Atari 2600 US VCS with S-Video, Composite Video, Stereo Audio and Pause

On first article on the Atari, series of classic consoles, I mentioned that Atari 2600 factory has RF output only, both Brazilian model Polyvox as the North American original. But over the years the staff digs of paranauê walked designing various modifications to first extract composite video and S-Video after the Atari consoles 2600. Furthermore, also managed to separate the audio into two channels, producing stereo sound, and finally adding a pause button, that did not exist in the original consoles.

I also mentioned in that article that was in doubt whether to acquire an Atari 2600 exactly like my childhood, unchanged, only with RF output, or purchase a modified console, ready for the modern TVs. As there was no answer all questions with a console only, the business went for two :), one to suit each set of questions.

And it was not easy to find the two Atari 2600 the way I was wanting, but with enough patience and a lot of search I did find relatively soon. Do Atari 2600 Polyvox of the same model I had in my childhood I have spoken in another article. So in this article I speak here of Atari 2600 U.S., actually, do Atari Video Computer System, as he was known at the time, because “2600” só apareceu com o lançamento do modelo todo preto, known as Vader.

Both in the free market as the eBay I was just finding Atari 2600 with modification for composite video, no S-Video. I ended up finding this model with S-Video with a member of forums do Atari Age. He had 3 consoles modified by himself and was trying to get rid of a. In the photos provided by the previous owner could see that his modification work was well done, organized with good welds and wires. The against S-Video is designed by Longhorn Engineer, that is what is best today. I contacted and some time later we entered into an agreement to change the console owner, leave civilization, specifically the city of Cincinnati in Ohio State in the US, and come here to the third world.

The Atari VCS / 2600 inside, with S-Video mods, Composite Video, Stereo Audio and Pause

The Atari VCS / 2600 with S-Video mods, Composite Video, Stereo Audio and Pause

As saídas de S-Video, Composite Video and Stereo Audio Atari VCS / 2600

Despite the relatively large box, auditors from the IRS had the good sense not to tax a console the years 70/80, even when the value of the product shipping exceeding US $ 50,00. Note that the seller reused a box of Amazon, more to Amazon has nothing to do with it.

Package with the Atari VCS / 2600 with S-Video mods, Composite Video, Stereo Audio and Pause and accessories

Release stamp of the IRS in package with Atari VCS / 2600 with S-Video mods, Composite Video, Stereo Audio and Pause and accessories

CN22 form in the package with the Atari VCS / 2600 with S-Video mods, Composite Video, Stereo Audio and Pause and accessories

Unpacking the package with the Atari VCS / 2600 with S-Video mods, Composite Video, Stereo Audio and Pause and accessories

The seller packed everything very well, so that all items arrived intact. He gave the option to purchase only the console for $ 75,00 or the complete package with cables and accessories for $ 100,00, so I ended up with the second and thought it was worth it: the complete package came an original source of Atari, two original Atari joysticks Flashback 2, two joysticks paddle type also original Atari, um cabo S-Video e um cabo P2 Stereo -> Duplo RCA para o áudio. All cables with gold contacts.

The Atari VCS / 2600 with S-Video mods, Composite Video, Stereo Audio and Pause and accessories

The Atari VCS / 2600 with S-Video mods, Composite Video, Stereo Audio and Pause and accessories

The island is the American model with the front woodgrain, as were the first Atari 2600, which at the time were just called Atari Video Computer System. The amber LED next to the switch connecting is also an addition of the seller. She lights up when the console is connected. Most modified Atari receive the addition of a LED, usually red or blue. I liked the idea of ​​the amber LED, it combines with a more console-year 70/80. Electronic that time did not usually have colored LEDs, moreover LEDs were not very common, I think it was still expensive. So the most common in electronics was to see an even yellow lamp, filament, especially illuminating displays old radios.

The Atari VCS / 2600 with S-Video mods, Composite Video, Stereo Audio and Pause

The Atari VCS / 2600 with S-Video mods, Composite Video, Stereo Audio and Pause

LED amber detail that lights up when the console is connected

On the back you can see the added outputs: S-Video, RCA for composite video, and P2 stereo jack for audio. The use of P2 jack instead of a double RCA is also personal preference of the seller who made the change. If you noticed that the jack RCA changed between photos of the seller and my, is because it replaced the previous jack for gold as a bonus, before sending the console to me.

Atari back VCS / 2600 with the S-Video output, Composite Video and Stereo Audio

Detail of the back of the Atari VCS / 2600 with the S-Video output, Composite Video and Stereo Audio

At the bottom there is still the seal with the console serial number and a stamp with the phones Atari, I suppose operating no more :). Also in the bottom you can see a small red button. This is the pause button. I liked the location of it, very discreet, sem modificar o design original do console, but easily accessible. And it works perfectly. Image and sound disappear when the break is pressed, but it is so in all mods Pause. Everything returns to normal when the button is deactivated.

Bottom of the Atari VCS / 2600 with serial number of the US Atari

Bottom of the Atari VCS / 2600 with serial number of the US Atari

The pause button on the Atari VCS added / 2600

O cabo P2 -> duplo RCA parece ser de muito boa qualidade, with golden plugs and everything. Certainly expensive cost in Brazil and would be difficult to find. Already needed cables and so I had to do it myself. The S-Video cable is also thick and has the golden plugs, seeming good quality.

