So I am thinking about Modding my Famicom for AV...my thoughts

[sconley666]

So my famicom I haven't cracked open yet.  I am considering the AV mod.  After reading through the AV Mod thread, I have learned a few things.  But I have a few questions left/ ideas that maybe explained.  So here goes nothin'!

 My famicom has VERY WEAK jailbars, I don't really care.  Doesn't matter I looks fine on my CRT Sanyo TV very playable, don't care. Period.  But I want to be able to ADD AV capabilities.  My thoughts are to be as least invasive as possible.  So since I would like to retain the RF capabilities if I wired the video and audio basically right to a small 1/8" stereo jack on the back of the fami then build the circuit inside a project box on a prototype perfboard and run my cables (RCA cables) to the tv, then when I wanted to use AV i could just hook up my little box via a short 1/8" stereo cable and then hook the box up to the tv.  Anyone try this?  Basically I would just be running the video out and the audio out to the left and right lugs of the stereo jack and then using a cable to extend that connection to the circuit in the project box.  By doing the AV mod do you loose RF functionality?  If so I will just live without it, but it would be nice to have both a la the Toaster NES.  I don't care that it would only be mono, it still is mono even if you double them up/split them into two.  When I was a kid it was mono it never bothered me, I play games to play games this mod would only serve as an extra way to hook up the system on another tv quickly without dealing with the damn little grey box  that likes to make my cable connection a little on the fuzzy side.

Input would be lovely.  Im NOT looking to add Stereo sound, or "get rid of jailbars" (which sound just like a star-grounding issue anyway)  My famicom is fine the way it is just thought for a few dollars the added feature would be useful and kinda nice.

Thanks guys.

80sFreak, Drakon......I am waiting gentlemen!

Any heads up or anything that maybe words of wisdom would be equally considered as well as appreciated.  As of now, I have yet to crack the old bitch open and even see what MOBO/CPU revision I even have.

[jpx72]

My first AV mod was built outside of the Famicom, I just soldered 4 thin wires inside - VCC,GND,Video,Sound, and pulled those wires out throught the controller-cable hole (they fit there together with the controller cable).  Got some jailbars but I played it for two years this way, because I wanted to be able to revert this modded famicom to original unmodded state.
You won't loose RF capability!

[tonev]

You can do something like i did ( and i haven't seen anyone on the forum do the mod this way)
Just use a 3.5 headphone jack and on one of the channels you will have the audio and on the other channel the video:)



This way you do not have to cut holes or anything the cable will go trough the ch1 and ch2 switch

[sconley666]

My first AV mod was built outside of the Famicom, I just soldered 4 thin wires inside - VCC,GND,Video,Sound, and pulled those wires out throught the controller-cable hole (they fit there together with the controller cable).  Got some jailbars but I played it for two years this way, because I wanted to be able to revert this modded famicom to original unmodded state.
You won't loose RF capability!

Cool Thanks dude.  As far as the Jailbars go, were they worse than before or just the same.  Like I said before thats not a huge deal, but making them worse would be a bit of a drag.  Also I read your site and you had some great info there.  Thats basically what I am going for

You can do something like i did ( and i haven't seen anyone on the forum do the mod this way)
Just use a 3.5 headphone jack and on one of the channels you will have the audio and on the other channel the video:)



This way you do not have to cut holes or anything the cable will go trough the ch1 and ch2 switch

This is exactly my idea using one channel for audio and the other for video. I may run the wires out to a plug and just have a "pigtail" that way I could revert if i ever so chose to.


Thanks guys you gave me exactly what I needed and said what I wanted to hear.  Thanks a million you guys are the best.  Thanks for help on a topic that has been beat to death.

[jpx72]

I don't really know if there were any jailabars before because I haven't used the RF output much.
You should try and see.
I suggest buying new capacitors for the mod, I just recently changed old (I used one I found at home that time) for a new one, and the jailbars are fainter:)

[sconley666]

Cool good info on the caps.  I do have a large cache of new parts laying around from guitar amp building.  I am certain I have most if not all of these parts.  Thanks again bro!

[80sFREAK]

Here i am, dude. Question number one - which revision your Famicom? From this point two different ways to do. And you can PM me if you want.

[sconley666]

Here i am, dude. Question number one - which revision your Famicom? From this point two different ways to do. And you can PM me if you want.

I will check it out later.  I am deep into a game of SMB3 right now that is one of my best run throughs ever.  Ill take her apart and send you a PM later with the board/cpu revision.  Thanks dude.

[garyptaszek]

I just got an AV modded Famicom and Im getting the lines on the screen? is this an easy fix or should I just leave it as is?

[Da Bear]

Unfortunately, there is no easy fix.

[Da Bear]

Yes, hook it up to an 14 inch tube TV and the jailbars are gone. FIXED, EASY!

[Da Bear]

FYI, no cables used when I mod my systems.

EDIT: And to clarify, since you have a unique way to take stuff out of contest and make yourself look superior to another. I do not rewire or use any cables when i AV mod Famicom's on commission any more. With experience comes knowledge and I have refined my method since when I first started modding.

And for some reason unexplainable to me, you now harass me of my wiring in MY Akumajō Densetsu cartridge. Who THE HELL cares how it looks when it's my personal cartridge?
Answer: YOU! Why? I don't know, but you seem have some serious issues when all you can do is harass and mock others work instead of giving some creative critique to help.

I don't have 30+ years of experience with soldering or electronics and I have a lot to learn yet. But you are no help on the way what so ever, you just make me angry with your superior attitude.
Nor am I a professional - as you refer it to, and I have never claimed to be! This is just a hobby of mine, so let me have it without your rude comments.

I wont let myself down on your level again as it takes to much of my time and energy that I can use to actually do something meaningful instead. So if mocking others makes you feel good - go ahead! Or get a social life and get a family and friends and train your social skills.


To everyone else, sorry for this post as it has nothing to do with this thread. I'm just feed up with 80sFREAK's arrogant and superior attitude against other people.

[garyptaszek]

Yes, hook it up to an 14 inch tube TV and the jailbars are gone. FIXED, EASY!

oh so the lines are a result of the modern TV? I do have a tube TV for the 1980's but doubt I'll be able to tune the famicom into it

[Da Bear]

No, the lines are produced in the Famicom. But hooked up to a small tube screen they don't show up.

There should be plenty of newer small tubes that have Scart and AV connectors. Search you local sales-site. Here in Sweden people usually give them away for free or sell them for  a few bucks at most.

[garyptaszek]

No, the lines are produced in the Famicom. But hooked up to a small tube screen they don't show up.

There should be plenty of newer small tubes that have Scart and AV connectors. Search you local sales-site. Here in Sweden people usually give them away for free or sell them for  a few bucks at most.

I see.. I would prefer to get it line free on my current TV as I doubt my other half would be happy with any more TVs around our place...
What causes the stripes and how do you get rid of them? I'm fairly competent with soldering from years of electric guitar work but could do with basic instructions for famicom modding.
thanks you guys soo far for all the advice btw x