Loose Duo A/V port?

[Mobius]

Hey all... Just wondering if there was a known fix for this.  My Duo has what I'm assuming to be a loose A/V port.  The connection is very sensitive.  Tapping the A/V cord while playing a game can make the picture flicker.  Also, the picture occasionally dims on its own.  Jiggling the plug can bring it back to life.

[nat]

Are you (or anyone experiencing this problem, Necromancer, I'm looking at you) using an aftermarket A/V cable? As in, one other than the one that CAME with the Duo when new?

If so, that is your problem, not the port.

It seems any A/V save for the official NEC ones will have this problem. It always appears like the port is at fault because wiggling it around even when plugged fully in feels "loose." When I got my Duo (used) it came with a cable like that, and it appeared the port was to blame. However I swapped it with the A/V cable that came with my SuperGrafx (an NEC original) and the problem disappeared 100%. It doesn't even feel loose anymore.

The funniest part is, I swapped the crappy aftermarket cable over to use on the SuperGrafx (since it gets used less than the Duo) and it actually doesn't exhibit those symptoms on the SGX! Imagine that. Anyway, it was a win-win situation in A/V land that day.

[Mobius]

Hm, it's original, as far as I know.  But I bought the system on eBay, so who the hell knows.  It feels like a solid connection, but when I jiggle the plug, it seems like the port itself moves around, rather than the plug within the port.

[nat]

That's how it feels with these aftermarket cables, I'm telling you. Take the cable out and use your finger to try to move the port. If it moves, it's the port. If it doesn't, I'm right, and it's the cable.

[Mobius]

Hmm... The port moves a little without the plug in, but not as much as I would have thought.  I tried the cable in my CDZ and it was a nice, tight fit.

Are there any telltale differences/markings that would show this to be an aftermarket cable?

[SignOfZeta]

If you post a pic I can tell you if its original or not.

[nodtveidt]

Yeah, the original cables are very easy to tell if they're legit or not if you know what they look like...nothing else looks like it.

[Necromancer]

Necromancer, I'm looking at you

No you're not; I don't have a web cam.  Are you a peeping tom? 

I'm not using some Monster Cable quality, aftermarket poop.  It's the NEC original that came with it in '92; it's most definitely the port that's giving me fits.  D-Lite has said that inadequate soldering is common enough that he re-solders the a/v (and controller) ports on every Duo that he sells.

[nat]

When I get home from work I'll post a side-by-side of an original and aftermarket cable.

[Mobius]

Not sure what you guys need to see to tell if it's original or not... Here's a picture of the connector.  Let me know if you need a different angle.

[SignOfZeta]

That looks original to me.

[nat]

Yeah that's an NEC original. Guess it IS your port after all.

[D-Lite]

D-Lite has said that inadequate soldering is common enough that he re-solders the a/v (and controller) ports on every Duo that he sells.

This man speaks the truth.  Resolder your contacts on the AV port and while you're in there, do the AC port and the controller port.  Those three parts always get wonky.  I reflow the solder on any system I open up.

[Jared4781]

I have the same problem .. but mine is the AV cable. Does anyone know if there is a component mod for the Duo?

[Mobius]

Alright, I decided I want to fix this.  Can anyone give me a picture of what exactly to re-solder?  It wasn't immediately obvious when I opened it up.  Keep in mind I've never soldered anything before.