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Hardware and Tech / Re: NES Satellite issue
« on: July 14, 2019, 01:30:06 am »
So this is rather strange, these issues really only seem to be a problem with the NES port of Millipede so far. Thought I'd play Startropics, Mega Man 1, Super Mario Bros., Terminator 2, and Jurassic Park with the NES Satellite and they played perfectly fine. Pressing Start and Select worked almost perfect too (took an extra press or two to un-pause in Terminator 2). The four player game I tried again was Anticipation and the result was kind of weird; while controller ports 3 and 4 still seemed unresponsive, it seems like a third and fourth player could use the same controller as players 1 and 2 respectively to buzz in (like player 1 uses the D-pad to buzz in while player 3 would use the B button to buzz in on the same controller). I don't really feel like going through all 110ish NES/Famicom games I own to see which ones are having the same weird delayed/unresponsive control issue as Millipede is right now, but this is almost starting to seem like a weird compatibility issue (I still think the receiver end is the true problem not Millipede). Not a huge issue still, since I can simply unplug the NES Satellite receiver end and just plug in a controller.
The NES Satellite was an official wireless multitap for the NES released back in 1989 and used IR light to read controller inputs basically the same way how TVs read the buttons you press on the TV remote. This meant that like a TV remote, the NES Satellite has to be facing the NES console but it doesn't have to be directly facing it or even at the same level (contrary to what the internet seems to say, this device has a decent bit of leeway in terms of distance from my experience). The Satellite has two parts: the main unit where controllers are plugged into which is powered by six C batteries and the receiver which plugs into the controller ports on the NES console. Unlike accessories like the Zapper and Super Scope, the NES Satellite doesn't rely on scan lines but rather a solid uninterrupted connection between the main unit and receiver to function.
I primarily play my NES on a CRT since I have a few light gun games and the CRT hides the hideousness of composite video, but in terms of lag, I don't really notice any when playing on an HDTV.
I am not sure, but what kind of television are you using? I actually never heard of this device before, if this is on the original NES hardware? you might need to use an older television and not an HDTV or flat screen. But you said that it worked fine before. You said it was 30 years old, maybe is worn out.
After watching an episode of GameSack on YouTube they said in one of their videos that CRT televisions are the best way to play the older consoles without lag, but I personally never actually had that issue with flatscreen televisions
Sorry to hear your having this problem
The NES Satellite was an official wireless multitap for the NES released back in 1989 and used IR light to read controller inputs basically the same way how TVs read the buttons you press on the TV remote. This meant that like a TV remote, the NES Satellite has to be facing the NES console but it doesn't have to be directly facing it or even at the same level (contrary to what the internet seems to say, this device has a decent bit of leeway in terms of distance from my experience). The Satellite has two parts: the main unit where controllers are plugged into which is powered by six C batteries and the receiver which plugs into the controller ports on the NES console. Unlike accessories like the Zapper and Super Scope, the NES Satellite doesn't rely on scan lines but rather a solid uninterrupted connection between the main unit and receiver to function.
I primarily play my NES on a CRT since I have a few light gun games and the CRT hides the hideousness of composite video, but in terms of lag, I don't really notice any when playing on an HDTV.