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A white 5 pin Gold plated DIN video/audio adapter porotype product was made for the standalone Coleco ADAM by a high-end cable manufacture. This adapter makes it easy to disconnect ones standalone ADAM computer from the monitor/TV for a few minutes without needing to disconnect the DIN plug from the ADAM computer (See pictures number 4 and 6 below). The positive thing about this adapter is that it has good video and audio quality when used with 18 gauge RG-6 double shielded video and audio interconnects with RCA ends. However I was trying to find a white color high-quality 3.5mm cable to 2 RCA ends, and all the ones I tested had poor quality shielding when compared to the shielding used in the double shielded RG-6 cable with RCA ends. Prior designs used only one adapter to get to two RCA plugs, since this adapter uses two adapters to get to two RCA plugs, the result is a little more video and audio noise. This unique white ADAM video/audio adapter product most likely will be going out of production with only one prototype that was made. I prefer the 7 pin gold plated DIN plug that goes to two female RCA plugs over a short 6 inch high quality cable (Then one can run RG-6 RCA interconnects 25+ feet if they want).

Personally 90% of the time I prefer to use my ADAM for classic videogames like Family Feud, Jeopardy, and other Supergames that have not been ported over to the ColecoVision yet. I use to use my ADAM for word processing with Smartwriter, but in the early 90’s (93-94 time frame), switched to Windows 3.1 with Microsoft Word which underlined misspelled words in red. It would have been nice if a 1Gbps Ethernet networking card would have been developed for the ADAM. However a web browser for the ADAM would not be possible because of the CPU processing power needed and the existing low power graphics card in the ADAM. Sometimes I forget that ones Smartphone is more powerful when compared to the ColecoVision/ADAM. So yes videogames are 99% of the reasons why people still use the ADAM computer (until recent years the ADAM had exclusive Suppergames not found on the ColecoVision). The Commodore, ATARI, and Texas Instruments computers are much more popular and still have computer software being developed for those systems. In general its easier to develop new software for the ADAM instead of the task of designing new hardware. However I am glad to see companies still making new hardware devices for the ADAM computer like the ADAMNet SD Virtual Disk Drive. Also I am glad that companies like ADAM House/EColeco are still around and still offering hardware and software for re-sale for the Coleco ADAM. They have been around since the 80’s.

RF buzz/hum ground loop isolator devices will make absolutely no improvements to the ColecoVision/ADAM RF output The ColecoVision only has native RF channel 3 or 4 output unless one modifies the video output. I noticed on the RF output on both the ColecoVision and standalone ADAM, that there is a fairly loud hum or buzzing and the picture quality is not as sharp compared to the standalone ADAM composite video output. I tried a few different brands of 75 ohm RF hum/buzz/noise ground loop eliminators. However, I discovered that there was no improvements in picture or sound quality when using these products on a ColecoVision or ADAM over a channel 3 or 4 RF output. The video and audio problems coming out of the ColecoVision and ADAM RF output are not generated from an internal ground loop problem. To improve the RF output on the ColecoVision/ADAM one literally needs to take their system apart and manually make adjustments since sometimes the channel frequency or audio subcarrier is slightly out of alignment from when it originally shipping from the Coleco assemble lines. Sometimes the RF modulator is in such bad condition in the ColecoVision/ADAM, that one needs to completely replace the RF modulator with a new or used Coleco RF modulator. With a little more work a third party RF modulator with automatic digital channel 3 and 4 output could be used (A model with no manually adjustments since the software on the IC keeps the RF modulator perfectly aligned). However since ATSC replaced NTSC, even third party RF modulators are hard to find. Maybe a old RF modulator from a high-end D-VHS or S-VHS can be de-soldered from the VCR's circuit board and then modified to fit in the ColecoVision/ADAM. At a certain point its just better to go HDMI, S-Video, or composite video and forget about fixing or replacing the RF modulator.

