5200_Instruction_Manual

ATARI(R) 5200(TM)
Owner's Manual

ATARI(R)
A Warner Communciations Company W

Table of Contents

1 Unpacking Your ATARI 5200

2 Installing the TV Antenna Switch Box

3 Setting Up the Console

4 Inserting a Game Cartridge

5 Using the 5200 Controllers

6 Returning Your TV Set to Television Program Viewing

7 Maintaining Your ATARI 5200

8 Troubleshooting checklist

1. Unpacking Your ATARI 5200

Congratulations on your purchase of one of the most exciting video game systems
available.  We suggest that you read this Owner's Manual thoroughly before
setting up your ATARI 5200.

NOTE: Read this manual carefully, and completely set up your ATARI 5200 before
plugging in the power adapter.

When you remove your ATARI 5200 fromthe box, you will have:

* 5200 Console Unit
* SUPER BREAKOUT(TM) Game Cartridge
* Two 5200 Controllers
* TV Antenna Switch Box
* Power Adapter
* 300 OHM to 75 OHM TV Switch Box Adapter

Note: Your ATARI 5200 is packaged with a protective plastic coating.  To remove
the plastic, refer to page 11 of this Owner's Manual.

2. Installing the TV Antenna Switch Box

The TV Antenna Switch Box is easy to attach tothe VHF antenna terminal on the
back of your television set.  Carefully inspect the antenna connection at the
back of your television set to determine whether your present antenna is 300
ohms (flat twin-lead wire) or 75 ohms (round cable).

Follow the instructions (paragraphs A through F) which most closely apply to
your television set antenna.  If your television set is 300 ohms, you will need
a flat-blade screwdriver to install the switch box.  THE TV SWITCH BOX ADAPTER
IS NOT NECESSARY IF YOUR TELEVISION SET IS 75 OHMS.

CAUTION: Do not use this TV Antenna Switch Box with any unit other than the
5200.  Severe damage to the unit can result if this Switch Box is used with
any other unit.

A. Television Set with VHF Screws and Twin-lead Wire Antenna:

1. Disconnect the twin-lead antenna wire from the back of your television set.

2. Connect the twin-lead wire on the Switch Box Adapter to the VHF screw
terminals on your television set.

3. Connect the antenna cable on the TV Antenna Switch Box to the 75 ohm 
connector on the Switch Box Adapter.  Securely tighten the connection.

4. Connect the television twin-lead antenna wire to the 300 OHM connector on 
the TV Antenna Switch Box.

B. Television with U-Shaped Slider Switch and Twin-lead Wire:

1. Disconnect the twin-lead antenna wire from the VHF screw terminals.  Move
the U-shaped slider to the right to make a connection between the two screws.

2. Connect the twin-lead wire on the Switch Box Adapter to the VHF antenna
screws on the back of your television set.

3. Connect the television twin-lead wire to the 300 OHM connector on the TV
Antenna Switch Box.

4. Connect the antenna cable on the TV Antenna Switch Box to the cylinder on
the Switch Box Adapter.

C. Television with 75 OHM/300 OHM Slide Switch and Twin-Lead Wire:

1. Disconnect the twin-lead antenna wire from the VHF screw terminals.

2. Slide the switch to the 300 OHM position and follow steps B-2 through B-4.

D. Television with a Short Round Cable and Twin-lead Wire:

1. Connect the short round cable to the cable connector provided next to it on
your television set.  Then follow steps B-2 through B-4.

NOTE: For some televisions, the 75 OHM connector may not work correctly.  If
this is the case, no playfield will appear after you insert a cartridge and
press the POWER switch on the console.  To correct this problem, simply treat
your television as though it is 300 ohms.  Then follow steps A, B, C, or D.

E. Television with 75 OHM Antenna Cable and VHF Screws:

1. Disconnect the antenna cable from the cable connector or impedence-matching
adapter (balun) on the back of your television set.

2. Connect the antenna cable on the TV Antenna Switch Box to the cable 
connector on your television set or the impedence-matching adapter.  Securely
tighten the connection.

3. Connect the antenna cable on your television set to the 75 OHM connector on
the TV Antenna Switch Box.

F. Television with Round Antenna Cable and No VHF Screws:

1. Disconnect the round antenna cable from your television set.

2. Connect the antenna cable on the TV Antenna Switch Box to the 75 ohm
(cylinder-shaped) connector on the back of the television set.

