library Department, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

    Copyright (c) 1992-2019 by Michael D. Current, and others where noted. Feel free to reproduce this file, in whole or in part, so long as the content of that portion reproduced is not modified, and so long as credit is given to
    this FAQ list or its Maintainer, or the author of that section reproduced
    when given.

    This document is in a constant state of development and comes with no guarantees. If you see any problems, I need to hear from you!

    The latest version of this document is irregularly posted to these Usenet newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit, comp.answers, news.answers

    It is also kept at: https://mcurrent.name/atari-8-bit/faq.txt
    Enhanced versions (Text, A4 PDF, US Letter PDF): http://www.atari800xl.eu/

    You may also request my latest working version at: michael@mcurrent.name

    UPDATES SINCE PREVIOUS POSTING:
    2019.04.07 3.2.5 Indus Systems/Future Systems release details
    2019.04.06 65XEM neither shown nor announced at Jan. 1985 CES
    2019.04.05 7.3.4 Mach DOS supplied with NCT 810 Turbo
    2019.04.05 3.2.1 added (back) NCT 810 Turbo
    2019.03.28-31 6.11 Revisions to better complement new memory map section 2019.03.26-31 1.14 new memory map and banked memory management section 2019.03.25 6.10 Austin 80 software
    2019.03.24 6.10 Full-View 80 software
    2019.03.24 6.1.3 1090 prototype differed from earlier Expansion Box specs 2019.03.24 7.1.2 Omnimon! versions small tweaks
    2019.03.21 6.1.3 CP/M Module name, and 1090 preview versus intro
    2019.03.20 5.2 Identity of MPP modems manfucatured by others
    2019.03.20 7.5 1200AT handlers, other Supra/MPP handler revisions
    2019.03.20 5.2 Volksmodem with F cable compatible with MPP/Supra modems 2019.03.19 7.5 300AT handlers by Supra
    2019.03.19 4.6 WW Interface 72000 info update
    2019.03.03 6.11 Microtek / MPC 16K and 32K boards revisited
    2019.02.17 1.4 1.5 1.6 project origins
    2019.02.17 1.12 added FREDDIE background
    2019.02.03 1.11 added power jack/power supply details for 1400XL/1450XLD 2019.01.27 1.1 added link to "all modes" article, thanks Laurent Delsarte 2019.01.26 7.3.3 added: LiteDOS
    2019.01.26 11.1 "Super XE Game Machine"
    2019.01.20 1.1 graphics modes table: add GTIA modes as applied to ANTIC modes
    2 and 3, plus brief explanation
    2019.01.18 5.1 remove redundant note regarding compatibility with 800XL -
    (the issue was already covered two bullets down!)
    2019.01.07 1.3 link to keyboard types discussion fixed
    2019.01.05 8.16 added ECABBS
    2019.01.05 11.1 Teiser, Jenkins
    2019.01.02 8.10 PLATOTerm supports Koala
    2018.12.30 11.1 U.S. patents for 8-bit Atari platform
    2018.12.30 3.2.3 small tweak of Mitsumi vs Chinon versions
    2018.12.30 3.2.5 3.2.7 4.6 Micro Mainframe disk drive revisited
    2018.12.30 3.2.7 Percom slave drive connectors
    2018.12.30 3.2.5 3.2.7 7.3.4 Concorde disk drive
    2018.12.22 XL product management direct from Soderberg to Cain
    2018.12.22 11.1 Earl Rice transition to 1450XL project manager
    2018.12.21 3.2.5 7.3.4 revisit Astra 1620 to 2001 transition
    2018.12.21 1.3 PTL version manual title typos fixed, thanks Laurent Delsarte 2018.12.16 11.1 Yocum was at Atari by 11/9/79
    2018.12.16 11.1 Atari Pascal was by MT MicroSYSTEMS
    2018.12.16 6.2 completed major section upgrade, several units added.
    also revisted references throughout FAQ.
    2018.12.02 7.3.4 SpartaDOS 1.1 DOS file versions and filenames
    2018.11.30 11.1 1983 summer CES all-in-one paks tweaked
    2018.11.29 6.2 ingot advice adjusted, thanks Nezgar
    2018.11.15 1.2 1.3 Peritel 400/800 revisting, thanks Laurent Delsarte 2018.11.11 1.2 1.3 New Peritel 400/800 visual tours, thanks Laurent Delsarte 2018.11.07 6.8 section overhaul (thanks Louis BQ for inspiration)
    2018.10.27 8.6 8.7 8.10 PLATOTerm

    ------------------------------

    Subject: 0.1) Table of contents

    0.1) Table of contents

    Computers
    1.1) What is an Atari 8-bit computer?
    1.2) What is the Atari 400?
    1.3) What is the Atari 800?
    1.4) What is the Atari 1200XL?
    1.5) What is the Atari 600XL?
    1.6) What is the Atari 800XL?
    1.7) What is the Atari 65XE?
    1.8) What is the Atari 130XE?
    1.9) What is the Atari XE game system?
    1.10) What is the Atari 800XE?
    1.11) What were the Atari 1400XL, 1450XLD, 65XEP, and 65XEM?
    1.12) What are SALLY, ANTIC, CTIA/GTIA/FGTIA, POKEY, and FREDDIE?
    1.13) What is the internal hardware arrangement of the 8-bit Atari?
    1.14) What is the Atari memory map and how is banked memory managed?
    1.15) What are the pinouts for the various connectors on the Atari?
    1.16) Who designed the Atari 8-bit computers?

    Televisions, Monitors, Speakers
    2.1) What are analog TV broadcasting systems and composite video?
    2.2) What kinds of TVs can display my Atari's RF output signal?
    2.3) What kinds of computer monitors can I use with my Atari?
    2.4) What were the Atari XC1411 and XM128 monitors?
    2.5) What are composite video artifact colors, or artifacts?
    2.6) What is HDTV display lag?

    Mass Storage: Compact Cassette Players/Recorders
    3.1.1) What are the Atari 410, 1010, XC11, & XC12 Program Recorders?
    3.1.2) What other cassette recorders can I use with my Atari?
    3.1.3) What speed upgrades are there for Atari program recorders?

    Mass Storage: Floppy Disk Drives
    3.2.1) What is the Atari 810 Disk Drive?
    3.2.2) What is the Atari 1050 Disk Drive?
    3.2.3) What is the Atari XF551 Disk Drive?
    3.2.4) What were the Atari 815, XF521, and XF351 Disk Drives?
    3.2.5) What other floppy disk drives were designed for my Atari?
    3.2.6) What is the Percom configuration block?
    3.2.7) How can I use an industry standard floppy disk drive?

    Mass Storage: High Capacity Media
    3.3.1) What is the Corvus disk system?
    3.3.2) How can I use an ST506 interface hard disk (MFM or RLL)?
    3.3.3) How can I use a SASI or SCSI interface hard disk?
    3.3.4) How can I use an IDE interface hard disk or CompactFlash card?
    3.3.5) How can I use a Secure Digital (SD) card with my Atari?
    3.3.6) How can I use a USB flash drive with my Atari?

    Printers
    4.1) What are the Atari 820, 822, and 825 Printers?
    4.2) What are the Atari 1020, 1025, 1027, and 1029 Printers?
    4.3) What are the Atari XMM801 and XDM121 Printers?
    4.4) What were the Atari XTM201 and XTC201 Printers?
    4.5) What other printers were designed for my Atari?
    4.6) How can I use a Centronics or IBM parallel interface printer?

    Modems and other Networking Devices
    5.1) What are the Atari 830, 835, 1030, XM301, and SX212 Modems?
    5.2) What other modems can I use with my Atari?
    5.3) What should I know about using fast modems with the Atari?
    5.4) How do I transfer files using a null modem cable?
    5.5) What networking hardware is there for the Atari?
    5.6) How can I connect my Atari to a high speed/Ethernet network?