Stereo RCA cable P2 Double to connect the audio Atari VCS / 2600

Stereo RCA cable P2 Double to connect the audio Atari VCS / 2600

S-Video cable to connect the Atari VCS / 2600

The pair of control paddles is pretty clean and looks to new. Unfortunately I have not had chance to test, for I have no matching game with paddles. That soon will my Harmony Cartridge so I can test them. 😀

Paddles Atari VCS / 2600

Paddles Atari VCS / 2600

Paddles Atari VCS / 2600

The two traditional joysticks are actually the Atari Flashback 2. Are perfectly compatible with Atari 2600, only are lighter. I do not know how the inside, but if it is not good and not last, nothing a repair kit does not resolve, because the plastic parts are in great condition.

Joystick Atari Flashback 2, compatible with the Atari VCS / 2600

Joystick Atari Flashback 2, compatible with the Atari VCS / 2600

Joystick Atari Flashback 2, compatible with the Atari VCS / 2600

Joystick Atari Flashback 2, compatible with the Atari VCS / 2600

Joystick Atari Flashback 2, compatible with the Atari VCS / 2600

Joystick Atari Flashback 2, compatible with the Atari VCS / 2600

The source is also original Atari, new, but along the lines of accompanying the console. Input 120V, 9V output, 500mA. It is the weight of a transformer, as the sources that accompanied the console. The cable is long enough.

Atari VCS Source / 2600

Atari VCS Source / 2600

After checking all the material, I made the connections and left ready to play. Not my current TVs or my receiver has S-Video input, which apparently is in the process of extinction, so I had to connect using video same compound. I took a cable that I even rode wired and quality plugs for use in this task.

The Atari VCS / 2600 with S-Video, Composite Video, Stereo audio Pause and ready to run

The Atari VCS / 2600 with S-Video, Composite Video, Stereo audio Pause and ready to run

The Atari VCS / 2600 with S-Video, Composite Video, Stereo audio Pause and ready to run

When connecting the console, behold, the amber LED lights and the Enduro appears with a clarity that I had never seen before in a real console. Also tested some other games, as Mr. Postman, Bobby is Going Home, River Raid, Frogger, and other.

Atari VCS / 2600 operating, the amber LED lights

Enduro on the Atari VCS / 2600 through the composite video output

Enduro on the Atari VCS / 2600 through the composite video output

Enduro on the Atari VCS / 2600 through the composite video output

Mr. Postman on the Atari VCS / 2600 through the composite video output

Bobby is Going Home on the Atari VCS / 2600 through the composite video output

Bobby is Going Home on the Atari VCS / 2600 through the composite video output

River Raid on the Atari VCS / 2600 through the composite video output

Frogger on Atari VCS / 2600 through the composite video output

Frogger on Atari VCS / 2600 through the composite video output

I also tested on the LCD TV, where upgrade the composite video makes even more difference. The image was very clean. I imagine that with S-Video go get even better. As? I already have a S-Video to HDMI converter that got in DX on the way. If it has the same quality SCART RGB to HDMI Converter I'll be quite satisfied.

As for the stereo, note that only the first few games Atari 2600 were designed with stereo sound, plus several homebrew. This is because the original design the Atari would have two speakers on the console itself. This idea was eventually discarded before the final release, probably to cut costs. Thus the Atari 2600 was only with mono audio in RF cable. In unprepared for stereo audio games what happens is that some sounds out of one side and other leave another. Basically what happens is that some audio channels are directed to the left and others are directed to the right side.

Cleaning

Accessories come all very clean, cables organized, all looking new. The island although superficially clean still had enough accumulated dirt from over 30 years of its existence, including also had a series of white dots, probably resulting from a painting with spray on the Atari VCS was not properly covered. So I decided to pass it by my heavier cleaning process, with View, isopropyl alcohol and silicone. I managed to get enough dirt and the vast majority of white dots. Some were still for the next cleaning, but overall I thought the result was very good. Check out the photos below.

Atari VCS / 2600 with S-Video, Composite Video, Stereo Audio, and Pause, after cleaning

Atari VCS / 2600 with S-Video, Composite Video, Stereo Audio, and Pause, after cleaning

Atari VCS / 2600 with S-Video, Composite Video, Stereo Audio, and Pause, after cleaning

Atari VCS / 2600 with S-Video, Composite Video, Stereo Audio, and Pause, after cleaning

Atari VCS / 2600 with S-Video, Composite Video, Stereo Audio, and Pause, after cleaning

Atari VCS / 2600 with S-Video, Composite Video, Stereo Audio, and Pause, after cleaning

Atari VCS / 2600 with S-Video, Composite Video, Stereo Audio, and Pause, after cleaning

And these are the tracking information package:

And the purchase summary table:

And for those who had not Atari none to little more than a month ago, now have three :). But I will stop here, for I am already satisfied with the two national Polyvox models, including one that is the same model I had in my childhood, and this model ready for modern TVs. Overall, I can appreciate that I liked enough of this and the other two were great acquisitions. And you, what do you think?