How do I set up my Famicom?

[Kuren]

Hey guys,

I have a whole stash of Famicom stuff including two disk systems, an old game doctor, tons of FDS games and some carts.  The problem is that I have no idea if any of the stuff works or not.  The Famicom is an HVC-002 and I have the accompanying AC adapter (HVC-002, AC100v 50/60Hz 18VA DC10 350mA) and I plugged it into my TV via an US Nintendo RF adapter.  I changed the channel to 96 and the static that's displaying onscreen changes...but to more static.  There's an apparent change in the signal, but I don't know if the Famicom is actually on or not.

I want to get the Famicom to work first before trying anything else however.  Also there's another cord that's stemming from the controller slots; it's a gold-ended plug, and I'm unsure what this plug is for.

Any ideas?

[madman]

Hard to say what that other plug is for without opening the famicom, I'd imagine it's a composite video signal, but rather useless without audio as well. Got any pics of it?

[kite200]

pics are nessacary. its probably a composite hack gone wrong and your fami is fried by the sounds of it

[Kuren]

I just tried plugging that plug into my video composite input and I got some sort of signal; the same signal you would get from a blinky NES when the cart isn't working "correctly".  So if in the case that plug is video composite, where the heck is the sound composite plug?

[kite200]

it sounds like the dude messed up on hacking an av mod up, and fried the fami, by the looks of things

[Nickv]

I also have a famicom that i have no idea what wrong with. It changes the grain on the tv a bit on some channels but thats about it. I usually use me famiclone that looks the same as a fami but black and with av outputs.

[Kuren]

hmm...well, I think I'll sell all the FDS disks, the disk systems and the Famicom system cause I can't figure it out.  Maybe I'm just doing something wrong or it needs a repair.

[SuperMarioBrosSuperShow]

I have been somewhat of an avid gamer since around 1985 or so when I played my first Atari.  I recently got back into the hobby with the Famicom and some of its rare Japanese titles.  I recently ordered a Famicom, and a Famicom Disk System along with games and cartridges for both systems. It will probably be about a week before I get all the stuff I ordered in the mail. Even though I still have my NES and Atari hooked up to my TV, its been so long that I have no clue as how to hook it up when it finally does get here.  I have read some posts and some have said that NES AC adapters tend to overheat the system.  Another concern I have is the Famicom I ordered didn't come with a RF switch, but rather a couple of cables.  I have also heard about people that when they got their Famicom systems, they weren't compatible with their TV sets.  The question I have is that is it relatively easy to hook all this stuff up, or is it kind of hit or miss?  Is there anything I need to buy as well?  Please if someone can help me, let me know.  Thanks

[JC]

Try searching this and the following threads for answers and then if you have more questions, just ask. There's also info on the site itself.

http://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=786.0
http://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=764.0
http://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=560.0
http://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=281.0

[madman]

You definitely do not want to use a NES AC adapter on a Famicom. The original NES AC adapter outputs an AC current.

[kite200]

You definitely do not want to use a NES AC adapter on a Famicom. The original NES AC adapter outputs an AC current.

yeah, if you do it, it will break the famicom.

uhm, as to getting these things setup, just use a nes rf adapter i guess, and tune to channel 95 or 96 depending upon the tv. if that doesnt work your tv isnt compatible with NTSC-J rf signals, so you'll need to figure out something else like, say, a twin famicom

[madman]

Or much cheaper and easier, an A/V mod.

[SuperMarioBrosSuperShow]

You definitely do not want to use a NES AC adapter on a Famicom. The original NES AC adapter outputs an AC current.

What about this adapter?  http://www.pinkgodzillagames.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=191&osCsid=b17f4b9b59617b6c8ab1b800e6fe8e92
This has been posted on this forum but how does it output 110 volts if it also works for NES which requires 120 volts?  Should I buy this adapter?

[madman]

No adapter outputs 120VAC.  There'd be no point in an adapter since that's what comes out of your socket in the first place. Input and Output voltage are completely different things.  That adapter will be fine for the Famicom.

[SuperMarioBrosSuperShow]

OK cool, just making sure.  I thought the whole issue is that US outputs 120 volts where as Japan outputs 110, therefore being that the Famicom is made for people living in Japan, our power adapters (read: NES) would fry the machine