Something you could use to get rid of the rust on the RF shield is aluminum foil. That and water will do wonders on rust. It is softer than the shielding, but harder than rust. I also use it on lightly pitted chrome all the time. It will fill in some of the holes and restore the luster (while turning your hand black).
I'm surprised that the outputs from the onboard sound-generator and cartridge pokey are tied together. I'd have assumed some sort of priority mux or mixer would be necessary so that they do not interfere/short.
Yeah, you used vinegar for de-rusting ! It can do wonders, but sometimes you gotta soak it for a longer time - even a few days. This mod wasnt that difficult to make. Many people keeps telling me I should do the same with my Sega Master System, but honestly, I dont mind the RF connection at all I still havent managed to repair my Atari clone. Maybe I'd have to find another one for parts.
Instead of cutting the plastic to add the extra jack I would have used a TRS headphone jack for audio/video and just used the old hole that was for the RF jack.
33:21 giggity. I probably would have just used a 3.5mm jack and a 3.5mm to RCA cable instead of drilling the case. Removing the plastic surround around the cart slot makes getting at the screw for the voltage regulator a lot easier, you just remove two screws on the underneath of the board and it pulls right off of the cart slot, plus makes it easier to actually clean the cart slot.
Two little fuzzy frog things in the middle of the board look shocked. I'm not sure what they are and maybe you mention them later in the video but it's cracking me up as you clean.
I thought this mod was pretty sweet when I saw someone do it with pre-made components. But you made your own! Awesome. *subscribed* No issues with rotten plastic? My 7800 had a rattle, so I took it apart. I ended up breaking off a bunch more plastic, and now it doesn't rattle but it's fastened together with a strip of masking tape on the back. :(
I just got an Atari 7800 just recently by coincidence, I don't have a power plug or a controller to test it but there was a loose daughterboard inside the RF shielding. I have no idea what it could be.
Nice repair mod :) just a thought, could you have somehow used the RF switch hole instead of putting both connectors so close together or would it have still required trimming ?
A tidier and less drill-ier solution might be to use a 3.5mm stereo jack, but with video on one output and audio on the other. And without any of the RF modulator or its shield, of course. You'd use a 3.5mm to RCA stereo cable for the TV connection.
It's hit absolutely required, but it does help keep everything together and not moving. You could run wires and wrap all the components together in heatshrink tubing, but it is more likely to break. Less movement is always better
Great video. Have you ever done an svideo mod to a 7800? I have an svideo modded 2600 which outputs a cleaner image compared to composite. I've been wanting a 7800 for a long time, but no one seems to do svideo mods on them, only composite mods. Have you done it before? Is it possible?
yah thats pretty difficult to place those rca caps. but either way, thats awesome. ihate having mods thats holes on the sides. but thats the options i guess.since back is always good to hide those wires. ilove it subscribe
@@RetroRepairs Yes, but the metal decal that goes across the front is in very bad shape, i have been trying to find a top panel in better condition but i haven't had very good luck.
It seems like a lot for not much of an upgrade until you realize that there's almost no good way to just hook up an RF unit to today's televisions. I'd like to see RF to HDMI on any model of Atari or any of the older Nintendo.
Your one point is good, that this improves compatibility on modern tvs, but make no mistake Rf in general is crap. It's a 50 year old standard. An rf to hdmi would just convert the crap into ass. The best I've seen is the hdNES conversion. It taps into the cpu and ppu and outputs digital video in hd format. It would probably be doable on something like this too, but the system isn't nearly common enough for someone to build such a solution.
Composite is a huge upgrade over RF. In this video he uses a small CRT television, which hides some of RFs imperfections. On my 50" flatscreen, RF is completely hideous, whereas composite is at least usable.
Any clue on fixing a 7800 they will only do B/W? I kinda figured it might be the caps but would it be certain ones or just go ahead and replace all them
Did you know that you can use RF module from old VCR to convert the antenna signal to composite pr SCART ? Its cheap and easy solution for your SMS II !
Even the Atari 7800 deserves full cleaning and restoration inside and out making sure it looks as good as this gets.
Great job man. This was cool. If I ever get a 7800 I will do this too.
Great mod with well preserved original parts being kept in👍
Something you could use to get rid of the rust on the RF shield is aluminum foil. That and water will do wonders on rust. It is softer than the shielding, but harder than rust. I also use it on lightly pitted chrome all the time. It will fill in some of the holes and restore the luster (while turning your hand black).
I'm surprised that the outputs from the onboard sound-generator and cartridge pokey are tied together. I'd have assumed some sort of priority mux or mixer would be necessary so that they do not interfere/short.
Yeah, you used vinegar for de-rusting ! It can do wonders, but sometimes you gotta soak it for a longer time - even a few days.
This mod wasnt that difficult to make. Many people keeps telling me I should do the same with my Sega Master System, but honestly, I dont mind the RF connection at all
I still havent managed to repair my Atari clone. Maybe I'd have to find another one for parts.
Instead of cutting the plastic to add the extra jack I would have used a TRS headphone jack for audio/video and just used the old hole that was for the RF jack.
33:21 giggity.
I probably would have just used a 3.5mm jack and a 3.5mm to RCA cable instead of drilling the case.
Removing the plastic surround around the cart slot makes getting at the screw for the voltage regulator a lot easier, you just remove two screws on the underneath of the board and it pulls right off of the cart slot, plus makes it easier to actually clean the cart slot.
"This is Kona she seems to like the Atari" *sniff* *lick* Good dog.
