Is RF shielding really necessary anymore for older systems?

[ApolloBoy]

I just threw out the RF shields that were in my SMS and Genesis a few days ago, mainly to save an extra step of disassembly if I should do any mods or repairs. Now, are these really that necessary to have now? It's not like I'll ever use RF with my SMS and Genesis.

[DragonmasterDan]

I just threw out the RF shields that were in my SMS and Genesis a few days ago, mainly to save an extra step of disassembly if I should do any mods or repairs. Now, are these really that necessary to have now? It's not like I'll ever use RF with my SMS and Genesis.

 

Well as we discussed earlier with the spectrum opening up in the future it might be important to have in order to get RF out of the system. But if you never use RF then it's no problem.

[marcfrick2112]

Can't swear by this, but I thought the RF shielding was to prevent outside RF from interfering with the operation of the console, and to comply with FCC regulations.

[Rybags]

It's more oriented towards stopping the console/computer interfering with other devices.

 

And, it doesn't necessarily have to be something like a TV operating on "RF".

 

My previous computer (PC) case was plastic - and it was a shocker so far as the interference it caused to the TV

[A.J. Franzman]

Yeah, if you ever might use those systems near a cell/cordless phone, wi-fi/bluetooth connection, TV, radio, etc., you might want to keep the shielding in place. It works both ways, keeping RF interference from going out as well as in.

Edited December 19, 2007 by A.J. Franzman

[Ze_ro]

For what it's worth, I was performing a little "open-heart surgery" on an Atari 5200 the other day... I went through the rigamarole of removing the metal shielding (do yourself a favor and never open a 5200... seriously, it's a horrible abomination), and for a while was playing it without the shielding. There was a noticeable increase in interference. Specifically, the sound had a lot more buzzing in it.

 

They might have only put the shielding in there because the FCC told them to, but the FCC does that for a reason. Unless you're opening the system every day, I'd leave it in there.

 

--Zero

[Prodos8]

When I AV modded my 5200 I trashed the RF shielding. That stupid thing was hard as hell to remove and since I'm now using s-video I figured RF interference was no longer a problem. I was right of course.

 

If your not using rabbit ears or an aerial antenna for you TV then I wouldn't worry about it.

[Jess Ragan]

They might have only put the shielding in there because the FCC told them to, but the FCC does that for a reason.

 

Heh, there's only one reason the FCC does anything, and that's getting bribes from AT+T.

 

Annnnyway, I ditched the metal shields after modding my ColecoVision and Atari 5200. They were a distracting annoyance and added unnecessary weight to the systems. Now that I've taken them out they seem to work just fine, although the ColecoVision has audiovisual issues after it's been left on for fifteen minutes. I think that has more to do with my ghetto video mod than anything else, though.

[Bruce Tomlin]

The shielding is to keep the CPU and other computer parts inside from generating RFI. I had an original TRS-80 back in the day, and whenever the family wanted to watch channel 12, I had to turn it off. The computer was at least 20 feet from the TV and outside antenna.

[A.J. Franzman]

The shielding is to keep the CPU and other computer parts inside from generating RFI.

Not exactly. You can't stop those parts from generating RF noise while in use, but you can block what is there from getting out with enough strength to be disruptive.

 

Although, since you used the term "RFI" (Radio Frequency Interference), you're technically correct, since any generated "RF" noise does not become "RFI" until it reaches some other device which is susceptible to it.

[Longhorn Engineer]

I always replace the RF shielding when performing video mods. I can see additional "waviness" in the video signal without it on. (2600-7800 Ataris anyways)

 

For portables I trash them. No room for FCC regulations here.

[Prodos8]

I generally do put the shielding back, but the one on the 5200 was something else to remove. Besides I broke almost all the locking-tabs trying to remove it so there was really no way to re-install it.

[Video]

The RF shield doesn't just protect the picture quality of your system (but that's mostly it) it also protects other stuff from being interfered with.

 

I know Atari (and everybody else, for that matter) has this obsession with putting 57 and 1/2 tabs on the RF shielding to hold it into place, but really only a couple of tabs are needed to keep it in place (just make sure one of the tabs is touching the grounding circuit, or it's not really accomplishing much by being there)

 

Thank god the computer's RF shield is the case (that's the only thing I get into much)

[JB]

The RF shield doesn't just protect the picture quality of your system (but that's mostly it) it also protects other stuff from being interfered with.

 

I know Atari (and everybody else, for that matter) has this obsession with putting 57 and 1/2 tabs on the RF shielding to hold it into place, but really only a couple of tabs are needed to keep it in place (just make sure one of the tabs is touching the grounding circuit, or it's not really accomplishing much by being there)

 

Thank god the computer's RF shield is the case (that's the only thing I get into much)

The only REALLY bad one is the Intellivision. There's like 2 pounds of solder welding it shut.

[supercat]

I know Atari (and everybody else, for that matter) has this obsession with putting 57 and 1/2 tabs on the RF shielding to hold it into place, but really only a couple of tabs are needed to keep it in place (just make sure one of the tabs is touching the grounding circuit, or it's not really accomplishing much by being there)

 

The effectiveness of an RF shield is significantly limited by the dimension of the longest slot. Having lots of tabs means the slots between them are small. If you eliminate most of the tabs, the slot length will increase and the shield will be much less effective.