Atari 5200 Guy

This game's brutal, y'all.  I had no luck getting a better score...yet.  Will try again later.

Improved score.  37682.

For starters...20313.  Brought JR out for a change.  I still need to replace the Power and TV Type switches but it still works.

For starters...20313.  Brought JR out for a change.  I still need to replace the Power and TV Type switches but it still works.

Improved again.  49420.

For starters...20313.  Brought JR out for a change.  I still need to replace the Power and TV Type switches but it still works.

Here's my first attempt.  Brutal game!  138,200 points.

I've been trying still but can't even get close to my first score.

Here's my first attempt.  Brutal game!  138,200 points.

Here's my first attempt.  Brutal game!  138,200 points.

Here's my first attempt.  Brutal game!  138,200 points.

Here's my first attempt.  Brutal game!  138,200 points.

Oh, thank you for the heads up about the contacts! o.o. Thanks for the field manual. I'll put that on my Kindle App and read it later tonight.

If Best doesn't have those parts also try contacting Video 61.  Lance might have some non-working 5200's he can simply get a shell from.  Never hurts to ask.  Video 61 has an account on here somewhere where you might could shoot him a PM.
The 4-port holes on the front of a 2-port model is normal.  The plastic piece that is missing off the front will cover up the extra two holes.  It was a cheap way to change the system from 4-ports down to 2-ports to simply cover the holes.  It makes sense to just change that one piece and continue to use the 4-port shell without having to modify the die that made those.  Modifying a die for casting costs a LOT more money on something that size verses changing that small plastic piece that is missing on your unit.
The 5200 is a tank as RickR has mentioned.  But the one thing you don't want to do if you decide to clean it is cleaning the cartridge port contacts while the power adapter is connected to the system.  You will fry it as there is a constant 5-volts going through that cartridge port even when the system is off.  Unplug the power adapter from the system first if you decide to ever try to clean those cartridge port pins.  I know some people try to remove any corrosion on things like that so I thought I would just give you a heads up.  The same 5-volts is also sent through the controller ports for powering the 5200's Trak-Ball controller accessory, the standard 5200 controllers don't us it.  Just keep this in mind should you ever decide/need to clean it/repair it at any point.  
I've included a 5200 Field Service Manual for you to view to aid you in putting those pieces back on your 5200.  Use it in good health.  It will give you an amazing gaming experience.  Yes, as most here already know, I'm very partial to the 5200.  That was my first gaming console ever when I was a kid.  Who am I kidding?  I'm still a kid!  I still enjoy my 4-port and would not be caught dead without it in my arsenal of gaming systems.  If you don't have it already pick up Star Raiders.  That game plays very well on the 5200 and makes good use of the analog joystick.  Hehe...I could never run out of good things to say about this system.  When it's working as it should it really isn't as bad as some reviews say it is.  It just has a different learning curve than most video gamers would expect.
I hope this helps.  
  
Atari_CX_5200_Field_Service_Manual.pdf

Time for me to drag out the 7800.  I'll try with the Europad.  

Time for me to drag out the 7800.  I'll try with the Europad.  

I love this game!  Just not on emulation.  Lol.  Congrats to all!

I love this game!  Just not on emulation.  Lol.  Congrats to all!

That is the first time I've heard of that issue.  Such a shame, too.  Your Yar looks really nice.  

Junior models don't have anything different than the sixer you mention other than the difference in switches and a smaller overall size.  You might try a few things to make sure it is in fact your Junior model.
Try an actual 2600 RF cable.  These have a thick shielding that RCA audio cables don't have. If you have a LOT of electronics, especially a desktop or laptop computer, on the same circuit that the Junior model is sharing a power outlet with move the Junior to it's own power outlet with little to no electronics on that circuit.  Seriously, use a different power outlet other than one used by a computer.  PCs and laptops cause most major interference with Atari consoles. Keep the 2600/Junior models away from any kind of computer equipment.  These WILL cause undesired interference.   Try Junior on a different RF channel (2 or 3). Older game and computer consoles using RF modulation are getting more and more where interference is common.  The cause of most of it is due to the modern technology we have now that was not present when the 2600 was designed.  Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, modern console wireless controllers, modern consoles in general (360 and above) all play a part in those interference problems.  As stated by Atari once in the past the device (meaning the 2600 in this case) transmits RF signals and must be able to transmit and receive signals that can cause undesired operation in either a nearby device or the 2600 itself as set by FCC rules and regulations.  Even those rules state to try to relocate either the cause of the signal or the 2600 itself. 
It makes sense that the Junior model is detecting interference that your sixer is not.  Junior models lack the extra layer of shielding that your sixer does so I would bet that it is something in your house close by causing the problem.  Try it in a different room where there are no other electronics running besides the Junior model and TV of some sort if you can.  
Worst case scenario may be your Junior model has a faulty capacitor designed to absorb most of that interference.  But I would save that as a last ditch effort if nothing else solves the problem.   Hope this helps.  Post pics of the screen if you can if nothing I've mentioned here works.

