The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls
Main => Consoles => Topic started by: gonzobrian on February 20, 2006, 03:12:50 pm
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I picked up an atari 2600 and nintendo this weekend. Both systems came with the console, game pads and power supply, nothing else. I remember as a kid my atari connected to a switch which connected to the back of the TV to the two screws that the antenna connected. I have a modern TV with only coax in. I have a pelican switch box so that I can hook up multi came systems. Do they still make RF switches? Or what do I need to hook these systems up to my TV? ???
Much thanks to any who answer.
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Ebay is your friend (http://cgi.ebay.com/ATARI-2600-7800-COAXIAL-RF-TV-GAME-SWITCHBOX-ADAPTER_W0QQitemZ8260294474QQcategoryZ41008QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
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Well, for a nintendo if you look at the side of the console there are 2 RCA jacks for video and sound. You can also hook up your NES console with any standard Nintendo RF adapter. The 2600 is also pretty easy to hook up. If you look at the cord comming out of your Atari you'll notice that it is an RCA plug, however this is actually a coaxial connection. Head on down to radio shack or hit up ebay and get an RCA to Coaxial adapter and then just plug it into your Antenna jack on your TV.
Another alternative for you 2600 is to modify it to output a composite signal, google this for more information.
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Hey thanks guys. Looks like ebay saves the day. Hooked up the nintendo and all I get is flashing colors. So I'll have to take it apart and give it a good cleaning to see if that will help. I will look into the idea of converting the atari as I would like to use the switch box I have as opposed to adding the rf switch.
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The NES and the 2600 do NOT use the same switchbox. The NES uses an automated switch, like modern systems do, based on RF. The 2600 (and all systems pretty much prior to NES) use a manual switchbox. You can't use the same one on both.
What you can use, however, for the 2600 is this:
(http://atariace.com/atari/images/rca-coax-rf-adapter.jpg)
That little adapter can be had at Radio Shack or similar for a couple of bucks and will dramatically improve the picture over what your 25 year old switchbox could provide.
For the NES, best use is the RCA jacks that are on the console itself. I know, most people ignore them, but they are there to be used. :)
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The NES and the 2600 do NOT use the same switchbox. The NES uses an automated switch, like modern systems do, based on RF. The 2600 (and all systems pretty much prior to NES) use a manual switchbox. You can't use the same one on both.
What you can use, however, for the 2600 is this:
(http://atariace.com/atari/images/rca-coax-rf-adapter.jpg)
That little adapter can be had at Radio Shack or similar for a couple of bucks and will dramatically improve the picture over what your 25 year old switchbox could provide.
For the NES, best use is the RCA jacks that are on the console itself. I know, most people ignore them, but they are there to be used. :)
I can attest to this.. i modded one of mine for coax, and it works awesome :)
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There's also websites on how to convert the 2600 to use rca audio and svideo.
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Thanks for the head up about the radio shack adaptor. I will use that until I mod my atari. For anyone who runs across this post here are some links I ran across that cover the 2600 conversion.
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Here's a few links for you. I need to do this mod on the pile of 2600's I have.
http://www.atariage.com/2600/faq/?SystemID=2600 (http://www.atariage.com/2600/faq/?SystemID=2600)
http://www.benheck.com/book/support/Atari2600VidMod.htm (http://www.benheck.com/book/support/Atari2600VidMod.htm)
http://www.cheeptech.com/2600mods/2600mods.shtml (http://www.cheeptech.com/2600mods/2600mods.shtml)
There are prolly a bunch more sites out there but that should be what you need to know
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You don't have to mod the 2600 for coax. The cable just plugs into an RCA port inside the 2600. Take any RCA cable, mod that cable, and open the 2600 to plug it into that RCA port.
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anyone have the radioshack part number for that? And on a modern TV does that hook up to the cable or air input?
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Thanks forbiddenlyrics, my links did not show up ???
and @ ChadTower, yes I will be doing the mod for rca/composit so that I can use the pelican box to switch my consols.
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Yeah, you do have to mod for composite, I believe. It can just use an adapter for coax but I was unable to use my Pelican box for it with just the RCA line. It came through but was always garbled.
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Here's something...
Radio Shack does still offer a TV/Game switch for sale, altho it's more sophisticated than the original that the Atari 2600 originally came with (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062058&cp=&kw=tv+game+switch&parentPage=search Part # 15-1268 ) It has the coaxial installed....
I've got this (and a spare for just in case)....
PS --- Post #500!!!!
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I have it, it's better than the original box but not as good as the direct adapter.
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Just picked one up myself for the 2600 I picked up this weekend.
Part # 278-276
This is a gold plated one, I didnt get the # for the other .....
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what antenna input do you hook that up to. The cable or the air coax? One is 75ohm and the other 300ohm, right? I am going to assume air. I wil lhave to get one and put my 2600 back together :)
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They're the same from this point of view. Just hook it up to the coax input on your TV.