Need help with my old Atari 2600

[Perd Hapley]

My parents just found this dusty old treasure, and I took it home with me a couple of days ago.  All the parts seem to be there, but it has only one output jack.  The TV I'm using is fairly modern, so it has zillions of input jacks back there.  No matter which one I use, I just get blue screen.  Yes, I did switch the Atari to Channel 3. 

I also tried using the video jack in the front of my VCR, but this was likewise fruitless. 

What to do? 


Will accept reasonable cash offers.   

[RocketMan]

You need to use the RF input, fistful.  Disconnect the cable running into the threaded jack, plug the Atari in there.  That is the 75 ohm RF input that the Atari requires.
The other jacks are for composite video and left/right audio inputs and outputs, and possibly other stuff.
 

[RadioFreeSeaLab]

RocketMan has it.

[Euclidean]

Indeed.

Or even better:

https://www.atari2600.com/item--Atari-2600-CyberTech-S-Video-Kit--PROD6196.html

[Perd Hapley]

I forgot to mention that it is a newer-style 2600, the 2600 Jr. 

Thanks for the advice.  The jack and the cable are RCA style, so I guess I will need an adapter of some kind to connect to the RF jack. 

[Manedwolf]

http://www.atariage.com/howto/connect.html

Just get one of these at Radio Shack.



That's what I use...since I have digital cable, the coax on the TV itself was unused. I just pick the unused tuner thing, go to channel 3, and it appears. I've got a first-model (heavy wooden casing) 2600 hooked up to my HDTV.

[RocketMan]

Fistful, Maned speaks the truth.   Get yourself one of those adapters and you will be good.

[Manedwolf]

Oh, yeah, and if you want to be really be a combination of retro and up to date, since most all game controllers are wireless now, look for a pair of these and the base station at flea markets. 



Otherwise, two sets of paddles, and Warlords. Four-player Warlords after everyone's had a bit to drink. Way too much fun.

[JimMarch]

Go on.  Be a man.  Be the first to get Linux running on a 2600.

 

[Manedwolf]

I believe it's been done. This one runs XP and emulators, and has a DVD drive.

[TechAlG]

Do you have a link to more info on that?

[AJ Dual]

Do you have a link to more info on that?

It's just a small form-factor PC motherboard using the 2600 as the case, very little of the actual guts of the Atari beyond the switches are likely to be left...

[TechAlG]

Yeah, I did some Googling after I posted...I'm not as impressed as I originally was.  Although, I am a big fan of PC case mods.  I once built a desktop into the console of my '85 S-10 as an MP3 player.

[Perd Hapley]

Go on.  Be a man.  Be the first to get Linux running on a 2600.

 

Since I'm off to such a tech-wizard start, here.  Can't even hook up the Atari to the TV.   

[Perd Hapley]

Well, I finally bought that phono-f adapter gizmo.  It works now.     Thanks. 

[RocketMan]

Well, I finally bought that phono-f adapter gizmo.  It works now.     Thanks. 

And we never hear from fistful again, reliving a misspent youth, sucked back into playing Atari video games 24/7. 

[Manedwolf]

Well, I finally bought that phono-f adapter gizmo.  It works now.     Thanks. 

And we never hear from fistful again, reliving a misspent youth, sucked back into playing Atari video games 24/7. 

You can do that with an emulator! My PocketPC has had all 500+ 2600 games on it for a long time. I should put them on the PSP too...

[Perd Hapley]

Well, I finally bought that phono-f adapter gizmo.  It works now.     Thanks. 

And we never hear from fistful again, reliving a misspent youth, sucked back into playing Atari video games 24/7. 

Trust me, my Dad would never have allowed that.  Did I tell you about the time he put the TV in the attic, because I failed to seed the front yard?  Never saw it again, until we took it down to sell it years later.