Super ColecoVision - The Best is Here

[doubledown]

Well I've doing some prototyping on my new Super ColecoVision. I thought some of you may be interested. It features:

 

"Intro Skip" BIOS

Analog Audio Outputs

Digital Coaxial Audio Output

Digital Optical Audio Output

Composite Video Output

S-Video Output

Component Video Output

Internal Power Supply

Standard 2-Conductor Power Plug

New Power Switch

New Reset Switch

 

The switches I'm still working on figuring out which exact models I want to go with, but all of the Audio and Video outputs are installed and fully functional along with the internal power supply.

 

Please let me know what you think.

 

Edited June 3, 2005 by doubledown

[+uosipa llamxew]

I know who to contact if I need to replace my ColecoVision.

[Zonie]

Well I've doing some prototyping on my new Super ColecoVision.  I thought some of you may be interested.  It features:

 

Analog Audio Outputs

Digital Coaxial Audio Output

Digital Optical Audio Output

Composite Video Output

S-Video Output

Component Video Output

Internal Power Supply

Standard 2-Conductor Power Plug

New Power Switch

New Reset Switch

 

The switches I'm still working on figuring out which exact models I want to go with, but all of the Audio and Video outputs are installed and fully functional along with the internal power supply. 

 

Please let me know what you think.

 

865849[/snapback]

 

And the price is?

 

Does it require a core trade-in?

[doubledown]

And the price is?

 

Does it require a core trade-in?

865906[/snapback]

 

Who said that it was for sale? Maybe I want to be the only owner of the Greatest ColecoVision ever created. No that's not true.

Pricing is still undetermined as of yet. I'm still deciding on which switches to replace the original ON/OFF and Reset switches with.

[Jess Ragan]

And the price is?

 

Does it require a core trade-in?

865906[/snapback]

 

Who said that it was for sale? Maybe I want to be the only owner of the Greatest ColecoVision ever created.

865916[/snapback]

 

Well, at least until Ed releases his add-on.

 

JR

[doubledown]

The SEM is great and I'm glad that Eduardo is working on it, but it's not a ColecoVision. Don't get me wrong I'm sure I'll get one, I just consider it almost a new console. If someone made an adapter for the Atari 2600 that would let you play PS2 games on it, is it still an Atari 2600? So untill I develop new mods this is the Greatest ColecoVision.

[Lord Helmet]

The internal power supply will be worth it all by itself. I hate the brick that comes with the CV. If you are gauging interest in this, count me in.

Edited June 2, 2005 by Lord Helmet

[doubledown]

The internal power supply will be worth it all by itself. I hate the brick that comes with the CV. If you are gauging interest in this, count me in.

866302[/snapback]

 

The power supply mod will be pricey. The new power supply that I use is an upgraded version of the original with all 3 DC outputs and the ground. It has more power than the original, helping to run all of the extra internal circuitry and it runs quite a bit cooler. I'm going to have the new power switch, switch the power supply on and off, versus the original's which simply switched the power to the PCB on and off. This way the power supply will not remain on once the unit is turned off, even if it is still plugged in. I'm estimating about $80.00 for the internal power supply and both new switches with installation.

[keilbaca]

lol, who knew you could do optical audio out on an old system? Is it just tapping into the audio signal and the optical out using its own hardware? If so, then I might be able to do it for the atari 2600

[Bruce Tomlin]

Okay, the digital audio out is a bit much, considering that the CV doesn't even do stereo. The composite, however, is NOT overdoing it, since Coleco for some inexplicable reason chose the composite version of the graphics chip. And I thought Commodore was ahead of its time by using S-video before it was even called that.

 

Does the RF out still work? Did you add the circuitry (choke, resistor, capacitor) to make the RF out use a Nintendo/Sega RF switch?

 

What happens if you use the 2600 expansion module? (or anything which uses the video-in from the expansion connector)

 

(I'm being particularly mean with these questions because of my own knowledge of the CV's video section after doing an S-video mod. :-) )

[doubledown]

The digital audio outputs use a Analog to Digital Converter. They can be used with any analog signal, thus the possibility of using it with any modded console. As long as the console provides enough internal room and enough power to supply to the circuit.

