HDTVs, Digital Cable, and the SNES

[vivaeljason]

Two weeks ago, I made my first vintage gaming purchase -- the SNES. As of today, I am yet to get it working properly. When I turn it on, I get one of two responses from the system: nothing (when I used the AV cables) or a black screen (when I use the RF switch).

I believe that at least part of the problem is that every television in my house has digital cable and for whatever reason the RF switch doesn't work with it. I'm sure the system needs cleaning, but I'm concerned that my TVs and cable are too new to get the thing working. Is this a possibility, or do I just need to clean out the system?

[Game Freak]

try cleaning the system, or pull out the cartridge maybe 3/4 of a centimeter out of the unit after you push it in all the way. That usually does the trick for me.

[b1aCkDeA7h]

Try cleaning the games as well, also make sure you have the channel matched up on the RF switch. Maybe invest in a Nintendo S-Video cable (since it covers a nice range of systems).

Did the seller say it was working when you bought it or have any proof of it working?

[vivaeljason]

Try cleaning the games as well, also make sure you have the channel matched up on the RF switch. Maybe invest in a Nintendo S-Video cable (since it covers a nice range of systems).

Did the seller say it was working when you bought it or have any proof of it working?

The seller did indeed say it worked; he has also guaranteed me that, if not working, he would replace it. I'd rather not take the drive out there, though.

I honestly think I just need to use an older TV and clean the system out.

[TheDomesticInstitution]

All modern televisions will be able to hook up via RF to any classic system. Since you didn't say how you have your SNES hooked up, its hard to speculate what may be the problem- but theres a chance you may not have it hooked up correctly.

If you have the coax connection hooked into the RF port on the back of the cable box, the problem may lie in the cable box. It may not properly pass through the signal.

If i were you I would find a set of AV cables and hook it up that way. Not only will you get a better picture, you'll be able to hook it up to the TV directly.

Then again, it may be your SNES and not your TVs. You may want to test it out on a TV that doesn't have anything else hooked into it, if you're going to use coax. That way you'll know if you need to replace your SNES.

[vivaeljason]

I've got a set of AV cables that were tested by the guy I bought them from but I'm relatively sure they don't work since whenever I turn the SNES on, I get nothing.

I think it might be that the digital boxes aren't passing through the signals.

Regardless, I will be cleaning the system thoroughly; hopefully, that will get it to work.

[TheDomesticInstitution]

The digital boxes and digital cable have nothing to do with the AV connections on a TV and how they process a signal. I have no idea why you'd be connecting the SNES to a digital box. Hook the AV cables directly into the TV.

What you are saying doesn't exactly make sense.

[vivaeljason]

I apologize...I sort of rushed the last post I wrote without actually taking the time to point out that I've got both AV cables and an old-school RF switch (the grey box). I sort of switched between talking about the two mid-post and never clarified what I was talking about.

The AV cables don't seem to work no matter where I plug them in. I've got three different AV inputs on the back of my TV and the cables don't produce either sound or picture in any of the inputs.

The RF, when hooked up to my cable box, produces just a black screen. It could be that it shouldn't be hooked up to the cable box, but there's really nowhere else for it to go.

If I'm still nonsenical, I apologize for causing confusion. :)

[TheDomesticInstitution]

Sounds like your SNES is at fault. Mine works great connected to an HDTV with AV cables. I've even connected one to the same TV via RF with great success.

[vivaeljason]

I sort of figured that might be the case; looks like it'll be getting cleaned rather thoroughly tomorrow -- or returned to the guy who sold it to me next weekend.

[Leo_A]

The RF, when hooked up to my cable box, produces just a black screen. It could be that it shouldn't be hooked up to the cable box, but there's really nowhere else for it to go.

If I'm still nonsenical, I apologize for causing confusion. :)

Why are you hooking the RF switch to your cable box's input?

I doubt it would work even if everything was operational. You need to be hooking it up to your television's coaxial jack, not your digital cable box's coaxial input. Then you can feed your cable box's output to the coaxial input on the RF switch.

Basically, the SuperNes needs to be hooked up between the tv and cable box, it shouldn't be passing through the cable box since I doubt it would work.

Also, how come your using a HDTV and just standard definition digital cable (Since it can't be HD since we're talking about coaxial cables here)?

[vivaeljason]

It's an HD cable box.

The reason I'm not hooking the RF into the TV is because nothing is in the TV's coax jack. The box's output goes into the TV through a set of AV cables of their own.

It may be that I'm completely wrong about how my cable box sends signals to the TV, but I honestly don't think it's possible for the RF switch to be between the box and the TV.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Plug the RF adapter directly into the television set.

It doesn't matter that there's nothing else running into that jack.

Power up the SNES and switch your HDTV input from the component input over to channel 3 or 4 on the COAX/analog input and you should be golden.

[BetaWolf47]

If you want to try getting your SNES to work without cleaning it, a trick I learned is to fold a piece of paper in half 3 or 4 times, then sticking it in the cartridge slot in front of the game. It'll hold the game in place so that it'll make connection, even if it is a bit dusty.

[vivaeljason]

Just a quick update for everyone:

Since I was relatively sure that the issue was that the system needed to be cleaned, I finally manned up and cleaned it rather thoroughly.

I'm still not getting anything on the HDTV. I'm going to try it on a standard TV tomorrow, if it doesn't work, I'm just going to call it quits and get another one. It doesn't at all feel like I've wasted my money, by the way. :(

EDIT: Regardless, though, thanks for the input and the advice from everyone.