3. Connect the television antenna cable to the 75 OHM connector on the TV
Antenna Switch Box.

Plugging in the Game Cable

Plug the Game Cable on the console unit into the TV Antenna Switch Box GAME
connector.

Excess cable can be wrapped around the cable wrap on the bottom of the console
unit.

The TV Antenna Switch Box can be left attached to your television set without
interfering with television program viewing or reception.

To attach the TV Antenna Switch Box permanently to the back of your television
set:

* Peel off the protective paper on the back of the TV Antenna Switch Box.

* Stick the TV Antenna Switch Box ontotany clear area near the antenna
terminals on the back of your television set.

On the bottom, right side of the TV Antenna Switch Box, you will notice a
switch labeled STANDBY/NORMAL.  The NORMAL position is the correct position
during regular use of your ATARI 5200.  Changing this switch to the STANDBY
position allows you to view regular television programs while the 5200 is still
on.  This feature allows you to save a high score on the screen.  It also
allows a game to continue running or the computer to take its turn while you
watch television.  To return to the game playfield, simply move the switch
back to the NORMAL postition.

Extra TV Antenna Switch Boxes

If you attach a TV Antenna Switch Box to each television set in your home, you
will be able to move your ATARI 5200 from room to room.  Extra TV Switch Boxes
are available through your local ATARI dealer.

3. Setting Up The Console

1. Peel off the protective coating on the top of the console unit.

2. Check the channel selector switch on the back, left side of the console to
be sure it is set to [circle].

3. Set your television set channel selector to Channel 3.  If Channel 3 is
broadcasting in your area, set the television channel selector switch to
Channel 2 and change the channel selector switch on the console unit to
[square].

4. Insert the Power Adapter cable jack intot he POWER plug on the TV Switch
Box.

WARNING: Verify that the Game Cable is plugged into the TV Switch Box before
plugging the Power Adapter intot he TV Switch Box.

5. 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 supply could damage the console unit.

6. Turn your television set on and set the volume control to a comfortable
level.

7. Press the POWER ON/OFF switch on the lower right side of the console to ON.
A red light (LED) glows when the POWER is ON.  When the POWER is OFF, the
Switch Box automatically switches back to regular television viewing.

NOTE: Always turn the POWER OFF when the game is not in use.

8. If your television set has an automatic fine-tuning control, turn it off and
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.

9. Plug the 5200 controllers into the controller jacks on the front of the
console unit.  Use jack 1 for one-player games; use jacks 1 and 2 for 
two-player games.  For three and four-player games, you will need to purchase
an additional set of 5200 controllers.  Plug the second set of 5200 controllers
into jacks 3 and 4. (See also USING THE 5200 CONTROLLERS).

4. Inserting a Game Cartridge

1. Hold the game cartridge so the name on the label faces you and reads
right-side-up.

2. Carefully insert the game cartridge into the cartridge slot in the 5200
console.  Be sure the cartridge fits firmly into the slot but DO NOT FORCE
IT IN.

3. Press the console POWER ON/OFF switch.  A bright, colorful 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 new controllers allow you
to move the play pieces in any direction on the screen--right, left, up, down,
diagonally, and all around.

Plug the controllers into the jacks on the front of the console unit.  Each
jack is numbered.  Use jack 1 for one-player games; use jacks 1 and 2 for
two-player games.  The jack is designed to fit only one way.  Be sure the
connection is firm, but do not try to force it.

Some of the controller functions vary with different games.  Be sure to check
the appropriate game instructions for the different controller functions.

Each controller has two fire buttons on either side.  The bottom functions are
the fire buttons for all games.  The top buttons are used for different
functions depending on the particular game.  Again, see the specific game
instructions for the different controller functions.  The right or the left
fire button can be used, whichever is more comfortable for you.

The START, PAUSE, and RESET buttons on the controllers perform the following
functions:

START - Press START to begin game play.

PAUSE - Press PAUSE to stop all game action for an intermission.  This feature
allows you to leave the game without interrupting the game or score.  Press
PAUSE again when you are ready to resume the game.

RESET - Press RESET only when you want to start the game over from the
beginning.

The # controller and the * controller button are used to select different game
options.  Again, refer to the particular game instructions for further details.

Keypad Overlays

All game cartridges come with two keypad overlays.  The overlays fit directly
over the keypad buttons to indicate the keypad functions.  These functions may
vary from game to game.  Again, refer to the particular game instructions for
more information.

