Topics

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Looking for someone to do some repairs and mods]

I'm hoping someone experienced with repairs and mods might be able to take on some repairs and mods I'd like to have done to my systems. I have my original TG16 and TGCD that I got for Christmas in 1989 and 1990, and everything has worked well up until about 2 years ago when the CDROM stopped spinning. I knew the gears were going out due to the noises that it would make when accessing the disc when the laser had to move (plastic clicking and grinding noises). I have a good level of skill with electronics repair, I just don't have the time to actually get the repairs done.

Right now I think that the repairs I need (or might be a good idea to do) are:

• TGCD gear replacement (I have the parts to do the replacement)
• TGCD resistor replacement for loading "whirring" noise that comes through the TV speakers. I believe this is a surface mount resistor that was prone to getting cracked during assembly mentioned in posts here a while back. Thought this was normal until a friend bought a TGCD from Craigslist a few years ago and it was silent.
• TGCD cap replacement (for good measure)
• TG Express cap replacement. Currently only getting white screen when turning on. Previously had really low sound as well.

Beyond the repairs, there are some mods I'd like done as well, if anyone is doing these currently:

• TG16 region mod
• TGCD dock component video mod. Basically looking to take advantage of the better RGB signals coming directly from the chip, but would prefer to gave it in the dock rather than the system itself
• TG Express screen replacement with larger screen

If anyone is currently doing these repairs and mods, please let me know. Thanks!

[Buy/Sell/Trade / WTB: Fighting Street Manual, Hit the Ice Manual]

I'm missing a couple of manuals for games in my collection and would like to see if anyone has any spares laying around that they could part with.

Everything else is complete, but need the manuals for

Fighting Street
Hit the Ice

PM me and let me know if you have some with prices. Thanks!

[Console Repair/Mod Center / TG CD won't spin]

So, my TG CD has been sitting dormant for a while, in it's hard case. I've now got a dedicated retro gaming area, and hooked it up this morning before work and while everything seems normal, powers on, etc. the CD won't spin.

I didn't have time to open it up and take a look, but what types of issues have others run into that cause this behavior? I'd like to see if I can get an idea of what I'm looking for before I go monkeying around.

Last thing I played was to test Mysterious Song and that worked normally. Since that time the system has been sitting in the hard case for about a year or so not really doing anything.

[General Gaming / Retron 3 mods]

So, not sure this topic will make sense, but I trust that the modders in the PCEFX forums are some of the most knowledgeable out there.

I recently got a Retron 3. I chose this one over the Retron 5 mainly because I wanted to use it, along with my TG16 with a sweet Commodore 1701 monitor that I have. The screen is small, but I have a good space now in my guest room to put my retro stuff and it just seems fitting to play these games on a CRT type screen.

What I'm wondering however is if there are mods that can be done to the Retron 3 that can make it better. I know that clone hardware will never be better than original (and I'll probably get original consoles eventually, but my primary concern is collecting TG16 stuff, not the others).

Basically what I've heard is that there are issues with some sound reproduction for the SNES and Genesis, and some incompatibility issues with some games for all 3 slots. I'm just curious if anyone has taken the time to mod one of these and what can be done to get the best quality possible out of them.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Emulator or ROM issue?]

So I've been using HuGo on the PSP to play some games in the car when I'm carpooling. I've played a few and generally they run well, but Neutopia 2 is basically unplayable. You walk soooooooooo slow that it takes forever just to transition from one screen to another.

I don't think that this is normal, but I don't have the HuCard to compare on actual hardware. Has anyone else seen this type of behavior?

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Soldering iron/station]

Can anyone that does mods frequently recommend a good soldering iron or station? I don't have my station any more, and just based on of the needs for Turbo repair and mods I'd like to see what people are using these days.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / TG-CD "whirring" and "buzzing" when loading]

So I asked this inside another thread quite a while back, and want to revive the question. My TG-CD makes a "whirring" and "buzzing" noise when loading games that is transferred through the speakers of my sound system. Over the years it's gotten louder, and I've always wondered what caused it, but also thought that maybe it was somewhat normal.

A friend of mine just got a system and TG-CD from Craigslist and he says his doesn't do that, and since mine is the only one he'd ever seen, found it odd that his didn't do the same, and said it sort of felt missing LOL.

I've thought in the past that maybe it's interference from the power supply, or something similar, but I'm not sure. It's not really noticeable (though you can faintly hear the drive "working" through my speakers) unless games are loading, and then it's pretty loud.

Any ideas of what might cause something like that?

[Buy/Sell/Trade / WTB Manuals, cases, sleeves]

So I was organizing my Turbo stuff the other day, and can't seem to find the manual to Falcon (which I KNOW I had  ), and I am missing the manual to Fighting Street.