A native F18a with VGA and HDMI output will look much better then composite video. Even when composite video is upscaled to 1080i, 1080P, or 4K, the picture really is not going to look any better. Upscaling adds artifacts to the picture sometimes. The software on the ColecoVision/ADAM is native 256 x 192. However when a F18a is installed in a ADAM computer, with specially designed software the ADAM computer could operate in 80 column mode and have much better graphics quality with the F18a's HDMI output. The Texas Instruments computer appears to be more popular for program developers. The F18a has better resolution, graphics, and can operate in 80 column mode on that computer. As far as I am aware no ADAM user so far has made a special program to access the advanced capabilities of the F18a. Very few ADAM and ColecoVision owners own a F18a. Now if there was a external plug in card of the F18a for the ColecoVision/ADAM, then making a special ADAM or ColecoVision game for the F18a would be more popular. There are companies working on a ColecoVision II or ColecoVision clone with a advanced video chip with HDMI output. If those products become a reality, maybe game developers might make special ColecoVision games with more resoultion and improved graphics, but with the negative being one is not able to run those new advanved games on the original 1982 ColecoVision's.

Updated pricing information for the two new Cables Online products for the standalone ADAM computer system (1 ) The high-end 6 foot Cables Online ADM-706 composite video cable with audio for the standalone ADAM computer is now $24.95 plus free shipping, when purchased in QTY’s of 10 this cable is $18.95 plus free shipping. 100 are currently available for order. (2) The high-end 6 inch Cables Online ADM-300 Audio/Video adapter cable for the standalone ADAM computer is now $20.95 plus free shipping, when purchased in QTY’s of 10 this cable is $15.90 plus free shipping (ADM-300-10 pack). Around 100 are currently available for order. This ended up being the best quality option when used with two high-end RG-6 double shielded cables (one RCA cable for video and one RCA cable for audio). High quality RG-6 cable with two RCA connectors on each end can be purchased directly from Monoprice in lengths between 3 feet and 100 feet (Monoprice offers a lifetime warranty on this quality cable). Those that prefer the higher quality Monster cable brand might prefer this RCA to RCA interconnect.

Standalone ADAM Audio/Video Hum killer (awesome product) Using 7 different Coleco standalone ADAM computers on a workbench and 3 different power supplies (One 3rd party high-end ADAM power supply and two Coleco power supplies), I noticed that the almost 35 year old ADAM computer system generates some audio buzzing and some faint horizontal hum lines in the Smartwriter word processor. Even back in 1983 the Coleco ADAM had some ground loop issues that caused picture and sound quality issues. However as the system ages I believe the hum lines and audio noise gets a little worse since the ADAM ends up generating more EMI/RFI noise as it ages, which effects the onboard analog video and audio output (appears to be a internal Ground loop issue in the standalone ADAM). I recently purchased a high-end Gold plated RDL EZ-HK3 Audio/Video Hum killer for the ADAM computer. This universal product works with any composite video signal to improve the picture and sound quality. I was amazed at the results. All 7 of the standalone ADAM’s tested cleaned up the horizontal video hum lines and the Smartwriter composite video output looks beautiful. In addition, the audio hum no longer occurs and is nice and clean. My 27 inch 1080i 4:3 CRT then unscaled the ADAM image to 1080i 4:3. I highly recommend this product for anyone having picture quality problems and audio issues on their ADAM computer. The RDL EZ-HK3 Audio/Video Hum Killer sometimes costs over $120, but once and awhile B and H Photo places it one sale for $75 with free shipping. The current cheapest price is now $95 with free shipping.

