Expert: Octane - 1/16/2009

Question
My TV makes weird static like noises, i cant hear the sound
for the noise. Im using a RF Switch for the SNES and i
tried almost everything but it just won't remove that
sound, I tried using another RF switch, i tried moving the
cables around, i tried different games, i tried Fine Tuning
my TV, nothing. absolutely nothing.

So i thought you could help me so please help.


Thanks.

Answer
Gday Mathias,

Well that could be a number of things the could causing it.  Simplest and easiest thing I would do first is clean you games.  (Although not as common a problem as the Genesis/Mega Drive)  Occasionally a dirty game interface or even moisture inside the cartridge can produce a buzzing.

I would try changing from a RF to a AV cable.  Thank goodness the SNES has to output on it's unit.  Maybe youR RF output in the SNES has a problem and causing the noise (So even changing the RF cable will produce the same problem.)

Now we get into the harder territory.  Which means opening your SNES.  

Depending on when your SNES was made a lot of early SNES have a separate sound module that actually plugs into the the main board.  (Before they started integrating it onto the main mother board.  The board is usually in the back of the SNES about 2 inches x 2 Inches incased in shielding and held in place by a couple of screws.)  I have had occurrences where these have failed or had problems causing a buzzing.  Usually disconnecting them and reconnecting them can sometime fix them.  (Again because of moisture/dust/grime working it way into the unit because it is separate.) On a couple of occasions I have had to retouch up solder in the unit because of I assume someone dropping the unit.  Which involves taking the sound unit completely apart.  I have had to totally replace this unit due to non-working sound once or twice.

Another main problem could be a something that is spilt into the unit and over time has dried out and is causes a problem.  Soda is usually the problem.  Basically you just need to take the entire thing apart and clean it.  Usually you can't tell by just looking at the outside of the unit.  (The couple of time I have been amassed that SNES still work with all the gunk I have seen in them when opening them up.)

Another problem is occasionally you have to re-touch up the solder on the connections where the AV or RF unit meet the main board.  Mainly due to cracking or breaking because of the constant unplugging and re-plugging of cords over time.

If after all this then it is probably a failure on the main mother board or even the integrated chip causing this and the only way it will be fix is replacing the whole unit.

Hope this helps.

Octane.