What kinds of CV hardware mods exist?

[Tornadoboy]

Hi all,

 

I'm modding a CV for my brother and probably one for myself too and I was wondering what kinds of hardware hacks/mods/upgrades can be done? The composite mod is an obvious one and first on my list, the +5v memory upgrade is also tempting.

Does the +5v memory allow you to ditch the original power brick in place of a smaller 5v one? Also I seem to remember that there's a way to keep the Atari adapter attached but still switch to CV mod but I can't find it, I'm tempted to try to build that adapter right into the space for the controllers. I'm fairly good with a soldering iron and can even design PCBs when given a schematic so I might just throw the kitchen sink at the one I'm keeping for myself and turn it into a total Frankenstein console. 

 

[Rakutenka]

There is the TMS-RGB mod. I have this in my Colecovision. It will pass compositive video over scart as well for when you are playing Atari VCS/2600 games.

[+-^CrossBow^-]

3 hours ago, Rakutenka said:

There is the TMS-RGB mod. I have this in my Colecovision. It will pass compositive video over scart as well for when you are playing Atari VCS/2600 games.

The TMS-RGB does NOT provide composite video on its own. You likely have a separate composite video board that was installed separately and wired to your SCART setup that way. This is what I have to do on CVs I've done here in the states. But to answer @Tornadoboy's question these are the ones I know about:-

 

- TMS-RGB as stated it takes the signals from the VDP chip and provides you with RGB output through use of common 8 or 9pin setups. Only provides a composite sync signal and not the full composite video signal.

- Composite amp boards can be added that will take the composite video created within the RF modulator and can be routed to an RCA jack, or bombo TRRS jacks, or however needed. I install these boards in addition to TMS-RGB when 9-pin output is requested for compatibility with many cable types.

- +5 Ram upgrade, as the name implies it replaces the original video ram in the console with more available and cooler running +5v only RAM. This is commonly done if multiple video RAM chips are coming up bad in a console.

- ESD protection boards, exist that @Ruggers Customs designed sometime back. These small pcbs solder onto the pins of the joystick ports on the bottom of the PCB and route any dangerous static discharge to ground vs the delicate ICs that handle the controller logic.

- F18A is a video display processor replacement that provides VGA output along with replacing the video RAM section I previously mentioned and brings some other features that games programmed to use it can take advantage of.

 

Other mods might be replacing the original slide switch with rocker or other similar switches along other small modifications that I'm sure also exist. But the ones mentioned above are the ones I'm most familiar with at this point.

[rietveld]

I am using a f18a on my colecovision.  I can not use expansion module 1 but can use expansion module 3

[digress]

12 hours ago, rietveld said:

I am using a f18a on my colecovision.  I can not use expansion module 1 but can use expansion module 3

Everything works just the output of the atari module required the original composite output of the cv. My f18a programs work fine with the steering module and roller controller. I havn't tried it but the adam expansion should work as well.

 

Techincally the atari is still working you just can't see the output.

[rietveld]

2 hours ago, digress said:

Everything works just the output of the atari module required the original composite output of the cv. My f18a programs work fine with the steering module and roller controller. I havn't tried it but the adam expansion should work as well.

 

Techincally the atari is still working you just can't see the output.

The Adam works.  It looks great.  I ordered the MK1 but i assume it will work the same