I researched an old thread and saw something about an RF modulator and a demodulator. Forgive me if its a bonehead question but would a RF modulator remove the jail bars?
A RF modulator is just the part that turns the video signal into a Radio Frequency that can be sent via cable to a receiver that then demodulates the signal and creates the video. Not being an expert, but I am guessing that the "jail bars" displayed in some systems output is due to the video encoder, not the RF modulator.
The RF modulator is the cord that comes from the NES and attaches to the TV (unless you have done an AV mod on it). So running it through a VCR is what people do when their TV doesn't have an RF jack on it. You run RF to the VCR, and then run the composite video from the VCR to the TV. It will not improve video output, but I suspect it would actually be slightly degraded.
I'm no expert either but someone mentioned plugging your toploader into the VCR is basically the same as using the RF modulator.
Any info would be appreciated
I can vouch for the VCR serving as an RF modulator, I used to run my playstation 1 A/V cables through one (otherwise unsuitable for watching VHS tapes on) When I finally junked the monster, I got myself one of these http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IJEZI6/ and it serves the same purpose.
I think Togo is probably on the mark about it being a output issue of the toploader itself; I know for my SNES I can either hook it direct to the tv with the old style Nintendo RF switch or daisy chain an n64 AV with the RF modulator, either way I don't notice a visual difference.
Anyhow, I find that the RF modulator is more of a matter of convenience, especially if you game on a lot of the last-gen consoles.
What specs would a TV need to meet in order for it to be a good TV in your book? I have 2 flat screens as well as a crt and the jail bars show up regardless. Seems less obvious on my crt though.
Just to clarify all of my TVs are current models so having the correct input jacks isn't the problem.
I guess I misunderstood what was in the thread I read; so basically an RF modulator is an adapter more or less? Since I already have the correct inputs an RF modulator will do no good on the jail bars. Is that correct?
The RF modulator cord for your (assuming here) top loader isn't the culprit, it's an internal problem. There's 3 known revisions of the top loader board I believe, two of them went public retail, and the third was a repair board kit Nintendo repair used that has the multi-av out the snes->gamecube uses. Of the retail sold top loaders there were revisions where they had a slightly different layout and such (you can look it up here or google it) and people at this site felt that one revision had a better setup/shielding mix as the RF based top loaders like that had very minimal to no bars, and the other has obvious bars. It's a design flaw is all, nothing an external cable is going to stop.
Just to be clear if you are talking about the top loading NES, I'm on my third. The first I got like 6-7 years ago in Kentucky and it was RF with a clean screen. 2 years ago I got another here and it was bars bigtime on it and RF. I ditched it for a very fairly priced modded system off NA with rca cables, stereo audio separation and an led power mod and haven't looked back.
lol i have the same problem. My RF modulator just broke so now i can't play my retro games. All i have now is a 42 inch HDTV.
The picture tube TV i used didn't have AV connections and now the power broke on my adapter. I forgot about trying the VCR method as an RF adapter.
Best bet is getting a tube TV that has AV connections. I'm waiting for my dad to update to a HDTV and get his tube TV for free.
If you need a RF modulator you're using an outdated TV.
I'm not sure if I'm reading this correctly, but if the the RF switch (the cord that runs from the system to the TV with the cable connection) has gone bad, you don't really need one. A standard RCA male-to-male cable with a RCA female to F type connector (they sell them at Radio Shack) is all you need to hook it up. The switch box just allows another signal to pass through when the system isn't in use.
A RF modulator is a different thing from RF switch. The RF modulator is the part inside the system that converts the video signal from the system to Radio Frequency for transmission.
Comments
Any info would be appreciated
Originally posted by: shane7951
I'm no expert either but someone mentioned plugging your toploader into the VCR is basically the same as using the RF modulator.
Any info would be appreciated
I can vouch for the VCR serving as an RF modulator, I used to run my playstation 1 A/V cables through one (otherwise unsuitable for watching VHS tapes on) When I finally junked the monster, I got myself one of these http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IJEZI6/ and it serves the same purpose.
I think Togo is probably on the mark about it being a output issue of the toploader itself; I know for my SNES I can either hook it direct to the tv with the old style Nintendo RF switch or daisy chain an n64 AV with the RF modulator, either way I don't notice a visual difference.
Anyhow, I find that the RF modulator is more of a matter of convenience, especially if you game on a lot of the last-gen consoles.
Get a good TV = no jailbars
What specs would a TV need to meet in order for it to be a good TV in your book? I have 2 flat screens as well as a crt and the jail bars show up regardless. Seems less obvious on my crt though.
The picture tube TV i used didn't have AV connections and now the power broke on my adapter. I forgot about trying the VCR method as an RF adapter.
Best bet is getting a tube TV that has AV connections. I'm waiting for my dad to update to a HDTV and get his tube TV for free.
If you need a RF modulator you're using an outdated TV.
I guess I misunderstood what was in the thread I read; so basically an RF modulator is an adapter more or less? Since I already have the correct inputs an RF modulator will do no good on the jail bars. Is that correct?
Just to be clear if you are talking about the top loading NES, I'm on my third. The first I got like 6-7 years ago in Kentucky and it was RF with a clean screen. 2 years ago I got another here and it was bars bigtime on it and RF. I ditched it for a very fairly priced modded system off NA with rca cables, stereo audio separation and an led power mod and haven't looked back.
Originally posted by: needler420
lol i have the same problem. My RF modulator just broke so now i can't play my retro games. All i have now is a 42 inch HDTV.
The picture tube TV i used didn't have AV connections and now the power broke on my adapter. I forgot about trying the VCR method as an RF adapter.
Best bet is getting a tube TV that has AV connections. I'm waiting for my dad to update to a HDTV and get his tube TV for free.
If you need a RF modulator you're using an outdated TV.
I'm not sure if I'm reading this correctly, but if the the RF switch (the cord that runs from the system to the TV with the cable connection) has gone bad, you don't really need one. A standard RCA male-to-male cable with a RCA female to F type connector (they sell them at Radio Shack) is all you need to hook it up. The switch box just allows another signal to pass through when the system isn't in use.
A RF modulator is a different thing from RF switch. The RF modulator is the part inside the system that converts the video signal from the system to Radio Frequency for transmission.