Saved another 8-bit. 600XL RF Modulator issue...

[NISMOPC]

My latest...

 

Got this unit off ebay untested. Came in original styrofoam with C061982 'The White Brick' power adapter, A/V cord and RF switchbox. No box or manuals. Immediately hooked it up and the screen was scrambled as if on wrong station. Tried both channel 2 and 3. Nothing, but I did here the start-up Atari "brrrrrrrrrrrr". Just could not see if it went directly to self test or READY.

 

Decided to crack it open and take a look. well, didn't take long to see the issue. Someone appeared to have attempted to fix the RF Modulator at some point in it's life and destroyed the solder point. Burnt to hell. The trace was not even connected to the RF wire because of the destruction.

 

 

So I took a single strand of copper wire and soldered it to a bare section of the trace that was exposed, then soldered the other end to the RF wire.

 

 

Tested it before and after I re-assembled the unit and Voila'

 

 

This one is going to be my "toy". For the price I paid, I am going to play around with memory, video and other mods.

 

Saving one 8-bit at a time!

[+DrVenkman]

Ugh,someone horribly abused that poor machine in the past. Glad you rescued it!

[+Stephen]

How are some people so inept at basic soldering / repair skills?

[NISMOPC]

First modification ==> 64K upgrade.

 

Installed some Major Brands 41464-10 100NS chips from ebay seller JAMECO Electronics (Same price as their site)

Connected pins using Purple/Pink wires salvaged/recycled from a bad 130XE motherboard.

 

HAPPY COMPUTING!!

 

Next modification ==> Video upgrade (composite). Parts are on their way.

Edited September 9, 2017 by NISMOPC

[NISMOPC]

Interesting situation.

 

Decided to swap the OS chips between the 600XL (1983 - CO61598B-08) and the 130XE (1984 - CO61598B). My thought was to have a newer OS chip since I already have it. Didn't go so well. It would boot to READY, but attempting to SELF TEST would not work and typing DOS [Enter] would return a scrambled screen of graphic jibberish. Swapped the 600XL chip back in and all is good.

 

I assume the 130XE OS chip is bad or not compatible.

 

Either way, love the small form factor of the 600XL.

[+DrVenkman]

Interesting situation.

 

Decided to swap the OS chips between the 600XL (1983 - CO61598B-08) and the 130XE (1984 - CO61598B). My thought was to have a newer OS chip since I already have it. Didn't go so well. It would boot to READY, but attempting to SELF TEST would not work and typing DOS [Enter] would return a scrambled screen of graphic jibberish. Swapped the 600XL chip back in and all is good.

 

I assume the 130XE OS chip is bad or not compatible.

 

Either way, love the small form factor of the 600XL.

 

I don't think the XE OS adds all that much utility, personally. I have an XE OS occupying one of the OS slots in my U1MB-equipped 800XL but most of the time I just stick with the XL OS unless I want to use a rare OS B-only piece of software (or want to look at MEMO PAD for nostalgic reasons ).