Hey guys,
I have a whole stash of Famicom stuff including two disk systems, an old game doctor, tons of FDS games and some carts. The problem is that I have no idea if any of the stuff works or not. The Famicom is an HVC-002 and I have the accompanying AC adapter (HVC-002, AC100v 50/60Hz 18VA DC10 350mA) and I plugged it into my TV via an US Nintendo RF adapter. I changed the channel to 96 and the static that's displaying onscreen changes...but to more static. There's an apparent change in the signal, but I don't know if the Famicom is actually on or not.
I want to get the Famicom to work first before trying anything else however. Also there's another cord that's stemming from the controller slots; it's a gold-ended plug, and I'm unsure what this plug is for.
Any ideas?
Hard to say what that other plug is for without opening the famicom, I'd imagine it's a composite video signal, but rather useless without audio as well. Got any pics of it?
pics are nessacary. its probably a composite hack gone wrong and your fami is fried by the sounds of it
(http://www.genesoul.net/mechafart/04-02-072008_sml.jpg)
I just tried plugging that plug into my video composite input and I got some sort of signal; the same signal you would get from a blinky NES when the cart isn't working "correctly". So if in the case that plug is video composite, where the heck is the sound composite plug?
it sounds like the dude messed up on hacking an av mod up, and fried the fami, by the looks of things
I also have a famicom that i have no idea what wrong with. It changes the grain on the tv a bit on some channels but thats about it. I usually use me famiclone that looks the same as a fami but black and with av outputs.
hmm...well, I think I'll sell all the FDS disks, the disk systems and the Famicom system cause I can't figure it out. Maybe I'm just doing something wrong or it needs a repair.
I have been somewhat of an avid gamer since around 1985 or so when I played my first Atari. I recently got back into the hobby with the Famicom and some of its rare Japanese titles. I recently ordered a Famicom, and a Famicom Disk System along with games and cartridges for both systems. It will probably be about a week before I get all the stuff I ordered in the mail. Even though I still have my NES and Atari hooked up to my TV, its been so long that I have no clue as how to hook it up when it finally does get here. I have read some posts and some have said that NES AC adapters tend to overheat the system. Another concern I have is the Famicom I ordered didn't come with a RF switch, but rather a couple of cables. I have also heard about people that when they got their Famicom systems, they weren't compatible with their TV sets. The question I have is that is it relatively easy to hook all this stuff up, or is it kind of hit or miss? Is there anything I need to buy as well? Please if someone can help me, let me know. Thanks
Try searching this and the following threads for answers and then if you have more questions, just ask. There's also info on the site itself.
http://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=786.0
http://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=764.0
http://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=560.0
http://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=281.0
You definitely do not want to use a NES AC adapter on a Famicom. The original NES AC adapter outputs an AC current.
Quote from: madman on May 31, 2007, 09:13:21 am
You definitely do not want to use a NES AC adapter on a Famicom. The original NES AC adapter outputs an AC current.
yeah, if you do it, it will break the famicom.
uhm, as to getting these things setup, just use a nes rf adapter i guess, and tune to channel 95 or 96 depending upon the tv. if that doesnt work your tv isnt compatible with NTSC-J rf signals, so you'll need to figure out something else like, say, a twin famicom
Or much cheaper and easier, an A/V mod.
Quote from: madman on May 31, 2007, 09:13:21 am
You definitely do not want to use a NES AC adapter on a Famicom. The original NES AC adapter outputs an AC current.
What about this adapter? http://www.pinkgodzillagames.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=191&osCsid=b17f4b9b59617b6c8ab1b800e6fe8e92
This has been posted on this forum but how does it output 110 volts if it also works for NES which requires 120 volts? Should I buy this adapter?
No adapter outputs 120VAC. There'd be no point in an adapter since that's what comes out of your socket in the first place. Input and Output voltage are completely different things. That adapter will be fine for the Famicom.
