Atari 5200 2 Port - No Video

[SpoonyBard]

I purchased this 5200 from a rummage sale maybe 10 years ago.

When I got it, the output cord was cut. I was told at the time "wire a coaxial end on it and it will work again". I never got around to it.

Today I decided to hook it up, wired an RCA plug on the end. Put that to a TV with a radio shack switch box (This setup works with my colecovision) and hooked up the original Atari 5200 PSU which gives power to the unit.

I have never been able to test any of the games I have. But I tried four different carts that all gave the same results. (and i've got a lot more that I could try)

Power applied, switchbox set, channel set. No video. After a few seconds there is a jagged vertical line on the right of the screen that stays as long as power is on the system. But that is the best I can get. I removed the output wire and hooked my RCA plug directly to the motherboard with the same result.

I read a post over on atari age that mentions the possibility shorted RAM chips. It mentioned that shorted chips will get warm. Four or five of mine get burning hot after a few seconds of having power applied to them.

Photo0036.jpg (366.49 KiB) Viewed 1010 times

(Wow, my phone camera is terrible)

The four chips on top are:

Code: Select all

MCM4517P15 BI
(Motorola) 8304

The four on bottom:

Code: Select all

   _
   F    MB8118-12
   -
Japan    8311 F60

Aside from that, there are several jumper wires on the board and one of the IC's has a leg lifted out of the socket. I think they're all factory done, but I do have pictures if it may be relevant.

[CRTGAMER]

I don't think a shorted or fried chip will get warm since it has already failed. Warm chips indicate there is still current going thru them, a chance they are still working?

I would focus first on the RF connection, possibly the solder connection inside failed due to cable pull. Failure of older systems usually occur where there is a "mechanical" problem such as the cart connectors or the RF cable.

Try testing the RF Cable hookup for a short or jump between the shielding and inner wire. Bypass the switch box and go directly into the coaxial lead of your TV.

[SpoonyBard]

The switch box and wires are confirmed working. I removed the RF wire and went directly to the motherboard for that connection. This produced the same result of no output.

[SpoonyBard]

Tried another cartridge (Frogger) and was able to see faint signs of a game playing. It seems to me that there is text on the screen, but it's far too distorted to tell.

I then adjusted both trim pots near Controller Port 2 (the only trims I saw on the whole board) and was able to get the picture to turn red, which is the only color i've been able to get so far.

Does anyone know where I might be able to get some ram chips? Those seem to be a pretty common fault.

[Hobie-wan]

If you got a picture, I'd say it's probably not the ram chips. Sounds like it is video stuff. Perhaps a little corrosion on the contacts of whatever adjustment knobs. If there are others, perhaps a little twiddle and return them to their original position, just mark them first.

[SpoonyBard]

I know nothing about Atari stuff. I just found out that the switch is for channel 2-3 instead of 3-4.

Crazy.

My 5200 has no video output on the selected channel. Only a black screen.

On the channel that is not selected, I get all sorts of crazy colors and odd things that might suggest some hints of life.

[flojocabron]

Dont know if im just pulling words out of my ass.....

but have you tried connecting it to a VCR? And playing it through one of the channels?

Put it on the high 100's and see if you get a picture in there somewhere.

I remember reading that some Japanese famicoms work this way.

Maybe yours is not USA?

worth a shot.

[Hobie-wan]

Put it on the high 100's and see if you get a picture in there somewhere.

I remember reading that some Japanese famicoms work this way.

Famicom is 95 & 96. But no he'd not be seeing any fuzzy anything if that was the case.

[KalessinDB]

I know the 5200 can be Composite and S-Video modded... and I know ages ago a Colecovision I had that baaaarely displayed anything more than static over RF became a fully functional unit once I had it Composite modded.... so maybe that might work in this case.

Just a guess though.

[SpoonyBard]

Dont know if im just pulling words out of my ass.....

but have you tried connecting it to a VCR? And playing it through one of the channels?

Put it on the high 100's and see if you get a picture in there somewhere.

I remember reading that some Japanese famicoms work this way.

Maybe yours is not USA?

worth a shot.

I've heard the same thing about Japanese systems. I believe it is a US system though (not sure if they even made a JP 5200?). I can select channel circle or square on the system (2 or 3) and when turned on, the selected channel goes to a black screen and all other channels are on static. Because of this I don't believe that the channel is an issue.

I know the 5200 can be Composite and S-Video modded... and I know ages ago a Colecovision I had that baaaarely displayed anything more than static over RF became a fully functional unit once I had it Composite modded.... so maybe that might work in this case.

Just a guess though.

That's kind of my last resort. I like keeping my systems as original as I can. And as dumb as it sounds, I dug out my first TV - a little 13" wood grain box with RF/Twin - and i'm really wanting to use that for any of the RF-Only systems i've got.