[Technology] Atari 2600 console - Help....

[Smirko]

Went all nostalgic and purchased an old Atari 2600 games console, the one with the cartridge for game etc. Swept up in a wave of childhood nostalgia i didn't think about how it would connect to my modern age Smart TV....

Tried looking online and some of the suggestions beggar belief.

Anyone have any ideas short of sourcing an old school analogue TV from Ebay or something...

 

[schmunk]

Looks like you just need a coax to RCA adaptor. Plug it into the coax (cable) input - possibly even the antenna input if the TV allows.

How to Hook Up an Atari 2600

How to Hook Up an Atari 2600: If you are new to the Atari 2600 or VCS, and don't know how to connect it to your modern TV, I will be showing you how to do just that. Also included in this Instructable will be how to do other things on your Atari 2600 or VCS. NOTE: I am NOT respo…

www.instructables.com

 

[Dick Swiveller]

Your best bet would have been to get an Atari 2600 plus or an Atari Flashback which are modern recreations - the former taking actual cartridges

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Atari-2600-Plus-Exclusive-Amazon-co-uk/dp/B0CG9SVRJY/ref=sr_1_1?crid=29EFNKARQYT1Z&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Z58MpcLSIsf0gaEnASKxVdV1KRIeqsptC0TBHgFuO4frPlWzPqtQt4_PiQn68chM5_i3Yn6n-mxWfmp2ARseIrS9Ba_70WlYTXCvy9Sd6_V28tOL5l6gxiki8fkSEucnZU9WVbLbiPgqQHaGpN89vFv_VzZ5_zPDtls7lc8GUh0iGSWkdBTk6FLR3mAKsRP4NKNqyj-KcKeFFVYb3UQE-Xsoty9Eq8HymqGy8HRWy4Q.Hst3YROtfNo5s2LhHshlpTZ3r_7nNiu05SHAe6_9-KQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=atari+2600+plus&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1737639367&sprefix=atari%2Caps%2C77&sr=8-1

Which you could pair with a Harmony Cartridge that takes SD cards and lets you play every game.

But as you have the actual console now, you will really need a composite mod but that requires a bit of soldering. They don't cost much and Rod Hull (Yes, I think that really is his name) at TFW8B is a top guy who will sort you out.

Composite Video Mod v2.1 – Atari 2600/7800 x2 – TFW8b.com

www.tfw8b.com

But even then, it may not be the best picture depending on the quality of your soldering and the console itself.

 

[JetsetJimbo]

Yeah I think your best bet is to pick up the new-ish 2600 Plus and keep the old one as a display piece or something.

As you're a 2600 fan, it's worth knowing that the owners of the Atari brand are putting this handheld out soon, which recreates the 2600's paddle and trackball controllers.

Atari's striking new Gamestation Go handheld features some really unusual hardware features

Atari has shared a sneak peek at its upcoming "iconic" handheld console, Gamestation Go.

www.eurogamer.net

 

[Ace Grace]

or if you fancy the 7800 more, Atari have released the same thing but with the 7800 look. Same machine inside. Both will run 2600 and 7800 cartridges