High-end standalone ADAM Video and Audio cable is now available in large QTY’s Cables Online part number ADM-706 I been working with a few high-end videophile and audiophile cable manufactories for the Coleco standalone ADAM computer. The Cables online company has manufactured a large QTY of high-end 6 feet composite video with audio cables for people that own standalone ADAM computers. This cable is ideal for people that have an older display with the composite video input being the best quality connection on their display. If ones display has HDMI or VGA, then getting ones standalone ADAM modified with an F18a is the best option for picture quality. This is a high-end cable with shielded wires One end of the cable uses a metal neutrik connector with all 7 pins on the DIN connector being gold plated The second end of the cable uses two metal RCA connectors with yellow for video and white for audio (RCA connectors are gold plated). When the white audio RCA connector is connected to the left audio input jack on a stereo TV/monitor, 99% of stereo TV’s will internally split the mono audio signal to both stereo speakers. I have tested this cable and it’s the best picture and sound quality that I have seen coming out of the standalone ADAM DIN plug. This cable currently sales for $19.95 with free shipping and more than 10 are currently available. However since the RCA composite monitor output on the ADAM computer offers a little better picture quality then the DIN plug, I would recommend this $4.49 6 foot RG-6 Gold plated RCA to RCA cable (Product # 2680) to use with the Cables Online ADAM ADM-706 product. I am currently using a Cables Online 6 inch Ultimate high-end ADAM converter adapter (prototype). This allows an ADAM user to plug in any length of RCA to RCA cable within reason. I have been having excellent results with high-end RG-6 double shielded cable. I like this adapter since I can go from 3 feet, 6 feet, 12 feet, or even 50 feet or longer and I do not need to purchase a special DIN plug when I switch cable lengths. Also the RG-6 cable which is 18 gauge offers a very nice crisp picture and sound quality and has less loss per foot when compared to RG-59 22 gauge cable.

So it might be technically possible for a external HDMI graphics card plugged into one of the expansion ports, but the demand most likely is not high enough for a computer system that is almost 35 years old. The ADAM computer is more powerful then the ColecoVision since it has Supergames (Some of those ADAM Supergmaes in recent years have been ported over to the ColecoVision with the invention of cartridges that can handle up to 512KB and larger space. However games like Family Feud and Jeopardy that use a full computer keyboard have not been ported over yet). There is talk of making ColecoVision clones and a improved ColecoVision II. However there does not seem to be a demand to make a ADAM clone or a improved ADAM called ADAM II or EVE. The reason appears to be that most people that are still using their ADAM are using it mainly for classic video games and are not interested in Smartwriter word processor, Smartfilier, and other computer applications. People have Windows PC's that are a lot better for word processing.

However one can internally place a F18A with a HDMI output on the ADAM internally on the ColecoVision board inside the ADAM. What is stopping one from doing the same thing with a expansion card? Is it a speed issue where the expansion port is not fast enough versus a direct connection to the ColecoVision board being much faster?

Back in the 80's the ADAM computer had 80 column video output to a 80 column terminal when using programs like CP/M 2.2 or TDOS. The external 80 column terminal would connect to the ADAM computers RS-232 port adapter that was plugged into one of the internal expansion ports. The RS-232 port on the ADAM would send data to the terminal. These were text only terminals, I do not think anyone used a color graphics RS-232 terminal on the ADAM. However there is no reason why with special software a color graphics RS-232 terminal cannot be used on the ADAM computer. If data can be sent over RS-232 to a color terminal on the ADAM, then why not a HDMI port on the ADAM with a special graphics card connected to a HDMI monitor? Possible a SD card might need to install a new operating system with the correct drivers to run the new HDMI graphics card with standard EOS ADAM and ColecoVision games.

Since the external graphics card would not have analog outputs, there would not need to be analog video and audio coming from the expansion port. However the expansion port would need to be able to send digital data that the graphics card would then output as HDMI. If the data exists on the expansion port to form a digital video and audio signal then HDMI would be possible with a graphics card. However if there is only audio out with no digital video out from the expansion port, then this would be a major issue. There are also 3 internal expansion ports on the ADAM computer, but the side expansion port should have the most options.

