Atari 2600 color fade?

[Sydtech]

I have an original "heavy sixer" 2600 console, and I've noticed some strange behavior with it: after I've had the console on and running for a while, the colors will suddenly go off. I've noticed this mostly with Activision games - Pitfall II is the worst. The greens will go kind of a muted brown, etc. This is during gameplay, and is NOT the built-in color shift that happens when the console is idle for a while.

 

Is this a problem with my console, or with the Activision carts?

 

Thanks,

Scott

(Atarian since '77)

[eldunko]

what kind of tv are you using? maybe your tube is shot

[Sydtech]

Nope, the TV's fine with everything else.

 

I'm trying to narrow it down to the console (was there ever a color drift problem with these?), the Pitfall II cart (was there a shielding or heat issue with Activision carts?), or maybe even the switchbox (although I've tried a few)...

 

Thanks,

Scott

[Smada Bez]

My guess is it is either your power supply is going bad or the voltage regulator in your atari is going bad.

I have heard people complaning from the same symptom you are describing and it was one of the above two problems.

Do you have a different power supply to test it with?

[ashbourn]

or maybe your games are dieing or dirty.

[StanJr]

Nah, I've got the same problem on my 4 switch woody. If I play for an extended period of time the colors start to shift a bit.

 

I heard once that it was a problem with the RF cable. I have no idea, its not so bad that I can't play, so I'll leave it alone for now

 

Hopefully someone here can lock the problem down and tell us how to fix.

 

[XTClaus]

I think - and I had the same problem with my sixer - it is the adjustable resistor (short: AR) inside your console.There are two ARs (RF and Sound)inside the 2600. Just open the system, look to the left and use a small hexagonal recess wrench to justage the colors. The system must be connected to the TV. If you are really cool, you will make a hole into the button-casing - so you can allways justage the 2600 while it is closed. Make sure the AR is clean and not oxidated. Clean it with contact-spray...

 

This will help!!! Make it. It is not the power supply or anything like this!!!

 

Look here in the button-left corner. This is the AR to clean and to adjust. It is signed with the word "color".

 

http://www.atariage.com/2600/archives/sche...c_2600_Low.html