> set to channel 36, natch

Was that specific to C64? I recall old consoles and VCRs using either channel 3 or 4.

Might be a European thing. I remember that, here in the UK, on my Vic-20 connected to my parent's Bush portable tv, it was channel 36. I believe the C64 was the same.

And sometimes you had to twist/jiggle the aerial lead to get a good connection.