2600 Video help?

[Rainyote]

Hey There, new to the forums here, I'm not sure if this is the right place to post but I need some help with my CX2600A Rev 8. I'm not sure if there is a nickname for this model.. its between the light sixer and the vader 2600s. I noticed last week that my 2600 video signal was almost unplayable because of how much snow there was in the screen. I have a little 1999 Sanyo CRT tv that I use for all my RF signal consoles (intellivision/ Commodore/2600) via a Female Rf to Coaxial adapter. It was a trifecta of video problems, general uniform fuzzy/snowy screen, over top that were horizontal rolling bars going bottom to top and over top that were diagonal bars going lower right corner to upper left. It had never been that fuzzy before, I noticed when I moved the RF cable going into the console the fuzziness would change. After taking apart the console and unplugging the video cable, I tried using a modern video cable (the same one I use on my Intellivision with crystal clarity) but the video problems persisted. After looking on these forums for hours I found possible solutions to the issue, but none of them worked

- The green "chicklet" capacitor above the power modulator needs to be replaced
---> The CX2600A doesnt have a green chicklet capacitor above the power modulator

-Stop using the ancient Rf Box that came with the console and use a Rf-Coaxial adapter
---> I already am

-Stop the TV from auto-scanning to lock onto the 2600's signal better to reduce the snow
---> I tried this, the signal was the same

-Try jiggling the cart, the game/ game port may need cleaning
---> Nothing happened

-Try switching between Channel 2 and Channel 3, the Switch may be causing interference
--> Channel 2 was a little better then Channel 3 (I'll come back to this later)

-Make sure you are using the Power Adapter made for the Atari, to much/little power could cause video issues
--> I'm using the original power adapter plugged into a power strip, plugging into the wall.

 

-Install a component mod
--> I have two separate tvs for different types of games. I have a flat screen for Component/HDMI and the Sanyo CRT for RF games. Call it personal preference but I want to keep the atari as a RF signal

All that troubleshooting led me to believe it was either the female RF connector on the board itself or the RF modulator. Seeing as it would be easier for me in the long run, I modded the case and added a external RF jack on the outside of the case, wiring it with 18Gauge wire to the board after desoldering the old 37 year old connector. This helped A LITTLE BIT. It eliminated the diagonal rolling bars but the horizontal bars and snow were still present. After painstakingly desoldering the RF modulator shielding and the 5 pins connecting it to the board I pried the modulator off and found a spider nest inside the RF modulator shielding. After cleaning that up, resoldering everything back into place, I once again hooked up the system and nothing. It was the same terrible signal. In a last ditch effort attempt to fix it I desoldered, then resoldered the channel switch back on. This didn't fix channel 3. HOWEVER, channel 2 looks crisper then I've ever seen it. It isn't crystal clear like my Intellivision, the picture is fuzzy with a little bit of snow, and when testing with Air Sea Battle, the screen seems to warp inwards from the sides when the colors change.

Is there any way I can get clearer picture from my system om Channel 3? I know how to solder and replace components, but I don't have a clue when it comes to the technical parts of electronics.

Edited September 28, 2017 by Rainyote

[RamrodHare]

I'm not sure my answer will be much help, but the one thing you didn't mention was replacing the voltage regulator. I'm guessing yours is a 4 switch "woody". I've never seen a revision 8 board, my oldest one is a revision 12, so I don't know what components it has that may need replacing. I'm sure someone with more information will post a reply soon.

[Rainyote]

I'm not sure my answer will be much help, but the one thing you didn't mention was replacing the voltage regulator. I'm guessing yours is a 4 switch "woody". I've never seen a revision 8 board, my oldest one is a revision 12, so I don't know what components it has that may need replacing. I'm sure someone with more information will post a reply soon.

Maybe? I'm not sure what replacing the voltage regulator would do for video signal so it never crossed my mind.

[RamrodHare]

Maybe? I'm not sure what replacing the voltage regulator would do for video signal so it never crossed my mind.

I'm not sure if it would cause your specific issues, but if it's not providing the correct voltage to the board, it's possible it could be having an effect on the signal. My suggestion may be of no help, but it was the first thing that popped into my head. If you have a multimeter, check the output of the power supply and then check the output from the voltage regulator. You also didn't mention the main capacitor, again, may have nothing to do with it, but they do go bad too. If that stuff is all good, my only other idea would be that one of the chips is going out. I'm thinking I read a thread a while back where a guy had an issue with the video being "weird", kinda like you described. If I remember correctly, it turned out to be the TIA chip. I'm just trying to be as helpful as I can, until someone else jumps in with more technical knowledge.

[+DrVenkman]

Hey There, new to the forums here, I'm not sure if this is the right place to post but I need some help with my CX2600A Rev 8. I'm not sure if there is a nickname for this model.. its between the light sixer and the vader 2600s. I noticed last week that my 2600 video signal was almost unplayable because of how much snow there was in the screen. I have a little 1999 Sanyo CRT tv that I use for all my RF signal consoles (intellivision/ Commodore/2600) via a Female Rf to Coaxial adapter. It was a trifecta of video problems, general uniform fuzzy/snowy screen, over top that were horizontal rolling bars going bottom to top and over top that were diagonal bars going lower right corner to upper left. It had never been that fuzzy before, I noticed when I moved the RF cable going into the console the fuzziness would change. After taking apart the console and unplugging the video cable, I tried using a modern video cable (the same one I use on my Intellivision with crystal clarity) but the video problems persisted. After looking on these forums for hours I found possible solutions to the issue, but none of them worked

 

- The green "chicklet" capacitor above the power modulator needs to be replaced

---> The CX2600A doesnt have a green chicklet capacitor above the power modulator

 

{SNIP}

 

I think you're getting your terminology confused. The chicklet cap is above the voltage regulator and below the power capacitor:

 

 

Problems here can DEFINITELY affect the video.

[Rainyote]

 

I think you're getting your terminology confused. The chicklet cap is above the voltage regulator and below the power capacitor:

 

2600boardannotated.png

 

Problems here can DEFINITELY affect the video.

My board doesn't have that part.

Edited September 30, 2017 by Rainyote

[nick3092]

It has that part (c241), just not that style of part (green chicklet). That doesnt mean that what you have still may not be bad. Symptoms of problems are based of a part in a circuit, not the physical style of the part.

 

That being said, in the handful of 2600s I have worked on, they have always been green chicklets. But they were all also higher revision numbers. (10+). Maybe during that run Atari got a better deal on that style cap?