Atari 130XE, How do I hook it up?

[milkmanv1]

Ok guys, I found one of these at the local fleamarket for like 30$, came with 10 games, including miner 2049er which I'm dieing to play. It came with the correct PSU and even the cable to attach accessories such as the printer or cassette tape player thingies, but no video connections, other then an Atari switch-box, that says computer instead of game. Basically I tried using my Turbo Duo AV cables, they didn't work. I tried using my NES RF unit, but that didn't work either, I figured as much, the automatic switchers don't really work on these older systems. I got the faintest of faint picture through the NES RF, but nothing but farting and a flicker of a picture when I hit the start key when I hooked it up through A/V.

So basically how could I hook this thing up? I feel like it'd work if I had a cable to go from RF input on the system into the switchbox...help?

[gtmtnbiker]

but no video connections, other then an Atari switch-box, that says computer instead of game.

Do you have a picture of the switchbox? That might help us to identify how it works. If you don't get any other response, definitely ask your question over at atariage.com

When I was growing up, I had an Atari 800. Miner 2049er was one of my favorite games.

[ssnik992]

If the switch box you have is similar to the standard one, just plug the video out or tv out cable (a single RCA cable) into the switchbox by COMPUTER, and connect the switchbox's vhf out to your tv with the standard coax. That should work.

[Hatta]

Easiest way is one of these. You can get them at radio shack(maybe even walmart) if you're in a hurry, but better to buy them from someplace that isn't evil. This will be better than any switchbox.

You should track down a composite cable eventually though. The pinout is different on the Atari than on the TG-16 and Genesis 1, but I think the C64 is the same. I would just build one if I were you, 5 pin din connectors are easy to come by. I'm surprised AtariAge doesn't carry the proper cables actually.

Congratulations on your purchase. The 8-bit computer is my favorite Atari machine. Once you get set up you should look into purchasing an SIO2SD (or SIO2PC, etc) for floppy emulation.

[milkmanv1]

yeah thats all fine and good. But I have NO cables to go into the RF jack on the system. I could figure out how to hook it up if I did.

But do they make a double ended RF (Not the coxial end) cable????

[Hobie-wan]

yeah thats all fine and good. But I have NO cables to go into the RF jack on the system. I could figure out how to hook it up if I did.

But do they make a double ended RF (Not the coxial end) cable????

Just use any RCA cable to go from the computer to the switchbox/adapter. It might pick up a little more interference than the one that came with it that presumably had some shielding in it but should work. A switchbox from a late 70s or early 80s system will work too if you have one from another system. Doesn't matter if it says 'game' or 'computer' they're the same inside. I'd look for a din cable to get proper composite eventually though.

[Hatta]

Oh yeah. Hobie's right, any RCA cable will work in a pinch. The original RCA cable was coaxial though. One of these with a stretch of regular old coax would be best until you get a composite cable. RF is one place where cable quality matters a lot.