A little help, please

[[d2f]Iggy*SJB]

I finally worked up the nerve to take my 2600 apart, and see if maybe giving it a good cleaning might help what ails it.

It was dusty inside, so I blew it out and took a few cotton balls with rubbing alcohol to the outter case.

As I removed the control board(where the 'knobs' are)...I noticed that the video cable was very loose in the socket. I blew it out, and before reassembly, made sure it was firm in it's socket(which I cleaned with a q-tip and the aformentioned alcohol).

 

I put it back together, and went to my drawer where I keep connectors and whatnot, and took out a game switch box, and hooked the whole thing up to my tv.

 

Nothing.

 

I played with the channel selector on the underside(labled A/B, for some retarded reason....wouldn't 3/4 make more sence?), still nothing.

 

I changed game switch boxes(I have about 5 of them)....nothing.

 

Not a flicker when I turn it on.

 

To answer a few "stupid" questions before they are asked...

Yes, the TV was on, and set to channel 3.

Yes, the power strip was turned on.

Yes, the adapter was plugged firmly into the TV.

Yes, the power adapter was plugged into the 2600.

No, I wasn't stoned.

 

I'm going to pull it apart again(partially to look at the inside of the case, to see if what that other user saw is there)...and partially so I can remove the metal housing that contains the MB, and see if IT needs a going over.

 

Aside from that, does anyone have any ideas?

[[d2f]Iggy*SJB]

I pulled it down to the motherboard(wish I had stock in a screw manufacturing company back then...SHEESH!!)....it looks to be in good clean condition(some very light dust, but no corrosion or anything). I took a few pictures while it was apart. I'm just not sure what to do with it, except to put it back together and toss it back in the box at this point. I can tell you that it's a Rev. B, for what that's worth.

 

The 3 socketed chips are firmly seated.

[Artlover]

Sounds like maybe a power issue. Things to consider....

 

Power adaptor not working.

Power jack on 2600 is flaky.

Power regulation/filtering circuit on the 2600 mobo is shot.

[[d2f]Iggy*SJB]

Well, since nothing looks outright wrong inside the 2600, I'm thinking you might be right about the power supply. Soon as I have some extra cash, I'll see if I can pick up a new one and test that theory.

 

One thing I did notice, as I was putting it back together, is this:

 

 

The red box, as noted, is the cartridge pins. The white box above it, is where I noticed something that might be unusual. The bottom of that metal box has cut into the solder on the bottom of the board. I'm not sure if this is causing a problem or not, but I tend not to think so, as the unit did work at one time, and there was nothing in there between them.

Any thoughts on that?

[A.J. Franzman]

That's normal and nothing to worry about. This is how the shielding is connected to circuit ground.

 

BTW, if you don't have a voltmeter, you can test your power adapter the same way you test a 9-volt battery - touch the contacts of the plug that goes in the Atari to the tip of your tongue (while the other end is plugged in the wall of course). If it tingles strongly, it's good. Be sure to wipe it clean right away to prevent corrosion of the plug (or worse, the console's power jack).

Edited January 28, 2006 by A.J. Franzman

[[d2f]Iggy*SJB]

Cool beans. Thanks, both of you!

 

I'll be real happy to do two things.....

 

get my 2600 working....

 

and

 

FINDING MY FREAKING PADDLES!!

[D.Yancey]

Some of those labeled A/B work for channels 2/3, I think? But if you checked on channel 3 at both settings, then it should have worked anyway.

 

Do you have one of those televisions with menu selectable inputs? If so, make sure the input for the Atari (antenna?) has been selected instead of AV input or S-Video, etc.

 

Was the game switch box pulled out of storage actually for the Atari? Some of those auto switching boxes for Nintendo and the like do not get activated by the Atari.

 

What "Ailed" the unit before you took it apart? Did it work at all on the TV with the hardware you describe?

Edited January 29, 2006 by D.Yancey

[[d2f]Iggy*SJB]

Do you have one of those televisions with menu selectable inputs? If so, make sure the input for the Atari (antenna?) has been selected instead of AV input or S-Video, etc.

I put a coaxle adapter on the end of it, since the TV doesn't have the old "screw on" antena connectors.

 

Was the game switch box pulled out of storage actually for the Atari? Some of those auto switching boxes for Nintendo and the like do not get activated by the Atari.

At least one of them was. I know they were all from around that time, but none from say, an old Nintendo. I know I had bought one or two of them from Radio Shack, and they had worked with it before. Oh, and they all have the "TV/Video Game" switch, which must be slid manually.

 

What "Ailed" the unit before you took it apart? Did it work at all on the TV with the hardware you describe?

Honestly, I don't know. It had been working at one time, then it didn't work, and at the time, I had very little knowledge to open it up and poke around. It did work with the game switch boxes I have, and with the coaxle adapter attached to it. The TV was bought since it stopped working, but I really don't think that would have anything to do with it, as I can plug my 5200 into the same TV(through it's adapter with a coaxle adapter) and it works fine.

 

Honestly, I wish Atari had put a power LED in the thing....at least I'd know if it was getting power.

 

Edit: Fixed quote tags

Edited January 29, 2006 by [d2f]Iggy*SJB

[D.Yancey]

Well if the 5200 works when you plug it into that TV, then we can eliminate the TV from the equation.

 

My first guess would also be the power supply.

[fabventure2600]

If you Try everthing and nothing works......

 

Relax and Watch this Video.......

 

http://sputnik7.com/vod/index.jsp?section=music&key=vcsy

 

 

and go back to fix something again.........

[[d2f]Iggy*SJB]

Far out man! I didn't know they made Knight Rider for the 2600!!!

3 modes....that was cool! Chase the bad guy......get the bad guy in his warehouse.....the get the puzzle pieces to find the boss! That "Savage" team did a lot of "Hardwork" to make such a kick ass game!!

 

(I couldn't resist, after reading that WHOLE THREAD!)

 

Seriously though....

I found a couple of cables, so I'm going to try replacing the video cable in the thing, just to see if that might be it. I doubt it, but it's worth a try.

[[d2f]Iggy*SJB]

WOOHOO!!! It's working again! I did the 9v battery hack from another thread, and it's working like a charm!

 

Now I get to play some games that aren't on the FB2!! WOOHOO!!!!

[D.Yancey]

WOOHOO!!! It's working again! I did the 9v battery hack from another thread, and it's working like a charm!       

 

Now I get to play some games that aren't on the FB2!! WOOHOO!!!!

1010323[/snapback]

 

So it was the power supply. Good for you! I was considering suggesting using the 9V battery in several different threads. I'm happy it worked.

[[d2f]Iggy*SJB]

Me too. And I'm glad I spotted that thread about that dude offering to do some mods to original 2600's. I'm now planning on researching some other mods(particularly the A/V mod, and the power LED mod. I want to do those two, and I just bought the parts(as well as a new soldering iron...my old one was starting to "act up"(Handle was getting hot as shit).)