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Simple Video Mod for Atari 600XL / 800XL home computer

ndary's Simple Video Mod for the Atari 600XL and 800XL home computer

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Timothy Kline
Posted By Timothy Kline
Jun 26, 2020

{Recovered Atari Sector}
________ ________

ndary
Post by ndary on May 8, 2017 at 7:05pm
every 800XL/600XL computers that i pickup i do this simple hack which makes the screen 80% clearer when connecting the ATARI to a modern LCD screens.
this by simply removing capacitor C56 on the 800XL, or capacitor C109 on the 600XL (look at the pictures below)

you can also see how the image looks before and after you remove the capacitor.

you can go ahead and complete the Supervido MOD, but for me removing one capacitor is sufficient.

Before removing the Capacitor

upload_2020-6-26_8-40-52.jpeg

After removing the Capacitor

upload_2020-6-26_8-40-52.jpeg

and here is what you need to do on the 800XL:

upload_2020-6-26_8-40-52.jpeg


and on the 600XL:

upload_2020-6-26_8-40-52.jpeg
​
8bitbaz
Post by 8bitbaz on May 9, 2017 at 1:08pm
Another, simple yet BRILLIANT bit of advice there, fellas.

Who's going to be brave and start snipping away at their C56s then?

I wanna see those improved results out there!

Might just have a snip mesen...now where did I leave my secateurs?!

In all seriousness, what would you recommend for a 'fool-proof' tool of choice, Ndary, tweezers to twist/snap the legs of the capacitor?​

ndary
Post by ndary on May 9, 2017 at 1:58pm
if you have a soldering iron you can heat one leg of the capacitor and lift up.
or use a small cutter to snip just one leg.. this will do the job

Nir​

admin
i'm on it. will be snipping anything that doesn't move later

Nir
does this apply to Secam XLs? or will it be a different (if at all) cap?​

ndary
Post by ndary on May 9, 2017 at 2:58pm
i don't have a secam XL i got only PAL or NTSC​

Baker
Post by Baker on May 9, 2017 at 6:05pm
Definitely a nice, simple little mod for those who want something minimal and quick to improve video output a bit. But with me , it's in for a pence, in for a pound;I won't bother unless it's the absolute best video that can be coaxed out. In other words, I recommend this to you hardware light-weights filled with anxiety over a major video upgrade, and are satisfied with a "decent" improvement. I'll still be using the Clearpic and SV2.1 mods for my equipment, since, for me, it's half the fun of my hobby! Sure, at times modding and hacking and trouble-shooting can be frustrating, but just using the computer can be frustrating sometimes too! Damn you SpellBinder! Damn you GunFright! Damn you Secretum Labrynth! upload_2020-6-26_8-44-13.png ​

8bitbaz
Post by 8bitbaz on May 9, 2017 at 6:19pm
LOL!

Go for it, Baker - blast that angst away, why don't ya.

You've got some great video kit there and I don't blame you for wanting to reach the very highs with it - it's great to see what boundaries you can push with our humble machines.

Thanks again though to Nir who is really coming up with some great hacks, tweaks and quick DIY jobs for us all here on the Sector.

I will CAREFULLY heat my soldering iron up this weekend and boldly go when no Orician usually ventures... ie. behind the back yard and disappear into my shed for a bit with an 800XL under one arm and a tin of XXXX under the other.

Keep me covered, fellas.​

Bikerbob
Post by Bikerbob on May 10, 2017 at 8:59am
I am surprised this comes up now. This is the basis for a few more adjustments that were called Simple video mod by Bryan on AA.. which led to him designing and now on its D revision of the UAV (Ultimate Audio VIDEO) mod. I run this in 3 of my machines and I use his Simple video mod in my solder only 800xl.

My colleen 800 at the moment has only the Simple video mod, and it looks pretty awesome just like that.. I wonder if that has to do with that tank Aluminium cage in there??

James​

thark
Post by thark on May 10, 2017 at 9:37am
Whoa! It actually works! Thank you so much for this tip, what a difference.​

thark
Post by thark on May 10, 2017 at 1:46pm
I have a rev d motherboard here without that capacitor in it. Different setup but the picture is decent enough anyway. But the xls I have done has worked brill, total difference​

thark
Post by thark on May 10, 2017 at 2:00pm
Just a thought but the capacitor we are talking about removing looks like a zener diode. Here's hoping this is a safe operation!​

thark
Post by thark on May 10, 2017 at 2:58pm
It's worth it chaps, from a blurd picture to good clear picture. I take it it's due to different type of TVs these days. Perhaps it's part of a filter that improved the pic on a CRT tv​

StaxX
Post by StaxX on Jun 5, 2017 at 4:25am
Thanks ndary for this nice little mod, made on my 600xl and works perfectly !
I'll do the same on my other XL...​

StaxX
Post by StaxX on Aug 14, 2017 at 8:36am
will check the board see if same caps exist
Hi upload_2020-6-26_8-47-34.png

Please, did you find what caps to remove on SECAM 800XL?​

admin
no. couldn't find anything anywhere.

i will upload a pic of the board later and let the experts ponder​

StaxX
Post by StaxX on Aug 14, 2017 at 12:01pm
Ok, thanks anyway upload_2020-6-26_8-48-15.png ​

admin
Right, i've just taken my ONLY Rev-A fully socketed 800xl board and snipped, and
- bearing in mind this was already connected via a HDMI box - gone from this:

upload_2020-6-26_8-48-43.jpeg

to this:

upload_2020-6-26_8-48-43.jpeg

excellent stuff!!!

now, here's some pics of my secam 800xl board...anyone got a clue which (if any) cuts/snips will improve the video?

upload_2020-6-26_8-48-43.jpeg

upload_2020-6-26_8-48-43.jpeg

upload_2020-6-26_8-48-44.jpeg

upload_2020-6-26_8-48-44.jpeg

upload_2020-6-26_8-48-44.jpeg
​

thark
Post by thark on Aug 14, 2017 at 1:22pm
brenski, c24 is pretty much a gonner, a recap in need.
interesting it has two main caps at power switch.​

admin
just re-bumping this thread
couple of questions -
is there a corresponding simple mod for
1] secam 800xl
2] 800xe/65xe/130xe​

thark
Post by thark on Aug 30, 2017 at 3:48pm
i dont know but c24 is doomed.
bald cap is bad news.
ask any one.
get your computers recapped asap, especially those 'wangscap' ones.​

vulcanman
Post by vulcanman on Sep 8, 2017 at 11:58am
Just a question on this mod Nir, what rev board do you have for your 800xl?

I have 3 Rev D 800XLs which differ from your photo in that there are only the 3 right hand wires coming out of the modulator to the board, no C56, and only 3 resistors below that, R54 to R52.

Perhaps the Engineers at Atari got something right after all.​

admin
^ know what you mean - on my Rev D there's one i can't identify.
it's below a bank of three immediately below the bottom left corner of cart slot - could that be C56?​

vulcanman
Post by vulcanman on Sep 8, 2017 at 1:17pm
No, it's C21 on my board Brenski. Just having a look through the Sams service manual for the 800XL and C56 and R57 aren't listed, so looks like these were taken out on later revision boards.​

admin
any updates on this?
anyone know what we can snip (if anything) on secam XLs or 65/800/130XEs?​

{End of Recovered Sector}

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