Hooking up an Atari2600 to a modern TV

[MLE]

So I have an RF switch, but it outputs to two prongs (old-school style). What is the step that I'm missing to convert that signal to coax?

[Dr. Boogie]

Found a Geocities page that seems to have some ideas:

http://www.geocities.com/atari7800mod/hookup.html

[10,000 Volt Ghost]

You need one of these: http://cgi.ebay.com/ATARI-2600-7800-COAXIAL-RF-TV-GAME-SWITCH-BOX-ADAPTER_W0QQitemZ300241616623QQihZ020QQcategoryZ61 395QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


I used to need one for my Intellivision.

[Tadao]

Yeah, this is the way I used to do it.

http://www.geocities.com/atari7800mod/images/vidadapt1.jpg

Radioshack, about 1 dollar.

[MLE]

Okay, so we have the RF switch to the double prong, but we don't have the second part.

[Tadao]

Yeah, the part on the right is really cheap at radio shack.

[Dr. Boogie]

The geocities site says it's called a "300-ohm matched pair to 75-ohm F-Connector transformer".

[MLE]

the 75 ohm F-Connector would be a coax, then, I assume.

[Dr. Boogie]

Sounds like it, yeah.

[MLE]

It's called a matching transformer, and I already had the RF switch, and I'm going out to Radioshack to get it momentarily. I'll let you all know how Donkey Kong and Jr. are on the Atari 2600!

[Tadao]

What's sad is that I have 5 in my toolbox. I used to be an elect tech.

[executioneer]

dk is pretty bad on 2600, but that didn't stop them from using the sound effects in almost every tv show that had "kid playing video games" in the past 20 years

[10,000 Volt Ghost]

I know what effect you're talking about but never knew what it was from.

[executioneer]

example
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_acy0-a2EzA

[Mockery]

You sure you're not thinking about Pacman on the Atari 2600, Willie? Because the sound effects from that game have probably been used in more TV shows and movies than I can imagine. :O

[MLE]

I have so many Atari 2600 games. SO MANY.

My favorite is Warlords :<

[MLE]

Okay so, the RF switch looks like it's not working, so this will be delayed by at LEAST a day :<

[Tadao]

If you have a friend with an old tv, you might want to check it there. I think there was a big frequency issue last time I tried to hook up my old atari.

[MLE]

I don't think anyone I know does. Possibly my parents still have one I can use.

[MLE]

Okay, so it seems my Atari 2600 is borked. Anyone want to send me theirs? I'll draw you pretty pictures.

[Guitar Woman]

I totally saw one in the goodwill today for 20 quid. If Fathom hadn't taken my money on a wild and crazy joyride with the promise of Pokemon and all my dreams come true, I would have gotten it :<

[Guitar Woman]

Also, I thought I knew exactly what video game all generic sound effects are taken from (Galaga) but that totally wasn't it.

God damnit, this is going to keep me up until I know what it is.

Wikipedia states that it is in fact Donkey Kong, but I've never heard anyone playing that :<

[Tadao]

Okay, so it seems my Atari 2600 is borked. Anyone want to send me theirs? I'll draw you pretty pictures.

Not that I don't believe you, but how did you deduce this?

[executioneer]

You sure you're not thinking about Pacman on the Atari 2600, Willie? Because the sound effects from that game have probably been used in more TV shows and movies than I can imagine. :O

that too, but i'm fairly sure i've heard dk sound effects more often

[MLE]

Not that I don't believe you, but how did you deduce this?

We used the coax cable with something else, and it worked (the other thing). We used three different ways of connecting the atari through to the coax cable (two RF switches and a direct RCA to Coax adapter) There is no sound or warmpth coming from the Atari 2600, and half of the time you plug it in, there's a small spark at the plug port. This was left plugged in for a year (though i don't believe turned on), so I didn't think it was the system, but it seems to be the last possible answer.

[Tadao]

I wonder if Ataris have fuses by the power supply.

[MLE]

Probably not. They are old as shit (but usually tanks and last a good long time).

[Tadao]

http://www.atariguide.com/help/care.htm