Repairing a Colecovision

[Slorrin]

Hi! I got a colecovision from a friend recently, and bought a power supply from the internet. Plugged it all in, but no worky!

THe power supply gives me +5.2DC, -5DC, +12.1DC..

That appears to be within spec.

THe baord is clean, in good condition. The power switch seems to give 7v across each pole, depending on how it is switched. I don't know how what it should read though...

My symptom is as follows. I get snow, then when i turn it on, i get darker snow. SOmething is clearly happening, what it is, i don't know.

Has anyone encountered something like this? Could it be the RF unit?

[Blitzwing256]

i'm not too sure how related this is, but i'm having a simmilar problem with some atari 2600s.

it could well be the channel 3/4 in your area has too much interfereance, messing with the channel switch might help (though in my case botch channels render the system unplayable)

it could be your rf, might want to try another one.
are you using one of the ones that switches from tv to computer? a nes one won't work (wouldn't for me at least when i had a coleco)

hope that helps a little.

[Slorrin]

It's not the channel button.

Also, the coleco has an internal RF thingie. It outputs a regular tv signal, like cable or antenna, but on an RCA cable. I have this RCA cable adapted to COAX (like how you can do that with an atari) and straight into the TV, my computer'
s TV tuner, and VCR (all 3 don't work).

I put the RCA type cable into a cable switch box that came with an atari, then put the antenna clips into an antenna to coax adaptor, then that into all three of the aforementioned locations.

So it seems to me like it could very well be the video output, the RF box inside can be opened and toyed with. I could apply a mod to make it Compoenent video/audio out, but.. if the RF unit doesn't work, then why would my mod work?

i need more diagnostics.. but..

[GrandAmChandler]

I am gonna move this to the Tech forum so our users that specialize in repair get first crack at it!

(Moved)