Trying to convert a UK PAL Megadrive! Unusual jumper config!!??

[gizmo1990]

Hi,

Argh! I really hope someone can help me with this problem. I'm trying to do
a PAL megadrive conversion (mhz and language) but I have brought 2 machines now and BOTH have their jumpers in the same unusual configuration which I can't find any reference too.
Instead of the normal horizontal position in the middle of the board
(JP3=>JP4=>JP2=>JP1) I have the jumpers arranged down the right side,
vertically, like this,
JP1
JP2
JP3
JP4

I would really appreciate it if someone could tell me the correct way to
wire this specific jumper setup to achieve a language and mhz switch. Or if
you could point me to a website that could enlighten me. I can't believe
this has happened to me twice! Please any help would be great.

Thanks,

James.

[MD]

Yeah it's another board revision... still fret not it's very easy...

JP1 and JP2 are the 50/60Hz Jumpers
JP3 and JP4 are the Eng/Jap Jumpers

Open megadrive and put in front of you so it is the normal way round (lead connectors around the back).

Basically one side of the jumpers on JP1 and JP2 are connected together and this is the common side. (The same thing are on JP3 and JP4).

If the pads on on the right near the edge connector then the common pads are on the left as you look at them (normally the furthest away from the JP lettering).

If the pads are in the middle of the machine near the chips then the common pads are nearest the bottom as you look at them (normally the nearest near the JP lettering).

Basically solder a wire so it is touching the two common pads and this goes to the centre of a DTSP switch, the two single pads left should be soldered to the switch, one going to the left and one to to right. It's simple...

For the 50/60Hz you just need to cut the wire and solder a STSP switch as it only needs to be solder to ground, in the off position it floats and it's the same as connecting to a voltage.... but if you want you can do the above.

Oh and you need an RGB cable as it won't output a 60Hz PAL picture just a weird signal that no TV will display in anything but Black and White...

[gizmo1990]

Thanks for your help MD.
However I don't really understand your instructions?
What do you mean by 'pads'?
I'm also not too sure about JP1 and JP2 being the 50/60Hz Jumpers and JP3 and JP4 being the Eng/Jap Jumpers?
More through luck then anything else I've managed to correctly wire the 50/60Hz switch and it appears to be on JP3 and JP4?? The language switch I have absolutely no idea about though?

Here is a photo of my Megadrive showing the relevant jumpers.

and here is a diagram showing where I am at the moment. (Note, I cut the trace on JP3)

Any further thoughts?

[jeremy]

I added language switches to my US Genesis just this Monday, and it had jumpers configured like yours. There's a good guide for it (using a UK MD, I think) at gamefaqs. I can't link directly to it, but it's at gamefaqs' Genesis page, then "Hardware FAQ's", and then "Multi-region Modification Guide". A bit large, but it can explain it better than I.

[gizmo1990]

Jeremy, what a fantastic guide! Great find thanks!!
Would you believe I looked at that exact Gamefaqs/Genesis page earlier today but only checked out the Genesis FAQ!!