Famicom White Screen?

[jcalder8]

I just recently got a famicom and some games but I haven't been able to get it to work. I've tried different rf switches but that hasn't helped and I've been using a model 1 genesis PSU(9V 1.2A) which I thought I heard worked.

I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions about how to get it to work?
Thanks

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

If it's an original Famicom unit, on a US NTSC TV, are you setting the channel-1 output to channel 95 on the TV?

[jcalder8]

If it's an original Famicom unit, on a US NTSC TV, are you setting the channel-1 output to channel 95 on the TV?
Sorry I meant to say, yes I have it set to channel 1 and on channel 95 on the TV. I also get a loud buzzing noise out of the speakers.

[SnowKitty]

If it's an original Famicom unit, on a US NTSC TV, are you setting the channel-1 output to channel 95 on the TV?

try channel 96 too, that might work

[jcalder8]

try channel 96 too, that might work
I've tried channels 90-99 which I heard could work but 95 is the only one where I get anything but static.

[SnowKitty]

I've tried channels 90-99 which I heard could work but 95 is the only one where I get anything but static.

then your RF cable is almost certainly bad. try a different one and see if it works.

[jcalder8]

then your RF cable is almost certainly bad. try a different one and see if it works.
I've tried a few different RF cables. Would sending it through the VCR first cause this?

[evildragon]

First rule of troubleshooting.

Always connect directly to the TV. ;)

But anyway, for a US TV, if your hitting channels in the 90's, your without a doubt hitting the CATV frequencies, not standard UHF frequencies.

[jcalder8]

I tried hooking it up right to the TV and I tried a couple different RF cables but none of them did anything more than the white screen.

[evildragon]

Wait a minute...

Can you take a picture of the power input on the Super Famicom?

On the Super Nintendo, a model 1 Genesis adapter has wrong polarity, will not fit, and if somehow forced, it'll fry the SNES. The only way would it work, is if the polarity was reversed..

Don't know if the Super Famicom is the same.

Oh, and AV cables are far better than an RF output and won't have channel issues.

PS: European or Japanese Famicom? If Japanese, no problem, but you might need to raise brightness a little (NTSC-J). If European, you might get a black and white rolling picture.

[SnowKitty]

Wait a minute...

Can you take a picture of the power input on the Super Famicom?

On the Super Nintendo, a model 1 Genesis adapter has wrong polarity, will not fit, and if somehow forced, it'll fry the SNES. The only way would it work, is if the polarity was reversed..

Don't know if the Super Famicom is the same.

Oh, and AV cables are far better than an RF output and won't have channel issues.

PS: European or Japanese Famicom? If Japanese, no problem, but you might need to raise brightness a little (NTSC-J). If European, you might get a black and white rolling picture.

*facepalm* the genesis AC adapter works fine on a US snes. right polarity and voltage(9vdc center negative), wrong connector (my snes power jack broke so i soldered in one that fits a standard plug like the genesis uses) and europe didnt get the famicom, they got pal version of the NES. and if all that pops up is a white screen when booting that famicom, try cleaning the games and the system.

[evildragon]

*facepalm* the genesis AC adapter works fine on a US snes. right polarity and voltage(9vdc center negative), wrong connector (my snes power jack broke so i soldered in one that fits a standard plug like the genesis uses) and europe didnt get the famicom, they got pal version of the NES. and if all that pops up is a white screen when booting that famicom, try cleaning the games and the system.
I had the MD1 and MD2 bricks confused.

As the MD2 brick is center positive.

I also thought the euro version was a famicom also.

My bad.

[Mr.collection]

A Genesis 1 ac works in both famicoms.
If you just get a white screen then to me it would just need a cleaning of the connectors and games.

[jcalder8]

A Genesis 1 ac works in both famicoms.
If you just get a white screen then to me it would just need a cleaning of the connectors and games.
I've just tried cleaning the connectors and the games, which I do know are working thanks to my Famicom-NES converter.

I wasn't able to fully clean the connectors on the Famicom since I'm not sure what to use to get down deep but I was able to clean the upper parts of them. What I don't get is if it was only dirt shouldn't I see something on the screen like when an NES is dirty?

[Niku-Sama]

got a different PSU (brick) you can try?
one from a NES should work
my guess is that its mabe not getting enough UMPF from the brick your using. some times over time the power supply loses its ability to supply the proper ammount of voltage or amps. i have acually had it happen and it produced a similar effect. its almost like its not getting enough to get it over the hill sort of thing.

the other thing is the RF unit (which is wacked for the FC) may need to be rewired, if your using a FC RF unit that is.

[evildragon]

got a different PSU (brick) you can try?
one from a NES should work
my guess is that its mabe not getting enough UMPF from the brick your using. some times over time the power supply loses its ability to supply the proper ammount of voltage or amps. i have acually had it happen and it produced a similar effect. its almost like its not getting enough to get it over the hill sort of thing.

the other thing is the RF unit (which is wacked for the FC) may need to be rewired, if your using a FC RF unit that is.
Ok, THAT is where I worry.

An NES brick is AC, not DC.

[SnowKitty]

I had the MD1 and MD2 bricks confused.

As the MD2 brick is center positive.

I also thought the euro version was a famicom also.

