Completed Hardware / Projects

Availability must be checked on a case-by-case basis. This list makes no claim to completeness.

Multi-use, networking

  • FujiNet
  • MultiLink
  • Multiplexer

Drives, drive emulators and drive accessories

  • BlackBox
  • MIO
  • Sally-II
  • SIO2PC (RS232)
  • SIO2ST
  • SIO2PC USB
  • APE USB Interface
  • SIO2USB
  • SIO2SD
  • SDrive
  • SDriveMAX
  • IDE+ 2.0
  • Happy
  • Speedy
  • SuperSpeedy
  • MegaSpeedy
  • Turbo 1050 Replica
  • My-IDE

Controller

  • Multijoy
  • Opto-Project
  • SNACK adapter for SNES controllers / 8BitDo Retro Receiver SNES

Debuggers, ML monitors

  • BiboMon
  • Freezer

Cartridges

  • The!Cart
  • AtariMAX Maxflash Multicart
  • USB Cart
  • OSS Multicart
  • SysCheck
  • SpartaDOS X

Sound

  • Stereo extensions
  • PokeyMAX
  • MIDI

Graphics

  • Sophia-II
  • Medusa
  • UAV
  • UGV
  • GTIA Fixer
  • VBXE
  • GTIA2RGB
  • XEP80 (I/II/III)

Keyboards

  • Transkey-II
  • Overange mini keyboard

Computers

  • 130XE Remake Board
  • 800XL Advanced Remake Board
  • 600XL+ Remake Board w/ Mini-FujiNet
  • NUC 576+

RAM expansions

  • Lots of different expansions

FujiNet

A multifunction cartridge by Thom Cherryhomes. The module offers drive emulation from an SD card and over the internet by means of TNFS servers. Connectivity via 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. Various printer emulations with PDF printing. Speech output. Atari drivers for internet network access. Network games and much more.

https://fujinet.online/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izdCLDQ1ZxU

Multiplexer

A cartridge set for connecting several Ataris with a ribbon cable for parallel data transfer. All client Ataris access the shared resources (disk drives and printer) of a host Atari. Insane access speeds with, for example, an IDE+ 2.0 on the host. Original hardware from 1990 by CSS (Bob Puff). Reproduced or taken over by ILS (Stephen J. Carden).

http://nleaudio.com/css/products.htm

BlackBox

Expansion board with Plug'n'Play PBI integration. Provides the following interfaces: SCSI, RS-232 and a parallel port for a printer. Expandable with a floppy board and the BlackBox Enhancer. Also a product of CSS (Bob Puff).

http://nleaudio.com/css/products.htm

Sally-II

A reproduction project of the legendary ATR-8000 by SWP. As a function it offers, for example, the connection of industrial floppy drives and Centronics printers, or it works as a CP/M computer with the Atari used as a terminal. There is an article about this in ABBUC Magazin Q2/2025.

Turbo 1050 Replica

The Floppy 1050 Speeder by Bernhard Engl is now / was being reproduced with official permission. Available only as a speeder module. The Turbo 1050 Replica does have the connector for the printer cable, but since there are hardly any printers with a Centronics interface left, the printer cable will probably only be needed in very few cases.

Multijoy-8 / Multijoy-16 Interface

The interface for connecting up to 8 or 16 joysticks to the XL/XE Atari and playing special Multijoy games with them. Information on the hardware and on programming can be found at:

http://raster.infos.cz/atari/english.htm#MULTIJOY

Note: A completed project exists for connecting wireless controllers to the Multijoy.

Wireless adapter for Multijoy for wireless gamepads

Wireless adapters need power. The Multijoy, however, cannot supply any, since it uses the ground line to select the joystick whose position is currently to be read. In the case of a Multijoy 8, each connected device would therefore have no power for 7/8 of the time. This adapter solves that problem. It is plugged in between the wireless adapter (e.g. Bluetooth dongle) and the Multijoy. It receives power via a USB cable and uses it to supply its internal electronics and the wireless adapter. A project by Jan Krupka. Entered in the AHC 2025. Tested, according to the maker, with the Megadrive M30g2.4, Commotron gamepad, the new Atari CX+ and also the Xbox controller with BlueRetro Atari.

