RF Switch

[Rob64]

Maybe I was not clear in asking this question let me try again. I live in USA and already knew about using an american r/f switch thanks to The Bible Teen on youtube. Now I have two different kinds of these switches that are both american. One with a grey box, and one with a black box. For some reason, the famicom (official old version HVC-001) prefers the black boxed rf switch instead of the grey boxed rf switch.

Why?!

[nintendodork]

I don't think it matters.

[Rob64]

I didn't think it mattered either but on my tv it does.... could this simply be just a tv issue? But both rf switches work on my nes top loader so what the heck?

[133MHz]

You need to understand some of the basics of RF switch inner workings. As the name implies, it switches between two RF inputs (one from the coax input: antenna or cable TV, and one from the RCA input: the gaming system). By default coax input is connected to the output (gaming system signal is zero), but when the signal from the RCA jack raises over a certain threshold, the RF box switches the output over to the RCA input.

This means that the TV signal broadcasted by the gaming console should have over a certain strength to make the RF switch operate. Nintendo and Sega consoles emit a fairly strong signal, while Atari and similar systems (like PONG units, the Commodore 64, etc) emit a weaker one, that's why they don't work with a Nintendo RF switch and you have to use a manual TV/Game switch with them: the signal isn't strong enough to trigger the switching mechanism inside the RF switch, or make it trigger partially, causing a weak signal being broadcasted to the TV set.

What could be happening is that your Famicom is broadcasting a slightly weak signal, or your RF switches have different sensitivity settings for their switching signal threshold (be it for manufacturing differences, hardware revisions, old age, etc), so that the Famicom doesn't trigger one of them quite fully, but the other one works perfectly fine.

Hope this clears your confusion .

[Rob64]

Hope this clears your confusion .

Thank you 133MHz, it cleared up the confusion for me.

[Rob64]

Is it worth it to sell it or am I better off not selling it?

[manuel]

Well, if you can't see yourself using it, you might as well sell it and help somebody out who needs one.
It won't sell for much, but you might be able to trade with a game or something.

Just my 2 Yen.

[Rob64]

Cool, could I theoretically use it on an american NTSC tv?

[133MHz]

Yes, you could. They've got the ancient twin-screw rooftop aerial connection that old Japanese houses used to have, but with the right adapters it will work perfectly on your standard TV.

[Rob64]

How could I use the RF switch I'm given on an american tv with the famicom?

[133MHz]

Fit your RF switch with these adapters (dirt cheap at any Radio Shack or similar), then just plug it to your TV, tune into Channel 95/96 and play .

[Rob64]

Oh I've seen those with the 2600, I have those. Will the cables I have that came with the 2600 work? Also how do I hook it up?

I have a cable the has the bottom picture combined with the top picture that came with the famicom, is that what I use instead?

[japanfreak]

still someone who can help me with the black/white screen? I wont give up! There must be something! Anyway, Im going to the biggest electronic shop in holland soon, so I think they have something there

[Rob64]

Does anyone know how to hook up the famicom on an american tv with the japanese rf?

It would be cool if I could use it.

[133MHz]

I already told you, get the two adapters that I mentioned and fit them into your Japanese RF switch. Now you can plug it in your US TV.
The Atari 2600 RF switch will also work with your Famicom, but it's manually operated instead of automatic.