mendoza@AEROSPACE.ARPA (07/31/86)
The line-eater devours the tripe ration -- More --
The line-eater vomits!
This posting is a small review of the Sams Computerfacts (tm) technical
service data book on the Atari 520ST (in response to a previous posting asking
about the availability of schematics, et al.). This book is one of many in
a series of computer data books, and it includes schematics, waveforms, parts
lists, and service checks for the Atari 520ST computer, monochrome monitor,
disk drive, and power supplies.
Before going any further, it's time for the caveats: I am not an EE
(even worse, I studied theoretical physics in college), and I am not the
world's best schematic reader. I find that the schematics given in the "book"
are a little more difficult to follow than those in the developer's kit, but
they seem adequate for their purpose. If you have a reasonbly good
oscilloscope, the Sams schematics are better since they have waveform photos
next to the node to be tested. Another advantage of the Sams documentation is
the presence of pin reference diagrams for each of the IC package types and a
logic diagram for the LS parts (a tri-state buffer and a tri-state latch).
The servic information and troubleshooting tips seem ok for the gross
problems, e.g. "my computer doesn't work," or "I'm not getting any sound out
of the monitor;" but it wouldn't be much good for subtle problems that one
might encounter when making unauthorized memory upgrades. The troubleshooting
tips cover both the monochrome and color monitors. The information on the
disk drive gives the procudures to trouble shoot and to make adjustments,
although many of the adjustments would require an alignment diskette.
The book (actually three pamphlet-style books stapled together in a nice
folder) seems to be quite nice overall, but I haven't yet had to try fixing a
machine with it. It covers the 520ST with the Rev B board and TOS in RAM.
Most of the information should be useful to ROM TOS and to 1040ST owners.
The major drawbacks of the book is that it doesn't contain schematics or
adjustments for the color monitor. Minor gripes: the section marked
"Monitor" contains the disk drive info and vice versa, and the price I paid
($39.95) seems a trifle high.
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Lee Mendoza
mendoza@aerospace.arpa
"Standard Disclaimers apply, except where prohibited by law or local custom."