Composite Atari 2600

Those pre-assembled boards for $30 look like they are worth it compared to the $25 composite resistor kits for $25 which you have the solder the components onto the board

Very tempting to get

 

The 2600 doesn't output anything resembling luma or chroma, the circuit will be "complicated". That one is actually pretty simple.

 

Yes and yes. That extra 75ohm resistor may have been added due to the image looking washed out on their tv. Think how a pal snes/n64 looks like with a ntsc composite cable (you fix that by adding the resistor from composite to ground).

 

Your best solution:

http://stella.sourceforge.net/

 

Well I believe that the optional shifting of brightness by replacing one resistor, only applies to the 7800 ProSystem, and not to the Video Computer System. The Pokey was not available on the Video Computer System that relied solely on the TIA-channels. I wish I knew more about the VCS so I could modify it. I have only seen a S-Video modification schematics that looks almost identical to the AV-mod for the 5200 SuperSystem, but is was only meant for the 4-switch model. I hope to find the borth kinds of AV-mods for the NTSC Light Sixer, despite it is hard to find such a mod(without buying these ready-to-plug-in-boards)

 

Emulation is fun but prefer to play games on the original hardware when practical. I'm a fan of flash carts since loading the rom on the original hardware will run the game as the developer desired since they coded it for that specific hardware. So once I get the 2600 going I'll probably get the harmony flash cart for it. If you have the time this is good example of the pro's and cons of emulation which is an entire debate and topic of its own. http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2011/...-3ghz-quest-to-build-a-perfect-snes-emulator/

I ended up ordering that board for the 2600 for right around $30 shipped and I already have the panel mount rca jacks and s-video jack.

http://electronicsentimentalities.com/Assembled Mods.html

If I ordered the components for the simple transistor mod with perf board I was looking about $13 shipped from digi-key and I knew the video would not be as good as the $30 board with s-video and adjustable pots. Once its modded I'll have less than $50 in it and I'm happy with that since they go for $100 pre-modded with s-video on ebay.

 

Hugocraft: Very interesting site that sells boards. Does it work with all the models of the VCS?

 

It'll work with every model, including the Jr. and the Sears Video Arcade II.

 

That is great =)

Soon I will be able to modify my VCS

 

I got the board in. Just need to set aside some time to install it.

 

Does anyone have a more detailed install guide to install the mod board at http://electronicsentimentalities.com/Assembled Mods.html ? Their instructions are very vague.

 

No they aren't. Click "Installation Instructions" on the left and choose a system.

In any case, they're a commercial seller. Contact them and ask them how to install the board you purchased off them if they didn't include instructions with it.

 

Maybe you missed this link on the instructions page which has the pinouts:

http://electronicsentimentalities.com/BA2600Installation.html

I've installed this personally and it is very simple.

 

Or you can do this: http://imgur.com/a/Z7rSw

 

It's beyond me why people do "complicated alien mods" for something that could be simple:

These instructions are for the REV16 (1980 light four) board

Remove R209(1K8), R222(15K), C215(150PF), Q202(2N3563).

You will reuse the Q202 and R222. Additionally you will need: 100 ohm and a 75ohm resistors.


The diagram of the mod:


How it looks like on my Atari:

(this is not the original transistor, it's a BC548 which has emitter and collector inverted from 2N3563 so the later is
assembled backwards)

Captured video from it: