Commodore 64 User manual

UNPACKING AND CONNECTING THE

COMMODORE 64

The following step-by-step instructions show you how to connect the

Commodore 64 to your television set, sound system, or monitor and

make sure everything is working properly.

Before attaching anything to the computer, check the contents of the

Commodore 64 container. Besides this manual, you should find the fol-

lowing items:

1. Commodore 64

2. Power supply (black box with an AC plug and supply cord)

3. Video cable

4. TV Switchbox (small silver box with short antenna leads).

If any items are missing check back with your dealer immediately for

a replacement.

First, let's take a look at the arrangement of the various connections

on the computer and how each functions.

SIDE PANELCONNECTIONS

1. Power Socket. The free end of the cable from the power supply is

attached here to supply power to the Commodore 64.

2. Power Switch. Turns on power to the Commodore 64.

3. Game Ports. Each game connector can accept a joystick or game

controller paddle, while the lightpen can only be plugged into the

game port closest to the front of your computer.

REAR CONNECTIONS

4. Cartridge Slot. The rectangular slot to the left accepts program or

game cartridges.

5. Channel Selector. Use this switch to select which TV channel the

computer's picture will be displayed on.

6. TV Connector. This connector supplies both the picture and sound to

your television set.

7. Audio & Video Output. This connector supplies direct audio, which

can be connected to a high quality sound system, and a "compos-

ite" video signal, which can be fed into a television ."monitor."

8. Serial Port. You can attach a printer or single disk drive directly to

the Commodore 64 through this connector.

GAME POWER POWER

PORTS SWITCH SOCKET

<-Ch. 3 Ch. 4->

CARTRIDGE CHANNEL TV AUDIONIDEO SERIAL CASSETTE USER

SLOT SELECTOR CONNECTOR CONNECTOR PORT INTERFACE PORT

9. Cassette Interface. A DATASSETTErecorder can be attached to the

computer so you can save information entered for use at a later

time.

10. User Port. Various interface cartridges can be attached to the user

port, such as the VICMODEM, or RS 232 communication cartridge.

INSTALLATION

CONNECTIONS TO YOUR TV

Connect the computer to your TV as shown on page 4.

1. Attach one end of the TV cable to the phono type TV signal jack at

the rear of the Commodore 64. Just push it in. Either end of the

cable can be used.

2. Connect the other end of the cable to the antenna switchbox. Just

push it in.

SWITCH BOX

TO rQ

TV SIGNAL TO 300 OHM

JACK ANTENNA

INPUT

POWER

SUPPLY

3. If you have a VHF antenna, disconnect it from your TVset..

4. Connect your VHF antenna cable to the screw terminals labeled "an-

tenna input" on the switchbox. If your antenna cable is the round

75-ohm coax type, use a 75-ohm to 300-ohm adapter (not supplied)

to attach your antenna cable to the switchbox.

5. Connect the twin lead output cable of the antenna switchbox to the

VHF antenna terminals of your TV set. If your set is one of the newer

types with a round 75-ohm VHF connector, 'you will need a 300-ohm

to 75-ohm converter (not supplied) to connect the switchbox to the

75-ohm VHF antenna input on the set.

6. Set the TV's VHF tuner to the channel number indicated on the com-

puter's channel selector switch (channel 3 move the switchto the left,

channel 4 move the switch to the right). If a strong local TVsignal is

present on one of these channels, select the other channel to avoid

possible interference.

8. Plug the power supply cable into the power socket on the side of the

Commodore 64. Just push it in. It is "keyed" to allow insertion in only

one direction, so you can't connect the power cord the wrong way.

The power supply converts household current into the form the com-

puter uses.

75 OHM TO

300 OHM

ADAPTER

YOUR 75 OHM

COAX VHF ANTENNA

----

The Commodore 64 is now correctly connected. No additional con-

nections are required to use the computer with your TV. The antenna

switchbox will connect the computer to the TVwhen the slide switch is in

the "computer" position. When the switch is in the "TV" position your set

will operate normally.

