TG-16 CD base?

[Tupin]

Am I correct in thinking that the base plugs into the expansion port, and there is another port on the base where the CD drive slides in?

Can I take advantage of the AV and save capabilities of the base without a CD add-on? Could I use a Japanese CD drive?

[hoobs88]

The docking station without the CD add on can be used like a Turbo Booster so You can take advantage of the AV capabilities with it but I think the Save function might be related to the CD add on. The US and Japanese CD drives are interchangeable (just a matter of color preference although the Japanese CD drives seem more available).

[Arkhan Asylum]

the base without the CD-Thing added in, will work with save and stuff


If I recall correctly that is.....


If noone fills us in for sure, I'll confirm it at home.  I have a Neutopia II save on there that I swear loaded without the CD ROM attached

[Tupin]

What about the power supply for it? Can I just use a normal TG-16 power supply?

[Joe Redifer]

No, you will need the CD power supply.  You can, however, use the TG-16 power supply to run the CD player itself in "portable" mode to listen to CDs when it is not attached to the base and TG-16.

[Tupin]

And what kind of adapter is needed?

[Arkhan Asylum]

11v, 1.53A

center negative!

[Nazi NecroPhile]

the base without the CD-Thing added in, will work with save and stuff


If I recall correctly that is.....


If noone fills us in for sure, I'll confirm it at home.  I have a Neutopia II save on there that I swear loaded without the CD ROM attached

You are correct.

[OldRover]

Actually, the machine shouldn't even power on if the CDROM drive isn't installed. You can modify the deck to avoid that though.

[Arkhan Asylum]

Actually, the machine shouldn't even power on if the CDROM drive isn't installed. You can modify the deck to avoid that though.

Interesting!  I just went and tested that.

It indeed doesnt work if you unlock the CD ROM and pull it out

HOWEVER!

if you just spin the little lock dial back to locked-mode, after taking the CDROM out...

it works

neat

[OldRover]

It's not supposed to lock unless the drive is physically present. The mechanism for that is flaky though, so it tends to fail a lot. That mechanism contains a switch that is wired to the daughterboard. If you snip the two wires and short them from the daughterboard, you can fool the machine into thinking that the drive is always present and locked-in. This is good for reading signals from the base unit, if you're interested in deciphering out NEC's proprietary SCSI scheme.

[Arkhan Asylum]

sweet! im glad I have a flakey mechanism

I mean, it IS pretty lurpy.   The dial is all flimsy and jiggly lol.    WOO

[RoyVegas]

I just tested both of my Turbo CDs and both of them work without the CD system attached.  If you just take off the CD system and turn the knob like it's locking the CD system in (even though it's not there) they work perfectly.  Both of my systems are in good shape and haven't been abused sooooo, anyone else care to check theirs for more verification?

[OldRover]

I don't have one here right now so I can't test it, but I'm 99% sure that the lock is only supposed to work if the drive is present. If I remember correctly, there is another mechanical part that enables the locking dial. I could be wrong on that part though, as like I said, I don't have one to test it out with. Can anyone else confirm or deny this?

[Arkhan Asylum]

well we are 3 for 3 on being able to spin the dial and play with out the CD-ROM unit, lol

[Joe Redifer]

I guess my unit has been "flaky" from day one.  I have never, ever seen one that didn't work this way.  My guess is that it has no clue if the CD-ROM drive is present or not until you try to press RUN while a System Card is loaded.

[esteban]

Can anyone else confirm or deny this?

I can confirm that I have listened to several audio CD's on a detached CD-ROM drive, but here's the kicker: I've done it without a power source! No AC adapter, no jerry-rigged battery packs... nothing.

Personally, I believe that NEC's engineers devised a method for converting the uplifting music of Yanni into pure energy.