OK cool, just making sure. I thought the whole issue is that US outputs 120 volts where as Japan outputs 110, therefore being that the Famicom is made for people living in Japan, our power adapters (read: NES) would fry the machine
well, a nes adapter will, but 120 wont
Quote from: kite200 on May 31, 2007, 08:46:16 pm
well, a nes adapter will, but 120 wont
how many volts to NES adapters emit?
Quote from: SuperMarioBrosSuperShow on May 31, 2007, 08:30:07 pm
OK cool, just making sure. I thought the whole issue is that US outputs 120 volts where as Japan outputs 110, therefore being that the Famicom is made for people living in Japan, our power adapters (read: NES) would fry the machine
Again you are confusing input voltage with output voltage.
ok ok dude, a nes adapter fries a famicom because it outputs direct ac and a famicom accepts dc.
120 v adapters wont fry a famicom but a nes one will because its outputting ac
comprende?
Just buy the one on that page and be done with it :)
step 1. get famicom w/wo disk system.
step 2. plug it in.
Step 3. plug NES rf into it.
step 4. on the back of the famicom change the channel to 2.
step 5. turn to channel 96.
step 6. turn on famicom.
step 7. play it
YAY!
Hey guys sorry but i am a bit of a noob js a quick question i was wondering if any one could help me i am currently bidding on a famicom 1983 model on ebay and i live in England how can i connect it to my tv what channels could it possibly be in i have a tv that goes up to channel 99 also would i be able to use my SNES RF cable if someone could post an answer really quick that would be great cheers
Quote from: Famicom Beginner on April 13, 2008, 07:01:57 am
Hey guys sorry but i am a bit of a noob js a quick question i was wondering if any one could help me i am currently bidding on a famicom 1983 model on ebay and i live in England how can i connect it to my tv what channels could it possibly be in i have a tv that goes up to channel 99 also would i be able to use my SNES RF cable if someone could post an answer really quick that would be great cheers
Super NES rf cables do work on Famicom, so do NES rfs. In the united states, channel 95 is the best channel.
But is it not PAL?
thanx for the info guys yeah it i am in the UK all i need to know now is what channel i need it to be on it might be the same as america but i wont know until i recieve the item if i cant get it to work then never mind lol its a great piece of history to keep n e way. ;D
Quote from: Famicom Beginner on April 13, 2008, 09:23:21 am
thanx for the info guys yeah it i am in the UK all i need to know now is what channel i need it to be on it might be the same as america but i wont know until i recieve the item if i cant get it to work then never mind lol its a great piece of history to keep n e way. ;D
Yes, Famicoms are a excellent piece of history. I throughly enjoy mine, and uk PAL wont work with NTSC Japan or American signals.
I did a bit a research but you can buy a ntsc - pal converter to make it work.
do you know where i can get this converter from or do you have a link with a bit more information on it cheers
Quote from: Famicom Beginner on April 13, 2008, 12:25:18 pm
do you know where i can get this converter from or do you have a link with a bit more information on it cheers
http://www.converters.tv/products/ntsc_to_pal/25.html for the tv conversion
You also need a ac adapter with stats of 240v - DC 9v.
Do not attempt to plug the original plug into your uk outlet, japan uses 100v, and the uk uses 240v; it would blow the Famicom up. Make sure you buy a 240v - DC 9c, make sure its giving out DC, definitely not AC.
yo... I live in Sweden and we got the same Pal as UK..... if you have a Tv that can take 60hz on the antenna you are sorted.
Most new Tv´s like my brand new 40" full hd plays japanese and U.S ntsc through the antenna input.... and I got a cheap stepdown converter 220to100V for aprrox.12£ and just use the original adapter.... so there is no problems for us europeans to buy the ntsc 110/100v units....
I wonder if the guys in U.S could hook up a Pal nes as easy.... probably....
Quote from: pinge80 on April 13, 2008, 02:16:57 pm
I wonder if the guys in U.S could hook up a Pal nes as easy.... probably....
Actually, it's not as easy as you think. While most modern PAL TVs accept NTSC, a lot of NTSC TVs don't accept PAL, so you'd still have to use a PAL-NTSC converter.
