Before You Buy
Use this chapter as a step-by-step checklist to decide which SidecarTridge Keyboard Emulator variant fits your machine and your installation scenario.
Table of contents
Step 1: Confirm the target machine
Choose the hardware variant that matches your Atari computer.
Croissant (internal)
For Atari ST and Atari STe computers with an internal power supply and the internal 7-pin keyboard connector.Soufflè (external dongle)
For Atari Mega ST and Atari Mega STe computers with the RJ12 keyboard connector on the left side of the computer.
Step 2: Understand the installation impact
Before buying, make sure you are comfortable with how each variant is installed.
Croissant (internal)
This board is installed inside the computer enclosure.
The metal shield must be removed. The shield acts as a Faraday cage and will make Bluetooth connectivity effectively unusable if left in place.Soufflè (external dongle)
Plug the device RJ11 cable into the computer RJ12 connector and the hardware installation is complete.As a practical recommendation, avoid very power-hungry USB keyboards or accessories.
All USB devices connected to Soufflè are powered from the Atari Mega ST / Mega STe 5V rail, so a stable power supply is important.
Step 3: Check the supported devices first
There are a huge number of USB and Bluetooth devices in the wild, and not all of them behave the same.
Before buying additional peripherals, check the list of tested devices in the
Compatibility section.
Avoid unknown or very low-quality devices unless you are willing to experiment.
Step 4: Ready to order
If everything above looks correct, you are ready to order.
Go to:
https://store.sidecartridge.com/
After receiving the device, continue with the next chapter: