Saturn Region Mod Switch problem...

[retroborg]

So, I tried this region mod method:
http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/sega-saturn-country-mod-3/

But it did not work!
I'm pretty sure I followed everything by the book as described in the link, but the console refuses to switch between the 3 regions, some times it will switch rendomly.

I could not find a motorolla Hex invertor, but only an equevelant SN74LS04N of a different brand.
So is the hex inverter actually needed and can anybody verify that this modding method actually works?! Before I mess up my Saturn?!













Thanks in advance

[Ziggy]

Use this instead: http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/sega-saturn-region-free-bios/

Some one hacked the BIOS and removed the region check, making the Saturn region free. There's no switches, you never have to think about what region to select. You can just pretend like region lock out never existed in the first place.

The region free BIOS mod is easier and harder to do than the switch mods. You only have to replace a single IC and you're done. The catch is that the IC is surface mounted and it's usually glued down to the board. You have to take care when removing it. Also, you have to be good with surface mount soldering.

If you don't have a burner, you can ask around on forums and find some one to burn the new BIOS for you. Or, if you want to invest, you can get an OK burner off eBay for like $50. Just search "Sivava Willem USB". If you want to burn the EEPROM like in mmmonkey's guide linked above you'll also need an adapter. But an alternative is to just burn an EPROM (no adapter needed) and wire each individual leg to the corresponding pin on the board. This is harder to do, though. The EEPROM is the way to do.

[retroborg]

Use this instead: http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/sega-saturn-region-free-bios/

Some one hacked the BIOS and removed the region check, making the Saturn region free. There's no switches, you never have to think about what region to select. You can just pretend like region lock out never existed in the first place.

The region free BIOS mod is easier and harder to do than the switch mods. You only have to replace a single IC and you're done. The catch is that the IC is surface mounted and it's usually glued down to the board. You have to take care when removing it. Also, you have to be good with surface mount soldering.

If you don't have a burner, you can ask around on forums and find some one to burn the new BIOS for you. Or, if you want to invest, you can get an OK burner off eBay for like $50. Just search "Sivava Willem USB". If you want to burn the EEPROM like in mmmonkey's guide linked above you'll also need an adapter. But an alternative is to just burn an EPROM (no adapter needed) and wire each individual leg to the corresponding pin on the board. This is harder to do, though. The EEPROM is the way to do.

Thanks!
Yes, I'm good with surface soldering and I've seen this region free bios before, but I do not have an EEPROM programer and was not interested in buying one at the moment.

So, is there anywhere I could get a reliable pre-programmed BIOS with the region free code burned and ready to use? Apart from assemblergames which I would prefer to avoid, as I was not happy at all with the buggy switch-less SNES mod chip which I bought from there a few months ago.
I searched ebay, but didn't find anything.

But I would still like to know what went wrong with the region switch mod, as I made 2 different circuits and tried them on 2 different Saturn Motherboards and none worked properly.

Thanks in advance

[KalessinDB]

Fox1 over on Neo-Geo is offering rom burning services, if you have access to their marketplace.

[retroborg]

Fox1 over on Neo-Geo is offering rom burning services, if you have access to their marketplace.

No I don't have access to their market-place. Do you need references to join there?

What about this guy's Region Free Saturn Bios?
https://squareup.com/market/jinns-video ... nt-bios-ic

http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... 22&t=23751

http://www.theisozone.com/forum/viewtop ... 21&t=27636

Is he any good and reliable? And most importantly, can this region free bios be combined with any Mod-chip and play copied games just fine from any region?

Thanks in advance

[KalessinDB]

You don't need references, but you need to participate in the community for a while before they let you in to the marketplace, they're close-knit and more than a little caustic to outsiders usually.

jinn's, in my opinion, among the best modders out there, I didn't realize he was doing Saturn installs. I'm shipping him some stuff myself pretty soon to get work done (which reminds me, I need to PM him again )

And yes. My Saturn has a mod chip and a region free bios and they play very nicely together, assuming I burn the iso correctly (certain dumping groups require certain programs) I can throw anything at it and it'll play.

[retroborg]

You don't need references, but you need to participate in the community for a while before they let you in to the marketplace, they're close-knit and more than a little caustic to outsiders usually.

jinn's, in my opinion, among the best modders out there, I didn't realize he was doing Saturn installs. I'm shipping him some stuff myself pretty soon to get work done (which reminds me, I need to PM him again )

And yes. My Saturn has a mod chip and a region free bios and they play very nicely together, assuming I burn the iso correctly (certain dumping groups require certain programs) I can throw anything at it and it'll play.

OK.. Oh one more thing, will the Region Free Bios & the Mod-chip also with a properly installed 50/60HZ switch at the same time or will there be any conflict between the 3?

I've done the following 50/60HZ switch mod and it worked fine by it self:
http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/sega-saturn-5060hz-mod/

[KalessinDB]

And I have dead-ended on my knowledge, sorry. I don't use 50Hz for anything, being that I'm in the US of A. Sorry. Someone should be able to help you out.

[theclaw]

A correct install won't conflict. Region free bios, modchip, and 50/60hz, are different things.

All three are required should you want the effects of all three.

(Though it almost never matters, technically a region free bios doesn't change the system's region jumpers. I believe Soukyugurentai uses the jumper settings to load its leftover English stuff, not the bios.)