    Interfaces
    6.1.1) What is the Atari 850 Interface Module?
    6.1.2) What is the Atari XEP80 Interface Module?
    6.1.3) What were the Atari CP/M Module and 1090 XL Expansion System?
    6.1.4) What MIDI interfaces are there for the Atari?
    6.1.5) How can I use an ISA device with my Atari?
    6.1.6) How can I use a USB device with my Atari?
    6.1.7) Can the Atari use my other computer's storage/printer/network?

    Hardware Upgrades and Accessories
    6.2) What are the power requirements for my Atari components?
    6.3) What accessories/kits did Atari make for their 8-bit computers?
    6.4) What graphics tablets were produced for the Atari?
    6.5) What light pens were produced for the Atari?
    6.6) What light guns were produced for the Atari?
    6.7) What voice/speech synthesis hardware is there for the Atari?
    6.8) What sound digitizers/samplers were produced for the Atari?
    6.9) What sound upgrades (stereo or 8-bit PCM) are there?
    6.10) What graphics enhancements are there for the Atari?
    6.11) What types of memory upgrades are there for the Atari?
    6.12) What personality boards were produced for the Atari 800?

    Core Software: OS
    7.1.1) What is the Atari Operating System?
    7.1.2) What modified versions of the Atari OS were released?
    7.1.3) What is the ATASCII (Atari ASCII) encoding standard?
    7.1.4) How is the Input/Output subsystem of the Atari OS organized?
    7.1.5) What is Attract mode?
    7.1.6) What is the Atari cassette utilization/filesystem?
    7.1.7) What programs run only on the 400/800 (not the XL/XE) and why?
    7.1.8) Why do some programs run only on the XL/XE (not the 400/800)?
    7.1.9) How can I run older programs using the Atari Translator?
    7.1.10) How can software detect NTSC versus PAL/SECAM computer types?

    Core Software: BASIC
    7.2.1) What is Atari BASIC?
    7.2.2) How do I load/run or save an Atari BASIC program on cassette?

    Core Software: DOS
    7.3.1) What is Atari DOS, and what versions did Atari release?
    7.3.2) What are RealDOS, SpartaDOS X, and XDOS?
    7.3.3) What are MyPicoDOS, Micro-SpartaDOS, and LiteDOS?
    7.3.4) What other 3rd-party DOS versions were released for the Atari?
    7.3.5) What should I know about filenames and filename extensions?
    7.3.6) What Atari programs can use MS-DOS 5.25" or 3.5" diskettes?

    Core Software: GUI
    7.4) Are there Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) for the Atari?

    Core Software: Modem Handlers
    7.5) What should I know about R: and T: modem device handlers?

    Software
    8.1) How may a program behave on NTSC/PAL/SECAM computer versions?
    8.2) What programming languages are available for the Atari?
    8.3) What cartridges were released for the Right Slot of the 800?
    8.4) What games support 4 or more simultaneous players?
    8.5) What programs use a light pen or a light gun?
    8.6) What programs are designed for a true trackball controller?
    8.7) What programs are designed to work with a mouse?
    8.8) What programs use paddle controllers?
    8.9) What programs include CX85 Numerical Keypad support?
    8.10) What programs use: Touch Tablet or KoalaPad/Animation Station?
    8.11) What games support online action via modem?
    8.12) What programs support Atari computer networking?
    8.13) What programs use Keyboard Controllers?
    8.14) What programs use Driving Controllers?
    8.15) What noncommercial telecommunications programs are there?
    8.16) What programs can I use to host a BBS on the Atari?

    Atari Media Image Formats
    9.1) What file formats for entire disks/tapes/cartridges are there?

    For Other Computers
    10.1) How can I read/write Atari diskettes with my other computer?
    10.2) How can my other computer utilize my Atari disk drive?

    Timeline
    11.1) What is the history of Atari's 8-bit computers platform?

    To do? list:
    - Finish building complete parallel interface list
    - Build complete RS232 interface list
    THIS INFO TO MOVE TO NEW RS-232 INTERFACE SECTION:
    (Datatari / Multi-Viewterm by Miracle Technology, later by
    Gralin International, used to access Prestel online service in the UK;
    DATARI will open up the full world of VIEWDATA systems including
    PRESTEL,
    TELECOM G0LD and others.
    Datatari RS232 interface, software by Matthew Jones
    hardware also supported by the Communications module of Mini Office II
    by Database Software (1987)
    Digital Devices U-Call Model A
    - SIO bus - move info from 1.17 to its own section
    - Atari Cartridge
    - Diagnostic cartridges, eg Star Raiders, Basketball
    - In his Antic Podcast interview, Crane calls bit 7 of the option byte
    the "Al Miller bit"
    - Boot cartridge/disk/cassette formats
    - DOS 2 binary file format
    - Commercial telecommunications programs
    - Remove unwanted sections - pruning
    - re-standardize $ vs US$
    - programs supporting Axlon or Mosaic banked memory
    Axlon list: OmniWriter,
    Mosaic list: RAMbrandt
    - How can I run CP/M on the Atari?
    Note: SDX 4.46+ can read Indus CP/M disks
    - Mass Storage: Re-Writable Cartridges
    - Persistent RAM by Intra-Tech Computer Products
    http://atariage.com/forums/topic/287343-the-persistent-ram-cartridge/
    - "ramdisk" standardization

    ------------------------------

    Subject: 1.1) What is an Atari 8-bit computer?

    Based in Silicon Valley in the USA, the company known as Atari produced a line of home computers from 1979 to 1992 often referred to collectively as the "Atari 8-bits," the "8-bit Ataris," the "400/800/XL/XE series," etc.

    The computers included the 400, 800, 1200XL, 600XL, 800XL, 65XE, 130XE, 800XE, and the XE game system.

    For basic marketplace context, here are the release years of the 8-bit Atari computers alongside release years of significant competing home/personal computers. Note: Market dynamics varied substantially around the world.
    1977: Apple II, Commodore PET, Radio Shack TRS-80
    1978: ARI Cybervision 2001
    1979: Atari 400/800, Apple II Plus, Texas Instruments TI-99/4
    1980: Radio Shack TRS-80 Model III, TRS-80 Color Computer, Sinclair ZX80
    1981: Acorn BBC Micro, Commodore VIC-20, IBM PC, Osborne 1, Sinclair ZX81,
    Texas Instruments TI-99/4A
    1982: Commodore 64, Kaypro II, Sinclair ZX Spectrum
    1983: Atari 1200XL/600XL/800XL, Acorn Electron, Apple IIe, Coleco Adam, MSX,
    IBM PC XT, Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 4, TRS-80 Color Computer 2
    1984: Amstrad CPC, Apple IIc, Apple Macintosh, IBM PCjr, IBM PC AT
    1985: Atari 65XE/130XE, Atari 520ST, Commodore 128, Commodore Amiga
    1986: Atari 1040ST, Apple Macintosh Plus, Tandy Color Computer 3
    1987: Atari 800XE, Acorn Archimedes, Atari Mega ST, Apple Macintosh II,
    Apple Macintosh SE, Commodore Amiga 500, IBM PS/2

    1987 also saw the release of the Atari XE game system, competing alongside Atari's own 7800 (released in 1986) and legacy 2600 (available since 1977) systems, and competing directly against the leading home gaming consoles of
    the time, the Nintendo Entertainment System and the Sega Master System.

    In marketing their computers to the public, Atari always had to contend with their company history and reputation as a maker of video games. While the 8-bit Atari computers in their heyday were technically quite comparable if not superior in the worlds of home and business personal computing, they also live up to the name "Atari" with a huge library of video games which were often outstanding for their time.

    The 8-bit Atari computers do not use the same cartridges or floppy disks as
    any other Atari platforms, such as the 2600 Video Computer System (VCS), the 5200 SuperSystem, the 7800 ProSystem, or the ST/TT/Falcon computers. All of these but the 5200, however, do share (essentially) the same joystick/ controller hardware port.

