Messages

1

Hardware and Tech / Re: Dreamcast: Low power to controllers

« on: December 23, 2016, 05:25:17 am »

Thread necromancy aside, I have had the parts in for a few months, but haven't had the time away from work to sit down and take the time to execute and document the fix. I plan to get that done asap.

Seeing how many DC repair sites/blogs/forums out there are peddling the fix I followed, I can't get it done soon enough.

2

Hardware and Tech / Re: Dreamcast: Low power to controllers

« on: May 06, 2016, 02:44:30 pm »

After Google searching, testing and pulling my hair out, I found the solution to the issue as well as the cause.

The Dreamcast Junkyard community posted something to their Facebook page about improper controller board repair and how most tutorials are far off the mark with their fixes. I followed one such fix and replaced a resistor/fuse that limits current to the controllers.

What I have essentially done "fixes" the dead ports but limits the current to the controllers so much that only one at a time works. I'm going to order some resetting fuses to replace the resistor in every single DC I own.

I'll post a proper shakedown of the fix once I have it done.

3

Hardware and Tech / Re: Dreamcast: Low power to controllers

« on: February 03, 2016, 03:43:41 am »

It doesn't seem to be controller or port specific.

If I plug more than one VMU into any combination (Slot 1 in P1 and Slot 2 in P4 for example) the controllers go dead until the VMUs are removed. I'm beginning to wonder if I used too much resistance when I repaired the controller board, but according to the color codes and my math, it's correct.

I tested the power supply board outside of the unit and it checks out.

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Hardware and Tech / Dreamcast: Low power to controllers

« on: February 02, 2016, 04:32:16 am »

I can use a VMU in either slot with only P1 controller connected. If I connect a controller to P2, the P1 VMU screen dims and it starts beeping every few seconds. It throws an error during gameplay (observed in SoulCalibur) and during any attempt to save. P1 and P2 controllers function as intended and the error(s) vanish when the VMU is removed (although I can't save without one).

If I unplug P2, I can save and play all I want. I don't see any obvious issues with the controller ports/board. Everything checks out with my multimeter. I'd like to rock some SoulCalibur with my friends, but I'm pulling my hair out trying to figure this issue out.

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Hardware and Tech / Re: N64 - No video output

« on: November 09, 2015, 07:04:25 pm »

I hadn't thought of that.

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Hardware and Tech / Re: N64 - No video output

« on: November 09, 2015, 12:09:48 am »

@fighterpilot562: I'm in the middle of no-coast land Missouri. Far from SoCal.

@hoshichiri: I'm one of those guys that isn't satisfied until there is no need to fiddle with a console to get it to do its one and only job. I want it to work every time without having to put on a tinfoil cap and face magnetic north while sacrificing Madden games to the console pantheon.

I haven't had the time to crack it open and check for cracked solder joints or corroded traces. I'm hoping to get that done in the next day or so. Fallout 4 permitting.

7

Hardware and Tech / Re: N64 - No video output

« on: November 05, 2015, 07:02:32 pm »

It didn't happen with a game in it. I haven't opened it up to see if the solder joints are cracked beneath the slot connector (had a Master System that gave me similar trouble until I reflowed the solder from pins to board).

The N64 is a bit foreign to me. If you guys have had similar trouble, then I might be on the right track.

8

Hardware and Tech / N64 - No video output

« on: November 05, 2015, 02:09:45 am »

I had an N64 handed to me and it worked for the first 2 hours it was in my possession. Now I get a black screen no matter what video cable I use or what game I have in it.

I don't have much experience with N64 issues and this one is driving me insane! Any ideas?

9

Hardware and Tech / Re: Dreamcast suddenly stopped reading controller input

« on: November 05, 2015, 02:04:33 am »

I have had to fix the controller board on every Dreamcast I've had my hands on. It's more involved than just solder and you have to have a certain type of fuse resistors. If I remember when I get home from work, I'll look up the part number for the resistors and post pictures of what needs to be replaced. It's a simple repair, if not an irritating one.

10

Hardware and Tech / Re: Dreamcast Silencing

« on: November 05, 2015, 01:59:54 am »

Anyone actually follow through with the mod?

The link is dead, but I'll look around the net for a similar tutorial and try it on one of my dozen spare units just in case it goes down in literal flames.

11

Hardware and Tech / Re: Looking for solid HDMI upconverters

« on: March 13, 2014, 06:20:59 pm »

It drives me crazy to have the picture stretched or cut off at the top and bottom. I can't seem to find one that gives an option for wide/native.

12

Hardware and Tech / Looking for solid HDMI upconverters

« on: March 13, 2014, 03:21:01 pm »

I'm trying to find a good, budget-priced S-Video/Composite to HDMI and a Component to HDMI converter.  Every unit I've considered and/or tried does not preserve the 4:3 aspect ratio and I can't seem to find an HDMI converter/upscaler in my price range that will.  What do you guys use?

13

Hardware and Tech / Re: SD Game Consoles on HDTV Screens

« on: January 18, 2014, 11:17:41 pm »

Damn. I would have helped to relieve you of that Trinitron.

I looked into the SCART/Component conversion options and found that to be fairly reasonable in price, BUT with the amount of consoles I have it would have been a major investment in cables/input switches/etc.

I had a 720p LCD given to me and decided to pull it out and see what happened and was surprised to find out that the composite and s-video inputs actually look fairly decent with the exception of the NES. The NES composite looks like absolute garbage but the RF looks better (thanks, Nintendo).

As for my PS2, I tried out a component cable and didn't see much difference over s-video. It looks as good as can be expected on that 720p Vizio screen.

If I can find it again, Ben Heckendorn detailed the steps to make a custom A/V input switch. If I decide to go the RGB route, I may save myself some cash and build a switch panel big enough to handle all of my consoles. At this point... I spend more time messing with my hardware than I do actually playing it.   

14

General / Re: January 2014 - Recently Added to Collection/Recently Purchased

« on: January 11, 2014, 12:32:04 pm »

I made yet another trip to the local Goodwill and walked out with another Sega MK-2103 power adapter, a complete Sega Menacer light gun, Altered Beast for SMS CIB, Outrun for SMS CIB, 2 Atari/SMS/Genesis controller extensions and a 3-button turbo controller.

EDIT: I forgot about the Game Genie for Genesis. 

15

Marketplace / Re: Who wants some stuff?

« on: January 09, 2014, 01:39:23 am »

Updated list to reflect sold items.