Famicom A/V Help!

[petik1]

 Here's my problem. I live in the US. I bought a famicom. It only get video on channel 93 and 13, the latter begin higher quality. 95 and 96 don't work on it. The RF thing inside was replaced along the line by someone before me. Could it be that? HELP ME I JUST WANT TO PLAY MY FAMICOM!!!!!!!!

[133MHz]

Your thread wasn't deleted, just moved to Technical and Repair Assistance.
Also you've got a satisfactory answer (set your TV to cable tuning), but you didn't comment on how that went.
If your TV isn't cable ready, you'll need to use a VCR with cable tuning capabilities.

The RF thing inside was replaced along the line by someone before me. Could it be that?

Could you elaborate more on this?

[ckenda1]

petik1,

I still have 2 fully working famicom boards I could sell you if you wanted?!  Neither has been modified.  Asking $35 + ship for one.

Let me know and thanks!
-Carl

[petik1]

  Thanks. But the answers i recieved didn't help. What I mean on th RF hing is that the original one has the CH1<>CH2 and the TV<>GAME switches on it, and apparently the previous owner replaced it with an automatic one or something

[petik1]

No thanks, my board works fine!

[133MHz]

Could you post pictures of the RF modulator board?

[NintendoKing]

This is his board.

[petik1]

Yup, that's mine. You can't really see it, but there aren't any of the switches on the original board.

[NintendoKing]

Yup, that's mine. You can't really see it, but there aren't any of the switches on the original board.

It may never work on an american television.

[petik1]

Excuse me, but I'm going to cry now . But what could be wrong with it?

[133MHz]

It's not a lost cause. You can always re-tune the RF modulator, but that's a very delicate procedure that should only be done after exhausting every other possibility. Much like FDS head tuning, by doing it wrong you'll only make matters worse and it might never work properly again.

Your RF modulator board seems very weird, not only because of the "external" voltage regulator. Clearly it doesn't have any switches on the back, but also it seems that there are no traces on the board to hook them up!

The only way I can continue to help you in an insightful way is by posting high resolution pictures of both sides of the RF modulator board so I can take a look at it.

Also, you might want to consider doing an AV mod. It's probably easier to put together a small transistor circuit and solder some wires here and there than to get the RF modulator working properly - and also the picture quality will be a lot better.

[petik1]

I'll get the pics up ASAP. But, I don't like modding. I kinow it sounds stupid, but if I mess that up, thats $100+ dollars down the crapper. Right now I guess I'll desribe what the ook up to the board looks like, but like I said, I'll get the picture. Ok, on the bottom of the board there is what looks like a clear plastic cover over a couple of wires going from the main board to the RF. That's it for now until I get those pics!

EDIT: And could you explain how to retune an RF modulator? If that is a possibility, I wouldn't do it, but my neighbor has a job designing electronics, and has helped me previously.

[133MHz]

If you can get your neighbor to help you out, have him do the AV mod to your Famicom. Since your Fami doesn't have any switches on the back, you can route the AV cables out of the system through the holes left by the missing switches. No drilling necessary!

Better picture quality, less hassle with hooking it up to modern TVs, and no case modding needed!

[petik1]

Yeah, I know, it ust feels, how do I say, dirty to change it. Couldn't I just replace the RF modulator?

[ericj]

Your famicom has already been changed from original, so I can't see why you have an issue changing it again. Also, an AV mod is completely removable if you decide you no longer want it. As much time as you've gone over this, you could have already modded it and be playing it right now.