Help! A question about hooking up a Atari 2600

[Anthony1]

I just got a Atari 2600, but it's missing the game switch box. It just has that cord that comes out of the 2600 that is supposed to plug into the game switch box. I also have the power adapter and the necessary controllers and stuff, but how can I hook this thing up to my TV?

Does Radio Shack have something that will work for me?

Thanks for any help anybody can provide.


I can't wait to get in a game of Combat.

[Arcade Antics]

Does Radio Shack have something that will work for me?

They sure do. Look for the coaxial (F-Type) to female RCA Adapter - it's a little metal connector about 1" long - one end goes into the coax input on the TV and the other end is where the plug from the 2600 hooks in. Voila! Should set you back about a buck or so.

[YoshiM]

Yep. Radio Snack, Wal-Mart, and most any other big store will have the TV/Computer switch box. Many of those boxes includes a coaxial connector for easy hookup to TVs and VCRs. I think they range around $6 to $10 depending on the capablility.

[Arcade Antics]

Here's the deal-y I was talking about:

http://www.national-tech.com/image/30x3-03220.jpg
http://www.national-tech.com/image/30x3-03220back.gif

With one of these little inexpensive numbers, no need for a switchbox. :)

[Masco73]

I think my radio shack jacked the price on those because it set me back over $4 . I though it was going to be around $1. Thats almost the price of a new switchbox. Is there somewhere else they sell them for $1??

[Arcade Antics]

The wholesale place in those pics ^ sells them for 64 cents. I didn't notice if you have to buy a certain quantity, but I'm sure there are other online electronics stores that sell them for a buck or so if you're getting gouged at the local brick and mortar RS.

[chadtower]

No, $4 is about right for the radio shack gold plated connector. Some places you can get them for 1.99 nongold... sylentwulf sells them, I have bought them from him, good seller.

[The Manimal]

Does Radio Shack have something that will work for me?

They sure do. Look for the coaxial (F-Type) to female RCA Adapter - it's a little metal connector about 1" long - one end goes into the coax input on the TV and the other end is where the plug from the 2600 hooks in. Voila! Should set you back about a buck or so.


So by using one of these, I can avoid RF interference and also not have to modify my coaxial only systems (2600, NES 2, etc) when analog tv RF signals aren't available anymore?

[bigdaddychester]

and those adaptors work great.

I thought my Astrocade was nothing more than a paperweightafter years of storage, hooked it up to a switch box and eveything worked ok but the picture had a lot of interference. I put that little do-dad on it and plugged it into the TV and WHAM!!! It was a whole new experience. I use it for all my classic consoles.

[chadtower]

The wholesale place in those pics ^ sells them for 64 cents. I didn't notice if you have to buy a certain quantity, but I'm sure there are other online electronics stores that sell them for a buck or so if you're getting gouged at the local brick and mortar RS.

I poked at it, min purchase is $10. Well worth it for 10-15 of them if he was going to pay that for two anyway.