    While the 5200 controller ports are different, the 5200 hardware platform is very closely related the 8-bit Atari computers, including use of the same custom chipset (SALLY/ANTIC/GTIA/POKEY). Differences in the 5200 include a fixed 16KiB of RAM, fixed 32KiB ROM cartridge size, a physically different cartridge port, and a much smaller 2KiB operating system.

    Here are some of the hardware performance specifications of the 8-bit Atari computers:

    6502 MPU:
    MOS Technology MCS6502A or equivalent (most NTSC 400/800 machines)
    Atari SALLY (late NTSC 400/800, all PAL 400/800, and all XL/XE)

    CPU CLOCK RATE:
    1.789773MHz (NTSC machines; engineering target = 1/2 the standard
    NTSC color subcarrier frequency of 315/88 Hz, or
    3.57954545MHz)
    1.7734475MHz (PAL/SECAM machines; engineering target = 2/5 the PAL
    color subcarrier frequency of 4.43361875MHz

    COLOR CLOCKS per MACHINE CYCLE
    2

    MACHINE CYCLES per SCAN LINE
    114

    COLOR CLOCKS per SCAN LINE
    228 (2 color clocks/machine cycle * 114 machine cycles/scan line)

    SCAN LINES per FRAME
    262 (NTSC machines)
    312 (PAL/SECAM machines)

    MACHINE CYCLES per FRAME:
    29,868 (NTSC machines: 114 machine cycles/scan line * 262 lines/frame)
    35,568 (PAL/SECAM machines: 114 cycles/scan line * 312 lines/frame)

    FRAME REFRESH RATE:
    59.92Hz (NTSC machines) (1.789773MHz / 29,868 cycles/frame)
    49.86Hz (PAL/SECAM machines) (1.7734475MHz / 35,568 cycles/frame)

    MAXIMUM RESOLUTION = GRAPHICS PIXEL
    0.5 color clock (width) x 1 scan line (height)

    MAXIMUM HORIZONTAL FRAME RESOLUTION (Standard Playfield)
    320 pixels (160 color clocks * 2 pixels/color clock)

    MAXIMUM VERTICAL FRAME RESOLUTION (Standard/Narrow/Wide Playfields)
    192 pixels (192 scan lines)

    MAXIMUM HORIZONTAL FRAME RESOLUTION (Wide Playfield)
    352 pixels (176 displayable color clocks * 2 pixels/color clock)

    MAXIMUM VERTICAL FRAME RESOLUTION (custom display list)
    240 pixels (240 displayable scan lines)

    GRAPHICS MODES
    The ANTIC chip supports 14 graphics modes (2-F), and the GTIA/FGTIA chip
    supports 4 color interpretations for each mode (1 normal and 3 alternate),
    for a total of 56 combinations. However, only ANTIC modes 2, 3, and F are
    capable of fully expressing the color palettes of the alternate color
    interpretations, for a total of 23 distinct fully-functional graphics modes.
    (Atari marketing and consumer documentation often only acknowledged the 16
    modes supported by the Operating System, referenced as 11 graphics modes and
    5 text modes.)
    Explore all 56 modes: https://www.atarimagazines.com/v3n5/allmodes.html

    ANTIC GTIA AtariOS Display Resolution Colors
    Mode Mode + Mode Type screen / each char (Color Registers) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    2 0 Char 40 x 24 8x8 3 *
    2 1 - Char 40 x 24 2x8 16 or 8 **
    2 2 - Char 40 x 24 2x8 9
    2 3 - Char 40 x 24 2x8 16 ***
    3 - Char 40 x 19 8x8 3 *
    3 1 - Char 40 x 19 2x8 16 or 8 **
    3 2 - Char 40 x 19 2x8 9
    3 3 - Char 40 x 19 2x8 16 ***
    4 12 ++ Char 40 x 24 4x8 5
    5 13 ++ Char 40 x 12 4x8 5
    6 1 Char 20 x 24 8x8 5
    7 2 Char 20 x 12 8x8 5
    8 3 Map 40 x 24 4
    9 4 Map 80 x 48 2
    A 5 Map 80 x 48 4
    B 6 Map 160 x 96 2
    C 14 ++ Map 160 x 192 2
    D 7 Map 160 x 96 4
    E 15 ++ Map 160 x 192 4
    F 8 Map 320 x 192 3 *
    F 1 9 Map 80 x 192 16 or 8 **
    F 2 10 Map 80 x 192 9
    F 3 11 Map 80 x 192 16 ***
    + GTIA Modes require GTIA chip or FGTIA chip
    (With CTIA these modes are considered valid by the OS but do not work.)
    ++ Supported by the XL OS (not supported by the 400/800 OS)
    * 2 of the 3 available color registers share the same color/hue in this mode
    * Modes capable of color artifacting on the NTSC Atari
    ** GTIA: 16 luminances of one color/hue
    FGTIA: 8 luminances of one color/hue
    *** 16 colors/hues all sharing the same luminance

    GRAPHICS INDIRECTION (COLOR REGISTERS AND CHARACTER SETS):
    Nine Color Registers are provided:
    - Background (used in all graphics modes)
    - Playfield 0-3 (at least one used in all graphics modes except GTIA
    1&3)
    - Player-Missile 0-3 (used in GTIA Mode 2; Player-Missiles discussed below)

    Each color register holds both a color/hue setting and a luminance/brightness setting. In most graphics modes, each of the available color registers may hold any one of 16 colors/hues combined with any one of 8 luminance/brightness settings, for a total palette of 128 possible colors.

    In GTIA Mode 1 only, with the GTIA chip only, the 16 available colors/hues can each be combined with 16 different luminance/brightness settings, for a total palette of 256 possible colors.

    Character sets of 128 8x8 characters, each with a normal and an inverse
    video incarnation, are totally redefinable.

    PLAYER-MISSILE GRAPHICS:
    The Atari term for "sprites" where a sprite is a graphical video display
    object handled independendly from the memory bitmap of the video display.

    Four 8-bit wide, 120 or 240 byte high single color Players, and four
    2-bit wide, 120 or 240 byte high single color Missiles are available.
    A mode to combine the 4 Missiles into a 5th 8-bit wide Player is also
    available, as is a mode to OR colors or blacken out colors when Players
    overlap (good for making three colors out of two Players!) Players
    and Missiles have adjustable priority and collision detection.

    DISPLAY LIST:
    Screen modes can be mixed (by lines) down the screen using the Display
    List - a program which is executed by the ANTIC graphics chip every
    screen refresh.

    DISPLAY LIST INTERRUPTS (DLIs):
    Other screen attributes (color, player/missile horizontal position,
    screen width, player/missile/playfield priority, etc.) can be adjusted
    at any point down the screen via DLIs.

    SCROLLING:
    Fine scrolling (both vertical and horizontal) can be enabled on any
    line on the screen.

    SOUND:
    Up to 5 distinct sounds can be produced simultaneously: four main voices
    plus the Console Speaker.

    Sound output is monaural/monophonic/single channel, except for the
    400/800 where Console Speaker sounds are output separately to a speaker
    inside the computer.

    The four main voices can be configured in one of the following three ways:
    - 4 voices, each with one of 256 unique frequencies/pitches
    - 2 voices, each with one of 65,536 unique frequencies/pitches
    - 1 voice with one of 65,536 frequencies/pitches and 2 voices with one of
    256 frequencies/pitches each

    Each of the main voices may produce 8 types of tones: pure tones (square
    wave type), or tones produced with one of 7 types of "noise" which is
    known as "distortion" on the Atari.

    Each of the main voices may be produced at one of 16 volumes.

    Direct control of the position of the speaker cone, known today as pulse-
    code modulation or PCM, is available at a bit depth of 4 bits, for a
    volume resolution of 16 possible values (4-bit PCM). This is known as
    "Volume Control Only" or "Volume Only" sound on the Atari.

    The Console Speaker was intended only for system keyclick and buzzer, but
    it may also be programmed as 1-bit PCM.