The F18a with a native VGA 640 x 480 output is an excellent product for both ColecoVision and ADAM owners. However if I purchased this product I would go with the internal VGA to HDMI converter. I located a company that adds HDMI output to the ColecoVision for around $270 when the F18a is in stock. If I were to dig my soldering iron out and do the conversion myself then the price would be a lot cheaper. I am on the fence regarding pre-ordering (or waiting list) this F18A video board that is backordered. I do not know if I want to risk modifying my ColecoVision/ADAM with a VGA and HDMI output (Plus there is issues of the ATARI 2600 adapter not working with the board). If the ColecoVision/ADAM breaks beyond repair in the years to come, then I would have to remove the F18a and solder another socket into a 35 year old ColecoVision/ADAM. There are companies working on ColecoVision replacement boards with either component video or HDMI outputs. I might be better off using my existing standalone ADAM computer with composite video output until those projects are possible released. I also have a Expansion Module #3 ADAM computer that plugs into the ColecoVision (which is 100% compatible with all game cartridges). The standalone ADAM is only 99% compatible with all ColecoVision game cartridges (games like Defender need modified to work properly). The only reason why I currently am using the standalone ADAM computer once and awhile is because it has a native composite video output since 1983. The ColecoVision has to be modified for improved video output beyond RF channel 3 and 4.

Yes since the ADAM is now almost 35 years old it most likely will never happen. However if one uses a similar case that was used for the OPCODE Supergame module, an external graphics card with a HDMI output might be possible for under $200. If it would work with the ColecoVision also the demand would be higher. Native component video and native HDMI looks better when compared to upscaling a composite video source to HDMI. Flat panel TV’s and A/V receivers with built in composite video inputs will also upscale the image to the displays native resolution and do the exact same job as a external HDMI upscaler. The big quality difference in picture quality with the ColecoVison/ADAM is when native HDMI, VGA, and component video is used. An interesting product would be a OPCODE Supergame module with a built in HDMI output. At this point it appears companies are working on designing ColecoVision compatible circuit boards with a built in HDMI output. Those completely new circuit boards are more in demand when compared to a external graphics card with a HDMI output.

Coleco ADAM external HDMI video card that plugs into the side expansion module I have not looked at the schematics on the ADAM computer, however maybe it is possible for a hardware engineer to design a white HDMI expansion module box that plugs into the side expansion module on the ADAM computer. Then both standalone ADAM computer owners and ColecoVision owners with Expansion module #3 could have a HDMI output on their ADAM computer without needing to make internal hardware modifications. I have heard from some ADAM owners that one of the reasons why they did not pay around $270 to get their existing ADAM internally upgraded for the F18A video board is because of the possible risks involved in upgrading a system that is almost 35 years old (plus the F18A with HDMI is currently out of stock). If it was possible to design an external HDMI video card for the ADAM computer it would cost more than the F18A. However, I believe ADAM owners would be more willing to upgrade to HDMI if they did not have to modify their existing internal ColecoVision video board. The ADAM HDMI expansion module would plug into the side of the ADAM computer. It would be a white box that had a HDMI output port on the back. Possible a on/off button on top of the HDMI expansion module would turn the device on and off. The only reason why one would want to turn the HDMI expansion module off is if they wanted to use the ColecoVision’s composite video output for the Expansion module #1 Atari 2600 adapter. This also means the ADAM HDMI Expansion module would need to have a Expansion module interface on the side so that the OPCODE Supergame module and ATARI 2600 adapter can still be used. ColecoVision owners would want to use Expansion module #3 the ADAM computer with the HDMI adapter, since cosmetically plugging the HDMI expansion module in the front of the ColecoVision would not look good cosmetically. The ADAM computer can get away with this since the expansion is on the side. The big question is can digital binary video and audio data be sent out of the main side ADAM Expansion module interface? If the answer is yes then a hardware engineer could design an external HDMI graphics card for the ADAM computer. With special software the HDMI graphics card could turn on advanced features like native 16:9 and stereo sound for special new ColecoVision games. With a special flexible ribbon cable plugged directly into the ColecoVisions front Expansion, ColecoVision owners could also use the HDMI graphics card adapter. The HDMI graphics card adapter could be placed on the side of the ColecoVision instead of the front when using a modern flexible ribbon cable. Personally I would purchase two HDMI expansion modules for the ColecoVision/ADAM for around $300+ each if this product existed. When ones ADAM computer breaks they just unplug the HDMI graphics card from the broken ADAM and plug it into a spare ADAM. This is a product that would be popular for both ColecoVision and ADAM owners.

