Heavy Sixer stripes Video / no audio problem.

I picked up a pristine Atari 2600 heavy sixer recently. It's surprisingly clean inside and out but when I try to play it I usually get black screen, colored stripes. Occasionally i'll get a high pitch whine sound wise but usually it's nothing. The color stripes change sometimes depending on game tried but sometimes just switching it on and off will change the strip colors. These stripes are not rolling..just static.

I checked all the connections inside and everything looks good, the board is really clean as well. any idea what this could be? I'd hate to have such a nice unit out of service.

 

Stripes are the normal behavior CX2600 has when the CPU isn't issuing commands to the TIA chip. It reflects the contents of the TIA (Television Interface Adapter) at the time the unit was powered on (since there's no processing going on it won't change, right?).

I suggest you check the cartridge slot, the 6507 chip (28 pin mini 6502) and the RIOT chip (6532, Ram/Input/Ooutput/Timer) as those are vital for processing to happen.

 

Thanks! I've checked al the chip connections and such, all looks good.

A few guys that had the same problem have let me know that for them.,. it was the IO chip needing to be replaced. Talking to the good folks at best electronics now for parts, figure i'll just replace all three to be sure.

This thing is so damn clean, it's worth saving even if I end up having to buy a whole new motherboard.

Really appreciate the suggestions!

 

Just ordered, will report back after they arrive and I switch out.

 

Sad News. Bought all three chips, replaced them all and...same problem So I'm sunk dead in the water. Sucks because the case is so damn nice. I guess i'll try and find a ratty one for cheap and just swap the guts. pretty bummed, no idea what else it could even be.

 

Does anyone have a board like this though? I was hoping to check one thing for reference. Namely the chip placement. two have nothes facing one way the third was facing the oppostie. not sure if thats correct, I can tell someone was in this before because the old chip was nicked

 

I told you to check the cartridge slot. This is the second time I say that lol.

Edit:



seems like your board has the chips placed right, no?

 

Yes, the chip orientation is correct.

Also, that is not a heavy sixer. That's a light one...

 

Interesting thanks, I always thought that raised rings around the 6 switches meant it was a heavy and not a light. The light was more flushed, obviously the board doesn't lie..new to the atari thing, I was a fairchild guy back then. Thanks for setting me straight!

 

Only things that can stop a system which has good chips from working are:
No cartridge
Bad cart slot
Bad traces on the PCB