Not Calibrating Disk System Correctly?

[Trashman]

Pulled out the OG and hooked it up.

No issues! 

My suspicion is the RAM adapter only plays nice with certain hardware, and sadly it doesn't like my AV. I don't want to mod it for composite output since I'm worried that could ruin a good thing.

However, I do feel like I could get away with extending the controllers. Is there a recommended guide for that? Or even better making it wireless? I don't want to lose the ability to take out Pols Voice with the mic.

Other questions I have are:

Is there somewhere that sells the sleeves/inserts/cases for games? A repository of printable inserts? My games are all in various states.

Is there a recommended way to remove smoke smell from manuals?

Thanks!

[Skawo]

For extending the wires, an ethernet cable would do, I think. Those have (more than) the required amount of links. Not much more to it than splicing the 5/6 wires.

I would definitely work from the console side. The stupid thing about the original famicom is that the controller wires are routed thusly:


There's quite a bit of extraenous cable inside, so unless you'd want to make the cable even longer, this would be a nearly invisible modification, as your spliced-in wire could just stay inside.

But, I mean, if you're gonna do that, why not add those resistors to the RAM adapter to make it compatible with the AV?


As for printable game inserts, you can 'em here:
https://www.gamingalexandria.com/highquality/fds/
https://pony.velvet.jp/fcdisk/fdsidxmnlsealallst_menu.html

Finding new plastic cases will be difficult or expensive, though, sadly. You could get 8cm DVD cases instead, which are the perfect size to hold a FDS disk. They have to be the kind with a place to put in a back cover, though - those have the DVD disc holder separate from the outer plastic, and so it can be removed.

Here is a template for printing those.

[P]

I remember someone extending Famicom controller cords ending up needing to add some extra component to hinder the longer cord from pushing some values (propagation delay or voltage I suppose) outside the tolerance range, but I guess that depends on how long cables you need.
However, I agree with Skawo that it seems much easier to just add the pull-downs to fix the RAM-Adapter if you are going to take out the soldering iron.


The simpler solution to solving short controller cord problems is to just extend the AV cable instead (since you use RF I guess you can just add a normal female-to-male antenna cable on the RF-switch), and a power strip or power extension cable to the wall outlet if necessary.

[Skawo]

There's also an option of getting one of those Hudson Bee controllers that plugs into the front extension port, or an adapter like this


Granted, you'd have to get up to use the mic, but that happens pretty rarely?

[Stephen]

However, I agree with Skawo that it seems much easier to just add the pull-downs to fix the RAM-Adapter if you are going to take out the soldering iron.

Where can I learn more about this? My Google results are not informative.

Edit: I suspect this is a good resource: https://synt4x.org/blog/index.php/2018/01/19/glitchy-graphics-on-famicom-disk-system/

[P]

Yeah it looks like it's taken directly from our main forum thread about this very strange problem (which also extends to Nesdev). I'm not sure if it was determined what values of the resistors are best to use, as the guy who posted it said it was an experimental fix.

The cause of the problem is also still a bit of a mystery. It was thought to be degrading of certain types of RAM chips as replacing them has been reported to work, but I'm not sure if that was really the truth.

[Skawo]

'd be quite unfortunate. Hopefully this isn't something that's gonna kill all the RAM adapters in the future.

[P]

As I understands it only a few RAM-Adapters has the problem in the first place (although since the combination of Famicom model also matters it makes it harder to estimate). Anyway there is no need to fix the working ones.

[Trashman]

There's quite a bit of extraenous cable inside, so unless you'd want to make the cable even longer, this would be a nearly invisible modification, as your spliced-in wire could just stay inside.

Is the idea to stick the extra wire inside but not wrap around the post?

But, I mean, if you're gonna do that, why not add those resistors to the RAM adapter to make it compatible with the AV?

When I read the thread it sounded like that fix may not work for everyone. I already have a working setup with the OG famicom so I figured it's just easier to leave it alone but extend the controllers ~6 ft each if possible.

As for printable game inserts, you can 'em here:
https://www.gamingalexandria.com/highquality/fds/
https://pony.velvet.jp/fcdisk/fdsidxmnlsealallst_menu.html

Do you know what kind of paper was used for the inserts? I feel like it's some kind of card stock, though not sure if it's a glossy finish or not.

