Messages

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: THS7316 AMP Framemeister issue]

Is your framemeister cable Euro scar or JP21?

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Blog of my Turbo Duo repair]

This can be the sign of bad traces/shorted out vias near capacitors somewhere in the CD drive function area of the board. I would start by holding the board up to a light and see if you can see through all the Vias for capacitors found below where the CD drive sits. IF there is black gunk in there you might need to repair using a wire or spare cap contact lead.

If that isn't the problem then I'd try another CD lens if you have one.

If that doesn't work then unfortunately this symptom can also be the sign of a bad chip on the board. So you might need to send this to thesteve for chip replacement.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Blog of my Turbo Duo repair]

How well does it read audio discs? Does it seem to have trouble when skipping from track to track?

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Blog of my Turbo Duo repair]

Hmm well I can't think of what could have happened during the cap change that could have made things worse other then a connection not being good somewhere.

I'd start by turning the V102 pot slightly to the left and see what happens. I tune all my lenses by ear so I can't give you any values to get fore the lens adjustments unfortunately. I do this because I find that not all lenses work good with the same settings as others.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: Import Japanese PS2 console only for sale]

How do you get it to play US games ?

I don't think you can play US games on it without a modchip but maybe someone else knows something I don't. So this would be for playing import games only.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Import Japanese PS2 console only for sale]

I have an extra Japanese PS2 console I'd like to sell. I don't keep up on the values of PS2 stuff so if anyone is interested just send me a reasonable offer. It's the console with power cable only and works great. I opened up and cleaned out the console as well. SCPH-50000 model. Does not have an internal hard drive or the hard drive adapter. Just a slot cover on the back.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PCE duo blank screen only on cd system 3]

Well, if it works sometimes then there has to be a bad trace or connection somewhere. Turn on the board and start pushing on the various chips on the board to see if it makes a difference. Could be a cracked solder joint on one of the chips legs.

If that doesn't do anything then I'd check the traces on the bottom of the board for the Hu card slot pins.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PC engine Duo-RX plays hu-cards but get either pink, green or cyan screen for CD]

Did you check both of the 7805 regulators? There is also the possibility of a bad connection or trace under the board near the power input jack. Start testing traces to make sure all is good there. I've come across that a few times now.

Another problem area on DUO-R/RX consoles are the traces for the hu card slot. If any one of those have a bad trace then that can also cause the white screen when turned on if no game is inserted. So turn the board over and start checking the traces that go to the card slot pins. 

If the card slot pins test good then I would just message thesteve here from the forums for help and or send it to him for repair. He is a pro when it comes to chip replacement and or fixing bad connections for them. Even though I repair a lot of these systems myself, I know when to pass a system off to someone with more experience in certain areas than I.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PCE duo blank screen only on cd system 3]

1st thing to check is if both 7805 voltage regulators work. Check with a multi-meter to see if both put out 5V

Hopefully a bad voltage regulator is the problem. If it is not then you either have a bad via hole connection/trace on the board or worst case scenario a bad chip on the board.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PC engine Duo-RX plays hu-cards but get either pink, green or cyan screen for CD]

1st thing to check is if both 7805 voltage regulators work. Check with a multi-meter to see if both put out 5V

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Your favourite games no one talks about.]

Blood Gear - RPG overworlds, nice mech design, side-scrolling action stages, nice cutscenes, extremely affordable, and a Hudson original. No idea why it's not up there with the top games people talk about for the PC Engine.

This one always intrigued me. I assumed it was text heavy?

Blood gear is text heavy but only for all the in town parts. All the side scrolling/platforming stages make up for it. Meaning, just walk around and talk to everyone in town until you figure how to move onto the next section. This is the only Japanese pc engine RPG I've ever played through since it has enough action/platforming elements to warrant my waste of time by not knowing how to read Japanese. Not to mention the cut scenes look fantastic. I'd definitely recommend it.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Blog of my Turbo Duo repair]

Oh, well if it is partially working with audio CDs then that is a good thing. Don't forget to clean off the lens itself with a Q-tip. If that doesn't fix it then probably just needs the lens rails cleaned and re-greased+lens potentiometer adjustment.  Usually V102 is the one to try adjusting first. Try turning it to the left slightly.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Blog of my Turbo Duo repair]

As far as your CD drive is concerned. Does it spin up really fast starting slow at first or does it just spin one speed not changing at all?

