Color TV Game 15 S - Is it Impossible to Use Now???

[SkylarTheNerd]

Hello all! About a year ago I purchased one of Nintendo's first consoles, the Color TV Game 15S. In order to hook it up, you either need to connect it to the TV's antenna (of which no one uses anymore) or connect it to the TV itself, and go to an analog channel (which don't exist anymore). I know that other people are able to hook up their Ataris, Telegames, Colecovisions, Magnavoxes, etc... is it possible to connect this dinosaur, too?

 

[hobbledehoy899]

Analog channels still exist on TVs that can receive them, it's just that there's no networks being broadcasted on to those channels.

 

[migles]

tv's still can use analog channels.. (unless your tv is weird)
not sure how it works there but in here you have manually to synthonize the channels in the menu
it kinda confused me as a kid, people in the US would need to put the tv in the channel 3 or 4 and i would need to program a free channel..
i guess my tv wasn't that old.. i would have to the menu to search for receptions and associate the reception frequency to a channel..
so i could put my sega in any number\channel i wish

 

[Foxi4]

I've never seen a TV without analog input, the problem with these units in particular is that they use a frequency typical for Japanese equipment which is hard to nail on a western one. You'd be wise to try and connect it over RCA, alternatively grab an Analog to HDMI adapter - they're cheap and they save you the hassle if your display doesn't have the necessary input options.

 

[SkylarTheNerd]

I've never seen a TV without analog input, the problem with these units in particular is that they use a frequency typical for Japanese equipment which is hard to nail on a western one. You'd be wise to try and connect it over RCA, alternatively grab an Analog to HDMI adapter - they're cheap and they save you the hassle if your display doesn't have the necessary input options.

Guess I've been misinformed, then. I read that Japanese signals for channels 3 and 4 coincide with American channels 98 and 99. The TV that I was having difficulty with was an LCD TV from 2008, and it's made by a company that doesn't even exist anymore. I can pick up an RCA from a yard sale with ease, so when yard sale season comes around, I'll report back, whether I'm able to connect or not.

 

[Foxi4]

Guess I've been misinformed, then. I read that Japanese signals for channels 3 and 4 coincide with American channels 98 and 99. The TV that I was having difficulty with was an LCD TV from 2008, and it's made by a company that doesn't even exist anymore. I can pick up an RCA from a yard sale with ease, so when yard sale season comes around, I'll report back, whether I'm able to connect or not.

It's close, but no cigar. The channel you're looking for is exactly in-between channels 98 and 99, which is the source of the problem. You'll have to use manual tuning and even then the picture will suffer. I'm not sure if the system in question has a built-in composite output - if it does, RCA is the way to go, if it doesn't, pick an RF converter up, they cost pennies.

 

[SkylarTheNerd]

It's close, but no cigar. The channel you're looking for is exactly in-between channels 98 and 99, which is the source of the problem. You'll have to use manual tuning and even then the picture will suffer. I'm not sure if the system in question has a built-in composite output - if it does, RCA is the way to go, if it doesn't, pick an RF converter up, they cost pennies.

It comes with an RF Switch, so I would need a converter

 

[Ryccardo]

It comes with an RF Switch, so I would need a converter

Inside the console there's most likely a semi-standard RF modulator (maybe conveniently identified by the metal shielding) which 99% of the time takes composite

(at which point the question becomes if your too-thin-to-be-an-action-figure-stand all-plastic display can sync to whatever possibly nonstandard resolution it may output)

 

[SkylarTheNerd]

Inside the console there's most likely a semi-standard RF modulator (maybe conveniently identified by the metal shielding) which 99% of the time takes composite

(at which point the question becomes if your too-thin-to-be-an-action-figure-stand all-plastic display can sync to whatever possibly nonstandard resolution it may output)

Hmm. Those are some big words...

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

It's close, but no cigar. The channel you're looking for is exactly in-between channels 98 and 99, which is the source of the problem. You'll have to use manual tuning and even then the picture will suffer. I'm not sure if the system in question has a built-in composite output - if it does, RCA is the way to go, if it doesn't, pick an RF converter up, they cost pennies.

