Magnavox Odyssey 200
 | |
| An Odyssey 200 on display at the Museo de Informática de la República Argentina | |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | The Magnavox Company |
| Type | Dedicated home video game console |
| Released | 1975[1][2] |
| CPU | None; six Texas Instruments integrated circuits (Magnavox IC1 to IC6)[3][1] |
| Memory | None |
| Storage | — |
| Display | Black and white, RF output on VHF channel 3 or 4[1][4][5] |
| Sound | Beep from a built-in ceramic speaker, with an on/off switch[5][6] |
| Power | Six C cells or a 9 V AC adaptor[4] |
| OS / Firmware | — |
| Predecessor | Magnavox Odyssey |
| Model no. | YF7015[4] |
The Magnavox Odyssey 200 (model YF7015) is a dedicated home video game console made by Magnavox from 1975. It plays three built-in games in black and white: Smash, Tennis and Hockey. Tennis and Hockey can be played with two or four players on the screen, and the console keeps score on the screen as well as with two sliding markers on the case.[4][5][1] It is built on the same board as the Magnavox Odyssey 100, with two more Texas Instruments chips fitted: IC4, which draws the two extra players, and IC6, the scoring logic.[1][3]
History
[edit | edit source]The Odyssey 200 came out alongside the Odyssey 100 in 1975, as the more expensive of the two consoles that replaced the original Odyssey. Both use a Texas Instruments chipset that Magnavox contracted for in May 1974.[1][7] Wikipedia's article on the Odyssey gives a November 1975 release at US$109.95; its article on the Odyssey series gives first shipments on 12 November 1975 at US$129.95.[7][2] Philips sold the console in Europe from 1976 as the Philips Odyssey 200, with a PAL version of the chipset, a European television lead and a Philips label.[1][2]
The Odyssey 200's on-screen score is a pair of small rectangles, one per side, that step to the right each time that side scores. After 15 points the winner's mark disappears.[8][1] The Magnavox Odyssey 400 of 1976 plays the same three games with digital on-screen scores.[1][2]
Specifications
[edit | edit source]| Item | Minimum | Nominal | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulated supply at IC1 pin 3 | 4.5 V | 5.0 V | 5.5 V |
| Current drain | – | 65 mA | – |
| Vertical sync frequency | 59 Hz | 60 Hz | 61 Hz |
| Horizontal sync frequency | 15.704 kHz | 15.734 kHz | 15.784 kHz |
| RF carrier, channel 3 | 61.22 MHz | 61.25 MHz | 61.28 MHz |
| RF carrier, channel 4 | 67.22 MHz | 67.25 MHz | 67.28 MHz |
| RF output into 300 Ω | 1100 µV | – | 1600 µV |
Magnavox gives the same specifications for the YF7010 apart from the current drain, which is 45 mA on the Odyssey 100.[4]
Hardware
[edit | edit source]Integrated circuits
[edit | edit source]| Ref | Magnavox part | Functions (Magnavox) |
|---|---|---|
| IC1 | 612086 | Voltage regulator, vertical sync generator, horizontal sync generator, right wall generator, rebound circuitry |
| IC2 | 612087 | Right player generator, left player generator |
| IC3 | 612088 | Left wall generator, ball generator |
| IC4 | 612087 | Right back court player generator, left back court player generator |
| IC5 | 612089 | Video summer, video output, audio pulse generator, logic circuitry |
| IC6 | 612090 | Automatic scoring circuitry |
IC2 and IC4 are the same part. The parts list gives IC1, IC2, IC3, IC4 and IC6 a group suffix and refers to the table on the schematic, which sets the timing capacitors for each of four groups. On the YF7015 the horizontal timing capacitors are C3, C14, C18, C41, C43, C48, C50 and C72, and the vertical ones C4, C13, C17, C40, C42, C49, C51 and C70.[6][9]
| Capacitors | Group 1 ICs | Group 2 ICs | Group 3 ICs | Group 4 ICs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horizontal | 0.0022 µF | 0.0027 µF (C3 0.0022 µF) | 0.0018 µF | 0.0027 µF |
| Vertical | 0.47 µF | 0.56 µF | 0.39 µF | 0.68 µF |
Power
