Atari mega ste questions

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Gotang
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Joined: Fri Jul 03, 2020 3:47 pm

Atari mega ste questions

Post by Gotang »

Hi guys
manged to get my little mitts on a great mega ste
few quick questions machine is all good except i need a new membrane for the keyboard any tips on where i can get one ?
and second question
what would you guys recommend for upgrades trying to sort a external gotek out at the mo, original hard drive all good but will be looking at
changing at some point machine has 4 meg
looking for a bit more grunt etc
all help welcome

Gotang
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Atari mega ste questions

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Make sure you get your hands on the MSTE control panels that let you turn the cache on/off and the speed from 8Mhz to 16Mhz. I didn't realise when I first got mine.

How bad is the membrane? I had a bad ctrl key in mine and it was just a case of repairing the tracks with a conductive pen, providing you can find the breaks.

4Meg is max unless you get something like an alt-ram adapter, and you can add in a FPU, though not a lot can use it. For HDD I'd go with an Ultrasatan or the like, or a CosmosEx if you can get one.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
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stephen_usher
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Re: Atari mega ste questions

Post by stephen_usher »

Why do you think that it's the membrane?

It could very well be the carbon impregnated rubber "feet" which are on the bottom of the keys. This is a very common problem with Mitsumi keyboards of the era, such as the ones sold with the Amiga A2000.

My TT's keyboard needed to have carbon paint (which Exxos used to sell) put on them as they'd become non-conductive.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
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Darklord
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Re: Atari mega ste questions

Post by Darklord »

I agree with the Ultrasatan recommendation.

Since it's the Mega STe, get the internal version and mount it
in the HD drive bay. Replace the factory controller board with
Lotharek's version:

https://lotharek.pl/productdetail.php?id=47

https://lotharek.pl/productdetail.php?id=49

Get a WiModem232 for super easy wifi access! (you know, to
BBS's and stuff - see my sig)... :lol:

Are your hard drive and power LED's still good and bright? If
not, those can be replaced as well.

If your mouse is problematic (or if you just want something
much better) try the TrueMouse from Best Electronics.

HTH's. :)
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Gotang
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Joined: Fri Jul 03, 2020 3:47 pm

Re: Atari mega ste questions

Post by Gotang »

hi guys
cheers for the replies
i've taken the keyboard apart and there are broken traces on the connector parts just where they bend. in the past i've repaired similar faults with conductive paint. that is never a perm fix especially where the breaks are

deff want to look at the 16 mhz option also the hard drive option mentioned
i have a mega st keyboard i can use till the membrane is sorted
gotang
mikro
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Re: Atari mega ste questions

Post by mikro »

BeST Electronics still sells the keyboard mylars: https://www.best-electronics-ca.com/tt030.htm
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