Hooking up 5200 to a newer TV - not sure if issue is TV or 5200

[gollumer]

I've pulled the old 4-port 5200 out of storage. Last it was used, I had an old CRT TV, and it worked, no problem. I no longer have that TV, so I picked up a cheap Insignia HDTV.

 

I plugged the TV end of the 5200 switch box to the Cable/Ant coax input on the TV, and selected TV as the input...and get nothing. Tells me "no channels found" and asks me to do a scan. I first tried an antenna scan, and interestingly enough, having the 5200 cable plugged in acts as an antenna, because I picked up 10 local digital stations. Not what I wanted...but still. Still no 5200, though. I re-scanned, this time selecting "Cable directly from wall". No luck.

 

So, not sure if the TV is just stupid and failing to see the analog input, or if it's an issue with the 5200. The power light comes on, so I don't think it's the power supply. Not sure if I should try a new switch box, replace the built-in cable (the one that plugs into the switch box), or go all-in and mod this thing.

 

Ideas? Recommendations?

 

[zylon]

My "Wally-world" TV had a direct add feature to the menu for adding a channel. If you do not, I have another idea: Use another game system with an RF cable that uses channel 3 and scan using that system. After the channels sets, put the Atari on it.

[gollumer]

My "Wally-world" TV had a direct add feature to the menu for adding a channel. If you do not, I have another idea: Use another game system with an RF cable that uses channel 3 and scan using that system. After the channels sets, put the Atari on it.

 

Hmmm...hadn't thought of that. I'll give it a try. (My TV doesn't have a menu for adding a channel directly, only scanning.)

[Everett1954]

I am sure on your remote while you are in TV channels you can select channel 2 or 3 or whatever you want. Use the number keypad on remote to select the same channel you have 5200 set for.

 

It will probably keep it in memory so it will be there next power on/off.

[gollumer]

I am sure on your remote while you are in TV channels you can select channel 2 or 3 or whatever you want. Use the number keypad on remote to select the same channel you have 5200 set for.

 

It will probably keep it in memory so it will be there next power on/off.

 

Unfortunately, that doesn't work with this TV. If I press either 2 or 3, it just goes to 3.1, the closest digital channel it's picking up.

[+Cafeman]

I had to plug any of my Atari consoles into a vcr first, then output vcr to HDTV via RCA cables. Rock solid picture. Go to goodwill, get a vcr for $10 or less!

[BigO]

 

Unfortunately, that doesn't work with this TV. If I press either 2 or 3, it just goes to 3.1, the closest digital channel it's picking up.

I use a set top box with HDMI output on my digital TV's so may be off base here:

 

Does it need to be switched to analog tuner mode somehow? Does it even support analog RF?

Digital tuner may be called ATSC and analog NTSC.

[gollumer]

I use a set top box with HDMI output on my digital TV's so may be off base here:

 

Does it need to be switched to analog tuner mode somehow? Does it even support analog RF?

Digital tuner may be called ATSC and analog NTSC.

 

I've looked and can't find a way to force it into analog mode. (It's a really cheap HDTV...Insignia brand.) It forces you to scan for channels (if it doesn't have any saved), and shows the number of digital and analog channels found. It never finds any analog, even with the 5200 connected and turned on. And since local stations no longer broadcast analog stations...

[Everett1954]

All TV Channels now are digital. All current TVs (Insignia included) allow you to Add/Skip channels. Look through your user manual and the setup menu on TV. If you don't have a manual, search for your model online. i have a feeling your not getting to a part of the channel menu (sub-menu).

 

Can you try it on another TV? That would let you know if your 5200 still works.

 

Did you try and rescan with the 5200 channel switch on the other channel?

 

Do you have any other known good game system you can try on TV?

[0078265317]

Or maybe adding doesn't exist. But you might be able to goto menu and delete all channels. Just leave the one need for the 5200.

[BigO]

 

I've looked and can't find a way to force it into analog mode. (It's a really cheap HDTV...Insignia brand.) It forces you to scan for channels (if it doesn't have any saved), and shows the number of digital and analog channels found. It never finds any analog, even with the 5200 connected and turned on. And since local stations no longer broadcast analog stations...

