Famicom World

Family Computer => Famicom / Disk System => Topic started by: dougal22 on June 15, 2014, 01:07:50 am

Title: Got my RF NTSC Famicom working full color on PAL TV without modding
Post by: dougal22 on June 15, 2014, 01:07:50 am
Hi, I am new here and just wanted to share how I got my Famicom working in full colour on a PAL TV.

My PAL TV only supports NTSC AV in black & white. My Japan NTSC Famicom is not AV modded.

Basically, I hooked up the Famicom via RF to a VCR and hooked up the VCR via AV leads to my TV. That was enough to use the Famicom with a clear picture and sound but still black and white.

So, I bought a Mayflash PAL/NTSC converter and put that between the VCR and the TV and voila! Full colour Famicom with no mods whatsoever on my PAL TV.

Now I can play Castlevania at the speed is was meant to be played at and in full colour  ;D

Next on my is a Famicom Disk System and a Hudson or Hori controller because I hate the short leads of the standard Fami controllers.
Title: Re: Got my RF NTSC Famicom working full color on PAL TV without modding
Post by: dougal22 on June 19, 2014, 01:20:22 am
Here  couple of screen shots and a pic of the converter.
Title: Re: Got my RF NTSC Famicom working full color on PAL TV without modding
Post by: P on June 19, 2014, 02:52:38 am
Thanks for sharing. I would have done it too if I had an VCR.
Title: Re: Got my RF NTSC Famicom working full color on PAL TV without modding
Post by: dougal22 on June 19, 2014, 03:25:18 am
Quote from: P on June 19, 2014, 02:52:38 am
Thanks for sharing. I would have done it too if I had an VCR.


Yeah the VCR is essential as it takes the RF signal in its tuner and outputs an AV composite signal. Connecting the PAL/NTSC converter between the AV out of the VCR and AV in on the TV converted the NTSC signal to a PAL one for a nice colour display.

I bought my VCR for something like 5 euros from a car boot sale. Its a Philips but I guess any make & model will do as long as it has an RF tuner that can tune to 95 - 96 mhz and output AV composite.
Title: Re: Got my RF NTSC Famicom working full color on PAL TV without modding
Post by: jpx72 on June 19, 2014, 09:22:47 am
Great topic, thanks for the photos, many people ask me for this solution in my part of the world. So it's working great both video and sound, right?
Title: Re: Got my RF NTSC Famicom working full color on PAL TV without modding
Post by: dougal22 on June 19, 2014, 12:02:27 pm
Quote from: jpx72 on June 19, 2014, 09:22:47 am
Great topic, thanks for the photos, many people ask me for this solution in my part of the world. So it's working great both video and sound, right?


Pleasure. Yes both colour video and sound working properly.

With just the Famicom RF to TV it was black & white with no sound.
Famicom RF to VCR to TV (Without the pal/ntsc converter) was black and white but also with perfect sound.
Famicom RF to VCR to AV PAL/NTSC converter to TV and works full colour and perfect sound.

Title: Re: Got my RF NTSC Famicom working full color on PAL TV without modding
Post by: Atari_5 on October 01, 2016, 09:46:47 am
hello is my first comment
I know it's an old post but after trying this has not worked for me.
connect the console to video, video converter and signal this to the tv.
the video must be Japanese? mine is pal :-[
Title: Re: Got my RF NTSC Famicom working full color on PAL TV without modding
Post by: tonev on October 01, 2016, 02:36:13 pm
Another great way to do it iv you have a sony dvd / hdd recorder. There is an option in the settings to force ntsc on pal systems and it works great regardless if you are using AV or RF
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/924/iVhx1r.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poiVhx1rj)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/922/NCKXKD.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmNCKXKDj)
Title: Re: Got my RF NTSC Famicom working full color on PAL TV without modding
Post by: Atari_5 on October 02, 2016, 12:40:32 am
Thanks,no have a hdd recorder but i see for buy,my vcr have any problem and will not let me play with the famicom :mario:
I know this not post for this question,but someone have a nintendo color tv game 6 or 15?
I have one but in three months have not managed to connect it. :(
Title: Re: Got my RF NTSC Famicom working full color on PAL TV without modding
Post by: the-force on December 23, 2018, 12:10:02 am
I have a Sony DVD Recorder (RDR-HX780). Does anybody know how to setup the recorder for the Famicom? The auto scan doesn't find a channel but I can see the game now and then during the scan.

I can get an image with manual setup, but no audio.
Title: Re: Got my RF NTSC Famicom working full color on PAL TV without modding
Post by: FAMICOM_87 on December 24, 2018, 06:42:32 am
Quote from: the-force on December 23, 2018, 12:10:02 am
I have a Sony DVD Recorder (RDR-HX780). Does anybody know how to setup the recorder for the Famicom? The auto scan doesn't find a channel but I can see the game now and then during the scan.

I can get an image with manual setup, but no audio.

try to change Sound System and CH System
Title: Re: Got my RF NTSC Famicom working full color on PAL TV without modding
Post by: the-force on December 28, 2018, 06:51:28 am
Quote from: FAMICOM_87 on December 24, 2018, 06:42:32 am
Quote from: the-force on December 23, 2018, 12:10:02 am
I have a Sony DVD Recorder (RDR-HX780). Does anybody know how to setup the recorder for the Famicom? The auto scan doesn't find a channel but I can see the game now and then during the scan.

I can get an image with manual setup, but no audio.

try to change Sound System and CH System


That doesn't help. I think the problem is that the tuner does not support NTSC with M sound system. I hoped it will work after @tonev said so. Maybe he had used a VCR to convert from RF to AV and then the DVD recorder to convert from NTSC to PAL.
Title: Re: Got my RF NTSC Famicom working full color on PAL TV without modding
Post by: boye on January 21, 2019, 05:32:19 am
Quote from: dougal22 on June 19, 2014, 03:25:18 am
Quote from: P on June 19, 2014, 02:52:38 am
Thanks for sharing. I would have done it too if I had an VCR.


Yeah the VCR is essential as it takes the RF signal in its tuner and outputs an AV composite signal. Connecting the PAL/NTSC converter between the AV out of the VCR and AV in on the TV converted the NTSC signal to a PAL one for a nice colour display.

I bought my VCR for something like 5 euros from a car boot sale. Its a Philips but I guess any make & model will do as long as it has an RF tuner that can tune to 95 - 96 mhz and output AV composite.

Maybe not if there was a dedicaded RF demodulator.
But there isn't one.
Oof.