CincYnoTi Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 See photo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GroovyBee Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 Any chance you take the unit apart and take some pictures of how its connected internally? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pioneer4x4 Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 My guess would be a video composite mod, but odd choice of a connector to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CincYnoTi Posted October 20, 2010 Author Share Posted October 20, 2010 I'm wondering if this was a mod done thirty years ago...and the plug might have made sense back then. It also has some "woodgrain" contact paper on the sides that almost match the woodgrain of the unit. That paper covers up two of the bottom screws. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldAtarian Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 (edited) I know it's not a BNC connector. Those twist and lock. My laserdisc player has BNC connectors and that's not what they look like so we can eliminate that from the running. What region is this machine, btw? It might help to know whether we're dealing with a North American, European or some other standard. What model 2600 is this? It might also help to narrow down the date of the mod a little. Someone with knowledge of high end late 70's early 80's televisions might know what that connector is. It may even be an audio connector for all we know. Edited October 20, 2010 by OldAtarian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pioneer4x4 Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 Other than being 4 pins, not 5, it reminds me of a CB radio microphone connector. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Dart Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 Judging by that photo... I'd say it's a connector. Can't say more based on that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pioneer4x4 Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 http://parts.digikey.com/1/parts/264515-conn-recept-box-mnt-4pos-w-pins-97-3102a-20-4p.html Is the closest I can think of, reminded me of a "mil spec" circular connector. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J. Franzman Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 (edited) It looks like a part you could get from Radio Shack in the late '70s/early '80s, so it could be anything. My first guess is that it's a microphone-style jack. Possibly for use by a musician with Paul Slocum's Synthcart. Need pics of the inside to figure it out for sure though. Edited October 21, 2010 by A.J. Franzman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tetrode kink Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 I know it's not a BNC connector. Those twist and lock. My laserdisc player has BNC connectors and that's not what they look like so we can eliminate that from the running. What region is this machine, btw? It might help to know whether we're dealing with a North American, European or some other standard. What model 2600 is this? It might also help to narrow down the date of the mod a little. Someone with knowledge of high end late 70's early 80's televisions might know what that connector is. It may even be an audio connector for all we know. It's a Sixer (if it were a 4-sw unit the controller ports and power jack would be positioned higher, on the back of the bezel). I don't know for certain if it's a Light or a Heavy, since I don't have a 6-sw Light to compare with that pic. But it matches the back of my Heavy perfectly, right down to the "CONNECT TO GAME SWITCH BOX" message which the mystery connector partially obfuscates. Do Light-Sixers have that same embossing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldAtarian Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 (edited) I know it's not a BNC connector. Those twist and lock. My laserdisc player has BNC connectors and that's not what they look like so we can eliminate that from the running. What region is this machine, btw? It might help to know whether we're dealing with a North American, European or some other standard. What model 2600 is this? It might also help to narrow down the date of the mod a little. Someone with knowledge of high end late 70's early 80's televisions might know what that connector is. It may even be an audio connector for all we know. It's a Sixer (if it were a 4-sw unit the controller ports and power jack would be positioned higher, on the back of the bezel). I don't know for certain if it's a Light or a Heavy, since I don't have a 6-sw Light to compare with that pic. But it matches the back of my Heavy perfectly, right down to the "CONNECT TO GAME SWITCH BOX" message which the mystery connector partially obfuscates. Do Light-Sixers have that same embossing? Look at the lip around the upper edge of the unit. If it's thick, then it's a heavy. If it's thin, then it's a light. Not around the switch area, around the rest of the unit. Edited October 21, 2010 by OldAtarian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattbuc16 Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 See photo It looks like the power connector for my pool