RF switch and analog cable interference?

[PaulKTF]

I'm hoping someone much smarter than I can figgure this out.

Okay so here's the situation.

I have a TV that's connected to analog cable (Time Warner if it matters). I just connected a manual RF switch to it:

http://www.best-electronics-ca.com/Atari%20TV%20Switch.JPG

to play my Atari 2600 system. But even when I'm not playing games, and the switch is slid to TV; I still get a lot of interference on specific channels (3, 4, 6, 10, 12 in particular). Most other TV chanels come in just fine but those particular channels come in with a lot of ghosting or scrambling. All of the above mentioned channels looked fine before I hooked up the RF switch.  

Does anyone know what could be causing this? The RF switch otherwise works fine in so far as being able to use the Atari system.

Thanks!

[John L]

Your TV has a RF amp in it designed to receive signals OTA. It probably is using the switch as an antenna.

The problem should dissappear on February 17, 2009.

-John L.

[PaulKTF]

Your TV has a RF amp in it designed to receive signals OTA. It probably is using the switch as an antenna.

The problem should dissappear on February 17, 2009.

-John L.

Ah... so it's a fault of the TV and not the RF switch itself? Darn.. Thanks for explaining.

[basshive]

John could a trap go between the tv and the rf switch? Would something like that even work/help in this instance? I have use fm traps before to help get rid of interference.

[cdnelson]

This site, offers some ideas:

http://www.cheeptech.com/2600mods/2600mods.shtml

Besides the modifications to the 2600, it has a section on some alternatives to the RF switch that might help you out.

It's kind of a neat site to peruse if you're a retro-tech geek too!

[PaulKTF]

This site, offers some ideas:

http://www.cheeptech.com/2600mods/2600mods.shtml

Besides the modifications to the 2600, it has a section on some alternatives to the RF switch that might help you out.

It's kind of a neat site to peruse if you're a retro-tech geek too!

That site is fantastic! Thanks!