Would you do this deal?

Let me know your thoughts.

I found this local guy that has a Turbografx-16 system with two controllers, AC adapter, 5-player adapter, and Keith Courage game for $50. The only thing is it is missing RF cable, but I think TG-16 uses the same standard RF cable that NES, SNES, or Genesis use. I have asked him if he can power it up and show me that the system works fine before I buy. He says he and his wife just had a baby and she is funny about letting “people he meets online” into their apartment. Also, he claims to not have the TV hook-up cable to be able to properly show me that the system works fine.

Something doesn’t smell quite right, considering I bought SNES games from this same guy a while back, and he has quite a collection. You mean to tell me that he does not at least have a SNES RF cable lying around that he could show me this works with? He also told me that he collects a lot of Genesis stuff and that RF cable would work for this as well.

This guy sells on ebay some, and I wonder why he hasn’t tried to sell this TG-16 setup on their site up to now, unless it is broken and he doesn’t want to have to take less money for it.

Would any of you do this deal, not knowing if the console powers up or not? I have wanted to get TG-16 forever, but is it worth this risk? I mentioned that maybe he could just run an extension cord out of his apartment to show me that it powers up fine (and I would not have to come into his home around his wife and baby), but have not heard back yet.

$50 is reasonably cheap for this setup, if it works fine.

$50 is very cheap, but I have run across a couple of TG16s with completely broken RF outputs. Almost anything can be repaired though.

Sounds like sum BS. I know if i'm selling something and I don't know if it doesn't work I let you know off hand. But it does sound like a steal though.

Does TG-16 even have a power-on LED that would tell me if the power is, in fact, turned on to the console?

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Originally Posted by tz101

Does TG-16 even have a power-on LED that would tell me if the power is, in fact, turned on to the console?

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Nope, the power switch is colored on one side so you know it's in the on position when you slide it to on, but it has no power LED.

The very first US Turbo grafx 16 I got, i got for real cheap because the RF port was dead. I've seen tons of TG-16s with dead RF ports, they seem really shoddy. Now, you can grab a turbo booster and use the AV ports from that, or, if you're good at modding, you can directly tap the EXT port to get video out, but you should be suspicious.

Honestly you wont want to use the RF even if it worked. AV modding a TG16 is pretty easy and looks 100x better. You are taking a risk of it not working but that's not too bad of a deal and it more than likely works.

WWJD?

I'm going tonight to pick this up. More details to follow.

I'd bring an extra RF box to test it there (they are interchangeable like you said), and if you can't get it to work then try and talk the guy down a bit. I paid $70 for a fully working one with hookups, 1 controller and Bonk. I still think I overpaid, and my Turbo actually just sits in a box in the closet since I use the CoreGrafx most of the time.

Like Elabit said though, it's totally worth your time to just do a composite mod or get a booster, the change in quality is amazing.

I never really understood why NEC made it so the PC-Engine/TG16 couldn't output composite on it's own. I think it's rather dumb that you need to buy an accessory/add-on to get composite out of it.

Are there any composite modding sites for TG-16 that have easy to follow directions?

Honestly, TG16s are almost useless and your money is better spent on a PCE duo. I think a base TG16 is way overpriced and should be worth about $25.

Ask him to bring it to your place if he really wants your $50. Like Sheath mentioned the RF is notorious for going bad. My experience is that you have to "jiggle" it. I have run across three myself. But who knows maybe its fine. Not everyone is out to rip people off. Also as mentioned before "modding" it is as simple as making a cable for the ext in the back. Link from digitpress..http://www.digitpress.com/forum/show...-16-EXP-pinout

I think putting AV jacks on the side is just as easy and you can do it with basic soldering skills. Here's one I did for a friend. I also lit up the logo. I basically learned how to solder when I did this a while back it's that easy.
http://img805.imageshack.us/img805/8641/img5794a.jpg

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Originally Posted by TrekkiesUnite118

I never really understood why NEC made it so the PC-Engine/TG16 couldn't output composite on it's own. I think it's rather dumb that you need to buy an accessory/add-on to get composite out of it.

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It was a size and cost issue. The PC Engine itself is TINY. Like, the size of 2 NES controllers.

EDIT: And, around that time, there were numerous consoles which lacked A/V out. A/V out wasn't a standard feature until the PSX/Saturn days. Off the top of my head, the Atari Jaguar, Amstrad 4000GX, Amiga 500, and NES 2 also have RF only.