Messages

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PCE GT repair help (super hard!) needed please o_o]

Yeah board scans were RetroSix: https://www.retrosix.wiki/board-scans-pc-engine-gt

To get good board "scans" I imagine they just used a camera light box.  Something like this:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1656195528/

Yep, I made a camera light box too but bigger to be able to photo other motherboards too, but it's not as good 

And regarding the GT and so, the PC just bending while using a hot air gun... either the temperature it's too high, or the board isn't that good as you said... I'd worry too

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PCE GT repair help (super hard!) needed please o_o]

Many thanks for all the debugging info and photos! I feel bad for not being able to help after such work...
btw, just out of curiosity, how did you make the photos/scans of the boards? Plain normal scanner? Phone camera with lights? I'm searching for a better way of documenting mine but I'm always having some lightning issues...
P.S.: I've just read that they were done by retrosix I'll have to continue trying then.

Thanks a lot again!

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PCE GT repair help (super hard!) needed please o_o]

Hi there!

When I'm lost as you after doing way too many tests, what I do is to try to get a working one and start comparing every-fucking-pin of every-fucking-ic (or connector/etc ) with an oscilloscope while running the same game until I find a difference.

Hope you can fix it!

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: AMP-30 restoration]

For anyone interested I already did a complete recap to the AMP-30 and documented the caps values needed, quantity and locations..

Dont know where else I can put this, if there is a specific place, please let me know...

Nice! Someday I'll buy one for myself to document it too on my website (not only caps).
For now I only can thing of maybe NFG? necretro.org maybe?

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: AMP-30 restoration]

I was lucky to get one at a very good price, even if it didnt come with the speakers and accesories, but it looks great, I have a normal DUO and Im thinking painting the amp black (dark gray) so they match color with the black speakers too and I think they are going to look good.. or maybe not because Im a fan to keeps things original..aa decisions!

If you try to paint that amp I'm going to appear at your home and steal it to protect it before you notice 

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Super CD Rom2 crackling noise]

Definitely no idea... sadly I fixed only two of them and their issue was mostly the low audio level at start.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: AMP-30 restoration]

Nice unit! I'd like to get one of those some day too...
I'd say that 3d print is probably the way to go for the dials... I don't think there are going to be replacements ever hahaha

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: My Modded PC Engine is no longer powering on.]

Because i prefer the colour Red and like to have RGB out internally. I love the design of the PCE, I'm allergic to Composite video as well. Also I'm little crazy. I try to install as many mods into my systems as possible and with this PC Engine, the excess amount of old dried flux on this board made me want to switch to a new board.

Definitely too many wrong things to even continue to hijack the thread...
I'm sorry but I can't/won't help with that "repair".

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PC Engine DUO-R laser motor not working]

I'm glad it worked!

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: My Modded PC Engine is no longer powering on.]

Sorry for hijacking this thread but I need to ask a thing that I've never understood...
Why modding the PCE if you can take RGB out from the back connector?
Wait a second... that's not even an original PCE board... why that switch from one to another, AND then modding it up?

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Super CD Rom2 crackling noise]

From my experience, cleaning the area surrounding the power area helps with the issue of not having sound for the first seconds/minutes of booting up, because of a trace that goes all the way from there to the sound daughterboard, middle pin of the seven that there are if I'm not mistaken, but I don't know if it's the same issue as you have.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PC Engine DUO-R laser motor not working]

Yeah me neither, thats why I was asking, maybe it was something else..

But now Im sure its the motor failing because I change all the entire pickup with one from a DUO that is working perfect. And it worked perfect in the DUO-R too, so yeah definitely is a bad motor..

Now I need to know where I can get that part, in the motor there is only this text "RD-050Y" I dont know if this is the model, but I didnt find anything..

Does someone knows where I can find that motor or an equivalent? or I have to buy the entire pickup just for that motor?

Or maybe thats the better solution because at this point I dont know if the laser is working fine anyway..

