PhoenixMoonPatrol Posted January 9, 2016 Share Posted January 9, 2016 (edited) Having a variety of annoying problems with the 7800 nowdays. Have a power switch thats almost dead. Have to press with all my might to get the machine to register on and off presses. Also having problems with some of the older 2600 games fitting snugly. Games like Centipede for example are a nightmare to insert and pull from the cartridge port. Is there one site out there that specializes or atleast does good quality work towards Atari 7800 repair? Maybe even one that performs mods for you also? Since if I'm going to ship it off I may as well get my moneys worth and have it modded abit. If you guys know a handful of going referred to sites I'd appreciate the info. I realize Google is my friend and I can do the research but at this point i wanna go by first hand experience from users within this forum. Thanks. Edited January 9, 2016 by PhoenixMoonPatrol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinks Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 Contact cleaner on power switch. dont press it hard slide your finger from side to side on the power button works like a charm. carts not fitting just wiggle them in they all fit. I never understand people that say they do not fit. wiggle and press hard they all work. If something snaps you fixed it. Want composite modded? like no artifacting the rf gives and problems with sound levels on pokey games? I dont! So I leave it RF. Not many repair sites as they dont break down like intellivions colecos and 5200's. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoTonah Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 Straight RF sucks. Instead of paying for a mod, try one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Coaxial-Adapter-Female-Male-Style/dp/B000AAL4PA Plugs into the back of the 7800 (or most systems, for that matter), then attach it to your TV with a coax cable. Super cheap and pretty good results! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhoenixMoonPatrol Posted January 10, 2016 Author Share Posted January 10, 2016 Jinks: Well by mods I meant something like an RGB mod. I already have an AV mod and it looks good but its either the tv I'm using or the mod itself but I find it looking abit washed and a tad abit blurry. I have a Sega Saturn hooked up to the same tv via composite and it looks good so it must be the 7800 then. Guess I'll Google a site to see if they offer RGB. Ok I'll give the contact cleaner a shot. I use to be able to power it on by hitting the corner of the switch but its gotten allot worse in the last week. Will apply the cleaner some later today,thanks. Most my 2600 games fit ok but there are around two that dont play nice. Maybe theyre damaged but as far as I can see all looks normal. I'll go through more of the games tomorrow and see for sure how the rest handle. is Centipede known to have issues? Ripping that game out of the port is like trying to pick up Thor's hammer,its that bad. I try to wiggle and loosen the problem carts but Centiede is a no no. LoTahan: I have one of those, use to use it on another 7800 and yeah its a nice step up. Contact cleaner on power switch. dont press it hard slide your finger from side to side on the power button works like a charm.carts not fitting just wiggle them in they all fit. I never understand people that say they do not fit. wiggle and press hard they all work. If something snaps you fixed it.Want composite modded? like no artifacting the rf gives and problems with sound levels on pokey games? I dont! So I leave it RF. Not many repair sites as they dont break down like intellivions colecos and 5200's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhoenixMoonPatrol Posted January 11, 2016 Author Share Posted January 11, 2016 The power button is working much better after using WD40. And sliding your finger over the power button from side to side while power it on seems to be a good trick. Little thins like this really make a big difference,wow. Thanks for the great advice. It feels good to be able to use the 7800 again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinks Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 Great to hear you have your 7800 in a more useable condition! Have fun! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyankyfan1 Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 The power button is working much better after using WD40. And sliding your finger over the power button from side to side while power it on seems to be a good trick. Little thins like this really make a big difference,wow. Thanks for the great advice. It feels good to be able to use the 7800 again. Your not supposed to use WD40 as a contact cleaner. Get yourself some Electronic contact spray cleaner with lunbricant, and use compressed air afterwards. If you want to lube a switch (plastic) use WD40 on a q-tip. Antony 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjameslv Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 Jinks: Well by mods I meant something like an RGB mod. I already have an AV mod and it looks good but its either the tv I'm using or the mod itself but I find it looking abit washed and a tad abit blurry. I have a Sega Saturn hooked up to the same tv via composite and