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NEC PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 Games/Consoles => Console Repair/Mod Center => Topic started by: mickcris on 10/22/2016, 01:59 AM

Title: game tech's duo region mod board
Post by: mickcris on 10/22/2016, 01:59 AM
Had not seen any other posts about this particular pcb. I ordered a couple a while back, as I liked the design, and got around to trying one out the other day.

I would say its the cleanest looking region mod you can do on a duo.  It was fairly easy to install as everything lines up perfectly.  Where the hucard pins solder to the region board, you will want to use a liberal amount of extra flux or you will probably bridge some of the pins together.

(https://i.imgur.com/1s0YiIJl.jpg)
https://imgur.com/a/rpniX

Overall I like it, but I can build basically the same circuit with the larger package IC and wires for $1. So not sure, for me at least, paying 20x the cost is worth it.  But if you want a really clean install, I would recommend this board.  $20 is about the same price as the one sold by turbokon, so its not expensive compared to the only other pre built mod that I know of.
https://www.game-tech.us/product/turbo-duo-pc-engine-region-mod-kit/
Title: Re: game tech's duo region mod board
Post by: Keith Courage on 10/22/2016, 02:12 AM
Hmmm all smd caps? So I take it this is your sale http://www.ebay.com/itm/PC-Engine-Duo-Recapped-RGB-Recalibrated-CD-Rom-TurboDuo-Duo-R-Duo-RX-/162248240633?hash=item25c6bfadf9:g:abYAAOSw44BYCZSk ? Hah

All joking aside that's an interesting board and very clean looking. Not worth it for me either due to the cost.
Title: Re: game tech's duo region mod board
Post by: mickcris on 10/22/2016, 02:19 AM
Quote from: Keith Courage on 10/22/2016, 02:12 AMHmmm all smd caps? So I take it this is your sale http://www.ebay.com/itm/PC-Engine-Duo-Recapped-RGB-Recalibrated-CD-Rom-TurboDuo-Duo-R-Duo-RX-/162248240633?hash=item25c6bfadf9:g:abYAAOSw44BYCZSk ? Hah

All joking aside that's an interesting board and very clean looking. Not worth it for me either due to the cost.
Not me, that's MNKyDeth I think.  That is my $1 region board and amp in that console though. :)

this is my ebay page:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/mickcris/m.html
Title: Re: game tech's duo region mod board
Post by: MNKyDeth on 10/22/2016, 08:32 AM
Yes, retro_tduo is me.

That RGB amp is the last one I have with the tall smd caps. Rest of my systems will have the tantalum lower profile. Cheap region mods that work with TED's is all I really care about. I think I have tested most of the designs out there except  this one from Game-Tech.
Title: Re: game tech's duo region mod board
Post by: YoshiKnuckles on 10/22/2016, 09:53 AM
I just ordered one of these the other day for a friend's PCE Duo.

He bought a "working" one on ebay and sent it to me for recap + RGB + Region mod.

Should be interesting. I'll be using the same style SMD caps as I'm taking out, so that should be fun.

As for the RGB mod, I'm using the amp available from Console5, and running that to one of the custom 3D printed SNES style A/V jacks I've used for NESRGB installs. A bit weird, but that's what my friend requested. Probably because then he doesn't have to buy another set of cables.

Will also be doing viletim's RGB jailbars fix to the console.

Sorry if that got a bit off topic.
Title: Re: game tech's duo region mod board
Post by: mickcris on 10/22/2016, 11:27 AM
Quote from: YoshiKnuckles on 10/22/2016, 09:53 AMI just ordered one of these the other day for a friend's PCE Duo.

He bought a "working" one on ebay and sent it to me for recap + RGB + Region mod.

Should be interesting. I'll be using the same style SMD caps as I'm taking out, so that should be fun.

As for the RGB mod, I'm using the amp available from Console5, and running that to one of the custom 3D printed SNES style A/V jacks I've used for NESRGB installs. A bit weird, but that's what my friend requested. Probably because then he doesn't have to buy another set of cables.

Will also be doing viletim's RGB jailbars fix to the console.

Sorry if that got a bit off topic.
that amp is my pcb.  i was thinking he was going to sell it for cheaper as its a diy but i dont really think its that great of a deal since its $12 + shipping where i sell a fully assembled one (with more expensive tantilum caps instead of electrolytic) for $20 shipped.