Thanks..

https://www.reddit.com/r/TurboGrafx/comments/ko0ux9/anyone_know_where_i_can_buy_a_motor_for_the_pc/

It seems someone had the same issue 4 years ago...

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PC Engine DUO-R laser motor not working]

Hi there!
I've never seen a motor failing in any console, but definitely it's a thing that exists, hence, can fail xD
If you applied some voltage to it and it didn't move (and you applied some to the other motor and it did moved just to check your power bench), it's either that you put a low voltage (I don't know the specs of it), or it's definitely dead and it's time to replace it.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Patched PC Engine CD BIOS files by Elmer for use in the Turbo Everdrive?]

Oh, Okay, But would I still hear the CD music made with real instruments as well as the human voices in the CD cutscenes or would it not work o an Express?  I've heard you can still play the CD games but with no audio other than the TG16 PCM beeps and boops like in HUcard games.

Oh, no idea on a Express/GT... based on the idea that you should be able to do it only with a pcengine+turboeverdrive without any other addon, you should be able to do the same in them, but I don't know if there's any hardware limitation to that cd audio line in there (maybe it's cut, maybe not...).

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: IFU Backup Memory corrupted?]

It's already answered, but I wanted to add too that in my experience that's because of a VRAM IC, at least everytime I get that in any other console it's 99% related to some VRAM failing, but sadly I never changed one in an IFU.
Good luck!

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Patched PC Engine CD BIOS files by Elmer for use in the Turbo Everdrive?]

So, If I used the TED Pro on an Express I would get stereo HUcard sound through the Headphone port, but no CDDA out of either the speaker or the Headphone port because the CDDA doesn't come off the card port because of the pinout?  Thanks.

I'm not too sure, but I guess it's a false stereo at best, no? Given that there's only one pin for audio in the HuCard

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Patched PC Engine CD BIOS files by Elmer for use in the Turbo Everdrive?]

I am a classic game and system collector myself,  I don't have many CIB units but I have about 40 retro consoles to my name.  Other than Magical Chase (Which I stupidly sold back in 2015 to help pay for a car) I have almost the entire US TG16 TurboChip collection, sans sports and some racing games.
With that said, when it comes to the use of Flashcarts or optical drive emulators like TED Pro/Mega SD/RHEA or the like, I would say that it is entirely fair and reasonable that use of said devices should not be held against said gamers.  The reason for this is that  CD hardware especially is much rarer and more prone to failure that the operation of solid state software/hardware.  A SNES/Genesis/TG16 will last far longer and is much cheaper and easier to come by than any kind of CD add-on to said consoles (if any). 
Gamers who are incredulous to the use of TED Pro-like products claiming them as emulator-wannabes, for lack of a better term, are simply misunderstanding the fundamental purpose of said devices. TED Pros may be expensive and they may defeat getting Johnny Turbo's own arcade feel while playing, but I myself have had to get my TurboGrafx CD and TurboDuo hardware expensively repaired multiple times in the last decade or so, sending my treasured consoles across international borders and paying out the nose because of rare and highly sought-after services and exchange rate woes to boot.
FPGA carts can offer the average gamer of meager means a firm and all-encompassing singular purchase entry into the world of classic gaming without having to break the bank with every extra hardware and software purchase.   In-game reset, cheat functions, save states and game selection menus right at hand are also a convenience that cannot be ignored.
This fact alone makes FPGA products a must-have for any gamer. 
On the subject of being redundant on the emulator/authentic hardware side, I personally would say that while FPGAs are not a make-or-break, the use of bluetooth or 2.4ghz wireless adapters for newer controllers to be used on classic systems is a complete no-go.  I say this because in my humble opinion, the ARCADE FEEL begins and ends with how you directly interact with the game itself through the controller.  You could have an authentic PC engine IFU with CD-ROMROM unit and PC Engine with an Arcade Card Pro with an original game disc playing, but if you use Humble Bazooka's Bluetooth PCE adapter then you are defeating the purpose of hardware gaming.  That in my opinion turns the console into an emulator.
There is input lag and you don't get the true feel of playing he game when you use an 8BITDO or a PS4 controller on your TG16 or PCE. That is antithetical to retro-gaming.
Just my long-winded response, no hard-feelings intended, haha.
Back on topic, Do you know if you would get CDDA out of the Express when using a TED Pro?  Thanks.