    VERTICAL BLANK INTERRUPTS (VBIs):
    A software routine may be designed to execute as a VBI. There are two
    varieties of VBI: Immediate and Deferred. An Immediate VBI completes
    execution within the vertical blank time, which is the time allotted for a
    CRT display to shut the electron beam off at the lower-right of the
    display and reposition it back on the top-left of the display to commence
    drawing of the next frame. A Deferred VBI routine completes execution
    between the initiation of one vertical blank and the next.

    Atari 8-bit computers were supplied with the proprietary Atari Operating
    System contained in Read Only Memory (ROM) as an integral feature of the computer. The Atari OS is described elsewhere in this FAQ List.

    ------------------------------

    Subject: 1.2) What is the Atari 400?

    Introduced at a New York news conference on December 14, 1978 alongside the Atari 800 and shipped the following fall, the Atari 400 was the reduced
    feature set version of the new Atari personal computer system.

    The 400 is the only 8-bit Atari with a membrane keyboard rather than a full- stroke keyboard, and is one of the few 8-bit Atari computers lacking a composite monitor port. Controller Jacks #1-3 on the 400 are the only ones on any 8-bit Atari that do not support a light pen / light gun. The 400 was originally released with just 8KiB RAM, but most were sold with 16KiB RAM. As of June 1983 Atari released the 48K RAM Expansion Kit for the 400, installed through Atari service centers or offered as a kit through the Atari Program Exchange (APX).

    Any internal plug-in RAM board for the 400 can also be used in the front RAM slot of the 800.

    Features unique to the 400/800 models relative to other Atari computers:
    - Television (TV) connecting cable, not designed to be removable, emerges
    directly from center of rear of computer case
    - Four controller (joystick) ports
    - Internal speaker for keyclicks and system buzzer
    - Memo Pad / Blackboard mode
    - +12 volt supply on pin 12 of the SIO port
    - Internal plug-in 400/800 CPU Board (28/56 pin edge connector)

    System initialization types supported:
    - Memo Pad: Turn on computer with no cartridge inserted and no powered disk
    drive #1.
    - Cartridge: Turn on computer with cartridge inserted.
    - Cassette boot: (boot cassette may or may not require cartridge inserted)
    1. Hold down [START] while turning on the computer. (system buzzer sounds)
    2. Press [PLAY] on the program recorder with boot cassette inserted.
    3. Press [RETURN] on the computer.
    - Disk boot: (boot disk may or may not require cartridge inserted)
    Turn on computer with boot disk inserted in powered disk drive #1.

    Versions of the Atari 400:
    o Domestic version ("DOM") for NTSC M television (North America)
    - 1979-1981 systems shipped with:
    - 8KiB of RAM
    - Atari BASIC Programming Language cartridge CXL4002
    - Atari BASIC (Wiley Self-Teaching Guide) book C014385
    - Atari 400 Operator's Manual C014768 (CO14768)
    - 1981-1983 systems shipped with:
    - 16KiB of RAM
    - The Basic Computer Owner's Guide C017711
    - Most units: 6502 MPU (MOS Technology MCS6502A or equivalent), C014377
    Late units: 6502 MPU (Atari SALLY), C014806
    - ANTIC NTSC version, C012296
    - Early units: CTIA, C012295
    Most units: GTIA NTSC version, C014805
    - 10KiB Operating System ROM
    - 400/800 OS, C012399 Floating Point Package (FPP) + C012499 + C014599
    - Early units: 400/800 OS Rev.A/NTSC
    - Most units: 400/800 OS Rev.B/NTSC
    - No Monitor port
    - Built-in TV connecting cable for TV antenna input
    - Switch (unlabeled) on back of computer selects TV output RF channel:
    2 or 3
    - TV Switch Box supplied with computer
    o "PAL"/"UK" versions for PAL B/G television (Western Europe) or PAL I
    television (United Kingdom), respectively
    - Shipped 1981-1983
    - 16KiB RAM
    - 6502 MPU (Atari SALLY), C014806
    - ANTIC PAL 'A' version, C014887
    - GTIA PAL version, C014889
    - 10KiB Operating System ROM
    - 400/800 OS Rev.A/PAL, C012399 (FPP) + C015199 + C015299
    - No Monitor port
    - Built-in TV connecting cable for TV antenna input
    - Switch (unlabeled) on back of computer selects TV output RF channel:
    - Some units: 36 (PAL/UK) or 4 (PAL)
    - Some units (Germany): 3 or 4
    - Some units: Channel is fixed to either 36 or 4
    - Peritel version (France) is the same as the "PAL" version (for PAL B/G
    television) but has a second built-in TV connecting cable for RGB TV
    input.
    - Visual tour:
    http://www.atari800xl.eu/hardware/computers/peritel-atari-400.html
    - Other links:
    - http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=62346&st=25
    - http://preview.tinyurl.com/ngsxhd8
    - Rare! See L'Atarien #7 p33 for further reference.
    - Speculation: Few units exist, hand-made by Atari France based on the
    Peritel Atari 800
    - The Atari 400 Computer Owner's Guide C060200 (CO60200)

    Additional Manuals:
    - Atari 400/800 Personal Computer System Service Manual
    - August 1980
    - May 1981
    - Atari 400/800 Home Computer Field Service Manual FD100001
    - June 1982
    - Rev. 02 May 1983
    - Atari 400/800 PAL-UK field service manual FD100002

    Power: Used with an external 9 volt AC transformer power supply rated for at least 19 watts: Atari CA014748 or equivalent (including the Atari CA017964).

    Atari marketing used the trademark, The Basic Computer, as an alternative name for the 400 from 1981-1982.

    The 400 was manufactured at Atari's plant at 1173 Borregas, Sunnyvale CA from November 1979 to May 1983, and was also made by Atari-Wong Co. in Hong Kong from January to May 1983. Serial numbers: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/176199-calling-all-400s/

    ------------------------------

    Subject: 1.3) What is the Atari 800?

    Introduced at a New York news conference on December 14, 1978 alongside the Atari 400 and shipped the following fall, the Atari 800 was the full feature set version of the new Atari personal computer system. The 800 is the only 8- bit Atari with a Right Cartridge slot, in addition to the Left Cartridge slot as present on all 8-bit Ataris. The 800 was originally released with just
    8KiB RAM, many were sold with 16KiB, and later on 48KiB was standard.

    The 800 is the only 8-bit Atari where the Operating System is contained in a plug-in Personality Module (Atari CX801 10K ROM or compatible), and where RAM is contained in one, two, or three plug-in Memory Modules (Atari CX852 8K RAM, Atari CX853 16K RAM, or compatibles). 800 RAM totals of 8KiB, 16KiB, 24KiB, 32KiB, 40KiB, or 48KiB were thus supported by Atari.

    Features unique to the 400/800 models relative to other Atari computers:
    - Television (TV) connecting cable, not designed to be removable, emerges
    directly from center of rear of computer case
    - Four controller (joystick) ports
    - Internal speaker for keyclicks and system buzzer
    - Memo Pad / Blackboard mode
    - +12 volt supply on pin 12 of the SIO port

    [continued in next message]

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Michael Current@21:1/5 to Marc G. Frank on Fri Aug 30 20:27:51 2019
    XPost: comp.sys.atari.8bit, news.answers

    Archive-name: atari-8-bit/faq
    Last-modified: August 28, 2019

    Welcome to the comp.sys.atari.8bit newsgroup!

    Atari 8-Bit Computers

    Frequently Asked Questions List
    ___________ _______________
    | ///////// | _____________ | ||||||||||| |
    |___________| | | | ||_______|| |
    |______/////| |____[---]____| | / _________ \ |
    |LLLLLLLLLLL| |LLLLLLLLLLL || | LLLLLLLLLLL L |
    |LLLLLLLLLLL| |LLLLLLLLLLL || | LLLLLLLLLLL L |
    |__[_____]__| |__[_____]____| |___[_____]_____|
    130XE 800XL 800
    ___________ __---------__
    | ///////// | | / _____ \ |
    |___________| _____________ | / |_____| \ |
    |______/////| |____[---]____| | ___________ |
    |LLLLLLLLLLL| |LLLLLLLLLLL || | ========== =|
    |LLLLLLLLLLL| |LLLLLLLLLLL || | ========== =|
    |__[_____]__| |__[_____]____| |___[_____]___|
    65XE 600XL 400
    ___________ _____________
    | ///////// | ___________ | |
    |___________| |/// / | | |
    |______/////| |// / | /\___________ |=============|
    |LLLLLLLLLLL| |/O\ |\/ |LLLLLLLLLLL| | LLLLLLLLLLL |
    |LLLLLLLLLLL| |-----------| |LLLLLLLLLLL| | LLLLLLLLLLL |
    |__[_____]__| |____O_O_O_O| |__[_____]__| |___[_____]___|
    800XE XE game system 1200XL

    Additions/suggestions/comments/corrections are needed! Please send to:

    Michael Current, michael@mcurrent.name
    Library Department, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

    Copyright (c) 1992-2019 by Michael D. Current, and others where noted. Feel free to reproduce this file, in whole or in part, so long as the content of that portion reproduced is not modified, and so long as credit is given to
    this FAQ list or its Maintainer, or the author of that section reproduced
    when given.

    This document is in a constant state of development and comes with no guarantees. If you see any problems, I need to hear from you!

    Special thanks to Laurent Delsarte for his numerous suggestions/comments/ corrections for this FAQ list over many years.

    The latest version of this document is irregularly posted to these Usenet newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit, comp.answers, news.answers

    It is also kept at: https://mcurrent.name/atari-8-bit/faq.txt
    Enhanced versions (Text, A4 PDF, US Letter PDF): http://www.atari800xl.eu/

    You may also request my latest working version at: michael@mcurrent.name

    UPDATES SINCE PREVIOUS POSTING:
    2019.08.28 8.16 7.3.2 7.3.4 SpartaDOS 3.3 references moved to Pro! info 2019.08.21 3.2.5 3.2.7 7.3.1 7.3.4 Percom revisit
    2019.08.21 3.2.1 Percom Separator
    2019.08.19 3.2.1 7.3.4 810 Turbo, OS/A+, Mach DOS
    2019.08.19 MB vs MiB cleanup
    2019.08.19 7.3.4 early OS/A+ versions
    2019.08.18 New Device -> parallel device
    2019.08.18 7.1.4 Generic Parallel Device Handler
    2019.08.18 1.13 parallel devices
    2019.08.18 7.1.1 Robert A. Peck
    2019.08.16 6.1.1 850 black version revisited
    2019.08.16 1.5 localized versions for Finland and Sweden
    2019.08.16 1.4 1.5 1.6 7.1.1 revisit of OS rev's found in 1200XL/600XL/800XL 2019.08.15 7.1.1 source code releases (C017893/CA016557 most likely the same) 2019.08.06 1.5 1.6 11.1 600XL/800XL manufacturing notes, discontinuation dates 2019.08.04 4.3 both of these printers include: 2 Atari SIO ports
    2019.08.03 8.8 added RealSports Curling
    2019/07.31 11.1 7.2.1 Atari BASIC Rev. C cartridge release
    2019.07.31 http://mcurrent.name -> https://mcurrent.name
    2019.07.30 7.3.1 DOS XE filesystem/disk capacities revisit, thanks DanS 2019.07.29 6.2 added a couple new Euro samples, thanks Laurent Delsarte 2019.07.29 11.1 launch of 400/800 in Italy, thanks Laurent Delsarte
    2019.07.16 7.3.3 LiteDOS info updated
    2019.06.23 11.1 Italian lire -> L.
    2019.06 11.1 Atari Semiconductor Group revisit
    2019.06.11 7.3.4 11.1 DOS 4 heavy revisit
    2019.06.11 7.3.1 DOS 3 for 1450XLD 1983 version drives
    2019.06.10 1.11 1450XLD revisit (clarify 1983/1984 versions)
    2019.05.21 11.1 Rosenthal revisit
    2019.05.19 11.1 Brenda Laurel revisit
    2019.05.16-17 various typos, also French currency, thanks Laurent Delsarte 2019.05.06 8.5 Tech Sketch programs
    2019.05.06 6.5 Tech Sketch light pens
    2019.04.25 8.4 Shootout 2 M4, Cubes M8
    2019.04.14 1.4-1.10 62KiB usable RAM
    2019.04.14 1.14 Hardware select register
    2019.04.12 standardize US$ -> $; Canadian dollars -> C$

    ------------------------------

    Subject: 0.1) Table of contents

    0.1) Table of contents

    Computers
    1.1) What is an Atari 8-bit computer?
    1.2) What is the Atari 400?
    1.3) What is the Atari 800?
    1.4) What is the Atari 1200XL?
    1.5) What is the Atari 600XL?
    1.6) What is the Atari 800XL?
    1.7) What is the Atari 65XE?
    1.8) What is the Atari 130XE?
    1.9) What is the Atari XE game system?
    1.10) What is the Atari 800XE?
    1.11) What were the Atari 1400XL, 1450XLD, 65XEP, and 65XEM?
    1.12) What are SALLY, ANTIC, CTIA/GTIA/FGTIA, POKEY, and FREDDIE?
    1.13) What is the internal hardware arrangement of the 8-bit Atari?
    1.14) What is the Atari memory map and how is banked memory managed?
    1.15) What are the pinouts for the various connectors on the Atari?
    1.16) Who designed the Atari 8-bit computers?

    Televisions, Monitors, Speakers
    2.1) What are analog TV broadcasting systems and composite video?
    2.2) What kinds of TVs can display my Atari's RF output signal?
    2.3) What kinds of computer monitors can I use with my Atari?
    2.4) What were the Atari XC1411 and XM128 monitors?
    2.5) What are composite video artifact colors, or artifacts?
    2.6) What is HDTV display lag?

    Mass Storage: Compact Cassette Players/Recorders
    3.1.1) What are the Atari 410, 1010, XC11, & XC12 Program Recorders?
    3.1.2) What other cassette recorders can I use with my Atari?
    3.1.3) What speed upgrades are there for Atari program recorders?

    Mass Storage: Floppy Disk Drives
    3.2.1) What is the Atari 810 Disk Drive?
    3.2.2) What is the Atari 1050 Disk Drive?
    3.2.3) What is the Atari XF551 Disk Drive?
    3.2.4) What were the Atari 815, XF521, and XF351 Disk Drives?
    3.2.5) What other floppy disk drives were designed for my Atari?
    3.2.6) What is the Percom configuration block?
    3.2.7) How can I use an industry standard floppy disk drive?

    Mass Storage: High Capacity Media
    3.3.1) What is the Corvus disk system?
    3.3.2) How can I use an ST506 interface hard disk (MFM or RLL)?
    3.3.3) How can I use a SASI or SCSI interface hard disk?
    3.3.4) How can I use an IDE interface hard disk or CompactFlash card?
    3.3.5) How can I use a Secure Digital (SD) card with my Atari?
    3.3.6) How can I use a USB flash drive with my Atari?

    Printers
    4.1) What are the Atari 820, 822, and 825 Printers?
    4.2) What are the Atari 1020, 1025, 1027, and 1029 Printers?
    4.3) What are the Atari XMM801 and XDM121 Printers?
    4.4) What were the Atari XTM201 and XTC201 Printers?
    4.5) What other printers were designed for my Atari?
    4.6) How can I use a Centronics or IBM parallel interface printer?

    Modems and other Networking Devices
    5.1) What are the Atari 830, 835, 1030, XM301, and SX212 Modems?
    5.2) What other modems can I use with my Atari?
    5.3) What should I know about using fast modems with the Atari?
    5.4) How do I transfer files using a null modem cable?
    5.5) What networking hardware is there for the Atari?
    5.6) How can I connect my Atari to a high speed/Ethernet network?

