Help needed with setting up N64

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 27 Jul 2005, 13:58

Hey,

For some strange reason I decided to get my N64 out of the loft the other day, and me and my brother have tried several ways to set it up (the ariel switchbox method being the latest try) but I can't get a game picture

I can switch between "GAME" (but not tune anything in) and normal TV but thats it.

I'm sure I've set it up correctly like the manual said.

Can you connect the N64 with RGB cable (like the 'Cube)?
Also for some odd reason I wound up putting the N64 Jumper Pak (little black thing) in the Memory Expansion slot (I dont have the Expansion Pak anymore) - will it still work OK? It wont come out as I dont have the "jumper tool" thing or whatever it is) to remove it.

D'oh!

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 27 Jul 2005, 17:00

The N64 does not have RGB output (for some reason Nintendo included it but decided to disable it) so using a GameCube RGB cable will give you a black screen with audio.

You should be able to see the game using the RF modulator. When you are watching TV, switch the modulator over to game. What happens? You should find your TV picture goes snowy.

Next, change to a spare channel (like 6 or 8) and go through your TVs tuning system and do a full scan from frequency 21-69. I can't remember exactly what frequency the modulator outputs the N64 image on, but I think its somewhere near Channel 5 Tyne Tees (which is on 35), so should be around 36 if I remember correctly.

That is of course, assuming that your TV shows standard frequencies and not Euro frequencies. What make of TV do you have?

By the way, if you replaced the expansion pack with the old jumper pack, it should still work fine providing it is not damaged. Make sure the contacts are connecting properly, and the same goes for the game cartridge. If neither of those are contacting properly, you will only get a black screen when you turn the machine on when it is tuned in properly...

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 27 Jul 2005, 17:54

Seems to be connected OK (the jumper pak thing).. hmm.
I went through the tuning procedure (manual not auto) on say - Channel 8 or 9 (with the box switched over to GAME) but nothing...

Not even a black picture.
It was turned on as well BTW

My TV picture doesnt just go snowy, it goes completely (terrestial 1-5),

I'll give it another go another day.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 27 Jul 2005, 19:31

Can't you use the Gamecube scart BUT plug it into the composite connection on the TV?

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 27 Jul 2005, 19:52

Huh?
I dont think so?

as IM says Nintendo dicided to disable RGB for the N64.

Was the SNES RGB compatable? can't remember. I never set it up like that, though in the Gamecube manual it says something like "Not compatable with Super NES RGB lead"

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 27 Jul 2005, 20:02

grim_tales wrote:I dont think so? as IM says Nintendo dicided to disable RGB for the N64.

I'm talking about a composite feed not RGB. Scart is just a transport method it supports RGB, Composite and S-Video.

Your TV scarts will also support Composite. I don't know if the N64 will but I imagine it will. Plug it into your non-RGB compatible scart and see if it works.

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 28 Jul 2005, 09:30

That won't work. A GameCube cable used on an N64 will send a black picture because there is a block on one of the pins to stop a composite image being sent.

I know this because when I needed a SCART lead for my own N64 I could only get hold of a GameCube RGB SCART lead and I had to modify it by removing the R, G & B pins & the composite block (just a little transistor).

Without modding the cable, all I got was stereo sound but no image - a black screen...

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 28 Jul 2005, 09:59

Huh? Over here in Germany, the N64 came with just an RGB cable. It is the same cable that is used for the GameCube. I have both consoles in front of my TV and since the RGB cable of my N64 broke, I just switch the cable from my GameCube to my N64 when I feel like playing with it.

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 28 Jul 2005, 10:45

Maybe you guys have different cables? Maybe your cable doesn't cut off the composite feed like mine did until I tampered with it? The N64 does not use the RGB capabilities of that cable - I guarantee that. For some reason Nintendo decided to disable the RGB capabilities of the console.

I've no idea why...

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 13 Sep 2005, 14:12

S-video displays fine with PAL N64's, use that rather than a fucking awful RFU switch (which produces a picture quality crappier than composite). Before I packed my N64 away to make room for my GC, it was hooked via s-video. For some weird reason Ninty decided to disable s-video in PAL GCs, not that I care since I have a NTSC-US console (and use a Freeloader to boot the few PAL games I have).

SCART TVs are quite rare in NZ. I have all consoles hooked up via Component. It's utter bullshit when people say that RGB is better than component, component can support progressive signals but SCART RGB can't.

Games are beautiful in 480p BTW. Pisses me off that alot of games don't have 16:9 modes, my TV forces all 480p signals into 16:9 thus characters in some games look like bloated stunted midgets. *Shakes fist at stretched 4:3.*

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 13 Sep 2005, 14:29

EvaUnit02 wrote:SCART TVs are quite rare in NZ. I have all consoles hooked up via Component. It's utter bullshit when people say that RGB is better than component, component can support progressive signals but SCART RGB can't.

Who says RGB is better than component video? They need their heads screwing on properly. Its a shame that over in Europe SCART is the standard because it really is annoying - the leads are heavy & often pull themselves slightly out of the socket, which can cause loads of problems - sound from only 1 speaker, no sound at all, red picture, green picture, blue picture, no picture, interference from nearby RF leads, blue lines, etc, etc, etc.

The list goes on. It would be far better to have used phono (RCA) plugs like everwhere else in the world... Maybe then over here we'd have had more TVs with component video on them already...

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 13 Sep 2005, 14:32

I have the 'Cube RGB lead which produces an excellent picture (IMO) but sometimes it can pull itself out of the socket like IM says, so I get a rolling picture, or picture but no sound, no picture, yellow picture etc...

AARGHH!

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 13 Sep 2005, 14:34

The beauty of Europe.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 13 Sep 2005, 14:35

Its still miles better than those crap red/white/yellow leads you get with the console. I threw them out

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 13 Sep 2005, 14:41

Well that's true in some cases, but not really for the N64 because that is basically just using the red, white & yellow cables all combined into the SCART lead.

The only advantages SCARTs have are convenience for people who don't know what they're doing & automatic signal switching...