bypassing 5200 switchbox?? (re: Power Supply)

[FeLiX dA kAt]

Is there a way to plug the power supply directly into the 5200? Who at the Atari company came up with this big ass box you have to plug the PS and RF into??? It's quite annoying as the connections remain loose so you have to prop it up in some odd fashion... Any suggestions???

[+Mitch]

You must have the 4 port model. The 2 port model just uses the standard Atari switchbox. I remember hearing about a mod to eliminate the need for the special switchbox but I've never seen it documented anywhere.

 

Mitch

http://atari7800.atari.org

[FeLiX dA kAt]

Thanks for the help Mitch I'll survive until someone gets more info.

[+-^CrossBow^-]

Actually check the 5200 FAQ here, I believe there is info on how to mod the 5200 to eliminate the need for the switchbox. I know there is info on how to make a switchbox that will work the 4 port model using a standard Atari Switchbox that you modify. Either of those should be a decent alternative. You could also use some Velcro strips to hold the box in place onto your TV. The switchbox that came with my used 5200 had been used in this fashion. Of course double sided foam tape will also work..but it won't come off nearly as easy.

[Albert]

There are instructions in the Atari 5200 FAQ on how to build a switchbox for the 4-port 5200. Search for 4.14 a few times and you'll find the appropriate section. I didn't see anything about eliminating the need for a switchbox. A composite or S-Video mod for the 5200 sure would be nice. There are instructions in the FAQ on how to do that as well, in section 4.13.

 

..Al

[jsoper]

I modified my 4-port for s-video,then removed the RF cable. Mounted a power supply jack and connected it to the motherboard through a beefy high current inductor.

 

The inductor keeps RF from getting into your power supply. You could probably use the one in the switchbox if you wanna crack it open.

 

By the way, a genesis-1 power supply seems to work fine on a 5200 even though it's rated for less current (I wouldn't try a 2600 adapter with it however). I started using one in my experiments because a 5200 supply gets killed after being shorted to ground for an instant.

John