How do I set up my Famicom?

[2A03]

I wonder if the guys in U.S could hook up a Pal nes as easy.... probably....

Actually, it's not as easy as you think. While most modern PAL TVs accept NTSC, a lot of NTSC TVs don't accept PAL, so you'd still have to use a PAL-NTSC converter.

[MattyD]

Most PAL TVs on sale in the UK during last decade are dual PAL / NTSC. I have a proper cheap-and-nasty CRT just for my retro consoles and even that takes NTSC, PAL 60hz, RGB, the works.

[Dragomorph]

I have a little question about Famicoms I thought you guys might be able to answer:

See,  I bought one used some time ago, knowing about the "channel 9-whatever" requirement attached to it, but being tired of the Generation NEX's dire record with my still rather small selection of Famicom games (and not so hot with the NES stuff to boot!).  Problem is, without an LCD light, I can't tell whether I'm just not finding the right channel or not hooking it up right or if the Famicom just plain isn't working.  I don't suppose there's some method of finding out for certain one way or another?  Or is that going to requiring fiddling with the components, noting I have the electrical skills of a luddite hermit?  I'd appreciate any insights on this, as I'm tired of playing Famicom via less, uh, official forms, and would like to play the real thing.

Thanks in advance.

[133MHz]

See if your Famicom causes interference in some channels when hooked up to your TV. If it's working it should mess up the reception of the rest of the channels at least a little.

[manuel]

With a Japanese TV it will naturally work.

[ericj]

Hey there pals, I want to get a famicom but just heard about this RF frequency thing, my TV can be set to ntsc pal-m and pal-n, and reaches more than 100 channels, will the famicom work? From what I read I would need to place it on channel 96 or something, but I wanna double check that before buying anything.
Another question, in case I cant get it working, wouldnt it work if I get a regular Japanese TV?

If you're concerned about it working on your tv, get a famicom with an AV mod already done to it, or mod it yourself. You can more than likely get your famicom to work on your tv, but even if it does, the picture & sound isn't perfect. I can find the right channel by hooking up the famicom, inserting a game, turning it on, and doing the auto channel find. It "saves" the station that the signal is going to, for me it's been channels 96, 97, & 98, depending on the tv. You could also just get a Twin Famicom, which has av outputs and thus eliminates the whole rf hassle.

[ericj]

Problem is, without an LCD light, I can't tell whether I'm just not finding the right channel or not hooking it up right or if the Famicom just plain isn't working.  I don't suppose there's some method of finding out for certain one way or another? 

The "auto channel search" on your tv should locate the channel for your famicom. Hook up your famicom, insert a game, turn it on, and use the auto channel search. If it doesn't find anything, try switching the channel 1-2 selector and try again. Also make the tv/game switch on the back of the famicom is on "Game" .

I had success with just bypassing the fuse on the power board when mine didn't work. See the previous posts in this thread.

[manuel]

This method only works if the Famicom works, though.  If you got a "dead" Famicom you can search back and forth without success.

[133MHz]

I think it was a bad design choice not to put a power LED on the Famicom. There's no way to know if it's really working without being sure the TV is correctly tuned, and you need a working Famicom to tune the TV in the first place! You could be chasing a nonexistent problem forever.

[ericj]

But you could always add a LED to it. 

[133MHz]

Of course, but:

• Most people don't trust their electronics or modding skills, they wouldn't open up their Famicom, let alone add a LED to it.


• Most people don't want to ruin their Famicom's original look. Modifications lower the value of your systems.

[UglyJoe]

Just use the Spelunker cart -- it has a built-in LED!

[manuel]

That's basically a good idea, but sometimes you just don't get a picture even when the system is on. I have that once in a while on my TwinFC. 

[133MHz]

But at least you get to know that your Famicom isn't blown up

[wentle85]

That's basically a good idea, but sometimes you just don't get a picture even when the system is on. I have that once in a while on my TwinFC. 

Do you get a gray screen? Sometimes I get a gray screen on my twin and I have to shift the cart I have in it to get it to work. Is this common with well used Twins and standard famicoms?