Unviewable output from Dreamcast RF adapter?

[deathsled]

My buddy gave me his dreamcast before he left to hike the Appalachian Trial. The only AV cable he had with it was the plain old RF adapter. I recently hooked it up to play some Ikuraga and my old school CRT TV was unable to get anything but static on both channels 3 and 4 (tried the switch). I hooked it up to my HD TV and it was able to find a signal on channel 3 but it was easily the worst picture I've ever seen. I'm not talking about low res on HD, but like viewing a TV station from China over the air, lol. It doesn't even find anything when the adapter is set to channel 4.

Think this is just a bum cable? Or could it be the unit itself? It worked fine as far as I know before he brought it over. Maybe he coiled up the RF cable just right to break it? I just don't want to get a VGA box or something and have it be the dreamcast itself at fault.

Any wisdom?

[Hobie-wan]

It might just be some corrosion on either the cable end, or the plug end keeping it from making a good connection. Maybe some gunk got in the plug from packing it up or the bag/box it was in?

[deathsled]

good news everyone! It's the cable. I found the spot I can play with that makes the signal shift to black and white or cut out completely.

I'll just get a VGA adapter and be on my merry way!

[Hobie-wan]

Haha, I had posted that as well, but then reread that it supposedly worked fine before so I discounted him having it just the right place previously. Anyway, good was only the cable.