Thanks for your opinion on the topic!
I never got to talk with anyone that put weight into using the original controllers, and I think it's a nice point to think about.
Regarding the FPGA, I can get the problem that arises with the load of CD games, but I'd prefer to use an ODE instead of a FPGA for that reason, since the FPGA is "emulating" the entire system, and an ODE is just "translating" CD calls for the original hardware.
But what I don't like are the add-ons as you said (cheats, save states...). An in-game reset is okay, but I never used the rest since I consider they're against the meant way of playing a game.
Anyway, thanks for your opinion! I'll go out now to have lunch, it's already late

Oh, and regarding the audio in the TED Pro, the pinout of a HuCard only has one pin for audio, that's why stereo is lost.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Patched PC Engine CD BIOS files by Elmer for use in the Turbo Everdrive?]

This would be another topic but... I've been talking with a friend regarding the TurboEverdrive Pro, and I don't understand at all why would anyone emulate a cdrom game on the FPGA but still use a real PCE (or PCE derivates).
If in the end you're just emulating, what's the difference of just using an emulator on a computer? It'll work even better since there's more development into it... PCE hardware it's only redirecting audio and video and controllers in and out.
I guess it's because it's using a FPGA, hence, hardware emulation instead of software emulation? But why use only real hardware on half of the things? If someone cares about real hardware just burn a CD and use the CDROM2, and if not, just use a Mister or an emulator, but not halfway! hahaha
Don't want to start a flame war Just wanted to thrown in here my opinion.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Patched PC Engine CD BIOS files by Elmer for use in the Turbo Everdrive?]

There were other far more interesting ideas for custom/hacked system ROM firmware, like @dshadoff's "PC Engine System Card Translation Font Extension" which implements easy 8x12 English/ASCII font support. But the problem is if you tie your localization patch to depend on this, you'll need users to own a Turbo Everdrive in order to play it. Still, it's a more interesting/useful idea than what elmer did.

https://github.com/dshadoff/SYSCARD_Translatefont

In this modification, the goal was to implement an extension which would cause
the least amount of disruption to the calling function, and yet satisfy the
translator's other requirements:
- use of ASCII for 1-byte character text
- font is included in the system card, not the game
- as little as possible adjustment to the print function

3) Set $FF in ZP to one of:
   0 = 16x16 font (SJIS only)
   1 = 12x12 font (SJIS only)
   2 =  8x16 font (ASCII only)  (**NEW**)
   3 =  8x12 font (ASCII only)  (**NEW**)

Many more PCECD RPG games could be localized without someone as talented as Supper[tails] or EsperKnight, but yeah, there's a catch: if you want to play it on real NEC hardware you'd need a Turbo Everdrive booted with this system firmware. I'm not a fan of creating more hardware dependencies, but I am a fan of seeing more localization projects so if that helps someone, I guess so be it.

There's actually ONE example that made use of it for the Magic and Magic localization, so you can already test it out:

Loading: twitter.com/NightWolve75/status/1725600399116095680

Whoa I didn't know at all that was a thing I'm not a fan either of adding a hardware dependency when it didn't exist previously, as for example having to use the 8MB memory for the Ziria patch when the original one doesn't need it (even if that means longer loading waits), but I'd rather use that than not being able to play it at all

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Patched PC Engine CD BIOS files by Elmer for use in the Turbo Everdrive?]

Sadly I didn't try it since I don't have a Turbo Everdrive v2...
But I guess just by downloading the latest release and following the typical steps as extracting the contents on the microSD should work
Tell us when you try it!

P.S.: If you're interested, here are all differences between different system cards --> https://tcrf.net/TurboGrafx-CD_System_Card

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Patched PC Engine CD BIOS files by Elmer for use in the Turbo Everdrive?]