robot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldAtarian Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 (edited) I thought it looked kind of like an XLR4 connector at first but the pins are arranged differently. They are in more of a V configuration and not a square. Edited October 21, 2010 by OldAtarian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tetrode kink Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 I know it's not a BNC connector. Those twist and lock. My laserdisc player has BNC connectors and that's not what they look like so we can eliminate that from the running. What region is this machine, btw? It might help to know whether we're dealing with a North American, European or some other standard. What model 2600 is this? It might also help to narrow down the date of the mod a little. Someone with knowledge of high end late 70's early 80's televisions might know what that connector is. It may even be an audio connector for all we know. It's a Sixer (if it were a 4-sw unit the controller ports and power jack would be positioned higher, on the back of the bezel). I don't know for certain if it's a Light or a Heavy, since I don't have a 6-sw Light to compare with that pic. But it matches the back of my Heavy perfectly, right down to the "CONNECT TO GAME SWITCH BOX" message which the mystery connector partially obfuscates. Do Light-Sixers have that same embossing? Look at the lip around the upper edge of the unit. If it's thick, then it's a heavy. If it's thin, then it's a light. Not around the switch area, around the rest of the unit. Huh? Who are you talking to? I'm not the OP, all I have to go on is the pic everyone else sees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bah Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 Other than being 4 pins, not 5, it reminds me of a CB radio microphone connector. Many CB radio mics used a 4 pin connector that appears to be the same as the one shown, especially the early 32 channel units. The connectors were available at cell phone shack all through the late 70's and 80's. 10-4 good buddy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CincYnoTi Posted October 21, 2010 Author Share Posted October 21, 2010 OK OK, I'll open it this weekend and take pictures of the inside. It is a heavy-sixer. I had never looked at this particular one that close before I took it out to read the serial number. I would have taken it apart already, except for the fact that the contact paper covers the screws. BTW, the outer ring has threads, so the plug would have had a bolt-ring to tighten once it was plugged in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldAtarian Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 (edited) http://www.cbradiosplus.com/shop/pc/viewprd.asp?idcategory=&idproduct=735 That looks like a CB microphone connector. 4 pins, square configuration, and screws down to hold it tight, but it makes me wonder why someone would have a CB microphone connector on a 2600? I have a feeling the guts of this 2600 are going to be VERY interesting to see. Edited October 21, 2010 by OldAtarian 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tetrode kink Posted October 22, 2010 Share Posted October 22, 2010 http://www.cbradiosplus.com/shop/pc/viewprd.asp?idcategory=&idproduct=735 [stock connector image] [cheesy CB radio image] That looks like a CB microphone connector. 4 pins, square configuration, and screws down to hold it tight, but it makes me wonder why someone would have a CB microphone connector on a 2600? I have a feeling the guts of this 2600 are going to be VERY interesting to see. It probably belonged to a tinkerer or professional tech who wanted to mod his VCS, and that's a connector he had in his parts bin, so that's the connector he used. As to what the mod actually is, a couple ideas come to mind: It's a composite A/V mod; just enough terminals in that connector, one to spare if he used a common ground. The previous owner discovered that the TIA actually outputs two sound channels and decided to run the separated audio out to his stereo for some hi-fi blasting in Asteroids. Our enterprising tinkerer, whose day job is at the copy shop, fancies himself as a hi-tech guru. You see, he's warm to basic modding and while running off collated copies of last quarter's financial statement for the tool-and-die company next door, he started daydreaming and hit upon an idea for a video game - Convoy 2600! The video game version of the movie of the same name. You see, you control a trucker in the game and you "talk" to your good buddies over the CB mike you plug into your modded VCS. He got his friend and coworker involved and they formed Team Truckerz. They even have a little runnable code, the in-game timer. They don't have the rights from United Artists to use the "Convoy" name, but that should be no problem, right? