Author Topic: Basic help: PC Engine on PAL TV? (Read 466 times)

Monster Bonce · « **on:** January 06, 2006, 06:21:44 AM »

Hi,

I've finally bought a PC Engine after having coveted one for years. Anyway, I'm in Ireland and have an NTSC/PAL question. I'd be very grateful if anyone can help me:

I have an original white PC Engine – the one with only RF output. When I plug it into my TV I get no sound at all and hazy, slightly flickering lines on the picture.

Now, the TV must be able to handle NTSC otherwise it would be black and white and slipping off the screen, right?

So, two questions:

Firstly, what's going on? Is there any way I can use the RF output on my (Toshiba, fairly recent) TV?

Secondly, is there a way I can get a box which will convert the RF into either phono or Scart (no modding, I'm crap at that)? I've seen ones which convert using phonos, but I only have an RF output on the machine.

(I know I should have bought a Core Grafx, but I wanted the original machine for nostalgic reasons).

All the very best – and nice site,
J...

Monster Bonce · « **Reply #1 on:** January 08, 2006, 03:30:24 AM »

OK, I snagged a new RF cable from a UK Nintendo 64. The picture is much better. Clearly my old RF cable was rubbish.

However, I'm still getting no sound.

The power adapter that I'm using is a 240 volt to 9v step-down transformer with a power output of 10 watts. According to NTSC-UK.com, I need 50 watts. Could this be the problem or am I grasping at straws?

Quote

Console Power Recommendation (Watts, W, VA)

32/16/8 bit consoles (PSone, Super Famicon, etc) - 50 Watts
Dreamcast - 75 Watts
PS2 - 100 Watts
Gamecube - 100 Watts
X Box - 150 Watts

All the best,
J...

FM-77 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 08, 2006, 04:39:36 AM »

Hey there. I'm sorry, but with RF you won't get color on a PAL TV. Ever. Why you aren't getting any sound? No idea. That puzzles me.

I have a Japanese PC Engine DUO-R with A/V output (SCART). On one of my TVs it works great. I'm getting sound and a solid picture (with color).

On my other TV I get sound but no color (still solid picture though).

(Both of my TVs are PAL)

If your screen flickers (as if the game tries to display three screens at one TV, your TV can't handle NTSC output [60Hz], so then there's nothing you can do.)

Since the original PC Engine only has RF, there's only one solution for you to get color. You'll need to RGB-mod it. You can find some instructions on how to do that here!

Good luck!

Monster Bonce · « **Reply #3 on:** January 08, 2006, 04:47:57 AM »

Hi there and thanks for replying,

Quote from: "Seldane"

Hey there. I'm sorry, but with RF you won't get color on a PAL TV. Ever. Why you aren't getting any sound? No idea. That puzzles me.

I know, but it's a modern PAL TV and thus also supports NTSC 4,48, NTSC 3,58 (Japan, right?) and Secam. The picture is OK – not amazing, but it'll do. The lack of sound is the weird thing.

Quote from: "Seldane"

I have a Japanese PC Engine DUO-R with A/V output (SCART). On one of my TVs it works great. I'm getting sound and a solid picture (with color).

On my other TV I get sound but no color (still solid picture though).

(Both of my TVs are PAL)

If your screen flickers (as if the game tries to display three screens at one TV, your TV can't handle NTSC output [60Hz], so then there's nothing you can do.)

Since the original PC Engine only has RF, there's only one solution for you to get color. You'll need to RGB-mod it. You can find some instructions on how to do that here!

Good luck!

Hmm – I don't need the RGB-mod because I'm getting colour OK – I'm just not getting sound. It is weird, isn't it.

This guy's problem sounds similar:
http://ntsc-uk.domino.org/showthread.php?t=48703&highlight=pc+engine

Cheers,
J...

FM-77 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 09, 2006, 01:43:16 AM »

Are you getting color through RF? I didn't know that was possible (I havent tried it myself, actually).

Hmm, no sound... I wonder why. You didn't use the original cable, right? But it didn't work with the original either? Do a manual search on your TV. When I plugged in my Mega Drive to my new TV (via RF), I got some problems with the auto search so I did a manual search and got it working just fine. You should try the same.

Monster Bonce · « **Reply #5 on:** January 09, 2006, 07:18:07 AM »

Quote from: "Seldane"

Are you getting color through RF? I didn't know that was possible (I havent tried it myself, actually).

I am indeed getting colour. The TV supports all 4 transmission standards (PAL, both NTSCs and Secam). Perhaps it doesn't support the right frequency of audio subcarrier for Japanese NTSC sound – does that sound plausible?

Quote from: "Seldane"

Hmm, no sound... I wonder why. You didn't use the original cable, right? But it didn't work with the original either? Do a manual search on your TV. When I plugged in my Mega Drive to my new TV (via RF), I got some problems with the auto search so I did a manual search and got it working just fine. You should try the same.

