Atari 5200 User manual

ATARI
Owner's Manual
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Table of Contents
1. Your ATARI 5200 2
2. Installing the TV/Game Switch Box 3
3. Setting Up the Console 3
4. inserting aGame Cartridge 4
5. Using the 5200 Controllers 5
6. Returning Your TV Set to Television Program Viewing 8
7Maintaining Your ATARI 5200 8
8. Troubleshooting Checklist 10

1. Your ATARI 5200
Congratulations on your purchase
of one of the most exciting video
game systems available. This
state-of-the-art system features:
•Arcade graphics and game play
•Afull line of advanced software
•Modern sleek design
•Expandability to include:
TRAK-BALL™ CONTROLLER
COMPUTER KEYBOARD
VOICE
VCS Cartridge Adapter
We suggest you read this Owner's
Manual thoroughly before setting
up your ATARI 5200.
When you remove your ATARI
5200 from the box, you will have:
•5200 Console Unit
•5200 Game Cartridge
•Two 5200 Controllers
•TV/Game Switch Box
•Powef Adapter
Note: Your ATARI 5200 is pack-
aged with aprotective coating. To
remove the plastic, simply peel
it off.
2

2. Installing the TV/Game Switch Box.
Your TV/Game Switch Box allows
you to change from television
viewing to video game play and
back by simply sliding aswitch.
The switch box is easy to install
All you need is ascrewdriver
IMPORTANT: Use only the
TV/Game Switch Box packed with
your ATARI 5200. Use of any other
switch box could damage the
5200 console.
Use the instructions in Section I
of the enclosed pamphlet if the
switch box packed with your ATARI
5200 is plastic; use Section II If
the switch box is metal
3. Setting Up the Console
2. Set your television channel
selector to Channel 3* If
Channel 3is broadcasting in
your area, set the television
channel selector switch to
Channel 2and change the
channel selector switch on
the console unit to the
position.
3- Plug the Power Adapter cable
jack into the POWER connec-
tor at the back of the console.
Check the channel selector
switch at the back left side of
the console to be sure it is
set to the •position.
4. Plug the Power Adapter into
any convenient 120-volt AC
electrical wall outlet.

IMPORTANT: Use only the Power
Adapter packed with your ATARI
5200, Use of any other power sup-
ply could damage the console
unit
5. Turn your television set on
and set the volume control to
acomfortable level
6. Press the POWER ON/OFF
switch at the lower right side
of the console to ON. Ared
light (LED) glows when the
POWER is ON.
7. If your television set has an
aulomatic fine-tuning control.
turn ioff an -ar^a \fire-
tune for the best picture.
However, if your television set
will not receive color unless
the automatic fine-tuning is
on, leave it on.
NOTE: Always turn the POWER
OFF when the game is not in use.
4. Inserting aGame Cartridge
1. Hold the game cartridge so
the name on the label faces
you and reads right-side-up.
2. Carefully insert the game car-
tridge into the slot at the
center of the console. Be sure
the cartridge fits firmly in the
slot but DO NOT FORCE IT.
3. Make sure the console
POWER is ON. Abright, color-
ful ATARI logo will appear on
your television screen, followed
by the game playfield.

5. Using the 5200 Controllers
The ATARI 5200 includes two
5200 controllers. These con-
trollers allow you to move the
play pieces In any direction on
the screen—right. Iettfup Tdown,
and diagonally.
Plug the controllers into the
jacks at the front of the console
unit. Each jack is numbered. Use
jack 1for one-player games; use
jacks 1and 2for two-player
games. The jack is designed to
Fit only one way- Be sure the con-
nection is firm, but do not try to
force it.
Some controller functions vary
with different games. Be sure to
check the appropriate game in-
structions for different controller
functions.
Each controller has two fire but-
tons on either side. The lower
buttons are used as the fire but-
tons for all games. The upper
buttons are used for other func-
tions depending on the particular
game. See your game instructions
for different controller functions.
The right or the left buttons can
be usedTwhichever is more com-
fortable for you*
The START, PAUSE, and RESET
buttons on the controllers per
form the following functions:

[;jjH;'iJ P^ess START to begin
game play.
IJJIklj Press PAUSE to stop all
l*l^*"agame action. This
feature allows you to
leave the game without
interrupting the game or
score. Press PAUSE
again when you are
ready to resume playing
the game.
RESET P'ess RESET only when
you want to start the
game over from the
beginning.
These controller buttons
are used to select differ*
ent game options. Refer
to your game instruc-
tions for further details.
Keypad Overlays
Some game cartridges come with
two keypad overlays. The over-
lays fit directly over the keypad
buttons to indicate keypad func-
tions- These functions may vary
from game to game. Refer to
your game instructions for more
information.
When not in use, your keypad
overlays can be stored on the
back of your game cartridge.
Simply slip the tabs into the slots
that are provided on the cartridge.

Controller Storage
When not In use, store
the 5200 controllers inside
the console unit as follows:
Unplug the 5200 controllers
from the jacks at the front of
the console.
Wind the controller
cable around the joystick.
Open the controller storage
area at the top of the console.
Place the controllers face
down (head-to-head) In the
storage area.
Gently close the cover of the
controller storage area.

