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.
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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.
3

TV
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.
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75 OHM TO
300 OHM
ADAPTER 1
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.
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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.
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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.
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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:
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-- --- .
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
in
Power supply
not plugged
in
Bad fuse in
computer
TV on wrong
channel
Incorrect
hookup
Video coble
not plugged
in
Computer set
for wrong
channel
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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.
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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

COLOR ADJUSTMENT
There is a simple way to get a pattern of colors on the TV so you can
easily adjust the set. Even though you may not be familiar with the
operation of the computer right now, just follow along, and you'll see
how easy it is to use the Commodore 64.
First, look on the left side of the keyboard and locate the key marked
1iIII.This stands for ConTRoL and is used, in conjunction with other
keys, to instruct the computer to do a specific task.
To use a control function, you hold down the amikey while depress-
ing a second key.
Try this: hold the amikey while also depressing thellkey. Then re-
lease both keys. Nothing obvious should have happened, but if you
touch any key now, the screen will show the character displayed in re-
verse type, rather than normal type-like the opening message or any-
thing you typed earlier.
Hold down the L'I:Hlli8:H:1. What happens? If you did the above pro-
cedure correctly, you should see a light blue bar move across the screen
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and then move down to the next line as long as the 1-"l:I~tll::8:J,':1is de-
pressed.
Now, hold _while depressing any of the other number keys. Each
of them has a color marked on the front. Anything displayed from this
point will be in that color. For example, hold _and theDkey and
release both. Now hold the 1-"l:I~tll::8:J,':I.
Watch the display. The bar is now in yellow! In a like manner you can
change the bar to any of the other colors indicated on the number keys
by holding _and the appropriate key.
Change the bar to a few more different colors and then adjust the
color and tint controls on your TV so the display matches the colors you
selected.
The display should appear something like this:
At this point everything is properly adjusted and working correctly.
The following chapters will introduce you to the BASIC language. How-
ever, you can immediately start using some of the many prewritten ap-
plications and games available for the Commodore 64 without knowing
anything about computer programming.
Each of these packages contains detailed information about how to
use the program. It is suggested, though, that you read through the first
few chapters of this manual to become more familiar with the basic
operation of your new system.
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