Help With Commodore 64

[BurningDoom]

I recently got a Commodore 64 at Goodwill for only $4. But it's a work in-progress. I only got the computer itself, not the floppy-drive or any cords. I have gotten a power cord, and it works fine (an official Commodore one).

Next I got a T.V. connection cord and I can see what's going on. The familiar Commodore 64 BASIC screen shows up on my T.V. Success! It works!

But my problem is that the picture is little fuzzy and the text is shimmering at me (like when the Atari 2600 does "special effects" in a game shimmery). I was using the cord to my TurboGrafx-16, which also has issues. So this led me to believe that I needed to a new cord. I go down to the local used game shop and pick and NES one up for $5. It did help the fuzz on my TurboGrafx-16, but the C64 still had the same issues.

Any ideas what I can do to fix this? Anything that wouldn't involve soldering? Because I don't have one.

It's still usuable, in the most basic sense. But I'm afraid the games might have this shimmering effect if and when I get a floppy drive and they'll be unplayable.

Thanks for any help.

[CRTGAMER]

The RF cable is the problem. You can get a Commodore cable and mod it to plug in as SVideo.

[BurningDoom]

The RF cable is the problem. You can get a Commodore cable and mod it to plug in as SVideo.

But like I said, I got a new one and it didn't help. My old C64 used an RF cable and didn't give me this problem.

[CRTGAMER]

Maybe the RF shielding missing inside or the different C64 just has more interference. Even if you got rid of the fuzz, the SVideo will be soooo much better. You can buy a readily made C64 to SVideo cable online, just hit Google.

[Hatta]

Try a composite video connection before you do anything else.

[CRTGAMER]

Try a composite video connection before you do anything else.

The C64 does not have a dedicated Composite or SVideo port. A cable can be made up to accommodate both, I updated my earlier Reply with a pic.

[Hobie-wan]

As I recall, stuff that uses the old school manual switch boxes don't like the auto ones that came with consoles.

[BurningDoom]

Well that sucks, guess I'm gonna have to find another cord, again. Just seems strange I didn't have this problem on the last one. I could have swore I used my old NES connection on it and used composite for the NES.

[Hobie-wan]

I could be wrong. I only used my C64 with a TV for a short time before I got a 1702 back in the day and had it hooked up with a proper cable.

[ApolloBoy]

All C64s output composite video and ones with the 8-pin DIN jack also output chroma/luma
(S-video). There are plenty of cables out there that will work or you can do what I did and mod your system with dedicated jacks.