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How to Set Up an Atari 2600

The Atari 2600 remains an iconic entry in the pantheon of retro gaming consoles and was the machine that played host to medium-shaping titles like "Space Invaders," "Pac-Man" and "E.T." If you've just come into possession of one of these old machines, you may be wondering how to get the device up and running so as to explore the games that paved the way for today's hits. Setting up the 2600 is a simple process.

Things You'll Need

Atari 2600
Game cartridge for Atari 2600
Power adapter and video cable for 2600
TV with RF input

Instructions

- 1
  Connect the power adapter to the socket in the center of the console. Plug the other end into a power socket.
- 2
  Connect the RF plug at the end of the game cable (which extends from the lower left of the rear face of the console) to the antenna plug on your television.
- 3
  Insert a game cartridge into the slot on the top of the 2600. Set the Channel Switch on the front of the Atari 2600 to "3" and turn the machine on.
- 4
  Turn your television on and open the "Tuning" controls. (These are usually located in the "Tuning" or "System" section of the machine's menu). The console is designed to broadcast a third of the way up the UHF band. On most televisions, the easiest way to find the console's signal is simply to cycle through all available frequencies until the TV locks onto the console's image.
- 5
  Connect both controllers to the console and press "Fire" on the first controller to begin single-player games or on the second controller to start two-person play.

Classic Console Games