Can't get tv to lock-on to Atari signal

[captainthin]

Hi all,

 

Apologies if I'm posting this in the wrong place (just signed up). I recently acquired an Atari 2600, and have been having a few difficulties that I'm hoping you might be able to help me with. I first set-up the system using a switchbox. Couldn't get the tv to lock-on to the signal at first (switched between channels 3 & 4 on the console without success). When I tuned to those channels on the tv, I'd just get static—except for a brief period when I'd see the picture. In other words, if it the Atari was set to channel 3, and I had the tv tuned to channel 3, I wouldn't see a picture. But if I then pressed channel-up on the tv (ie, went up to channel 4), I'd get a brief flickering of the Atari signal before it fell back into static. Eventually I got the idea to use the auto-tune feature on the tv to see if it could lock on to the signal that way, and success! Had crystal clear picture and colour.

 

Only played it for a few minutes each day over the next few days (as I had a lot going on). But the first day I had with time to sit down and really play, I noticed that after awhile the picture/colour went a bit fuzzy. Thinking the tv had simply "lost" the signal again, I auto-tuned it. No success this time. I can still see the signal when I switch between channels 3 and 4, but I can't make the darn tv lock on.

 

I thought maybe there was an issue with my switchbox, so I just waited patiently until my rf-to-coax converter arrived (I'd already ordered one online). Once it arrived, I replacedt the switchbox with it and tried again. Still see the signal between channels 3 and 4, but I can't get it to lock on when I auto-tune the tv.

 

Any ideas what the problem might be? Could it be that the output from the Atari has "wavered" over the past number of years, so that's it's not a clear 3 or 4 anymore (but somewhere in between). Anything you can think of to correct that signal output?

 

The tv I'm using is not particularly new; it must be getting on 13 years old by now. Tried also setting it up on my 1-year old digital tv upstairs, but can't get any signal at all on that (I think I've heard somewhere along the line that really new tvs have trouble with Ataris).

Thoughts?

[Muzz73]

I seem to think that the 2600 was switchable between channels 2 & 3, wasn't it?

[Trade-N-Games]

have you tried newer system like nes or snes with RF hook up to see if they work correct on chan 3? I have to trick my TV sometimes and my atari hookup feeds into nes rf and i turn on NES first then turn on Atari and quick turn off NES and the picture stays.

[captainthin]

You're right, of course. It switches between 2 & 3 (miswrote that in my previous post). But it's between channels 3 & 4 that I get the signal briefly.

 

I seem to think that the 2600 was switchable between channels 2 & 3, wasn't it?

[captainthin]

have you tried newer system like nes or snes with RF hook up to see if they work correct on chan 3? I have to trick my TV sometimes and my atari hookup feeds into nes rf and i turn on NES first then turn on Atari and quick turn off NES and the picture stays.

 

I've used my nes without a problem on channel 3 before, but not since setting up the Atari. I'll give your suggestion a try this weekend sometime. Thanks

 

Anybody have an idea as to what's causing the problem itself? A work-around will be great, but if there's a permanent fix that would be better.

[captainthin]

have you tried newer system like nes or snes with RF hook up to see if they work correct on chan 3? I have to trick my TV sometimes and my atari hookup feeds into nes rf and i turn on NES first then turn on Atari and quick turn off NES and the picture stays.

 

I've used my nes without a problem on channel 3 before, but not since setting up the Atari. I'll give your suggestion a try this weekend sometime. Thanks

 

Anybody have an idea as to what's causing the problem itself? A work-around will be great, but if there's a permanent fix that would be better.

[+Cafeman]

I have to hook up my atari Systems to a vcr via RF, then connect the vcr to the TV via its composite rca cables. This works great. Go buy an old vcr at goodwill.

[freewheel]

OK, you've already eliminated the switchbox, and still have the same problem. You now have 2 or 3 options available:

 

1. Try on different TVs. It's possible that your 2600 just outputs a pretty weak RF signal, and the TV you're using it on isn't quite picking it up (at least not consistently). Test on older TVs as much as you can. If you still see the same problem on multiple TVs, then:

 

2. As suggested, get an old VCR. The tuner in the VCR will act like a signal amplifier. This often helps with consoles that just won't work on their own. If you still have no success, then:

 

3. You're probably looking at a composite or S-video mod. Depending on 2600 model, you can quickly clip some leads to the appropriate places on the mainboard and test out if this gives you a decent video signal or not. I'd say that with 90% of the 2600 units that I stumble upon that have bad RF, I've managed to easily get a signal with a half-dozen wires clipped in (and a few resistors, pots, etc). Something about the RF circuits degrades or dies over time, but the original video outputs are as good as day one.