I need some information and tips for a Famicom Disc system!

[SamuraiMegas]

I am possibly about to pick up a Famicom and would like some info on it. What my major concern is powering it; do I need to buy a converter or could i plug it into a socket or something? I also was wondering about video for it, do i need to do something special for it to appear on my CRT, or will it do fine on it's own?
Thanks in advance.
PS- Listing games here that I should get is fine, but i probably won't be able to pick up many because i can buy games in the wild only.

[BoneSnapDeez]

I don't have a Famicom, but I do own some Japanese consoles (AES & PC Engine Duo). All work fine with North American outlets/televisions.

Did you say you were getting a Disk System too?

[SamuraiMegas]

I don't have a Famicom, but I do own some Japanese consoles (AES & PC Engine Duo). All work fine with North American outlets/televisions.

Did you say you were getting a Disk System too?

Yeah, it apparently is included with it and has 3 diffrent inputs for video, which means its a model one though i am not sure.

[BoneSnapDeez]

So you're getting a Famicom and Disk System I take it? That's pretty cool.

There are tons of great Famicom games - I'd start by looking for titles that were never available in the US.

The FDS is a whole different ballgame. As you've probably heard, old floppies can be finicky and unreliable. Some really well-known games were originally released on the FDS (Zelda, Metroid).

[SamuraiMegas]

I am not 100% sure what is included with the system. My friends dad is the one who owns it and i haven't been able to see it or talk to his dad.

[ApolloBoy]

There's no video inputs associated with the FDS, all you have are the disk drive itself and the RAM adapter which plugs into the Famicom's cart slot and then into a port on the FDS drive.

[Hobie-wan]

If the belt has never been replaced in the FDS, it will probably need that done.

[bdlou]

Unless your Famicom has had an AV mod done to it, the unit will only have a single RCA style connector, which is for an RF adapter. You can use the RF adapter from an NES (or any console really). You'll have to tune it to channel 92 (I think, somewhere in the lower 90's) and you should be good to go.

As for the Disk System, keep your fingers crossed that the belt in the unit is good. I've been lucky myself. Of the 3 I own, I've only had to replace one belt, and that belt was split in a bunch of pieces and melted on the gears. Fun times!

[Jamisonia]

I don't have a Famicom, but I do own some Japanese consoles (AES & PC Engine Duo). All work fine with North American outlets/televisions.

Did you say you were getting a Disk System too?

This is bad advice. Just because it works doesn't mean its good for the long term longevity of the system.

I am possibly about to pick up a Famicom and would like some info on it. What my major concern is powering it; do I need to buy a converter or could i plug it into a socket or something?

The Famicom, specifically; runs much hotter, on American power. The back of it actually hurts to touch. To run Japanese systems correctly one should buy an adapter that converts our 110V/120V power to the Japanese 100V power and use the original Famicom adapters. Alternatively (and probably more easily) you can buy AC adapters that output the correct specs for the Famicom that are made to work with American power.

For the Famicom you need an adapter that will output 10VDC 850mA Center Pin Negative.

For the FDS you need an adapter that will output 9VDC 400mA Center Pin Negative.

Any AC adapter that outputs those DC voltages and is made to work on 110/120VAC 60Hz (American power) will work for your Famicom.

Please read this: http://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index ... pic=6933.0

I also was wondering about video for it, do i need to do something special for it to appear on my CRT, or will it do fine on it's own?
Thanks in advance.

The famicom outputs onto channel 93 I believe over RF. You will want to eventually AV mod it. This is a source of some controversy as the Famicom, like the NES Top Loader; has jailbars. Some have it worse than others. But I have never seen a Famicom mod that makes the picture as crystal clear as the Toaster NES.

http://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index ... pic=8080.0

Famicom World is great btw.

[ApolloBoy]

This is bad advice. Just because it works doesn't mean its good for the long term longevity of the system.

Huh? Japanese systems use NTSC just like American consoles, how is that detrimental?

The Famicom, specifically; runs much hotter, on American power. The back of it actually hurts to touch.

That's not the reason, the Famicom runs hot in the back because that's where the voltage regulator is, plus the heat sink is a little smaller than on the NES. It has absolutely nothing to do with the differences between American and Japanese voltage. My original Famicom runs a little warm but my other Japanese consoles run fairly cool regardless of what PSU I'm using.

To run Japanese systems correctly one should buy an adapter that converts our 110V/120V power to the Japanese 100V power and use the original Famicom adapters.

You could do that if you like to waste money, I've used Japanese PSUs for years and never had a single problem. If you really wanted to, you could use an American PSU but a Japanese one will work fine.

The famicom outputs onto channel 93 I believe over RF. You will want to eventually AV mod it. This is a source of some controversy as the Famicom, like the NES Top Loader; has jailbars. Some have it worse than others. But I have never seen a Famicom mod that makes the picture as crystal clear as the Toaster NES.

It's actually 95 or 96 depending on what channel the Famicom is set on. I don't see why you make it out as a controversy though considering I haven't seen anyone stand up for the Famicom's RF output. It actually does look very close to the front loader NES *if* you do the mod correctly (isolate pin 21 of the PPU, use shielded cable, etc.).