NES Radar turns a real Nintendo Entertainment System into a live air-traffic display. You enter an airport’s four-letter ICAO code with a controller, and a nearby computer fetches aircraft traffic from adsb.fi and passes it to the console over a cable on controller port 2. The NES never connects to the internet itself. The project is a hardware build, not a ROM you can simply download and play.
How the data moves from the sky to the screen
The project splits the work between two machines. The NES handles the display and the airport selection. A computer handles the network connection and the data lookup.
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- Plug a normal controller into port 1 and enter the airport’s four-letter ICAO code.
- The console sends that selection back through the serial cable attached to controller port 2.
- The computer running the NES Radar server requests current aircraft traffic from adsb.fi for that airport.
- The server sends the aircraft data down the same cable, and the NES draws the aircraft on its screen.
The word “radar” describes the presentation. The console has no radio receiver, and the flight positions come from an online ADS-B data service reached through the host computer. The project is based on c64u-radar, an earlier Commodore 64 project with a similar design, as Adafruit’s 2026 coverage notes.
What you need to build it
The project’s requirements are listed on its Hackaday.io project page (2026). The table below separates the physical parts from the software side.
#1 Best Overall
- This converter is for playing Famicom cartridges (60-pin) on your 72-pin system (NES and NES-compatible consoles)
- Compatible with all NES systems and console region variants, as well as NES-compatible consoles
- Cartridge compatibility may vary
| Component | What the project specifies | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Entertainment System | A real NES console | The project runs on hardware, not an emulator. |
| Flash cartridge | Required to load the NES Radar ROM | The project does not name a cartridge model. |
| USB-to-TTL serial cable | 5 V level, wired to controller port 2 | The project recommends the FTDI TTL-232R-5V-WE (see below). |
| Resistors | Two 1 kΩ resistors | The sources give the quantity only, not the package or power rating. |
| Controller | A standard controller in port 1 | Used to enter the airport code. |
| Host computer | Runs the server software | macOS, Windows, or Linux; see the software section. |
| Internet connection | Needed by the host computer | Used to fetch traffic from adsb.fi. |
Choosing the serial cable
The cable is the part most likely to cause trouble, because it has to match the NES’s signal expectations. Two details matter here.
The recommended adapter
The project names the FTDI TTL-232R-5V-WE as its reproducible recommendation. The author states that the adapter they tested is FT232R-compatible. That is a statement about the tested part, not a guarantee that every FT232R-based or USB-to-TTL adapter will work.
Rank #2
- Compatibility for NES Bit Console: For NES cartridge slot is designed as a 72 pin connector replacement for Nintendo NES 8 Bit System.Not for other model and system.
- Helps Restore Cartridge Reading: For 72 pin NES connector helps improve contact between the game cartridge and console, making it useful for systems with blinking red light, gray screen, repeated loading failure, or poor cartridge contact caused by a worn or loose game cartridge reader.
- Replacement Cartridge Slot Repair Part: For Nintendo NES cartridge slot replacement is made to replace old, oxidized, bent or weakened 72 pin connectors. It helps restore stable game loading performance and gives console a practical repair option instead of replacing the whole system.
- Tool Kit Included for Installation: Package includes the 72 pin connector replacement and a repair tool kit for opening the console and replacing the cartridge slot. No soldering is required, but console disassembly is needed. Please handle the internal parts carefully.
- Installation and Cleaning Reminder: Before installing for NES 72 pin connector, clean the console board contacts and game cartridge contacts to help improve reading results. Make sure the connector is fully seated and aligned before reassembling for Nintendo NES 8 Bit console.
Why other adapters may not behave the same
The project cautions that other USB-to-TTL adapters may differ electrically or in timing. Keep to a 5 V cable, and check the signal level before you connect it to the NES. The link runs at 9,600 baud, according to Adafruit’s 2026 summary, so the adapter has to handle that rate reliably. If you substitute a part, expect to do your own checking.