Most PAL TVs on sale in the UK during last decade are dual PAL / NTSC. I have a proper cheap-and-nasty CRT just for my retro consoles and even that takes NTSC, PAL 60hz, RGB, the works.
I have a little question about Famicoms I thought you guys might be able to answer:
See, I bought one used some time ago, knowing about the "channel 9-whatever" requirement attached to it, but being tired of the Generation NEX's dire record with my still rather small selection of Famicom games (and not so hot with the NES stuff to boot!). Problem is, without an LCD light, I can't tell whether I'm just not finding the right channel or not hooking it up right or if the Famicom just plain isn't working. I don't suppose there's some method of finding out for certain one way or another? Or is that going to requiring fiddling with the components, noting I have the electrical skills of a luddite hermit? I'd appreciate any insights on this, as I'm tired of playing Famicom via less, uh, official forms, and would like to play the real thing.
Thanks in advance.
See if your Famicom causes interference in some channels when hooked up to your TV. If it's working it should mess up the reception of the rest of the channels at least a little.
With a Japanese TV it will naturally work.
Quote from: Shinryuu on August 27, 2008, 12:03:57 pm
Hey there pals, I want to get a famicom but just heard about this RF frequency thing, my TV can be set to ntsc pal-m and pal-n, and reaches more than 100 channels, will the famicom work? From what I read I would need to place it on channel 96 or something, but I wanna double check that before buying anything.
Another question, in case I cant get it working, wouldnt it work if I get a regular Japanese TV?
If you're concerned about it working on your tv, get a famicom with an AV mod already done to it, or mod it yourself. You can more than likely get your famicom to work on your tv, but even if it does, the picture & sound isn't perfect. I can find the right channel by hooking up the famicom, inserting a game, turning it on, and doing the auto channel find. It "saves" the station that the signal is going to, for me it's been channels 96, 97, & 98, depending on the tv. You could also just get a Twin Famicom, which has av outputs and thus eliminates the whole rf hassle.
Quote from: Dragomorph on August 11, 2008, 03:18:40 pm
Problem is, without an LCD light, I can't tell whether I'm just not finding the right channel or not hooking it up right or if the Famicom just plain isn't working. I don't suppose there's some method of finding out for certain one way or another?
The "auto channel search" on your tv should locate the channel for your famicom. Hook up your famicom, insert a game, turn it on, and use the auto channel search. If it doesn't find anything, try switching the channel 1-2 selector and try again. Also make the tv/game switch on the back of the famicom is on "Game" .
I had success with just bypassing the fuse on the power board when mine didn't work. See the previous posts in this thread.
This method only works if the Famicom works, though. ;) If you got a "dead" Famicom you can search back and forth without success. :)
I think it was a bad design choice not to put a power LED on the Famicom. There's no way to know if it's really working without being sure the TV is correctly tuned, and you need a working Famicom to tune the TV in the first place! You could be chasing a nonexistent problem forever.
But you could always add a LED to it. :)
Of course, but:
- Most people don't trust their electronics or modding skills, they wouldn't open up their Famicom, let alone add a LED to it.
- Most people don't want to ruin their Famicom's original look. Modifications lower the value of your systems.
:P
Just use the Spelunker cart -- it has a built-in LED!
That's basically a good idea, but sometimes you just don't get a picture even when the system is on. I have that once in a while on my TwinFC. :-\
But at least you get to know that your Famicom isn't blown up :)
Quote from: manuel on August 27, 2008, 08:04:36 pm
That's basically a good idea, but sometimes you just don't get a picture even when the system is on. I have that once in a while on my TwinFC. :-\
Do you get a gray screen? Sometimes I get a gray screen on my twin and I have to shift the cart I have in it to get it to work. Is this common with well used Twins and standard famicoms?
Quote from: UglyJoe on August 27, 2008, 07:58:09 pm
Just use the Spelunker cart -- it has a built-in LED!
Anyone know which of the 60 pins carry the voltage & ground to power the led in the cart? That would be a good place to check for voltage to see if your famicom is working.
