Sega Nomad 50/60Hz mod

Discuss all hardware and software modifications
Post Reply
User avatar
Hateshinai
128-bit
Posts: 616
Joined: Mon Dec 29, 2008 3:13 am
Location: Malta,AKA the Arse End of Europe

Sega Nomad 50/60Hz mod

Post by Hateshinai »

I am talking about this: http://www.gamesx.com/importmod/nomad5060.htm
I did not want to add extra switches to my Nomad so I did the mod whereby holding the "Mode" switch on booting forces the console into 50Hz to bypass the region protection on some games. It does what it's meant to do but there is a snag. When I use it to boot PAL games it also disables the 6 button mode at the same time. So, for example, I can now play my PAL SF2 cart but only in 3 button mode. Which is irritating...
My question is: Did I do something wrong or is it simply a "feature" of this mod?
Mostly harmless
User avatar
CRTGAMER
Next-Gen
Posts: 11933
Joined: Tue Jan 05, 2010 11:59 am
Location: Southern California

Re: Sega Nomad 50/60Hz mod

Post by CRTGAMER »

Hard to tell from pics on link. It looks like one wire jumping across different area of circuit board. With the trace(s) cut it looks same in principal like the Gamecube Region Mod. Only problem is you would have to add a 4 pole switch. It seems just jumping the trace(s) with micro toggle switch should do the trick. Not positive on this, maybe try running Nomad with just trace cut, no wires soldered and see if its opposite region or Hertz compared with trace intact. Before you power up I would really research this, you don't want to fry your board. The link did mention possibility of losing six button capability, maybe when in other region that is the way game is set to?
Image
CRT vs LCD - Hardware Mods - HDAdvance - Custom Controllers - Game Storage - Wii Gamecube and other Guides:
CRTGAMER Guides in Board Guides Index: http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... 5#p1109425

Image
Image
User avatar
Hateshinai
128-bit
Posts: 616
Joined: Mon Dec 29, 2008 3:13 am
Location: Malta,AKA the Arse End of Europe

Re: Sega Nomad 50/60Hz mod

Post by Hateshinai »

In principle the mod is similar to the Megadrive/Genesis one which I know pretty well by now. The difference is in the lack of an extra switch (I want my Nomad to look untouched) and in using one of the existing buttons instead. However, this means that the Mode button now has 2 functions when pressed: force 50Hz PAL mode and disable 6 buttons. I can see no easy way of separating these two. It is only a problem when trying to play PAL 6 button games. NTSC 6 buttons work just fine.
My options are:
1. Transfer the 50/60 selection to another button (Start would probably be the best)
2. Disable the Mode button's primary function completely.
3. Add another button just for the selection.
4. Ignore it and just buy NTSC versions of games that are region locked and need 6 buttons (i.e Street Fighter 2).
I will probably go with the last option...

BTW, switching the Nomad on with just the trace cut will probably be harmless but also pointless. It will be either 60HZ or 50HZ display all the time (not sure which one is 5V and which one is 0V) which would defeat the whole purpose of the mod.

Edit: looking at the pictures it seems that the middle leg of the mode switch has been pulled off the board. This might possibly disable its use as a 3/6 button selector which would solve my problem. Unluckily I had no luck finding more info about the mod despite Googling extensively.
Mostly harmless
User avatar
CRTGAMER
Next-Gen
Posts: 11933
Joined: Tue Jan 05, 2010 11:59 am
Location: Southern California

Re: Sega Nomad 50/60Hz mod

Post by CRTGAMER »

Agree the pics are a little vague. I was thinking you could confirm which traces do. Afterwards a small micro toggle switch would be solution, but that does mean another switch.

Anyways good luck. You have a rare portable.
Image
CRT vs LCD - Hardware Mods - HDAdvance - Custom Controllers - Game Storage - Wii Gamecube and other Guides:
CRTGAMER Guides in Board Guides Index: http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... 5#p1109425

Image
Image
Post Reply