Hopefully electronic payment like credit cards and PAYPAL will be accepted. Also hopefully this item will have at least a 90 day warranty. This looks like a excellent product that will be bundled with a plug adapter for any place in the world. Just slide 1 out of 4 different plugs on the USB transformer depending on where a person lives.

Ok thanks. I would be willing to pay more if gold plated jacks were used. I guess you will be selling the USB adapter only, and one purchases their own USB power source.

USB is so common these days, that new homes in America have 5 volt USB ports built into the standard 120 volt electrical outlets in the wall. Also all new surge protectors and power strips have USB ports built in. Also the new 2018 cars and trucks have USB ports built in. The other advantage of this USB adapter, is consumers can purchase a standard USB wall transformer that works on both 120 volts or 220-240 volts. This new ColecoVision power supply can be sold and used anywhere in the world. I see the BETA prototype version of this product has a white plastic case around the circuit board. Cosmetically this USB product needs to be black to match the original black ColecoVision console. I wish there was a version of this USB adapter made for the Coleco ADAM standalone and the Expansion module #3 ADAM computer.

Thanks for the information. I use the 2 million sold number from Wikipedia. Some websites claim between 3-6+ million ColecoVision's sold. It most likely was more than 2 million but less than 3 million. Some sources place the ADAM computer selling up to 500,000, while other ADAM newsletters claim around 1 million (950,000) ADAM computers sold or manufactured. If there was a minimum of 2 million ColeocVision's and 500,000 ADAM computers sold. Then we are looking at a minimum of 2.5 million people using a ColecoVision compatible system back around 1985 (of course one may need to subtract the Expansion module #3 ADAM computers from the number of ADAM computers sold to get a more accurate number of ColecoVision compatible systems). Therefore, under ideal conditions back around 1985 there was around 2.5 million people using a ColecoVision compatible system. In late 2017 that number is most likely a maximum of 1% which would be around 25,000 people using their systems today. It would be interesting to know how many tens of thousands of people have downloaded a ColecoVision/ADAM emulation program from various websites (or perhaps hundreds of thousands of downloads). I strongly believe that there is a lot more people running free ColecoVision emulation software on PC’s and portable devices then actually own a real working system from the early 80’s.

If you do not hear from someone from Europe, then you might want to just purchase Expansion module #1 and the OPCODE Supergame module and run tests on the system yourself. I am located in the United States, and I would be willing to test it out. Just send me a private message if you are interested in shipping to the United States to be BETA tested. There were 2 million ColecoVision’s manufactured, and I am estimating that a maximum of 1% (20,000) people still use their ColecoVision once and awhile. However I believe that more people play ColecoVision games on a Windows PC or tablet PC more than a actual console. The emulation software for the ColecoVision/ADAM is getting to be so good, that many people don’t use their old 1982-1985 ColecoVision's anymore. Thanks for coming out with a third party power supply for the ColecoVision. I belvieve yours will be the first one on the market (There was a 3rd party power supply for the Coleco ADAM back around the late 80's and early 90's).