I have a pretty decent Sharp 60" TV. The only time I've ever tuned a channel on it was when I hooked up an Atari 2600. I found that even in "Game" mode the overall system lag through the built-in tuner was such that I couldn't play paddle games like Kaboom and Circus. However, when I hooked up the 2600 to the composite video input (through an external tuner aka demodulator), the game play was drastically improved.

 

So, there may be more benefit to introducing an old VCR into the mix than just programming the channel on the TV. Using the analog tuner in the VCR to convert the 5200 to composite video may result in a better experience. Though, your cheap TV may not have composite video input.

[MEtalGuy66]

Using a VCR should work. I did that before I A/V modded my 5200.

[gollumer]

I have a VCR in storage...just need to remember what box it's in. I'll give it a try once I find it.

[0078265317]

But vcr need channel 3 or 4 so 3.1 will not work.

[Black0Panther]

I have an Insignia TV myself and my 4 port 5200 gets found on CH3 with 100 no issues. There the box that that power plugs into and the system. I beleive there s a standby mods on that. Make sure its not on stand by if it is try it again on normal mode.

[CRTGAMER]

But vcr need channel 3 or 4 so 3.1 will not work.

 

No, the VRC Composite output would be used!

 

Agree what others chimed in, your Digital Tuner will not work with Analog channels such as retro game consoles with RF coaxial output, unless your TV has a dual Tuner. My Sony WEGA CRT (KD-27FS170) has separate Analog and Digital tuners, each with their own RF input coaxial jack.

 

1. Hookup the 5200 to the VCR RF input, set the VCR "record" channel to 2 or 3.

 

2. Use the composite output of the VCR and the Composite input of the TV.

 

3. Set the VCR to the "record" view mode to pick up the 5200 signal.

[0078265317]

But you still need to switch the tv to composite input. And without the remote well...

[+lawdawg710]

I had to turn my 5200 on and then go to channel 3.0 and it reverted to 3 and then I could play. My only issue is no matter what I do, the color seems off

[BIGHMW]

 

I've looked and can't find a way to force it into analog mode. (It's a really cheap HDTV...Insignia brand.) It forces you to scan for channels (if it doesn't have any saved), and shows the number of digital and analog channels found. It never finds any analog, even with the 5200 connected and turned on. And since local stations no longer broadcast analog stations...

I own an Insignia and it found channel 3 easily, it took a little re-tuning, but it did. Eventually I retired my old 5200 I had since my 17th Birthday (May 19, 1983, I was born in 1966) and got an a/v/power out-modded 5200 and plugged it into the left and right audio jacks and also the green component video out jack, which on most if not all Insignia TVs doubles as a composite video out jack (it detects what is going into it), and now I have NO MORE RF interference, no more buzzing and a beautiful picture and I even set it up for the fullscreen (16:9 mode) instead of using the default mode for it (4:3 screen with the left and right sides blank), it looks even better than it did on my vintage Trinitron CRT did (with the ch. 2/3 RF automatic switchbox).

[CZroe]

People are making this much more complicated than it really is.

 

Let me put it this way:

No new TV these days would be able to find "channel 3" from a 5200 RF box. None. That's because they have no reason to have analog tuners in them when the intended source for them (analog broadcast TV) no longer exists.

 

Most devices from the era had better alternate video outputs anyway (composite, S-Video, component, etc). For the few devices that didn't have an alternative (like the 5200) you can use a VCR that outputs composite. For a 5200 I would just get a simple composite modification so I didn't have to connect a VCR.

[CZroe]

People are making this much more complicated than it really is.

 

Let me put it this way:

No new TV these days would be able to find "channel 3" from a 5200 RF box. None. That's because they have no reason to have analog tuners in them when the intended source for them (analog broadcast TV) no longer exists.

 

Most devices from the era had better alternate video outputs anyway (composite, S-Video, component, etc). For the few devices that didn't have an alternative (like the 5200) you can use a VCR that outputs composite. For a 5200 I would just get a simple composite modification so I didn't have to connect a VCR.

Actually, I'd be surprised if a digital ATSC RF modulator exists for any consumer equipment, so it's safe to say that modern TVs can't tune channel 3 for ANY RF device (not just a 5200 RF box). The only thing that goes there is an aerial antenna for ATSC digital broadcast television. Connecting to something like a VCR and connecting the VCR to the TV with something like composite is the only reasonable option short of modifying the console for composite, S-Video, etc.