Atari 7800 loses signal on one of my plasma TVs

[thetallguy24]

So I have three plasma TVs, one Panasonic 65" and 2 Samsung 43". I've tried playing my 7800 on the 65" but it keeps losing signal during the game on both channels for both 7800 and 2600 games. It plays just fine on both channels on the 43" TVs. I use the RCA -> RF setup. I don't have any CRTs to try it on, and don't really want to get one.

 

Any suggestions?

[gorfcadet]

Run it through an old vcr for the rca out. It always seems to clean up my signal. That is my cheap solution anyway.

[RevEng]

If you're using a switch box for the RF connection, try switching to one of these. They provide the cleanest RF.

 

Otherwise, you're looking at using a VCR as gorfcadet suggests, or modding your console for composite video.

[thetallguy24]

If you're using a switch box for the RF connection, try switching to one of these. They provide the cleanest RF.

 

Otherwise, you're looking at using a VCR as gorfcadet suggests, or modding your console for composite video.

 

Yeah, I'm using the phono to rf adapter already

[Greg2600]

What cable are you using for RF though? Based on suggestions here on AA, I was told to try this adapter with industrial level coax cable, and the results were very good (for RF that is).

[+FujiSkunk]

From my experience, the 2600 and 7800 have very weak RF signals compared to other game consoles. A lot of automatic RF switchers like those made for the NES and SMS won't pick up on signals from the Atari consoles. My guess is your Panasonic has a higher threshold for signal detection than your other TV's.

 

If you don't want to mod your console and you don't have the hardware handy to try any of the other suggestions, have a look at your TV's menus and see if there is an option for hiding or masking the video when no signal is detected. A lot of TV's call this option "Blue Screen" since the traditional "snow" of an open channel is replaced by a blue screen when this option is enabled. Try disabling the option and see if that helps keep your 7800 from disappearing.