how necessary is the shielding?

[nullity]

So, I'm not what you would call a super experienced modder, but I'm handy enough and have some good tools at my disposal.  I've got this pipe dream of making a custom case out of transparent/translucent acrylic and incorporating all those features I wish the tg16 had @ launch (like 5x controller ports, svideo, etc...).  I'd love to have the PCB visible with some LED lighting, and though I'm pretty sure it would be OK to leave the shielding off I wanted to confirm with more experienced modders that antique consoles can indeed live without the excessive shielding.

[HercTNT]

I have removed the rf shielding from Nintendo's, Sega's, etc and have never had an issue. Not sure that shielding is as important as it once was.

[drakewolfe]

I think the shielding is just a FCC requirement here in the States, of all the Japanese and Hong Kong consoles I've worked on, they don't seem to have this out of the factory.

[esteban]

(like 5x controller ports, svideo, etc...)

That's actually an intriguing situation/idea.

(1) PCE fans love the cute, tiny PCE.
(2) TG-16 is often mocked for "stretching" out the PCE (creating a surfboard).
(3) BUT, what if the original TG-16 have 5 controller ports built in?
(4) DAMN, THAT WOULD MAKE THE TG-16 LOOK RIDICULOUS...
(5) ...and thus your challenge awaits you

[turbokon]

I usually end up having to remove the shield especially after modding the TE's just because there is no rooms for the all the mods I do to it, external controller mod, switchless region mod & LCD/comp vid out mod.

[TheClash603]

I am very excited to see this 5 controller port TG16.  Let's get it done!

[esteban]

I am very excited to see this 5 controller port TG16.  Let's get it done!

Seconded!

[Nec.Game.head]

YOU CAN DO IT !! 5 PLAYER ACTION BOMBERMAN STYLES ALL DAY !!!

[Gogan]

This sounds like a cool ass project! If I had anything to donate, you bet I would. Good luck!

[Duo_R]

Thought of this before not difficult to do although its nice to have an extension cord on the turbo tap instead of each controller needing one.

[GohanX]

I've removed the shield as well with no ill effects. The only system I've messed with where RF shielding was necessary was the original famicom, where I had to add MORE shielding to prevent interference when I AV modded it.

[ApolloBoy]

I think I've removed the RF shielding in every system of mine that had them, they're a complete nuisance IMO since the shielding adds unnecessary weight and gets in the way of me doing repairs or mods.

[NightWolve]

I had this question when I was doing a cap replacement that thankfully resurrected my dead TurboExpress. I could've bought the bigger, cheaper, standard aluminum caps but instead I bought the exact SMD replacements, so it was no problem to put the RF shield back on, but then I thought if I had another problem in the future, I don't want the inconvenience of having to take it off again, thus I got rid of it anyway... Apart of you says that the engineers put it there for a good reason, so you feel you should respect that, but then there is the fact that US/FCC requires it for electronic devices sold here meaning it probably wasn't the engineers' choice. So what does the FCC know that other countries don't ? I guess I'm interested in what JKM mentions, that he got rid of interference by adding more of it. Would like to know how this "interference" manifested itself (wavy lines in the video or something, etc. ?).

[bacteria]

In my Project Unity I have many console systems, bare boards, all quite close to each other - no issues at all. So yes, you can remove the shielding no issues.

[bacteria]

Cool!

I haven't frequented this forum for a while now, although will do at some point. I like the TurboGrafx; made a portable with one years ago, will also incorporate one into my Project Unity, and also a future handheld multi-system. Then i'll be back on this forum again for a bit!

There are two things in a gaming console that does "need" shielding for is the RF box as that generates interference, so if you remove it (modern televisions don't like RF anymore anyway so remove it) you're fine; the other thing (which isn't relevant to the Turbografx or PCengine) is if the console has a transformer inside, like for example a PS2, DreamCast or PS1 (original), as transformers if unregulated can kick out a lot of magnetic field/interference. I had that when I tried to use a PS2 transformer for my Unity project, it affected all systems within about 8 inches or so, especially if they used motors (eg CD drives); those sort of systems need shielding unless you remove the transformer and use other regulators or external supply.