Jump to content

Squiggly lines across the screen


Kid A

Recommended Posts

I have 3 Atari 5200 consoles. Two of them that are four port and one 2 port. I would love to use my two Port console being that I could use the Atari 2600 adapter but that console gives the worst squiggly lines out of all of them that I own. One of my four ports still does it and the other one is pretty good but it's still kind of there. Does anybody knows how to fix this?

 

post-79-0-97717700-1530333352_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What have you tried so far?  On the two part, are you using a new screw-in type RF adapter directly into the TV antenna port? 

 

I'd do the easy stuff first: 

  • Auto-tune the TV channels with the 5200 on. 
  • Try putting a magnetic choke on the RF cable.
  • Try completely unraveling the RF cable. 

You might also make sure you're using the right power adapter for the 2-port.  If I recall, it uses a different power brick than the 4 port. 

 

Good luck, and let us know what happens. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Try the 5200 adapter on a different power outlet. Sometimes higher powered equipment shares the same circuit and trying a different outlet usually helps.

 

You are saying that all of the 5200 consoles are doing this so I am not so sure the 5200s are at fault. They are old with very little to protect them from outside RF interference and FCC requires these consoles to accept any interference they may receive. Do you have another TV you can test one of the 5200 consoles on? If you don't get interference then it is a sure bet that something else is causing those lines.

 

From experience those lines look like those caused by an electric motor running close by or on the same circuit. If you have a fan or AC running turn it off for just a second to see if the lines disappear. And, believe it or not, some lamps too close to a TV or game machine can cause those as well. Microwaves too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

post-79-0-50525800-1530405007_thumb.jpg

 

Yay!

 

I remembered that I had a Sega master system rf connected to the TV with the 5200 cable connecting to that. I remove the Sega RF connection and went direct with the Atari and it looks great. Although I want everything hooked up. Im going to leave it like this for the meantime but I'm going to try your ideas probably at a later time to see if I could have everything hooked up! I really appreciate all your help guys! thank you very much!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I prefer to use my AV modded consoles through my JVC JX-S700...LOL. It even gots a remote! 

 

http://www.us.jvc.com/archive/video/avselectors/jx_s700/

 

I paid like $30 shipped for it years ago off ebay but you would be lucky to get them at such a price these days.

See what I'm up to over at the Ivory Tower Collections: http://www.youtube.com/ivorytowercollections

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I prefer to use my AV modded consoles through my JVC JX-S700...LOL. It even gots a remote!

 

http://www.us.jvc.com/archive/video/avselectors/jx_s700/

 

I paid like $30 shipped for it years ago off ebay but you would be lucky to get them at such a price these days.

I got lucky with my black JVC 32". It has the original remote and was dumped at our local Salvation Army before it left. And since they couldn't accept it I got to bring it home for free. Sounds really good, too. But I never knew switch boxes for multiple coax connections existed. Edited by kamakazi20012
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I got lucky with my black JVC 32". It has the original remote and was dumped at our local Salvation Army before it left. And since they couldn't accept it I got to bring it home for free. Sounds really good, too. But I never knew switch boxes for multiple coax connections existed.

I do actually have an old JVC 26" that I will use sometimes to connect consoles to for color adjustments. It has both composite and s-video inputs on it so it works well for that. But I also have and prefer to use my small 9" PVM I picked up 2 years ago for $20. It too has composite and s-video inputs and given its much smaller size, it is better to use for such adjustements as well. But that JVC crt is always hooked up in the other room at the ready if needed... LOL.

See what I'm up to over at the Ivory Tower Collections: http://www.youtube.com/ivorytowercollections

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I do actually have an old JVC 26" that I will use sometimes to connect consoles to for color adjustments. It has both composite and s-video inputs on it so it works well for that. But I also have and prefer to use my small 9" PVM I picked up 2 years ago for $20. It too has composite and s-video inputs and given its much smaller size, it is better to use for such adjustements as well. But that JVC crt is always hooked up in the other room at the ready if needed... LOL.

The JVC I have has component as well but it can't handle anything over 480i. It can't do anything with progressive signals. Sort of a dummied down component. Its there but given its limitations its not any different than s-video that I can tell.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The JVC I have has component as well but it can't handle anything over 480i. It can't do anything with progressive signals. Sort of a dummied down component. Its there but given its limitations its not any different than s-video that I can tell.

What model component switcher is it? Is it powered? I don't have component on mine as it is strictly composite and s-video only. I'd like to get the s900 as that is everything the 700 is plus component as well I believe. There is also the s777 but it too is composite and s-video only, but it does a few more inputs and an output for nearly each input?! Not sure why unless that model was designed for use with early video walls and such.

 

I've got an OSSC to mess with now and while the SNES, Saturn, and Genesis looked fantastic on it, I've got some off ghosting affects from the DC through VGA on it, almost like a voltage drop in the video signal. Still it looks great so I can more or less live it for now.

Edited by CrossBow

See what I'm up to over at the Ivory Tower Collections: http://www.youtube.com/ivorytowercollections

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...