Hi all, I just bought an untested VIC-20 from ebay.
I've plugged it in with a A/V cable so that I don't need the RF box.
First of all I get a black screen and a shushing noise, then after about 15 seconds I get the blue border and lots of garbled random characters, some flashing. I've also tried it with a games cartridge, the screen looks different, but it's still messed up.

It's the older VIC-20 with the VIC on the badge in colour and the 2 pin power socket.

It has a 901460-03 soldiered and a 6561E in a socket.

Can anyone help me fix it?

Probably a bad VIC.
If the basic chip is socketed, remove it and try a cartridge which doesn't make use of basic. If this works, then it could also be a bad basic chip.
_________________