I'd like to buy replacements for these, and also a few (4 maybe?) sleeves and any random HuCard cases that people have (not Keith Courage, I want the clip). The cases don't need the front plastic, and can really be in just about any condition label wise, as I am going to use my awesome Sparky stickers to make cases for a few things.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Suggestions wanted on mod]

I posted this in another thread, but figured I'd give it it's own in case it's getting skimmed by, and in the interest of not toally hijacking a different thread 


I really think that I want to RGB mod my TG-CD base.

I haven't cracked the case yet, but it seems like it would be pretty easy to tap the CD base side of the expansion bus, run it to an amp and get RGB out. However, the thing that I'm struggling with a bit, even after reading a ton of RGB posts here and around the net is what to do for a port. I'd like to make the mod look at professional as possible, and was thinking about several options:

1. Component jacks - I think that this would be nice to just be able to plug component cables directly into my CD base, but I'd need a board like the JROK (sp?) inline to convert the RGB signal, correct?

2.DIN8 - I could then use a DIN to SCART and then a SCART to HDMI or Component converter, correct?

3. Other - ???

Also, I'm pretty sure that since the CD base has RCA for sound and composite video already, those would still be useable, so I'd really only need to tap the RGB signal and get it to the connector of my choosing?


Any suggestions on how some of you might tackle this?

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Seeking TurboPad(s)]

One of my friends is surprising another of our friends with a TG16 for Christmas (used to have one when we were kids and would be stoked to collect and play again). We can't find any TurboPads locally and wanted to see if anyone here had extras in decent shape they'd be willing to part with before we turn to ebay.

Turbo Stick or Pad works. Thanks!

[Console Repair/Mod Center / S-Video or RGB-Component mod on TGCD?]

Is anyone aware of someone that can/will do one of these mods on a TG16 with the TGCD attachment? I've been thinking more and more about going S-Video or RGB-Component for my system, but after much thought (and the fact that I am very out of practice, with no spare systems) I don't want to attempt one of these myself.

Is anyone currently doing these mods?

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Pictures of RGB Modded TG16?]

This may seem like a silly question, but does anyone have pictures of a modded TG16/CD for RGB?

I really would like to mod mine to do something like SCART to Component (or something), but having a hard time fully understanding once you make the mod, build the amps and such, how does that get to the cable to go to the TV? Like I said it may seem like a silly or stupid question, but I'd like to be able to visualize more of the end result before I just dive in.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Composite Video to HDMI Converters]

Does anyone know if these work very well? Having an HDTV, Turbo games just don't seem to live up to their former glory when it comes to color and clarity.

It seems like from the information that I have read that these converters are able to upscale the video a bit, improve the color and the overall look of the pixels, and then if you put the TV into 4:3 mode it should look very similar to what the games would look like on an SDTV.

http://www.hdtvsupply.com/composite-video-to-hdmi-scaler.html

[Buy/Sell/Trade / HuCard Cases, sleeves and manuals]

Does anyone have for sale spare HuCard cases, sleeves and manuals? I'm missing a few and would like to get some replacements, or just cases in general for a couple of games:

Air Zonk - Sleeve and Case (I know it didn't come with one, would probably buy the case stickers available here)
Victory Run - Sleeve and Case
Falcon - Sleeve, Case and Manual
R-Type - Manual
Fighting Street - Manual
Parasol Stars - Manual
Keith Courage - Sleeve
CD System Card 2.0 - Sleeve and Case (Have a 3.0 and Arcade Card, so not super important)

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Turbo Pad Repair Cables]

I know TZD went out of business a while back, but wonder if anyone knows where I might be able to get 2 repair cables for 2 Turbo Pads I have. I used their cables to mod 2 Avenue Pad 6's back in the day (probably about 8 years ago).

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Turbo Express Repair and TG CD question]

So I've been collecting TG16 stuff since the system came out and have a decent collection (though not nearly complete). I recently came into possession of a Turbo Express which was very neglected and dirty, it also had VERY weak sound. I took it apart, and cleaned the case, but when I put it back together now the buttons don't work if I remember correctly (I'll need to dig it out when I get home and make sure). I've taken countless game systems apart, done repairs to TG-16 systems in the past, modded controllers, etc, but don't have the time, equipment or patience any more to figure out what is messed up in this system. How much would someone charge to perhaps do a repair/cap replacement on my Express?

Also, something I have noticed over the years with my TG-CD. When the games are loading, you get the sound of the CD drive loading and sort of a whirring sound through my sound system. This seems to have gotten worse over the years and is now every loud. Anyone have any idea what might be causing that?