it looks good so it must be the 7800 then. Guess I'll Google a site to see if they offer RGB. Ok I'll give the contact cleaner a shot. I use to be able to power it on by hitting the corner of the switch but its gotten allot worse in the last week. Will apply the cleaner some later today,thanks. Most my 2600 games fit ok but there are around two that dont play nice. Maybe theyre damaged but as far as I can see all looks normal. I'll go through more of the games tomorrow and see for sure how the rest handle. is Centipede known to have issues? Ripping that game out of the port is like trying to pick up Thor's hammer,its that bad. I try to wiggle and loosen the problem carts but Centiede is a no no. LoTahan: I have one of those, use to use it on another 7800 and yeah its a nice step up. I was under the impression there was only the 2600RGB, i never heard of a 7800 rgb mod yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhoenixMoonPatrol Posted January 23, 2016 Author Share Posted January 23, 2016 (edited) K,I'll try to grab some tonight. But the WD40(for better or worse) did do the trick,very nicely too. But does it damage the switch in the long run? Well regardless I'll grab the contact cleaner tonight. Thanks for the warning. Your not supposed to use WD40 as a contact cleaner. Get yourself some Electronic contact spray cleaner with lunbricant, and use compressed air afterwards. If you want to lube a switch (plastic) use WD40 on a q-tip. Antony Edited January 23, 2016 by PhoenixMoonPatrol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhoenixMoonPatrol Posted January 23, 2016 Author Share Posted January 23, 2016 I was just putting it out there was all,I haven't seen anyone with one either. Was sorta hoping someone here knew of a site that did RGB work on a 7800. I'd love to go RGB since it makes a hell of a difference on my Yurkie enhanced Colecovision console I was under the impression there was only the 2600RGB, i never heard of a 7800 rgb mod yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 WD40 attacks some plastics over time. The coax adapter shown is still RF. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+-^CrossBow^- Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 I have a modded AV 7800 that I did. And you are correct in that at first, the audio is out of balance between the Pokey and TIA audio. But somewhere in this forum is a post where this was discussed and by changing where the audio connects to the motherboard, you get the Pokey audio back to where it should be. Mine sounds great with LHE mod board installed. Just not as impressed with the LHE s-video output off my 7800 as I am with the s-video off my 5200 or Sega systems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhoenixMoonPatrol Posted January 23, 2016 Author Share Posted January 23, 2016 Ahh I see. The WD40 does a nice job but didn't know it east at the console over time. Still haven't found any contact cleaner yet. Sucks living in a small town sometimes. WD40 attacks some plastics over time.The coax adapter shown is still RF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+-^CrossBow^- Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 The switches are quite easy to replace with minimal soldering skills required. You can purchase replacement switches from Console5 at the link below: http://console5.com/store/tactile-switch-12mm-x-4-5mm-atari-7800-power-pause-select-reset.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osgeld Posted January 26, 2016 Share Posted January 26, 2016 or these at mouser http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?R=TL1100BF160Qvirtualkey61200000virtualkey612-TL1100B you have already put more effort into having a somewhat functioning crummy switch than replacing all 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyankyfan1 Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 (edited) K,I'll try to grab some tonight. But the WD40(for better or worse) did do the trick,very nicely too. But does it damage the switch in the long run? Well regardless I'll grab the contact cleaner tonight. Thanks for the warning. Because you want to clean electrical contacts and keep them free of oily residue which attracts dirt and dust & sludge etc. WD40 is a great lubricant but is oily over time and creates a sludge. Electrical contact cleaner w lubricant, cleans contacts and free's up all the crap yet lightly lubricates parts as well. I use KRYLON Electrical contact cleaner with lubricant on all my stuff, automotive and gaming consoles and never has failed me yet. It has fixed many colecovison controllers i have with button issues on the spot as well as directional parts as well. Hope this helps Good luck, Anthony Edited February 2, 2016 by tonyankyfan1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyankyfan1 Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 (edited) Ahh I see. The WD40 does a nice job but didn't know it east at the console over time. Still haven't found any contact cleaner yet. Sucks living in a small town sometimes. Goto WAL MART, pick up a can of CRC electrical contact cleaner, If you cant get the KRYLON. $4 bucks Edited February 2, 2016 by tonyankyfan1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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