SNACK adapter for SNES controllers / 8BitDo Retro Receiver SNES

Also a project that was entered in the AHC (2021?). Made by Christian Krüger with an excellent manual in Atari style as a PDF. With, for example, an 8BitDo SN30 Pro+ Bluetooth gamepad and an 8BitDo SNES Retro Receiver you can use it to play games like "Attack of the PETSCII Robots" and "Final Assault" excellently. These are games that cannot get by with just the 8 directions of a joystick and its single fire button. The SNACK adapter has 2 operating modes: simple and extended. In extended mode, 12 gamepad buttons are available to the Atari.

MultiLink (GameLink-II)

The network interface for network-capable Atari games such as Agdagon, Multi-Dash, Multi-Race, Multi-Worms and People Bits Per Second. MultiLink can be built in 2 versions. The simple version serves to connect 2 Atari computers over the serial interface (SIO port) with a 3-wire connection. The extended version allows the connection of up to 8 Atari computers. For this, each SIO plug has a little built-in electronics and the computers are then connected over a 2-wire bus, for example a BNC cable up to 30 m long.

Matching articles and software were also published in ABBUC Magazine issues 50, 64, 65 and 74.

My-IDE Project

The hard-disk interface for internal installation in the XL/XE computer or as an external cartridge for plugging into the XL/XE cartridge port. Meanwhile outdated info and articles were published in ABBUC Mags. 56, 57, 58 and 60. Further up-to-date information is available at:

https://www.mr-atari.com/myidehome.htm

Speedy 1050 Module

The legendary Floppy 1050 Speeder from Compyshop has been available for quite some time from the ABBUC Floppyservice in a version with DIP chips. The switchable ROM contains BiboDOS and the HSS copier. From the Rechnerservice there is an even smaller reproduction that uses partly SMD chips. The Speedy 1050 system disk is available as ABBUC PD 0649, BiboDOS as ABBUC PD 0764.

Bibomon

An ML monitor for installation in the XL/XE computer from earlier days. Successors here are the TURBO-FREEZER XL by Bernhard Engl from 1987 and the even more capable TURBO-FREEZER XL/XE 2005 and TURBO FREEZER XL/XE 2011.

SIO2PC

An adapter cable for connecting the Atari via the SIO port to the RS-232 interface of a PC. On the respective PC, a program then emulates disk drives and possibly also a printer, cassette and modem, where the modem can in turn be an emulation over TELNET. Well-known programs are SIO2PC (v4.21) for DOS / W9x, APE (Atari Peripheral Emulator) (W9x ... W7x64, W10 ?, W11 ?).

SIO2ST

Similar to SIO2PC, only for connection to an Atari ST.

SIO2PC USB

Adapter for connecting the Atari SIO to the USB port of a PC. Drivers for Windows, Mac, Linux. Under Windows it provides a virtual COM port and allows the use of the programs RespeQt and AspeQt (drive emulation with ATR files).

https://lotharek.pl/productdetail.php?id=108

APE USB Interface

Adapter board for connecting the Atari SIO to the software APE (Atari Peripheral Emulator) over a USB port. A USB connection allows more accurate Atari data rates than RS-232. APE emulates disk drives, printer, datasette, modem and BBS Express Pro mailbox via Telnet. Support for protected disk formats (PRO and ATX) (but not every protection). The interface is available with one or two SIO ports. The maker is Steven Tucker.

https://www.atarimax.com/sio2pc/documentation/

SIO2USB

The SIO2USB is a drive emulator with a display and handy 3-button operation. Made by the ABBUC regional group Frankfurt. The SIO2USB has internal storage on the one hand and, on the other, allows a FAT-formatted USB stick to be plugged in. You can then simply load the USB stick with the desired disk images on a PC. The SIO2USB also supports a real-time clock for the Atari. As operating software there is the SIO2USB shell and YASH; for the clock there is an RTC driver.

https://abbuc.social/RAF/files_d.html

SIO2SD

Also a device for drive emulation, but with an SD card. The SIO2SD is or was available with and without a display.

http://www.sio2sd.org/de/index.html

SDrive

A device for drive emulation. The storage medium is an SD card. Supports ATR and XFD disk images as well as executable files. Operated via buttons. The makers were Robert Petruela and Radek Sterba, C.P.U., 2008-2009.

