Restoring and Modding the Atari 2600

[@jasonatkin6787]

You'd think the purpose of that metalized tape over the switches would be to prevent EMI leakage, but it's actually installed to prevent ESD damage to the sensitive ICs inside. The Atari field service manual for the 2600 talks about how they were specifically having problems with ESD coming in via the metal toggles of the switches and zapping ICs. The tape was supposed to short to ground any electrostatic fields or charges that came in from a user's hand actuating the switches.

[@fixedonretro3882]

Thank you for the information that is good to know.

[@meatpockets]

I’m sure all that shag carpeting didn’t help either. :)

[@stefanweilhartner4415]

the IO pins of those chips at the time could not handle ESD very well. adding external protection was too expensive

[@rdwoodw]

Bingo...can't tell you how many videos I've seen of people removing them thinking they're part of the RF shielding and discarding them.

[@richardedwards1958]

Great workmanship, great video!

[@fixedonretro3882]

As always thanks for the feedback!

[@crazyivan030983]

Very cool restoration :)

[@fixedonretro3882]

Thank so for your comment, I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@LarsSveen]

Holy crap, I didn't know there was a composite mod. I'm going to have to do this.

[@fixedonretro3882]

Yeah it does make the video better as well not depending on the bad RF cable.

[@skylercogburn6553]

Nerd

[@LarsSveen]

@@skylercogburn6553 Agreed.

[@soullimbo]

Putting on "River Raid" at the end was the icing on the cake ;)

[@fixedonretro3882]

That was my favorite game on the Atari!

Só com a introdução já me conquistou como inscrito

[@fixedonretro3882]

Oh man thank you so much!

[@ricardovaleriodossantos6667]

O Av mode dava p soldar os fios direto na placa sem precisa fura mais ficou mto bom

[@fixedonretro3882]

Thank you glad you enjoyed

[@GiorgioAmakusaShirouBerzerker]

You did a great job! I wonder wich date is written in my old Atari... (maybe 1979/80) My fav Atari Vcs game was BERZERK!

[@fixedonretro3882]

Thank you for that comment! I really enjoyed berzerk but my favorite was river raid.

[@GiorgioAmakusaShirouBerzerker]

@@fixedonretro3882 River Raid was so cool too!

[@fixedonretro3882]

I played it so many hours it ain’t even funny

[@FernandoHernandez-g3q]

Kaboom with Paddles . Ms Pac Man & Demon Attack are awesome, too !

[@Leland-lh9kk]

What drill bit did you use for the power indicator? Was it the same as the composite holes

[@davidstrandberg5241]

Very cool!

[@fixedonretro3882]

Glad you enjoyed

[@FernandoHernandez-g3q]

Thank you !😊

[@L-kun]

What size bit did you use to drill the holes for the composite plugs? I'm doing this mod right now and I want to get the holes a perfect fit like yours.

[@fixedonretro3882]

Sorry it took me so long to respond, the size bit I used was a 5/16.

[@Kojatajiko]

That good to know

[@Steakmassaker]

Hi there. Where you got the Mod PCB from ?`Do you have a parts list ?

[@fixedonretro3882]

vintagegamingandmore.com/product/atari-2600-pause-mod-kit-copy/

[@stefanweilhartner4415]

i thought it comes with two different PCBs. is the difference between 6-switcher and 4 switcher? i recently shot two sixer from the uk. i have not tested nor opened them so far. i have one jr. with a few games as well that should work but not tested as well. lots to check. the goal would be to design new PCBs to pimp the shit out of it. pcb adapter boards for cpu, video, audio with more pins than the original chips need (24 address lines, 12 rgb out pins for the video board). address decoder for chip selects, one or more 256kB static ram chips. first cpu and video adapter PCBs for the original chips, so that the whole thing does not need much more than the original chips at the beginning. oszillator circuit on a small adapter board. one for PAL, one for NTSC. easy to change. two adapter boards, one for the NTSC and one PAL TIA. the chips are not pin compatible but the adapter board can be made pin compatible.

[@androxilogin]

This is like the Equate brand of OddTinkering.

[@fixedonretro3882]

Wow that’s a really big compliment. I really enjoy his channel! I really appreciate that compliment and am glad you enjoy m videoss

[@androxilogin]

@@fixedonretro3882 Pretending is fun.😄

[@ra-a_tsukuyomigt9298]

Where did you get the kit and LED?

[@fixedonretro3882]

vintagegamingandmore.com/product/atari-2600-pause-mod-kit-copy/

[@Kojatajiko]

Thank you for the help

[@fixedonretro3882]

Absolutely! Glad it helped you!

[@elgaleonretroPirata]

Muy bonito el.video amigo

[@fixedonretro3882]

Thank you for your comment

[@jerrygar7]

I told my buddy's son that he had to get 100,000 points on Missile Command before he could play Fortnite again. He was like sure no problem and fired up his Xbox 1 and handed me the controller. I said wait just a minute and went to grab the softmod OG Xbox running 2600 ROMS. He lost by Wave 3 and said it was impossible.

[@fixedonretro3882]

Playing the games on any device will always bring back memories. But we must all agree that there’s nothing like playing them on the original console. #Knowyourroots!

[@jerrygar7]

I love the "Wooden Age of Gaming." My first console was an ATARI 5200. I wish the controllers worked better... There is this tank battle game for it that is awesome.

[@fixedonretro3882]

Yeah the 5200 and 7800 controllers were horrible

[@madmexican2801]

For the led mod is that a kit? What parts are needed? Thanks

[@fixedonretro3882]

Yes it is indeed a kit, here’s the link. vintagegamingandmore.com/product/atari-2600-pause-mod-kit-copy/

[@madmexican2801]

@@fixedonretro3882 thank you!

[@fixedonretro3882]

Very welcome!

[@tenminutetokyo2643]

Don’t forget to replace the 7805 with a TSR-1 2450 for $5.

[@fixedonretro3882]

Yeah I need to do that! Thanks for the reminder

[@rushtuningteam6147]

Where can I get this mod

[@BrianMills-uf2nn]

maze craze

[@Pamberjack_]

Somehow, I’m scared by this video.

[@lapalourde75]

👍

[@fixedonretro3882]

Thank you!

[@Yelnats101]

Dont understand the gloves. But whatever

[@SupremeNerd]

get on with it already

[@fixedonretro3882]

Was it that bad? I’m sorry if it was!

[@SupremeNerd]

@@fixedonretro3882 not really bad it was just a little slow... Just a little. Took me almost a whole day to watch the video

[@fixedonretro3882]

@@SupremeNerd thank you for the feedback! I have been trying to keep them short, but I also want to show the whole process for those that enjoy it.

[@SupremeNerd]

@@fixedonretro3882 understood. I did enjoy watching the process. I was going through something. Thank you for sharing with us

[@fixedonretro3882]

@@SupremeNerd no worries at all, I really do appreciate the feedback!