Running the host software
The project’s release page offers three kinds of download: the NES Radar ROM, a macOS Universal binary, and a Python source archive. The macOS build is a self-contained server binary. Windows and Linux users run the Python source. Because release contents change over time, check the project’s release page for the current files and make sure the ROM and the server you download come from matching releases.
Rank #3
- Compatible With: The NES pin connector is compatible with the original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES-001) front-loading console. Confirm your console model and connector type before ordering
- Restore Cartridge Contact: The 72-pin connector NES replacement helps replace a worn, bent, or dirty cartridge slot to address blinking, blank, or scrambled screens caused by poor contact
- 3.8mm Gamebit Screwdriver: Opens cartridge cases for cleaning and repair, not for consoles. Compatible with Nintendo NES, SNES, N64, Virtual Boy, Game Boy, and Game Boy Color cartridges, plus Sega Game Gear cartridges
- Durable Materials: The NES 72-pin connector is made of impact-resistant, anti-static ABS, which reduces static buildup. Phosphor bronze pins offer conductivity, spring resilience, and resistance to corrosion and wear
- Installation Tips: Follow the included instructions; professional assistance is recommended. Clean game cartridge contacts before installing and testing
What the display shows, and where it stops
Independent coverage by Hackster.io (2026) reports that the display covers a 9-nautical-mile radius around the chosen airport and can show up to eight aircraft at once. Those are display limits of this build, not properties of air traffic in general. At a busy airport, aircraft outside that radius or beyond the eighth will not appear, so the screen is a partial picture rather than a full traffic board.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How solid the sourcing is
The project describes itself in one sentence on its page: “NES Radar turns a real Nintendo Entertainment System into a live air traffic scope.” That page, credited to a project author identified only as Levi, is the primary source for the parts list, the cable recommendation, and the adapter caution. Adafruit’s 2026 coverage independently describes the data path and the c64u-radar lineage. The radius and aircraft limit come from Hackster.io’s 2026 report, so treat those two figures as secondary-source details that the project itself does not restate in the material reviewed.
Rank #4
- 【Two-Way Cartridge Compatibility】Designed to support cartridge use between compatible SNES and SFC consoles. Allows users to connect compatible game cartridges across supported console formats through a single adapter.
- 【Full Support for Enhancement Chip Games】Works with Super FX, SA-1, CX4, DSP, and other special chip cartridges. Fully preserves the original gaming experience.
- 【Built with PETG + PCB construction】Built with a 3D-printed PETG shell for impact resistance, heat resistance, and warp-free durability, plus a PCB core for clean signal traces and reduced interference.
- 【Ideal For Retro Game Collectors】A practical accessory for retro gaming enthusiasts, collectors, and users seeking expanded cartridge compatibility between supported console and cartridge formats.
- 【Important: Does NOT Convert PAL/NTSC】Solves physical slot differences only. Does not convert video formats.
Before you build, confirm the current release files and parts list on the project page, since those are the details most likely to change.
The NES side needs real hardware and a flash cartridge, the serial cable needs a 5 V level, and the host computer needs internet access. Those three requirements decide whether the build is practical for you.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 72-pin Replacement Connector: Replace your old Switch’s worn, bent, and dirty 72 pin connector nes, making your old Switch NES console working again
- Sturdy and Durable: Made of stronger metal, which is more robust and durable. Will fix blinking or scrambled game screens
- Compatible System: Perfectly compatible with the original Switch NES 8-bit system, Nintendo (NES) game cartridges, Super Nintendo (SNES) game cartridges, Nintendo 64 (N64) game cartridges, Virtual Boy game cartridges, Original Game Boy game cartridges, Game Boy Color game cartridges, and Sega Game Gear game cartridges
- Easy to Install: It only takes a few minutes to install. Please clean your switch before playing games with the 72 pin connector.Note: this connector fits more tightened after installation than the original or other products, which is normal and ensures stable contact
- What you Get: 1 x 72-pin replacement connector, 1 x 3.8mm security bit screwdriver.Note: The two small holes on the left and right sides of the product are not threaded
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