---
title: Binatone TV Game Unit (model n° 01 / 4990)
categories:
- Pongs
origins:
- United Kingdom
years:
- '1976'
params:
  name: TV Game Unit (model n° 01 / 4990)
  image: /media/museum/photos/binatone_tv-game-unit_1.jpg
  company: /companies/binatone
  company_name: Binatone
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: TV Game Unit (model n° 01 / 4990)
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Binatone
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: United Kingdom
  - label: YEAR
    value: ? 1976
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: one (pong)
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: 4 built-in knobs. Two for each player (vertical & horizontal movement ?)
  - label: CPU
    value: Unknown
  - label: SPEED
    value: Unknown
  - label: CO-PROCESSOR
    value: Unknown
  - label: RAM
    value: On the system himself
  - label: COLORS
    value: Black & white
  - label: SOUND
    value: Unknown
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: Unknown
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: RF TV video output
  - label: OS
    value: 4 x 'C' batteries
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Unknown
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: 'No'
  - label: PRICE
    value: £23.95 (UK, 197?)
  forum_thread: 1014
  oc_id: 1040
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230613001100/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1040
    date: '2023-06-13'
---

Very interesting and early pong system but sadly nearly nothing is known about it. It is the UK version of the [Entex Gameroom Tele-Pong](/museum/entex-gameroom-tele-pong/) (USA).

It might be an analogic pong, using no dedicated chipset. The controllers are weird : two knobs for each player, integrated into the plastic case. One for vertical movements and the other for horizontal movements. Two other knobs at the top of the case are used to set V-Hold and H-Hold values of the display. Another control (dial or push button) seems to be used to choose between channel 26 or 31 on the TV.

The score is not displayed on TV, but there is a way to keep track of each player's score thanks to two numbered wheels built-in the case.

---

**Steve Challis recalls :**\
I had one of these as a young child. From what I can remember it used descrete TTL /analog logic chips. And there were quite a few of them on one large PCB. It had sound provided by an inbuilt modulator to the TV set. The back was made of cardboard which also housed the battery holder.

<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>