3 Atari Pole Position's! Can you guy's help me get one running?

Thomas

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3 Atari Pole Position's! Can you guy's help me get one running?

Hey guy's I have one of my grail projects that I would love to get up and running. I have mass quantities of spare parts here as well. You see I have three of these pp in my house atm. Two are PP1's and I have one that has been made into a PP2.

I also have 5 extra board sets on top of the three that are in the machines.
So I am hoping that with the help of all of your guys I can breath some life back into one of these 30 year old pieces of history!

So here are some pictures...

http://mrsalvage.com/3_Atari_Pole_Positions/

My first questions is what kind of monitor is this?
The second is where in heck do I plug in that small plug for the monitor?
The third is what is that board plugged onto the front of the pcb cage?

One I get that sorted I think I can try to fire it up. But of course I will wait till someone says I can go for it. I don't want to fry anything...

----

Also I have one of Dokert's Atari Power Brick -A/R I/II Test aids. This will be the first time I have a need to use it.

I am sure I will have a lot of problems to get this bad boy fixed. I hear these are monsters...

So what do you think... Can any of you guys help me out with this beast?

Prepare to qualify!

Tia
Billy
 
PP

I have good luck with those monitors and they have a good pic when they are working correctly.


The small plug you are talking about is probably the extra sync connection that is not used on the 202 monitor. It just hangs there.
 
I never did find a spot for the plug. So I fired the machine up and the monitor came right on. It really is a nice looking monitor so I am kinda stoked.

Now I am sitting here trying to understand how to use Dokert's Atari test harness's. I haven't seen any posts about testing two ar2-1's in the machine at the same time. So I am a little lost but still reading everything that has been posted about his test harnesses.

Hoping Dave stops by to clarify some things.

Thanks for the post man...
 
Harness

I got a set from Dave but I have not tried them yet. I would assume on Poles you would have to test 1 at a time or have 2 of the test harness. Or you could do it the old fashion way and bend over.
 
Yeah you would only be able to test one at a time, and honestly pole position isn't a game I'd use to test ARIIs on.

FYI - Each ARII feeds one board in the two board set, so if you see one board has 5v and the other doesn't, then only one of your ARIIs isn't working right.

That is a Matsushita monitor that mostly came in Pole Position, and from what I heard they do make a nice pic when they work. The board is funky - its basically a tv minus a bunch o parts. I have a parts one here I'm literally about to throw out if you need anything from it.

Both cabs look good - wish mine did! I also don't see anything burnt on the ARII like you normally would on a pole position. Read up on the sense mod for Pole Position.

Last but not least even if you get one working, you may want to consider running some wire to all the test points on each board for the +5v - factory wiring and edge connector struggled with the current needed to run those boards. Not sure where I saw or read it but I think it was like 5v @ 11amps!
 
Yeah you would only be able to test one at a time, and honestly pole position isn't a game I'd use to test ARIIs on.

Ok noted but I don't have anything else but an old centi to test atari with and that use's the -02 boards...

FYI - Each ARII feeds one board in the two board set, so if you see one board has 5v and the other doesn't, then only one of your ARIIs isn't working right.

Yep thanks for the heads up... I understand this part.

That is a Matsushita monitor that mostly came in Pole Position, and from what I heard they do make a nice pic when they work. The board is funky - its basically a tv minus a bunch o parts. I have a parts one here I'm literally about to throw out if you need anything from it.

I would like to talk about this some more... Mine is really clean the best I can tell so far but better safe than sorry.

Both cabs look good - wish mine did! I also don't see anything burnt on the ARII like you normally would on a pole position. Read up on the sense mod for Pole Position.

I tested all 6 ar2-1's I'll post up what I have in the next thread. Not good...

Last but not least even if you get one working, you may want to consider running some wire to all the test points on each board for the +5v - factory wiring and edge connector struggled with the current needed to run those boards. Not sure where I saw or read it but I think it was like 5v @ 11amps!

I have found a few mods for the pp1 and 2's... I should relink them in this thread to make sure I haven't missed anything.

Thanks guys for all of your posts. Everyone of them helps out a lot!
 
http://mrsalvage.com/3_Atari_Pole_Positions/Dokerts_Atari_Test_Aid_Instruction.jpg

Okay based on Dokert's instructions above in my link this is what I have...
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Power Brick
+10.3 vdc = 0.77 then with the second set of ar2-1's it only made it to 0.62. This test struck me strange as the meter went from 0.0 in a very slow climb up to 0.77. The second time it took the meter at least a minute or so to get to 0.62?

36 vac = 37.1 or 37.2 or 37.3

6.3 vac = 06.0 or 06.1

-----
AR2-1's six different boards...

Test 1, b1=0, b2=0, b3=0, b4=0.04, b5=0, b6 not tested can see its burnt.
Test 2, b1=0, b2=0, b3=0, b4=0, b5=0, b6 same as above
Test 3, b1-0, b2=0, b3=0, b4=0, b5=0, b6 same as above
Test 4, b1=0, b2=0, b3=0, b4=0, b5=0, b6 same as above
Test 5, b1=0, b2=0, b3=0, b4=0, b5=0, b6 same as above
-----

So two boards after closer inspection look fried. The other four look fine. Only one produced any results whatsoever. That was on board 4 test 1.
I had a whopping 0.04 lol...

Now what guys? I am still not sure if dokert's harness was meant to be used this way.
 
Last edited:
Ok, this is going to be a bit long-winded. First, verify that the power brick is putting out the required voltages by plugging in the Power Brick portion of the Test Aid only. The voltages are listed on the attached laminated card.

Next, you will only be able to test 1 A/R II at a time. Before you plug them into the Test Aid, give them a good visual inspection for burnt components. Especially R29 and or R30, as these are a very common failure point. Again, the instructions for testing the different voltages are listed on the laminated card for the A/R II portion of the Test Aid.

LMK
 
Ok, this is going to be a bit long-winded. First, verify that the power brick is putting out the required voltages by plugging in the Power Brick portion of the Test Aid only. The voltages are listed on the attached laminated card.

Yep the power brick portion was used as stand alone with the readings above. I'd say I am a little shy?

+10.3 vdc = 0.77 then with the second set of ar2-1's it only made it to 0.62

How can I fix this issue?

Next, you will only be able to test 1 A/R II at a time. Before you plug them into the Test Aid, give them a good visual inspection for burnt components. Especially R29 and or R30, as these are a very common failure point. Again, the instructions for testing the different voltages are listed on the laminated card for the A/R II portion of the Test Aid.

LMK

I didn't get much love on the ar2 boards...

Thanks Dave!
 
No 10.3 on the power brick is either a bad fuse or a bad BR (bridge rectifier)

Remove all fuese and test with a meter. If all fuses test good, pull the power brick out of the game and turn it over. Test the bridge rectifier, and verify that it is good. If you do not know how to test a bridge rectifier just say so, and I will link you to the video that I made a while back on how to do it.
 
I will go back thru the fuses again maybe I made a mistake.

Also please link me to that video of the test Dave... I have no idea how to do that.

I wish I could stay up later tonight but I need some sleep for work tomorrow...

I will pick this thread back up when I get off work and run through what your have suggested.

Thanks for your time!
 
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