TimeWalker75a
Member
Hey up,
Was trying to install a Retro GEM into my V12 NTSC-U console (I'm in PAL territory) and let's just say things didn't go as planned. Upon inspection, the main flex had no bridging and continuity tests had confirmed so. Upon starting the console to test the analog output however it looked like either V or H sync wasn't working on the video encoder as YPbPr was showing diagonially scrolling garbled image. Decided to see how the on-scren menu on the GEM looks and fire up the debug, so connected the main flex to the GEM. The debug showed all points with hearts (no H/L), so the soldering was OK .. but something clearly wasn't otherwise as the image kept on scrolling as if there was no sync. The console then stopped outputting video altogether after a few restarts. It would sit with green light on, with the audio working and the TV picking up signal, but no video output, which meant the encoder was acting up (audio work even if there's not encoder on the board - don't ask me how I know) or something else before the encoder. I tore everything up and redid the flex and it started working with clean video on YPbPr.
Chuffed to bits that I hadn't botched it all, I've decided to toss a Matrix Pic Fix in there too, for good measure. Soldered everything up, matching the V12 diagrams online and started the console. It was fine until I put a NTSC-J disc in and the PlayStation 2 logo came up (the console was MechaPwned at some stage). No life past the logo - everything came to a halt and the console just sat there with the green power light. Power cycle - no signal picked up by the TV and the green light persists, no audio this time. Figured it is most likely related Pic Fix, so desoldered everything, to no avail.
Decided I'm going to be crafty and tried swapping the NTSC-U BIOS into a V12 NTSC-J console I have as a spare, which resulted in the exact same behavior on the the NTSC-J unit - no video, no sound, just green light. Put the original NTSC-J BIOS back, the console started working again. Not sure if that's any indication or wither you can just swap chips like that, but seing as the outcome was the same, I'm guessing the BIOS is to blame. The NTSC-U console will not start without the BIOS chip, it goes green-red right away when trying to turn it on with the chip removed.
So at this point I'm inclined to thing that I ballsed the Pic Fix install, but I've double checked the pins and the wiring and was absolutely positive everything is soldered up correcty.
Anyone has any experience like that, or perhaps a clue as to what else might be at fault?
I've checked the infamout resistor packages and they all measured their nominal voltages.
Was trying to install a Retro GEM into my V12 NTSC-U console (I'm in PAL territory) and let's just say things didn't go as planned. Upon inspection, the main flex had no bridging and continuity tests had confirmed so. Upon starting the console to test the analog output however it looked like either V or H sync wasn't working on the video encoder as YPbPr was showing diagonially scrolling garbled image. Decided to see how the on-scren menu on the GEM looks and fire up the debug, so connected the main flex to the GEM. The debug showed all points with hearts (no H/L), so the soldering was OK .. but something clearly wasn't otherwise as the image kept on scrolling as if there was no sync. The console then stopped outputting video altogether after a few restarts. It would sit with green light on, with the audio working and the TV picking up signal, but no video output, which meant the encoder was acting up (audio work even if there's not encoder on the board - don't ask me how I know) or something else before the encoder. I tore everything up and redid the flex and it started working with clean video on YPbPr.
Chuffed to bits that I hadn't botched it all, I've decided to toss a Matrix Pic Fix in there too, for good measure. Soldered everything up, matching the V12 diagrams online and started the console. It was fine until I put a NTSC-J disc in and the PlayStation 2 logo came up (the console was MechaPwned at some stage). No life past the logo - everything came to a halt and the console just sat there with the green power light. Power cycle - no signal picked up by the TV and the green light persists, no audio this time. Figured it is most likely related Pic Fix, so desoldered everything, to no avail.
Decided I'm going to be crafty and tried swapping the NTSC-U BIOS into a V12 NTSC-J console I have as a spare, which resulted in the exact same behavior on the the NTSC-J unit - no video, no sound, just green light. Put the original NTSC-J BIOS back, the console started working again. Not sure if that's any indication or wither you can just swap chips like that, but seing as the outcome was the same, I'm guessing the BIOS is to blame. The NTSC-U console will not start without the BIOS chip, it goes green-red right away when trying to turn it on with the chip removed.
So at this point I'm inclined to thing that I ballsed the Pic Fix install, but I've double checked the pins and the wiring and was absolutely positive everything is soldered up correcty.
Anyone has any experience like that, or perhaps a clue as to what else might be at fault?
I've checked the infamout resistor packages and they all measured their nominal voltages.
