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RF Generation Message Board | Collecting | Collection Connection | Atari 2600 Trouble 0 Members and 14 Guests are viewing this topic. « previous next »
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Author Topic: Atari 2600 Trouble  (Read 6518 times)
leej07
Sega 32X
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United States
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« on: November 03, 2014, 03:19:46 PM »
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?
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Have you played Atari today?

Sega does what Nintendon't.

"I'd buy that for a dollar!" - Smash T.V.
singlebanana
Director
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United States
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« Reply #1 on: November 03, 2014, 03:40:44 PM »
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.
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RFGen Co-Director; pinball, 2600 & NES nutjob, co-host of the RFGen
 Community Playthrough and the RFGen Playcast. Listen/Download on iTunes and Podbean: www.rfgplaycast.com

Complete licensed NA NES, U.S. SMS, NA Vectrex, and Microvision sets!, 11 left for 7800, 25 for 5200, 42 for Colecovision
mumboking
Do you feel the heartbeat of the land?
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« Reply #2 on: November 03, 2014, 03:50:50 PM »
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?
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leej07
Sega 32X
**
United States
Posts: 280


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« Reply #3 on: November 03, 2014, 05:05:04 PM »
I took it apart, but noticed nothing obvious.
I'll try again when I can.
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Have you played Atari today?

Sega does what Nintendon't.

"I'd buy that for a dollar!" - Smash T.V.
leej07
Sega 32X
**
United States
Posts: 280


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« Reply #4 on: November 04, 2014, 12:23:56 PM »
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.
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Have you played Atari today?

Sega does what Nintendon't.

"I'd buy that for a dollar!" - Smash T.V.
Shadow Kisuragi
Variant Collector
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« Reply #5 on: November 04, 2014, 12:24:54 PM »
Birthday cleaning! Pretty cool, actually.
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mumboking
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« Reply #6 on: November 04, 2014, 12:34:19 PM »
Quote from: leej07 on November 04, 2014, 12:23:56 PM
According to the label, it was manufactured exactly 34 years ago today. So I guess today is my Light Sixer's birthday, lol.
Mine was made on the 17th of February 1981.
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leej07
Sega 32X
**
United States
Posts: 280


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« Reply #7 on: November 04, 2014, 12:46:55 PM »
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.
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Have you played Atari today?

Sega does what Nintendon't.

"I'd buy that for a dollar!" - Smash T.V.
singlebanana
Director
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United States
Posts: 7082


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« Reply #8 on: November 04, 2014, 12:53:33 PM »
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.
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RFGen Co-Director; pinball, 2600 & NES nutjob, co-host of the RFGen
 Community Playthrough and the RFGen Playcast. Listen/Download on iTunes and Podbean: www.rfgplaycast.com

Complete licensed NA NES, U.S. SMS, NA Vectrex, and Microvision sets!, 11 left for 7800, 25 for 5200, 42 for Colecovision
leej07
Sega 32X
**
United States
Posts: 280


 Stats
« Reply #9 on: November 04, 2014, 12:57:02 PM »
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.
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Have you played Atari today?

Sega does what Nintendon't.

"I'd buy that for a dollar!" - Smash T.V.
leej07
Sega 32X
**
United States
Posts: 280


 Stats
« Reply #10 on: November 04, 2014, 01:06:09 PM »
This is the part that seems to be trouble. Bumping it causes the screen to go crazy. What is this part?

* 2014-11-04 12.04.10.jpg (461.5 KB, 904x770 - viewed 330 times.)
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Have you played Atari today?

Sega does what Nintendon't.

"I'd buy that for a dollar!" - Smash T.V.
leej07
Sega 32X
**
United States
Posts: 280


 Stats
« Reply #11 on: November 04, 2014, 01:16:43 PM »
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.
« Last Edit: November 04, 2014, 01:18:45 PM by leej07 » Logged
Have you played Atari today?

Sega does what Nintendon't.

"I'd buy that for a dollar!" - Smash T.V.
mumboking
Do you feel the heartbeat of the land?
PlayStation
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United Kingdom
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« Reply #12 on: November 04, 2014, 01:21:44 PM »
I'd say that's the RF modulator. It generates the video signal.
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leej07
Sega 32X
**
United States
Posts: 280


 Stats
« Reply #13 on: November 04, 2014, 01:24:54 PM »
Do RF modulators break frequently? Can they be fixed?
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Have you played Atari today?

Sega does what Nintendon't.

"I'd buy that for a dollar!" - Smash T.V.
mumboking
Do you feel the heartbeat of the land?
PlayStation
****
United Kingdom
Posts: 2683


WWW Stats
« Reply #14 on: November 04, 2014, 01:27:06 PM »
You say that bumping it makes the screen go crazy... Sounds like a loose solder joint.
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