11 replies to this topic

[Gandor]

Hi,

I recently bought a 4 port 5200 with a bunch of games, 2600 expansion unit, trackball and a working joystick.
Examining the back of the 5200 I noticed a small removable cover plate.
It conceals part of the motherboard which appears to be an expansion port.
Anybody know what this is and if it ever was used for anything?

Thanks

[Curt Vendel]

Never used for anything.... the shortlived 5200 Speech Synthesizer was rumored to use that port, but never got anywhere, so its unclear if it would've used it. Atari quickly realized it could do speech in software and hardware was not needed...

[ferghead]

Congratulations on the working joystick.

[Gandor]

ferghead, on Wed Sep 28, 2011 11:51 PM, said:

Congratulations on the working joystick.

I also have a second one which doesn't work
Oh and a masterplay interface. Make playing some games so much better

[OldAtarian]

Curt Vendel, on Wed Sep 28, 2011 8:52 PM, said:

Never used for anything.... the shortlived 5200 Speech Synthesizer was rumored to use that port, but never got anywhere, so its unclear if it would've used it. Atari quickly realized it could do speech in software and hardware was not needed...

Congratulations, you have just discovered your next project! The 5200 XM

Edited by OldAtarian, Sat Nov 19, 2011 5:05 PM.

[Curt Vendel]

arrrrrghhhh !!!!

OldAtarian, on Sat Nov 19, 2011 5:04 PM, said:

Curt Vendel, on Wed Sep 28, 2011 8:52 PM, said:

Never used for anything.... the shortlived 5200 Speech Synthesizer was rumored to use that port, but never got anywhere, so its unclear if it would've used it. Atari quickly realized it could do speech in software and hardware was not needed...

Congratulations, you have just discovered your next project! The 5200 XM

[atari5200dude82]

That will be awesome.

[OldAtarian]

Nah, if anything I'd rather see the 1090XL expansion box reproduced and some cards released for it.

[Allan]

What can you really do with the expansion port? Maybe some kind of SIO cable so that you could do a Midi-Maze type game. I'm not sure what other use you could have for it. Maybe a musical keyboard hook-up or a Guitar Hero type thing. I think you could do any kind of Ram expansion or anything. You can't even do that with the cartridge port.

Allan

[OldAtarian]

Allan, on Sun Nov 20, 2011 7:04 PM, said:

What can you really do with the expansion port? Maybe some kind of SIO cable so that you could do a Midi-Maze type game. I'm not sure what other use you could have for it. Maybe a musical keyboard hook-up or a Guitar Hero type thing. I think you could do any kind of Ram expansion or anything. You can't even do that with the cartridge port.

Allan

I wonder if something to be able to access the internet would be possible, then someone could write a multiplayer shooter for the 5200!

[Lynxpro]

OldAtarian, on Sun Nov 20, 2011 9:29 PM, said:

Allan, on Sun Nov 20, 2011 7:04 PM, said:

What can you really do with the expansion port? Maybe some kind of SIO cable so that you could do a Midi-Maze type game. I'm not sure what other use you could have for it. Maybe a musical keyboard hook-up or a Guitar Hero type thing. I think you could do any kind of Ram expansion or anything. You can't even do that with the cartridge port.

Allan

I wonder if something to be able to access the internet would be possible, then someone could write a multiplayer shooter for the 5200!

Halo 5200

[ToddUGA]

OldAtarian, on Sat Nov 19, 2011 5:04 PM, said:

Curt Vendel, on Wed Sep 28, 2011 8:52 PM, said:

Never used for anything.... the shortlived 5200 Speech Synthesizer was rumored to use that port, but never got anywhere, so its unclear if it would've used it. Atari quickly realized it could do speech in software and hardware was not needed...

Congratulations, you have just discovered your next project! The 5200 XM

Hopefully it doesn't interfere with his 5200 replacement joystick project.