Atari 2600 Trouble

[leej07]

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.

[leej07]

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.

[techwizard]

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.

[leej07]

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.

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.

[leej07]

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.

[leej07]

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

Third time's the charm, as they say.

[leej07]

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.

[singlebanana]

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

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.

[leej07]

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

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.

[singlebanana]

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

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.

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]

[leej07]

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.

[singlebanana]

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

[leej07]

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.

[Shadow Kisuragi]

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

[leej07]

Is there any way to fix it?