Modding Megadrive 2 Questions

Hi all. Posting on behalf of a fellow poster from another forum I use. I suggested he try here to find an answer to his query, but despite signing up to Sega 16 he is unable to create a new thread until he has made a number of posts. Hope I am not contravening T&Cs by doing this, but his query is as follows:


Menfa said:
27-03-2017 10:53 AM
Modding Megadrive Model 2 queries
Hello!

I live in Australia, I have a PAL VA1.X Megadrive Model 2 (I don't remember exactly which variant) and I have done a region mod and modified the cartridge slot so that I can insert Japanese Imports. Some of these questions might seem basic/easy, but I've made a lot of weird mistakes in the past so I want to be sure.

I followed this tutorial to mod my MD thus far, however as of writing this assemblergames is offline (http://assemblergames.com/l/threads/...tch-mod.54571/) I did find a version on the wayback machine, but its missing the pictures (https://web.archive.org/web/20160822...itch-mod.54571)

The problem I have now noticed with the mod is that when the console is in 60Hz mode the screen is black and white and sometimes doesn't display the image correctly. From what I've read this can be fixed by one of 3 ways, use a SCART cable and everything's all good, but I can't find any SCART compatible TVs/Monitors. Use a 32X with its video codec, but I've heard thats got its own problems. And lastly do an extra mod on the system to replicate the NTSC video codec with an ocillator cyrstal or by "dividing" the MD's clock signal by 12 giving 4.433583MHz (http://canthack.org/2014/04/a-new-mo...ur-correction/). This divider method might work too since its the only colour correction mod I'm 100% sure was done on a model 2. After that I'd just have to make sure I solder the correct spots since the pictures are blurry. The only thing I am unsure with on that mod is that he never says which variant model 2 he uses and that info on the main board is covered with black tape. Would this mod work for any MD model 2 or only a specific kind?

After that I want to do a "Mega Amp" mod to give my MD the same quality sound as the model 1's. Even though this forum post I found is for the Genesis, I think would work for the MD (http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthr...r-Sega-Genesis), but for some reason the "Install pictures" download doesn't actually contain pictures...? (Thats odd). Is there a proper tutorial for installing a Mega Amp? I might build my own board since I can probably make it for cheaper than 30USD (Which is about 40AUD), anyone know if there are schematics for the different MD variants somewhere? If not then I guess I'll just buy one instead.

One last thing, would these region and sound mods or really any other MD mod work on any PAL VA1.X MD or even all variants of the model 2?

Thanks in advance!
Last edited by Menfa; 27-03-2017 at 12:00 PM.

Well hopefully he should be able to respond to this thread now, so if anyone can assist then I am sure he would be grateful.

I imagine the video out is composite? it may be worth talking to Helder on these boards; he has some component cables that may solve the issue. I'm not 100% sure though...