Magnavox Odyssey 2 Help

[campbell828793]

I won one of these things off of ebay, and I'm not 100% sure of how to hook the thing up to a modern tv. Judging by the fact the manual says I need to connect it to an antenna seems to support this claim. I did a quick search on the forum and searched google, but I'd rather trust people that talk to me directly rather than copy/paste response. Do I have to mod my system or is there a more simple method?

[Tupin]

There are two different types of systems. One has a standard Atari-type connector phono cable, which is hardwired into the unit. You can use an old fashioned switch box, but it's much easier to use one of these:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103471

If it however has the nonstandard Odyssey2 connector that requires you to use that white switch box, it's best to mod it.

Here are instructions on how to do so and exactly what I am talking about:
http://www.ozyr.com/o2/tvcordhk.html

It's rather easy, it's just unplugging a cord and plugging another in, now you can use the gold connector I posted above as well as switchboxes if you prefer for some reason. Here's a good one to use for the mod:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103847

Hope I could help. :)

[MachineGex]

Thanks for the second link to the weird connector. I always wondered what was up with that cord and never realized it actually came that way and needed a special switch box. Replacing the cord looks easy. Thanks again.

[Superman]

That's some good info, Tupin!

I just got a TV for my gameroom which will be for my older systems, including my Odyssey, which I haven't really played that much. Since the conversion of TV signals to digital, my new (old) TV isn't much use except for playing games.

I hadn't heard of the F jack connector before, but it looks like it could work well in this situation. The switchboxes tended to not quite change over to game all the way, or they were finicky as to what position they needed to be in to get the best reception.

[Tupin]

I use it for all of my RF systems, it really is a great little thing.

As for the info on the Odyssey2 mod, I think it should be archived, as the question of the proprietary connector on the Odyssey2 seems to come up a lot.

[crom]

would you guys consider this system a must have for collectors? I seen one at my local store here, but again im only 27 and my first system was an atari jr so the odyessy never was my thing...

[aclbandit]

Thanks for the second link to the weird connector. I always wondered what was up with that cord and never realized it actually came that way and needed a special switch box. Replacing the cord looks easy. Thanks again.

This was actually the ONLY way I could get my Fairchild Channel F to hook into ANYTHING.

[swlovinist]

would you guys consider this system a must have for collectors? I seen one at my local store here, but again im only 27 and my first system was an atari jr so the odyessy never was my thing...

The Odyssey 2 I would say is a great budget vintage system to collect, and has several games for it that are still fun to play.

http://www.classicgamecreations.com/ordering.html

The multicart with all the classic games on it is cheap and worth picking up.


gooddealgames also sells some homebrew games for the system.


A must have? Not really, but it is fun cheap classic console that has a small and growing following. It makes me smile to know that there are collectors out there wanting this system still!

[Steve W]

This was actually the ONLY way I could get my Fairchild Channel F to hook into ANYTHING.

The Fairchild Channel F has that kind of connector? I wasn't aware. Does the later Zircon unit still use the same thing, or for that matter the second version of the Fairchild Channel F?

[deltoidsteep]

I was recently at a pawn shop downtown and I noticed an Odyssey 2 box underneath a pile of junk. I asked the guy if the system was in the box and he said I don't know, nobody's ever asked before. It turns out the system was there and in great condition. I asked if we could hook it up to see how it worked but of course his TV was pretty new so we didn't have the parts we needed. Turns out he thought it was really rare and wanted 300 bucks for it (even though A: he didn't even know he owned it until 2 minutes ago and B: he couldn't prove it worked) so after making sure he wasn't joking i just left it.

[campbell828793]

Yeah thanks for the advice guys, we know the system at least works, me and my friend are going to rewire the thing so i can still use the box for the sake of using everything this dinosaur came from.