Atari 130XE TV Hookup Using NES/Sega RF Mod?

[bbking67]

I'm a former Atari 8-Bitter, but I haven't turned on an 8-bit since around 1990. The funny thing is that I still have most of my gear (a fairly large quantity). While searching for the Christmas decorations, I found my "B" system: a 130XE and a 1050 w/US Doubler. Everything I need is there except for one thing: There is no monitor cable or RF switchbox. So I have a couple of questions:

 

Can I use an RF Modulator for a Sega Genesis, NES or Gamecube to display on TV?

 

As for the RF cable what do I need? The Atari one had a little black box at one end that I assume was some kind of transformer. Can I use a 50 Ohm shielded cable for this?

 

I noticed that some folks had what looked like an RCA-Coax converter... maybe I can find one of these... is there a matching transformer in there? Or is it just a converter? Is there a Radio Shack part number I can reference?

 

Any help would be appreciated. Hopefully the old gear survived the last 20 years okay (it looks mint!). Now to find my 800XL and Indus GT... /bbking67

Edited December 13, 2011 by bbking67

[mimo]

what are you plugging in to? any tv with s-video or component AV you would be better off making/buying the apropriate AV cable that plugs into the Atari 5 pin din monitor port. If you are using an LCD or Plasma set, results may vary though

 

eBay Auction -- Item Number: 330654157557

[sloopy]

Although i would highly recommend using composite at the very least, if not S-Video, this will connect your RF Lead to the TV (given you live in the US )...

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103471

 

sloopy.

[Gunstar]

The Atari RF cables black box only contains a magnetic ring inside with the cable wrapped around it. This is to help reduce outside interference, that's all.

Yes, the NES or Sega RF cables should work fine, even better than the original Atari cable. I don't know anything about the gamecube one, but if it's similiar to the NES one, it would probably work well too.

Radio shack (or eBay) sell little coaxial screw in converters where you can just then plug in the RF cable's RCA plug: http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-Pack-Lot-F-type-Female-RCA-Male-RF-Plug-Adapter-Connector-Coax-Coaxial-/250949286084?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a6dbe38c4

 

I personally would recommend you get the Atari break-out-box (A8 A/V B.O.B) to plug into the monitor port and give you everything you need: http://morethangames.a8maestro.com/

[bbking67]

I think my preference right now is to plug in to an RCA XL100 TV that only has RF. I have a composite monitor as well (not S-video), but it has no sound. I have some of these DIN-to-RCA connectors somewhere... I just have to find them!

 

If everything is still working or fixable within reason, I'll probably buy or build a proper monitor cable, but at the moment I'd rather just try thing out that I already have in-hand.

 

I don't think anything I have actually takes S-Video (well my Sharp Aquos LCD TV does, but it has terrible up-scaling for standard definition stuff).

 

/bbking67

Edited December 13, 2011 by bbking67

[bbking67]

That AV BOB looks sweet... too bad it's sold out at the moment. Thanks Gunstar, I'll try the video game RF units out... I have a number oif them including some universal ones, so I should be able to get something going. The TV for now is the easiest thing because then I don't have to mess with speakers, etc.

[Bryan]

The automatic-style switchboxes won't work properly with the Atari because they require power from the source to perform the switching.

[bbking67]

Here is what I did: I went to "The Source", which used to be part of Circuit City and way back was the Canadian Radio Shack and bought an RCA to Coax adapter (46 cents). I couldn't find an Atari RF cable and I don't think using a regular audio or video cable is a good idea, so I bought a male-male RCA coupler (this cost me $6.99!), attached that and the adapter to the 130XE and ran a Quad Shield RG6 cable to the TV.

 

...and it works very well! Everything is as good as it can be on RF. This TV doesn't have composite inputs so later I'll have to try with a better monitor.

 

Not only that, my 130XE and 1050, which have been mothballed since 1992, work perfectly and I was able to enjoy a game of MULE.

 

I was sure a little transformer would have been required for the TV input, but I suppose that's just to convert to the twin-lead impedance (75 Ohm?).

 

Any how thanks for the help!!!

 

I'm back in the 8-bit Atari scene!!!!

Edited December 16, 2011 by bbking67

[mimo]

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