I've tried manual tuning. It makes no difference.

The original cable came with no RF socket on the end, so I added one. It kind of worked but the picture was rubbish (bad connection). Using the (moulded) RF cable from the Ninteondo 64, the picture is almost perfect.

The original cable had some kind of little box on the end. I suppose it was an antenna switch, but it had no actual switch per se, just a hoop and three screws.

Is there any way to patch RF to composite (red, white and yellow leads)?

J...

esteban · « **Reply #6 on:** January 09, 2006, 09:32:44 AM »

hey jmwalsh,

you do have an option available, but I don't know how viable it is (the product might be too expensive / not easilly obtained):

NEC released AV Booster (PI-AD2) (upgrades to composite A/V output) and Backup Booster (PI-AD7) (adds composite A/V output RCA jacks ,plus you get 2K battery back-up for game saves).

Model PI-AD8, from what I can gather, lacks the A/V output because it was for the CoreGrafx models (which already had composite video).

Also, if you have extra $$$, you could try getting a CD-ROM upgrade for your PCE.

Monster Bonce · « **Reply #7 on:** January 09, 2006, 09:38:44 AM »

Hi Steve,

Do you think this is the right thing:
http://cgi.ebay.com/PC-ENGINE-AV-BOOSTER-pc-engine-JP_W0QQitemZ8243485187QQ?

It says it works with the PCE as well as the Core Grafx.

Cheers,
J...

PS - Excellent Nectaris site. I have that game and was wondering what it was all about. Can't wait to give it a go now.

esteban · « **Reply #8 on:** January 09, 2006, 09:48:06 AM »

Quote from: "jmwalsh"

Hi Steve,

Do you think this is the right thing:
http://cgi.ebay.com/PC-ENGINE-AV-BOOSTER-pc-engine-JP_W0QQitemZ8243485187QQ?

It says it works with the PCE as well as the Core Grafx.

Cheers,
J...

Wow, I was fixing up my post and you already responded!

Yes, that's the item you want. It only has A/V, though. If you think you want memory back up (I don't think you will, but just in case), you might try looking for the Backup Booster. Unless you play games with super-long passwords, I don't think you have to worry about save files.

Drazic · « **Reply #9 on:** January 10, 2006, 05:50:55 AM »

I wouldnt pay 30 dollar for that thing though,
Getting a cd addon is better imo. You can play cd games.
It may cost more but you would want one evantually i think.

Monster Bonce · « **Reply #10 on:** January 10, 2006, 06:45:31 AM »

Quote from: "Drazic"

I wouldnt pay 30 dollar for that thing though,
Getting a cd addon is better imo. You can play cd games.
It may cost more but you would want one evantually i think.

I know, I want to get the CD-ROM unit eventually, but this will do for now. Right now I just want to play Bomberman...

I have to say, though, since coming back to this site (the last time I was here it was much smaller, though still interesting) I'm now coveting a PC-FX. Right, one thing at a time. Get the PC Engine working, get a CD-ROM unit and then maybe think about a PC-FX later in the year.

J...

esteban · « **Reply #11 on:** January 10, 2006, 12:21:09 PM »

Quote from: "jmwalsh"

Quote from: "Drazic"
I wouldnt pay 30 dollar for that thing though,
Getting a cd addon is better imo. You can play cd games.
It may cost more but you would want one evantually i think.

I know, I want to get the CD-ROM unit eventually, but this will do for now. Right now I just want to play Bomberman...

I have to say, though, since coming back to this site (the last time I was here it was much smaller, though still interesting) I'm now coveting a PC-FX. Right, one thing at a time. Get the PC Engine working, get a CD-ROM unit and then maybe think about a PC-FX later in the year.

J...

Yeah, not only is the PC-FX more alluring to me now, but so is a modded Duo-R (with upgraded video output and a region switch). A bunch of folks here have one and it really is a sweet set-up (I would never have thought this before seeing folks talk about it and post screenshots).

HumanBean · « **Reply #12 on:** May 20, 2006, 07:49:05 AM »

Hi there,

Did the AV booster work?? I'm having exactly the same problem.

Digi.k · « **Reply #13 on:** May 20, 2006, 11:58:08 AM »

well hope my pics speaks volumes. sorry might hurt ya if u on dial up!

My pc engine is unmodded. and I can't tune it into the TVs at all!

With AV booster attached to the back I got picture, colour and sound.

and it works on the TV downstairs too and music sounds nice and loud when hooked to the amp.

and if u wanna see it in motion, selec the link below (thats filmed from the TV downstairs too)

HumanBean · « **Reply #14 on:** May 20, 2006, 10:31:30 PM »

Thanks for the reply, I originally thought the guy who had sold me the PCE had stung me and give me a faulty one but hopefully that booster will work (fingers crossed). I suppose I need to search high and low to find one now, but, the world would be a boring place if everything worked first time,eh! Next stop........Ebay!!

I will let you know how it goes and thanks again for the info.