Problem with region locking on NES to famicom converter

[Peege]

I just got a converter to play NES games on my famicom, but when i tried it out with a couple of games it just came up with a grey screen like when you turn the famicom on with no game in. The NES games are Australian PAL and the converter is from America so I was wondering if this had anything to do with region lock or something... does anyone know what the problem might be?

[untinip]

I had the same problem with my converter. The pins on some NES games doesn't go all the way down the PCB, but rather stops a few millimeters from the end. If the converter's connector doesn't reach deep enough, then they won't connect and you'll get a grey screen. I was able to solve it by filing off a bit of the top of the converter's casing, exposing more of the connector and therefore allowing it to reach deeper. It ain't pretty - but it works! You could also remove the converter's PCB from its casing and use it just like that, at least during testing.

The game I had problems with was Robo Warrior. Take a look on the pictures of its PCB (click on the pictures for a bigger version):
http://bootgod.dyndns.org:7777/profile.php?id=71

[Peege]

I don't think it's the same problem for me... my converter doesn't have a case it's basically just the PCB like the one here (but not the exact same) http://www.jandar.net/famiconv/
That article seems to be saying that Famicom systems don't have any kind of region locks. Is that true? Then I guess that's not the problem. It says that you're supposed to put the game in facing the back of the system, but i tried all possibilities and the best i could get was the a red or green screen.

[untinip]

The Famicom doesn't have kind of regional lockout, that's true, and with my converter the NES games faces backward like yours. Does any game work with your converter? Do they work on a NES (to rule out that the games themselves aren't broken)?

[NintendoKing]

Have you flipped the converter around and tried again?

[Lum]

Perhaps some PAL games may not support NTSC mode...

[untinip]

Also, on my AV Famicom my converter's pins (on the "male"-side) aren't long enough, so when I fully insert it they don't connect with the Famicom's connector's pins. I just need to pull the converter out slightly to make it work...

[Peege]

Well yes I flipped the games around and everything, i tried all possibilities but they still wont work properly. They are brand new games so I don't think the games are broken although I don't have any way of testing them.

[untinip]

Did you try pulling the converter out slightly (when the console is off)? I have to pull mine out like 5mm or so on my AV Famicom.

[Peege]

I tried it... no luck : (

[untinip]

Could you post a picture of your converter? Which games are you trying to play?

[famifan]

it is definately the bad connection between PBCs and the cartridge slot.

you should try to open your NES cart, then extract PCB and connect all pins and track to the converter properly to make sure that this is not bad connection issue.

[Peege]

The games are Dr Mario and Stealth, and here's a picture of the converter
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn119/TheCreator4/conveter.png

[untinip]

Thanks for the picture! That side which you've photographed should be facing forward in your Famicom, and the NES cartridge should be facing backwards. During testing I recommend that you use Dr. Mario, as that game's pins go all the way down the PCB. You should try what famifan suggested and make sure the converter isn't broken. Do you have a multimeter or an ohm-meter or the like?

By the way, do you have any Famicom cartridges? Do they work in your Famicom? Just to rule out there might be something wrong with your console...

[Peege]

Thanks for the advice... I tested it with a ohm-meter and there was a current. Also the famicom works with famicom games