Crazy Climber Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 Hello I am going to give this Atari Portable 2600 thing a try. I got the Ben Heck book and am going to start hacking stuff next week. I would say the great advantage I have is that I run/program CNC machinery, specifically the 3 axis CNC router that Heck mentions in page 96 of his book. I pretty much use these every day and I have an unlimited supply of nice painted composite material that we usually just scrap for a whopping 4 cents a pound!! I really have been dying to find a use for this stuff, I hate just throwing it away. I think that plus the fact that portable TV's are basically getting phased out with the whole digital signal thing should bring the entire cost of the project down considerably which is a great motivator. I would say the price was always the main factor that stopped me from trying this, I would hate to spend hundreds and end up never finishing the project. The first system I will just use Heck's default design but I would like to try making my own unique designs as well. The actual hacking of everything looks pretty time consuming, I am hoping to have it done within one months time but who knows. I will post updates with pics etc.. as the project progresses, anybody else want to give this a try with me? It would be great to have a few people to bounce ideas off and I could help you out with the CNC cases. Let me know, otherwise expect some updates here soon. Talk to you later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Climber Posted April 4, 2009 Author Share Posted April 4, 2009 Just scored a TV for $2, going to pick it up now.....I hope it is compatible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wickeycolumbus Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 Just scored a TV for $2, going to pick it up now.....I hope it is compatible $2? Thats awesome. Where did you get that deal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Climber Posted April 4, 2009 Author Share Posted April 4, 2009 Just scored a TV for $2, going to pick it up now.....I hope it is compatible $2? Thats awesome. Where did you get that deal? Craigslist. This is how the conversation went on pick up. Lady selling TV - "what are you going to do with this TV, you can't use it anymore you know?" Me - "Make a portable Atari 2600" Lady selling the TV - "A porta what?" Here is a pic of it, looks like it should work just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wickeycolumbus Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 Just scored a TV for $2, going to pick it up now.....I hope it is compatible $2? Thats awesome. Where did you get that deal? Craigslist. This is how the conversation went on pick up. Lady selling TV - "what are you going to do with this TV, you can't use it anymore you know?" Me - "Make a portable Atari 2600" Lady selling the TV - "A porta what?" Here is a pic of it, looks like it should work just fine. Nice score! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yuppicide Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 If you could make portable Atari 2600 cases nicely with your unlimited supply.. I bet you could sell them for more than 4 cents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Climber Posted April 4, 2009 Author Share Posted April 4, 2009 If you could make portable Atari 2600 cases nicely with your unlimited supply.. I bet you could sell them for more than 4 cents. hmmmm.... I'll have to get crackin' on those case plans Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jboypacman Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 Good Luck CC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dino Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 HelloI am going to give this Atari Portable 2600 thing a try. I got the Ben Heck book and am going to start hacking stuff next week. I would say the great advantage I have is that I run/program CNC machinery, specifically the 3 axis CNC router that Heck mentions in page 96 of his book. I pretty much use these every day and I have an unlimited supply of nice painted composite material that we usually just scrap for a whopping 4 cents a pound!! I really have been dying to find a use for this stuff, I hate just throwing it away. I think that plus the fact that portable TV's are basically getting phased out with the whole digital signal thing should bring the entire cost of the project down considerably which is a great motivator. I would say the price was always the main factor that stopped me from trying this, I would hate to spend hundreds and end up never finishing the project. The first system I will just use Heck's default design but I would like to try making my own unique designs as well. The actual hacking of everything looks pretty time consuming, I am hoping to have it done within one months time but who knows. I will post updates with pics etc.. as the project progresses, anybody else want to give this a try with me? It would be great to have a few people to bounce ideas off and I could help you out with the CNC cases. Let me know, otherwise expect some updates here soon. Talk to you later Cant wait to see the results!