I would never ruin the looks of the conosle by putting a nintendo multi out on there.  doesn't really make much sense since an pce rgb cable costs the same or less than the 3d printed port and also going to be alot more time consuming to install than just replacing the 5 pin din with an 8 pin.  also can really easily mess up making the hole for it, but if thats what they want I guess you gotta do it.  you probably want to leave the output caps off the rgb pcb since they are already in a super nintendo cable.
Title: Re: game tech's duo region mod board
Post by: YoshiKnuckles on 10/22/2016, 12:49 PM
Quote from: mickcris on 10/22/2016, 11:27 AM
Quote from: YoshiKnuckles on 10/22/2016, 09:53 AMI just ordered one of these the other day for a friend's PCE Duo.

He bought a "working" one on ebay and sent it to me for recap + RGB + Region mod.

Should be interesting. I'll be using the same style SMD caps as I'm taking out, so that should be fun.

As for the RGB mod, I'm using the amp available from Console5, and running that to one of the custom 3D printed SNES style A/V jacks I've used for NESRGB installs. A bit weird, but that's what my friend requested. Probably because then he doesn't have to buy another set of cables.

Will also be doing viletim's RGB jailbars fix to the console.

Sorry if that got a bit off topic.
that amp is my pcb.  i was thinking he was going to sell it for cheaper as its a diy but i dont really think its that great of a deal since its $12 + shipping where i sell a fully assembled one (with more expensive tantilum caps instead of electrolytic) for $20 shipped.

I would never ruin the looks of the conosle by putting a nintendo multi out on there.  doesn't really make much sense since an pce rgb cable costs the same or less than the 3d printed port and also going to be alot more time consuming to install than just replacing the 5 pin din with an 8 pin.  also can really easily mess up making the hole for it, but if thats what they want I guess you gotta do it.  you probably want to leave the output caps off the rgb pcb since they are already in a super nintendo cable.
I'll see if he rather go the 8 pin din route. Not too late to change it up. I can always save the Nintendo A/V port for a NES RGB frontloader. Will save me a lot of hassle anyway.

Is there a place to get info on how to install the 8 pin DIN port into the console? I can probably talk him into doing that.

Also a good place to source them? I run RGB with C-sync usually.
Title: Re: game tech's duo region mod board
Post by: mickcris on 10/22/2016, 01:15 PM
if you are doing c-sync then you would need to add a switch for composite or c-sync.  unless he really needs csync for his monitor though its not really necessary.

its easy to do, just remove the 5 pin din and put an 8 pin din in its place.  have to cut the extra pins first unless the seller already did it and also you can swap the ground pins with the new one.
http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/core-grafx-rgb-mod/

I have some of them.  the come included with the kit i sell, but can get you one if needed.  or you can order them from china on ebay.
https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=18845.0

this is what it looks like from the back and you cant really tell the difference from the front.  the orignal av cable also still works.
(https://i.imgur.com/JlFxIzul.jpg)
Title: Re: game tech's duo region mod board
Post by: YoshiKnuckles on 10/22/2016, 01:31 PM
Or I could just slap a sync stripper in a scart cable. =)

How much for the cable w/ Sync stripper and the Jack? Seems like a much better route than the SNES port.
Title: Re: game tech's duo region mod board
Post by: mickcris on 10/22/2016, 01:38 PM
sync strip cable and jack is $30 shipped and the normal scart cable and jack is $20 shipped.
Title: Re: game tech's duo region mod board
Post by: YoshiKnuckles on 10/22/2016, 02:09 PM
Yeah, I'll take one of the Sync strip cable and jack combos for $30.

Will be next week before I can afford it though. Send me a PM.
Title: Re: game tech's duo region mod board
Post by: YoshiKnuckles on 10/22/2016, 03:49 PM
I should probably also ask: Is there a reason for removing the coils near the AV jack?
Title: Re: game tech's duo region mod board
Post by: mickcris on 10/22/2016, 04:08 PM
Quote from: YoshiKnuckles on 10/22/2016, 03:49 PMI should probably also ask: Is there a reason for removing the coils near the AV jack?
They aren't really needed.  Just to get rid of any possible interference from them.  I don't remove them all the time, just did that time.
Title: Re: game tech's duo region mod board
Post by: YoshiKnuckles on 10/22/2016, 04:52 PM
Interesting. I'll have to keep that in mind.
Title: Re: game tech's duo region mod board
Post by: MNKyDeth on 10/22/2016, 06:14 PM
There was a thread on the boards here someplace where thesteve explained that they are not needed.

They ground the two audio and video signals to ground and introduce noise to the audio and video because the signals are getting mixed to ground.

They were removed in the pce duo-r and rx. He pointed out.

mickcris have you noticed any issues with this mod chip with the Ted at all?