    Interfaces
    6.1.1) What is the Atari 850 Interface Module?
    6.1.2) What is the Atari XEP80 Interface Module?
    6.1.3) What were the Atari CP/M Module and 1090 XL Expansion System?
    6.1.4) What MIDI interfaces are there for the Atari?
    6.1.5) How can I use an ISA device with my Atari?
    6.1.6) How can I use a USB device with my Atari?
    6.1.7) Can the Atari use my other computer's storage/printer/network?

    Hardware Upgrades and Accessories
    6.2) What are the power requirements for my Atari components?
    6.3) What accessories/kits did Atari make for their 8-bit computers?
    6.4) What graphics tablets were produced for the Atari?
    6.5) What light pens were produced for the Atari?
    6.6) What light guns were produced for the Atari?
    6.7) What voice/speech synthesis hardware is there for the Atari?
    6.8) What sound digitizers/samplers were produced for the Atari?
    6.9) What sound upgrades (stereo or 8-bit PCM) are there?
    6.10) What graphics enhancements are there for the Atari?
    6.11) What types of memory upgrades are there for the Atari?
    6.12) What personality boards were produced for the Atari 800?

    Core Software: OS
    7.1.1) What is the Atari Operating System?
    7.1.2) What modified versions of the Atari OS were released?
    7.1.3) What is the ATASCII (Atari ASCII) encoding standard?
    7.1.4) How is the Input/Output subsystem of the Atari OS organized?
    7.1.5) What is Attract mode?
    7.1.6) What is the Atari cassette utilization/filesystem?
    7.1.7) What programs run only on the 400/800 (not the XL/XE) and why?
    7.1.8) Why do some programs run only on the XL/XE (not the 400/800)?
    7.1.9) How can I run older programs using the Atari Translator?
    7.1.10) How can software detect NTSC versus PAL/SECAM computer types?

    Core Software: BASIC
    7.2.1) What is Atari BASIC?
    7.2.2) How do I load/run or save an Atari BASIC program on cassette?

    Core Software: DOS
    7.3.1) What is Atari DOS, and what versions did Atari release?
    7.3.2) What are RealDOS, SpartaDOS X, and XDOS?
    7.3.3) What are MyPicoDOS, Micro-SpartaDOS, and LiteDOS?
    7.3.4) What other 3rd-party DOS versions were released for the Atari?
    7.3.5) What should I know about filenames and filename extensions?
    7.3.6) What Atari programs can use MS-DOS 5.25" or 3.5" diskettes?

    Core Software: GUI
    7.4) Are there Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) for the Atari?

    Core Software: Modem Handlers
    7.5) What should I know about R: and T: modem device handlers?

    Software
    8.1) How may a program behave on NTSC/PAL/SECAM computer versions?
    8.2) What programming languages are available for the Atari?
    8.3) What cartridges were released for the Right Slot of the 800?
    8.4) What games support 4 or more simultaneous players?
    8.5) What programs use a light pen or a light gun?
    8.6) What programs are designed for a true trackball controller?
    8.7) What programs are designed to work with a mouse?
    8.8) What programs use paddle controllers?
    8.9) What programs include CX85 Numerical Keypad support?
    8.10) What programs use: Touch Tablet or KoalaPad/Animation Station?
    8.11) What games support online action via modem?
    8.12) What programs support Atari computer networking?
    8.13) What programs use Keyboard Controllers?
    8.14) What programs use Driving Controllers?
    8.15) What noncommercial telecommunications programs are there?
    8.16) What programs can I use to host a BBS on the Atari?

    Atari Media Image Formats
    9.1) What file formats for entire disks/tapes/cartridges are there?

    For Other Computers
    10.1) How can I read/write Atari diskettes with my other computer?
    10.2) How can my other computer utilize my Atari disk drive?

    Timeline
    11.1) What is the history of Atari's 8-bit computers platform?

    To do? list:
    - Finish building complete parallel interface list
    - Build complete RS232 interface list
    THIS INFO TO MOVE TO NEW RS-232 INTERFACE SECTION:
    (Datatari / Multi-Viewterm by Miracle Technology, later by
    Gralin International, used to access Prestel online service in the UK;
    DATARI will open up the full world of VIEWDATA systems including
    PRESTEL,
    TELECOM G0LD and others.
    Datatari RS232 interface, software by Matthew Jones
    hardware also supported by the Communications module of Mini Office II
    by Database Software (1987)
    Digital Devices U-Call Model A
    - SIO bus - move info from 1.17 to its own section
    - Atari Cartridge
    - Diagnostic cartridges, eg Star Raiders, Basketball
    - In his Antic Podcast interview, Crane calls bit 7 of the option byte
    the "Al Miller bit"
    - Boot cartridge/disk/cassette formats
    - DOS 2 binary file format
    - Commercial telecommunications programs
    - programs supporting Axlon or Mosaic banked memory
    Axlon list: OmniWriter,
    Mosaic list: RAMbrandt
    - How can I run CP/M on the Atari?
    Note: SDX 4.46+ can read Indus CP/M disks
    - Mass Storage: Re-Writable Cartridges
    - Persistent RAM by Intra-Tech Computer Products
    http://atariage.com/forums/topic/287343-the-persistent-ram-cartridge/

    ------------------------------

    Subject: 1.1) What is an Atari 8-bit computer?

    Based in Silicon Valley in the USA, the company known as Atari produced a line of home computers from 1979 to 1992 often referred to collectively as the "Atari 8-bits," the "8-bit Ataris," the "400/800/XL/XE series," etc.

    The computers included the 400, 800, 1200XL, 600XL, 800XL, 65XE, 130XE, 800XE, and the XE game system.

    For basic marketplace context, here are the release years of the 8-bit Atari computers alongside release years of significant competing home/personal computers. Note: Market dynamics varied substantially around the world.
    1977: Apple II, Commodore PET, Radio Shack TRS-80
    1978: ARI Cybervision 2001
    1979: Atari 400/800, Apple II Plus, Texas Instruments TI-99/4
    1980: Radio Shack TRS-80 Model III, TRS-80 Color Computer, Sinclair ZX80
    1981: Acorn BBC Micro, Commodore VIC-20, IBM PC, Osborne 1, Sinclair ZX81,
    Texas Instruments TI-99/4A
    1982: Commodore 64, Kaypro II, Sinclair ZX Spectrum
    1983: Atari 1200XL/600XL/800XL, Acorn Electron, Apple IIe, Coleco Adam, MSX,
    IBM PC XT, Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 4, TRS-80 Color Computer 2
    1984: Amstrad CPC, Apple IIc, Apple Macintosh, IBM PCjr, IBM PC AT
    1985: Atari 65XE/130XE, Atari 520ST, Commodore 128, Commodore Amiga
    1986: Atari 1040ST, Apple Macintosh Plus, Tandy Color Computer 3
    1987: Atari 800XE, Acorn Archimedes, Atari Mega ST, Apple Macintosh II,
    Apple Macintosh SE, Commodore Amiga 500, IBM PS/2

    1987 also saw the release of the Atari XE game system, competing alongside Atari's own 7800 (released in 1986) and legacy 2600 (available since 1977) systems, and competing directly against the leading home gaming consoles of
    the time, the Nintendo Entertainment System and the Sega Master System.

    In marketing their computers to the public, Atari always had to contend with their company history and reputation as a maker of video games. While the 8-bit Atari computers in their heyday were technically quite comparable if not superior in the worlds of home and business personal computing, they also live up to the name "Atari" with a huge library of video games which were often outstanding for their time.

    The 8-bit Atari computers do not use the same cartridges or floppy disks as
    any other Atari platforms, such as the 2600 Video Computer System (VCS), the 5200 SuperSystem, the 7800 ProSystem, or the ST/TT/Falcon computers. All of these but the 5200, however, do share (essentially) the same joystick/ controller hardware port.