Controller Storage

When not in use, store the 5200 controllers inside the console unit as follows:

Unplug the 5200 controllers from the jacks on the front of the console.

Wind the controller cable around the joystick.  Open the smoke-colored
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 to the controller storage area.

6. Returning Your TV Set to Television Program Viewing

* Press the console POWER switch to OFF.  The TV Antenna Switch Box
automatically switches back to program viewing.

* If you turned off the automatic fine-tuning, turn it back on.

7. Maintaining Your ATARI 5200

Your ATARI 5200 will bring you many years of enjoyment.  To keep it in good
working condition, 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.

* Take care not to spill liquids on the console, cartridges, or controllers.

* Do not lift the 5200 console or 5200 controllers by the connecting wires.
You could bend or crimp the wires and break the internal insulation.

* Be careful not to drop the console, controllers, or game cartridges on hard
surfaces.

* Do not expose the console, controllers, or game cartridges to extreme or
excessive heat.

* Do not use any power adapter other than the Power Adapter packed with your
ATARI 5200.  You could damage the electronic components in the console unit.

* Clean the exterior surface of the console with a soft, slightly damp cloth
(use water only).

* NOTE: Your ATARI 5200 is engineered to eliminate phosphor memory or "burn-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 Communications Commision * (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 Antenna Switch Box to the
antenna connection on your television set.  The antenna cable supplied on the
TV Antenna Switch Box is the right length and complies with FCC regulations.

* Do not connect the antenna output cable on your TV Switch Box directly to any
television antenna or Cable TV outlet.

* Do not attach loose wires to your television antenna terminals when you are
using the ATARI 5200.

* This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy, and if it is not
installed properly, it may cause interference to radio and television
reception.  It has been type tested and found to comply with the limits for
a Class B computing device in accordance withthe specifications in Subpart J
of part 15 of FCC Rules, which are designed to provide reasonable protection
against such interference in a residential installation.  If this equipment
does cause interference to radio or television reception, which can be
determined by turning the equipment off and on, try to correct the interference
by one or more of the following methods:

* reorient the receiving antenna.
* relocate the computer with respect to the receiver.
* move the computer into a different outlet so that the computer and receiver
  are on different branch circuits.

If necessary, consult the dealer or an experienced radio.television technician
for additional suggestions.  You may find the following booklet prepared by
the Federal Communications Commission helpful: "How to Identify and Resolve
Radio-TV Interference Problems."

This booklet is available from the US Government Printing Office, Washington,
DC 20402, Stock No. 004-000-00345-4.

8. Troubleshooting Checklist

The following list of symptoms, causes, and remedies is supplied to help you
troubleshoot any possible problems in setting up your ATARI 5200.  Always
disconnect the Power Adapter before checking any electrical connections.

Symptom: ATARI logo and playfield image do not appear on screen.

Probable Cause and Remedy: * Console POWER switch not ON.
                           * Game cable not properly plugged into TV Antenna
                             Switch Box.
                           * Power jack is not connected to the console.
                           * Connection on 75 OHM television not functioning.
                             Change to 300 OHM using the Switch Box Adapter.
                           * TV Antenna Switch Box not correctly connected to
                             television antenna.
                           * Game cartridge not properly inserted.
                           * Power Adapter not plugged into wall outlet.
                           * Interference on Channel 3.  Change console
                             channel selector switch to [square] and change
                             television channel selector to 2.

Symptom: No regular television program viewing.

Probable Cause and Remedy: * Television antenna not correctly connected to
                             TV Switch Box.

Symptom: Game picture and playfield are fuzzy or the sounds are distorted.

Probable Cause and Remedy: * TV Antenna Switch Box not correctly connected to
                             television antenna.
                           * Television set not fine-tuned for the best
                             picture.  Make sure the automatic fine-tuning is
                             off and manually fine-tune for the best picture.
                             However, if your television receives color only
                             when the fine-tuning is on, leave it on.
                           * Interference on Channel 3.  Change console channel
                             switch to [square], and change television to 2. 

Symptom: No game sounds.

Probable Cause and Remedy: * Turn up the volume on your television set.

ATARI(R)
A Warner Communications Company W

ATARI, INC., Consumer Division
P.O. Box 427, Sunnyvale, CA 94086

(C) 1982 ATARI, INC.
CO 19277 U.S.A. All Rights Reserved Printed in U.S.A.  

This document typed by gchance@ecst.csuchico.edu.