Display Problem via Component Connection through DVD Recorder

[Dave S.]

I have the following set up:

 

 

 

Sears Tele-Games Video Arcade "Heavy Sixer"

 

• Replaced original RF cable with a RG6 Quad Shielded Coaxial cable with Gold plated ends connnected to the "Heavy Sixer" using a gold plated Coaxial to RF adapter

 

• RF cable (the RG6 Coaxial) into DVD Recorder (Toshiba D-R4) Coaxial Input

 

Link to more info on Toshiba D-R4:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-D-R4-Multi-Drive-DVD-Recorder/dp/B0007UVYOY/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

 

• Component output of DVD Recorder into Vizio E390-A1 Television Component inputs (RCA for audio cable for Audio Left and Right channels)

 

Link to more info on Vizio E390-A1

 

http://www.amazon.com/VIZIO-E390-A1-39-inch-1080p-60Hz/dp/B009IBXEH8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422643716&sr=8-1&keywords=Vizio+E390-A1

 

 

The picture looks great! I'm very happy with this set up except for one thing. When playing some games a channel display intermittently appears on the upper right corner of the screen that says "3" or sometimes "3 Stereo SAP". It's not always there, but appears intermittently and it only does this on some games - not all. For example, Space Invaders does not provoke this problem while Ms. Pac-Man does.

 

I tried unhooking the audio connection to the TV because it appeared to be related to the game sound (i.e. in Ms. Pac-Man if I'm eating dots then there is the sound that goes with that action and the unwanted display shows up, but if I stop and don't move it goes away). Nevertheless, removing the audio cables did not make a difference.

 

I have included a picture below to depict the problem.

 

Does anyone have suggestions on how to fix this issue?

 

Thanks!

 

Dave

 

 

[SoundGammon]

If you can, get a s-video output from your 2600. You won't believe the difference. I run mine through a Samsung DVD recorder that up scales to 1080i, but I like the 720p better!

[fiddlepaddle]

The Atari 2600 creates the video signal in a way that provides both more flexibility, and less standardization than more modern RF sources. Most CRTs have no problem with this, but modern stuff tends to rely more on the presumed "standard". Some games produce slightly different video signals than others due to number of scan lines. This variation may be interpreted differently by your DVD recorder or TV, causing it to behave this way. A different DVD recorder and/or different TV may show different results. (This is my assumption of what is causing the anomaly you are seeing).

[Dave S.]

Thanks for the information! It's too bad b/c if it didn't do that I would be more than happy with the picture quality. I guess I'll have to save up for getting the mod done (probably go with electronicsentimentalities). Thanks again!

[Video]

Video recorder is probably expecting a standardized more modern video standard. The 2600 is a strange resolution and many modern players (and even TV's) can't properly display it.

 

As for the 3sap thing, some recorders will display what info is going into them, kind of how your old TV might display the channel they are on. You can probably get it to remove that with video options, or display options. I always found it hella annoying when VCR's would display the channel on a recording, but most could be turned off (I only had one that couldn't be turned off and it drove me nuts)

[Thomas Jentzsch]

An old VHS video recorder may be an alternative. Being analog it should be more tolerant to the VCS signal. But of course it lacks upscaling.