Atari 2600 vs. 7800 RCA cable

[diesel_dan]

Hi guys,

Here's a random question for an Atari expert out there:
Does the 2600 use the same RCA cable as the 7800? I'm trying to work out a deal for a 7800 with a guy on Craigslist, but he can't get a picture out of the system. He's using a cable from a 2600 to check this.

Any help would be great.

[pepharytheworm]

Are you Talking about the TV box, because the 2600 has a RF cable attached inside it and the 7800 has a RF out on the out side. On my 7800 I have a standard RCA cable then attach an RCA to coaxial adapter, its better then those TV switch boxes.

[diesel_dan]

Are you Talking about the TV box, because the 2600 has a RF cable attached inside it and the 7800 has a RF out on the out side. On my 7800 I have a standard RCA cable then attach an RCA to coaxial adapter, its better then those TV switch boxes.

A very interesting point. That's the same way I have my O2 hooked up. A nice, streamlined alternative to the old-style switch boxes.

Here's the explanation the seller gave me:
It powers on but all I can seem to get to appear on the TV screen is a totally gray picture. I know I had hooked this up about a year ago and it worked fine then. I no longer have the original RCA cable but I used one from an Atari 2600 and I could not get a picture. I tried using the Atari 2600 RCA cable with an Intellivision System and it worked fine with it so I know the cable itself is not the problem.


The system itself looks to be in great cosmetic condition, but I really don't want to buy another brick off of Craigslist.

[CRTGAMER]

Both have a RCA connector, however are actually a coaxial signal.

Avoid the Atari cable switch box, it is not shielded.

You can convert the cable to coaxial with this adaptor and run it to a regular 75 ohm shielded A-B switch box or direct to TV coaxial input.



The adaptor is cheap, maybe take that and a spare cable to test before purchase.

[diesel_dan]

That's the exact same connector I'm using on my Odyssey. Thanks for the great picture, though--anyone interested in playing some pre-NES systems needs a handful of these!

Great advise--I'll bring over my own cable/adapter and see if we can get the 7800 playing nice.

[Hatta]

Yes, 2600 and 7800 cables are interchangeable.

[diesel_dan]

Yes, 2600 and 7800 cables are interchangeable.

Ah. That means this guy's is probably broken. A real shame, because it's very pretty (all of the clear plastic sheets are still in place over the shiny bits).

Ah well. There will be another.

[CRTGAMER]

Here's the explanation the seller gave me:
It powers on but all I can seem to get to appear on the TV screen is a totally gray picture. I know I had hooked this up about a year ago and it worked fine then. I no longer have the original RCA cable but I used one from an Atari 2600 and I could not get a picture. I tried using the Atari 2600 RCA cable with an Intellivision System and it worked fine with it so I know the cable itself is not the problem.

The system itself looks to be in great cosmetic condition, but I really don't want to buy another brick off of Craigslist.

I just realized from that description, it looks like the 7800 is powering up fine but maybe the game cart contacts dusty or dirty. Seller did state its been sitting unused for a year. You know where everyone blows on their NES cart to get it to work? Well don't do that, but try this: unplug and plug back in that 7800 cart of few times, cleans the contacts, it'll probably work after that. In fact very sure thats the fix. After all the Atari's are pretty robust machines, just crappy 7800 controllers, well at least better then the 5200 ones. Good news is any 2600 controller will work if the game is a single fire button game. Okay there is one weak part unrelated to the 7800 but I do tend to go on a tangent, the 5200 4 port RF Video Switch Box is pretty fragile if not hooked up right.

Ah. That means this guy's is probably broken. A real shame, because it's very pretty (all of the clear plastic sheets are still in place over the shiny bits).

Ah well. There will be another.

The clear plastic factory protective sheets just confirms the low milage on this console, try that contact cleaning idea above.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

Here's the explanation the seller gave me:
It powers on but all I can seem to get to appear on the TV screen is a totally gray picture. I know I had hooked this up about a year ago and it worked fine then. I no longer have the original RCA cable but I used one from an Atari 2600 and I could not get a picture. I tried using the Atari 2600 RCA cable with an Intellivision System and it worked fine with it so I know the cable itself is not the problem.

The system itself looks to be in great cosmetic condition, but I really don't want to buy another brick off of Craigslist.

I just realized from that description, it looks like the 7800 is powering up fine but maybe the game cart contacts dusty or dirty. Seller did state its been sitting unused for a year. You know where everyone blows on their NES cart to get it to work? Well don't do that, but try this: unplug and plug back in that 7800 cart of few times, cleans the contacts, it'll probably work after that. In fact very sure thats the fix. After all the Atari's are pretty robust machines, just crappy 7800 controllers, well at least better then the 5200 ones. Good news is any 2600 controller will work if the game is a single fire button game. Okay there is one weak part unrelated to the 7800 but I do tend to go on a tangent, the 5200 4 port RF Video Switch Box is pretty fragile if not hooked up right.

Ah. That means this guy's is probably broken. A real shame, because it's very pretty (all of the clear plastic sheets are still in place over the shiny bits).

Ah well. There will be another.

The clear plastic factory protective sheets just confirms the low milage on this console, try that contact cleaning idea above.

Follow these points and see what happens. If I've said it once I've said it a million times, but cartridge based consoles cannot be broken unless rusted over, blown up or struck by lightning. Give this guy a shot and get yourself a nice looking 7800 as long as the price is right.

He also may not know how the 2600 RF works as unlike modern and late 80's RF's to use the Atari 2600 RF you have to manually reach behind your set and switch the RF from pass-through to game mode then turn on the console.

[Hatta]

Yeah, in all probability he's hooking it up wrong, or the game is dirty. If you still can't get it to work, you might try a composite mod.