Atari Breakout - Specific Troubleshooting Information; Optional Test Equipment; Coin Mechanism

In
addition
to
the
regular
"pulse"
button,
there
is
another
switch
mounted
on
the
logic
pulser.
When
this
switch
is set
in
the
"rep"
mode,
the
in-
strument
pulses
the
digital
signal
point
at a 5-Hz rate
or
5
times
per
second.
This
extremely
low
rate
is
slow
enough
to
allow
watching
events
initiated
by
the
pulser.
Counter
outputs,
for
example,
are
more
easily
observed
when
the
counter
is
pulsed
or
clocked
at
this
rate.
The
logic
pulser
is
also
readily
available
from
electronic
supply
sources;
a
commercial
model
found
satisfactory is
the
Kurz-Kasch
model
HL 583.
(d)
Oscilloscope.
The
most
versatile
test
in-
strument-1
aAd
also
the
most
expensive,
is
the
oscilloscope.
The
high-speed
TTL
integrated
circuits
used
in
video
games
produce
fast-rise-time
signals.
The
oscilloscope
should
have a
50-MHz
bandwidth,
dual
trace and
dual
time
base
capability.
These
latter
features
allow
examination
of
both
input
and
output
signals
simultaneously,
so
that
precise
timing
rela-
tionships
can
be
checked.
The
oscilloscope
should
also
have
provision
for
internal
or
external sync.
Of
the
newer,
solid-state
oscilloscopes,
a satis-
factory
model
is
the
Tektronix
465.
(e)
VOM
or
Volt-Ohmmeter.
This
common
measuring
instrument
is
extremely
useful
in
video
game
troubleshooting.
It
can
be
used
to
check
line
voltage,
transformer
secondary
windings,
con-
tinuity,
resistanc~,
power
supply
voltages,
and
to
some
extent
used
for
measurements
in
the
analog
circuitry.
One
commercial
model
found
satisfactory is
the
Simpson 260.
6.2.2
OPTIONAL
TEST
EQUIPMENT:
(a)
The
Logic
Comparator.
This
test
instru-
ment's
main
benefit
is
that
it
can be used
to
check
the
functioning
of
an
integrated
circuit
device
while
the
device
is
still
in
place
on
the
printed
circuit
board. The
logic
comparator
performs
the
check
by
comparing
the
suspect
ICs
functioning
with
that
of
an
identical-type
reference
IC
mounted
in
the
in-
strument
itself.
Suppose
that
the
functioning
of
a
type-74193
device
on
the
PCB
is suspected
to
be
de-
fective.
First
insert
a
program
card
with
a
known-
to-be-good
74193
into
the
logic
comparator,
and
then
clip
the
comparator
test
leads
onto
the
leads
of
the
suspect device.
If
there
are any
logic
state
differ-
ences
between
the
reference
IC
and
the
suspect IC
under
test,
then
an
LED
on
the
logic
comparator
will
light
up
to
indicate
which
output
is
not
functioning
correctly.
Once
a
defective
IC
has
been
located,
it
should
be
replaced.
Logic
comparators
are
readily
available
from
electronic
supply
sources.
(b)
Atari
Universal
Test
Fixture.
In
situations
where
a
large
number
of
video
games are
being
ser-
viced,
investment
in
the
Universal
Test
Fixture
will
be
justified.
This
item
of
test
equipment
forms
a
test
station
for
troubleshooting
printed
circuit
boards
after
they
have
been
removed
from
the
game
cabinet.
The
Universal
Test
Fixture
has a
full
set
of
controls
for
operating
the
game and
also
has its
own
TV
monitor.
The game's
PCB
is
plugged
into
an
edge
connector
mounted
on
the
side
of
the
Fixture;
with
this
arrangement
the
PCB
is
positioned
in
a
conve-
nient
way
for
connecting
probes
and
other
test
in-
struments.
A
program
card
inserted
into
a
receptacle
in
the
top
of
Fixture
takes
the
place
of
the
game's
inter-
connect
wires.
The
program
card
thus
sets
up
the
Fixture
for
each
particular
game;
the
game's
name
is
clearly
printed
on
the
program
card itself.
With
the
Universal
Test
Fixture
the
method
of
troubleshooting
via
substitution
of
known-to-be-
good
parts
is
made
fast and
convenient.
For
exam-
ple,
suppose
that
the
TV
picture
in
a
game
is
com-
pletely
broken
up
and
you
want
to
determine
whether
the
game
or
monitor
is
causing
the
prob-
lem.
Remove
the
PCB
and
plug
it
into
the
Fixture's
edge
connector,
and also
insert
the
correct
program
card
for
that
game.
If
the
picture
on
the
Fixture's
monitor
is
correct,
then
you
know
that
the
problem
lies
in
the
game's
monitor.
6.3
SPECIFIC
TROUBLESHOOTING
IN-
FORMATION
The
following
subparagraphs
give
additional
troubleshooting
information
about
certain
areas
of
the
Breakout
game.
6.3.1
COIN MECHANISM:
If
a
player
inserts a
coin
and
the
game
does
not
respond,
first
check
the
coin
mechanism.
If
pressing
the
coin
rejector
button
forces
the
rejector
mechanism
to
return
the
coin,
then
examine
the
coin
to
make
sure
that
it
is
genuine.
If
it
is,
then
use a set
of
your
own
test
coins
(which
should
include
both
very
new
and very
old,
worn
coins)
to
determine
whether
or
not
the
player's
coin
is
undersize
or
underweight.
If
your
test
coins
are also
returned,
this
indicates
that
ser-
vicing
of
the
coin
acceptor
portion
of
the
coin
mechanism is
called
for.
Generally
the
cause
of
this
particular
problem
is an
improperly
adjusted
magnet
gate.
Inside
the
coin
mechanism
a
magnet
is
used
to
test
the
metallic
composition
of
the
coin.
Highly
magnetic
coins,
such
as
those
made
of
steel
or
iron,
will
be
retained
by
the
magnet
and
can be
returned
by
actuating
the
wiper
operating
lever.
Coins
having
comparatively
high
magnetic
properties
will
be
slowed
down
by
the
magnet,
and
will
drop
off
the
end
of
the
rail
short
of
the
"accept"
entrance
and
be