My bad.
actually the MD2 brick should be center negative too, that's what mine says on it


got a different PSU (brick) you can try?
one from a NES should work
my guess is that its mabe not getting enough UMPF from the brick your using. some times over time the power supply loses its ability to supply the proper ammount of voltage or amps. i have acually had it happen and it produced a similar effect. its almost like its not getting enough to get it over the hill sort of thing.

the other thing is the RF unit (which is wacked for the FC) may need to be rewired, if your using a FC RF unit that is.

oh nononono bad idea, very bad idea, NES power brick is AC and can possibly damage your famicom.

[jcalder8]

I've now tried a second PSU and still the same output. Just a white screen. It doesn't change even when I push the reset button.

[evildragon]

actually the MD2 brick should be center negative too, that's what mine says on it
Check again. Genesis 2's power input are center positive. Or atleast ALL american units are.

http://www.vidgame.net/SEGA/GEN2.html

[Niku-Sama]

oh nononono bad idea, very bad idea, NES power brick is AC and can possibly damage your famicom.

your joking right?

all of these power bricks convert a AC voltage to a DC voltage
japan runs roughly on 100V AC for their power system in the US its 110V but either or work with out issue.

my famicom and super famicom work in the US fine, and my NES and SNES work in japan fine. my NES power bricks work on my FC and SFC fine aswell.
the only thing i have found that doesent work is my NES pwoer brick doesent work on my TwinFamicom because it has a different plug

[evildragon]

The NES powerbrick outputs a real AC current.

The NES actually has the regulators INTERNALLY on the NES deck itself.

So, your playing dangerous using an AC NES brick on anything that requires DC.

[Niku-Sama]

oh my god i am gonna have to take a picture, i'll be right back
fuckin a some one killed my volt meter. tried it out on a battery, nothing. stuck it in a wall socket, nothin.
oh well i guess, my NES power brick works on my famicom and super famicom, i cam post pics of that if needed

[InsaneDavid]

all of these power bricks convert a AC voltage to a DC voltage japan runs roughly on 100V AC for their power system in the US its 110V but either or work with out issue.

my famicom and super famicom work in the US fine, and my NES and SNES work in japan fine. my NES power bricks work on my FC and SFC fine aswell.
the only thing i have found that doesent work is my NES pwoer brick doesent work on my TwinFamicom because it has a different plug

Dude, I've seen you post in lots of technical discussions over the years with incorrect information but haven't said anything until now. You don't seem to know much about these things, so please don't spread incorrect information.

An NES AC adapter does NOT convert AC to DC the way most video game power adapters do. The NES does that work from what I've read.

What you quoted has NOTHING to do with the 100V Japanese and 110V USA standards. We're talking AC and DC here, not voltage. AC given to a circuit expecting DC will usually tear it a new one. Yes, the power from the outlet is AC and most adapters convert it to DC so the system can use it. However an official NES AC adapter does not convert AC to DC, it passes the current right along and outputs AC. Yes, some consoles will convert it on their own, but most won't and that's where you get the popping and the smoking and the melting and the "OMG what happened to my system?!!111 PLZ help!!11"

Plugging an adapter that states it outputs AC into a system that runs on DC is a stupid idea no matter how you slice it. The assumption that if a plug fits then it must be correct is plain stupidity - such as running a JVC X'Eye with a Genesis 2 power adapter. Use caution with the NES adapter and anything that outputs AC for that matter.

EDIT: evildragon beat me to it, I need to go take a picture myself.

[InsaneDavid]

EDIT: evildragon beat me to it, I need to go take a picture myself.

Here you are...

http://www.classicplastic.net/digitalpress/NESpoweradapter01.jpg

Feel free to post pictures of your smoking consoles. :roll:

[evildragon]

Yea, if it were DC powerbricks, it would have the usual symbols like:
-C+
+C-

But being the NES brick is AC, instead you get a ~ symbol.

EDIT: Though insanedavids clearly says AC. Mine has the ~ on it.

[ooXxXoo]

I tried hooking it up right to the TV and I tried a couple different RF cables but none of them did anything more than the white screen.

Hey Man!...Why don't you try modding your Famicom to Composite/Audio jacks instead?....with the right electronic parts is fairly easy to do!...

[jcalder8]

Hey Man!...Why don't you try modding your Famicom to Composite/Audio jacks instead?....with the right electronic parts is fairly easy to do!...
I would but with no idea if the system actually works, no skills to do it and no tools I don't think it'll happen.

I bought the system untested could it be that someone before me used a wrong PSU and fried the system?

[ooXxXoo]

PM sent....

[Niku-Sama]

EDIT: Though insanedavids clearly says AC. Mine has the ~ on it.

cant see what he says hes on my list.

as for the modding if i can do it any one can. its pretty old tech , most of it is though the PCB (mabe all i cant rember) instead of surface mount.

[InsaneDavid]

cant see what he says hes on my list.

ROFL MAN, the truth hurts some people.

[SnowKitty]

your joking right?

all of these power bricks convert a AC voltage to a DC voltage
japan runs roughly on 100V AC for their power system in the US its 110V but either or work with out issue.

my famicom and super famicom work in the US fine, and my NES and SNES work in japan fine. my NES power bricks work on my FC and SFC fine aswell.
the only thing i have found that doesent work is my NES pwoer brick doesent work on my TwinFamicom because it has a different plug

dude i have an official NES power brick here somewhere, it says 9V AC on it. the NES has a diode bridge inside to convert it to DC which is why you can use either AC or DC on it. if i use the NES ac cord on a model 1 genesis the sound will buzz, if i use the genesis power cord on the nes it runs fine