Coleco Vision set-up woes

[colecofan]

Hello Everyone. I recently became a member of this forum and was quite excited to see that something like this exists.

I've recently gotten back into my child-hood gaming systems by purchasing an original Coleco Vision game console off of Ebay. The seller, who has all positive feedback and has earned good status on Ebay assured me that the system was in good working order and had been tested prior to putting it up for auction. When I received the console, I tried to hook it up to my TV and was stumped. :embarrassed: My old TV when I was a kid had an antenna connection for the RF adapter switch that came with the console, but my new TV I'm trying to use has just a cable input .... So , I found a website run by EColeco which suggested that I purchase an adapter from Radio Shack that would allow me to connect the game console to my TV and thrill to playing such classices as Mr. Do
s Castle and Pepper II again. :)

So, I rushed home to install the adapter and am once again stumped. :( . I still cannot get the games to come up on the TV.... I've tried several things such as changing the channel from 3-4 on the back of the console, as well as on the TV and using a different RCA cable than what came with the system, but I am not having any luck. I also checked the power cable to make sure that it works and it appears to be working.

I then borrowed a TV from a friend which has an antenna input so that I could use the original RF Adapter that came with the system, but alas, this too did not work. The adapter I bought from Radio Shack also had the ability to be used with either the antenna connections or cable, but this too did not work on the older TV...

If anyone has any ideas on what I could try next, that would be great. I will be contacting the seller from Ebay to ask him as well, but I thought I would ask here too. I'm stumped since I do still have my own original Coleco Vision game console and games from when I was kid which I know did not work any longer (i.e I would get a green screen whenever I turned it on) But I do know that the actual connection from the Game console to the TV worked and that the games themselves worked.. I'm not even getting a green screen or anything on this "new" system which is wierd....

Thank you in advance to anyone who can offer some advice, I really apprciate it :D

[christianscott27]

check out the type of antenna adapter you're using

colecovision is really old school, you need the classic model, not the new stuff designed for nintendo type systems. its not auto RF, you need this-

the slider switch from (1) game/computer to (2) antenna, know what i mean? get yourself one of those and try it out

http://www.ceitron.com/images/5/5s2-110.jpg

[wberdan]

you can definetely use a colecovision with adaptors other than the one posted above.

first off-
try a different RCA cable (the cable that comes out of the coleco and plugs into the box)- sometimes coleco's are picky about those, say if someone threw in one that they hadnt tested with it.
next i would completely JUNK the box- buy a adaptor at radio shack that costs under $ 2. it would be a Female RCA to male F plug adaptor. also known as an female rca to male "cable" connector.

if that doesnt work- try a different power supply- the power supplys sometimes shit out, and leave you high and dry. if the other stuff doesnt work for you- let me know, ill let you test a working power supply free if you pay the shipping.

if that doesnt work, then you should start looking at the console- it is probably dirty or junk.
there are ways to clean the console, but i think your problem is one of the first three things.

willie

[Ze_ro]

you can definetely use a colecovision with adaptors other than the one posted above.

The ColecoVision doesn't put out a strong enough signal to trigger the automatic RF switches, so yes, you NEED a manual RF switch.

--Zero

[wberdan]

you can definetely use a colecovision with adaptors other than the one posted above.

The ColecoVision doesn't put out a strong enough signal to trigger the automatic RF switches, so yes, you NEED a manual RF switch.

--Zero


i use mine without an adaptor at all.

you can use a different style adaptor than that- but its true you cant use the NES one-
maybe what i said there was a little unclear

willie

[colecofan]

Thank you all for your suggestions! They have been very helpful :) :) I think I have ruled out the Adapter and the RCA cable at this point as something seems to be hapenning on my TV screen when I switch from "TV" to "Game" on the adapter... I did go buy replacements for both the adapter and the RCA video cable.... I'm beginning to think that it may be the power supply... It just seems a little odd though... When I turn the power on, something happens on the TV screen, but nothing comes up... maybe the power cord isn't giving the game console enough power to get the game up on the screen....

I am going to ask a friend if I can borrow his power supply and test that... I'm keeping my fingers crossed.... :D

[The Collector]

I'm sorry, but RF just doesn't cut it for me anymore. Its blurry and crappy. I am by no means a "great" solderer, but i did this mod to my Coleco and i havent looked at RF the same since. I had awesome results with this and highly recommend this mod to anyone with a Coleco.

Look here:
http://www.a1k0n.net/projects/coleco/

[Moose]

By the way, Welcome. I know you may be busy with getting your Colecovision working, but hen you get a minute, make sure you introduce yourself on the intro. thread.

You have definetly come to the right place for help. I don't post that much, but I learn a ton from everyone elses vast knowledge.

Game on...

[tyranthraxus]

Try pressing down hard on the power switch. Those things can get worn
out. Incidently was the seller someone who sells a lot of classic video game
stuff? Those are the seller to look for when buying consoles since they
usually know what they are talking about. Perfect feedback means nothing
if all the feedback was established selling Bean Babies.

Also try twising and jiggling the old RF cable to see if that does anything.
But the switch box is a poor choice what you should be using is a coaxial
RF adaptor. This will let you connect straight into the cable jack. I found
when I first got back into vintage consoles (with the CV too) that I had a
hell of time with the old switch boxes.

[wberdan]

Thank you all for your suggestions! They have been very helpful :) :) I think I have ruled out the Adapter and the RCA cable at this point as something seems to be hapenning on my TV screen when I switch from "TV" to "Game" on the adapter... I did go buy replacements for both the adapter and the RCA video cable.... I'm beginning to think that it may be the power supply... It just seems a little odd though... When I turn the power on, something happens on the TV screen, but nothing comes up... maybe the power cord isn't giving the game console enough power to get the game up on the screen....

I am going to ask a friend if I can borrow his power supply and test that... I'm keeping my fingers crossed.... :D

THIS is what you should get-

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3538&item=8100727994&rd=1

thats not my auction and i DONT recommend buying that one- it's overpriced.
Go to radio shack, you can get a nickel one for under $ 2.00

I have had the radio shack adaptors crap out on me in no time- seriously- I had one die within months of purchasing it new.

Try the original style RCA cable and the adaptor box- if it doesnt work, then it probably is the power supply.

good luck

willie