[edit | edit source]The console runs from six C cells or a 9 V AC adaptor, which plugs into a socket at the top back of the console. Magnavox's booklet advises taking the cells out if the console is normally run from the adaptor, to prevent damage from leaking cells.[5][4] The adaptor jack J1 disconnects the battery when a plug is inserted.[9]
The YF7015 does not use the regulator inside IC1. Its 9 V supply goes to a discrete regulator, transistor Q9 with a 6.0 V zener diode Z1 and an 820 Ω resistor R104, and IC1's regulator input (pin 2) is marked not connected on the schematic. Magnavox's chart gives Q9 9.0 V on the collector, 6.0 V on the base and 5.2 V on the emitter.[9][3][6] The Odyssey 100 uses IC1's own regulator instead.[10]
Controls
[edit | edit source]The top of the console has three knobs for each player (vertical, horizontal and ball control), the Center knob (R55, the left wall position) and the Speed knob (R51), the two score sliders, the GAME switch (A Smash, B Tennis, C Hockey), the PLAYERS switch (2 or 4) and the POWER switch.[5][11][6] The schematic labels the first game position Handball.[9] The PLAYERS switch also resets the on-screen score when it is moved to its other position, and the power switch carries the ball reset contacts.[8][6]
With the PLAYERS switch at 4, each side gets a second, fixed player. Its horizontal position is set by an internal control and it follows the vertical control of the main player on its side, more slowly.[8][5] Magnavox's documents call this an option for two or four players, but the console has controls for two people.[4][2]
Under the bottom cabinet are the battery compartment, the channel and sound switches and holes marked for the vertical and horizontal frequency, right wall position, goal position, right and left fixed player horizontal position and score vertical position controls.[5] The board also carries the rebound, blanking and horizontal score position controls described in the service manual.[11][8] The procedures are on Magnavox Odyssey 200 General Maintenance.
Television connection
[edit | edit source]The game cord plugs into an antenna-game switch box (701702-1) that connects to the television's 300 Ω VHF terminals.[5][12] The channel switch S4, to the right of the battery compartment, selects channel 3 or 4 and is set to 3 at the factory.[5][9]
Known faults
[edit | edit source]The Odyssey 200 uses the same board as the Odyssey 100, and the same part (160546-3) for its power and ball reset switch.[1][6] Faults found on the Odyssey 100, such as dirty ball reset contacts, a noisy channel switch and a damaged battery holder, are covered on Magnavox Odyssey 100 Troubleshooting Guide. Faults in the parts only the 200 has (IC4, IC6 and the Q9 regulator) are covered on Magnavox Odyssey 200 Troubleshooting Guide.[13][3]
Documentation
[edit | edit source]Magnavox Service Manual No. 6503, which covers the Odyssey 200 as the YF7015, and the Odyssey 200 instruction booklet IB 2900-2 are hosted on the wiki and described on Magnavox Odyssey 100 and 200 Documentation.[4][5]
Gallery
[edit | edit source]-
The GAME and PLAYERS switches, score sliders and power switch -
The AC adaptor socket and the Center and Speed knobs -
YF7015 main board, component view (Service Manual No. 6503, p. 6503-8)
.jpg)
Related pages
[edit | edit source]- Magnavox Odyssey 200 General Maintenance
- Magnavox Odyssey 200 Troubleshooting Guide
- Magnavox Odyssey 200 Capacitor Replacement Guide
- Magnavox Odyssey 100 and 200 Documentation
- Magnavox Odyssey 100, the two-game model on the same board
- Magnavox Odyssey