Junior models don't have anything different than the sixer you mention other than the difference in switches and a smaller overall size.  You might try a few things to make sure it is in fact your Junior model.
Try an actual 2600 RF cable.  These have a thick shielding that RCA audio cables don't have. If you have a LOT of electronics, especially a desktop or laptop computer, on the same circuit that the Junior model is sharing a power outlet with move the Junior to it's own power outlet with little to no electronics on that circuit.  Seriously, use a different power outlet other than one used by a computer.  PCs and laptops cause most major interference with Atari consoles. Keep the 2600/Junior models away from any kind of computer equipment.  These WILL cause undesired interference.   Try Junior on a different RF channel (2 or 3). Older game and computer consoles using RF modulation are getting more and more where interference is common.  The cause of most of it is due to the modern technology we have now that was not present when the 2600 was designed.  Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, modern console wireless controllers, modern consoles in general (360 and above) all play a part in those interference problems.  As stated by Atari once in the past the device (meaning the 2600 in this case) transmits RF signals and must be able to transmit and receive signals that can cause undesired operation in either a nearby device or the 2600 itself as set by FCC rules and regulations.  Even those rules state to try to relocate either the cause of the signal or the 2600 itself. 
It makes sense that the Junior model is detecting interference that your sixer is not.  Junior models lack the extra layer of shielding that your sixer does so I would bet that it is something in your house close by causing the problem.  Try it in a different room where there are no other electronics running besides the Junior model and TV of some sort if you can.  
Worst case scenario may be your Junior model has a faulty capacitor designed to absorb most of that interference.  But I would save that as a last ditch effort if nothing else solves the problem.   Hope this helps.  Post pics of the screen if you can if nothing I've mentioned here works.

Hello fellow Atarians!
I thought I would share a recent pickup for the ST.  This was brand new before I got my grubby little hands on it.  Yea...sealed games don't last long here at all.  The reason why I'm sharing it is because of what I found once I opened it.

For starters I really like these old school computer packages.  There were so many different styles using different forms of art each of which were attempts at not only attracting your attention to buy it but also capture the spirit of the game within.  The package is the size of those 45 RPM storybooks give or take a Renegade took the comic approach.  Then I opened it and...

Hell YEA!  Inside is a comic book style story introducing the story of the game.  How's that for originality?  I've never seen anything like this before so this was a really nice surprise.  Paperwork and a catalog are tucked away in a sleeve on the left, disks for the game are tucked under a sleeve on the right.  
 
It's things like this that make me curse digital-only content.  Being able to actual hold and see this stuff is slowly going away and it really doesn't need to.  There's always a purpose for a physical product that puts as much effort in the package details as was put in the game itself.  This kind of game product is priceless no matter what system it is for.  After sharing this now I only have one question remaining:  should I fill out that warranty card and send it in?  

Hello fellow Atarians!
I thought I would share a recent pickup for the ST.  This was brand new before I got my grubby little hands on it.  Yea...sealed games don't last long here at all.  The reason why I'm sharing it is because of what I found once I opened it.

For starters I really like these old school computer packages.  There were so many different styles using different forms of art each of which were attempts at not only attracting your attention to buy it but also capture the spirit of the game within.  The package is the size of those 45 RPM storybooks give or take a Renegade took the comic approach.  Then I opened it and...

Hell YEA!  Inside is a comic book style story introducing the story of the game.  How's that for originality?  I've never seen anything like this before so this was a really nice surprise.  Paperwork and a catalog are tucked away in a sleeve on the left, disks for the game are tucked under a sleeve on the right.  
 
It's things like this that make me curse digital-only content.  Being able to actual hold and see this stuff is slowly going away and it really doesn't need to.  There's always a purpose for a physical product that puts as much effort in the package details as was put in the game itself.  This kind of game product is priceless no matter what system it is for.  After sharing this now I only have one question remaining:  should I fill out that warranty card and send it in?  

F-Zero was my first SNES game ever.  Then this one.  I have to admit that Gradius III is fun but my least favorite in the series due to a slowdown issue in later levels.  I lack this game and controllers unfortunately and emulation does not do this game justice.  This one HAS to be played on real hardware to truly appreciate it.  Konami out did themselves on this one.  It's a shame they didn't use the 16-bit technology to bring Life Force and the original Gradius over to the SNES.  

The 2600's Asteroids came to my area long before the arcade game did.  After the "Atari Craze" took off my area got an arcade called King Koin.  Nope...that's not a misspelling.  The 2600 version was my number 2 favorite and remains a favorite to this day.  It's a shame the 5200 never got it even when it was present in the 5200 catalog and later removed.  2600 Asteroids is one of those games just like Space Invaders...once you start playing it's hard to put the controller down.