Star Tech Journal

Issue: 1984-April - Vol 6 Issue 2

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CRYSTAL CASTLES ACM
UPDATE
Three new RO Ms are now available for Crysta/
Cast/es. These new RO Ms allow you to change
the screen messages of the game to another
language. To change the language, change
the ROM in location 1 N on the logic board.
The ROM part numbers with corresponding
language appear below.
Part Number
English
German
Spanish
French
136022-305
136022·112
136022-113
136022-114
The following are ROM checksums for two
Atari games. Checksums are taken with a
modified CAT Box. For information on modify-
ing the CAT Box for taking checksums, contact
Atari Field Service. All checksums are in the
two-byte additive position (DBUS Source
switch set to DATA.)
XEVIOUS CHECKSUMS
The Xevious printed circuit board (PCB) con-
tains three Z-80 microprocessors. You can
test this game by using the Z ·80 Interface for
the CAT Box. To test ROMs 1 and 2, the
interface must be plugged into the micro-
processor socket at location 1 N. To test ROM
3, the interface must be plugged into the
socket at location 4A. To test ROM 4, the
interface must be plugged into the socket at
location 1A. All ROMs are 8k•byte devices.
XEVIOUS CHECKSUMS
CPU
ROM
ADDRESS
CHECKSUM
1N
1
0000
2000
0000
0000
0200
0A00
9400
2C00
4A
1A
2
3
4
POLE POSITION CHECKSUMS
The Pole Position PCB contains three micro-
processors. You can check the Sound Micro-
processor circuit with the 2·80 Interface.
Checksums on the Sound Microprocessor
ROMs are taken with the ROM size set at 4k
bytes.
Microprocessor A and B circuits can be
tested with the Z-8002 Interface. When using
the Z-8002 Interface on the Microprocessor
A and B circuits, you should ground the main
RESET signal Instead of WDDIS. The size
setting fort he RO Ms in Microprocessor A and
B circuits are 8k bytes.
CAT BOX CHECKSUMS
GIUANTUM SCHEMATIC CORRECTIONS
STAR WARS NOTES
STAR WARS DISPLAY PROBLEMS
SOUND MICROPROCESSOR
ROM
ADDRESS
CHECKSUM
2
0000
1000
2000
4A76
5C34
E0F2
MICROPROCESSOR A (At 3A)
ROM
CAT BOX CHECKSUMS
CRYSTAL CASTLES ROM UPDATE
Since these processors are 16-bit devices,
two checksums are read for each ROM. The
checksums are broken down into upper byte
and lower byte. You need to put the interface
into the ROM position first. Then, select the
upper or lower byte with the toggle switch on
the Interface.
The Z-80 and Z-8002 Interfaces are avail·
able from your local Atari distributor.
CRYSTAL CASTLES ROMa
Language
ATARI
ADDRESS
BYTE
CHECKSUM
0000
Lower
Upper
2B8E
18B4
MICROPROCESSOR B (At 4N)
ROM
ADDRESS
BYTE
CHECKSUM
0000
Lower
Upper
AB86
0132
CilUANTUM SCHEMATIC
CORRECTIONS
The following are schematic corrections for
the Quantum Schematic Package (SP.221).
Sheet SB; Coln Door and Control Panel
Input Circuit. The DB3 signal from integrated
circuit (IC) 9M is generated from pin 18, not
from pin 8.
Sheet 8A; Non•Volatlle Memory Circuit.
Change the IC location of the type-LS04 IC
from 4J to 4F/H. Also, the ABB signal is
connected to pin 16 of the IC at location 3R,
not to pin 18. Pin 18 is connected to +5V.
Sheet 4A; Addre11 Decoders Circuit.
Change the output pin of AND gate 4J from
pin 7 to pin 1 0. This is where the CS signal is
generated.
■TAR
WARS NOTE&
ROM Changes. The following are ROM part
number changes for the Star Wars game:
STAR WARS ROMa
ROM
Location
1F
1M
1J/K
Old Part
New Part
136021-101
136021-106
136021-103
136021-214
136021·206
136021·203
Schematic Corrections. On Sheet 11 A of
the schematic package (SP-225), in the
section titled "Matrix Processor Address
Selector,'' on IC 6E change pin 1 to read pin 2
and change pin 2 to read pin 1.
Problem: In Self Test, I get a "Bad Math Box
Ready Line" Message. Where do I look?
Solution: The problem may be in the Multi·
plier/Accumulator Clock circuit. This circuit
produces the timing used by the Math Box
circuit. The counters (74LS161 s) at location
9C and 1 0C on the main board might be the
problem.
Problem: The game plays okay, but after
finishing the round with the T.I.E. fighters, the
player doesn't reach the Death Star.
Solution: The problem might be in the Serial
Multiplier circuit. Check ICs in locations 6C
