Fine-tuning after AV mod

[Zuse]

I could use some advice.

 

A few months back, I opted to do a composite mod on my 4-switch Woody. Since I didn't feel like hunting down some perfboard and didn't have the right resistor values on-hand, I just picked up one of these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Atari-2600-A-V-Composite-RCA-Audio-Video-Mod-Upgrade-Kit-Fully-Assembled-/272271974442?hash=item3f64aca02a:g:xssAAOSwHoFXtCcF

 

I clipped the resistor between "Ground Out" and "Video Out" since I'd read that it only succeeds in dimming the display a little.

 

The install was simple and there's no static, the sound is great, and the rest of the restoration work on this console made it look like new.

 

But there are still some things that bug me. For one, the colors look a bit strange. I've used the color pot to tune this as best I can (using the colors on Centipede and Barnstorming as a guide), but some games are simply not looking like I would expect them to - some of the dark colors seem off, and the whole image is more dim than I'd like. There's also the problem of sharpness in the details. Compared to the output on my 7800 (also AV modded), many of the same games just look like garbage, though are playable in any case.

 

Normally I would be playing both systems exclusively on a CRT television, but the one I have is finally giving up the ghost, so I'm stuck using an LCD TV for now. I understand that, regardless of the mods you do, an LCD is seldom kind to consoles of this vintage. Suffice it to say, I'm not expecting miracles here.

 

So, now that I've laid all that out, is there anything I can do to improve the picture further? My first thought was that this machine is showing its age and probably just needs some capacitors replaced or something, but I don't (yet) have the technical expertise to say that with any certainty. Any help would be appreciated, and I can supply pictures if needed.

Edited March 21, 2017 by Zuse

[+Stephen Moss]

Some modern TV have a game mode hidden in the options somewhere, I do not know exactly what hem mode does that is different but if your TV has that option have you tried it to see if that improves the video image?

[R.Cade]

That mod has this problem. The colors and brightness will be off... I've spent some time tuning it when I do mods, but every 2600 board seems to be slightly different.

[+-^CrossBow^-]

If you were able to install the mod kit into your atari, then I think you could handle the capacitor replacement with ease. So I would try for grins getting a refresh kit for your Atari. I know that MojoAtomic sells such kits, but I get mine from here as they seem to include everything you need and then some for roughly the same price as what Mojo's kits are.

 

https://console5.com/store/atari-2600-total-refresh-kit-new-capacitors.html

 

Can't say for sure it will correct the issue, but it can't hurt it and for $10 and some time it is worth a shot.

 

And yes, I don't use that particular kit...I use this one. It costs more, but offers more than just composite and allows you to adjust the video more to your liking as well.

 

http://electronicsentimentalities.com/Assembled%20Mods.html

Edited March 22, 2017 by -^Cro§Bow^-

[the_crayon_king]

I could use some advice.

 

A few months back, I opted to do a composite mod on my 4-switch Woody. Since I didn't feel like hunting down some perfboard and didn't have the right resistor values on-hand, I just picked up one of these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Atari-2600-A-V-Composite-RCA-Audio-Video-Mod-Upgrade-Kit-Fully-Assembled-/272271974442?hash=item3f64aca02a:g:xssAAOSwHoFXtCcF

 

I clipped the resistor between "Ground Out" and "Video Out" since I'd read that it only succeeds in dimming the display a little.

 

The install was simple and there's no static, the sound is great, and the rest of the restoration work on this console made it look like new.

 

But there are still some things that bug me. For one, the colors look a bit strange. I've used the color pot to tune this as best I can (using the colors on Centipede and Barnstorming as a guide), but some games are simply not looking like I would expect them to - some of the dark colors seem off, and the whole image is more dim than I'd like. There's also the problem of sharpness in the details. Compared to the output on my 7800 (also AV modded), many of the same games just look like garbage, though are playable in any case.

 

Normally I would be playing both systems exclusively on a CRT television, but the one I have is finally giving up the ghost, so I'm stuck using an LCD TV for now. I understand that, regardless of the mods you do, an LCD is seldom kind to consoles of this vintage. Suffice it to say, I'm not expecting miracles here.

 

So, now that I've laid all that out, is there anything I can do to improve the picture further? My first thought was that this machine is showing its age and probably just needs some capacitors replaced or something, but I don't (yet) have the technical expertise to say that with any certainty. Any help would be appreciated, and I can supply pictures if needed.

 

The electronicsentimentalities kit is much better. You would probably get better results if you isolated the rest of the components (esp RF)

Refer to : http://i.imgur.com/5UAWz9c.jpg

With the kit you have you would leave Chroma and Luma alone but removing the Audio may do something.

 

At any rate I would be using a FMS6400 based kit if I were you.

Its always:

Octal TTL Buffer

Resistor DAC Ladder

Transistor (all the schematics only have it on luma/sync)

FMS6400

Various other resistors and capacitors.

 

I was going to try and make a S-Video/Composite kit for all three Atari's but got distracted.

 

Try bypassing the resistor R210 or lifting R222 and C215.

[+DrVenkman]

Bryan's UAV board looks GREAT in one of my 4-Switch Woody's. And he's going to do at least one more run.

 

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/260267-the-uav-rev-d-video-upgrade-thread/?p=3763891

[+-^CrossBow^-]

Bryan's UAV board looks GREAT in one of my 4-Switch Woody's. And he's going to do at least one more run.

 

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/260267-the-uav-rev-d-video-upgrade-thread/?p=3763891

Yes, I have two of these paid for and on order. One for my 7800 and the other... perhaps in my 130xe. Not sure yet.