SDriveMAX

An SDrive with a color touchscreen. Extended with loadable high-speed SIO, cassette emulation, ATX support.

Article in ABBUC Magazine 160
http://kbrnet.de/projekte/sdrive-max/index.html

IDE+ 2.0

A PBI device by JZ and KMK. Uses a CF card as storage medium. Emulates drives, APE real-time clock, SpartaDOS X module, SIO high-speed driver. Extremely fast access to disk images through parallel data transfer. Besides the operating software FDisk there is also software for BW-DOS 1.5.

http://ftp.pigwa.net/stuff/projects/IDE%20Plus%202.0/

MegaSpeedy

A Speedy reproduction, but with extensive memory for many different disk speeders. Firmware versions of the Happy 1050, Turbo 1050, 1050 Duplicator, Super Archiver, SuperMax, US-Doubler, Super-Speedy can be loaded. Integrated downloadable software with the MegaSpeedy firmware.

For a report see ABBUC Hardware Contest 2014

Happy Module

Happy 810 and Happy 1050. Originals with sanded-off and/or potted chips. Various possibly unauthorized reproductions. The Happy offers buffering and increased SIO speed (corresponding drivers on the Atari required). The associated software provides means for archiving disks and for copying various protected formats. At best available through various sales platforms.

OSS Multicart

A module into which various OSS company modules such as Mac/65, ACTION!, Basic XL and Basic XE can be integrated. Without the respective ROMs, which you have to supply yourself from your own original modules.

The!Cart

The!Cart is a cartridge for the cartridge slot with 128 megabytes of memory. Oh yes, you read that right. 128 megabytes! The monstrously large 4-megabyte game "Street Fighter II" fits in there 32 times. Of course you could also load SFII only once and use the remaining 124 megabytes for other things. The software for programming it is "The!Cart Studio". The module is programmed natively on the Atari. The only drawback: 128 MB takes time! There are some ready-made workbooks (game collections in The!Cart Studio format) for beginners who want to see something right away.

https://www.wudsn.com

AtariMAX Maxflash Multicart

Flashable cartridges with a capacity of 1 Mbit or 8 Mbit. This includes a USB flash module as well as the Maxflash Studio software for Windows. Executable files, ATRs and ROMs can be loaded. When the Atari starts, a selection menu then appears. The author is Steven Tucker.

http://www.atarimax.com/flashcart/documentation/index.html

USB Cart

A cartridge with an SL811HS USB controller. USB Human-Interface-Devices such like a Keyboards, Mice, USB steering wheel etc. can be connected to the Atari 8-bit. The USB Cart is available for ABBUC members from ABBUC.

https://atarimax.com/
https://atariwiki.org/wiki/Wiki.jsp?page=MicroUSB

Stereo extensions

What is meant here are stereo extensions with a second POKEY chip. As the second POKEY, chips that are defective in the SIO or keyboard section may under certain circumstances be usable. Professional boards (without POKEYs) are available from TF_HH. Then there is also ACID Stereo. This uses one POKEY and the sound part for the second channel was implemented via FPGA.

The TF_HH stereo extension is or was available in the ABBUC shop.
ACID Stereo is available from lotharek.pl

PokeyMAX

PokeyMAX is a remake of the POKEY in FPGA technology. The original POKEY is fully emulated here with audio, keyboard, SIO and paddle. PokeyMAX has an evolution behind it. An early (or the first?) version was 1.0, and after that came 2.x, 3.x, 4.0 and most recently 4.53. The difference lies in the chip capabilities. Except, to my knowledge, for version 1, the PokeyMAX can be programmed with firmware in the Atari. The range of features covers, depending on the model, integrated TK-II+ emulation, additional sound chips such as SID and COVOX. Version 4.53, as far as I know, can do quad POKEY, 2 SID, 2 PSG and COVOX plus playback of compressed samples via DMA access to the internal RAM.

https://forums.atariage.com/topic/386585-pokeymax-45-preorder-thread/
https://64kib.com/

