TECH: Pong problems

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

Hi,
here I've a pong bootleg very similar to the atari version. It seems to
work, but I can't see the ball on the screen. During the game play
sores increase correctly, but the invisible ball never meet a paddle.
Do you have a pong theory of operation or can you tell me which
counters control the ball movement?
Thank you,
Marco
(vernimark)

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

Marco,

Depends on how similar it is to the Atari version, but start at E4 Pin
12 'Video' on the schematic and work your way back until you see which
signal net isn't toggling.

There are three components to the video generated on the card going to
pin 20 on the edge connector, one for score, one for the ball, and one
for composite sync. You want to look closely at what's generating the
video for the ball (naturally).

- Craig

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

Thank you Craig.
This night I'll try.
Do you have a readable pong schematic to send me? PDF I found is very
bad...
Thank you again,
Marco

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

Yes I do. If it's the same PDF I started with, then yes I am feeling
your pain. After many weeks of squinting and following traces on an
original board I have a new eye prescription and a fully annotated
non-fuzzy version of the schematic. I'll see about getting you a copy.
Email me here at hyarbr01 .aaattt. harris .dooot. com.

- Craig

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

Well those are better than what I started with! Alas you may still need
mine. Not all of the signals connections among the logic are shown, or
intuitive.

- Craig

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

Thank you Chuk, the second document was exactly what I was looking for.
I hope that there are not so much differences between Ateri schematics
and my PCB (Amutronics inc.)...

Anyway, look here :-(((
www.vernimark.com/temp/pong/pong_amutronics.htm

they wanted to give me the cab for free, but...

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

Quite right. VPAD1* and VPAD2* for the paddles, and I think some
combination of HVID* and VVID* for the playfield? They get muxed onto
VIDEO.

- Craig

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

Either of these files help?

http://www.barncade.com/docs/Pong%20%5bSchematics%5d.pdf
http://www.barncade.com/docs/Pin%20Pong%20(TM-007)%20%5bOperation%20&%20Maintenance%5d.pdf

"vernimark" <vernimark@vernimark.com> wrote in message
news:1121366093.124546.279900@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Thank you Craig.
> This night I'll try.
> Do you have a readable pong schematic to send me? PDF I found is very
> bad...
> Thank you again,
> Marco
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

looking at this document:
http://www.barncade.com/docs/Pin%20Pong%20(TM-007)%20%5bOperation%20&...

I don't thing that PIN PONG is the same of PONG. I see in the
schematics an option: "3 or 5 balls"...

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

> There are three components to the video generated on the card going to
> pin 20 on the edge connector, one for score, one for the ball, and one
> for composite sync.

Don't forget the paddles and playfield video signals as well...

Alex
----
ayeckley@elektronforge.com
www.elektronforge.com

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

Yeah, I wasn't too sure, but I noticed the picture of the board looked like
a pong board. Figured maybe it was the same hardware.

"vernimark" <vernimark@vernimark.com> wrote in message
news:1121394167.709720.36090@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
> looking at this document:
> http://www.barncade.com/docs/Pin%20Pong%20(TM-007)%20%5bOperation%20&...
>
> I don't thing that PIN PONG is the same of PONG. I see in the
> schematics an option: "3 or 5 balls"...
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

On 2005-07-14 11:15:28 -0700, "vernimark" <vernimark@vernimark.com> said:

> Hi,
> here I've a pong bootleg very similar to the atari version. It seems to
> work, but I can't see the ball on the screen. During the game play
> sores increase correctly, but the invisible ball never meet a paddle.
> Do you have a pong theory of operation or can you tell me which
> counters control the ball movement?
> Thank you,
> Marco
> (vernimark)

Look up Video Probe in old Atari service literature. This is an
extremely simple peice of test gear ideal for these old B&W boards. It
is basically a resistor being used as a probe that the other end is
connected to the video line to the B&W monitor. It is amazing to see
how the picture is created and you can trace through the board even
without a schematic to see where the problem might be...

John :-#)#
--
(Please post followups or tech enquires to the newsgroup) John's
Jukes Ltd. 2343 Main St., Vancouver, BC, Canada V5T 3C9 Call
(604)872-5757 or Fax 872-2010 (Pinballs, Jukes, Video Games)
www.flippers.com "Old pinballers never die, they
just flip out."