I have spent several hours doing some more extensive testing on the standalone ADAM computer. I tried two different standalone ADAM computers and even two different power supplies, and I am getting the exact same results as I get from the ADAM House/EColeco brand cables. I had a total of 3 separate companies make up a special ADAM video/audio cable. Two of the companies used high-end shielded cable that is used for videophiles and audiophile systems. Plus they used a high-end metal DIN plug with gold plated pins and gold plated RCA jacks. The ADAM computer has never seen such high-end cables before, and I noticed an improved picture quality and audio quality with the new cables, however the very faint horizontal scrolling video noise line still existed on all 4 brands of cable (Therefore there was nothing wrong with the ADAM House/eColeco brand cables, the problem is a design flaw with the standalone ADAM video output from the DIN jack). Here is something that is even more interesting. I had to leave my standalone ADAM computer RF channel 3 and 4 output hooked up since as mentioned before the Expansion module #1 ATARI 2600 adapter has audio issues when using the ADAM computers DIN plug. Therefore, until I internally modify my standalone ADAM computer so the DIN plug takes the audio signal from the RF location on the circuit board, I need to switch from composite video to RF when playing ATARI 2600 games so I can hear clear and loud audio. What I found out from doing extensive testing is the standalone ADAM computer small faint horizontal scrolling video noise from the DIN plug completely disappears if one leaves the RF TV output cable connected between the ADAM and the TV/monitor at the exact same time (Doing this made the DIN composite video output almost as good as picture quality as the ADAM’s dedicated composite video monitor output jack). It must have something to do about a ground loop problem with the standalone ADAM computers. The ground loop problem does not happen at all from the dedicated composite monitor output on the ADAM. The ground loop problem with horizontal scrolling lines is worse on poorly shielded ADAM DIN cables where the audio hum is louder. However even using high-end shielded cables can still produce a little bit of ground loop coming out of the standalone ADAM’s DIN plug. Connecting the RF cable between the ADAM and the TV/monitor will make the ground loop completely disappear from the ADAM’s DIN video output and the audio hum noise is greatly reduced (That is cheaper then spending around $79-$400+ for a special high-end ground loop isolation box . One can also just use the dedicated RCA composite video output on the ADAM that does not have the ground loop problem. Coleco must have did something to the standalone ADAM’s DIN plug that causes a ground loop video problem when the RF output or composite monitor output is not connected at the exact same. It is too bad Coleco back in 1983 did not release the ADAM computer with a standard RCA audio output, since the only reason one needs to mess around with the DIN plug is to try and get both audio and composite video at the exact same time. The standalone ADAM computer has a dedicated RCA composite video output jack, it just needed a dedicated audio output jack. Most people that still use their ADAM will most likely spend the money to have the ADAM upgraded to HDMI output for the best possible picture and sound quality. The only problem is that HDMI conversion service is currently not being offered since the parts are out of stock to do the conversion.

This link has the manual that you are looking for. http://atariage.com/forums/topic/156500-latest-harmony-cart-software/?p=3895566

The 2 page Harmony Encore addendum is located between pages 4 and 5 in the official printed Harmony manual. If you order the Harmony Encore product from Amazon and EBAY it comes with a Harmony Encore Installation CD-R. On that CD-R is a PDF manual that contains a PDF version of the Harmony Encore addendum. Attached is the PDF file you are looking for. Harmony Encore addendum.pdf

The Coleco roller controller was excellent with games like Slither, true 360 degree movement. I use to own a third party mouse for the ADAM that plugged into the joystick port and was powered by a small AC to DC wall transformer, however as far as I am aware all the third party software for the mouse operated in joystick mode. Besides games for the roller controller I never saw any Windows type interface for the ADAM that used a true 360 degree movement of a mouse.

Milli Vee your new website lists the Mega copy device. I use to own a Mega copy device when it was hard to locate blank Digital Data Packs. This device allowed one to create Digital Data Packs by copying the format onto a blank computer grade tape. Audio tapes also needed two holes drilled in the cassette shell so that they would mount and fit in the Digital Data Drive. The original Coleco Loran Digital Data Packs always lasted longer then converted audio tapes. People that used name brand higher quality audio tapes had better experiences. When I went to a disk drive (first 5.25 inch then 3.5 inch) I got rid of the Mega copy device in the 80's since I no longer needed it to make Digital Data Packs. The Coleco ADAM allows one to make backup copies of software on Digital Data Packs and disks that are not copy protected. The Coleco ADAM would allow one to format a disk, however a Digital Data Pack was always pre-formatted at the factory and the Coleco ADAM would not allow one to format a tape or re-format a Digital Data Pack. The excellent feature of the Mega Copy hardware device, is it allowed one to format a audio tape in a ADAM computer for those that wanted to make their own Digital Data Packs.

Also when purchasing directly from ATARIMAX one can request their new custom label called “Ultimate SD Wafer Drive”. ATARIMAX designed the label and ATARIMAX places it on their Ultimate SD cartridge. This is an official ATARIMAX product regardless if it is purchased from an ATARIMAX dealer or ATARIMAX’s official website directly. Those that prefer the older original label called “Ultimate SD” or “Ultimate SD Multi-Cart” can still purchase that directly from ATARIMAX also.