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: TurboDuo - 1 second of audio then cut to silence (Hu and CD)]

It's the traces to the op amp for sure. Sound for a split second symptom is almost always fixed by repairing 1 or 2 of the traces for the 4558 op amp just to the right of the AV jack.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: TurboDuo - 1 second of audio then cut to silence (Hu and CD)]

No reason to give up on it if it can be repaired. I'd be happy to repair it for you if you don't want to deal with it for a small fee.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: TurboDuo - 1 second of audio then cut to silence (Hu and CD)]

Sounds like bad traces around the 4558 op amp right next to the AV jack. There should be 3.8V going to these two pins on it. If there is not then there is either a bad trace or old cap goop underneath the op amp that needs to be cleaned out.  I like to remove the op amp, clean, then reinstall.


Oh, I just had one more thought. Might be a bad trace for the ground on the op amp as well. The grounding pin (if looking at the photo I posted) is on the bottom row farthest to the right.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Your favourite games no one talks about.]

Override! Such a dam good pc engine shooter. A little short in my opinion cause it could have used at least 1 more stage but the game play, graphics, and music are top notch.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Why doesn't the LT work on a CDRom2?]

Why not just plug the pc engine lt right into the IFU-30 docking station? No UHF 30 needed

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: First time in probably twenty years: a find in the wild!]

 I use primarily joysticks now and do like the feel of the US turbo stick.  My thumbs and wrists get sore way too fast using a standard control pad of any sort now these days. I think it's from all the years of guitar playing mixed with cell phone use and soldering work.

 anyways, I use joysticks only now and feel that the turbo stick is a good alternative to the control pad. Congrats on the find.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: White PCE only giving a screen.]

Yeah, they can only be sourced from other consoles unfortunately.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: White PCE only giving a screen.]

How are the connections for the Ribbon cable that goes in between the card slot and the motherboard? The connections can break where they solder to the board very easily especially if the card slot has been moved around quite a bit from someone installing mods. If the wired connections for the ribbon cable are fine and the card slot pins themselves are fine then most likely a failed HU6280 chip.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Replacement Screws for DUO]

I wish I new the actual size.  I live to use typical size #4 wood screws from a hardware store when the holes for these get are stripped out. So I'd assume a size #3 would be the actual size since it's slightly smaller.

However, I have some extra PC engine duo screws that are the correct size. Just a different bit type. If you would like to get some from me just send me a PM.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PC Engine Core Grafx II pink screen]

Are any of the pins in the expansion port bent or pushed in?

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Buggy Duo Pics]

Unfortunately that's most likely a Bad chip on the motherboard or a bad trace. Looks more like bad ram but could also be one of the 3 Hu chips.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: What RGB Mod Is This?]

 I haven't seen one like that before but I did see one once where somebody had used a DVI connector for a PC on it.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Turbo Duo CD-Rom issue]

Check for old cap leakage around the two 47UF caps next to the CD loading light. You might need to repair the connections for those caps+check the Via holes nearby to make sure there is continuity.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PC Engine Core Grafx II pink screen]

Does your core grafx have a region mod as well? Even if it doesn't, sometimes the inner larger ribbon cable can get bent around too much during mod installs thus breaking the connections for some of the ribbon cable wires.

However, if it is not a problem with the cable then most likely a bad chip on the motherboard unfortunately.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Modding a Core Grafx to play US Hucards]

Yes It is possible. I do this for $60. There are a few other members here who offer this service as well although I'm not sure who else is active on the forums these days who also does modding.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PC engine Duo-RX plays hu-cards but get either pink, green or cyan screen for CD]

Sounds like a bad traces or bad chip on the motherboard to me. I'd get in touch with thesteve here in the forums and send it to him for repair.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: DuoR Find and getting started with]

All the ports should be re-soldered. Meaning the AV, Power, and controller port pins. All of these pin connections crack overtime and simply reflowing some new solder to the pins takes care of the problem.

Also, if you want to replace those broken CD assembly pegs then you should use some screws. Simply drill a small hole where the white peg used to be and then put a screw in its place from underneath the system. I'm about to do this to a DUO-R so I'll post a pic once I get to it.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: RF shield in white PCE - soldered?]

It depends on the version of the pce. There were some that required the grounding shield to be on there and some that did not. Basically if you have the one that only has two grounding spots to solder to then you can leave it off if you want. However, some would argue that if it's just two solder points then why not just do the extra work to put it back on. It's the other version that has like 5-6 grounding solder points that needs to be on there otherwise things don't work right.

[Off-Topic / Re: What are YOU watching on YouTube.com?]

That ass hat Ross Hamilton! He is always interrupting my favorite youtube shows by telling me I should be buying and flipping properties.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: Complete PC engine CD IFU setups and recapped Duo systems for sale.]

yes sir I do, reply sent.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PC-Engine GT - the never ending Story... need a replacement Display]

Sure, I have a bunch of extra original screens here. How about $8 plus shipping?

