Identiify this RF Modulator part

Started by SmakyTaky, October 01, 2020, 06:38:04 pm

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FAMICOM_87

Yes this is only for audio.
Dude, actually it is hard to desolder this tunable coil anyway without pump and experience you are risking to damage and lift off the traces in the process , so better try the glue trick :)
very carefully rotating the core   :gamer:
I suggest you to try o another TV as well , I have a felling that this was the problem in the first place ,and you did not paid attention and damaged the treats on no purpose :(

SmakyTaky

October 06, 2020, 07:02:52 pm #16 Last Edit: October 07, 2020, 06:18:54 am by SmakyTaky
A bit more info that hopefully will help someone with electronics and RF knowledge to identify the specs fo the coil needed to replace the one on this famicom:

After removing the coil from the PCB I was able to measure it and note down the connections it has:
* 7.3mm x 7.3mm x 13mm
* Five pins, 3 on one side, 2 on the opposite side.
* Seems the RF tunable coil has a capcitor on the bottom.

(Photos attached. to the initial post)

This has helped me narrow the options of coils. I found cols from Coilcraft Slot Seven series seem to be a great fit to this phisical specs. However, there are many different variations. Three different groups based on test frequency (2.5. 7.9 and 25 MHz) and there many variants based on inductance and Q.
https://www.coilcraft.com/getmedia/4a4ee0bd-e840-438e-877f-061b312de794/slot7.pdf. Only aspect here is the coild from Coilcraft seems not to have the Cap on the bottom.

I also noticed that without the coil. Famicom does work just fine, with the exception of audio the RF signal is recognized by the TV and is displayed properly. Audio is mostly static with a bit of a background sound coming from a local radio station.

This is an interesting situation, as this local station is transiting at 95.3 Mhz. Which is close to the frequency at which cannel 95 should be reciving audio at 95.7 MHz:

Ch   Video (MHz)   Audio (MHz)
1 - 95  91.25           95.75
2 - 96  97.25           101.75

This leads me to think the famicom is creating a singal in the vicinity of 95 MHz, and probably the coil helps to get it properly tuned to 95.74 MHz the TV is specting on channel 95.

However, I have no clue what type of RF tunable inductor would help achieve this.

BTW, I do have a soldering station and a desoldering pump... not an expert but I can do this kind of repairs.

FAMICOM_87

October 07, 2020, 11:03:59 am #17 Last Edit: October 07, 2020, 11:14:36 am by FAMICOM_87
Nice, if you awready managed to desolder the part, why not try to repare it? To somehow make the thread again, so to tune the core precisely :) if no one know the parameters here :(
BTW I have the NES scheme I will post the RF section here, but I do not see the parameters for the cool on it, and famicom's too but, only board no RF section for it

SmakyTaky

Well... think I've got some progress. By carefully hitting the top of the inductor (handled upside down) with my table I managed to get the core... rotating did not do it... as it stayed at the bottom. I guess this means the threads may have gone. I also noticed that a small bit of the top of the ferrite core is missing (see added photo to first post) which may be the reason it does not attach itself to the core.

Now question is... would the excersise be to put the core back and slowly push it down until the audio signal improves and then put a drop of superglue to get it fixed?

FAMICOM_87

October 08, 2020, 12:12:25 am #19 Last Edit: October 08, 2020, 12:21:42 am by FAMICOM_87
Yes you can try to push it, but I am not sure can you be as much precise with the pushing like rotating will be. Do it with non metallic object very steady and cerfuly , and if you managed to get the clear sound it glue it on the place.
I wish you luck :)

BTW for the first tieme I see that kind of coil with a cap underside. Usually there is nothing down, so you can rotate the core from the down side as sell, not in this case thow
 :upsetroll:

SmakyTaky

Success... I reinserted the core into the RD tunable couil. Fortunately, the upper thread seems to be strong enough to hold it. So I used to antistatic tool (not a screwdriver) to screw it back only a few turns. Then resoldered the coil back into the board.

After turning the famicom back on, I had to scrwew it down just a little to get the soud properly tuned. Famicom is producing a great image (well as much as RF could be) and clear sound with no noise.

Thanks you for your advice and directions.

FAMICOM_87

no problem I am glad to read that :) glue it to be sure for the future :) Share some photos and the MOD when you don it  :D