RF Generation Message Board

Hey guys, I'm having an issue with the 2600 I just bought yesterday.
It's a Light Sixer, and plays games perfectly, however, I have to tap the console firmly several times in order to get a picture to appear on the tv screen. Additionally, even the smallest bump to the system causes the picture to go. Not only that, but using the game select switch causes the screen to go haywire. Has anyone ever heard of this type of anomaly in a 2600 before, and if so, what is causing it, and can it be fixed?

Your best bet is to take it apart and clean it really well. Sometimes those switches can get gunked up over time and just need a good cleaning. Perhaps not making good contact or going up/down far enough is causing your issue. I'd also clean the connectors that house the board from your cart when you insert it. If those are dirty, you could be getting a bad connection, which can cause your system to act up.

I have a light sixer with problems too. I've only tested it once though.
My power connection is loose and I can't seem to start any games. I've even tried a Mega Drive controller.
Maybe I'll test it out again some time and seek advice on any problems that still exist.

@singlebanana You think I should do the same?

I took it apart, but noticed nothing obvious.
I'll try again when I can.

UPDATE: I took the console apart, as was suggested, and tried cleaning it out, but have yet to retest it.
I thought it'd be interesting to report that the label taped inside that has the date of manufacture stamped on it is still intact. According to the label, it was manufactured exactly 34 years ago today. So I guess today is my Light Sixer's birthday, lol.

Birthday cleaning! Pretty cool, actually.

Mine was made on the 17th of February 1981.

I am sad to report that cleaning has not fixed the problem. In fact, the problem has gotten WORSE since yesterday. Yesterday, a few firm taps were all that was required to get a clear picture to come up on screen. Today, the picture will not improve no matter what I try. Tapping only makes it worse now. Is this thing just beyond repair? Can no one tell what is going on? I have never seen this kind of problem in a 2600 before.

If "tapping" was getting you a better picture, then it probably means you have a loose connection somewhere. Depending on your tools available and ability to solder, I'm not sure how much you can go past merely cleaning it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIfOpBuUxG4

Oh no... not again. A loose connection is what ruined my last one. My attempts to repair by soldering were disastrous, leaving me with a disabled system till I can finally get an expert to fix it.

This is the part that seems to be trouble. Bumping it causes the screen to go crazy. What is this part?

Does anybody know what that little box is?  This problem is driving me crazy, because I'm looking inside this thing, and I can't find any loose connections, but the problem persists, and it's practically unusable.

I'd say that's the RF modulator. It generates the video signal.

Do RF modulators break frequently? Can they be fixed?

You say that bumping it makes the screen go crazy... Sounds like a loose solder joint.

That's what I thought, too, but I've looked all over the motherboard, and I can't find any solder points that appear damaged in any way. By all appearances, the board looks perfect.

At any rate, I believe this is far beyond my ability to repair, so I have no idea what I'm going to do with it.

The picture remains snowy, and the sound annoyingly filled with static, no matter what game I put in.

The game select switch also sometimes makes the picture clearer, but I have no idea why.

My conclusion is this Light Sixer is nothing more than a clunker, good for display and nothing more. Oh well.

you could probably find someone to do the repairs for you, if not locally then i'm sure someone on here would be willing if you don't mind paying round trip shipping on it.

I doubt I can afford to pay someone to fix it.
I still have no idea what the problem is. If it is the RF modulator, then why do all three switches on the right of the cart slot cause the picture to screw up, but the three switches on the left don't cause any problem? I've been told it's a solder problem, but surely the RF modulator and three right switches don't share the same solder points? The thing is acting like wires are crossed somehow.

Ok, it gets even weirder.

Sitting the system upeneded on its front, with the back facing upward, the games work perfectly. I can manipulate all switches, and the screen does not go out. Sitting it upright in the proper manner, everything goes haywire. I'm beyond confused now, but I'm giving up the hunt for info. Thanks for the tips, though. At least I found a bizarre way to play atari.

Eh, I'll be remaining on the lookout for a third 2600.

Third time's the charm, as they say.

UPDATE: I feel like an idiot. I just decided to try swapping the small tv switch box from the one I've been using to the one that came with the Light Sixer... It now works perfectly, except for a little static.
I have no idea why the Light Sixer acts up so badly with the other box, and I don't care. I wish I had tried this simple solution hours ago.

I agree. Depending on how bad your solder joints are, sometimes you can simply touch the top of them with a hot soldering iron tip and clean them up without adding solder.

I'll keep that in mind. For now, swapping the tv switch box appears to have alleviated the problem. I'll be watching this system closely to see if the problem crops up again.

Like I said, this Light Sixer is very finicky.

Whoa! You're using the old switch box?  That could be part of your issue. Go to Radio Shack and pick one of these up (an RCA to RF TV adapter. No need for that box with this direct connection adapter.

[img width=600 height=800]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bdpEn886Ihg/TvlGRZnXLjI/AAAAAAAAChk/JUW0FWbILRQ/s1600/15-Radio+Shack+Coax+Coaxial+to+RCA+Adapter+Connector.JPG[/img]

I'll see if I can pick one up this weekend. I'm just glad the problem appears to not be internal after all. My guess is the other switch box was making a partial connection, hence the extremely snowy screen. Tapping the console must have somehow caused the box to temporarily make a full connection.
It is telling that the screen issues completely cleared up as soon as I swapped the boxes.

Yep, that sounds like that is more than likely your problem after your last test. Well, at least you have a clean system. :)

Ugh. The problem keeps cropping up. Every time I think I found the solution, it comes back. I think the game select switch is interfering with the RF modulator somehow. The problem keeps returning when I use that switch. I am seriously starting to think this Light Sixer is more trouble than it's worth.

That sounds like the Game Select switch isn't properly grounded. That happens on a couple of 2600s I have as well.

Is there any way to fix it?

Certainly. Check to see if there's any missing shielding around the inside of the switch area there if possible.
I'm no where near familiar with the internals of a 2600 - just going off basic electrician knowledge here.

I'll check. I'm unsure what it's supposed to look like.

try some youtube videos like that one singlebanana linked to earlier, those always help with basic repairs or at least to see what it should look like.