View source for Atari 8-bit computer peripherals

{{Short description|Atari-related hardware}}
'''Atari 8-bit computer peripherals''' include [[floppy drive]]s, printers, modems, and video game controllers for [[Atari 8-bit computers]], which includes the 400/800, XL, XE, and XEGS.<ref name="Paleotronic">{{cite magazine |title=The Toy Store: Shootout of the games systems |url=https://archive.org/details/paleotronic0418-150dpi/page/n97/mode/2up?q=%22XG-1+light+gun | magazine=Paleotronic | date=April–June 2018 | issue=2 | page=96 | access-date=March 1, 2021}}</ref><ref name="Retro Gamer UK">{{cite magazine |title=Peripheral Power |url=https://archive.org/details/Retro_Gamer_UK_124/page/78/mode/2up?q=%22light+gun%22 |magazine=Retro Gamer UK |issue=124 |page=76 | access-date=March 1, 2021}}</ref><ref name="VGC">{{cite book |last1=Loguidice |first1=Bill |last2=Barton |first2=Matt |title=Vintage Game Consoles |date=2014 |publisher=Focal Press |isbn=9780415856003 |page=66 |url={{Google books | id=wZnpAgAAQBAJ | plainurl=yes | page=66}} |access-date=March 1, 2021}}</ref>

Because the Atari 400/800 8-bit computers were bundled with an [[RF modulator]], stringent [[FCC]] regulations limiting radio emissions applied.  Consequently, the Atari 400/800 systems internal construction use large metal frames as [[Faraday cage|Faraday cages]] to prevent emissions. This prevents the use of internal cards to add connections for peripherals.

To permit easy expansion, Atari developed the [[Atari SIO|SIO]] (Serial Input/Output) bus.  This bus [[Daisy chain (electrical engineering)|daisy chain]]s together all Atari peripherals into a single string. The Atari computer family was designed to be easy for novice users to expand, with one universal connector plug. Peripherals have their own IDs and can deliver downloadable [[device driver|drivers]] to the computer during the boot process. However, the additional electronics in these "intelligent" peripherals made them cost more than the "dumb" devices for other systems.

== List of peripherals ==
The names and the styling of Atari's 8-bit peripherals generally match the contemporary computer family. Thus, they can be divided into one of three groups: the 400/800 era (4xx/8xx), the XL era (10xx), and the XE era (beginning with 'X'). The XL-era naming reflects Atari's original intention to launch an "Atari 1000" line.<ref name="Atari Museum">[http://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/8BITS/1200xl/1200_Proto/1200.html The Atari Sweet-16 Project], atarimuseum.com. Article retrieved 2007-03-18.</ref> These are superficial issues and the majority of peripherals are compatible with any 8-bit Atari computer.

Atari failed to release a large selection of machines and peripherals that were otherwise completed.

=== 400/800 era (1979-1982) ===
* {{anchor|410}} [[Atari Program Recorder|410 Program Recorder]] - a [[tape drive]], 600 bit/s on [[compact cassette]]s
** There are several variants of the 410. Early models were sizeable due largely to a much bigger speaker area at the back, and had square cornered buttons. Later versions were smaller and had buttons that were rounded off on the front.<ref name='atarimus410'>{{Cite web|url=http://www.atarimuseum.de/a8_disk.htm|title = Atari 410, 810, 815, 816, 817, 820, 822, 825, 827, 830, 835, 837, 850, CX 40, CX 70, CX 85, CX 801, CX 852, CX 853 - atarimuseum.de}}</ref>
** The 410 used stereo with the data recorded on one track and the other track holding audio that could be fed through the 400 or 800's sound output (as demonstrated by the language courses).  The tape could also be programmatically stopped and started, provided the 'Play' button was engaged.
* {{anchor|810}} [[Atari 810|810 Disk Drive]] - a 5¼" [[floppy disk]] drive, single-density single-sided, 90&nbsp;[[kilobyte|KB]]
** Pre-1982 drives "have notoriously poor speed regulation", ''[[ANALOG Computing]]'' reported in 1983; unlike other companies, "ATARI did not begin incorporating a reliable separator into the 810 until early 1982".<ref name="moriarty198307">{{Cite magazine |last=Moriarty |first=Brian |date=July–August 1983 |title=Utility #6: Snail |url=https://archive.org/stream/analog-computing-magazine-12#page/n95/mode/2up |magazine=ANALOG Computing |pages=94–97}}</ref>
* {{anchor|820}} 820 40-Column Printer - [[dot matrix]] on adding machine paper
* {{anchor|822}} 822 [[thermal printer|Thermal Printer]] - 40-column thermal on slightly wider paper
* {{anchor|825}} 825 80-Column Printer - dot matrix, used the Centronics interface so required an 850 (repackaged Centronics 737)
* {{anchor|830}} 830 Acoustic Modem - a 300-[[baud]] [[modem]], using an [[acoustic coupler]], used RS-232 so required an 850 (relabelled [[Novation CAT]])
* {{anchor|835}} 835 Direct Connect Modem - a 300-baud modem, direct connect, basic Hayes compatible with SIO interface
* {{anchor|850}} 850 Interface Module - included four [[RS-232]] ports and one [[Centronics]] [[parallel port]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/8BITS/400800/peripherals/Communications/850/index.htm |title=Atari Museum |access-date=2019-07-10 |archive-date=2019-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702214832/http://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/8BITS/400800/peripherals/Communications/850/index.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* {{anchor|cx30}} CX30 [[paddle (game controller)|Paddle Controllers]] - a set of 2 [[potentiometer]]s attached to a single [[Atari joystick port]]. Originally released with the [[Atari 2600|Atari VCS]] console.
* {{anchor|cx40}} [[Atari CX40 joystick|CX40 joystick]] - 8-directional 1-button joystick, originally released with the Atari VCS console. Bundled with some Atari 400/800 packages and also sold separately. Originally all-black, a version with a matching gray base was later bundled with the [[Atari XEGS]].
* {{anchor|cx70}} CX70 Light Pen - a [[light pen]]. Bundled with demonstration software on cassette
* {{anchor|cx85}} CX85 [[numerical keypad|Numerical Keypad]] - external keypad that plugs into the joystick ports.

==== Prototypes and vaporware ====
* {{anchor|815}} 815 Dual Disk Drive - dual 5¼" floppy disks, double-density single-sided, 180&nbsp;KB (only small number of prototypes produced)

{{Gallery
|width=160
|height=170
|File:Atari 410.jpg|410 Tape Drive (later version)<ref name='atarimus410' />
|File:Atari 850.jpg|850 Expansion System
|File:Atari-CX85.jpg|Atari CX85
}}

=== XL era (1982-1984) ===
* {{anchor|1010}} 1010 Program Recorder - a tape drive, a smaller replacement for the 410
*[[Atari 1020|1020 Color Printer]] - a 40-column [[plotter]] with 4 pens
* {{anchor|1025}} 1025 Printer - 80-column dot matrix ({{tooltip|2=original equipment manufacturer|OEM}} [[Oki Electric Industry|Okidata]] ML-80)
* {{anchor|1027}} 1027 Letter Quality Printer - 80-column [[letter quality printer|letter quality]] that printed with a 5-wheels-on-a-drum system kept inked by a top-mounted roller ({{tooltip|2=original equipment manufacturer|OEM}} [[Mannesmann]] [[Tally (company)|Tally]] Riteman LQ)
* {{anchor|1029}} 1029 Programmable Printer - 80-column lower-quality 7-pin dot matrix sold in Europe ([[Seikosha]] mechanism)
* {{anchor|1030}} 1030 Modem - 300 baud, direct connect with built in communications software. 
* {{anchor|1050}} [[Atari 1050|1050 Dual-Density Disk Drive]] - 5¼" floppy disk, "enhanced density" format single-sided, 130&nbsp;KB
* {{anchor|1064}} 1064 Memory Module - 64&nbsp;KB memory expansion for 600XL
* {{anchor|cx75}} CX75 Light Pen - a [[light pen]]. Bundled with the AtariGraphics drawing program on [[ROM cartridge|cartridge]].
* {{anchor|cx77}} CX77 Touch Tablet - a [[graphics tablet]]. Bundled with the AtariArtist drawing program on cartridge.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=-rbIcQgxMGAC&pg=PT34  Image Technology], By Don Leavitt, Popular Photography, Dec 1984, Page 140, ''...the Okimate 10...will also work with Atari Artist,...''</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=pqIoAAAAMAAJ Get the magic touch with the Atari Touch Table], Science Digest, Volume 92, 1984, Page 83, ''...The ATARI Touch Tablet with Atari- Artist"' software cartridge turns your TV into a magic palette of 128 dazzling colors. The Touch Tablet works a little like an electronic slate. Hook it into any ATARI Computer and what you draw on the tablet ...''</ref><ref>[http://www.a8museum.com/rx8053-atariartist.html RX8053 Atariartist]{{Dead link|date=June 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''Atariartist came out in 1983 as a bundle package with the CX-77 Touch Tablet unit. The way it works is you start the program and use the pen to draw on the tablet and the images appear on the screen. This kind software would later be used in the early credit card signing devices in the early 90s. ''</ref>
* {{anchor|cx80}} CX80 Trak-Ball Controller - a [[trackball]], also contains a switch for joystick emulation

