montag

Great write up. I may do this in the future. Are you in the US of A? Midwest? The 2800 (Sears) so far is the only system that I can get to do it. When you say early 6 switch is that only the heavy sixers or the light sixers as well? I have a light sixer sears (2600) I might try with the Tac-2 to see if it exhibits the same issue. Interestingly the 2800 came out after the 4 switchers (I think? could be wrong) so you would think they would have made the fix on it as well. I just tried Berzerk on the 2800 with a Wico Command Control and it initially created the same signal bounce, except it's much more subtle, but only when using the button on the base (not the white button on top). Actually as I played longer it seemed I was unable to reproduce the signal bounce and it worked perfectly, although when I initially turned the console on it was extremely obvious and the button actually didn't work consistently. The controller has been in a garage or somewhere dirty and almost assuredly hasn't been used for 20 years (not sure, just bought it) so maybe there was some dirt or corrosion in the microswitch that was causing the issue that became dislodged as I used it.

Is anyone else running into audio/video popping when using a Suncom Tac2 with a Sears Video Arcade II? It only happens when I press the orange buttons on either side of the controller. The 4 switch woody 2600 I have has no issues with it. I wonder if it's a power/feedback issue with that specific model. It's kind of comical to watch the screen jump and audio crackle in Berzerk every time you shoot an alien. Also the regular Atari controllers (cx-40?) do not have the issue. I am using a non-Atari branded 9VDC 1A adapter with polarity like (-)-©-(+). Wondering if maybe it's a power issue, although the Arcade II exhibits no other problems with any other devices. There seems to be zero consensus on what the ideal V/A or even polarity or AC/DC should be on these forums and interwebs for this console but I do believe it has to have a bridge rectifier if it can handle both VDC and VAC adapters. I just got this unit with the Tac2 over the weekend locally so I have no idea if it ever didn't do this with the tac2. My guess is it's just the fact that it's a clone that wasn't completely vetted with 3rd party accessories since it was originally destined to be the 2800 in Japan.