RF Problems

[SalPane]

Recently, I picked up an unmodded Famicom in Japan, but I'm running into some slight problems getting it working here in the states. I'd planned to use the CRTV I normally play my NES on, but, based on what I've read, the Famicom outputs to Channel 95 or 96 over RF, and the 19 inch Sylvania I use doesn't seem to go past Channel 69 no matter how much I futz with the menu. I figured I'd try my flatscreen I play my PlayStation 4 on, and for an hour or so it worked fine on Channel 95 in TV Cable mode. But now, the screen is totally fuzzy and the picture blacks out every minute or so. It's pretty much unplayable. When I tried the NES on the flatscreen using the same RF switch--it's the standard NES one--everything looks great. Any suggestions on what may be the issue here?

[Great Hierophant]

One suggestion I have is not to use the NES RF (auto-)switch but a thick coaxial or RCA cable with adapters.  The NES RF modulator outputs a much stronger signal than a Famicom's RF modulator for the NES RF auto-switch.  The weaker Famicom signal may get even weaker through the RF auto switch because its energy is being used to power the switch.  In most cases, it doesn't matter but in marginal cases like connecting to a flatscreen, it may help.

I also have a Sylvania 19", the SRT2119A.  I wrote about it here : http://nerdlypleasures.blogspot.com/2015/05/a-good-retro-display-19-sylvania-crt.html

By default, the TV will only automatically recognize channels 2-69.  Those were the only over-the-air broadcast channels in use when it was manufactured.  However, cable channels could use other channels and this TV accepts channels 1-125. 

It works well with my unmodded Famicom, but getting the TV to tune to Channel 95 or 96 is less than straighforward.  Here is what I did.  First, I connected my Famicom to the TV using a thick coaxial cable with an adapter (RCA female to coaxial male on the TV's end or coaxial female to RCA male on the Famicom's end).  Turn the Famicom on.  Then I went into my TV's menu and selected Channel Set, then Auto Memo.  At this point, the TV will start cycling through channels 2-69, looking for signals strong enough to add to a channel list.  It shouldn't find any.  Stop the process before the TV gets to 69 and you should be able to turn to Channel 95 or 96 via the remote.  If you can, then go to back to the Channel Set and use the Add/Delete function.  Channel numbers in magenta are deleted, channel numbers in cyan are added.

[SalPane]

Wow. This is fantastic. I'll try this tonight on the Sylvania. Weirdly, when I stopped washing my clothes, the picture became clearer on my old flatscreen, but obviously I'd rather play it on a CRTV. The only thing is I'm missing the remote, but I found it on ebay, so I'll try and get it there if I can't change it from the front panel. Thanks for your help.