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+selgus Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Just scored a TV for $2, going to pick it up now.....I hope it is compatible $2? Thats awesome. Where did you get that deal? Craigslist. This is how the conversation went on pick up. Lady selling TV - "what are you going to do with this TV, you can't use it anymore you know?" Me - "Make a portable Atari 2600" Lady selling the TV - "A porta what?" Here is a pic of it, looks like it should work just fine. Heh, $2 is great. I think mine cost ~$30. The board mods might be a bit different than the EV-680, but it probably has the same/similar light bulb that you can replace with white LEDs. --Selgus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Climber Posted April 6, 2009 Author Share Posted April 6, 2009 Well, did about 5 hours of reading the book tonight at work. Not very impressed with the black and white diagram the book has that is supposedly highlighted to show what leads need to be removed for the white LED mod of the casio LCD screen....maybe I am getting older and my vision is lesser but I don't see anything highlighted. Guess I will have to ask around the Heck forums, hope I don't look to noobish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nonner242 Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Well, did about 5 hours of reading the book tonight at work. Not very impressed with the black and white diagram the book has that is supposedly highlighted to show what leads need to be removed for the white LED mod of the casio LCD screen....maybe I am getting older and my vision is lesser but I don't see anything highlighted. Guess I will have to ask around the Heck forums, hope I don't look to noobish Thats what scared me away from completing mine...amon other things Good luck on yours, cant wait to see it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roland p Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Are you going to use a flashback 2 or an old 2600? The flashback is the smallest 2600 right? I saw one of those small color-LCD-games. It would be nice if the guts could be replaced with flashback hardware... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+selgus Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Are you going to use a flashback 2 or an old 2600? The flashback is the smallest 2600 right? I saw one of those small color-LCD-games. It would be nice if the guts could be replaced with flashback hardware... You can't use a FB2 for this specific project, it needs to be a 4-switch Atari 2600 for all the hookups. --Selgus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BDW Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 You can't use a FB2 for this specific project, it needs to be a 4-switch Atari 2600 for all the hookups.--Selgus One can solder a 26 (or 24?) pin connector to the flashback board and BAM! Insta atari. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herbarius Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 How small do you actually plan it to be? More like a handheld console or more like a laptop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari Dogs Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Go on Ben's website. There are color pictures there. It is still hard to see the highlighting. There is a new way to connect the video also. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wickeycolumbus Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 You can't use a FB2 for this specific project, it needs to be a 4-switch Atari 2600 for all the hookups.--Selgus One can solder a 26 (or 24?) pin connector to the flashback board and BAM! Insta atari. No, not really. There is no spot for a connector on the FB2 board, but solder pads that have the proper connections to wire a cart port to it. It takes more like a few hours, not instant at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nukey Shay Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 ...then there's the issue of compatability. Not everything designed for the 2600 works with FB2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricDeLee Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Yep... I know the FB2 will work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Climber Posted April 8, 2009 Author Share Posted April 8, 2009 Are you going to use a flashback 2 or an old 2600? The flashback is the smallest 2600 right? I saw one of those small color-LCD-games. It would be nice if the guts could be replaced with flashback hardware... 4 switch atari 2600, you can cut the board down to a 4x4 square with a little modification of course Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Climber Posted April 8, 2009 Author Share Posted April 8, 2009 How small do you actually plan it to be? More like a handheld console or more like a laptop? More like a handheld system, kind of like a Gameboy in case design, a little bigger of course Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Climber Posted April 8, 2009 Author Share Posted April 8, 2009 Go on Ben's website. There are color pictures there. It is still hard to see the highlighting. There is a new way to connect the video also. Good luck. Well after a little more investigating I more or less understand which parts need to be removed now so knowing the exact leads isnt as important. I am not looking forward to the white LED mod portion of this, looks a little easier on a PSX screen, might go that route if I get stuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+selgus Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Well after a little more investigating I more or less understand which parts need to be removed now so knowing the exact leads isnt as important. I am not looking forward to the white LED mod portion of this, looks a little easier on a PSX screen, might go that route if I get stuck It's not as bad as it looks, just don't rush it and be careful when cutting to get the bulb out. Remember with this mod, you save a lot on your battery load. --Selgus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Headfamily Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 The TV you got is one I'm trying to work with too. Just worried about the size of the board as it seems not to be very "friendly" Add the fact one backlight is already out, and I may try to pick up another. Anyone try it with a Ev 500? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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