Need help with Magnavox Odyssey

[Scrimble]

I just purchased a Magnavox Odyssey 1 and it's having some problems. It powers up fine but the display is screwed up. The picture seems squeezed down at the bottom of the TV screen and it is very blurry. I tried the original switch box and also my O2 box. The O2 switch box was a little clearer but it had the same problem. Just wondering if there are common problems with these systems? I have never played one until today so I have no real experience with them.

[swlovinist]

Well, you might want to try it on a old school TV set or at least try another TV that is older(80s). I am not a tech expert, but that is something to possibly try. I know that the Odyssey 1 have some issues...after all, they are now going on being 36 years old

[Scrimble]

Well, you might want to try it on a old school TV set or at least try another TV that is older(80s). I am not a tech expert, but that is something to possibly try. I know that the Odyssey 1 have some issues...after all, they are now going on being 36 years old


I tried it on a couple of older TVs today and had no luck. Thank you for the suggestion though. Anyone else have any ideas?

[ApolloBoy]

I tried it on a couple of older TVs today and had no luck. Thank you for the suggestion though. Anyone else have any ideas?

Have you opened up the system yet? Try looking for any blown or broken components.

[Nitrosport]

If you open the Odyssey up, you will see different circuit boards that plug into a main board via card slots. Try removing each board and plugging it back in. One of them may be loose and it's causing your problem. While your doing that,check to see if there is any damage to the components or the connectors.

[Scrimble]

Just opened it up. All the boards are nice and secure, no busted caps or anything like that. The cart slot did need a cleaning but still nothing. I'll be looking into it more tonight though.

Edit- Just tried it again and I'm getting the line down the center and the 2 squares on the left and the right but one of them is very faint and it looks like the lines are either flickering or scrolling up and down very fast. Both controllers move the squares but I can't tell if the reset buttons work.

It looks like it is on it's way to working hopefully.

[jb143]

Caps are one of the most susceptible parts to old age. It's also the first thing that came to my mind when you mentioned the video output. They won't always bust, often they just dry up. But I havn't ever played an Odessey 1 much less taken one apart so I'm sorry I can't help you out more.

I did have a doing-nothin Odyssey^2 once that worked fine as soon as I cleaned the dust bunnies out.