Model 1 Modchip installation Help

Post by **spiritplx** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 9:55 pm

I have just received a modchip that was modded to fit a model one Saturn from another Racketboy member. However, I have zero electronics experience so I am a bit confused on how to install the chip. Even after reading the guide found here http://www.angelfire.com/pa/Raluminat/model1.html , I am still at a loss.

The modchip I received has two wires that are connected to the modchip, but to nothing else on the other end. One is a long red one, and from what I have red it needs to be put into a power supply. I am not exactly sure where that is on my Saturn, or what it even looks like.

The other detached wire is attached on one end next to a small box that has the letters "2k2" written beside it (or on top if the chip is turned so that "2k2" is aligned straight up and down). Does this wire need to be soldered to something ? Perhaps it came loose in the mail.

I am also having trouble getting the ribbon cable to fit into the modchip, it just doesn't want to seem to fit.

Any suggestions, pictures, advice, etc would be very much appreciated.

Thanks !

Post by **spiritplx** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:42 pm

Upon further inspection of the chip, and doing a bit more research, it appears that one of the wires had indeed become unsoldered. I think I can get someone to fix it that part of it, but my concern is with the plastic ribbon connector. The ribbon will not insert properly into the connector, because the connector seems to be damaged (two or three of the pins seem to be positioned in such as way that does not allow something to be inserted at that point).

If anyone knows how I might be able to fix the ribbon connector, I am up for any suggestions. I am assuming there is no way to fix such damage, and I am just screwed, but I am willing to try anything.

I appreciate any help anyone can provide.

Thanks !

Post by **Adderall** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 8:09 am

can you provide pictures? I can probably help if you can show me what it looks like

Post by **spiritplx** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 9:36 am

It might be a few days before I can borrow a digital camera and take some pictures. In the mean time:

Note: This is an image of a generic chip, not mine specifically.

The area circled in red (sorry if it is hard to see) is the area on the ribbon connector where I cannot insert anything. I even tried inserting small slits of paper and it inserted into every area of the connector except for the circled area.

I inspected the connector and I cannot see anything stuck in there, or notice any visible damage, so it might be hard to see in a picture.

I really wish I could explain better, but I am new to this stuff. I will still try and get some pictures posted.

Thanks again for your help.

Post by **Pullmyfinger** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 11:56 am

perhaps the pins are a bit bent forward, without a picture of your actual chip, take a VERY GOOD look and see if they are bent, if they are, bed them back SLIGHTLY with a needle or something

Post by **spiritplx** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:07 pm

Ok, I was able to get some to redo all the soldering for me...so all the connections should be correct now. After stick something in the slot for the ribbon connection, and moving it around a bit, I am now able to slide the ribbon in part way. But it still seems there is something blocking deep within the connector. I might try poking around in there some more to see if I can get it to open up all the way... although I am afraid I might have already damaged the connector from sticking something in there in the first place.

When I connect the ribbon to the chip and put the chip in the board, and power on the Saturn, I get the same response as though the ribbon is just completely unplugged. Does anyone know common reasons that might cause this problem ? Is it possible I am not getting power to the chip ? The red wire is soldered into the 5v slot in the power supply, but I don't know how to tell if it is indeed getting power.

Any help is appreciated, I just hope I don't kill my Saturn from playing with it too much.

Post by **spiritplx** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:15 am

Another update....

Lordofduct was nice enough to mail me a model 1 modded modchip. After installing that I am now able to boot up normal games (with no problems so far), but when I try to boot up copies, it either sits for a while, trying to read, then goes to the "CD player" screen or it will start up the game, but after trying to load it says "CD Disk Error. Check CD and CD lens" (or something to that affect).

I have successfully played the backup via the swap trick, however it was only one time. Is there a chance that the game is corrupted and just has trouble loading, and I just got lucky with the swap trick ? Or perhaps my CD lens needs cleaning ? And if so, what is the best way to go about that ? Or perhaps the modchip has something wrong with it (although I thought if it is playing normal games then it should be working properly, but perhaps not).

Post by **lordofduct** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 3:25 pm

well, My assumption would be that if it's playing legit games, the chip should be fine. Though that always isn't the case.

Post by **spiritplx** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 3:46 pm

So does it sound more like a CD lens/laser issue since it can occasionally boot up the copy before it gets to the error screen that says to check the lens ? Or is that still possible to have that occur with a bad disc image ?

What is the easiest/best way to clean the lens so I can test that before I start messing with the laser and such ?

Post by **Adderall** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 4:23 pm

usually if you can get to the "Sega" screen from the disc then it has passed the copy protection and the chip is working....

I would first make sure the games you are burning are on decent media and have the correct region setting. When I first started playing saturn games with my chip, I had no idea you needed to play using the correct region and it gave me quite a few headaches!!

Cleaning the lens would be beneficial as well....