 

The RF output still works as it originally did. If for some ungodly reason somebody had a modded console like this and was still determined to use the crappiest audio and video ever they could use that signal. I didn't add any circuitry to be able to use an automatic TV/Game switch. Again I don't see the point on improving the crappy RF signal. With all of the other options, why?

 

I know for a fact that the Composite and S-Video and Analog Audio will work with the Atari Expansion module, I've tried them before on previous modded consoles. I haven't tried the Component Video or Digital Audio with it yet. I have seen some audio problems in the past with the Atari Expansion Module though. The video through Composite and S-Video always work fine, but the Audio is sometimes severely muted. I can only assume it's some kind of model/revision changes with either the console or the expansion module that cause the incompatibility.

 

I personally don't really care as I never use the Atari Module. I just assume use a Modded Atari 7800.

[jsoper]

Okay, the digital audio out is a bit much, considering that the CV doesn't even do stereo.  The composite, however, is NOT overdoing it, since Coleco for some inexplicable reason chose the composite version of the graphics chip.

866341[/snapback]

It's even stranger than that. The TI99/4a used a tms9918 graphics chips that outputs composite directly. The CV uses a more advanced tms9928 chip that outputs color difference signals. Then they have another chip in the RF enclosure that combines that back into composite.

Someone on the net said once that Coleco must have got real good pricing to go with such a bizarre scheme.

[ZylonBane]

And I thought Commodore was ahead of its time by using S-video before it was even called that.

Actually the 8-bit Atari computers had the chroma/luma outputs long before Commodore did.

[Time-Bandit]

And I thought Commodore was ahead of its time by using S-video before it was even called that.

Actually the 8-bit Atari computers had the chroma/luma outputs long before Commodore did.

866542[/snapback]

 

Nice mod, after having finished my A/V modification on my Coleovision today, it felt kind of cheap compared to the one you did. But I do enjoy being able to use a commodore 1702 with my Colecovision. The vidoe quality is perfect for me, I don't need any better than AUDIO and VIDEO.

 

My modded Colecovision can be seen here: Colecovision Revival!

 

One thing I wanted to do, and probably will do it tomorrow, is add an LED to indicate whether or not the Colecovision is ON or OFF. Maybe that's something you can add to your CV to truly make it the best and meanest CV on the block.

 

How about a set of leds in the back that connected to the address line of the Z80 that will give you a random (well, sort of random) light show?

 

Anyways...

 

Enough ramblings.

Edited June 3, 2005 by Time-Bandit

[doubledown]

And I thought Commodore was ahead of its time by using S-video before it was even called that.

Actually the 8-bit Atari computers had the chroma/luma outputs long before Commodore did.

866542[/snapback]

 

Nice mod, after having finished my A/V modification on my Coleovision today, it felt kind of cheap compared to the one you did. But I do enjoy being able to use a commodore 1702 with my Colecovision. The vidoe quality is perfect for me, I don't need any better than AUDIO and VIDEO.

 

My modded Colecovision can be seen here: Colecovision Revival!

 

One thing I wanted to do, and probably will do it tomorrow, is add an LED to indicate whether or not the Colecovision is ON or OFF. Maybe that's something you can add to your CV to truly make it the best and meanest CV on the block.

 

How about a set of leds in the back that connected to the address line of the Z80 that will give you a random (well, sort of random) light show?

 

Anyways...

 

Enough ramblings.

866986[/snapback]

 

I've got an LED light bar mod that I have done on the ColecoVision, but it won't fit in because of the new internal power supply. The new switches that I just ordered last night are lighted though.

[DominiRican05]

That mod is nice! I'm definitely going to have to get mine modded with the internal power supply, can't wait to get rid of that brick.

 

And I thought Commodore was ahead of its time by using S-video before it was even called that.

Actually the 8-bit Atari computers had the chroma/luma outputs long before Commodore did.

