How to Hook up NES to TV

Learn how to connect your Nintendo NES to a TV from www.retro-video-game-repair.com using either av cables or an rf switch.
NES RF Switch: www.retro-video-game-repair.co...

[@everythingthrice2582]

This is what the internet is really for, an almost 10 year old video that helps people even today with a similar problem they need fixed. Great guide kind sir!

[@Calvero52]

Indeed! My tv is 12 years old, so this was great (my NES didn't work though, no surprise there 😅. Just the classic blinking screen of death)

[@KPZVR]

?

[@MysteryBlokHed]

I love my Nintendo Nintendo Entertainment System System

[@autobotstarscream765]

@@Felix-tv8jy Which part is broken?

[@MysteryBlokHed]

@@Felix-tv8jy You're three years late

[@othello7]

The thing I don't like about these videos is that no one ever shows it actually working at the end.

[@lastlife0726]

LOL, it was a reference to an old NES commercial, where the tagline was, "your parents help you hook it up"

[@guardian8926]

Man I'm glad i still have this thing.

[@Nintendorepairshop]

Chrysta Santara mentioned their AV cable was red white and yellow, and that was confusing to them. The NES is mono, with only one audio channel (the red). The yellow is video, as mentioned in our video. Just leave your white cord hanging, it does not plug into anything since there is not a second audio channel.

[@WhiteZelda]

You could get a Y adapter (1 male and 2 female), plug it on the NES, plug both audio cables to the end and ta-da! You got emulated stereo sound (Monostereo i think it is ?). Thats how i have it since i dont like it sounding from just one speaker.

[@tristanmeadows]

2WIRE311 Yea best way to do it if you want even sound ^^

[@stevenglansburg856]

+Retro Video Game Repair my screen is black when i hook up it up. is there anything special in the order. example put game in then turn on or vice versa?

[@rollercoastermaniac2]

+Retro Video Game Repair Most TV's split any audio going into the left port to a pseudostereo, so dont put it in the red.

[@silasmorley4551]

thank you for the help!

[@travellingshoes5241]

It's been a while. So excited.

[@jenniferkaebnick3187]

our dad’s had to figure this stuff out on their own haha ugh to be back in 1989 again 🥺

[@oxandco.2724]

Thank you. This is a perfectly explained tutorial that described everything that I needed to know.

[@xXNuclearWarXx]

For those wondering: No you do not need the RF and A/V connectors hooked up simultaneously. Use one or the other. Of the two, A/V offers superior sound and picture quality, so I highly recommend using it if possible. Only use the RF connector if your television doesn't have A/V inputs.

[@Levelol10]

I was just going to ask about that. I do not want to buy an RF connector, and I have a spare AV cable lying around.

[@kripan_n9268]

I tried the av connectors option but I get a grey screen. How do I fix this?

[@Haze6410]

You probably plugged the port for the video in the component/green blue or red slot. It goes in the yellow slot

[@CheeseJump4]

Cyborg Pirate Ninja Jesus okay thank you! I actually wanted to know this exact topic. I’m surprising my dad because this is the first console he ever had, so i’m doing my research so i know what to do. Once again, thank you!

[@fishtank6426]

I try the av didn't work so pissed right now I just bought a system online for 160 so when u turn this system on is the red light post to flash red?

[@madinramirez5362]

bro this one of the reasons that KZbin should have been made around the early 80s

[@creativebirds_]

Yes people would watch on landline connected to a vcr

[@madinramirez5362]

@@creativebirds_ I completely forgot about this video

[@OperaLover84]

Is there a part two? What needs to happen after you turn the system on? How do you navigate the channel thing?

[@tylertibbs158]

I was wondering that the rf switch did. Thats so cool!! I really like the idea that when you are done with your game you just turn it off and then immediately to tv like hulu or netflix or something.

[@Nintendorepairshop]

Interesting. I didn't realize the Non-US NES systems (PAL) were built that way. Thanks for posting!

[@that80stoast43]

What?

[@that80stoast43]

Thank you very much I have visited my childhood home and my parents still had my nes before they have past away the house was abanndoned for 2 years and no one told me so I have been paying the bills for nothing since no one was using it. Well anyways I went back to my childhood house and it looked the exact same like it did back in the 80s they left everything exactly the way it was 40 years ago so I took the old television and my old nes and it was an miracle that it still worked

[@munchbunchyt185]

Thanks, like and subbed, i decided to try my nes, but i forgot how to hook it up, and this video helped a lot! Now i can play super mario bros like a pro

[@MissWWE20]

Thanks for posting this.

[@cheezymonkey1371]

This video helped me a lot thank you so much 👌🏻✌🏻️👍🏻😀

[@Gibbs2902]

Thanks this was very helpful

[@MisterMidgar]

Thanks for the informative clip. One thing I was hoping you would talk about is the difference between the 2 hook up methods. Does one of the cables provide better audio or video then the other? Or are the results identical?

[@icehino3390]

Welp, I’m six years late, but yes! The red, yellow, and white cords bring slightly more improved video and audio, but it’s not a big difference.

[@Imtired170]

Very helpful video!! Thank you!!!!

[@saraheast6759]

Brill info, thank you :)

[@syrionband]

Thx now im asking my dad for one :)

[@sharronz11]

Thanks! That was helpful!

[@mikeshobbiesandrandomstuff]

I made a y wire for my sound it works perfectly so you have sound from both speakers.

[@robertknight4672]

Mine works fine with either the AV cables or RF switch. I use the a Y splitter with the AV cables so the audio comes out of both speakers.

[@snakemannn1744]

Thanks all of my questions have been answered ,,,, handshakes

[@mrgermyshepardidk9774]

thanks man it really worked

[@michellemillet3035]

Well this is damning! I only have the RF switch and a pair of red and white double end cables lol. I really want to play super Mario Bros and Mario Bros 2 haha

[@codychalmers-we5584]

just found my dads old nes so im trying to get it to work thanks!

[@alexa6482]

Cody Chalmers-We same dude my dads was at my grandmas and I was curious and I tried too hook it up but at first I didn’t have audio and video cords but then I got them the NES worked fine but had to reset a few times when there were random colorful shapes covering the screen

[@stormdrainstormdrain]

This was so helpful!

[@Nintendorepairshop]

Glad you liked the video. Sometimes the seemingly simple stuff is the most difficult.

[@Nintendorepairshop]

It only takes two (mono audio and a video), but you could use a 3 wire and only use two of them.

[@theupsidedownjoolie162]

Thx bro helped me alot

[@allen-gt5ng]

I wish I could remember what the nes actually looked like back in the 90's compared to hooking it up to newer tv

[@sparkman787]

does it have to be just the two audio video wires or could it be the modern 3 video audio wires?

[@adamgreen411]

Did anyone else nerd out when they spotted Goldeneye007 in this video?

[@attilapatay4557]

Help Alot, thankz!

[@TBustah]

Really though, there's no reason to use the RF adapter in this day and age, unless your TV is either an older budget model that doesn't have AV input or one that's REALLY old (built in the 70s or earlier, before AV was on most TVs). The NES doesn't use a proprietary AV cable like later Nintendo systems do, so it's not like you can't find them in any store either. RF stands for "radio frequency". What it basically does is trick your TV into thinking that it's getting a signal from over the air. As such, unless you live on Mars or something, there's naturally going to be at least a little interference from radio and TV stations, which can effect output. It also mixes the audio and video through one channel, which hurts the quality of both. An AV connection is direct, so there's no interference, and the audio and video are higher quality because they're on separate channels.

[@josephdoesmore8922]

Tell this to an Atari 2600.

[@th-cc6ei]

So a 1985 Nintendo was designed for tvs 10 years old lol totally not true

[@TBustah]

@@th-cc6ei It was only six years later, and stuff doesn’t magically disappear just because a nine turns to a zero, especially when it comes to big purchases. By your logic, I suppose nobody in 2021 is still using a TV manufactured in 2015? Televisions were much more expensive when adjusted for inflation. There were plenty of people still using sets from the ‘70s in 1985, especially in Japan. The original Famicom, released in 1983, was actually RF only. As I alluded to in my original comment, AV wasn’t introduced until the ‘70s, and it didn’t really catch on until the ‘80s as VCRs and game consoles became more common. Nintendo included RF for people who didn’t have a television with AV, which was a LOT of the install base. In fact, since a lot of kids were playing on an older TV that their parents let them have when a newer one replaced it in the living room, it may have even been MOST of it. The same likely holds true for the next couple generations. This is anecdotal, but in the ‘90s, I was playing my Sega Genesis on a 13” Zenith from 1986 that didn’t have AV. Most of the kids I knew were also using TVs made in the 80s or even the ‘70s, whether or not they had AV.

[@MattCMG]

Do you know if you need cable for it to work via RF switch. I set mine up on a TV and it worked. Then I moved and I set it up on the same TV but it didn't work. I don't yet have cable so I think it might be that. If you know please give me an answer. Thanks.

[@vinnysuperg123]

hey what do you do if you already have the tv connected to cable and you set it up with a rf switch

[@archanea-8862]

Thanks a bunch!