Quote from: wentle85 on August 27, 2008, 09:08:31 pm
Do you get a gray screen? Sometimes I get a gray screen on my twin and I have to shift the cart I have in it to get it to work. Is this common with well used Twins and standard famicoms?
I get a gray screen quite often, especially when trying to play pirates. Might be that the contacts need cleaning, or it might be that a pirate is made so poorly the pins don't quite line up properly.
Quote from: ericj on August 27, 2008, 09:16:34 pm
Anyone know which of the 60 pins carry the voltage & ground to power the led in the cart? That would be a good place to check for voltage to see if your famicom is working.
QuoteFamicom / Pegasus cartridge connector pinout
By siudym@pf.pl
VIEW FROM CONSOLE (TOP VIEW):
-------
(#16) GND - |01 31| - +5V (#30)
PRG A11 - |02 32| - M2
PRG A10 - |03 33| - PRG A12
PRG A9 - |04 34| - PRG A13
PRG A8 - |05 35| - PRG A14
PRG A7 - |06 36| - PRG D7
PRG A6 - |07 37| - PRG D6
PRG A5 - |08 38| - PRG D5
PRG A4 - |09 39| - PRG D4
PRG A3 - |10 40| - PRG D3
PRG A2 - |11 41| - PRG D2
PRG A1 - |12 42| - PRG D1
PRG A0 - |13 43| - PRG D0
PRG R/W - |14 44| - PRG /CE ( /15 & /M2 )
/IRQ - |15 45| - EXP (#46)
(#01) GND - |16 46| - EXP (#45)
CHR /RD - |17 47| - CHR /WR
CHR A10 - |18 48| - CIRAM /CE
CHR A6 - |19 49| - CHR A13
CHR A5 - |20 50| - CHR A7
CHR A4 - |21 51| - CHR A8
CHR A3 - |22 52| - CHR A9
CHR A2 - |23 53| - CHR A10
CHR A1 - |24 54| - CHR A11
CHR A0 - |25 55| - CHR A12
CHR D0 - |26 56| - CHR /A13
CHR D1 - |27 57| - CHR D7
CHR D2 - |28 58| - CHR D6
CHR D3 - |29 59| - CHR D5
(#31) +5V - |30 60| - CHR D4
-------
Thanks siudym ;D
hi, i've just got a famicom from ebay, but some how when i plugged the famicom to my tv, there is no channel 95 for my TV!!
my TV only has 69 channels!!!! HELP!!!!
Your TV is old and probably doesn't support Cable tuning. Try searching for a CATV option.
If that doesn't work or you can't find such option, with your Famicom turned on and connected to the TV, try doing an Automatic Channel Scan (also called Auto Program), Manual Tuning, Fine Tuning or similar. The Famicom signal should eventually appear and be assigned an arbitrary channel number. In Manual Tuning, try searching in the VHF Lo band.
I have an old clunker of a TV that only goes up to Channel 32 and it's perfectly able to tune into the Famicom's RF output if I let the Auto Ch. Scan run and do its thing.
I have 82 channels -- I use one of those old VHF/UHF dial TVs. I have a little RCA modulator/switcher. Not sure if that would apply in your case.
133MHz is probably right, but if you really don't have a CATV option, you can always run the Famicom through a VCR that does.
That's what I have to do, but my TV was made in 1979.
oh, do you have to have cable for your TV to use your Famicom?
You mean like..a cable TV connection? No. All you need is the power supply+RF switch.
Quote from: Byron on May 05, 2009, 08:32:23 ammy TV was made in 1979.
:o :o :o
Is there some reason why you keep it instead of upgrading?
It works fine. Why pay money for a new one?
Plus, huge console TVs (http://www.tvhistory.tv/1981-Zenith-TV.JPG) are awesome.
Quote from: Byron on May 05, 2009, 04:42:34 pm
Plus, huge console TVs (http://www.tvhistory.tv/1981-Zenith-TV.JPG) are awesome.
