scelbi8h

Thanks to both for your answers Both theories are ok, but as I said, the problem occurs with this specific cartridge plugged in that console. If the ROM chip was degrading, wouldn't it be faulty with the other consoles? And if the voltage is fluctuating on the light sixer, why all other games work ok? This is the only cartridge of my +90 that freezes and show garbage. It's a real mistery to me, I don't know how to face this issue.

I'm going crazy with a Pole Position cartridge I got many years ago. About a month ago, it stopped working with the light sixer I have for general use - I get garbage after few seconds, and game freezes. What is strange here is that the same cartridge works as it should with all my other Atari consoles (several Jrs, another light sixer and two 7800s). It's just faulty with this specific console. I checked the console. Contacts are clean and all the other games work ok. Not the slightest issue. Even Pole Position from the Harmony cartridge runs ok. What's going on here?

I love Pac-Man and E.T. to the point that I can play both of them at the most difficult level for as long as I can stand doing it. My records are 45200 (Pac-Man) and 123000 (E.T.) points. I don't like Adventure, and don't enjoy Pitfall (I do like Pitfall II). I don't own any original box or manual. For some time, I though the six-switcher was ugly and liked the Jr. Not anymore, I love both of them now.

Pitfall II, Atari Pac-Man, Circus Atari, Seaquest and H.E.R.O, mainly. But not for as long as I'd like - everytime my wife see I'm using the VCS, she tells me to stop to let her play Jawbreaker.

After some days waiting for the 6532 replacement to arrive, finally I got them and the problem wasn't in this IC. It was caused by a bad 6507 processor. I was disappointed because after 2 weeks waiting for the new 6532, nothing happened... So I decided to replace the TIA and processor from a "donor" - a functional 2600 Jr I had around here. Patiently I desoldered first the TIA, only to find it was ok in the faultly console (a curious observation - TIA from faultly 2600 made my 2600 Junior work in BW mode only). Then I desoldered the 6507 processor - and there was the problem. Just in case, I tried this faultly 6507 with the Jr, and now it has the same symptoms the other console had. So that's it! If you ever have a 2600 that gives a working screen for few seconds, think about replacing the processor! Now I'm waiting for a replacement to make my Jr ok again (ok, this console cost me about 2 euro, but I hate to leave it like this). I placed my "new" functional 6-switch 2600 in my living room. I'm having so big fun with it plus the Harmony cartridge Thanks everybody for your help!

Sorry for that eBay auction at my last post, I just read it's not a right thing to do here. I hope it's not a problem since it's just an example of a piece needed for solving a hardware problem. Right now I can't find how to edit that last post for erasing the link to eBay... I think just a picture of that IC would be ok. Here it is:

Thanks for your answer I'll check the ribbon cable to see if I have there any broken wire. I see RIOT IC is a Rockwell 6532, so I looked for a replacement in case it's broken. I found this one out in eBay: eBay Auction -- Item Number: 170868979949 Would it be ok for my Atari? Thanks again!

Hi all! First of all, sorry for my english - I'm from Spain. I entered in this forum 6 years ago now, but I wasn't really active. Recently I got interest again about Atari games, and purchased a light sixer Atari, but seems I'm having trouble getting it to work. When I turn it on, it keeps an stable image for about 2 seconds. In those 2 seconds the cartridge inserted is working correctly - joystick response, sound and image are ok. But after this, it hangs up, usually showing a black screen or 2 coloured-vertical lines screen, sometimes with a "piiiiip", sometimes silent. After turning it on and off some times, this working time get shortened, from those 2 seconds to less than a half. I tried all my cartridges, cleaned contacts and checked bad solder points, so I discarded a bad contact when inserting a cart. I've opened the console, and I checked if power after the 7805 regulator is ok. It gives 5.07 volts, completely stable. Any idea? This is my first "original" Atari, I always had Jr ones and clones, and this one really looks beautiful :-) Thank you!