Six Switcher Observations And Questions

[sandmountainslim]

I hooked up a 6 switch VCS today rather than my Vader which I have been playing for the past 25 years and for some reason the graphics look quite a bit sharper than the Vader's graphics, the drawback however is alot of my carts fit too tightly in the 6 switcher.

I wonder if there is some difference in the board in the 6 that would make the graphics sharper?

I am thinking of hooking up a 4 Switch Woodie next. Would it be closer in cart fit and graphics to the 6 or the Vader?

[Mirage]

I don't necessarily have an answer, but by sharper, do you mean less interference? Or you mean actually sharper? Because when I used to hook up my heavy sixer by RF, the signal always seemed clearer than with my 4's. Better shielding in there, from what I understand. Also, is your sixer a heavy sixer or light sixer?

 

Oh, and the heavy sixer I have definitely has a tighter fit than the 4's. The light sixer I have tends to be somewhere in between the two... a little tighter but not too bad.

 

That's all I've got.

Edited October 25, 2008 by Mirage1972

[sandmountainslim]

I don't necessarily have an answer, but by sharper, do you mean less interference? Or you mean actually sharper?

 

 

The images actually look a bit sharper and mored defined to me using the six switcher.

I believe mine is the Light Sixer because it was made in Asia rather than California.

Wp

[Mirage]

I don't necessarily have an answer, but by sharper, do you mean less interference? Or you mean actually sharper?

 

 

The images actually look a bit sharper and mored defined to me using the six switcher.

I believe mine is the Light Sixer because it was made in Asia rather than California.

Wp

 

Okay, I don't know then. Not all Heavy's are made in CA though. You have to go by the appearance... there's several threads that show pictures where you can easily tell the difference.

[sandmountainslim]

Judging from the pics in the threads I searched it appears to be a Light Sixer and the bottom says :

 

 

Manufactured By Atari-Wong Ltd. in Hong Kong

Model CX-2600

[accousticguitar]

Look at the front of the units. The shape on the bottom corners is rounded more on the heavy sixers.

[sandmountainslim]

Another case of the six switcher being superior.

 

I recieved a cart from the AA Store today and when I put it in my Vader the screen jumped around making the game unplayable, I even emailed Albert telling him the cart was faulty. I then unhooked my Vader and hooked the old six switcher up and the cart works FINE........Why is this?? I had the same experience with Shawn Sr's Smurf/Mario hack which I bought, works fine in the six and jumps in the Vader.

Wp

[Prodos8]

Aside from the thicker RF shielding sixer's (and jr's) send the luma & sync portion of the video signal through a 4050 buffer which might account for better video than a 4-switcher which doesn't do that. I'm not sure why a cart would behave differently on a six vs. a four though.

 

I personally use a 4-switch with an s-video mod for all my 2600 gaming.

[Christophero Sly]

Maybe your Vader is malfunctioning.

[AtariLeaf]

Another case of the six switcher being superior.

 

I recieved a cart from the AA Store today and when I put it in my Vader the screen jumped around making the game unplayable, I even emailed Albert telling him the cart was faulty. I then unhooked my Vader and hooked the old six switcher up and the cart works FINE........Why is this?? I had the same experience with Shawn Sr's Smurf/Mario hack which I bought, works fine in the six and jumps in the Vader.

Wp

 

Do you have another Vader or even a regular 4 switch to try with those two games. That seems just plain weird.

[sandmountainslim]

Another case of the six switcher being superior.

 

I recieved a cart from the AA Store today and when I put it in my Vader the screen jumped around making the game unplayable, I even emailed Albert telling him the cart was faulty. I then unhooked my Vader and hooked the old six switcher up and the cart works FINE........Why is this?? I had the same experience with Shawn Sr's Smurf/Mario hack which I bought, works fine in the six and jumps in the Vader.

Wp

 

Do you have another Vader or even a regular 4 switch to try with those two games. That seems just plain weird.

 

 

I only have a working Vader and Six Switcher. Have a four switcher which is messed up.

I have been playing the vader for about twenty five years and I dont think it is messed up in any way, all my other games work just fine on it. It is strange.

Wp

[AtariLeaf]

Hope this is not a dumb question but Its not a PAL Vader is it?

[sandmountainslim]

Hope this is not a dumb question but Its not a PAL Vader is it?

 

 

No Sire,

It is a good ole American Vader from Wal-Mart in Jasper, Alabama circa 1982

[simbalion]

I had a similar experience when I got the Sears heavy sixer cleaned up and working. I have an Atari light sixer and it has always worked fine, but the heavy definately has sharper colors compared the the light sixer. The heavy was made in California.

[Sayton]

Alot of 4 Switchers I bought used are a little messed up. Guess the people didn't take good care of them.

 

The 6-Switcher I grew up on works fine...except at random times, it'll got all snowy/fuzzy for a few seconds. This has led to ALOT of messed up games. I'm using one of those coax converter things you get from Radio Shack.

[sandmountainslim]

Alot of 4 Switchers I bought used are a little messed up. Guess the people didn't take good care of them.

 

The 6-Switcher I grew up on works fine...except at random times, it'll got all snowy/fuzzy for a few seconds. This has led to ALOT of messed up games. I'm using one of those coax converter things you get from Radio Shack.

 

 

 

The Vader is my original console but I am using the Six Switcher now because it has less problems with some games.

I LIKE the Six Switcher but I am having trouble getting used to those extra switches up front, keep hitting the wrong one for power.

Wp