    While the 5200 controller ports are different, the 5200 hardware platform is very closely related the 8-bit Atari computers, including use of the same custom chipset (SALLY/ANTIC/GTIA/POKEY). Differences in the 5200 include a fixed 16KiB of RAM, fixed 32KiB ROM cartridge size, a physically different cartridge port, and a much smaller 2KiB operating system.

    Here are some of the hardware performance specifications of the 8-bit Atari computers:

    6502 MPU:
    MOS Technology MCS6502A or equivalent (most NTSC 400/800 machines)
    Atari SALLY (late NTSC 400/800, all PAL 400/800, and all XL/XE)

    CPU CLOCK RATE:
    1.789773MHz (NTSC machines; engineering target = 1/2 the standard
    NTSC color subcarrier frequency of 315/88 Hz, or
    3.57954545MHz)
    1.7734475MHz (PAL/SECAM machines; engineering target = 2/5 the PAL
    color subcarrier frequency of 4.43361875MHz

    COLOR CLOCKS per MACHINE CYCLE
    2

    MACHINE CYCLES per SCAN LINE
    114

    COLOR CLOCKS per SCAN LINE
    228 (2 color clocks/machine cycle * 114 machine cycles/scan line)

    SCAN LINES per FRAME
    262 (NTSC machines)
    312 (PAL/SECAM machines)

    MACHINE CYCLES per FRAME:
    29,868 (NTSC machines: 114 machine cycles/scan line * 262 lines/frame)
    35,568 (PAL/SECAM machines: 114 cycles/scan line * 312 lines/frame)

    FRAME REFRESH RATE:
    59.92Hz (NTSC machines) (1.789773MHz / 29,868 cycles/frame)
    49.86Hz (PAL/SECAM machines) (1.7734475MHz / 35,568 cycles/frame)

    MAXIMUM RESOLUTION = GRAPHICS PIXEL
    0.5 color clock (width) x 1 scan line (height)

    MAXIMUM HORIZONTAL FRAME RESOLUTION (Standard Playfield)
    320 pixels (160 color clocks * 2 pixels/color clock)

    MAXIMUM VERTICAL FRAME RESOLUTION (Standard/Narrow/Wide Playfields)
    192 pixels (192 scan lines)

    MAXIMUM HORIZONTAL FRAME RESOLUTION (Wide Playfield)
    352 pixels (176 displayable color clocks * 2 pixels/color clock)

    MAXIMUM VERTICAL FRAME RESOLUTION (custom display list)
    240 pixels (240 displayable scan lines)

    GRAPHICS MODES
    The ANTIC chip supports 14 graphics modes (2-F), and the GTIA/FGTIA chip
    supports 4 color interpretations for each mode (1 normal and 3 alternate),
    for a total of 56 combinations. However, only ANTIC modes 2, 3, and F are
    capable of fully expressing the color palettes of the alternate color
    interpretations, for a total of 23 distinct fully-functional graphics modes.
    (Atari marketing and consumer documentation often only acknowledged the 16
    modes supported by the Operating System, referenced as 11 graphics modes and
    5 text modes.)
    Explore all 56 modes: https://www.atarimagazines.com/v3n5/allmodes.html

    ANTIC GTIA AtariOS Display Resolution Colors
    Mode Mode + Mode Type screen / each char (Color Registers) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    2 0 Char 40 x 24 8x8 3 *
    2 1 - Char 40 x 24 2x8 16 or 8 **
    2 2 - Char 40 x 24 2x8 9
    2 3 - Char 40 x 24 2x8 16 ***
    3 - Char 40 x 19 8x8 3 *
    3 1 - Char 40 x 19 2x8 16 or 8 **
    3 2 - Char 40 x 19 2x8 9
    3 3 - Char 40 x 19 2x8 16 ***
    4 12 ++ Char 40 x 24 4x8 5
    5 13 ++ Char 40 x 12 4x8 5
    6 1 Char 20 x 24 8x8 5
    7 2 Char 20 x 12 8x8 5
    8 3 Map 40 x 24 4
    9 4 Map 80 x 48 2
    A 5 Map 80 x 48 4
    B 6 Map 160 x 96 2
    C 14 ++ Map 160 x 192 2
    D 7 Map 160 x 96 4
    E 15 ++ Map 160 x 192 4
    F 8 Map 320 x 192 3 *
    F 1 9 Map 80 x 192 16 or 8 **
    F 2 10 Map 80 x 192 9
    F 3 11 Map 80 x 192 16 ***
    + GTIA Modes require GTIA chip or FGTIA chip
    (With CTIA these modes are considered valid by the OS but do not work.)
    ++ Supported by the XL OS (not supported by the 400/800 OS)
    * 2 of the 3 available color registers share the same color/hue in this mode
    * Modes capable of color artifacting on the NTSC Atari
    ** GTIA: 16 luminances of one color/hue
    FGTIA: 8 luminances of one color/hue
    *** 16 colors/hues all sharing the same luminance

    GRAPHICS INDIRECTION (COLOR REGISTERS AND CHARACTER SETS):
    Nine Color Registers are provided:
    - Background (used in all graphics modes)
    - Playfield 0-3 (at least one used in all graphics modes except GTIA
    1&3)
    - Player-Missile 0-3 (used in GTIA Mode 2; Player-Missiles discussed below)

    Each color register holds both a color/hue setting and a luminance/brightness setting. In most graphics modes, each of the available color registers may hold any one of 16 colors/hues combined with any one of 8 luminance/brightness settings, for a total palette of 128 possible colors.

    In GTIA Mode 1 only, with the GTIA chip only, the 16 available colors/hues can each be combined with 16 different luminance/brightness settings, for a total palette of 256 possible colors.

    Character sets of 128 8x8 characters, each with a normal and an inverse
    video incarnation, are totally redefinable.

    PLAYER-MISSILE GRAPHICS:
    The Atari term for "sprites" where a sprite is a graphical video display
    object handled independently from the memory bitmap of the video display.

    Four 8-bit wide, 120 or 240 byte high single color Players, and four
    2-bit wide, 120 or 240 byte high single color Missiles are available.
    A mode to combine the 4 Missiles into a 5th 8-bit wide Player is also
    available, as is a mode to OR colors or blacken out colors when Players
    overlap (good for making three colors out of two Players!) Players
    and Missiles have adjustable priority and collision detection.

    DISPLAY LIST:
    Screen modes can be mixed (by lines) down the screen using the Display
    List - a program which is executed by the ANTIC graphics chip every
    screen refresh.

    DISPLAY LIST INTERRUPTS (DLIs):
    Other screen attributes (color, player/missile horizontal position,
    screen width, player/missile/playfield priority, etc.) can be adjusted
    at any point down the screen via DLIs.

    SCROLLING:
    Fine scrolling (both vertical and horizontal) can be enabled on any
    line on the screen.

    SOUND:
    Up to 5 distinct sounds can be produced simultaneously: four main voices
    plus the Console Speaker.

    Sound output is monaural/monophonic/single channel, except for the
    400/800 where Console Speaker sounds are output separately to a speaker
    inside the computer.

    The four main voices can be configured in one of the following three ways:
    - 4 voices, each with one of 256 unique frequencies/pitches
    - 2 voices, each with one of 65,536 unique frequencies/pitches
    - 1 voice with one of 65,536 frequencies/pitches and 2 voices with one of
    256 frequencies/pitches each

    Each of the main voices may produce 8 types of tones: pure tones (square
    wave type), or tones produced with one of 7 types of "noise" which is
    known as "distortion" on the Atari.

    Each of the main voices may be produced at one of 16 volumes.

    Direct control of the position of the speaker cone, known today as pulse-
    code modulation or PCM, is available at a bit depth of 4 bits, for a
    volume resolution of 16 possible values (4-bit PCM). This is known as
    "Volume Control Only" or "Volume Only" sound on the Atari.

    The Console Speaker was intended only for system keyclick and buzzer, but
    it may also be programmed as 1-bit PCM.

