[VCS Performance Benchmarks]

6 hours ago, Atarick said:

There are a number of comments and videos on the r/VCS subreddit of people doing just this. Sounds like a few people have had no problem loading Windows onto it and running Steam through it. Someone also commented on installing a different version of Linux but I wasn't following their logic on that one.

Figures, forgot to search reddit (assumed Google would index it better than Reddit's search).

[VCS Performance Benchmarks]

I'm mildly interested in it as a media/streaming/emulation box, using the OtherOS capability. But I can't find any information on actual benchmarks. Has anyone loaded another OS on this thing yet and run 3dMark/Passmark/etc?

The closest thing I can find is this but this is another SBC using the same APU.

[A/V Mods Wiki]

Update Notes: I added a new PCB design using SMD components to the simon.plata's Composite Mod entry, which was passed along to me via Reddit. @simon.plata

[A/V Mods Wiki]

Update Notes: Added a link to an installation guide for a 4 switcher to the Darktim's 2600RGB Mod entry.

[A/V Mods Wiki]

 

Two more corrections needed on your UAV blog entry:

 

It only provides composite and s-video output NO RGB

 

And yes, it allows you to keep the RF fully intact and functioning without affecting the results. One of the main reasons I like to use it so much is that technically if you have the RF in place, and install both composite and s-video in the console, then you can literally output the same image at the same time to three different displays from a single console for quick comparisons and also great for use at conventions when you want to show off a new game in development and want it to be displayed on multiple setups without extra video splitters needed.

 

Fixed. Thanks again for the help!

[A/V Mods Wiki]

Btw: ...Easily the simplest and already constructed 1 transistor, 2 resistor kit readily available (and has been for years) on eBay:

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Atari-2600-7800-Composite-RCA-A-V-Audio-Video-Mod-Upgrade-Kit-FULLY-ASSEMBLED/311634197062?hash=item488ed87a46:g:oNQAAOSwnbZYHyux:sc:USPSFirstClass!53920!US!-1

Added to the new blog - http://atariage.com/forums/blog/762/entry-15774-generic-one-transistortwo-resistor-ebay-mod/

[A/V Mods Wiki]

Hi mogul345, thank you for posting my mod in your list!!!

 

Just one coment: my mod comes in one and two transistors versions. However two transistors version is better.

 

Also I posted the PCBs if someone want to fabricate it. I wanted to fabricate a lot and have them available but due to my work I couln't ship them quickly.

 

I have the Eagle files and would be fantastic if someone could fabricate a lot and sell them online.

 

Best regards,

 

 

By the way, the link to the mod is lacking tha "a" at the begining so is not working.

 

Here is the correct link: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/271678-simple-diy-composite-video-mod

 

Enjoy

Fixed in the new blog entry - http://atariage.com/forums/blog/762/entry-15771-simonplatas-composite-mod/

[A/V Mods Wiki]

Why is the UAV listed as composite only? I has luma and chroma outputs from it? Unless for some reason that doesn't work on the 2600? I've honestly never installed a UAV into a 2600 so it would surprise me if that didn't work as well?

 

Also there is another 2600 kit soon to be made available.

Fixed it in the new blog post on it - http://atariage.com/forums/blog/762/entry-15773-ultimate-atari-video-uav-rev-d/

[A/V Mods Wiki]

Maybe do it in the blog section? I believe you can edit blog entries indefinitely.

 

http://atariage.com/forums/blog/manage/

 

Great idea, It's done - http://atariage.com/forums/blog/762-atari-2600-av-mods-wiki/

[A/V Mods Wiki]

Everyone,

Thanks for the updates and the bug fixes, I still can't update the first post, so keeping that list up to date like I wanted to isn't happening.

I guess I'll just make another post in the thread somewhere for v2, when I get back to my laptop.

 

EDIT - I took the suggestion to turn this into a blog. Link to it can be found in the first post now.

[A/V Mods Wiki]

Can write to Al or a Mod and ask for permission. Or become a Subscriber.

 

http://atariage.com/forums/store/

Thanks. I reached out. Even subscribers only have 30 day edit rights. So that isn't enough, if this actually gains some traction, and I take the time to add your suggestions.