It's a mix between furniture and technology. :D
Hey guys I just got my famicom (SWEET) ;D but i need some help. I know that the RF switch thats comes with the famicom wont work with a US tv, and they say buy a NES RF. Instead, I bought a universal adapter that works with NES SNES and genesis (http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/powergamer88/nesac.jpg), so that part is done. The next thing is the power. I know that the famicom uses 100V and a US outlet give out 120V. Thats extra 20 can fry the console. My famicom didnt come with an AC adapter. >:( So what I want to do is take this AC adapter from a printer (it fits and it says 100V on it) and then get a step down converter to limit the outlet's power to 100V. Please tell me if this is going to work. Thanks!!! ???
thanks. I just want to make sure this wont blow my famicom. So let me get this straight so there are no mistakes. I buy the DC adapter, which will converter 120V to 100V. Will the universal RF unit work? On the box it said NES/SNES/Genesis, but I've heard that the NES and famicom RF are the same. And where can I get the DC adapter. The one on the link is an AC. And I live in America. Just wondering, how can you tell if you fried a famicom and what could you do? Just in case something happens...
You'll easily be able to tell. Usually when you fry something in the Famicom, you start to smell burnt plastic, smoke will occasionally come from your Famicom, so the term "frying your Famicom" is used quite literally! But yeah, the NES/Famicom RF adapters work the same, so that universal one shouldn't give you a problem. For the power supply, my best recommendation is to go on the internet and get an official Famicom one. If you have a Sega Genesis model 1 power supply, or a TG16 power supply, those will work too. However, if you use one of those, I'm not sure if you eliminate the need for a step-down converter or not. Now, these aren't required to get it to work properly, but I'd be safe if I were you. If your house is fairly old, like mine, your outlets might be a little dangerous, too.
thanks for your help. I was just wondering because my famicom has a wierd smell, but it doesn't smell like burning plastic nor did I see smoke. I guess that's what the country smells like! I guess it was a hypothetical question, because i didnt even mess with the electricity. But I have a kodak AC adapter from a printer that is labeled 100V-120V, so I guess the same adapter was used in japan. The converter is just for safety, i suppose
ok, so if I get that one you had in the link, it will work in US WITHOUT a voltage converter?
It would, us things are compatible with japan.
Hi. I plan to get a famicom sometime but I'm worried that the power supply and RF plug could be a problem since both are for a version 1 sega genesis/megadrive. They work fine with my NES and this is why I think it's a problem since a NES plays just fine and it may hurt a famicom due to the NES's higher voltage.
thanks!
I've heard the Genesis power supply works, but what I was using was a universal power adapter (the kind for NES, SNES and Genesis).
Never use an NES power supplyfor a Famicom! It will fry it, as it is simply an AC stepdown transformer, andnotan AC to DC adapter.
I have brand new (new-old-stock) power supplies for the Famicom, Super Famicom and FDS that run on US ~110V power instead of the ~100V Nippon power, so they don't overheat or damage the FC voltage regulator. If you want to order one,P M me. (These are the correct 10VAC adapters, not the 9VAC SEGA adapters.)
I also have the adapters for use on systems in the U.K.
-Xious
any RF switch should work i use a nintendo gray box RF, as for the Genesis/mega drive MODEL 1 it does work but only from the MODEL 1
The RF switchbox will work, buy you will need either a TV or tuner that can receive the input of Japanese Ch/C2 signal frequencies. You may be able to pick up the fq. of Ch1 around Cable Ch94-97, but this doesn't always work. I have a fairly new VCR that can't receive at these frequencies. A JP tuner or VCR would be ideal...I need on of those (or a tiny, older JP TV) for myself.
I think that Ch2 may be in the range of US Ch 20, but this isn't completely modulated...
The Genesis AC Adapter should work: The voltage tolerance of the HVC-001 is 9V-12V @ 850mA to 1.2A, however a malfunctioning VR may cause issues with adapters below 10VDC.
-Xious
Thanks!
I wanted to put exactly what it says on the genesis adapter I have since it seems to have different DC output than 9v here's exactly what it
says:"output: 10V,DC 1.2A"
It's input is 120V AC 60Hz 20W is the 120V anything to worry about?