I remember someone extending Famicom controller cords ending up needing to add some extra component to hinder the longer cord from pushing some values (propagation delay or voltage I suppose) outside the tolerance range, but I guess that depends on how long cables you need.
However, I agree with Skawo that it seems much easier to just add the pull-downs to fix the RAM-Adapter if you are going to take out the soldering iron.


The simpler solution to solving short controller cord problems is to just extend the AV cable instead (since you use RF I guess you can just add a normal female-to-male antenna cable on the RF-switch), and a power strip or power extension cable to the wall outlet if necessary.

Would I need to install extra components if I tried to extend each controller by 6 ft?

I had ultimately intended to get an RGB blaster for the Famicom, and I don't want to ruin a good thing adding Composite and finding out the RAM adapter now doesn't play nice with it anymore.

[Skawo]

The idea is just to leave the new wire inside the console, so from the outside it doesn't look modified.
Dunno if the wire would be long enough still, though.

Dunno what paper the inserts are printed at. If I were to guess, semigloss paper with like 200-250gsm thickness?

[P]

I remember someone extending Famicom controller cords ending up needing to add some extra component to hinder the longer cord from pushing some values (propagation delay or voltage I suppose) outside the tolerance range, but I guess that depends on how long cables you need.
However, I agree with Skawo that it seems much easier to just add the pull-downs to fix the RAM-Adapter if you are going to take out the soldering iron.


The simpler solution to solving short controller cord problems is to just extend the AV cable instead (since you use RF I guess you can just add a normal female-to-male antenna cable on the RF-switch), and a power strip or power extension cable to the wall outlet if necessary.

Would I need to install extra components if I tried to extend each controller by 6 ft?

I had ultimately intended to get an RGB blaster for the Famicom, and I don't want to ruin a good thing adding Composite and finding out the RAM adapter now doesn't play nice with it anymore.

Yeah I assume so, if what the mentioned modder was right. I'm pretty sure that this modder was Drakon, infamous for using too much hot glue, questionable solder work and a member on this forum. I think it might had been a Twin Famicom that he extended though. The post might also be somewhere here on the forum, try searching around for controller-cord-extending mods.

[Skawo]

Aren't there extenders for NES/Famiclone controllers out there? Maybe they have the necessary components already inside?

[Trashman]

The idea is just to leave the new wire inside the console, so from the outside it doesn't look modified.
Dunno if the wire would be long enough still, though.

Dunno what paper the inserts are printed at. If I were to guess, semigloss paper with like 200-250gsm thickness?

Got it

I remember someone extending Famicom controller cords ending up needing to add some extra component to hinder the longer cord from pushing some values (propagation delay or voltage I suppose) outside the tolerance range, but I guess that depends on how long cables you need.
However, I agree with Skawo that it seems much easier to just add the pull-downs to fix the RAM-Adapter if you are going to take out the soldering iron.


The simpler solution to solving short controller cord problems is to just extend the AV cable instead (since you use RF I guess you can just add a normal female-to-male antenna cable on the RF-switch), and a power strip or power extension cable to the wall outlet if necessary.

Would I need to install extra components if I tried to extend each controller by 6 ft?

I had ultimately intended to get an RGB blaster for the Famicom, and I don't want to ruin a good thing adding Composite and finding out the RAM adapter now doesn't play nice with it anymore.

Yeah I assume so, if what the mentioned modder was right. I'm pretty sure that this modder was Drakon, infamous for using too much hot glue, questionable solder work and a member on this forum. I think it might had been a Twin Famicom that he extended though. The post might also be somewhere here on the forum, try searching around for controller-cord-extending mods.

Okay I'll do some more research so I don't mess anything up.

Another question. Some of the 'CIB' games I have stink like smoke (the manuals, mainly). Is there a recommended way to remove the smell?

[P]

Sorry I don't know, I also got many games that seems to have come from a smoky home. The smell tends to go away with time though. Just store them safely, you can put moisture-absorbing-bags among your games to keep the humidity down.