Discussion: Cheap mods, complete systems or rare implementat

[retromod]

If you follow auctions in the modding area it is quite unsure what customers prefer. That's why bringing this question to the table.

So do you prefer cheap mods, complete offered pre-modded systems with classic design or rare pre-modded systems with special design or technology?

If you have the choice what would you buy?

1. systems with standard housing and cover, no game, no controller, no power supply (and of course obvious usage due to scratches on covers)
a) Atari 2600 Junior with AV Mod for 39 Eur
b) Atari 2600 Junior with AV Mod and Simple Stereo for 45 Eur
c) Atari 2600 Junior with AV Mod, Stereo Surround and Joystick Pause Mod for 79 Eur
d) Atari 2600 Junior with AV Mod, Stereo Surround, Joystick Pause Mod for 99 Eur

or

2. system with special painting, cover, game, controller and power supply including documentation
a) Atari 2600 Junior with AV Mod and Simple Stereo for 55 Eur
b) Atari 2600 Junior with AV Mod, Stereo Surround and Joystick Mod for 109 Eur

[Carlos]

Its a tough one.

If you had the resources the best solution would be to do a menu service, like a pizza.

So You would have to buy a base unit,original or painted  then offer the mod 'topping' and charge accordingly.

[retromod]

Its a tough one.

If you had the resources the best solution would be to do a menu service, like a pizza.

So You would have to buy a base unit,original or painted  then offer the mod 'topping' and charge accordingly.

well the "value line" versions of the console starting soon with the "simple stereo" mod will be available with different options. Starting from barebone console to full package. Where as the Junior Wood is a full package with CX40, power supply and PacMan. Or do you believe it is better to offer them barebone for people already owning a console looking for some exclusive design and technique only?

PS: Translation from the ad: "from father to the son... at every point of time the latest technology. The Atari 2600 Junior Wood edition."

[retromod]

I discussed with vendor and it seems we soon offer some kind of building set. For that reason we created the "value line" edition. An Atari 2600 Junior with black cover (like the Irish version) and one of the best AV/Composite mods.

We then offer different upgrade sets:
- Simple Stereo
- Pause (via switch)
- Stereo/Surround

So customer is able to select what he want and we assemble it on demand. Price is quite low in comparison to other offers due to production optimizations and the own design allows us to use consoles with scratched covers (I have plenty of them in stock) as we replace the cover anyway.

As a highlight there will be a voucher for games/accessories and an USB adapter allowing to connect standard USB power supplies. Console will be delivered without power supply or joysticks.

Offering will start soon on eBay and Amazon.

Attached also the ad:
"Atari 2600 Junior "Value line" - define your own fun factor". choose your own prefered options from the list of items.

[retromod]

the "value line" is now available, vendor started advertising and offers on ebay and amazon.

[Carlos]

That looks really good, prima!

 

[zapiy]

Get us the link?

[retromod]

Get us the link?

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Atari-2600-Junior-Konsole-Value-Line-mit-AV-Umbau-/261485748057?pt=DE_Konsolen&hash=item3ce1c3df59

the pain is that ebay do not allow to offer "options" in one offering so the vendor offers different items. Currently two different models are online:

Basemodel with AV Mod
Basemodel with AV Mod and Pause

over the week you will see more offerings as we try to get the full option list online in first run. The simple stereo mod is currently blocked as we wait for the delivery of components. Hopefully the supplier will deliver the parts soon as it allows to offer really cheap stereo consoles.

the functionality of the pause mod is:

a 3rd switch position was added to the color/black-white switch. I used that design in the past and it works great as it do not block the available switches and there is no requirement to deal with the back of the console (and no additional switches on the front). I first tried to implement a 2nd button in one of the existing switches/button but due to cheap implementation of the housing it failed all the time on the size of available switches (I bought very cool small one but even those are too big and breaks logic underneath). I believe the current implementation is a good way to deal with the pause function. It is not as enhanced as the Druid edition of consoles but is more enhanced than any other pause mod for the Atari on the market. The video and audio is switched off and the LED changes to blue light to provide current pause status. I also changed the cover and the consoles with pause function contains the info "pause" right under the TV TYPE text.

[retromod]

and today I tested and built in the Simple Stereo Mod and USB power supply mod.
So two additional exklusive options for the Value Line for a fair price.

The USB power supply mod allows to use any USB power supply/charger to drive your console. The mainboard was modified to consume less energy running with less power requirement. this also prevents component aging as they are not getting hot anymore. Big advantage is to having no dedicated power supply anymore.

The simple stereo mod rearranges the tone between the two loudspeakers offering a better sound experience in comparison to pure mono. The effect is not as good as my unique stereo/surround mod but quite better than "nothing" sorry "mono" 

[retromod]

I ran out of junior systems with scratched/broken silver front covers  . My stock of about 50 of these consoles having all silver front covers in good condition, no scratches nor any oxidation. So I finally decided to get a bunch of broken one asking several vendors if they have consoles lying around or willing to exchange them.

For the systems in great shape I quickly developed a dustcover for the front covers. It is made out of plastic stripes with a unique highquality graphic. The first dustcover contains a soccer wallpaper and the whole "kit" is offered as "real soccer" starter kit containing 2 joysticks, one power supply and a console with AV and pause mod. I will create additional dustcovers with different themes soon.

[TL]

That would be pretty cool if it was England and not Germany! 

[retromod]

That would be pretty cool if it was England and not Germany!  :24:

[retromod]

Last days I completely re-designed all mods fitting into a small housing and so are quite easily to install. The size of the mods are now 45mm x 45mm x 50mm. Due to the new pause mod the logic is now easier and reduced to one IC (already exists) and about 3 passive components for additional functionality.

The prototype PCB gets into sample/verification run and are completed by end of next week.

[retromod]

Yesterday I tested some new sample chips I got from a vendor in china and on of them improves my already very good AV/composite mod video signal for Coleco, Intellivision and Atari 2600. The output signal is now much sharper, brightness is a little bit better. It's near S-Video now but suffer from the typical composite problem. (color/sync interference).

The picture looks great on my plasma and even using another input connector do not change the quality (before the SCART connector delivered a slightly better picture over the standard composite plug). The composite signal interference problem might be solved by using other input solder points for the new chip. I will do additional testings. Price for the improvements: $2 - so not really a big deal. The disadvantages are that I must add them to my PCB layouts which means to change the already completed layouts again and to solder a SMD component  :16:

[retromod]

the new pre-production PCB's just arrived. After a long time of optimizations and reduction the new mod's prototype boards (pre-production batch) are now ready for soldering. It was quite difficulty to reduce the number of components, finding alternate ways of implementations and shrink the layout by using smaller components.

The picture also demonstrate the housing of each mod (black) which has the same size than the PCB. Finally it will be moulded on top and brace with additional solder points.

After soldering and verification phase these PCB layouts will be used for final production.