MIDI

An interface for connecting MIDI devices to the Atari SIO port. Documentation and software at

http://www.asselheim.de/atari/midi.htm

Sophia-II

The Sophia-II is a GTIA replacement and barely larger than the GTIA. Besides the original video signals, the Sophia-II has a DVI output on which 1x VGA and 1x DVI are wired. Via appropriate adapter cables, the following screens can therefore be connected: VGA, DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort. The only requirement is that the monitor supports one of the resolutions offered by the Sophia-2. The picture on such a monitor is of course razor sharp. For the Sophia-2 there is a configuration program that runs natively on the Atari. On the "Atari 130 XE Remake" board, the TV modulator was omitted and the space was used for a DVI connector. The maker is Simius.

https://thebrewingacademy.com/de/products/sophia-3-dvi-output-gtia-replacement-new-version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOD4ifpz0S8

Medusa

The Medusa is a standalone device for converting the video output of many classic consoles. The current version B has VGA-IN, DB9-IN for EGA, CGA, C128, Audio-IN and, as output, DVI-OUT with audio. Power supply via micro-USB. Automatic input signal detection and a built-in display that shows various values.

https://lotharek.pl/productdetail.php?id=135

UAV

Ultimate Atari Video by Bryan Edewaard. A circuit / installation board / on-board on the 130XE Remake for improving the Atari's video signal, among other things by changing the reference point for ground, correct resistors for video signals, etc. The output connection is then Gnd, Composite Video, Luma, Chroma.

https://thebrewingacademy.com/de/collections/ultimate-atari-video-uav

UGV

Ultimate Gated Video Board by MyTek. The board with various SMD components for video signal conditioning is plugged in between the GTIA and the GTIA socket. PIC-based V-Gate timing generator, FMS6400 video signal driver, low-resistance resistors for the digital-to-analog conversion. Connection for flashing and an S-Video output.

https://thebrewingacademy.com/de/collections/ultimate-atari-video-uav/products/ultimate-gated-video-by-mytek-1?variant=40012521570406

GTIA Fixer

There are some GTIA chips that show errors in certain graphics modes. There are two types of error here. The error known as the "China GTIA Bug" can be fixed by the GTIA Fixer. The board is plugged in between the GTIA and its socket. The original idea apparently comes from Simius.

Source: ABBUC shop (TF_HH version)
Another version of the GTIA Fixer: https://lotharek.pl/productdetail.php?id=390

VBXE

The Video Board XE project was started in 2005 by Tomasz Piórek and revised several times afterwards. According to various sources online, the VBXE offers an RGB output, 1024 colors from a 21-bit palette, additional graphics resolutions 640x480i (640x240p) in 64 colors, 320x240p in 1024 colors and 160x240p in 1024 colors, a true 80-character text display, blitter modes. The VBXE goes into the ANTIC socket and takes over the ANTIC. Requires extensive modifications to the Atari for installation.

Source: https://www.lotharek.pl/productdetail.php?id=53

Transkey-II

An early adapter for connecting PC keyboards with a DIN or PS/2 connector to the Atari was the A.K.I. (Atari Keyboard Interface) by André Bertram. It was an interposer board for the POKEY with a PIC16F84. The Transkey-II probably developed from it, or perhaps it was a parallel development. The Transkey-II can, among other things, record and play back macros. There is a small problem in that the fast playback of a macro in combination with a PokeyMAX does not work correctly - characters get dropped here. Whether this affects only certain versions or all versions of the PokeyMAX would need to be checked. The Transkey-II was fitted "onboard" on the 130 XE Remake. Beyond that it is available in many versions.

https://ataribits.weebly.com/tk-ii.html

Overange mini keyboard

A tiny keyboard consisting of short-travel switches. The size is roughly 14x5x1 cm. The connection is a 24-pin header. It comes with 2 adapter boards suitable for the XL or XE keyboard connector. The connecting cable is a ribbon cable. The keyboard is intended for service work on the Atari board, since the machine's own keyboard can then be used poorly or not at all. The 600 XL Advanced Remake has an "onboard" connector for this keyboard.

130XE Remake Board

The 130XE Remake Board was designed by Panos. The board fits 1:1 into the case of a 65/800/130 XE. The board was industrially manufactured. Unlike the original XE board, in addition to the 64K of dynamic RAM for the main memory it contains HIAS's 512K RAM expansion with static RAM, which can be operated battery-backed (the RAM contents would be retained while the computer is switched off). Further features are a UAV, a DVI connector instead of a TV modulator, a PS/2 connector for the included TK-II and a jumper block for the video configuration depending on use of GTIA / UAV / Sophia-2 or VBXE.

