Help with getting Famicom to work

[Sajun]

So I just got the Famicom in the mail tonight. Unsurprisingly, I couldn't get it to work. I say this because I've heard that they're difficult to get working so I wasn't bummed out or anything really.

So I've tried everything I can think of. I've tried channel 96, and various others that were recommended. I've tried it with my NES av cable even, which didn't work at all it seemed. The best I can manage to get is with the Japanese rf adapter and the Japanese power cable. On the Famicom's channel 1 setting I get a sort of flicker, and a brighter static, but on the channel 2 setting I get a much brighter flicker and a different pattern and a kind of buzzing sound. When I turn the Famicom's power off the buzzing sound ends with like a sharp kind of static sound.

Based on the information given, can anyone understand what may be wrong with the console? I was thinking at first that it was a power cable issue, but now that I got some sort of change in it when powering it on I'm thinking it's an issue with the rf adapter.

It's strange though that my NES av cable doesn't work at all. I had heard that that was an easy way to hook up Famicoms to American tvs. =(

[133MHz]

Have you tried on another TV set? Do you have an RF adapter from an Atari 2600 or another pre-NES console?

[80sFREAK]

1) Did you powered it with AC/AC or AC/DC adaptor?
2) Is your power adaptor original?
3) Are you sure, that's your TV can receive "cable channels"?

[Frank_fjs]

My guess would be that your TV doesn't support the Japanese RF signal, most don't. Best thing to do is try a few different TV', preferably older CRT's. If all else fails, you might need to look into getting an AV mod.

Only one of my TV's successfully tunes in my Famicom and the console needs to be set to channel 2, ff that helps.

[Sajun]

My power cable seems to be an original. It says DC10V on it so I'm assuming its an AC/DC.

As to whether my tv can receive cable channels, I'm not sure. But I did try to seperate tvs and tried every channel imaginable.

And I'm afraid I don't have any consoles earlier than 8-bit. =(

[80sFREAK]

Ok, looks like first 2 question are positive, but still question about TV. Do you have VCR? They usually can receive cable channels. Use it as convetor, i know other people did. As for me i go with AV mod
By the way, how much did you paid for Famicom?

[UglyJoe]

I've tried it with my NES av cable even, which didn't work at all it seemed.
...
It's strange though that my NES av cable doesn't work at all. I had heard that that was an easy way to hook up Famicoms to American tvs. =(

When you say "av cable", are you referring to actual av cables, or do you mean an RF adapter?  If your Famicom isn't AV modded, then you need to use the RF adapter.

[Lum]

Famicom rear jack is RF. Not composite.

If you tried a plain RCA cable, you might have accidentally fed RF into the TV's composite input...

[senseiman]

I feel obliged to enter the conversation here since I am the one who sold the Famicom to Sajun.  Thanks a lot everyone for answering.

I sent him an official Famicom adaptor and an RF switch (not an AV cable) so that is what he is working with.  The Famicom itself definitely works because I tested it (on my Japanese TV) before I sent it. 

Living in Japan I don`t have any experience in hooking up a Famicom to an American TV so I suggested he start this thread.  I actually didn`t know that they only work on some American TVs.

[Frank_fjs]

This happens quite frequently, i.e. people outside of Japan obtain a Famicom and struggle to tune it in.

Sometimes people incorrectly assume that they have a faulty product, which is seldom the case, it's just a matter of having a compatible TV.

[Lum]

Famicom RF corresponds primarily US channels 95/96. An American TV without support for those, is unlikely to accept Famicom.

[jescis]

A tv with VHF/UHF knobs can get it on channel 13. ;-P I did have one that's why I know. ;-)

[Sajun]

Ok, looks like first 2 question are positive, but still question about TV. Do you have VCR? They usually can receive cable channels. Use it as convetor, i know other people did. As for me i go with AV mod
By the way, how much did you paid for Famicom?

One of my tvs does have a vcr attached, some sort of Panasonic tv. Dunno bout the av mod, I guess I'd have to send it off somewhere to get modded or something?

And as for how much the Famicom cost, I bought it for... maybe 40-50 or so, shipped from Japan though so dunno really how much the shipping really added on to it.
Post Merge: August 06, 2012, 06:05:11 pm

I've tried it with my NES av cable even, which didn't work at all it seemed.
...
It's strange though that my NES av cable doesn't work at all. I had heard that that was an easy way to hook up Famicoms to American tvs. =(

When you say "av cable", are you referring to actual av cables, or do you mean an RF adapter?  If your Famicom isn't AV modded, then you need to use the RF adapter.

I used the red and black hookups that came with my NES. The Famicom itself came with one of those little grey box things, has Japanese written all over it, and it plugs into the same place the cable would plug into, in the back of most tvs. I suppose then that the only thing I actually own that will hook it up is that rf adapter, since it must not be av modded. =(
Post Merge: August 06, 2012, 06:08:47 pm

I feel obliged to enter the conversation here since I am the one who sold the Famicom to Sajun.  Thanks a lot everyone for answering.

I sent him an official Famicom adaptor and an RF switch (not an AV cable) so that is what he is working with.  The Famicom itself definitely works because I tested it (on my Japanese TV) before I sent it. 

Living in Japan I don`t have any experience in hooking up a Famicom to an American TV so I suggested he start this thread.  I actually didn`t know that they only work on some American TVs.

=)

Yes I purchased the Famicom from most-trusted Senseiman, so I had no doubts that the console itself worked. I meant to make that clear in my original post so sorry about that. I'm simply trying to narrow down the issue.

Shame that I've tried two different super-old tvs and neither will work on 95 or 96 though. Gonna try to hook it up again here in a minute.

[theamity9]

You used the RF box that came with the Fami? I heard many foreign TVs have an issue with that. However if you get a RF connector for a NES from whatever country you're from it should work. I also heard something about going to channel 96, if your TV can go that high.

I can't be too much help sorry, I got AV Famicom.

[Frank_fjs]

Sounds like you've worked it out, but the red/black video cable you used is not the right one.

As mentioned, try grabbing an RF cable from a NES/SNES or even a Master System/Mega Drive etc and see if that works.