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 microprocessor.
The “F” in Channel F stands for “Fun”! 
This system scrapes metadata for the “channelf” group and loads the channelf set from the currently selected theme, if available.
Quick reference
- Emulator: RetroArch
- Core: 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
RetroArch (formerly SSNES), is a ubiquitous frontend that can run multiple “cores”, which are essentially the emulators themselves. The most common cores use the 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] + 
which can be used to alter various things like RetroArch and core options, and 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
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 Batocera Retropad:
| 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 |
- Console Overlay: Allows the user to view and select console buttons.
- Controller Swap: Controller Swap swaps the player 1 and player 2 controllers.
Troubleshooting
Further troubleshooting
For further troubleshooting, refer to the generic support pages.
- systems/channelf.txt
- Last modified: 10 months ago
- by atari