markheus

So in essence what your saying is I'm SOL until I decide to do this AV mod? hehe

Trade N Games has some really good deals on manuals in his store. I plan on getting them to fill out my collection of loose carts. Trade N Games manuals

Atari does not anywhere generate the video signal at the levels a standard video input would expect, so some sort of mod circuit will be needed. I'd suggest doing the AV mode and either feeding that into a monitor (if you have suitable inputs) or into a good quality RF modulator. BTW, though I've not tried the RF modulator on it, Wal-Mart sells for about $25 a switcher that accepts four inputs that can be composite or S-video and will output composite, S-Video, and RF; it will even convert S-Video into composite or vice versa if needed. I've seen those modulators from wal-mart - the ones that accept an RF signal and then send it to the TV via composite outs or RF out. Seems lots of people use them to make DVD players work on a TV that only has a coaxial jack. But unless I'm mistaken - I'm doing the same thing with my VCR - sending it RF and outputting composite I'm doing to do the AV mod when the Cybertech comes back on the market Are you listening Chris? Or if someone just happens to have one laying around....

While the colored cases are cool, I just want the game. A black cart would be fine by me. -Tim Yup Yup I'd be happy with a black case as well. There is a Seawolf on the AtariAge store on eBay that I might grab. Too bad about Combat and Indy 500. I think what you did was just what those games needed.

Haha - I guess that's what I get for leaving town!

I live about 30 miles from him and have been thinking about getting a Lynx. I won't be home before the auction ends so if he relists it I may go by there and take a look at it.

That's horrible! What ever happened to good 'ole M.A.D. diplomacy? You know, if he'd just went out and bought a gameline, he never would've brought the world to the edge of Global Thermonuclear War.

I'm not a programmer either - But I'm guessing its simply because of the limitations of the 2600 (can't speak to the INTV). My best friend had a colecovision and *all* of the games were better. Well, better at least graphically. I haven't played a coleco in 20 years - but I remember the graphics quality above and beyond what the Atari was capable of.

Exciting movie on tonight - WarGames - YOu know - the 80s movie with Matthew Broderick? Well I never caught onto it before, but when he accidently dialed into WOPR, he was actually trying to locate a computer game company located in Sunnyvale, CA. Hmm. I wonder who that could be....

Hey guys - Is Fall Down still available? Awesome game!!! Also - what's the status of Indy 500 XE and Combat redux?

There are also huge variations in quality among RF modulators and tuners. A well-modded 2600 feeding a broadcast-quality RF modulator into a good TV set should be able to give a picture just about as good as a modded 2600 feeding a composite monitor. Unfortunately, since a distortion-free RF modulator that properly modulates the audio is complicated and expensive to build, Atari uses a much simpler circuit that kinda sorta works. So theoretically one could simply replace the RF modulator in the unit itself? I'm guessing this wouldn't be available at the local Radio Shack - Would be nice to keep the original appearance though.

Yup Yup - I hate RF signals of any type. I install sat TV and can't begin to count the number of customers who were amazed when I switched their sat box outputs to comp video from coax... Anyway, I've got the coax adaptor - I've never actually hooked it up with the switch box (at least not since 1986 so that's not an issue. I can't hook it up directly to a TV because the barrel connector on the back is broken off - I've got it running through my VCR right now. so.... Atari--->Orig Cable---->Coax adaptor--->VCR------>TV What can I change here without upgrading to comp video?

Well - I think I've found the answer http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=78821 I'll play with this when I get home. I may also make a new cable RF cable. Is it possible to use a length of RG-6 and simply connect it directly to the BNC port inside without creating interference? That would eliminate the need for the adaptor ( and yet another oppurtunity for interference)

Ok - So I was browsing eBay for stuff when I came across a booklet entitled "Atari 2600, 2600 Jr. Fine Tuning, Upgrading, Trouble-Shooting, and Simple Repairs Advice!" I'm sure you guys have seen this before but something in the items description interested me. One of the bullet points of the book was that it gave instructions on how to "fine_tune" the RF output of the VCS? I remember back in the day when the VCR's had the little yellow adjustment knobs, and the TV's themselves had the outer ring on the controller to fine tune the picture (Was this only for VHF channels) so what's the deal about fine tuning the Atari's output? Is this for real? Is he trying to sell more booklets? When the cybertech mod comes out I'm going to perform that upgrade, but until then I'd like to be able to get some of the grainess out of the picture. Its not bad, but after playing the ems on my laptop, its kind of a downgrade... For those that haven't seen this auction... Atari Upgrade and Repair Auction BTW: Is this topic of a "more technical nature so that it should be in the hardware forum? hehe I haven't brought up bankswitching or anything!