TO tTV SIGNAL

JACK

BACK OF YOUR TV

OPTIONAL CONNECTIONS

Since the Commodore 64 furnishes a channel of high fidelity sound,

you may wish to play it through a quality amplifier to realize the best

sound possible. In addition, the Commodore 64 also provides a stan-

dard "composite" video signal, which can be fed into a television

monitor.

These options are made possible by the audio/video output jack on

the rear panel of the Commodore 64. The easiest way to gain access to

these signals is by using a standard S-Pin DIN audio cable (not

supplied). This cable connects directly to the audio/video connector on

the computer. Two of the four pins on the opposite end of the cable

contain the audio and video signals. Optionally, you can construct your

own cable, using the pinouts shown in Appendix I as a guide.

Normally, the BLACK connector of the DIN cable supplies the AUDIO

signal. This plug may be connected to the AUXILIARY input of an am-

plifier, or the AUDIO IN connector of a monitor or other video system,

such as a video cassette recorder (VCR).

The WHITE or RED connector usually supplies the direct VIDEO signal.

This plug is connected to the VIDEO IN connector of the monitor or video

input section of some other video system, such as a VCR.

Depending on the manufacturer of your DIN cable, the color coding

of the plugs may be different. Use the pinouts shown in Appendix I to

match up the proper plugs if you don't get an audio or video signal

using the suggested connections.

AUDJONIDEO

OUTPUT

~--

TO AUXILIARY

INPUTOR

TUNERINPUT ~O VIDEOIN

* 4

TV MONITOR

AUDIO SYSTEM

If you purchased peripheral equipment, such as a VIC 1541 disk drive

or a VIC 1515 printer, you may wish to connect it at this time. Refer to

the user's manuals supplied with any additional equipment for the

proper procedure for connecting it to the computer.

A completed system might look like this.

>=~ ..

OPERATION

USINGTHE COMMODORE 64

1. Turnon the computer using the rocker switch on the right-side panel

when you're looking at the computer from the front.

2. After a few moments the following will be displayed on the TV

screen:

-- --- .

3. If your TV has a manual fine tuning knob, adjust the TV until you get

a clear picture.

4. You may also want to adjust the color and tint controls on the TV for

the best display. You can use the color adjustment procedure de-

scribed later to get everything setup properly. When you first get a

picture, the screen should appear mostly dark blue, with a light

blue border and letters.

If you don't get the expected results, recheck the cables and connec-

tions. The accompanying chart will help you isolate any problem.

TROUBLESHOOTINGCHART

Remedy

Make sure power

switch is in "On"

position

Check power socket

for loose or dis-

connected power

coble.

Check connection

with wall outlet

Take system to

authorized dealer

for replacement of

fuse

Check other

channel for

picture (3 or 4)

Computer hooks up to

VHF antenna terminals

Check TV output

cable connection

Set computer for

some channel as TV

(3 or 4)

ISymptom

Cause

Indicator light Computer not

not "On" "On"

Power cable

not plugged

Power supply

not plugged

Bad fuse in

computer

TV on wrong

channel

Incorrect

hookup

Video coble

not plugged

Computer set

for wrong

channel

TIP: The COMMODORE 64 was designed to be used by everyone.

But we at Commodore recognize that computer users may, occasionally, run into

difficulties. To help answer your questions and give you some fun programming

ideas, Commodore has created several publications to help you. You might also find

that it's a good idea to join a Commodore Users Club to help you meet some other

COMMODORE 64 owners who can help you gain knowledge and experience.

CURSOR

The flashing square under READYis called the cursor and indicates

where what you type on the keyboard will be displayed" on the screen.

As you type, the cursor will move ahead one space, as the original

cursor position is replaced with the character you typed. Try typing on

the keyboard and watch as characters you type are displayed on the TV

screen.

Symptom Cause Remedy

Random pattern Cartridge not Reinsert

on TV with properly cartridge after

cartridge in inserted turning off power

place

Picture without Poorly tuned Retune TV

color TV

Picture with Bad color Adjust color!

poor color adjustment hue/brightness

on TV controls on TV

Sound with TV volume up Adjust volume of

excess high TV

background

noise

Picture OK, TV volume too Adjust volume of

but no sound low TV

Aux. output Connect sound

not properly jack to aux. input

connected on amplifier and

select aux. input

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