PC Engine Sound/Picture Through RF *Resolved*

[egparadigm]

Hey peeps,

Just got a very nice PC Engine through the post (thanks, ikobo!), but I don't seem to get a very good picture and sound is all crackly. It basically looks like it isn't properly tuned. Obviously RF picture is crap anyway, but in this case it just looks like it isn't quite tuned right. Also, I basically just get noise through the speakers rather than discernible game sounds; I can just about make out some game music/effect.

Is this normal coming from a white PCE on a UK TV? The TV has played other things in NTSC through RF without problems.

If I switch the switch on the side to II, I get no sound at all but a similar picture quality.

I would like to have it hooked up through the briefcase for composite, but unfortunately the plughole seems to be a slightly different size and none of my plugs fit. Anyone know a PSU that should fit?


Thanks,

P.

[Baseley09]

The briefcase should take the same PSU as the PC Engine core, a regular UK 10v megadrive one is fine.

[egparadigm]

Hmm... That's odd because I'm using an MD power supply. It just doesn't want to go in there. From the look of it the centre pin is slightly wider.

[Baseley09]

You are iusing a CD-Rom2 IFU-30 Briefcase? Or the Super CD-Rom2 unit?

You can deffo use a 10v uk megadrive adaptor on the IFU-30, I did for years!

[egparadigm]

Ah, I wondered if I might be confusing things. It's a CD-ROM2 interface unit. When I saw the handle on there I assumed it was the so-called briefcase.

EDIT: Sorry for being a numb-skull – I know little to nothing about the PCE. It says IFU-30A on the bottom. Is that the briefcase or the unit?

[Baseley09]

Yeah thats the briefcase, I'm not sure why your megadrive adaptor isnt fitting!

[Skull Commander]

Is it a megadrive 1 plug? The second megadrive had a different power supply...

[egparadigm]

Yeah, it's a MegaDrive 1 PSU. I've tried MD1, MD2 and MSII. The only one I've got that fits is a PAL SNES, but that's an AC supply, so obviously I'm not sticking that in there!

[Colin]

Thats really strange mate, the MD one should fit? In fact, i'm sure it was an MD psu i used to test it all before sending it out to you. The RF from PC-engines, you'll struggle to get it working on non "pure" NTSC TV, which is why i did all the bundles with an IFU-30 so you could use composite leads. Hope you get it sorted ok.

[egparadigm]

Gonna get me one of these:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=43094

See if it does the trick. Thanks for telling me about RF – put my mind at rest.

[MonkeyJuggleDX]

Just got mine today and I'm well chuffed with it, except the PSU I'm using is giving a buzzing noise when the machine is turned on.

It works fine with my Core Grafx, but it's just with that interface unit.

Any ideas?

[Colin]

Whats buzzing mate, the psu, console or sound from the TV? Everyone seems to be having issues with these today in different forms, anything i can do to help, please all let me know!

[MonkeyJuggleDX]

Just the sound from the TV!

Core Grafx through composite runs fine.
White PCE through IFU30 has a buzzing sound.
Core Grafx through IFU30 has an even louder buzzing sound.

[Colin]

What PSU are you using, sounds like it's possibly too high a voltage for the IFU30?

[MonkeyJuggleDX]

Some multi changable adaptor. I'm still looking for my MD PSU. Having a big clear out and I now have three HUGE boxes full of games, cables, pc parts, systems and controllers that I have to sort through before I do a car boot so no doubt I'll find it soon enough.