Yeah - I guess the topic was just moved - I guess it was a marketplace ad - sorry for the mispost.... This is one that had the game storage underneath as well - When I bought it I thought it was one of the side by side units. Here's a pic of the damage - There's also another pic of another storage unit that I got that I really like. I guess mostly Im annoyed that they made no attempt at protecting it during transit. I'm totally cool with sellers charging a reasonable s/h fee - But I think its right to expect that the item be packed properly.[ Videostak Game Center auction hbomb: I'm pretty sure it was cracked during the trip from Kansas to Missouri. Here's the original auction

So I was pumped - I won an auction on eBay for a "Video Game Center" - You know - one of those nifty little storage units that hold the VCS and a handful of games.... Well, I got it in the mail today and the lid was cracked. I'm not sure if I'm going to seek any redress from the seller because I didn't have it insured. Still, it kinda annoys me because the seller shipped it in the box itself - There wasn't any type of packing material around it. Anyway - My gf said it was cracked in about 5 places but that she could probably super-glu it but I think that would look tacky - sooooooooooo anyone have an extra unbroken lid they'd let go for a few bucks? Another quick question - Are the lids to these things pretty fragile? I was never cool enough as a kid to have one - hehe

This is so true. I mentioned to my girlfriend that I would like to collect some boxes as well and the first thing she said was "Oh no, your not collecting the boxes now too" It's alright though I have a nice area upstairs all cleared out for them so she can't complain. Now where do I begin....? Motorodeo of course...

That is often a huge issue. One of my friends couldn't even take (for free!) the excellent Sony commercial monitor I had to get rid of because I wanted the space back. His wife wouldn't even let him bring it in the house. Me, I'm lucky enough to be on the other end of that scale. My friends never forget the first time I brought home an arcade cabinet, and she barely even blinked at it as I wheeled the beast through the house. Or the last time I came home one weekend with a new car. So that's the secret then !! Blind them with the shine from the new car while you secretly stash your stuff throughout the living room!. Seriously though - I'm exagerrating for emphasis - I don't want it to seem as though she's a nag or anything. She's actually enjoying the Atari even though she moved it downstairs. I've tried to get her into a few XBox games and it never seemed to work. But she's enjoyed the Atari for the same reason I do - Its simplicity! Back on Topic - I was quite surprised by the relative availability of games still in shrinkwrap or CIB - Its seems the majority can be had for for a decent price. I guess its cost/benefit, are all those cool boxes on the shelves worth hundreds of dollars?

Well - Something else that might be a consideration in your collection of boxes - the GAF (girlfriend acceptance factor) My girlfriend and I were *discussing* where everything is going to be displayed. We have this awesome cabinet that everything would fit perfectly on, so I mentioned that to her. Of course - there's the small issue of all her trinkets that's she's got on it. I subtly suggested that they might look nice on a shelf in the kitchen. Of course, she wasn't particularly pleased with this suggestion...... So, while I'm gone - she went to her ex-in-law's house and picked up an old 80's woodgrain TV and put it and everything else in the basement. On the phone she said it was really "retro, and that was what I was trying to achieve right?" Me things she wants the living room and flat screen for herself!

I've just started collecting so I'm not speaking from experience - most people here know much more than I, but I'm trying to approach things methodically. Usually I'll go for just the carts and instructions - I don't mind paying a bit more because, to me, they offer a lot of added value. If I can find a CIB version, I'll grab it if its not significantly more. Its not a necessity though, I won't hold off on buying a cart just because I can't find a boxed version at a reasonable price. Storage isn't so much as an issue - as I'm just displaying the carts right now - I've put the boxes in a ... box hehe. One of these days when I've got lots of room I'll take them out - but its nice to know that they're there. Of course, once I start searching for some more rare carts - I'll probably have to be less picky.

I'm not sure what's worse - charging $10 for the game (if I have my exchange rate right) or charging $8 to ship it. .... my that's some mighty fine newspaper...

$87.50? It really sucks that some of the best games for the 2600 and Intellivision cost a small fortune. Agreed - Though I guess its supply and demand - At least this is a good game. I've played a few that are incredibly rare that just aern't that good!

Here 'ya go! Shuttle Orbiter eBay Auction I think I'll keep my eye out at the flea market.... Though it'd be awesome to have the manual...

I've never played that game yet, but I definitely want to. I really enjoy strategy/sim games in general - so I'm pretty excited about trying out a few for the Atari. I've got Final Approach, StarMaster, and Star Raiders, but I haven't had a chance to play them yet (had to leave for Iowa three days after I got my Atari) That's a pretty rare game it seems - I'll have to keep an eye out for it.