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pioneer4x4 Posted October 22, 2010 Share Posted October 22, 2010 Our enterprising tinkerer, whose day job is at the copy shop, fancies himself as a hi-tech guru. You see, he's warm to basic modding and while running off collated copies of last quarter's financial statement for the tool-and-die company next door, he started daydreaming and hit upon an idea for a video game - Convoy 2600! The video game version of the movie of the same name. You see, you control a trucker in the game and you "talk" to your good buddies over the CB mike you plug into your modded VCS. He got his friend and coworker involved and they formed Team Truckerz. They even have a little runnable code, the in-game timer. They don't have the rights from United Artists to use the "Convoy" name, but that should be no problem, right? How about he wired up a CB Mic's push to talk button as a reset switch... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldAtarian Posted October 22, 2010 Share Posted October 22, 2010 (edited) Our enterprising tinkerer, whose day job is at the copy shop, fancies himself as a hi-tech guru. You see, he's warm to basic modding and while running off collated copies of last quarter's financial statement for the tool-and-die company next door, he started daydreaming and hit upon an idea for a video game - Convoy 2600! The video game version of the movie of the same name. You see, you control a trucker in the game and you "talk" to your good buddies over the CB mike you plug into your modded VCS. He got his friend and coworker involved and they formed Team Truckerz. They even have a little runnable code, the in-game timer. They don't have the rights from United Artists to use the "Convoy" name, but that should be no problem, right? How about he wired up a CB Mic's push to talk button as a reset switch... Or a pause button? That would be an interesting hack if someone managed to do that. Edited October 22, 2010 by OldAtarian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horseboy Posted October 22, 2010 Share Posted October 22, 2010 Our enterprising tinkerer, whose day job is at the copy shop, fancies himself as a hi-tech guru. You see, he's warm to basic modding and while running off collated copies of last quarter's financial statement for the tool-and-die company next door, he started daydreaming and hit upon an idea for a video game - Convoy 2600! The video game version of the movie of the same name. You see, you control a trucker in the game and you "talk" to your good buddies over the CB mike you plug into your modded VCS. He got his friend and coworker involved and they formed Team Truckerz. They even have a little runnable code, the in-game timer. They don't have the rights from United Artists to use the "Convoy" name, but that should be no problem, right? How about he wired up a CB Mic's push to talk button as a reset switch... Or a pause button? That would be an interesting hack if someone managed to do that. Been done. Al sells them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldAtarian Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 Our enterprising tinkerer, whose day job is at the copy shop, fancies himself as a hi-tech guru. You see, he's warm to basic modding and while running off collated copies of last quarter's financial statement for the tool-and-die company next door, he started daydreaming and hit upon an idea for a video game - Convoy 2600! The video game version of the movie of the same name. You see, you control a trucker in the game and you "talk" to your good buddies over the CB mike you plug into your modded VCS. He got his friend and coworker involved and they formed Team Truckerz. They even have a little runnable code, the in-game timer. They don't have the rights from United Artists to use the "Convoy" name, but that should be no problem, right? How about he wired up a CB Mic's push to talk button as a reset switch... Or a pause button? That would be an interesting hack if someone managed to do that. Been done. Al sells them. But when did he do it? If this was done back in the 70's or 80's on this unit that makes it more of a landmark achievement because who was doing that kind of thing back then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wickeycolumbus Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 But when did he do it? If this was done back in the 70's or 80's on this unit that makes it more of a landmark achievement because who was doing that kind of thing back then? I wouldn't too be surprised if 3rd party developers did a similar mod to halt the processor when desired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldgamesrule Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 It is a cd mic port. Now my dad was had a base station they made boxes that ou could hook to the unit mic port then the mic plug into the box. This was to add fun sounds. I fell so old now. but people in the cb hey day was like the internet today. They had odd little sounds they would play from time to time. could the audio be taped for use on a cb so many odd game sounds on the 2600 system?? video of one here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8CcFNlpXy0&feature=related 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CincYnoTi Posted October 25, 2010 Author Share Posted October 25, 2010 Looks like three of the prongs are wired to the game reset and select switches. Too bad I don't have the control box that would have plugged into this. I assume it was so you could sit back from the TV and not have to get off the couch to select/reset. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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