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Need help finding C64 switchbox

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djmikesharp

New Member
Joined
Sep 10, 2007
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6
So I have a complete c-64 system and was using it with poor display via a Nintendo or sega switchbox. Now I am unable to get any reception when I dumped my old tv, so I think I need a tv/game switchbox that is actually compatible and designed for the C-64. I bought a switchbox at radio shack a year or two ago and that one doesn't work.

Know where I can get one? I am intersted in firing up some old classics like Telengard, Raid over Moscow, the Ultima series, etc......:)
 
Is there any chance you could get a TI or C= monitor? This way, you won't have to use the converter box at all, and have the best pic available (better would be a HDTV, but I'm not going there)

Nathan
 
I dont see commodore parts around at all anymore. But the TV I do have now is HDTV compatible... does that help?
 
You *might* be able to get a monitor cable, one with two or three RCA jacks onone end and the C= interface on the other and hook it up directly. Look online for a monitor cable, they're pretty common and relatively inexpensive.

NOTE: I have never tried this myself, and it might not work. Others may be able to help. I'll ask around.

Nathan
 
Yes, you would connect the computer to composite video in, or S-Video depending on which inputs US TV sets have. I believe you can find cables on eBay that at least do composite video. Most C64s can do separate (Y+C) video too, but you should not confuse this with component video, RGB or something otherwise advanced.

As I wrote in the other thread, I'm still unsure what "switchbox" means. The C64 has a built-in RF modulator, and will output an antenna signal similar to your antenna input (unless you have a digital receiver and route the video signal through some other cables). You may need some converter like Phono to F-connector depending on which kind of antenna input your TV has, but as far as I know there should not be any need of any more advanced box. Correct me if I'm wrong.
 
They sold those TV computers, and video games, with a TV/Game switchbox, that switched the input at the RD connector on the TV. Keep in mind this was LOOONG ago, when most people still used antennas. The switchbox connector to the RF input on the TV, and had 2 inputs to switch between: the game/computer, and the antenna.

Hence the name TV/Game switch.


Tony
 
I have several of them with a standard RCA input to the box and RF modulated output to the TV. In fact, I have one sitting about two feet away from me attached to a 12" B&W TV that I quick test early Atari units on.
 
All you need is to run the black cable (any RCA-style cable will work though) from the output on the back on the C-64 to this adapter for cable input: http://atariace.com/atari/accessories.php/item/146 , which should be available in lots of places, even RadioShack. Essentially instead of going to the RF switchbox, you just go to that adapter. Simple and its less prone to interference.

There are also always a good number of low cost custom cables available (like on eBay) that output a variety of connection types, even composite/stereo (though of course the "stereo" is a split of the mono signal) and s-video (though the only s-video cable I have is for the C-128). Most of those make use of the DIN output. In short, there are countless ways of getting the C-64 hooked up to most TV's and (classic) monitors.
 
Yeah, I was fishing for a such adapter. By the way, "countless ways" to hook up a C64 to a TV set is a slight exaggeration, but I see your point.
 
carlsson said:
Druid: What you just described sounds more like a RF modulator? Or is the signal in the RCA input already a RF signal?
Click to expand...

You're right, Carlsson. The output from the C=64 is composite, isn't it? I don't know what I was thinking.

I have an 1802 and 1084 monitor, you think it would have clicked.

Oh well, looks like I've developed "Sometimers" in my old age :)
 
carlsson said:
Yeah, I was fishing for a such adapter. By the way, "countless ways" to hook up a C64 to a TV set is a slight exaggeration, but I see your point.
Click to expand...

True, there are only two outputs on a standard C-64, but there are a myriad ways of connecting to various things, mostly through the DIN output, which is more what I was getting at. As far as I know, there are only two ways with the RF output, both terminating with the same cable.
 
I have a cable here that, IIRC, is for a C= 64. It's a 5-pin DIN with four RCA connectors at the other end: red, yellow, black & white. Cost of shipping, if someone can use it.

--T
 
Druid: The five or eight pin DIN connector has composite + separate (Y/C) video. The RCA connector has a RF signal and won't (?) work if you plug it into a composite video input. Here in Europe, all C64 and other home computers shipped with an antenna cable which has a RCA connector in one end and a 75 ohm whatever its name antenna connector in the other. Very old video games (perhaps Fairchild Channel F) may have come with different cables for the previous generation of antenna inputs.

Terry: Your cable sounds like a common sound/video cable, which is perfectly fine for hooking up a variety of home computers. Usually only two of the RCA connectors would be used, and a multimeter may come handy to measure which pin goes to which plug. Once the buyer has checked this vs the pinout as found in the manual or on the Internet, the extra plugs could be cut off, leaving only two. If the cable has a 8-pin DIN and exactly three RCA plugs, it can be assumed it was specifically made for the C64/128 etc. Then one might need an adapter to combine the luminance and chrominance from two of the plugs into one S-Video or similar output. I think I've seen a such adaptor somewhere, but they are quite uncommon as few or no other applications require it.
 
carlsson said:
Druid: What you just described sounds more like a RF modulator? Or is the signal in the RCA input already a RF signal?
Click to expand...

I am NOT doing too well in this thread at all. Yes, Carlsson, the signal input to the switchbox is RF modulated and the switchbox just, basically, allows you to switch between the computer/game/whatever and the antenna inputs.

It has a slide switch that says Game on one end and TV on the other.
 
Well I took up Bill's suggestion on purchasing the adapter at Radio Shack, but still no go. So I wonder if there's something wrong with the board. It used to work okay, but reason I think something is wrong is that I know even without having video that when you power up the disk drive then power the computer both lights flash on then the red light goes off after 2 seconds. You can then type a load command and the disk drive will respond. But when I power on the disk drive then the cpu BOTH lights on the disk drive stay lit non-stop. Now what?

I tested the black cable with the adapter on a Nintendo NES and it worked fine, so I don't think its the cable although nintendo NES switchboxes never used to work with the C-64. I think all the switchboxes that came out after the C-64 had different frequencies because I remember that only the C-64 or older Atari switchboxes would work with it....
 
djmikesharp said:
But when I power on the disk drive then the cpu BOTH lights on the disk drive stay lit non-stop. Now what?
Click to expand...
If you power up the floppy drive without turning on the computer, does one light go dark after a second? It could very well be something faulty with your C64, i.e. a broken 6526 CIA. Nevertheless, you should be able to get a video signal if the rest of the computer works as it should. If both the drive lights stay on independent of whether the computer is powered on or not, something is fishy with the drive and/or its power supply.
 
If you have S-Video input on your TV, then you should DEFINATELY get this cable for your C64:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260162130604

I've purchased several items from this seller. He makes all his cables himself, so they're brand new. The quality is good, and he ships fast. What more can you ask for? ;-)

If you still want the computer/TV switch box, let me know... I've got an original one that shipped with a Commodore computer. But you'll get MUCH better quality from the S-Video cable than you will from the RF connection.

-Andrew
 
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