Contemplating a CV purchase

[bikeguychicago]

I am new to Colecovision and am contemplating a purchase on eBay. The unit I am looking at is stated as being untested. What is the likelihood that the console will be without problem without it being tested? Also, what should I be looking out for when purchasing a unit off of eBay (or CL)?

 

Thanks!

[VectorGamer]

Untested usually means it doesn't work.

[nanochess]

Yep, everyone has a TV.

 

If the guy has the power supply and the cables then he could test it.

 

I've gave a further look and it says "for parts or not working"

 

There is a chance that the power supply has failed and the Colecovision still works, also that he used the RF box to connect to a modern TV (and it failed, because it's not required,) but you would have to take the chance.

[JamesD]

I've even received systems that were "tested" that didn't work. Testing clearly didn't involve hooking it up to a TV.
One of my Coleco ADAMs displayed an image but it was corrupt due to bad video RAM. It would have cost more to send back than repair it myself.

Listings with photos of the unit actually displaying something on a TV help but watch out for "as shown".
As shown usually means something is wrong and you have to look very carefully at the photos to see the problem.
This happened with my Vectrex. The screen was slightly out of alignment and I have to replace bad capacitors to get it working.

[ls650]

Not just a CV thing: I've seen untested systems being sold on eBay by what looks to be video game stores.

You look at their other listings and see they have other classic systems for sale that ARE tested, yet they'll auction off a system as "Untested, don't have the hookups"...

 

Yeah, right.

[bikeguychicago]

So it seems the best course of action is to buy from the Marketplace here, correct?

[Hyperboy]

So it seems the best course of action is to buy from the Marketplace here, correct?

You are correct Sir

[PkK]

I've bought cheap, "untested" ColecoVisions a few times, some from the US, but mostly from Europe. I always got a working ColecoVision, but most of the time with a broken power supply.

 

Philipp

[Manoau2002]

I haven't bought any colecovisions from ebay but I have bought an adam computer. (Which works great) I think the key is to research the seller and look at what they are actually saying. For example the seller I bought the adam from buys and repairs vintage computers. Its all he sells on ebay. He also described in detail what his testing involved.

Edited January 27, 2014 by Manoau2002

[phattyboombatty]

I have a beautifully modified "Non-Yurkified YurkiVision" for sale. That is to say, that it has the new Yurkie A/V mod, but I installed it myself . It is fresh as fresh can be, cleaned, clear, and solid with refurbished controllers. I may even swap in my ball-knob controllers (again, modded by me), if you like them. I love them. I'm getting ready to put it up in Marketplace, but I've only gotten so far as to take pics of screenshots... Shoot me a PM if you're interested!

 

 

[+grips03]

I am new to Colecovision and am contemplating a purchase on eBay. The unit I am looking at is stated as being untested. What is the likelihood that the console will be without problem without it being tested? Also, what should I be looking out for when purchasing a unit off of eBay (or CL)?

 

Thanks!

 

If you do get a CV, and your TV supports VGA, Matthew's F18A - http://codehackcreate.com

 

is a great upgrade

Edited January 28, 2014 by grips03

[chart45]

f18a best mod to my coleco color are super bright and black is black

 

[NIAD]

The F18A is probably the top of the line as far as video output modifications, but it takes a very skilled person to install it. Otherwise, Phatty and Yurkie are both really great guys to deal with for a thoroughly tested and modded system.

 

Seeing as you don't live too far from Chicago, you could always make the trip up to Norridge and visit Sean Kelly's VideoGames Then and Now store that is located on Harlem and Montrose. He usually has a number of CV systems available for $60 and you will absolutely love his store. If you do decide to buy one from him, I would request to test it out while there at the store even though he states all the systems have been thoroughly tested seeing as I bought one a couple years ago that did not output any sound and had to return it. The one drawback is that you will probably end up deciding to send it out to Yurkie to have him refubish and mod the system anyway, so it might be better to just buy a system from one of the guys on here.

[phattyboombatty]

If you do get a CV, and your TV supports VGA, Matthew's F18A - http://codehackcreate.com

 

is a great upgrade

I want one of these for myself, but Matt seems to have been out of stock for a while now.

[+grips03]

I want one of these for myself, but Matt seems to have been out of stock for a while now.

A few months back I saw they were out of stock and emailed Matthew and within a few weeks he made some more. I would highly recommend emailing him.

Edited January 28, 2014 by grips03

[+grips03]

The F18A is probably the top of the line as far as video output modifications, but it takes a very skilled person to install it. Otherwise, Phatty and Yurkie are both really great guys to deal with for a thoroughly tested and modded system.

 

Seeing as you don't live too far from Chicago, you could always make the trip up to Norridge and visit Sean Kelly's VideoGames Then and Now store that is located on Harlem and Montrose. He usually has a number of CV systems available for $60 and you will absolutely love his store. If you do decide to buy one from him, I would request to test it out while there at the store even though he states all the systems have been thoroughly tested seeing as I bought one a couple years ago that did not output any sound and had to return it. The one drawback is that you will probably end up deciding to send it out to Yurkie to have him refubish and mod the system anyway, so it might be better to just buy a system from one of the guys on here.

 

Its not that bad if your good removing ICs, if your bad at removing 40 pin ICs then have someone else do it

[+adamchevy]

The only problem with f18a is that if you plan on using expansion module #1 the video won't come through after you do the VGA mod.

[PkK]

IMO, the ColecoVisions originally built for RGB output give a great picture. These days my preferred setup is one of those combined with a SCART-to-HDMI converter.

 

Philipp

[+grips03]

The only problem with f18a is that if you plan on using expansion module #1 the video won't come through after you do the VGA mod.

 

this is a very true statement, but the Atari 7800 with s-video mod is so much better at playing 2600 games

[+adamchevy]

Anyone know what kind of a/v mods you can do on an Adam computer?

[+grips03]

Anyone know what kind of a/v mods you can do on an Adam computer?

same as CV, but I think it has composite already built in

Edited January 29, 2014 by grips03

[+adamchevy]

same as CV, but I think it has composite already built in

Anyone ever try dvi?

[+grips03]

Anyone ever try dvi?

 

not that i know of, perhaps buy a vga to dvi converter, xrgb3 does this

Edited January 29, 2014 by grips03

[NIAD]

Anyone know what kind of a/v mods you can do on an Adam computer?

The Stand-Alone ADAM's Colecovision Delta Board is already modded by Coleco for Composite Video output. You can use the 7 pin DIN port for video and sound or the RCA jack port for video only... which is tapped off the DIN port. It also has RF output as well.

 

The Expansion Module #3 ADAM outputs video via whatever means the CV has.

 

The F18A VGA mod is the only other available option for the Stand-Alone ADAM and the board is slightly different than the CV version.

[+adamchevy]

Thanks for your help, I was contemplating buying an adam computer(mainly because my name is adam) but I was also interested to see if other a/v mods were available vs the colecovision. I haven't heard of any homebrew games that take advantage of the Adam computers extra hardware. Can you use the adam to develop and test colecovision games? That would be a good use for it.