Atari 5200 User manual

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MARI
Owner’s Manual
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Table of Contents
1. Your ATARI 5200 2
2. Installir>g the TV/Game Switch Box 3
3. Setting Up the Console 3
4. Inserting aGame Cartrkige 4
5. Using the 5200 Controllers 5
6. Returning Your TV Set to Television Program Vievnrtg 8
7. Maintaining Your ATARI 5200 8
8. Troubteshooting Checklist 10

1

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 iiKtude:
TRAK-BALL^“ CONTROLLER
COMPUTER KEYBOARD
VOICE
VCS Cartridge Adapter
We suggest you read this Owr>er’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/Qame Switch Box
•Power Adapter
Note: Your ATARI 5200 is pack-
aged with aprotective coating. To
remove the Mastic, simply peel
it off
2

2. Installing the TV/Qame 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
1.
Check the channel selector
switch at the back left side of
the console to be sure it is
set to the •position.
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.
4.
Plug the Power Adapter into
any convenient 120-voll AC
electrical wall outlet.
3

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.
4. inserting aGame Cartridge
7.
If your television set has an
automatic fine-tuning control,
turn it off arxl manually fine-
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.
1. Hold the game cartridge so
the name on the label faces
you and reads right-stde-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 screeri, followed
by the game playfield.
4

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^righl, left, up, down,
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
Mmes. 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 furK-
tions depending on the particular
game. your game Instructions
for different controller functions.
The right or the left buttons can
be used, whichever is more com-
fortable for you.
The START. PAUSE, and RESET
buttons on the controllers per
form the following functions;
5

FTTTTI Press START to begin
game play.
[t^TTn Press PAUSE to stop all
game action. Ttiis
feature allows you to
leave the game without
interrupting the gairre or
score. Press PAUSE
again when you are
reatJy to resume playing
the game.
Press 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. Tbe 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.
6

Controller Storage
the 5200 controllers inside
the console unit as follows;
•Unplug the 5200 controllers
from the jacks at the front of
the console.
cable around the joystick.
Open the controller storage
area at the top of the console.
•Place the controllers face •Gently close the cover of the
down (head'to-head) in the controller storage area,
storage area.
7

6. Returning Your TV Set to Television Program Viewing
•Press the console POWER •If you turned oft the automatic
switch OFF. fine-tuning, turn it back on.
•Change the TV/Game switch
on the Switch Box to TV.
7. Maintaining Your ATARI 5200
Your ATARI 5200 will bring you
many years of enjoyment. To
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 cartndge
slot.
•Do rx>t spill liquids on the corv
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 d^age the elec-
tronic components in the corv
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 of
the console with asoft and
slightly damp cloth (use water
only).
8

NOTE; Your ATARI 5200 is engi*
fleered to 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 of your
television set.
•Turn the ATARI 5200 OFF
when not in use.
Compliance with FCC regulations
To comply with 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 alonger 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 Eiox 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.
•TTiis •quipment generates anO uses
radio frequency energy, artd if it is rK3( in-
stalled properly. It may cause interference
to radio and television reception It nas
been type tested ar>d found to comply
witti the limits for aClass Bcomputing
device in accordance with the specifica-
tions in Subpart J of part 15 of FCC
Rules, which are designed to provide rea-
sonable protection against su^ inter-
fererKe in aresidential installalion. If this
equipment does cause interference to
radio or television reception, which can
t>e determined by turning the equipment
off and on. try to correct the interferer>ce
by one or more of the followir>g methods:
•Reorient the receiving antenna.
•Relocate the computer with respect to
the receiver
•Move the computer into aditlerent
outlet so that the computer and
receiver are on different branch c»r-
culls.
If necessary, consult the dealer or an ex-
perienced raidio/ielevision technician for
additional suggestions You may find the
following bo^let prepared by the Federal
Communications Commission helpful:
"How to Identify and Resolve Radio-TV
Interference Pr<k>lems **
This booklet is available from the U8
Government Printing Office. Washington.
DC 20402. stock No. 004-000003454.

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 firve-tuned
for the best picture. Make sure
the automatic fir>e-tunir>g is off
and manually fine-tune for the
best picture. However, if your
television receives color only
when the fine-tunir>g is on.
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 conr>ected to
the console.
•TV/Game Switch Box not cor
rectly connected to television
antenr^.
•Game cartridge not properly
inserted.
•Power Adapter not plugged
into wall outlet.
•Interference on Chanr>el 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. Char>ge to TV.
10

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ATARI. INC.. Consumer Division
1312 Crossman, P.O..Box 61657
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