Magnavox Odyssey 500 Documentation
Magnavox's service manual for the Magnavox Odyssey 500 (model BG7520) is Service Manual No. 6506. The console's instruction booklet, Odyssey 500 Installation and Game Rules, is hosted with it.[1][2]
Service Manual No. 6506
[edit | edit source]Magnavox Service Manual No. 6506, BG7520 Odyssey, is The Magnavox Company's 10-page service manual for the Odyssey 500. It is filed in Volume 12, Miscellaneous Section; this copy is the first issue, December 1976, code TTFWP1276, copyright 1976.[3] The scan is Sylvain De Chantal's 600 dpi copy from the Internet Archive, reduced to 300 dpi for hosting.[1]
Contents
[edit | edit source]| Page | Contents |
|---|---|
| 6506-1 | Drawing of the console; general information; specifications |
| 2 (headed 6505-2) | Typical operation (Tennis), colours, Soccer, sound, automatic scoring; top view of the BG7520 with its controls and switches |
| 6506-3 | Service adjustments, with Figure 1 (blanking); IC basic functions |
| 4 (headed 6505-4) | Voltage charts for IC1 to IC8 and transistors Q1 to Q5 |
| 6506-5 and 6506-6 | BG7520 schematic diagram, with the antenna switch box |
| 6506-7 | BG7520 top view (service adjustments) |
| 6506-8 | BG7520 main P.C. board (component view) |
| 6506-9 | Replacement parts list; antenna/game switch parts list and drawing |
| Back cover | Cabinet replacement parts list |
Pages 2 and 4 carry the page numbers of the Odyssey 400 manual (6505-2 and 6505-4), but their content is for the BG7520.[4][6]
What it does not contain
[edit | edit source]- No troubleshooting chart or symptom list.[5]
- No disassembly instructions.[5]
- No RF alignment procedure. Magnavox states that the RF filter, RF oscillator and RF output level are not to be adjusted at any time.[5]
- No horizontal or vertical frequency adjustment.[5]
- No internal circuit of the integrated circuits.[5][7]
What it settles
[edit | edit source]- The current drain (185 mA nominal, 200 mA maximum) and the warning that excessive current means replacing IC1.[3][5]
- The colour adjustments: the 3.58 MHz oscillator trimmer C41, the background colour control R54 and the expected background colour for each game.[5]
- The value, rating and part number of all seventeen electrolytic capacitors. The parts list prints C6 as 22 µF with the part number of a 2.2 µF part; the schematic gives 2.2 µF.[7][9]
- Two other discrepancies: the parts list calls R102 "RF Osc. Adjust" where the adjustment page and schematic make it the score oscillator control, and it gives the C41 trimmer as 3–15 pF where the schematic shows 4–20 pF.[7][5][9]
Pages that cite this document
[edit | edit source]- Magnavox Odyssey 500: specifications, integrated circuits, power, controls and scoring.
- Magnavox Odyssey 500 General Maintenance: current drain, supply checks, switches and the service adjustments.
- Magnavox Odyssey 500 Troubleshooting Guide: the voltage charts and IC functions.
- Magnavox Odyssey 500 Capacitor Replacement Guide: capacitor values, ratings and part numbers.
Download: Magnavox Odyssey 500 Service Manual 6506.pdf
Odyssey 500 Installation and Game Rules
[edit | edit source]The Odyssey 500 booklet, copyright 1976, is a 14-page PDF, most pages scanned as two-page spreads. It covers the introduction and features (the playing field colours, the three player figures, the automatic serve and scoring), preparation for use (the antenna-game switch, game cord, AC adaptor, channel switch and sound switch), adjusting the television, the control panel and player controls, and the Smash, Tennis, Hockey and Soccer rules. The warranty sheet (EL 3127-1) and a list of Magnavox consumer affairs offices are scanned with it. Unlike the Odyssey 100, 200 and 400 booklets, it has no performance check list and no internal adjustments for the owner.[10][2]
Download: Magnavox Odyssey 500 Installation and Game Rules.pdf
Figures rendered from the service manual
[edit | edit source]-
Top view with the service adjustments (p. 6506-7) -
Main board, component view (p. 6506-8)
.jpg)
.jpg)
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Internet Archive, "Magnavox Odyssey series Service Manuals & Game Manuals", uploaded 28 January 2018 by Sylvain (Sly DC) De Chantal; file "Magnavox Odyssey 500 Service Manual.pdf", 10 pages scanned at 600 dpi, page 1 marked "Scanned by Sly DC (2018)" (retrieved 2026-10-19).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Internet Archive, "1st Generation Video Game Consoles Manuals", file "Discrete Consoles/Magnavox Odyssey 500.pdf", 14 pages (retrieved 2026-10-19).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The Magnavox Company, Service Manual No. 6506: BG7520 Odyssey, first issue, December 1976, p. 6506-1: general information (9 V 200 mA AC adaptor; Hockey, Tennis, Smash and Soccer; three styles of players; colour background and players, automatic serve, digital on-screen scoring) and the specifications table. Hosted as File:Magnavox Odyssey 500 Service Manual 6506.pdf.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Magnavox, Service Manual No. 6506, December 1976, p. 2 (headed "6505-2" in error): typical operation (Tennis), the colours of the court and players, the black spot on the left player, the Soccer goal control, the sound switch, automatic scoring and serve, and the top view of the BG7520 with its controls and switches. Hosted as File:Magnavox Odyssey 500 Service Manual 6506.pdf.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 Magnavox, Service Manual No. 6506, December 1976, p. 6506-3: service adjustments (the warning on current drain and IC1, score indicator position, rebound, blanking with Figure 1, the instruction not to adjust the RF section, video level, 3.58 MHz oscillator, background colour, player size balance, right wall, goal opening) and the IC basic functions. Hosted as File:Magnavox Odyssey 500 Service Manual 6506.pdf.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Magnavox, Service Manual No. 6506, December 1976, p. 4 (headed "6505-4" in error): voltage charts for IC1 to IC8 and transistors Q1 to Q5 (VTVM; 9 V DC at IC1 pin 2; channel 4; sound on; Tennis; lowest ball speed; players centred), with notes 1 to 16. Hosted as File:Magnavox Odyssey 500 Service Manual 6506.pdf.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Magnavox, Service Manual No. 6506, December 1976, p. 6506-9: replacement parts list (coils, capacitors with type, value, rating and part number, controls and switches, semiconductors, AC adaptor and miscellaneous) and the antenna/game switch parts list. Hosted as File:Magnavox Odyssey 500 Service Manual 6506.pdf.
- ↑ Magnavox, Service Manual No. 6506, December 1976, back cover: cabinet replacement parts list. Hosted as File:Magnavox Odyssey 500 Service Manual 6506.pdf.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Magnavox, Service Manual No. 6506, December 1976, pp. 6506-5 and 6506-6: BG7520 schematic diagram, with the power switch, adaptor jack J1, IC1 to IC8, crystal X1, the RF section and the antenna switch box. Hosted as File:Magnavox Odyssey 500 Service Manual 6506.pdf.
- ↑ The Magnavox Company, Odyssey 500 Installation and Game Rules, 1976: introduction and features (the colours of the playing fields, the three player styles and their sizes, the black spot on the left player, the reset, automatic serve and 20-point game), preparation for use (antenna-game switch, game cord, AC adaptor, channel switch, sound switch), adjusting the television, the control panel, the player control knobs and ball control, and the Smash, Tennis, Hockey and Soccer rules. Hosted as File:Magnavox Odyssey 500 Installation and Game Rules.pdf.