Atari 2800 (AKA Sears Video Arcade II) portable

[Egarb]

Hey all, first post for me whoo-hoo.

Now to the point, I have three Sears video arcade II systems, the guts of it are almost like my Atari, but with a few differences (its actually a rebranded 2800 see http://home.earthlink.net/~jeffw2002/ga ... cade2.html), I was wondering if the same principles would apply as they do to the 2600. (I’m not cutting down the board, it would be pointless I’m using a rather large screen) but I would like to have a built in controller, in general I want to know if there’s anything I should know about the guts of a 2800 that’s particularly different than a 2600, I can do it on my own I’m sure since I’m mostly rearranging parts and adding a screen, controller and battery pack, but advice is always good to get before you start a project.
do to the 2600. (im not cutting down the board, it would be poointless im using a rather large screen) but i would like to have a built in controller, in general i want to know if theres anything i should know about the guts of a 2800 thats particularly differennt than a 2600, I can do it on my own i'm sure since im mostly rearanging parts and adding a screen, controller and battery pack, but advice is always good to get before you start a project.

[OfWolfAndMan]

You've got to be stupid to rip apart either a Atari 2700, 2800 or a 3750!!!

[bicostp]

That website gave me a headache.

Just use the 4" 4-switch mod. Or chop up an Intellivision.

[Egarb]

Well I'm not actually cutting it down, (i am removing the rf modulator though) because im using a 7" lcd screen from a busted portable dvd player, so the screen itself is larger than 4"x4" (If ifever wanted I'd be a be able to put the board right back in the case in fact), just wanted to know if the guts were essentially the same, and since I was told to use an existing hack i'll assume they are.

[bicostp]

I don't think you can cut a 2700, super video arcade II, or what have you down to 4 inches. Then again, I've never seen the motherboards.

[HK-47]

Hes saying hacking them is stupid when a fourswitch does the job better and collectors will gladly pay money for your precious console.

[bicostp]

Well I'm not actually cutting it down, (i am removing the rf modulator though) because im using a 7" lcd screen from a busted portable dvd player, so the screen itself is larger than 4"x4" (If ifever wanted I'd be a be able to put the board right back in the case in fact), just wanted to know if the guts were essentially the same, and since I was told to use an existing hack i'll assume they are.

If it's a newer, more advanced console, then the motherboard would be drastically different, wouldn't it?

[Egarb]

Well, ive looked at the guts, and it looks for the most part to be the same, it has some differences, mostly parts in different spots, if yall want i could take some pics and post em up since no one else has done so. Also its just a 2600 variant (the controllers own tho, love em) 10 bux on ebay.

[HK-47]

Today, a real Atari 2800 is the rarest of all commercially released Atari consoles. (In fact, it's the only Atari console that could be legitimately called rare - all other 2600 variants, and all other Atari consoles, are pretty common.)

Thats from the site you posted a link to. If you read everything, you'de know that a 2800 isnt the type of thing you take apart and hack.

[Egarb]

I read it it's just that i could get another cheap on ebay, and have 2 others sitting in the closet. So should I put up some pics of the mobo or not?

[HK-47]

Post pics of the mobo if you like. It would be neat to see inside one.

[Egarb]

Ill get a decent digital camera and post some pics soon.