[A/V Mods Wiki]

Well, this sucks, I can't edit the first post to add new entries?

[A/V Mods Wiki]

If anyone has links to premade kits for the design only ones, let me know!

[A/V Mods Wiki]

This is the discussion topic for my blog Atari 2600 A/V Mods Wiki, where I attempt to catalog, in no specific order, all the various options out there for modding your Atari 2600 for better Audio/Video output. See the first blog entry for more information.

 

If you know of any mods that aren't in the wiki, please let me know here. And if you find a mistake in anything in the wiki, definitely let me know here!

 

Thanks!

[THE OFFICIAL ATARI 2600 HEAVY 6-SWITCH LIST]

Here's mine!

 

NTSC/PAL/Sears/Special: Sears
Serial # (Ex: #54035V or #007649): 44855S
MFG Location (Sunnyvale, Taiwan): Sunnyvale
(Owner/AA Member), (Location= City, State, Country): mogul345 Los Angeles, CA
A/B Channel Slot (Yes/No): No
A/B Channel Switch (Yes/No): No
Functional (Yes/No): Yes
Notes (Previous owner, display only, white sticker, parts fixed, green connector, Switchboard/Motherboard Revision #): Purchased from @ERRESGAMING on Instagram at SoCal Retrogaming Expo 2019

 

[Is there a list or wiki or something for all the variations of A/V Mod?]

From searching the forums, I've learned there's a ton of different ways to A/V mod a 2600. At this point, I'm starting to get overwhelmed with information. Does anyone know of a place that summarizes all the techniques, hopefully with the pros/cons of the circuit design, and whether or not it comes as a kit?

 

For reference, I modded my Sunnyvale 4 switcher using the combo AV/Pause kit from http://www.coolretroprojects.com/Atari-2600-2in1-Pause-A-V-Mod-Kit-NTSC-PAL.html. Worked pretty good, especially after I recapped the console and applied all the field service fixes. But I've found it can be finicky as to what modern TV's it works on.

[Anybody ever order from Best Electronics?]

Yep, bought all the stuff needed to rebuild a bunch of joysticks and paddles from him. Wasn't cheap, but very high quality. Way better than the original guts of the controllers. You just gotta talk to the guy on the phone to make the order, which is a bit unexpected these days.

[Can cartridges just fail? Can they be repaired?]

Small update. I pulled out my childhood Atari (Sears Video Arcade 2) and got it hooked up via RF to the same TV to rule out composite mod issues w/ the 4 switcher. I tested my entire library again, and sure enough, the same 3 carts failed to work. I guess I just have bum luck - when I was randomly testing carts after I completed the mod I picked the 2 out of the 5 that didn't work from the flea market batch, and when I dug out my childhood carts, of the 3 I randomly picked out of the box I had another dud, causing me to think I had larger problems to solve.

 

So I guess I'm going to crack open the dead carts and see if I notice anything peculiar with them, like broken solder joints or something. But I think I'm about to rule them dead. Crazy since everyone says they're super reliable.

[Can cartridges just fail? Can they be repaired?]

Is there any way to test if the carts are dead?

[Can cartridges just fail? Can they be repaired?]

I recently acquired a Sunnyvale 4 Switcher from a flea market, and it came with 5 or so games. But when I tried to play some them, they didn't seem to work.

 

So I just spent today troubleshooting. I cleaned every single one of my cartridges and the cartridge slot with alcohol, and tested my entire library in the console (which I've since AV modded). Here are the results.

 

Sure enough even after cleaning, 2 of the 5 games that came with the 4 switcher still didn't work (these are the entries in the spreadsheet with an asterisk after the name). But what was even crazier is that Chopper Command, a game I've had since I was a child, also doesn't work. It's been cared for pretty much my entire life - my game collection has been sitting in a cardboard box in my closet or on a bookshelf on display for the last decade or so.

 

I've heard of bit rot. Can this happen to Atari cartridges? I guess I can understand games from a flea market being broken. But that Chopper Command has been taken care of its entire life (well, at least since I got old enough to care for them).