10 replies to this topic

[ewrann]

Hi everyone -

I've got two Ataris - A Sunnyvale Heavy Sixer that works fine and is hooked up to my TV with one of those Composite to RF adaptors. Plays great...everything looks mint. I'm trying to get the other one to work properly (a Tawian built "lite" sixer - problem is that when I uses a known good cartridge and the same RF cable and AC I'm using with my HS the game powers up and I can see the game images but they appear staticy or wavy - additionally, there is no game audio and I can actually hear TV station reception coming through (voices from TV shows). Any idea what the prob is? Internals in both look somewaht the same hoever the "lite" has a Channel 3/4 selector inside whereas the Heavy does not. Flipping this switch does nothing to improve my issue. Have thoroughly cleaned the cart port as well as my cartridges so don't think this is the issue - especially considering they work fine on my Heavy. I have another cannibalized "lite" sixer (Sunnyvale) and my next step is to start swapping chips to see if anything improves.

Key points:

1. I have a perfectly working Heavy Sixer
2. Using the HS'ers Atari AC,RF Cable and Rat Shack Composite To RF adaptor to connect "Lite" sixer to TV I get a somewhat choppy picture and no audio w/ audio bleed from network TV station. Problemed Lite Sixer has 3/4 channel switcher while Original HS'er does not.
3. Have thoroughly cleaned the cartridge slot and my cartridges.
4. Have a junked Suynnyvale Lite Sixer - Not working because the ribbon cable connecters got damaged - do you suppose swapping out chips will fix my Tawiwan Lite Sixers issues?

Thanks!

E
W


What do you folks think?

[Ian Primus]

It could be several things, but here are a few things to test.

Check that the voltage regulator is putting out the right voltage. It's a 7805 regulator, and it should be putting out five volts. If it isn't, strange things can happen to the Atari. From what I've seen, too high a voltage can produce garbled sprites and erratic operation, and too low a voltage produces slurred or bad sound, weak signal and sometimes a totally dead unit. Those little regulators are pretty reliable normally, but the Atari is about 20 years old, and they are starting to fail. If it's a bad regulator, don't worry, they are easy to find. Even Rat Shack carries them.

Check that the RF cable connector on the Atari main board is clean and not corroded, and that the mating connector is making good contact.

Also, try the TV on different channels, and try cleaning the channel select switch. The heavy sixer should have one too, IIRC, it's hidden on the bottom and not labelled.

Ian Primus
ian_primus@yahoo.com

[cwilkson]

Sounds like a tuning problem to me. The 2600's RF section might be out of alignment (not tuned right). See if you can fix the problem by adjusting the fine tuning on your tv. If so, that's the problem.

-Chris

[bjk7382]

Sounds just like having the one system on the wrong channel. I have seen many threads that people think there system is bad and it is just on the wrong channel.

The channel 3 and 4 are actually inside the system and is only accesible thru a slot in the bottom. Get a pencil and switch the channel selector.

[Susuwatari]

Also RF cable with broken ground connection may be letting some interference through. But I'm inclined to blame on slight adjustment or wrong channel.

And channel 4 wasn't supported until the Jr came out. All pre Jr model supported channel 2/3 (except for heavy sixer, which was fixed at factory)

[bjk7382]

My heavy sixer (made in taiwan) has a "Channel Select A/B" Switch. I know it is a heavy six with the thick plastic around the edge and rounded corners. Below is a pic of it.

Attached Thumbnails

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[ewrann]

Ugh - Help.

I went and picked upa cheapo 8-Range Multimeter at Radio Shack - Read the instructions but don't quite "get" how to test the Voltage Regulator in my 2600. The Multimeter I bought is:


[/img]

Ok - So based on another thread here at atariage (http://www.atariage....pic.php?t=37409) I I understand how to test but could someone post specific directions on how to do this - Should I set the multimeter to DCV 15, connect the black probe to the middle prong on the voltage regulator and the red probe to the top/bottom prong - power up the atari - my understanding would be that anything other than a 9 (in/top) or a 5 (out/bottom) indicates my regulator is hosed and needs to be replaced. I won't get electrocuted will I

Thanks everyone.

EW

[bjk7382]

Yeah, that will work the way you said, (15v dc) black in the middle and the red on the bottom one. The analog meter will be a little bit harder to read than a digital, but you will be able to see if the regulator is bad or not (most likely)

[Redcurrie]

Go to this thread and scroll down towards the bottom. Ian walked me through testing both the voltage regulator and making sure that the proper voltage is getting to the cart slot. His directions are really detailed and easy to follow!

http://www.atariage....6558&highlight=

Laura

[ewrann]

Thanks for the help/advice everyone - Still having issues though.

1. Tested the VR with my nifty multimeter. Reading 10v going in ("top") and 5v going out ("bottom") - Based on past posts this is correct right? Or should the "in" be maxing out at 9.5v putting me .5v in trouble?

2. Will follow old post on how to test voltage in cart slot - we'll see what happens.

3. May swap out chips from cannibalized 2600 - Again, we'll see...

4. Issue recap - When powering games up in 2600 Lite Sixer Screen has mucho RF type interference, wavy lines etc...Audio barely audible w/ Network TV Broadcasts being the dominant audio. Can still see the game image though. Cleaned internal channel 3/4 channel switcher. All cables and AC work fine on same set w/ other heavy sixer so issue not TV, AC pack or RF cable.


EW

[cwilkson]

ewrann said:

Thanks for the help/advice everyone - Still having issues though.

1.  Tested the VR with my nifty multimeter.  Reading 10v going in ("top") and 5v going out ("bottom") - Based on past posts this is correct right?  Or should the "in" be maxing out at 9.5v putting me .5v in trouble?

Those voltages are correct.

Quote

4. Issue recap - When powering games up in 2600 Lite Sixer Screen has mucho RF type interference, wavy lines etc...Audio barely audible w/ Network TV Broadcasts being the dominant audio.  Can still see the game image though.  Cleaned internal channel 3/4 channel switcher.  All cables and AC work fine on same set w/ other heavy sixer so issue not TV, AC pack or RF cable.

I still think it's just a simple tuning thing. First, make sure that the 2600 and the TV are set to the same channel. On the motherboard, there's a variable inductor. A tall plastic cyllinder with wire wound on the outside of it and a hole in the top. If you have an Allen wrench that's the right size(aka hex wrench, aka hex key) try turning the screw inside the inductor. *DO IT GENTLY!* This will adjust the RF frequency generated by the 2600. You should be able to adjust the picture quality and the sound. You really should use a *PLASTIC* tool to make the adjustment, but most people are more likely to have an Allen wrench that's the right size lying around. If you don't have an Allen wrench, you can use a small screwdriver, but it's tricky. Be very careful if you try this.

-Chris