Troubleshooting/Repair needed

[StanJr]

Define "nothing." Is the screen blank? Does it flicker at all? Check all connections out of the VCS, to the TV and the power supply. If you are getting absolutely no response, your trouble may lie in getting a signal to the set from the VCS.

[videotwit]

Sounds to me like either the RF Switch or the Power Supply is bad. Either can easily be replaced at Radio Shack.

[Malathion5]

If you see no flicker at all when you turn the power on, then chances are the power supply. BUT, don't forget that you are using an old T.V. and the RF input of the T.V. might be marginal. I think that the mighty wood-grain might just deserve a hook-up into your regular T.V.

If you do see the slightest flicker or spark at the power jack (very good tip btw) look around for the 3 / 4 switch. This is the switch that lets you choose which channel to play the game on. If you don't see the slightest flicker, move the 3/4 switch to the opposite position and try again. The first portion of the RF generating gizmos in the console might be toasted, so moving the switch to the other side gives the 'standby' portion of the RF generating gizmos a chance to work.

If all of that doesn't give you anything, get a screwdriver, open it up and make sure the video cord is still hooked up and the connection is clean. That's one that I've found.

Then buy the power supply and/or Rf switch.

 

If none of that works, I'll give you a buck for it.***W***

[benducklow]

Newbie here to this website. I came across a 2600 system at a local Goodwill and snatched it up without a hesitation. I have been wanted to get one of these (again) for a LONG TIME. The system is in overall great shape, paddles power supply and several games were included!

 

I plugged it in when I got home to an old b/w TV I had laying around and nothing. I wanted to get some assistance on how to start troubleshooting this unit. I tried several games and nothing even appears to be doing anything. not ecen a flicker on the TV set.

 

I looked on the posting but didn't find a whole lot except to perhaps starting with the power supply.

 

Any experienced repair/troubleshooters out there? I am not much of a electrician so ANY help with be great.

 

Thanks in advance-

 

Ben

[benducklow]

Thanks for the tips ya'll. I will check into these troubleshooting steps. I will get back to this posting and let you know...Hopefully I will be blasting rocks apart in Asteroids in no time!

 

Ben

[cschell]

Ok, simple suggestion. But do make sure that you've switched the TV/Game switchbox to the game position. (Hey, sometimes the simple problems escape us.)

 

Chad

[Ian Primus]

One thing to check - if you hooked it up to a black and white set, keep in mind that there are generally two sets of screw terminal inputs on those suckers. One is UHF, and the other is VHF. The one you want is VHF. UHF won't work. Also, jiggle the knob on the set, sometimes the contacts get dirty. Another thing to check would be to use a multimeter to test the power adapter. if you don't have a multimeter, use an LED or even one of the little christmas light bulbs. connect it across the tip and ring of the power connector. If it doesn't light, flip it around, connecting it in reverse. if it still doesn't light, you need a new adapter. Actually, you can run a 2600 from a 9 volt battery. Don't worry about getting the exact amperage for it, anything from 300 amps to maybe 700 will work, and in theory, the VCS can run off of as little as 5 volts or as much as 35. In theory. That is what the voltage regulator in it can handle. It will REALLY heat up if you use 35 volts, and will most likely burn something out (though I never tried it). Of course, it isn't reccomended to run it from anything but 9 or 9.5 volts, and since it is so easy to find 9 volt power supplies, it is just a matter of converting it to use a headphone style jack. Just buy some plugs at radio shack and replace the connector on the new supply. The Atari uses tip positive, rind negative.

 

Ian Primus

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[Ian Primus]

ring even

[Ze_ro]

It's also worth pointing out that you can't use the automatic RF switches like the ones that came with the NES and Master System... you have to use a manual one. The reason is because older game systems don't put out a strong enough signal to trigger the switch (I found this out the hard way with a ColecoVision)

 

quote:

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Originally posted by Pitfall Harry

If your power adapter is working correctly you should see a small spark when you make the connection.

---

 

Yikes! If I didn't find my Atari's for $3-4 each, this would make me cringe a little

 

--Zero

[benducklow]

Good news! 5 years later. (Yeah I know, I was EXTREMELY lazy) I didentified that it was the AC power adapter that went bad. I first tried to replace the game switch but obviously that wasn't the fix. I am happy to say that yesterday I was able to play good ol' Donkey Kong just like I did back in the day!

 

Thanks for your help fellas. I didn't forget about this post!

[Dauber]

I am happy to say that yesterday I was able to play good ol' Donkey Kong just like I did back in the day!

 

Wait....you're referring to Donkey Kong as "good ol'"...are you sure it's a 2600 you have?

[benducklow]

I am happy to say that yesterday I was able to play good ol' Donkey Kong just like I did back in the day!

 

Wait....you're referring to Donkey Kong as "good ol'"...are you sure it's a 2600 you have?

 

 

Hey, I haven't played Atrai since early/mid eighties...I was in flashback heaven yesterday.. Circus, Basketball, you name it, it was all good.