Vectrex Help.

[vintagegamecrazy]

I just got a Vectrex and when I turn it on it plays fine but there is a loud buzzing sound even when I turn the volume down, like on TVs sometimes. whoever back then cut the end off of the cord and extended it. Could it possibly be picking up interferrence from the connection??? If anyone has any suggestions or knows how to fix this problem, please post and let me know.

[IntvGene]

Enjoy the buzz.. it is part of the wonder of the Vectrex... is the game volume still audible?

If you really want to try to get rid of it. There is a mod here, courtesy of the forum's own FABombjoy.
http://labwww.csv.cmich.edu/luke/videogames/GCE/Vectrex/veccapkit/

More help might be found here:
www.playvectrex.com/vectech_f.htm

In the morning, some experienced tech help will hopefully add their opinions.

[FABombjoy]

Changing the audio cable to shielded and eliminating the ground loop helps quite a bit, but doesn't fully get rid of the problem. Somewhere on the net is an alternative method that involves boosting the audio level by adding an amp, but I have yet to try it.

Changing the cable really does help a lot, tho. It takes it from the in-your-face buzz to a far more subtle and tolerable buzz. I've altered 4 vecs so far and the improvement has been marked on all of them.

[vintagegamecrazy]

Thank You guys. It makes me feel better that there isn't anything actually wrong with the console just natural problems, I will try that mod soon, but for now I need to finish repairing the controller because that was really screwed up when I got it.

BTW: I am really looking for a copy of VE-caves for the system (played and loved it) If anyone has it PM me and we can work something out.

[chadtower]

On this note, since the audio can be intercepted and amplified, has anyone ever tried to divert it to a jack or somesuch so that it can be sent to a different destination? Maybe so you could play the audio on external speakers?

[john_soper]

I did the full mod and it helped, but after I put shipping tape over the speaker, things got even better.

[omnedon]

LOL :above me:

[john_soper]

Why the laughing emoticons? Shipping tape does help, it seems to cut off down the buzz and still let the normal game audio through. I'm not the first to post about it either, next time hit google before getting cute.

[omnedon]

???

I did not think you were joking. If anyone took my post to be pejorative of john sopers input, it's misconstrued.

I simply found it amusing - that taping over the speaker caused as much improvement as the technical modification.

Just seems funny to my sensibilities. You aren't the first person to "not" get my sense of humour. When trying to be sarcastic, I leave no question, with the use of " :roll: " and " *sarcasm* " to make the point clear.

I used a laughing smiley because I was amused that a tape fix was as effective as the technical fix.

Try not to draw too much from a text message. I wasn't 'being cute'.

:o

[jonjandran]

I get your humour Omnedon. :D

And I like it , "I like it a lot" . LOL

[john_soper]

You aren't the first person to "not" get my sense of humour. When trying to be sarcastic, I leave no question, with the use of " :roll: " and " *sarcasm* " to make the point clear.

<rosanna_rosanna_danna>Ohhhh??......Nevermind!</rosanna_rosanna_danna>
Actually, no one has ever accused me of having the greatest people skills either.

To get back on topic, that seemed a painful mod to me. Really had trouble getting the iron in to the sound pot area for that one connection. Would not like to do it again.

[chadtower]

So, if the speaker is old and crappy enough to be improved with tape, couldn't you just replace the speaker with a new one made from better materials?