[@Nintendorepairshop]

We do sell them on our site (search for nintendo repair shop) for $69.99. That is for a system that has been cleaned and refurbished (including a 72 pin connector replacement).

[@SakuraandSesshomaru]

So, I don't really need to plug another cable into the RF switch at all to get it to work as long as I have it plugged from the TV to the system?

[@TBustah]

+SakuraandSesshomaru Nope. It's just there if you need it. I used to daisy chain all of my systems and VCR together that way, my only TV didn't have AV ports.

[@aaronmaxim]

mine hooks up fine BUT i did notice lag in response when I press a or b button...on crt no lag. Must be common.... any input on this issue... possibly a fix to it

[@jessejoe7216]

good video!

[@loganbrockway6280]

Getting my Nes in the mail soon

[@keisorestis6487]

Did you got it?

[@geadead]

Probably since its been 4 years since the comment.

[@keisorestis6487]

You can never be sure

[@dakillzy7996]

I’m bob.

[@TheRamonesFreak]

I have the NES Classic but I just found my original NES but all I have is the system no power cord or controllers lol. Wondering if it still works.

[@pretti_blessed4lyfe102]

thank u so much!

[@11Swaqq11]

Omg thank you so much, I was so confused on what to do cause I have the older screw thingy and haven't played it in forever !

[@jerjohnson5048]

so helpful I had no idea the nes could even hook up to a TV

[@hasp2745]

thanks for the video I got a nes from my mom's friend and got a Los of games

[@salaciousbum1161]

Do u still put the HD tv on channel 3 or a certain analog channel?

[@nathanlopez5667]

I'm using both rf and av if I only have the AV hooked up it looks like crap but if I hook the Rf up to channel 4 with all connections it looks great it seems that the graphics stand out more if I disconnect av and only have rf hooked up the picture gets much darker is it ok to have both Rf and av hooked up at the same time or could this damage the system or my TV

[@luciddreaming4478]

Why is it so blurry? It's hard to tell what's holding or plugging into.

[@a.v.-anthoula2600]

Thank you!

[@generalrex1]

Can you use the double component cables? The red, yellow and white to red, yellow and white.

[@simplyxwilliam]

Is it really necessary to have the RF connector when you still have the av cord?

[@Gameboy_1992]

So if i get this right. I could play for example a sega md on a modern tv with a (Europe) a rf connection when i plug it into the "Air Cable" connector?

[@SamuraiXGray]

Is there more input lag on the AV hookup over the RF connection into an LED TV ?

[@aliciaruiz5381]

Thank you so much

[@STUBll]

THANK YOU!!!!

[@evabird673]

We got the whole thing set up the way you suggested but can't find it on our TV. Do you think it would be possible that our TV won't ever accept the game? It is an older GPX with a DVD player. We couldn't find any station where the Dr Mario would show up. Thanks for listening.

[@KingN9ne9912]

so...you need both the AV and the RF switch hooked up? im confused. i thought you could get by with just the RF

[@tcheseborough1634]

Hi will rf out for new top loader work on same t.v. you are hooking it up to. Thanks.

[@paulpatane2439]

Can you hook one end of the RF switch to Nintendo and not TV,but your cable box? I don't see a place on my TV for RF connection? 2nd question,if not is its just easier to by pass the RF switch and just buy the red and black/yellow cables at best buy,I'm assuming those are easy to buy.

[@xXderpensonXx]

any game i put in when i hook it up to my tv has static lines going vertically on the screen. the rf switch doesnt make a difference and we have the audio and video lines connected.

[@chrismclean5328]

Clean you pin connector. Get a 1up from amazon

[@d.t.simonbelmont]

Was that Star Fox at 4:13?? 4/13 is mah birthday!! :D

[@kevinflores970]

yea tony it was star fox and super mario world

[@masonhildebrant7337]

Question if u use hdmi converter can the coaxial switch work or do I need the yellow and red cords?

[@awturbosp]

Any recommendations on connecting a NES to a HDMI only tv? I've researched AV to HDMI boxes and up scalers but have seen mixed reviews. One of my primary concerns is maintaining 4:3 aspect ratio too and now it being stretched to 16:9. I have a receiver but it only acts as a switcher so I can't convert through it.

[@OwenSparkes]

I think someone did something like this before but they had to use multiple boxes like the red and yellow to red yellow and white. Then that to scart. Then that to hdmi or something like that

[@radmirtaishaev7267]

Thanks you very much :)

[@needmypunk]

I figured it out now, it was cuz I have a big bad HD tv, and I was trying to use the av cables, then I relized all I have to do is plug the RF cord into the actual cable port. thought if I did that I would need to unplug the cable whenever I wanna play then back when I watch tv. then I found out that I can have it all hooked up at the same time and I just need to change the channel for 4 to 3.

