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====== Channel F ======

The Fairchild Channel F (a.k.a. Video Entertainment System) is a first-generation home videogame console developed by Fairchild. It was released in November 1976 and retailed for $169.95 USD ($819 in 2021). It is the first console to use a //micro//processor.

The "F" in Channel F stands for "Fun"! :-D

This system scrapes metadata for the "channelf" group and loads the ''channelf'' set from the currently selected theme, if available.
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==== Quick reference ====

  * **Emulator:** [[#retroarch|RetroArch]]
  * **Core:** [[#libretro:_freechaf|libretro: FreeChaF]]
  * **Folder:** ''/userdata/roms/channelf''
  * **Accepted ROM formats:** ''.zip'', ''.rom'', ''.bin'', ''.chf''

===== BIOS =====

These two BIOS files are required:

^ MD5 checksum ^ Share file path ^ Description ^
| ''ac9804d4c0e9d07e33472e3726ed15c3'' | ''bios/sl31253.bin'' | Channel F BIOS (PSU 1) |
| ''da98f4bb3242ab80d76629021bb27585'' | ''bios/sl31254.bin'' | Channel F BIOS (PSU 2) |

The Channel F II BIOS is optional; games are compatible with either BIOS. If included, the Channel F II BIOS will be used instead of the equivalent Channel F BIOS.

^ MD5 checksum ^ Share file path ^ Description ^
| ''95d339631d867c8f1d15a5f2ec26069d'' | ''bios/sl90025.bin'' | Channel F II BIOS (PSU 1) |

===== ROMs =====

Place your Channel-F ROMs in ''/userdata/roms/channelf''.

===== Emulators =====

==== RetroArch ====

[[https://docs.libretro.com/|RetroArch]] (formerly SSNES), is a ubiquitous frontend that can run multiple "cores", which are essentially the emulators themselves. The most common cores use the [[https://www.libretro.com/|libretro]] API, so that's why cores run in RetroArch in Batocera are referred to as "libretro: (core name)". RetroArch aims to unify the feature set of all libretro cores and offer a universal, familiar interface independent of platform.

=== RetroArch configuration ===

RetroArch offers a **Quick Menu** accessed by pressing ''[HOTKEY]'' + {{:wiki:south.png?nolink&20|South button (B SNES)}} which can be used to alter various things like [[:advanced_retroarch_settings|RetroArch and core options]], and [[:remapping_controls_per_emulator|controller mapping]]. Most RetroArch related settings can be altered from Batocera's EmulationStation.

Standardized features available to all libretro cores: ''channelf.videomode'', ''channelf.ratio'', ''channelf.smooth'', ''channelf.shaders'', ''channelf.pixel_perfect'', ''channelf.decoration'', ''channelf.game_translation''

^ ES setting name ''batocera.conf_key'' ^ Description => ES option ''key_value'' ^
^ Settings that apply to all cores of this emulator ||
| **GRAPHICS BACKEND ''channelf.gfxbackend''** | Choose your graphics rendering\\ => OpenGL ''opengl'', Vulkan ''vulkan''. |
| **AUDIO LATENCY ''channelf.audio_latency''** | Audio latency in milliseconds, turn it up if you hear crackles\\ => 256 ''256'', 192 ''192'', 128 ''128'', 64 ''64'', 32 ''32'', 16 ''16'', 8 ''8''. |
| **THREADED VIDEO ''channelf.video_threaded''** | Improves performance at the cost of latency and more video stuttering. Use only if full speed cannot be obtained otherwise.\\ => On ''true'', Off ''false''. |

=== libretro: FreeChaF ===

[[https://github.com/libretro/FreeChaF|FreeChaF]] is a libretro core for the Fairchild Channel F.

== libretro: FreeChaF configuration ==

===== Controls =====

Access to the console buttons is provided via an overlay. Pressing 'start' on either controller will display the console buttons. You can select a button by moving left and right and press the button with any of the face buttons (A, B, X, Y). Pressing 'start' a second time will hide the overlay.

Here are the default Channel-F's controls shown on a [[:configure_a_controller|Batocera Retropad]]:

{{ https://raw.githubusercontent.com/batocera-linux/batocera-controller-overlays/master/solid-4k/channelf.png }}

^ FreeChaF Function         ^ Retropad                     ^
| Forward                   | D-Pad Up, Left-Analog Up     |
| Backward                  | D-Pad Down, Left-Analog Down |
| Rotate Left               | Y, L, Right-Analog Left      |
| Rotate Right              | A, R, Right-Analog Right     |
| Pull Up                   | X, Right-Analog Up           |
| Push Down                 | B, Right-Analog Down         |
| Show/Hide Console Overlay | Start                        |
| Controller Swap           | Select                       |

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  * **Console Overlay:** Allows the user to view and select console buttons.
  * **Controller Swap:** Controller Swap swaps the player 1 and player 2 controllers.
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===== Troubleshooting =====

==== Further troubleshooting ====

For further troubleshooting, refer to the [[:support|generic support pages]].