    VERTICAL BLANK INTERRUPTS (VBIs):
    A software routine may be designed to execute as a VBI. There are two
    varieties of VBI: Immediate and Deferred. An Immediate VBI completes
    execution within the vertical blank time, which is the time allotted for a
    CRT display to shut the electron beam off at the lower-right of the
    display and reposition it back on the top-left of the display to commence
    drawing of the next frame. A Deferred VBI routine completes execution
    between the initiation of one vertical blank and the next.

    Atari 8-bit computers were supplied with the proprietary Atari Operating
    System contained in Read Only Memory (ROM) as an integral feature of the computer. The Atari OS is described elsewhere in this FAQ List.

    ------------------------------

    Subject: 1.2) What is the Atari 400?

    Introduced at a New York news conference on December 14, 1978 alongside the Atari 800 and shipped the following fall, the Atari 400 was the reduced
    feature set version of the new Atari personal computer system.

    The 400 is the only 8-bit Atari with a membrane keyboard rather than a full- stroke keyboard, and is one of the few 8-bit Atari computers lacking a composite monitor port. Controller Jacks #1-3 on the 400 are the only ones on any 8-bit Atari that do not support a light pen / light gun. The 400 was originally released with just 8KiB RAM, but most were sold with 16KiB RAM. As of June 1983 Atari released the 48K RAM Expansion Kit for the 400, installed through Atari service centers or offered as a kit through the Atari Program Exchange (APX).

    Any internal plug-in RAM board for the 400 can also be used in the front RAM slot of the 800.

    Features unique to the 400/800 models relative to other Atari computers:
    - Television (TV) connecting cable, not designed to be removable, emerges
    directly from center of rear of computer case
    - Four controller (joystick) ports
    - Internal speaker for keyclicks and system buzzer
    - Memo Pad / Blackboard mode
    - 12 volt supply on pin 12 of the SIO port
    - Internal plug-in 400/800 CPU Board (28/56 pin edge connector)

    System initialization types supported:
    - Memo Pad: Turn on computer with no cartridge inserted and no powered disk
    drive #1.
    - Cartridge: Turn on computer with cartridge inserted.
    - Cassette boot: (boot cassette may or may not require cartridge inserted)
    1. Hold down [START] while turning on the computer. (system buzzer sounds)
    2. Press [PLAY] on the program recorder with boot cassette inserted.
    3. Press [RETURN] on the computer.
    - Disk boot: (boot disk may or may not require cartridge inserted)
    Turn on computer with boot disk inserted in powered disk drive #1.

    Versions of the Atari 400:
    o Domestic version ("DOM") for NTSC M television (North America)
    - 1979-1981 systems shipped with:
    - 8KiB of RAM
    - Atari BASIC Programming Language cartridge CXL4002
    - Atari BASIC (Wiley Self-Teaching Guide) book C014385
    - Atari 400 Operator's Manual C014768 (CO14768)
    - 1981-1983 systems shipped with:
    - 16KiB of RAM
    - The Basic Computer Owner's Guide C017711
    - Most units: 6502 MPU (MOS Technology MCS6502A or equivalent), C014377
    Late units: 6502 MPU (Atari SALLY), C014806
    - ANTIC NTSC version, C012296
    - Early units: CTIA, C012295
    Most units: GTIA NTSC version, C014805
    - 10KiB Operating System ROM
    - 400/800 OS, C012399 Floating Point Package (FPP) + C012499 + C014599
    - Early units: 400/800 OS Rev.A/NTSC
    - Most units: 400/800 OS Rev.B/NTSC
    - No Monitor port
    - Built-in TV connecting cable for TV antenna input
    - Switch (unlabeled) on back of computer selects TV output RF channel:
    2 or 3
    - TV Switch Box supplied with computer
    o "PAL"/"UK" versions for PAL B/G television (Western Europe) or PAL I
    television (United Kingdom), respectively
    - Shipped 1981-1983
    - 16KiB RAM
    - 6502 MPU (Atari SALLY), C014806
    - ANTIC PAL 'A' version, C014887
    - GTIA PAL version, C014889
    - 10KiB Operating System ROM
    - 400/800 OS Rev.A/PAL, C012399 (FPP) + C015199 + C015299
    - No Monitor port
    - Built-in TV connecting cable for TV antenna input
    - Switch (unlabeled) on back of computer selects TV output RF channel:
    - Some units: 36 (PAL/UK) or 4 (PAL)
    - Some units (Germany): 3 or 4
    - Some units: Channel is fixed to either 36 or 4
    - Peritel version (France) is the same as the "PAL" version (for PAL B/G
    television) but has a second built-in TV connecting cable for RGB TV
    input.
    - Visual tour:
    http://www.atari800xl.eu/hardware/computers/peritel-atari-400.html
    - Other links:
    - http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=62346&st=25
    - http://preview.tinyurl.com/ngsxhd8
    - Rare! See L'Atarien #7 p33 for further reference.
    - Speculation: Few units exist, hand-made by Atari France based on the
    Peritel Atari 800
    - The Atari 400 Computer Owner's Guide C060200 (CO60200)

    Additional Manuals:
    - Atari 400/800 Personal Computer System Service Manual
    - August 1980
    - May 1981
    - Atari 400/800 Home Computer Field Service Manual FD100001
    - June 1982
    - Rev. 02 May 1983
    - Atari 400/800 PAL-UK field service manual FD100002

    Power: Used with an external 9 volt AC transformer power supply rated for at least 19 watts: Atari CA014748 or equivalent (including the Atari CA017964).

    Atari marketing used the trademark, The Basic Computer, as an alternative name for the 400 from 1981-1982.

    The 400 was manufactured at Atari's plant at 1173 Borregas, Sunnyvale CA from November 1979 to May 1983, and was also made by Atari-Wong Co. in Hong Kong from January to May 1983. Serial numbers: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/176199-calling-all-400s/

    ------------------------------

    Subject: 1.3) What is the Atari 800?

    Introduced at a New York news conference on December 14, 1978 alongside the Atari 400 and shipped the following fall, the Atari 800 was the full feature set version of the new Atari personal computer system. The 800 is the only 8- bit Atari with a Right Cartridge slot, in addition to the Left Cartridge slot as present on all 8-bit Ataris. The 800 was originally released with just
    8KiB RAM, many were sold with 16KiB, and later on 48KiB was standard.

    The 800 is the only 8-bit Atari where the Operating System is contained in a plug-in Personality Module (Atari CX801 10K ROM or compatible), and where RAM is contained in one, two, or three plug-in Memory Modules (Atari CX852 8K RAM, Atari CX853 16K RAM, or compatibles). 800 RAM totals of 8KiB, 16KiB, 24KiB, 32KiB, 40KiB, or 48KiB were thus supported by Atari.

    Features unique to the 400/800 models relative to other Atari computers:
    - Television (TV) connecting cable, not designed to be removable, emerges
    directly from center of rear of computer case
    - Four controller (joystick) ports
    - Internal speaker for keyclicks and system buzzer
    - Memo Pad / Blackboard mode
    - 12 volt supply on pin 12 of the SIO port
    - Internal plug-in 400/800 CPU Board (28/56 pin edge connector)

    System initialization types supported:
    - Memo Pad: Turn on computer with no cartridge(s) inserted and no powered
    disk drive #1.
    - Cartridge: Turn on computer with cartridge(s) inserted.
    - Cassette boot: (boot cassette may or may not require cartridge(s) inserted)
    1. Hold down [START] while turning on the computer. (system buzzer sounds)
    2. Press [PLAY] on the program recorder with boot cassette inserted.
    3. Press [RETURN] on the computer.
    - Disk boot: (boot disk may or may not require cartridge(s) inserted)
    Turn on computer with boot disk inserted in powered disk drive #1.

    Versions of the Atari 800:
    o Domestic version ("DOM") for NTSC M television (North America)
    - 1979-1980 systems shipped with:
    - 8KiB of RAM as one CX852 Memory Module
    - 410 Program Recorder
    - Educational System Master Cartridge CXL4001

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