Sr101 Posted July 28, 2015 Author Share Posted July 28, 2015 As I post that comment pops up! oh wow... http://i.imgur.com/jEHthWI.jpg thats my board at the moment... how can i reconnect all those ports? What steps should I take, oh great atari gods? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Jentzsch Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 (edited) If you connect both, your body provides ground the one that is missing ground. Which one is it? Touch only one of both. Where touching helps, there's the problem. If it is the casing, it probably just has to be attached to the board a bit better (see 2nd picture above). Else, can you solder? Maybe a simple cable between the casing and the port can help. Edited July 28, 2015 by Thomas Jentzsch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sr101 Posted July 28, 2015 Author Share Posted July 28, 2015 I can solder... Not well, but enough! So... touch only one and see which gets better? That's for sure the metal box...so now I should put a wire where? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Jentzsch Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 Tightening it to the board doesn't help? Then connect the casing with the outer ring of the video port. Maybe you don't have to solder there, just fix it with the cable's plug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sr101 Posted July 28, 2015 Author Share Posted July 28, 2015 I don't see anything like that on the board... the smaller metal casing has only some tabs surrounding it... I'm going to try the wire now though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sr101 Posted July 28, 2015 Author Share Posted July 28, 2015 Touched the bottom of the board, under the larger casing. Same thing. If I touch two fingers to the smaller righthand casing, it all goes away. So I used a wire to move the electricity, but it still has quite a bit left... is there any way to stop all of the extra energy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sr101 Posted July 28, 2015 Author Share Posted July 28, 2015 Basically fixed it! Okay so, I actually randomly decided to attach both ends of the old cable (the original atari cable) to the smaller casing... IT WORKED?! Pics of mess: http://i.imgur.com/pQVgczk.jpg Okay so... it's very long so I need to cut it down... how long do you think it should be? and would cutting it down ruin the connection? thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wickeycolumbus Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 So just scraping it with sandpaper? I just got an elbow connector so that will likely let the cable fit The outside (metal) part of the RCA connector is the ground connection, it sounds like there is a grounding issue, as has been mentioned. What I meant was, that you could try sanding the outside of the RCA connector inside of the console and see if that helps at all. This would clean off some of the oxidation/rust on it, which is making the bad connection. You may be able to still use the original RCA cable too. It may not hurt to try cleaning the ground connection on the cable as well, to ensure a good connection. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wickeycolumbus Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Another thing you could try is to 'reflow' the solder joints on the connector. Heat up your iron and put some new solder on the tip. Then you can apply the iron to the joints. When they are good and melty, add a bit of new solder. Might be easier to try sanding first though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sr101 Posted July 29, 2015 Author Share Posted July 29, 2015 Where are the ground cables on the atari? I'll try sanding now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sr101 Posted July 29, 2015 Author Share Posted July 29, 2015 Sanding doesn't help :/ I also lowered the length of that cable, and now it's not helping much... Ugh this is getting old haha... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sr101 Posted July 29, 2015 Author Share Posted July 29, 2015 Is there anything I can do to ground it without wires? anything that can stick to it easily and still allow it to close? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sr101 Posted July 29, 2015 Author Share Posted July 29, 2015 Updates so far: Touching either/or/all of the right shielding, middle shielding, rca port all but fixes the issue. I connected a wire (the original RCA cable!) both ends to the right side shielding and it fixed the issue! But it was far too long and stopped working when I closed it up. It is almost certainly a grounding issue, which explains all of the electric potential stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RichG1972 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 I already see the problem with the cable, the collar just behind the RCA plug is way too long Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RichG1972 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 This cable will enable you to close the system more normally plus it has RF interference built in, it's what U use, I just hide the BOX end inside the Atari in the dead space so people think it's just the stock cable hehe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sr101 Posted July 29, 2015 Author Share Posted July 29, 2015 Where's the link? Thanks! But... that doesn't seem to be the only issue, it certainly won't hurt though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RichG1972 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Here ya go, I guess I forgot it earlier LOL:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Atari-to-Computer-AV-RF-Cable-Free-Shipping-/201386860167?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ee3979e87 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RichG1972 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Just thread the long end of the wire OUTSIDE the console and the box end stays INSIDE the console, the box is an RF/Static suppressor aka "Torrid" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Jentzsch Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 For the connecting wire: Any thin bell wire will do, no shielding required there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sr101 Posted July 29, 2015 Author Share Posted July 29, 2015 Got it... REALLY hoping this clears up the issues... About the wire, nothing seems to work as well as my fingers with this thing... any recommendations? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Jentzsch Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 This would indicate a general grounding problem. The console itself is not grounded well. Then the wire will not help too. Not sure where the console gets its ground from. I think it can't be the power cable, so it most likely is the TV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sr101 Posted July 29, 2015 Author Share Posted July 29, 2015 (edited) Okay so- What you're saying is, I need to find a way to ground this, and the cable won't help that issue... At least I know it will fit... but ugh... the thin wire I was using didn't really change anything... Honestly, I don't mind getting an official Atari cable... At least it will be PERFECT in those terms. Edited July 29, 2015 by Sr101 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Jentzsch Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 I would definitely try the thin wire first, did you? If your console misses ground I am a bit helpless. If the ground should come from the TV, then the TV port could be the problem. Do you have a 2nd TV you can test? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sr101 Posted July 29, 2015 Author Share Posted July 29, 2015 Crazy concept here- could the RF to Coax adaptor be stopping the grounding? Maybe the power cable I bought is too strong? I tried the thin wire earlier, shall try again asap. Thanks guys, I'm gonna sleep on it for now, but I'll stick with it till it works! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Jentzsch Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Somehow it should be possible to measure grounding. But you have ask someone else here. Or lookup the answers yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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