I've got a 2600 (light six?) that's just been pulled out of storage and isn't working quite right. It's been in the family since the 80's since new, but was stowed after the last DC adapter failed.
I get:
- Signal response present on Channel 2 (Selector switch works as well)
- Signal flickers then produces a fine moire/static pattern, but no game/blank images. Definitely not plain static.
- Above pattern only present when the 2600 is on/plugged in.
I think I've tracked the issue to the Y201 oscillator crystal and/or associated circuitry.
- No voltage measured across Y201 (4.5V measured at across Y200)
- Diode test on Q202 produces 0.0V (eg, short?)
- Diode test on Q201 produces 0.16V (failing?)
My plan is to replace the three transistors (Q200, Q201, Q202) with like-for-like. I don't see any need to replace any capacitors from a visual inspection.
Before I go replacing the transistors, I'd like a bit of a sanity check, because these aren't what I'd typically expect to fail on aging hardware.
Has anyone else seen these problems, or am I going to end up running around in circles looking for a fix?
I get:
- Signal response present on Channel 2 (Selector switch works as well)
- Signal flickers then produces a fine moire/static pattern, but no game/blank images. Definitely not plain static.
- Above pattern only present when the 2600 is on/plugged in.
I think I've tracked the issue to the Y201 oscillator crystal and/or associated circuitry.
- No voltage measured across Y201 (4.5V measured at across Y200)
- Diode test on Q202 produces 0.0V (eg, short?)
- Diode test on Q201 produces 0.16V (failing?)
My plan is to replace the three transistors (Q200, Q201, Q202) with like-for-like. I don't see any need to replace any capacitors from a visual inspection.
Before I go replacing the transistors, I'd like a bit of a sanity check, because these aren't what I'd typically expect to fail on aging hardware.
Has anyone else seen these problems, or am I going to end up running around in circles looking for a fix?