866542[/snapback]

 

Nice mod, after having finished my A/V modification on my Coleovision today, it felt kind of cheap compared to the one you did. But I do enjoy being able to use a commodore 1702 with my Colecovision. The vidoe quality is perfect for me, I don't need any better than AUDIO and VIDEO.

 

My modded Colecovision can be seen here: Colecovision Revival!

 

One thing I wanted to do, and probably will do it tomorrow, is add an LED to indicate whether or not the Colecovision is ON or OFF. Maybe that's something you can add to your CV to truly make it the best and meanest CV on the block.

 

How about a set of leds in the back that connected to the address line of the Z80 that will give you a random (well, sort of random) light show?

 

Anyways...

 

Enough ramblings.

866986[/snapback]

 

I've got an LED light bar mod that I have done on the ColecoVision, but it won't fit in because of the new internal power supply. The new switches that I just ordered last night are lighted though.

867064[/snapback]

[Flojomojo]

Holy crap! That thing has more outputs than an outbreak of amoebic dysentery! Now you need to hack the ROM to remove the wait time, cut out the empty space in the console, spraypaint it metallic green, replace the controllers with something more ergonomic (wireless thumbpads?), add a multicart ... ahhhh, fuck it, I've got emulators. OK, I'm being mean.

 

This is an amazing job you've done. Bravo!

[doubledown]

Holy crap!  That thing has more outputs than an outbreak of amoebic dysentery! Now you need to hack the ROM to remove the wait time, cut out the empty space in the console, spraypaint it metallic green, replace the controllers with something more ergonomic (wireless thumbpads?), add a multicart ... ahhhh, fuck it, I've got emulators. OK, I'm being mean.

 

This is an amazing job you've done.  Bravo!

867209[/snapback]

 

It has the "Intro Skip" BIOS upgrade. I just didn't list it because all of the other ones I've done have it, and I just consider it a given. I can't hack out the Controller Wells, there wouldn't be enough room for the internal power supply without it. I hate wireless controllers. And emulators are no way to truly enjoy a gaming expeerience.

 

Thanks.

[DominiRican05]

The internal power supply will be worth it all by itself. I hate the brick that comes with the CV. If you are gauging interest in this, count me in.

866302[/snapback]

 

The power supply mod will be pricey. The new power supply that I use is an upgraded version of the original with all 3 DC outputs and the ground. It has more power than the original, helping to run all of the extra internal circuitry and it runs quite a bit cooler. I'm going to have the new power switch, switch the power supply on and off, versus the original's which simply switched the power to the PCB on and off. This way the power supply will not remain on once the unit is turned off, even if it is still plugged in. I'm estimating about $80.00 for the internal power supply and both new switches with installation.

866314[/snapback]

 

With this new internal power supply, would it then be safe to just leave the CV plugged in even when not in use?

[doubledown]

With this new internal power supply, would it then be safe to just leave the CV plugged in even when not in use?

867327[/snapback]

 

It's safe to keep an original CV plugged in, it's just that the Power Supply remains on. While technically the PCB won't draw any power through it, it is still on. My new style switches the internal power supply on and off, so when not in use, there will be no wear on the power supply.

[cimerians]

So...when will it be ready?

 

[frank_c]

I can't hack out the Controller Wells, there wouldn't be enough room for the internal power supply without it. 

867253[/snapback]

 

so the controller wells are now covered up since they hold the power supply?

[doubledown]

So...when will it be ready?

 

867375[/snapback]

 

I should have my new switches by Tuesday and after some testing everything should be finalized in 2-3 weeks.

 

I can't hack out the Controller Wells, there wouldn't be enough room for the internal power supply without it. 

867253[/snapback]

 

so the controller wells are now covered up since they hold the power supply?

867378[/snapback]

 

No. The controller wells are still intact as usual. The power supply is mounted in front of them, where in the past I have installed my nine LED light bar. Which will not be possible with the Power Supply mod. That's why I've gone with lighted switches.

[frank_c]

thanks for the tip...i may tackle that mod myself.

[doubledown]

thanks for the tip...i may tackle that mod myself.

867543[/snapback]

 

The hard part was finding a power supply that supports all of the necessary output voltages, but still fits inside the console.