[@shroomhead32]

I'm using AV cables but it wont work. I flip through all the channels and it turn it to AV but still nothing. i haven't tried using an RF switch yet but do i really have to? i have a third party retro NES and it works just fine so is it really that different than the original? maybe I'm doing something wrong but idk what. Any advice?

[@jeff97ish]

Hit TV Video 2

[@Juan.Melendez]

Hey I need help, when I connect my NES to my vizio tv it will only show the picture but not the sound.

[@fishtank6426]

Hey I just got a super like this but I need help is the system post to flash red when u turn it on?

[@sickboysikotic]

How do you put your tv on 3 or 4? I don't think digital TVs even go to those channels anymore do they?

[@CoyoteReyne]

Note to people with a Famicom: Use the NES RF unit, and use channel 95 or 96.

[@Waffle1549]

You can use the video audio and etc to it

[@michaelcucilovic4817]

I have an top loader Nes model NESP-101 (Aus) NES-002E (Aus)ONLY It only has the "RF OUT" and "AC 9V AC ADAPTER" at the rest for connection points; my question is how do I get this model NES to connect to a newer flat screen TV? I can not wait to get gaming and have tried a fair few ways of connecting it up please help!!!!

[@BlazeTheGamer1]

Michael Cucilovic sadly, that is probably the worst part about the toploader is the fact that it only can use that one output (I can't think of it right now) but I'm sure there is a way. Wish I could help but I forget which system for output/input it uses.

[@solidsnake30000000]

Your a while too late,I already got my AV cables from my garage and hooked it up a long time ago,enjoying the games :3.

[@alexj.m.6403]

I have a model no. NES-101. Can you make a reveiw on that please.

[@helloworld2784]

Yooo your last video is from 7 years ago.. how are you my guy?!

[@xiphods]

I have a top loading NES system that only offers an RF cable connection, but my TV doesn't have an input for that. Is there a way to turn the RF cable into a something that can be connected to the AV inputs?

[@daphnne9790]

What is an HMDIRHM ID cable in the box what are they for and do I need them to hook up the old gaming systems and I have every gave me old gaming system but just a new TV that has nothing to connect the old gaming systems to could you please help me

[@santanasophiaallen74]

do i have to have that little box peice because i have all other cords for it to work

[@drrobotnikmeanbeanma]

What if the adapter die ? It still work its just that the part you scew in the tv is cut.What else to plug it into to make the game work ?

[@dylanbff101]

Wow THANKS! This

[@Ba5eThund3r]

Just bought the NES. Got a blinking Yellow screen when connected to the TV via AV Comp. I have seen that you suggest to clean the 72 pin connecter. Where is it situated? Thanks!

[@MacForShort_22]

I have a question. So I plugged everything in, the AV cables the AC adapter, and the game, but for some reason the TV only puts out the audio and not the video. Is there anything I could try to get it to work?

[@josephruiz9762]

Those audio cables in this vid does it work for SNES & N64 too? Is it the same for them?

[@unknownwolf4046]

Been years i used one i had my first system 1993 😊 I was born may 3 1990

[@rafaelcastillo3825]

I have a little problem i think you can help me? I have a original nintendo nes and connect my nes to tv and went I playing the game I don't hear the music of the games how I can fix the oudio of the console

[@celticanglotx313]

I have a 3 colored AV cable to hook up to both and it's not working. Do I need just the two one? Also sometimes my power button light doesn't want to come on. Perhaps my console isn't any good. I thrifted it.

[@charlesibrahim4610]

I don’t have the red and black cables but I have the cable box can it still work without

[@normanmcclinchey643]

Thanks Bro

[@l-_-l2506]

Thank you

[@ThatFanBoyGuy]

I have a NES 101 Top Loader. I have a HDTV with a coaxial input, just like you have. When I connect them, put a game in and turn on, I get a solid gray screen. I've tried multiple games, and I get a solid gray screen every time. What's the problem and solution?

[@bowlerxman]

So i set it Up and turned the power on the screen went black like it was gonna turn on for a split second then went back to the static again. What did i do wrong?

[@chrystasantare4141]

i don't have the same color cables. i have one red, one yellow, and one white cable things. and there are so many things to plug it into and i'm so confused and i don't want to mess up my TV. what do i do with the plugs i have, they are different?

[@jodeci9208]

When im using the RF cable what channel does my tv need to be on?. What input?

[@TomGreen99]

You should split the mono audio signal to both channels, hate hearing sound out of only one ear 😉