Classic gaming fanatic Nicole Branagan has upgraded an Atari 2600jr to lastly supply a video output with greater high quality than the inventory RF modulator, giving it S-Video capabilities — a step up from the standard composite mod.
“The Atari 2600jr, like all different 2600s, depends on an inside RF modulator,” Branagan explains of the difficulty with the console household, which launched in 1977 because the Atari Video Laptop System. “Which means that I’d must depend on my RF demodulator, which is… not good. Since an RF modulator wants a composite sign to modulate, any RF modulator-using system should be potential to composite mod. However what if you’d like the best high quality video output?”
From snowy mess to crystal readability: it is wonderful what an S-Video output can do for a classic console. (📷: Nicole Branagan)
There are present initiatives to adapt the Atari 2600’s inside composite video into a top quality output, together with Tim Worthington 2600RGB. “[But] that bypasses the 2600’s coloration’s circuit and recreates it. Colour is the 2600’s robust suite, so it might be good to maintain it unique,” Branagan notes. “Truthfully although, my extra life like objection is that putting in a 2600RGB in a 2600jr requires soldering to a flex cable, amongst different issues that I would be very more likely to foul up.”
The answer, then, is one thing else: The Brewing Academy’s Final Atari Video mod board, which intercepts video indicators from beneath a non-inverting buffer chip and converts them into S-Video and composite outputs. The distinction between the inventory RF output, and even a composite output, is staggering — and, Branagan notes, has the benefit of full compatibility with all 2600 video games, together with some which Atari’s recently-announced 2600+ emulator cannot play.
The mod board required a bit of rewiring to work with this specific 2600jr console. (📷: Nicole Branagan)
Branagan has additionally detailed deliberate future upgrades, together with flush-mounting the S-Video connector, enhancing the facility port, and changing the facility regulator and heatsinking. “Whereas placing issues collectively and testing I burned my finger barely on the facility regulator, a linear 7805. This factor will get scorching,” Branagan notes. “I’ve obtained the components for this within the mail and can set up them as quickly as I get them, as a result of this doesn’t really feel fairly secure.”
The complete undertaking write-up, together with a deep-dive into the console itself, is out there on Branagan’s web site.