Connect Atari to modern TV sets

Last Updated on September 1, 2023 by Dave Farquhar

Television standards have changed in a few ways since 1977, when Atari released the Atari 2600. Even if you have a CRT from the 1990s, it might not have an obvious place to hook it up. But it’s possible to connect the Atari Video Computer System to modern TV sets. Here’s how.

It’s possible to connect an Atari 2600 to a modern-ish TV using an RCA to F connector to plug straight into the antenna jack, assuming the TV is old enough to have an antenna input. Getting composite or HDMI is trickier but still doable, requiring additional equipment or modification.

Table of contents

The Atari Flashback Console alternative

It’s been possible for many years to buy an Atari flashback console that contains a selection of games and uses a more modern TV connection method. And that can be a lot of fun. But Atari had the largest library of its generation, so it’s entirely possible your favorite games may not be on that device. And using the vintage hardware with the decades-old cartridges does feel more authentic, even if you don’t have it set up in a wood-paneled room with a big console TV anymore. So if you want to connect up your old Atari to a newer TV, I don’t blame you, and I’ll show you how.

Return to table of contents

The Atari connector fits, but it doesn’t work on modern TVs

Connect Atari to modern TV
Will Atari 2600 work with a modern TV? Using an adapter, yes, it’s possible to connect Atari to modern TV sets.

Atari 2600s have an integrated RCA cable that fits in the composite or component inputs on modern TVs, but the signal isn’t compatible. The cable is designed to connect to the antenna connector, because in 1977, that was all that televisions had.

You can modify an Atari 2600 to output pure composite. I will assume if you’re reading this, you don’t want to open up your Atari 2600 and solder in it. Most people don’t have those skills, and some people don’t like modifying vintage equipment.

I’ll show you how to connect your Atari to a newer television set without modding your console.

Return to table of contents

Will Atari 2600 work on a modern TV?

If you’re generous in how you define “modern,” yes, an Atari will work with a modern TV. Even though analog TV was largely discontinued in 2009, a few low-powered stations were permitted to continue until 2021. That means many TVs produced between 2009 and 2021 could pick up analog signals. What does this have to do with Atari VCS? The Atari 2600’s RF signal behaves just like an analog TV station operating on channel 2 or 3. And of course any TV produced before 2009 can pick up the Atari RF signal. But even on CRT TVs, the connection changed during the 1980s.

So even if you stretch and define modern as going back to the late 1980s, connecting an Atari to those TVs can be tricky.

If your idea of modern is a smart TV you bought yesterday, connecting an Atari to a modern smart TV that only has HDMI is trickier, but still doable. With some help.

Return to table of contents

The Atari switchbox and its problems on a newer TV

But that still leaves a second problem. Atari consoles tended to outlive the TVs we connected them to. And the antenna connections on TVs quietly changed during the decade. Even on most TV sets made in the late 1980s, there’s no place to plug the Atari switchbox in. In the 1970s, antennas used flat, twin-lead 300 ohm antenna wire that connected to the back of the TV with two screws. To connect an Atari or another video game system, you simply spliced the switchbox in, connecting the switchbox to the screws on the back of the TV and the antenna to a set of screws on the switchbox.

Newer TVs use a 75-ohm coax connector. Coax cable is less prone to interference, making it much easier to install, so the industry shifted to coax. Late in the Atari 2600’s life, it was possible to buy switchboxes that had both 75-ohm and 300-ohm connectors on them, so you could connect them to newer TVs that had coax connectors on them. These 300 ohm switch boxes turn up on Ebay from time to time. But there’s a better, cheaper way to connect Atari to modern TV sets.

If you’re thinking about trying to adapt a Nintendo NES switchbox for it, that’s a nice idea. If you tried it and it didn’t work, there’s a reason. While you can make them fit together, the Atari video signal isn’t quite strong enough to get through. There’s another type of adapter that will work. It’s called an F connector adapter.

Return to table of contents

Connect Atari to modern TV sets with an F connector adapter

connect Atari to modern TV
You can use a cheap adapter like this one to connect an Atari 2600 to a modern TV.

There is a modern TV adapter that works very well with an Atari 2600. The round antenna connector on modern TV is called an F connector. To connect an Atari to modern TV sets, you can use an adapter that converts the TV’s F connector to an RCA connector. Any CRT TV with a round F connector will work. LCD/LED TVs will work as long as they have an analog tuner. So maybe we should say modernish TVs, but all of these are much newer than the console.

