Need some help with Atari 2600

[+xucaen]

I've been trying all week to fix my Atari 2600. The problem is static. First I cleaned everything, including the ends of the cable and the RF connector on the board, but still had static. I bought a new RF cable but still had static. But I found that when I pressed on the connector on the board a certain way I got perfect video. So I thought maybe the RF connector on the board needed to be re-soldered. Of course I had problems with this. First, the solder drips into the hole of the RF connector and blocks it. I had to keep re-soldering the component until finally I think it can not be soldered any more - the etching on the board itself are starting to come apart. Today I soldered on copper wire to the leads to make the connection and now I am back where I started from. Static, but if I press on the RF connector I get clear video. At this point I am thinking I need a whole new switchboard replacement. I don't have the soldering skills or technical knowledge to start taking apart the RF modulator or to do an AV mod. I just wanted to play some games.

 

Can someone please give me some advice? What is the best approach to fixing this RF problem? Does a bad RF female connector cause these symptoms as I have described or is there something more? I almost wonder if I should just solder on a coax connector and use a standard coax cable instead of the RCA type cable. maybe I'd get a better connection? But if the problem is in the RF modulator itself then I'll just be throwing away my money and creating more frustration for myself.

 

 

[yllawwally]

Pushing on the rf connector with force, causes the picture to improve. That sounds like a bad connector. Try attaching wires from the back of the connector, to the cable, and see if that helps.

[alexend]

I'm having a problem with a Atari 2600 also, that I bought already modded.

 

http://youtu.be/dokSXUmgo8g

 

The game screen start moving during gameplay, while other games screen moves vertically from the starts, sometimes without sounds either. While other games works.

 

The guy who sold it to me says it could be a compatibility issue with my TV (Panasonic 50" plasma).

 

Any one would have an idea about this problem?

[Osgeld]

why dont you start a thread instead of randomly attaching your problem to multiple threads

[alexend]

Sorry, I was posting from my work and network policy there didn't let my start a thread, only reply to existing one. :

 

I decided to by another Atari from ebay with the batari mod, according to seller. found out that the mode done by my previous seller seems pretty cheap (Custom homemade board, not much on it.)

[Andromeda Stardust]

My first post on Atariage. Replacing the 5V regulator and the "chicklet" capacitor cured my problems. Replacing the RCA cable with proper coax didn't hurt either.

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/199541-atari-2600-4-switcher-intermittant-fuzzy-reception/

[zylon]

Sometimes, cleaning the grounding points for the switchboard (where the screws go through) helps a lot.