800XL Advanced Remake Board

The 800XL Remake Board was industrially manufactured and was available in various board colors, for example green with gold traces or blue with gold traces. Because of the special coloring it is suitable for installation in a plexiglass case. On the board, many individual resistors were replaced by resistor networks. Freed-up space was used for prototyping areas, so that you could build test circuits there. Unfortunately, two very common extensions were forgotten in this remake: the +5V power supply for the parallel bus and the chroma signal for the video connector. These signals then just have to be wired in afterwards.

600XL+ Remake Board w/ Mini-FujiNet

The 600XL+ Remake Board w/ Mini-FujiNet by Kveldulfur is not just an elaborate redesign. Several extensions by MyTek were implemented. The extensions include a UGV, a 512K RAM expansion, DualPokey, quad OS-ROM, pin headers with signals for the PokeyMAX and the VBXE, an internal tap for the SIO signals for attaching a FujiNet-Mini, and a connector for the Overange keyboard. It comes with many jumper blocks for configuring the components, as well as small boards with miniature switches that can be mounted in a 600 XL case in such a way that neither for their mounting nor for operating the switches does the case need to be drilled or similar. The FujiNet-Mini comes with a connector for an external antenna that is attached inside the 600 XL case. This ensures a considerably better Wi-Fi connection than with the few trace loops on the board. There is a very detailed project website:

https://www.kveldulfur.de/600xl-pcb/

NUC 576+

An Atari in the NUC (Next-Generation Unit Computing) case format. The original chips for POKEY, GTIA, etc. were used and everything is housed on a board that is less than a hand span square. External connectors are power, Sub-D for SIO, PS/2, DIN for video, 2x Sub-D for joysticks. 64K main memory, 512K RAM expansion, circuit for video signal improvement, FujiNet option and a matching NUC case in XE style.

https://ataribits.weebly.com/576nuc.html

SysCheck

When the Atari no longer works, or no longer works correctly, it can sometimes be difficult to find the cause of the fault. Turns on or does not turn on is of course something to check first, but when it comes to the details? Is perhaps a RAM chip defective in a 130XE, and if so, which of the 16? One or several? Or is it the OS-ROM? At this point the SysCheck by TF_HH is an enormous help. It can be used for both XL and XE computers and directly provides a connection cable for the +5 volt supply in case that is not present on the parallel BUS of the XL or the ECI of the XE. The SysCheck can hold up to 4 ROMs and one of them is the diagnostic software. There are DIP switches to configure whether the SysCheck's ROM is active or the Atari's, likewise for the RAM. In test mode, when the Atari is switched on, the SysCheck checks its main memory and, if a defect is present, the chip(s) that are probably defective are displayed. The extended RAM and the ROM can also be tested. There is a POKEY test for the 4 timers (sound channels), where a stereo POKEY is detected and also tested. And there is a test that checks the GTIA for the two known bugs. Further tests are apparently in the works.

Was or is available in the ABBUC shop.

SpartaDOS X

SpartaDOS in a cartridge with some additional capabilities. The original version is by ICD. With considerable extensions, the software is currently available from DLT, with a large number of people worldwide having contributed or contributing. Available among other things as a ROM file for the Freezer or the IDE+ 2.0.

https://sdx.atari8.info/index.php?show=en_introduction

Freezer (Turbo Freezer XL)

A piece of hardware for plugging into the PBI / ECI (parallel bus) of the Atari. The original device by Bernhard Engl from 1987 was reproduced in 2 versions. These are the Freezer XL-XE 2005 and XL-XE 2011. The latter have extended functions such as built-in help, a clock-cycle counter, module emulation, etc. With the Freezer you can freeze, modify, debug, etc. pretty much any software.

https://www.horus.com/~hias/atari/#freezer

RAM expansions

There are or were countless of these. Home-made ones by piggyback-soldering RAMs, the Megaram II and Megaram III by Klaus Peters from the 1980s, the Newell 1 MB, the Freezer 2005 and 2011 as well as the SysCheck bring RAM expansions with them, and the 512k SRAM extension for the Atari XL/XE by Hias.