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: SOLVED - Turbo Duo thinks it´s aways closed - Laserunit does nothing]

Did you ever check the large Via hole just to the right of the 2 47UF caps right by the CD loading light? That via can get filled with old cap goop. Thus needing a good cleaning and sometimes a wire bridged through the hole to repair the 5V connection.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: pc-engine cdrom2 help]

Yes, you could try adjusting the pots if there are only two discs giving you issues. Also, Make sure you already cleaned the lens off. Lots of times this is the issue with only some discs not reading well.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: An original Spriggan]

there is a pce Works logo on the CD itself. So you can't tell without seeing the CD. So most likely if the package is sealed and looks brand new then it is a bootleg.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: pc-engine cdrom2 help]

Do the discs spin at all? Does the CD drive make any sound when you hit play? Meaning, if you hit play and you hear absolutely nothing then most likely the center CD gear is stuck and needs replacement.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: CD-ROM² calibration]

If my music is dropping out (and slow CD-R load) which pot should I adjust?  Also, should an increase in pot be clockwise or counterclockwise?

I love my CD I've had since 92, gear was replaced but I think my twin brother tinkered with the pots a long time ago in college when the CD quit (unknown gear failure).  Games mostly work but I get music dropping.

I just recapped a cdrom2 and has the same problem, music drops and it's very sensible to vibrations (I am using original discs only)

I'd like to know which pot is most likely the culprit.

This is the resistance values on my pots on a good working unit fully recapped

pot 101 (e/f balance) = 9.4
pot 102 (focus offset) = 0.4
pot 103 (track gain) = 17.0
pot 104 (focus gain) = 17.1
pot 105 (vco) = 19.3

so I adjusted the faulty one to the same values but it's still very weak.

You are going to have to do the adjustment via process of elimination. Just make an adjustment to one of them and then test the drive. If things don't improve then put the settings back to where they were and try another potentiometer. This is how I do it and I've been repairing these for years. 

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Turbo duo help]

Hard to diagnose without having the board to test it but most like there there are bad traces at fault. If you are missing the 3.6V required, then  start checking traces with a multi meter till you find that ones that are bad.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: Airzonk trade for Bomberman 93]

Sorry about that guys. Guess I should have worded it differently.  It`s fair for me to ask for this trade right? Don't both of these games typically go for the same price loose?

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Airzonk trade for Bomberman 93]

I have a nice loose copy of Air Zonk that I would like to trade for a loose copy of Bomberman 93. Just send me a PM if interested.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Duo blank screen help]

Lots of times this is caused by a bad chip but it can sometimes be bad trace related. Send it to thesteve for repair. He is the man when it comes to chip replacement and trace repair for them.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Anyone dealt with this repro shop?]

Basically any repro place that isn't pceworks(real printed CDs) makes all their repros on CDRs. Don't waist your money. Make your own if you need them.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Duo blank screen help]

Did the system look like it had already been worked on prior?

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Super SD System 3]

I do not own one of these but I'm curious as to why people are complaining about sound being heard during loading sequences. Especially since the original systems have noise over the audio during the time the CD drive needs to access something as well. So if anything it's more authentic.

Anyone have audio issues with theirs? Just watched this review and the audio problems sound pretty bad. Turns me off from the idea of buying one of these.

(Skip ahead to time 7.00 for audio issues)

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Snipping old caps]

Out of all the methods I've tried, the twisting method just works best for me. Not saying it's the only way to go about it. I find that twisting them off generally works best especially if the cap had been leaking on the board. Anytime I've tried heating up and removing a cap that was a leaker it would end up lifting a pad.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: WNTD Hu6260 Chip]

a solid colored screen when turned on does not necessarily indicate a video chip problem. does it do this when both hu cards are inserted or not? your problem could be bad chip related but it could also be bad traces/vias on the motherboard. in all honesty I would just send the system to theSteve to work on it for you. that way, whether it is a chip or Trace problem he can fix it.

if you want to take a stab at doing more work on it yourself, then double-check those traces for the caps near the op amps that you talked about. Could be a bad connection in that area or one of the voltage regulators could be bad. Check that both 7805 voltage Regulators are putting out the required 5 volts.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: CD-ROM2 spins but won't read discs, help.]

before you consider changing the lens or making any lens adjustments, you should change some of the capacitors first. there are two specific rows of capacitors that are known to go bad  in the white PC engine CD drives. Here is a picture where I have circled the ones that normally go bad in red. Change them before doing anything else. If changing these caps doesn't fix the problem then move onto changing out the lens itself.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PCE GT Button 1 not working]

I literally grab each surface mount capacitor and then twist it to the right as far as I can. If it doesn't break off keep twisting the same direction. Don't go right left right left over and over again. So just pick a direction and keep going that way till they twist off. Do not pull up in anyway. just spin it One Direction Until It Breaks Loose. 

Sometimes pads can still get pulled up using this method. However I find that it is the least likely to have it happen.