and 7C on the main board.
Problem: The flight control is out of calibrtion
when I turn on the game.
Solution: The game has a self-calibrating
flight control. The game circuitry monitors the
position ofthecursoron the display in relation
to the flight control's horizontal and vertical
position. Calibration is quickly accomplished
by moving the cursor to all four edges of the
display in the attract mode. The game will also
calibrate itself after someone plays a few
games.
Problem: Are displays used in the game CSA
approved?
Sol utlon: Displays in Star Wars games manu·
factured after June 26, 1983, are both CSA
and UL approved.
Problem: There are no stars in the background.
Solutlon: The stars on the field are generated
by the Pseudo-Random Number Generator. It
is possible for this to get stuck and not work.
This circuit is normally reset from the program
ROM at location 1 Fon the main board. Replace
the ROM at this location with a 136021-214
ROM.
Problem: Movement of the cursor on the
screen is erratic in one direction.
Solution: You may have a bad potentiometer
that is spotty in one place.
APRIL 1984
~
Problem: Shaky video after game warms up.
The problem is most noticeable in the high-
score screen. Fluttering is seen in the words
"Princess Leia's Rebel Forces" and the scores
sometimes move back and forth.
Solution: Replace the 1 0k.n. resistor at loca-
tion R83 on the video board with a 20k.O..
resistor.
STAR WARS DISPLAY
PROBLEMS
Problem: No filament voltage from the high
voltage (HV) PCB.
Solution: Check for a loose connection on
the lugs that hold the HV transformer to the
PCB.
Problem: The voltage is low on the supply
lines on either tHe Deflection PCB or the HV
Problem: The picture shrinks in from the
negative X and Y sides of the screen.
PCB.
Solution: On some deflection boards, R35
and R12 may have a 15.0.. resistoranda30.0..
resistor in parallel to get 1 o.n.. If these come
loose, then some picture shrinkage may occur.
Solution: There are jumpers on the supply
lines of both boards. The Jumpers are marked
with a "W" on the schematic. They look like
resistors on the board and have a single black
band on them. The jumpers should have no
resistance. However, the brown jumpers may
have created some resistance to them. They
should be replaced with a piece of wire. The
white and tan jumper should have no problems.
24V
Problem: Can any other power transistors be
used on the Deflection board?
Solution: Yes, MJ 15003 NPN replaces
2N3716, and MJ 15004 PNP replaces2N3792.
HVPIN4
Problem: What should the output of the 555
IC on the HV PCB be?
I
Solution: The output at pin 3 on the IC should
be a 20-kHz square wave. This is adjusted
with potentiometer R7.
C10
0.1
R19
&BK
sov
DAGGROUND
Problem: There Is no high voltage. The posi-
tive and negative 24 volts are present.
Solution: Check transistor 03. The problem
may be that the transistor tab (collector) may
not be making good contact with the heat
sink.
ORIGINAL
24V
Problem: The schematics for the HV cutoff
circuit do not match the board assembly.
HV PIN4
Solution: There are three board revisions.
You can tell which one you have from the table
here. The schematics for all three boards are
shown.
I
C10
0.1
sov
R19
68K
DISPLAY REVISION INDICATORS
PCB Revision
R16
R18
Original
First rev.
Second rev.
470.n.
Zener
470.0..
27k.!l.
Missing or 27k.n.
33k.fl.
DAG GROUND
FIRST REVISION
Problem: The schematic for the deflection
board shows CR5 as a 1 N714 diode.
Solution: The schematic number is wrong. It
should be labeled a 1 N751 A zener diode. The
rating of 5.1 volts is correct, however.
Problem: On the HV PCB, the output voltage
of the regulator is good when the pin is lifted,
but there is no voltage when the pin is con-
nected back to the board.
Solution: Check for a bad 0.1 uF glass capa-
citor across the voltage regulator. The
decoupling capacitor may be shorted.
as
2N3904
HVPIN4
R18
33K
I
C10
0.1 SOV
R17
20K
Problem: The 24-volt regulator has failed.
DAG GROUND
Solution: Check for cracking around the
regulator leads on the PCB. Also check for
cracking around the leads of C3 and C4.
SECOND REVISION

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