mechanized Posted December 9, 2003 Share Posted December 9, 2003 I was referenced to Best Electronics for a kit to do this conversion, but a month later I still have no reply, so I look to the forums. As would be indicated by the subject line, I'm looking to make my 4 Port Atari 5200 compatible with the VCS converter. I just tried to get a 2 port system off of eBay and was ripped off badly (let's just say the item received was not what was described at all) and would prefer to just scrap that idea entirely and modify my 4 Port system, since it's beautiful and looks like it was played for a few months and then boxed up and stored in a climate-controlled bank vault. I mean, it gleams. My only complaint is that it wasn't one of the 4 Ports that were produced later and are already compatible. I've read about kits that are available, but could find none outside of the Best Electronics site, who have sort of left me with no visible, viable option. Since I have this bum 2 Port system, and there's a distinct (and unsavory) possibility the seller is not going to be inclined to refund me ($21.99 refund, plus another $12 for when I ship it back... I just don't see him being eager to do that one) I found myself wondering if I have the necessary parts for the conversion in the bum system I received. Any advice is welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPUWIZ Posted December 9, 2003 Share Posted December 9, 2003 http://worldofatari.safeshopper.com/39/363.htm?769 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechanized Posted December 9, 2003 Author Share Posted December 9, 2003 Ugh... minimum $20 order.... and then it quoted me like $15 shipping for the bumper sticker and service binder I added in to meet that $20. Are there any other options? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x6d696168 Posted December 9, 2003 Share Posted December 9, 2003 Speaking of the 2600VCS Adapter, I just got one off ebay (received it today too). I'm going to be doing the mod so it works on my 4port 5200.. Anyways, has anybody tried this with the 5200 Svideo mod? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted December 9, 2003 Share Posted December 9, 2003 Humm.. it probably won't work (at least not in S-Video mode) because the 2600's video is already combined and piped through on a single cartridge pin. -Bry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x6d696168 Posted December 9, 2003 Share Posted December 9, 2003 Humm.. it probably won't work (at least not in S-Video mode) because the 2600's video is already combined and piped through on a single cartridge pin. -Bry Well, Im not using the Svideo capabilities, just composite out right now, which is a vast improvement over RF.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scuttle130 Posted December 10, 2003 Share Posted December 10, 2003 I got the "offical Atari Instructions" from super_stonic, a user from the Retrograding Roundtable user's board. He gave it too me freely, so I assume I can send it out freedly as well. PM me with your email address and I will send it to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechanized Posted December 10, 2003 Author Share Posted December 10, 2003 Oh damn, I'm a tool. I forgot to say "Thanks, CPUWIZ! I really appreciate that information and quick response!" Sometimes I forget my appreciation when I get lost on another web site. Sorry! ...and uhhh.... what's this about a manual? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x6d696168 Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 Humm.. it probably won't work (at least not in S-Video mode) because the 2600's video is already combined and piped through on a single cartridge pin. -Bry Well, Im not using the Svideo capabilities, just composite out right now, which is a vast improvement over RF.. And it doesnt work.. at all.. I see the screen flash for a brief second, and i know its doing something, but I don't see the game.. Owell, it was an interesting thought. It'd be interesting to mod the mod to get this working though =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie_ Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 So, If you do this video mod, you can't use the VCS Adaptor unless you use RF to your TV? The Instructions for the 4port mod to use the VCS adaptor was online somewhere when I did it. I'll check and post a link if I find it. Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechanized Posted December 12, 2003 Author Share Posted December 12, 2003 Is it possible Best Electronics is down at the moment? Does someone have a current link? Maybe I found an old.. site... or something. I dunno. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechanized Posted December 12, 2003 Author Share Posted December 12, 2003 Much thanks! You the man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPUWIZ Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 Is it possible Best Electronics is down at the moment? Does someone have a current link? Maybe I found an old.. site... or something. I dunno. http://www.best-electronics-ca.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sku_u Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 Stella's Boneyard sold these for a while, but the site's down. I know I have the instructions and an extra kit laying around somewhere. If I find it, I'll PM you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scuttle130 Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 The "Consumer Product Service" UPGRADE BULLETIN says, the "upgrade to the Atari CX5200 Supergrame applies only to CX5200 PCB, P/N CA018087. All other CX5200 PCB's have the retrofit componets built into them and require no modificaiont to accommodate the adaptor." Hope this is useful to someone... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechanized Posted December 13, 2003 Author Share Posted December 13, 2003 Yeah, that sounds like the last run of the four-port 5200s, which were compatible, and produced a short time before the system went to two ports. I think they're marked with an asterisk at the end of the serial numbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scuttle130 Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 I thought it would be too, but when I cracked my 4 port open to install the Chroma/Luma S-Video mod, I checkout the PCB number...which took a little bit (a minute or two) since the top PCB number was never etched in, but on the back, it listed a different PCB number than the CA018087. I check the serial number...no asterick!!! So now i began to wonder...maybe it was just the first generations of 5200's and the revised the PCB several times before they finally went into production on the asterick model, and then the 2 port. Second, maybe someone switched my PCB, probably not...to much work. Third, I wonder how many people got ripped off when the computer store realized the 4-port did not need modification for the VCS adapter, but charged the 80 bucks anyway? You know, nanoseconds laugh at milliseconds for being so slow... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x6d696168 Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 I thought it would be too, but when I cracked my 4 port open to install the Chroma/Luma S-Video mod, I checkout the PCB number...which took a little bit (a minute or two) since the top PCB number was never etched in, but on the back, it listed a different PCB number than the CA018087. I check the serial number...no asterick!!! So now i began to wonder...maybe it was just the first generations of 5200's and the revised the PCB several times before they finally went into production on the asterick model, and then the 2 port. Second, maybe someone switched my PCB, probably not...to much work. Third, I wonder how many people got ripped off when the computer store realized the 4-port did not need modification for the VCS adapter, but charged the 80 bucks anyway? You know, nanoseconds laugh at milliseconds for being so slow... Doh, this mod totally slipped my mind... I guess it is possible that it works, but since I haven't done the mod it wont.. I need to check the serial. I'll check all this out, possibly do the mod, and post an update on if it works or not. I guess I was just too excited when I got the package with the vcs adapter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 I tried this mod on one of my 4-port systems and ended up blowing a power supply and the board. I double-checked everything and I don't see any obvious mistakes, but I haven't spent a lot of time trying to track down what's wrong on the board (I removed the entire mod, and that didn't help, so I definitely broke something!) ..Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechanized Posted December 15, 2003 Author Share Posted December 15, 2003 I just want to be sure, but you blew your 4-Port doing a different mod than the one that makes the 4-port compatible with the 2600VCS Converter, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie_ Posted December 15, 2003 Share Posted December 15, 2003 I still have copies of the Atari documentation for the 4 port mod. If you didn't get them yet, I can email you scans of the pages. Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+kheller2 Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 I still have copies of the Atari documentation for the 4 port mod. If you didn't get them yet, I can email you scans of the pages. Charlie There were a few 5200 4 port revisions. As mentioned, those with the * are already retrofitted (more like manufactured). I do believe that some 5200 4 port boards can not be made 2600 compatible without significant changes. I'd be interested in what the Atari documentation states. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mitch Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 I still have copies of the Atari documentation for the 4 port mod. If you didn't get them yet, I can email you scans of the pages. Charlie There were a few 5200 4 port revisions. As mentioned, those with the * are already retrofitted (more like manufactured). I do believe that some 5200 4 port boards can not be made 2600 compatible without significant changes. I'd be interested in what the Atari documentation states. The different revisions are: Original 4 port model - does not work with 2600 adapter though it can be modified to work. Original 4 port model - with the modification for the 2600 adapter done at the factory. Should have * in the serial number. Later 4 port model - supports 2600 adapter natively. Has places on board for extra PAL parts. Should have + in the serial number. This seems to be the rarest of the released 5200 models. 2 port model - supports 2600 adapter natively. Has places on board for extra PAL parts. Uses a standard RF switchbox. It seems that a few of the later 4 ports were factory modified to use the standard RF switchbox as well. Mitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susuwatari Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 I don't know why everything seems to suggest the 4 port with a star (*) is rare. Of the 4 c5200 I found in the wild, 3 of them has the star. (4th one is the original 4 port) Around here, 2 port is the rare version! Anyway I found the docs on the mod. I know they came from the web site originally but I can't remember where. I've kept them at full size so they'd be large. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mitch Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 I don't know why everything seems to suggest the 4 port with a star (*) is rare. Who said it was rare? It's the 4 port with the + that's rare. Mitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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