==== Prototypes and vaporware ====
* {{anchor|1053}} 1053 - a 5¼" floppy drive, looks like a 1050 but double-sided double-density, 360 KB 
* {{anchor|1055}} 1055 - a 3½" floppy drive, single-side enhanced-density
* {{anchor|1090}} 1090 XL Expansion System - a case connected to the [[Parallel Bus Interface|PBI port]], with 5 slots intended for various expansion cards

{{Gallery
|width=160
|height=170
|File:Atari 1010 tape drive.jpg|1010 Tape Drive
|File:Atari 1020 plotter.jpg|1020 4-color Plotter
|File:Atari_1027_Printer.jpg|1027 Printer
|File:Atari_1050_disk_drive.jpg|1050 Disk Drive
}}

=== XE era (1985 onward) ===
* {{anchor|xep80}} XEP80 Interface Module - provides 80-column display and a Centronics parallel interface for a printer, controlled by [[National Semiconductor|NS]]405, an [[8048]] based chip. Attached via a joystick port controlled at 15625 baud horizontal video timing.<ref name="Hans-Christof Tuchen">[http://www.mathyvannisselroy.nl/hct2.htm NS405: the heart of the XEP80]</ref>
* {{anchor|xc11}} XC11 Program Recorder - a tape drive
* {{anchor|xc12}} XC12 Program Recorder - a tape drive (small model like the 1010, sold worldwide). It was based on an earlier tape drive, Phonemark PM-4401A, not manufactured by Atari.<ref name="faq-program-recorders">{{Cite FTP |last=Current |first=Michael D. |title=Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions |date=3 April 2014 |at=3.1.1) What are the Atari 410, 1010, XC11, & XC12 Program Recorders? |url=ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/faqs/atari-8-bit/faq |accessdate=25 May 2014 |server=FTP server |url-status=dead |format=TXT }}</ref> A number of similar models were released, not marketed by Atari, mainly in [[Eastern Europe]] and [[Latin America]], including these:<ref name="faq-other-recorders">{{Cite FTP |last=Current |first=Michael D. |title=Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions |date=3 April 2014 |at=3.1.2) What other cassette recorders can I use with my Atari? |url=ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/faqs/atari-8-bit/faq |accessdate=25 May 2014 |server=FTP server |url-status=dead |format=TXT }}</ref>
** XCA12 (same case as XC12)
** CA12 (same case as XC12)
** XL12 tape drive (an XC12 with minor changes)
* {{anchor|xf551}} [[Atari XF551|XF551 Disk Drive]] - 5¼" floppy disk, double-density double-sided, 360&nbsp;KB
* {{anchor|xmm801}} XMM801 Dot-Matrix Graphics Printer - 80-column
* {{anchor|xdm121}} XDM121 Letter-Quality Daisy-Wheel Printer - 80-column
* {{anchor|xm301}} XM301 Modem - 300 baud
* {{anchor|sx212}} SX212 Modem - 1200 baud (also included RS-232 for use on Atari ST computers)
* {{anchor|xg1}} XG-1 - a [[light gun]], bundled with the [[Atari XEGS]]<ref name="XEGS info">{{cite web | title=Atari XEGS Information | first=Matthew | last=Ratcliff | url=https://www.atarihq.com/atcomp/xegs.html | website=AtariHQ | access-date=February 28, 2021}}</ref>

====Prototypes and vaporware====
* {{anchor|xf351}} XF351 - 3½" floppy drive (never released)
* {{anchor|xf521}} XF521 - 5¼" floppy drive, 1050 compatible, XE style (never released)
* {{anchor|xc1441}} XC1411 - 14" [[composite monitor]] (never released)
* {{anchor|xm128}} XM128 - 12" [[monochrome monitor]] (never made)

{{Gallery
|width=160
|height=170
|File:Atari XE joystick (colour restored).jpg|CX40 joystick (XE grey version)
|File:Atari xc12 cassette data recorder.jpg|Atari XC12 program recorder
|File:Atari XG-1 light gun.jpg|[[Atari XG-1 light gun]]
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* [https://github.com/RespeQt/RespeQt RespeQt] — open-source software emulator of Atari peripherals
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{{Atari hardware}}
{{Third generation game consoles}}
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[[Category:Atari 8-bit computers]]
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