Could I:
1. Plug the RCA into an adapter and then into the RF-contact on the TV.
or
2. Plug the twin contacts from the RF-adapter that came with CTG into an adapter and then into the TV.

 

[Foxi4]

He's right, the signal that goes into the RF modulator box inside the console is most likely composite. Thing is, getting to it would require modding, and as a purist I'm against altering such old units unless it's absolutely necessary. I would just use a converter, they're cheap and this way you can use it with multiple units.

 

[SkylarTheNerd]

He's right, the signal that goes into the RF modulator box inside the console is most likely composite. Thing is, getting to it would require modding, and as a purist I'm against altering such old units unless it's absolutely necessary. I would just use a converter, they're cheap and this way you can use it with multiple units.

Do you have any suggestions as to which specific converter I should get?

 

[Foxi4]

Any will do, they all do the same thing. The thing has barely any colours, it doesn't need a wicked framemeister or any upscaler like that.

 

[SkylarTheNerd]

Any will do, they all do the same thing. The thing has barely any colours, it doesn't need a wicked framemeister or any upscaler like that.

I'll pick one up then, and report back

 

[Foxi4]

If you have a steady hand and spare cables, you could try this too. I remember putting RF cables straight through RCA without any issues when I was a kid and it worked fine, even if I just twisted the cable. Signal won't be great, but if you already have the supplies, it costs you nothing. If you do decide on a box, be sure to pick one that does the correct conversion - from RF to RCA, not the other way around (you're looking for a small tuner, basically). It won't separate the audio channels, if they're present, but it'll work.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-an-RF-adapter/

 

[SkylarTheNerd]

If you have a steady hand and spare cables, you could try this too. I remember putting RF cables straight through RCA without any issues when I was a kid and it worked fine, even if I just twisted the cable. Signal won't be great, but if you already have the supplies, it costs you nothing. If you do decide on a box, be sure to pick one that does the correct conversion - from RF to RCA, not the other way around (you're looking for a small tuner, basically). It won't separate the audio channels, if they're present, but it'll work.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-an-RF-adapter/

So are you saying that if I use a box the audio channels won't work, or if I make a converter, there won't be audio?

 

[Foxi4]

So are you saying that if I use a box the audio channels won't work, or if I make a converter, there won't be audio?

A box will split channels, a cable cannot.

 

[Foxi4]

One thing I forgot to mention, you'll only need an external box if your TV truly lacks the fine-tuning options - normally you should be able to tune it without any extra hardware. As for extra hardware, you might already have everything you need - a lot of VHS/DVD/BR players already have an RF pass-through and they tend to be very effective at connecting old consoles to modern TV's. Like I said, I never needed an external box, and I have a galore of old systems, so theoretically you should be able to connect it without additional purchases. Here's a good overview of your options:

http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/game...nsoles-to-your-tv-nes-snes-megadrive-and-more

 

[SkylarTheNerd]

One thing I forgot to mention, you'll only need an external box if your TV truly lacks the fine-tuning options - normally you should be able to tune it without any extra hardware. As for extra hardware, you might already have everything you need - a lot of VHS/DVD/BR players already have an RF pass-through and they tend to be very effective at connecting old consoles to modern TV's. Like I said, I never needed an external box, and I have a galore of old systems, so theoretically you should be able to connect it without additional purchases. Here's a good overview of your options:

http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/game...nsoles-to-your-tv-nes-snes-megadrive-and-more

Nice, thanks for your help. I have a lot of other projects to get through, and I'll probably get around to doing this over the summer.

 

[Foxi4]

Nice, thanks for your help. I have a lot of other projects to get through, and I'll probably get around to doing this over the summer.

The good thing is that once you have it tuned once, you have it tuned for life - most Japanese systems, including the Famicom or the Super Fami, use the exact same frequency, so this will be useful for future collectibles. Good luck!

 

[SkylarTheNerd]

The good thing is that once you have it tuned once, you have it tuned for life - most Japanese systems, including the Famicom or the Super Fami, use the exact same frequency, so this will be useful for future collectibles. Good luck!

That's great, because I'm going to get the Color TV Game 112 as well as the Computer TV-Game.