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 David Winter, Pong-Story, "Other Magnavox Odyssey systems" (retrieved 2026-10-19): the Texas Instruments agreement of May 1974, the Odyssey 100 and 200 sharing one circuit board with different TI chipsets, their games, controls, scoring and power, the later models, and the Philips versions sold in Europe.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Wikipedia, "Magnavox Odyssey series" (retrieved 2026-10-19), sections on the Odyssey 100, Odyssey 200 and Philips Odyssey 200: announcement and shipping dates, launch prices and the European release.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Magnavox, Service Manual No. 6503, February 1976, p. 6503-4: YF7010 and YF7015 voltage charts for IC1 to IC6 and transistors Q4 to Q7 and Q9 (taken with a VTVM, game switch at B, players switch at 4, sound on, players centred, ball volleying), with notes 1 to 16, and the IC basic functions (IC4 and IC6 not used in the YF7010). Hosted as File:Magnavox Odyssey 100 and 200 Service Manual 6503.pdf.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 The Magnavox Company, Service Manual No. 6503: YF7010 & YF7015 Odyssey, first issue, February 1976, p. 6503-1: general information (6 C cells or an optional AC to DC 9 V adaptor; the YF7010 has two games, mechanical scoring and two players; the YF7015 has three games, electronic and mechanical scoring and two or four players with Tennis and Hockey) and the specifications table. Hosted as File:Magnavox Odyssey 100 and 200 Service Manual 6503.pdf.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 The Magnavox Company, Odyssey 200 Installation and Game Rules, IB 2900-2, 1975: the antenna-game switch and game cord (pp. 3 and 4), battery installation and the channel switch (p. 4), the sound switch and adjusting the television (p. 5), customising the console (p. 6), the player controls and getting the ball on screen (p. 7), Smash and its scoring (pp. 8 and 9), Hockey scoring (p. 13), the performance check list (p. 14). Hosted as File:Magnavox Odyssey 200 Installation and Game Rules IB2900-2.pdf.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Magnavox, Service Manual No. 6503, February 1976, p. 6503-12: master board replacement parts list (coils, capacitors with type, value, rating and part number, controls and switches, semiconductors, miscellaneous) and cabinet replacement parts list. Hosted as File:Magnavox Odyssey 100 and 200 Service Manual 6503.pdf.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Wikipedia, "Magnavox Odyssey" (retrieved 2026-10-19), section on the console's discontinuation: the Texas Instruments contract of May 1974 and the release of the Odyssey 100 and 200 in November 1975 with their prices.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Magnavox, Service Manual No. 6503, February 1976, p. 6503-2: typical operation (Tennis), the electronic scoring marks of the YF7015, and the service adjustments with Figure 1 (blanking). Hosted as File:Magnavox Odyssey 100 and 200 Service Manual 6503.pdf.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Magnavox, Service Manual No. 6503, February 1976, pp. 6503-9 to 6503-11: YF7015 schematic diagram, with regulator Q9, IC4, IC6, the player select and score reset switch S2 and the timing capacitor table. Hosted as File:Magnavox Odyssey 100 and 200 Service Manual 6503.pdf.
- ↑ Magnavox, Service Manual No. 6503, February 1976, pp. 6503-5 and 6503-6: YF7010 schematic diagram, with the timing capacitor table and the antenna switch box. Hosted as File:Magnavox Odyssey 100 and 200 Service Manual 6503.pdf.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Magnavox, Service Manual No. 6503, February 1976, p. 6503-3: YF7010 and YF7015 top views showing the adjustment potentiometers, controls, switches, integrated circuits, transistors and battery terminals W1 and W2. Hosted as File:Magnavox Odyssey 100 and 200 Service Manual 6503.pdf.
- ↑ Magnavox, Service Manual No. 6503, February 1976, p. 6503-13: antenna/game switch replacement parts list and drawing. Hosted as File:Magnavox Odyssey 100 and 200 Service Manual 6503.pdf.
- ↑ Nerdly Pleasures, "Sears (Atari) Tele-games Pong vs Magavox Odyssey 100 - Battle of the First Pong Consoles", 7 August 2022 (retrieved 2026-10-19), sections on the Odyssey 100 and 200, "Quirks of the Odyssey 100" and "Issues Encountered with the Odyssey 100": the battery compartment and its coin screw, the AC adaptor plug, the battery snaps, the RF cable, the internal adjustments, and the owner's repairs. Owner's hands-on report.