Atari 2600 NTSC Composite Mod Installation Guide

Atari Jr Model 

Disclaimer: I am not responsible for any damage done to your Atari. This mod is designed to permanently remove the RF output. The mod will work if performed correctly to a fully functioning Atari. Perform at your own risk.  This kit is for NTSC consoles only.

Purchasing: This kit can be purchased from my store here


Tools You Will Need:
    Philips Screwdriver
    Soldering Iron and Solder
    Wire Cutters/Strippers
    Needle Nose Pliers
    Drill with 1/4″ and 3mm bits

Read this Awesome "Soldering is Easy – Comic" for Basic 101s of soldering here.

 
Turn the Atari over and remove the 5 screws. Be careful when separating the shell. There are 3 inner holding tabs, one on either end and one in the middle. Use a flat headed screwdriver or some similar tool to bend the tabs like in the picture so you can take the top cover off.  No big deal if the tabs break, the screws will properly hold the case together.

Remove the motherboard from the case. The metal RF shielding needs to be removed. The sheilding is held in place with small metal tabs. Bend and remove the sheilding using the needle nose pliers, bend up straighten the tabs around the metal cover and remove.

Next study the right hand side of the board toward the bottom you need to remove some components.



Remove Transistor (Q4) by cutting all three leads. Remove a resistor (R56) by cutting both ends. You will be soldering wires in those spots in later steps.

Remove a capacitor (C33) and another resistor (R17). These components are just above the other ones you removed, where the smaller metal case was.

Next step we are soldering wires to the "IN" side of the upgrade PCB.  Attach the input wires to the main board following the photo below. The ground wire (G) goes into the metal strip around the board, the power wire (5v) goes into the hole from Q4



Audio solders to the location right of the large IC. Next to the "A3" silkscreen. This wire will later solder directly to the Red and White RCA jack

Next, Installing and Wiring RCA Jacks:

Now you are going to drill holes for the RCA jacks. On the Jr RCA jacks can fit perfectly on the right side near the silver logo stripe. You need to be extremely careful as the Jr. case can be notoriously brittle and there isn’t much room to work with.

Mark the places where you want to drill holes by using a ruler and marker. Place them 14mm apart and then drill 3mm pilot holes on the dots. Then use the 1/4” drill bit on the final holes to make them ready for the RCA jacks.

Video Out wire solders to the yellow RCA jack.  The one Audio wire solders to both the White and Red RCA jack.  Ground solders to all 3 RCA tabs.




Attach the RCA jacks by mounting them into the case with the ground ring and nut on the inside. Make sure they are tight. Have the ground ring holes be at or near he top and bend them down to make soldering easier. The finished jacks should look like the image below.



Now you are ready to put the board into the case. But first you need to adjust the color potentiometer on the bottom left of the board. Plug in the RCA cables and put in a game with nice bright colors that you are familiar with, something like Pacman or Pitfall. Adjust the pot so the colors are just right.



Now unplug everything and put the board back in the bottom case. Then you need to attach the plastic ribbon for the select and reset switches.

Now carefully put the top cover back on, making sure the mod circuit board and wires fit and the plastic ribbon doesn’t get disconnected. Now turn the console over and put the screws back in and you are ready to play your Atari with composite video!


Now you are ready to put everything back together. First you need to adjust the color potentiometer on the bottom left of the main board. It is the big plastic circle and is the only pot on the board. Attach the power, ribbon, and RCA cables and use a game you are familiar with to adjust it so the colors are just right. A game like Frogger or Pitfall with a variety of bright colors is ideal. - See more at: http://www.vintagegamingandmore.com/installation-guide-6-switch/#sthash.DMmrRwwR.dpuf
Unplug the ribbon cable and remove the two screws on either side of the main board case. This will disconnect the main board from the switchboard. Also set aside the dust cover for the joystick and power ports. Now take the metal casing and turn it over. Unscrew the 6 screws there and throw away the bottom part of the metal casing. - See more at: http://www.vintagegamingandmore.com/installation-guide-6-switch/#sthash.DMmrRwwR.dpuf

Disclaimer: I am not responsible for any damage done to your Atari. This mod is designed to permanently remove the RF output. The mod will work if performed correctly to a fully functioning Atari. Perform at your own risk.


Tools You Will Need

  • Philips Screwdriver
  • Soldering Iron and Solder
  • De-soldering Tool (De-soldering Iron, Bubble, Vacuum, Braid)
  • Wire Cutters/Strippers
  • Needle Nose Pliers
  • Drill with 1/4″ and 1/8″ bits
- See more at: http://www.vintagegamingandmore.com/installation-guide-6-switch/#sthash.DMmrRwwR.dpuf

Disclaimer: I am not responsible for any damage done to your Atari. This mod is designed to permanently remove the RF output. The mod will work if performed correctly to a fully functioning Atari. Perform at your own risk.


Tools You Will Need

  • Philips Screwdriver
  • Soldering Iron and Solder
  • De-soldering Tool (De-soldering Iron, Bubble, Vacuum, Braid)
  • Wire Cutters/Strippers
  • Needle Nose Pliers
  • Drill with 1/4″ and 1/8″ bits
- See more at: http://www.vintagegamingandmore.com/installation-guide-6-switch/#sthash.DMmrRwwR.dpuf

Disclaimer: I am not responsible for any damage done to your Atari. This mod is designed to permanently remove the RF output. The mod will work if performed correctly to a fully functioning Atari. Perform at your own risk.


Tools You Will Need

  • Philips Screwdriver
  • Soldering Iron and Solder
  • De-soldering Tool (De-soldering Iron, Bubble, Vacuum, Braid)
  • Wire Cutters/Strippers
  • Needle Nose Pliers
  • Drill with 1/4″ and 1/8″ bits
- See more at: http://www.vintagegamingandmore.com/installation-guide-6-switch/#sthash.DMmrRwwR.dpuf