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Showing results for tags 'video mod'.
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Hi all. Happy new year! For the past ten years or so, I have been fixing Atari consoles and often I install AV mods as part of the process. At the beginning I was using a simple amplifier as many projects on the internet do, but I was not very happy with the video quality, so I quickly moved to the digital buffer approach. As I convert a far number of consoles every year, from time to time I will run out of PCBs and, instead of just re-ordering the same design, I try to improve it and make it easier to install, better video and audio quality, etc... Around 2018 I joined my AV design with my game pause mod: Here are some examples of my previous mods: The last PCB on the right is the one I used until mid last year. There were a few things I liked about it: It had AV and pause integrated, so it was easier to install than two separate mods There was no need to modify the console case for the AV cable The pause was controlled by the COLOR switch, so no extra switch installation The pause could be completely deactivated and the COLOR button could be used to switch the game to BW It could be mounted directly on top of the TIA and the labels on the pins made it easier to know which pins to connect for NTSC and PAL consoles. The connections were made straight down which avoided making wrong connections As it was time to order PCBs again, I started working on a new design to include some features I collected on my wish list: An easier way to configure the board for NTSC or PAL. On the last board I made, a resistor network for this, which meant I needed to decide if I wanted it to be used for NTSC or PAL as I built the mod and it was not possible to change it afterwards Gemini support. As the Gemini has a different TIA, I had to reroute the connections manually, which made the installation much more complicated and error prone An LED indicator for the pause state Better connections for the AV cable A better solution for the audio and video chaos while the game is paused. The old board had addressed a lot of the problem, but that was a lot of room for improvement So I came up with the design above which has a single jumper to configure PAL, NTSC and Genesis and the legends next to the pins show which TIA pins should be connected for each console type. This makes it easier to install the mod and also change the console type after the board was build. The other features are also included: 2600Mod_en.mov This is how it looks like installed in a Gemini: So far I have converted a couple of dozens of PAL, NTSC and Gemini consoles with this new mod and I am quite happy with the result. This time I ordered a larger number of PCBs though, so if anyone would like get one of these mods, I will soon put them on eBay for 29€, or you can pm me here. Cheers.
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- atari 2600
- atari 2600 jr
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I performed the 800XL S-Video mod (described here at post #8) remove C56, lift C54, connect R67/68 to chroma pin. I verified everything and checked continuity, but I'm getting a weird result: On my TCL TV, the RF output is still in color but looks worse, and the AV input is snowy, high contrast B&W and rapidly scrolls. On a portable LCD screen, the S-Video is clear but B&W. (My Apple IIe also displays in B&W on this screen.) I know that some TVs just can't display video from older devices, but because the RF is still in color, I think I must have done something wrong. Can anyone suggest what to do next? If it matters, I'm powering the computer from a USB charger (5.3V 2A) In a YouTube video (here) they also remove C55, should I be doing this? Thanks for any help!
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If anyone's interested, I documented my recent experience sorting out an Atari 2600 Jr I acquired. Commentary and photos in attached PDF. Just noticed the PDF instructions for the mod didn't embed properly, so will post that also (hope originator doesn't mind - free advertising after all). All comments welcome, I'm an amateur at best, but happy with result here. TJ76 ATARI JR VidMod SwitchFix.pdf notice_installation_AV_MOD_atari_2600_JR_PAL_EN.pdf
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I recently aquired an Australian 2600 jr with 128 games on board. I want to do composite out mod but the circuitry does not match anything I can find. If anybody with better diagnostics skills can help or has an actual schematic it would be much appreciated. I have included some system photos. There is a 4 position bank switch for choosing each set of 32 games on the upper left corner of the mainboard. On the case it is labeled as Game Group with 1,2,3,4 above, it did not come out clearly in the case photo so I took another photo of just that section. 128-in-1 Junior Console Games List.txt
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I have an Interact home computer that I'm trying to repair. I've had it for several years now, and I'm just getting around to testing it. The main reason I haven't tested it before now is that it only has an RF out connection, and I don't currently have any monitors or TV's in the house that support that. But I found that someone has posted the service manual for this baby on-line and I thought, "Here's my chance". Besides, looking at the schematic, I'm pretty sure I could do a component video mod to this machine without too much effort. Anyway, I decided it's now or never so I dug out an old 13" TV from the garage and connected everything up. The computer does power up and does produce a picture, but I'm pretty sure the display in the first photo is not what is supposed to show up on the screen. I've also included pictures from inside the machine. That's quite an RF shield, reminds me of the the VCS and the Atari 800. Looks like this machine was upgraded to 16K or perhaps it shipped with 16K, but it's the early keyboard so I'm guessing it was an upgrade. I checked the +5 and +12 and they looked pretty good. The 12 volts was a little low at 11.89, but neither supply had any significant ripple. The socked chips had significant oxidation on the leads so I decide to clean them up and re-seat them. This was going pretty well until I broke off one of the legs on a 4116 RAM chip. I didn't have any 4116 in my parts box. I briefly considered digging out an old TRS-80 Model one and stealing the part from that, but Jameco still sells 4116's, so what the heck. I've got the RAM's on order, but in case that's not the problem - does anybody here have any ideas where to look next? Even I get this guy to boot, I'm not sure I can get the old cassette deck to operate. And on these machines that was the only way to load software. Even BASIC had to be loaded from cassette. I suppose could tap in to the audio input.....
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- 8080A
- Mod projects
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I'm having problems getting the ElectronicSentimentalities s-video mod to work with 4 switchers. Tried three mod boards on three different 4 switch boards ( two rev. 14 and one 16). Put one of the mod boards on a jr and it worked great. All the same problems, no composite / greyed s-video and neither of the adjustment pots did any thing. That was with a 74HC4050E, if I swap out to a 4050be it kinda of works, but I'll get a lightly discolored bar on the right 3rd of the screen. One of the rev. 14 i replaced the 7805, electrolytic caps, the c241 and the power jack. I'm using new Atari power adapters from best. So the main boards should be ruled out, I doubt three bad tia chips, the rf output worked good on all the boards. Check the install instructions from both ElectronicSentimentalities and lonhorn site. Just says to pull 4 pins on the tia ( solder to those) and solder the rest directly to the tia. I've triple checked my install each time. This is driving my nuts. I don't want bother the guy at ElectronicSentimentalities, the site says he put his work on hold due to his wife having Lymphoma. Any help is greatly appreciated!
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- video mod
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For Sale Atari 2600 Four Switch Woody We built this Atari for our personal use; however, have decided to offer it for sale here. It has been AV modded with Batari's board Blue LED power light added (so we wouldn't forget to shut the thing off!) Pause button added It has also been thoroughly cleaned and tested; any worn and/or damaged components have been replaced. There are no chips, cracks, gouges or major scratches on the body. The pause button: The new AV jacks: We are asking $105, which includes free shipping to the lower 48 US This is for the console only nothing else is included PM if interested!!
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- atari
- atari 2600
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I'm looking to add S-video output to my A7800, but I don't know what options are available. I installed the Longhorn Engineer S-video mod in my 2600 a few years ago, and thought a similar product was available for the 7800. However, it looks like he's sold out of those. What other options exist? Opinions on which is best??
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- 13 replies
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- Atari 2600
- Video mod
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