First time I read about it I guess only affects when using it on a Duo since internally it has the BIOS 3.0 too with the 8MB on it? I guess that would include the Super CD-ROM2 too?
Anyway, I guess the alternative OS you want is TEOS (maybe Krikzz already patched his, but no idea): https://github.com/jbrandwood/teos

It avoids the potentially damaging memory bus-fighting that occurs with Krikzz's OS when running the PC Engine (or TurboGrafx) Super System Card HuCARD on the Turbo Everdrive.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Patched PC Engine CD BIOS files by Elmer for use in the Turbo Everdrive?]

What's this conflict you refer to? Haven't heard about it

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: What Turbo game are you currently playing?]

I was actually looking forward to break in my new Analogue Turbo Duo clone using Supper's localization patch for Ziria, but it's on the backburner after being very disillusioned with the buggy state of the firmware/product... Hopefully the jailbreak redeems it.

Incidentally, Analogue released a new firmware v1.2 [2024-03-15] today actually. But this presents a hard choice to the user: get the bug fixes, but go back to being a normal Duo again, so no CD/ROM image support from the SD card, resume using CD-Rs for localizations... Just gotta wait some more until the jailbreak firmware is synced.
https://www.analogue.co/support/duo

If an updated/synced JailBreak is published soon, this is the link to keep watch of:
https://github.com/analoguejb/Analogue-Duo-JB

I'm on the side of the real hardware so no savestates, no load isos, yes to loading times... hahaha the full old experience.
Regarding the game it wasn't a bad one having in mind that it was the beginning of the JRPG, but definitely had some weird random things added onto it that I don't even know how to react to them xD You'll tell me when you play it!

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: REPAIR GUIDE - PCE|TurboDuo/R/RX: CD Laser Swap & Adjustment Guide]

Hi.
I know this post is very old, but I begin to Lost my mind and I think you are my last chance.

I bought long time ago a Duo Whitout caps and with caps new to install.

Board was really bad, a lot of pads missing, no volume control, no switch of CD cover open and close...
With a lot of time and patience I have get to star system card 3, repair volume and start games en hucards.
My final problema is CDs doesn't spin...I have try to configure all pots and I have revised all caps several times but always the same result:
-lens comes to the center
-lens go up and down 3 or 4 times.
-message of "revise CD"...
CD never spin.
I am desperate, long time spends and I begin to think I cant repair...
Someone can give some advice?
If I watch lens, I can see the red light of laser without CD.
Motor works, if I connect 3V to the motor, motor spins.
Thanks a lot.

Since you're in Spain, [...]

If you still think you can fix it yourself, he may be able to guide you, give you the right tips. But given your language barrier and his sparse communication style, it'll be tough.

Hi there! I'm from Spain too I never checked a Duo per-se but I have my hobbyist electronics workshop where I (try to) fix consoles and everything that falls into my hands, so depending of your location you can come or send it to me if you're willing to do so.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: PC Engine Pixelization]

Someday I'll play Cotton on the X68000... And Xanadu on PC-88 (at least that one's cheaper )
Didn't know Sol Moonarge, though

[Off-Topic / Re: Random Pictures Thread]

Made me laugh. I didn't get the joke at first, other than Gandalf the Grey likes Asian ladies ? Or watch this magic trick as he empties out an ATM to spend on hookers ?? 

I would say it's an AI generated image, or at least it looks a lot like one, no?

[Localizations, Games, Apps, Docs / Re: (Homebrew/NSFW 18+) Kidnapped Innocence]

Definitely having more homebrew into the PC-FX is nice! I'm not into +18 games but I guess I'll have to try anyway

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: What Turbo game are you currently playing?]

I'm with Tengai Makyou, using v1.2 translation now that I know it exists... Before that I abandoned the game a week before because of the v1.0 issues with loading from real hardware 

So far I like the game, but I hate being forced to go back to last inn each time a companion faints, I think it happened to me three times already to beat a boss with a companion fainted, then moved to the last inn, and having to go to the boss place again (and some times to beat it again...  ).