6. Returning Your TV Set to Television Program Viewing
Press the console POWER
switch OFF.
Change the TV'Game switch
on the Switch Box to TV.
If you turned off the automatic
fine-tuning, turn it back on.
7. Maintaining Your ATARI 5200
Your ATARI 5200 will bring you
m3ny years of enjoyment. Tc
keep it in good working condi-
tion, please remember the
following:
•Always turn the POWER
switch OFF when you are not
using the ATARI 5200.
•Do not try to force the game
cartridge into the cartridge
slot.
•Do not spill liquids on the con-
sole, cartridges, or controllers.
•Do not lift the 5200 console or
5200 controllers by the con-
necting wires. You could bend
or crimp the wires and break
the internal insulation.
•Be careful not to drop the con*
sole, controllers, or game
cartridges.
•Do not expose the console,
controllers, or game cartridges
to extreme or excessive heat
There are no user-serviceable
parts in your ATARI 5200 con-
sole, controllers* or cartridges.
Therefore, do not disassemble
or alter the console, con-
trollers, or cartridges.
Do not use any power adapter
other than the Power Adapter
packed with your ATARI 5200.
You could damage the elec*
tronic components in the con-
sole unit.
Unplug the Power Adapter
from the electrical outlet when
not in use.
Do not use any TV switch box
other than the TV/Game Switch
Box packed with your ATARI
5200, You could damage the
electronic components in the
console unit.
Clean the exterior surface ol
the console with asoft and
slightly damp cloth (use water
only).
8

NOTE: Your ATARI 5200 is engi-
neered lo eliminate phosphor
memory or "bum in" of the
playfield and score digits on
your television screen. We
suggest, however, these
precautions:
Turn down the contrast ot your
television set.
Turn the ATARI 5200 OFF
when not in use.
Compliance with FCC regulations
To comply wfth Federal Commu-
nications Commission* (FCC)
regulations, and to keep your
ATARI 5200 from interfering with
television reception on nearby
television sets, please observe the
following:
•Do not install a longer antenna
cable from the TV/Game Switch
Box to the antenna connection
on your television set. The
antenna cable supplied with the
TV/Game Switch Box is the cor-
rect length that complies with
FCC regulations.
•Do not connect the antenna
output cable on your TV/Game
Switch Box directly to any
television antenna or Cable TV
outlet.
•Do not attach loose wires to
your television antenna ter-
minals when you are using the
ATARI 5200.
*This equipment generates ana uses
radio frequency energy, and if II is not in*
stalled properly, It may cause interference
to radio and television reception It has
been type tested and found to comply
with the limits for aClass Bcomputing
device in accordance with the specifica-
tions in Subpart Jof pari 15 of FCC
Rules, which are designed to provide rea*
sonafcia protection against such inter*
Terence in aresidential installation. II ihis
equipment does cause interference to
radio or teteviswn reception, which can
be determined by turning tho equipment
off and on. try to correct the interference
by one or more of the following methods:
Reorient the receiving antenna.
*Relocate ihe computer wrth respect to
the receiver
*Move the computer into adifferent
outlet so that the computer and
receiver are on different branch cir-
cuits.
It necessary, consult Ihe dealer or an ex*
pertenced radio/television technician (or
additional suggestions You may find the
following booklet prepared by trie Federal
Communications Commission helpful:
"How to identify and Resolve Radio-TV
Interference Problems 1*
This booklet is available from the US
Government Printing Office, Washington.
DC 30402, Slock No* 004-00QOQ345-4.
9

8- Troubleshooting Checklist
The following list Is supplied to
help you troubleshoot any pos*
sible problems in setting up your
ATARI 5200. Always disconnect
the Power Adapter before check-
ing any electrical connections.
Symptom
•Game picture and playfield are
fuzzy or the sounds are
distorted.
Probable Cause and Remedy
•TV/Game Switch Box not cor-
rectly connected to television
antenna.
•Television set not tine-tuned
for the best picture. Make sure
the automatic fine-tuning is off
and manually fin&tune for the
best picture. However if your
television receives color only
when the fine-tuning is onf
leave it on.
•Interference on Channel 3.
Change console channel selec-
tor switch to >and change
television channel selector to 2.
Symptom
•No game sounds.
Probable Cause and Remedy
•Turn up the volume on your
television set.
Symptom
•ATARI logo and playfield image
do not appear on the screen.
Probable Cause and Remedy
•Console POWER switch not ON.
•Game cable not properly
plugged into TV/Game Switch
Box.
•Power jack not connected to
the console,
TV/Game Switch Box not cor-
rectly connected to television
antenna.
•Game cartridge not properly
inserted.
•Power Adapter not plugged
into wall outlet.
•Interference on Channel 3.
Change console channel selec-
tor switch to and change
television channel selector to 2,
Symptom
•No regular television program
viewing.
Probable Cause and Remedy
•Television antenna not correctly
connected to TV/Game Switch
Box.
•TV/Game Switch Box set to
GAME. Change to TV.
10

\-a ATARI. INC., Consumer Division
1312 Crossman, P.O. Box 61657
Sunnyvale. CA 94066
•- '963 ATARI, INC FOR GRAPHICS AND LAYOUT ONLr. Printed I" Taiwan
C02H74-Q? REV *
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