NES RF Output Roundup
6In this video I have recorded the title screen and attract mode for Kirby's Adventure nine ways. I have an AV Famicom and a NES Front Loader, both unmodified. The mainstream NESs and Famicoms can only output composite video and monoaural audio at best without modification. For each console I start with capturing the composite video for a baseline or ideal capture and then use a number of RF output options.
00:00 - AV Famicom
Recorded from the Multi-out connector using a composite video and audio cable.
01:58 - AV Famicom + Nintendo RF Modulator + Nintendo RF Switch
Recorded using the NUS-003(USA) RF Modulator and NES-003 RF Switch to a VCR, which converts the signal to composite video and separate audio. The NUS-003 (black plastic) can be used on any Nintendo console with a Multi-out connector but one: the AV Famicom, New-style SNES, N64 and GameCube. It does not fit in the original SNES, which has its own built-in RF Modulator. They sold the RF Modulator and RF Switch combination during the years when the N64 and the GameCube were Nintendo's main consoles. NTSC composite video can be converted to US frequencies or Japanese frequencies using the RF Modulator particular to the region in which the console is used. The Japanese RF Modulator is HVC-103, uses light gray plastic and selects between channel 1 and 2.
03:57 - AV Famicom + Nintendo RF Modulator
Recorded using the NUS-003 RF Modulator and a direct connection to the VCR. The elimination of the switch may show a slight improvement in the video quality.
05:55 - AV Famicom + Third Party RF Modulator 1
Recorded from the Multi-out connector using a composite video and separate audio cable to an external third party RF Modulator. This RF Modulator is contained within a small plastic box and could have been purchased at Radio Shack back when Radio Shack had a major brick and mortar retail presence. The label with the manufacturer and model number is missing from the underside of the box.
07:54 - AV Famicom + Third Party RF Modulator 2
Recorded from the Multi-out connector using a composite video and separate audio cable to a different external third party RF Modulator. This device is the Philips Magnavox Video Source Selector with RF Modulator Model #PM61151. It is a larger and heavier mostly-metal box and has inputs for up to four composite or s-video and stereo audio connections to one composite/s-video output as well as the RF Modulator.
09:53 - Front Loading NES
Recorded using RCA cables from the NES's composite video and audio jacks.
11:51 - Front Loading NES + Built-in RF Modulator + Nintendo RF Switch
Recorded from the NES's built-in internal RF Modulator and the NES-003 RF Switch.
13:50 - Front Loading NES + Built-in RF Modulator
Recorded from the NES's built-in internal RF Modulator connected directly to the VCR.
15:48 - Front Loading NES + Third Party RF Modulator 2
Recorded using RCA cables from the NES's composite video and audio jacks to the PM61151.
I do not own a Top Loading NES but its RF video output is generally lousy as are most original Famicoms due to their inherent issues with jailbars. I have recorded a sample of my Famicom's RF output before I modded it for AV, which required ditching the internal RF modulator.
All RF Modulator captures were recorded on US channel 3. Nintendo's USA RF Modulator has a channel 3/4 switch, as do the third-party RF Modulators. Depending on a variety of factors, either channel may offer better video quality over the other.
For all the captures involving an RF Modulator which did not involve the RF Switch I used a high quality dual shielded coaxial cable to connect between the Modulator and the VCR. The Nintendo RF Switch uses a rather thin cable to transmit the signal from the console to its switches.
Why is this important? Two reasons. First, most people at the time when the NES and SNES were relevant used RF connections to connect their consoles to their TVs. Nostalgia or historical fidelity is important to some people, and for them that means RF. Second, some people prefer to play their retro consoles on CRTs but only have an RF-only TV available to them. In this case, getting the best picture quality out of RF may be important to them.