Regionmodding a genesis 2

[Skoldis]

Soo i was going to region mod my genesis 2 when i realized that there isnt any guides anywhere for this particuar board. It's a "PC BD MD2 VA2 USA"

I recently modded a european mega drive 2 without any problems, but they do not look the same. So i wonder, Where am i supposed to solder?

Here is a pic of the board:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2htd4pslb3..._0608.JPG?dl=0

Hope anyone can help :P

[cleeg]

As I understand it, any PAL machine is the same only with the traces to cut and the points to solder in different locations. The same principles apply across all board types regardless of locations. I have modded 2 MD model ones (PAL) and one NTSC Nomad. The principles were the same, though the points to cut for an NTSC model differed slightly (not sure off the top of my head exactly).

If you look for the correct jumper pairs and proceed as if it were a model one you should be OK. There are far more expert members in this area than me I must say though.

Check out this thread I started based on my Nomad butchery...

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthr...thread-(sorry)

You should get all you need from here.

[Skoldis]

Ok, so lets see if understand this correctly. Is the jp the same regardless of the circuitboard?

[Xalphenos]

Skoldis take a look at this thread. http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthr...egion-mod-help

[omp]

Cleeg is 100% correct. An oddity that was found out was model 1 VA7s (with a particular "main"ic) don't like to be switched to 50hz, doesn't bother you, just a bit of jolly interesting.

I have modded a few va2.3 Genesis'ssss (similar to a va2) to suit my Aussie pal games and they are fine.

[cleeg]

I should have made it clearer in my earlier post, all the wisdom I espoused came from OMP. I only know it after a massive PM mithering campaign directed at him.

[Skoldis]

Thanks for the help! I successfully made the mod with 2 switches.
Now theres another problem though. when playing palgames it's in black & white.
I am using it on a paltv, i'm from sweden so all my games are in pal. I am not using
the regular antenna cable but an rgb cable that goes in the same slot.

edit: what i mean is that when i set it to 50hz the games is in black & white

[Ace]

You're getting a grayscale picture because the console is generating an invalid color subcarrier frequency. You would need to add a separate circuit for the PAL color subcarrier frequency (4.43361875MHz) to get around this.

[omp]

If you browse through this thread, it may help you along.

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthr...t=region+model

In there are links to videos that show colour correction and if you are still able to (or would like to) convert it to a single switch mod.

Oh, all good Cleeg! How are those consoles going for you matey?

[Skoldis]

ok so if i understand this correctly i need a 4.43361875MHz oscillator? Where do i get one?
Can anyone explain to me why the pal mdII i regionmodded works perfectly with color regardless of
the hz, and the G2 isn't?

[cleeg]

Oh, all good Cleeg! How are those consoles going for you matey?

Hey hey, butchered up my Mega CD a bit, got the mod working very briefly but had to remove all I'd put in and thank God it still works! I'm waiting on some new chips with the Olivera Japanese region free BIOS. Luckily my unit has a DIP socket already in situ.

The Nomad's working great and I was able to fix an incomplete mod on another afterwards, cheers!

@ Skoldis, are you using a true RGB SCART cable? If I remember rightly you need one to make 50hz stuff look right. The reason I think this is is because my Nomad has a new screen routed from the AV out using a composite video signal that gives a monochrome picture in PAL mode. When I plug the Nomad into my telly with an RGB SCART cable I get a colour picture at 50hz.

[Skoldis]

Yes, i'm pretty sure it is. It's the same i used on the pal, and that one shows both 50hz and 60 hz in color. I think i have another one though, i'll see if i can find it and try it.

[Skoldis]

ok, so i tried with a rca port for video output, but its still b & w.

[Xalphenos]

Please correct me if I'm wrong. I thought if you were using RGB the subcarrier frequency didn't matter; it only matters if you want to keep Composite or RF video?

[Helder]

There is a fellow in Assembler's Forum who made a nice through hole board with the Oscillator on board for the different subcarrier frequency but he did use a PIC since it's the Switchless Mod. Might be worth asking for one from him:

http://www.assemblergames.com/forums...l=1#post777792