In the old days you could go to the local Radio Shack and buy part# 278-0475. For most people, that’s not an option anymore. But you can get them on Ebay. If you want to be sure you’re getting the right thing, look for an Atari F plug adapter. If you’re willing to hunt, you may be able to get a better price if you search for an RCA female to male F connector. Just make sure whatever you buy looks like the picture to the right. It’s OK if the color doesn’t match, but the connectors need to look the same. The price can vary a bit of course, but you should be able to find one for around $6.

Once you get the adapter, screw the adapter onto the round antenna connector on the back of your TV, then plug the RCA cable from the Atari into the adapter. Tune your TV to channel 2 or 3 manually, insert a cartridge, and turn on your Atari. Try both channels, since it’s not always clear on all models which channel the Atari wants to use.

If you can’t tune your TV channels manually, run a channel search using your TV’s on-screen menu with the Atari connected and powered on. Once it finds the channel the Atari is using, you’ll be able to view your Atari on your newer TV. If you don’t see an image, you may need a new AC adapter. The Atari Video Computer System was pretty reliable, so there’s a good chance once you have a video adapter and a good AC adapter, it’ll be right back in business.

Return to table of contents

Hook up Atari to a modern TV without RF

If your TV doesn’t have RF or can’t decode analog TV, things get more complicated. RF demodulator boxes (de-modulator, which the opposite of the much more common modulator boxes) exist, but they were never a mass-market item. One well-regarded type to look for is called the V-Tune Pro. V-Tune Pros came in SD, HD, and 4K versions. The SD version is the cheapest and converts RF to straight composite. The HD and 4K versions can also output component or HDMI. The V-Tune Pro can be expensive, possibly more expensive than finding a vintage game shop and have them install a composite mod in your Atari. You’ll have to decide which way you’d rather go. Connect the RF cable from the Atari to the RF input on the V-Tune Pro using an F connector adapter. Then connect the composite or component output to your TV.

Or if you’re in a hurry, another option is to piggyback off a VCR, if you still have one, or can find one at an estate sale or thrift store. Consumer VCRs had an RF input and the ability to output to either composite or RF. So you can put your Atari on the RF input using the F connector adapter and plug the VCR into your TV’s composite inputs. Then turn on the VCR, tune it to channel 2 or 3, and switch your TV to the composite input you connected the VCR to. This combination converts the Atari’s RF signal to something newer TVs can handle without rare and specialized equipment.

Return to table of contents

Hook up Atari to HDMI

The most elegant way to connect an Atari to an HDMI TV is to use a V-Tune Pro HD or 4K. These demodulators convert convert RF coming over channel 2 or 3 to HDMI. Simply connect your Atari to the RF input on the V-Tune Pro with an F connector adapter, then connect the V-Tune Pro to your TV via its HDMI output.

A bulkier approach is to piggyback off a VCR in combination with a cheap composite to HDMI converter, commonly sold on Ebay as a NES to HDMI adapter. Or you can use Best Buy’s RCA to HDMI converter.

Consumer VCRs had an RF input and the ability to output to either composite or RF. So you can put your Atari on the RF input using the F connector adapter, plug the VCR into your TV’s composite inputs, or if the TV doesn’t have composite inputs, use a converter. I have a guide to connecting a VCR to an HDMI TV if you need more detail.

Once you have the VCR connected to the HDMI TV, turn on the VCR, tune it to channel 2 or 3, and switch your TV to the HDMI input you connected the VCR to. Plug in a cartridge and turn on your Atari, and you should see a picture.

For a more elegant solution, you can composite mod your Atari, then use the same HDMI adapter to convert the composite to HDMI. But that mod involves soldering. So you may want to have a shop perform the mod or purchase a modded Atari console.

Return to table of contents

Other consoles from the same period

Many of these methods for connecting an Atari 2600 to a new TV can be expensive. The good news is, the same methods will work with any other game console that used the same switchbox. So if you have an Intellivision, Colecovision, Odyssey, Pong, or pretty much any pre-NES console, you can use the same adapter with it too. The only difference is going to be the channel you tune to, since some channels tuned to 2 or 3 and others tuned to 3 or 4.

Many home computers from the era can use that connector too, including Commodore and Atari and the Radio Shack Color Computer. Admittedly there are better options for, say, a Commodore 64 or Atari 800/XL/XE. But I’ve certainly connected my Atari 800 that way more than once.

The more of these types of systems you have, the easier it is to justify the cost of a V-Tune Pro with HDMI.

Return to table of contents

If you found this post informative or helpful, please share it!

One thought on “Connect Atari to modern TV sets

  • September 1, 2020 at 2:53 pm
    Permalink

    Good article however the new 4k smart tv’s wont work this way. I’m hoping for some kind of device that will solve this problem. I could go with the Atari to vcr then tv but I’d like something a bit smaller.

Comments are closed.