"He's talking too himself again. Seems too be about this black box...wonder how it tastes?" - Kona 2019
Camera pans over. Dogs butthole giving a close up
thx 4 the dog's name and now i don't have to remember it lol
Two little fuzzy frog things in the middle of the board look shocked. I'm not sure what they are and maybe you mention them later in the video but it's cracking me up as you clean.
I thought this mod was pretty sweet when I saw someone do it with pre-made components. But you made your own! Awesome. *subscribed*
No issues with rotten plastic? My 7800 had a rattle, so I took it apart. I ended up breaking off a bunch more plastic, and now it doesn't rattle but it's fastened together with a strip of masking tape on the back. :(
I guess i lucked out with the plastic, but i could see that happening. There's a few small tabs inside that could easily break
This console was notorious for brittle plastic. I had to make three separate purchases from eBay before I got one that arrived intact from shipping.
I just got an Atari 7800 just recently by coincidence, I don't have a power plug or a controller to test it but there was a loose daughterboard inside the RF shielding. I have no idea what it could be.
Love the videos keep up the good work
The sound chip ruined that system.
Nice repair mod :) just a thought, could you have somehow used the RF switch hole instead of putting both connectors so close together or would it have still required trimming ?
The problem is the channel switch has no mount there, and the board has circuitry that would interfere with the signal
A tidier and less drill-ier solution might be to use a 3.5mm stereo jack, but with video on one output and audio on the other. And without any of the RF modulator or its shield, of course. You'd use a 3.5mm to RCA stereo cable for the TV connection.
Good morning Kona.
Strange.. When i got my 7800 new it had 2 Controllers, they loked like the nes ones. But black and red buttons.
European 7800's came with the gamepad you described. American 7800 buyers got a crappy joystick.
Is the board to hold the components actually necessary? Seems like a "in-cable" solution would be possible.
It's hit absolutely required, but it does help keep everything together and not moving. You could run wires and wrap all the components together in heatshrink tubing, but it is more likely to break. Less movement is always better
Great video. Have you ever done an svideo mod to a 7800? I have an svideo modded 2600 which outputs a cleaner image compared to composite. I've been wanting a 7800 for a long time, but no one seems to do svideo mods on them, only composite mods. Have you done it before? Is it possible?
I haven't. I see there is a premade mod board available for s video, but in looking it up, alot of people seem to be having issues with it.
Dang that was one hell of a trade
yah thats pretty difficult to place those rca caps. but either way, thats awesome. ihate having mods thats holes on the sides. but thats the options i guess.since back is always good to hide those wires. ilove it subscribe
Still have my Atari 7800 and games.
Nice! Do you still use it?
@@RetroRepairs Yes, but the metal decal that goes across the front is in very bad shape, i have been trying to find a top panel in better condition but i haven't had very good luck.
I've heard a lot of complaints about .............
..
He was likely going to say “...complaints about brittle plastic on the 7800 shell. They tend to crack and break easily, even drilling holes in them.”
Wow, you got a great deal!!!
I was hoping to see the end result of the graphics
I did a test with the new graphics in the middle before closing up the case
RetroRepairs thank you for telling me where that part was
I was hoping to see the test with the same game. Better comparison.
Heat sink paste please tell me that you are going to get back to that 🙂
Kona IS Awesome!
A paddle is the controller with a wheel that spins, not a joystick.
I'm aware. There were also paddles in that bundle
You say paddle in reference to the joysticks. It’s a childhood peeve! Sorry for being ocd.
Ah, i must have misspoke then. Yeah there's two joysticks which i showed, but also a set of paddles
It seems like a lot for not much of an upgrade until you realize that there's almost no good way to just hook up an RF unit to today's televisions. I'd like to see RF to HDMI on any model of Atari or any of the older Nintendo.
Your one point is good, that this improves compatibility on modern tvs, but make no mistake Rf in general is crap. It's a 50 year old standard. An rf to hdmi would just convert the crap into ass.
The best I've seen is the hdNES conversion. It taps into the cpu and ppu and outputs digital video in hd format. It would probably be doable on something like this too, but the system isn't nearly common enough for someone to build such a solution.
@@RetroRepairs That just makes me wonder if there's any good way to upgrade 7800 chips to produce better quality video for an easier HDMI mod.
No idea. I dont know the technical aspects enough to even pretend to answer that
Would want to go from RF to RGB first... but it's an Atari. Not exactly known for its stunning colors.
Composite is a huge upgrade over RF. In this video he uses a small CRT television, which hides some of RFs imperfections. On my 50" flatscreen, RF is completely hideous, whereas composite is at least usable.
Any clue on fixing a 7800 they will only do B/W? I kinda figured it might be the caps but would it be certain ones or just go ahead and replace all them
I believe there's a potentiometer which controls color, but i could be mistaken
More Kona content!
EX RF >RCA for video separte plug instead of switch much easier :)
Great job!!!
Nice mod
Not all 2600 games will work on the 7800.
com POZZ zit
BENEFITS > sacrafice
Show us your dog!
She's in here
24:47 what has been seen cannot be unseen
Look into the eye
@@RetroRepairs Hehe, just noticed. Very cute, btw.
It's not emulation if it's using the original chips ;)
*Shawty* rf connection 3:08
Papa Nomad haha.
Hey! I have one of those!!
Jeez I'm early. I'm bored with no comments to read.
Hi!
Did you know that you can use RF module from old VCR to convert the antenna signal to composite pr SCART ? Its cheap and easy solution for your SMS II !
Good vid but you could have cut 15 min out, pacing is slow and i found myself skipping ahead a lot from boredom