Help another newbie hook up the 2600...please!

[ilona]

All of you veterans probably get tired of these "how do I hook up my 2600 to a new TV" questions, but here's another.

 

My situation: I bought a 2600 on eBay. It is going to be an Xmas gift for my live-in boyfriend, so I've been sneakily trying to hook it up and verify that it works when he's not around. I don't even know if the system is functional, but assuming it is-- I think I'm hooking it up wrong! I've tried hooking it up via a switchbox, and also with one of those RF-to-coax adapters. I've tried hooking it up via my VCR (which is where our bunny-ears antenna is hooked up-- we don't have cable), and I've tried using the adapter and plugging it into the "cable/antenna" coax input on back of my TV. I've tried channels 2, 3, and 4. Nothing- just a fuzzy white-noise screen.

I think what may be the problem is that my boyfriend's TV has channel 3 preset for the VCR. And I don't have the original remote control nor do I have the TV manual to go about changing this. Could that be it? Could it be that the TV only recognizes channel 3 when the VCRs (which have composite inputs) are running? Any other common reasons for a fuzzy screen? Any info would be appreciated!

[vb_master]

if your atari is running through a vcr with component cables, shouldn't you be on TV/Video mode on your TV like your watching a tape, and the vcr set to channel 2 or 3. Are you able to find that channel select switch on your atari? that should help you out

[RCmodeler]

(1) Attach RCA-to-coaxial plug to end of 2600 cable.

(2) Plug into TVs "ANT/antenna" jack.

(3) Plug power cord into 2600.

(4) Insert cartridge.

(4) Turn on 2600/TV.

(5) Set channel to 2 or 3 or 4.

 

At this point you should see a picture. If not, then your 2600 is probably dead.

[vb_master]

If your 2600 is "dead" Some of us can help by replacing a certain part

[bjk7382]

Was the auction on ebay sold as-is or was it "tested"? (maybe a link for the auction)

 

But if you are just trying to test it, I woul hook it directly up to your vcr ant IN with the small RCA connector (not the switchbox) and put the tv on the station that you would watch a movie on and put the vcr on 2 or 3 and make sure your games contacts are clean (use either a q-tip and alcohol, or the eraser on the end of a pencil)

 

And note if the screen goes black, or if it flashes at all, or if there are colored lines all over it.

 

This can help determine what could be wrong with it.

[tyranthraxus]

Also try inserting different games and making sure they are

put it properly. In my experience its usually a problem with the game

than the 2600. Those machines are pretty solid it might be whatever

game you are testing with thats the problem.

[D.Yancey]

The first thing that will usually go bad with the system is the power supply.

 

Make sure your TV is set to receive input from the Antenna and that your Atari is hooked up to the coax cable port and not the AV inputs. Is it an Atari from US for NTSC?

[RCmodeler]

I woul hook it directly up to your vcr ant IN with the small RCA connector

 

 

How can you connect an RCA phono plug to an Antenna jack??? On my 3 VCRs, that would not work, because they have the large coaxial jack.

[Susuwatari]

Radio Shack sells for about $2 a female RCA to male F-type adapter so you can plug Atari cable directly into your VCR's antenna in port. Try that. If that works, your switch box is probably bad.