Datel proCDX Adaptor - Alternatives?

[gamerade]

Obviously a case of karma equalling itself out, after slating off the MegaCD in the PCEngine thread I've just spent the best part of an afternoon playing 'push-me pull-me' with a Datel Electronics Pro CDX. (no rev number)
Tried cleaning the cartridge contacts and the megadrive pins, but to no avail. So are there any other (reliable) adapters out there?
I've heard about the so called megaCD uni-bios ?? (hens teeth) but I have seen a few more carts advertised including revisions of the CDX, but are they any more reliable or is it just a matter of time befor they 'self destruct'.
cheers,
gamerade

[MiG]

A member on this forum 'Chaoticjelly' made me a modded Mega CD with a switched bios, it plays all region software perfectly.

I can definately recommend it, much easier than a CDX and Chaoticjelly is a top bloke who does excellent mod work.

[chaoticjelly]

Oh cheers MiG dude

Yeah, the multibios is really nice.. you need a double switched Megadrive to use it though, but if your after a multibios, you probably already have / already considering that too..

[Team Andromeda]

Or just get the Mega Cart , that even works with the Multi Mega

[chaoticjelly]

Or just get the Mega Cart , that even works with the Multi Mega

Strange product IMO.

Megadrive still needs modding for some games to work, Mega Cart probably costs more than a Multibios too.

Lets you flash Megadrive ROMs onto it (i.e. piracy) surely the whole point is playing the original cartridges and Mega CD discs?

If someone wanted to play copies, they could just patch a CD image to their Mega/Sega CD addons region, and then they don't need a Multibios OR a Mega Cart..

Or even better.. download teh r0mz.. zero investment..

[gamerade]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

Chaoticjelly - yeah, I have a double switched MK1 MD that i'm using with a Japanese MK1 MegaCD. I have games from all 3 regions Jap/EU/USA, depending what type of games they are, ie RPG = USA or ARCADEY = Jap or CHEAP = EU (honest).
Don't have any copies, although if I couldn't find some other alternative, I was considering making backups of the non-jap games and region patching them to the megaCD. (convscd ?)
However, IF Chaoticjelly would be willing to modify the megaCD unit itself for me, multibios (my preferred solution) I'm sure we can come to some arrangement. (cheers MiG)

[Team Andromeda]

Strange product IMO.

Megadrive still needs modding for some games to work, Mega Cart probably costs more than a Multibios too.

Lets you flash Megadrive ROMs onto it (i.e. piracy) surely the whole point is playing the original cartridges and Mega CD discs?

If someone wanted to play copies, they could just patch a CD image to their Mega/Sega CD addons region, and then they don't need a Multibios OR a Mega Cart..

Or even better.. download teh r0mz.. zero investment..

Mod or do you mean Double Switch (50/60 Hz?)

Well both my Multi Mega and Mark1 Mega Drive/CD have the double swtiches and the Mega Cart works fine with them , and unlike the CDX (which has trouble with some games ) the Mega Cart has none and works with stuff like Funky Horror band (though why anyone wants to play it is another question )

I don't use it to play copies , I play original games on mine and well happy I can play all region games onthe Multi Mega . Its just a shame it doesn't work with the WonderMega .

I think it great and much better than the CDX

[chaoticjelly]

Mod or do you mean Double Switch (50/60 Hz?)

Well both my Multi Mega and Mark1 Mega Drive/CD have the double swtiches and the Mega Cart works fine with them , and unlike the CDX (which has trouble with some games ) the Mega Cart has none and works with stuff like Funky Horror band (though why anyone wants to play it is another question )

I don't use it to play copies , I play original games on mine and well happy I can play all region games onthe Multi Mega . Its just a shame it doesn't work with the WonderMega .

I think it great and much better than the CDX

Oh yeah, better than the CDX, but I wasn't referring to that

I've never had a Multi-Mega.. or WonderMega.. I want a Sega Wondermega!

[gamerade]

Looks like it wasn't the CDX cart after all, although that's always been temperamental since day one, the Jap MegaCD now refuses to load even Jap original CDs,

Purchased it a while ago from someone on this forum and had less than a weeks use out of it. Obviously the laser (?) was on it's way out when I recieved it (nice one ).

Games purchases only on sales thread from now on methinks.

Can the laser be tweaked / replaced ??
(ie could I put a UK MK2 megaCD laser unit into the Jap MK1 megaCD unit or is this impossible?? Seem to remember I have a UK one stashed away that I dont use)

cheers,
Gamerade.

[chaoticjelly]

You can increase power to the laser a bit, that may give you some life out of it, but probably only a few days / a month tops..

Brand new lasers can be bought, but for the Mega CD 2 it seems that they need the various settings altering as the laser will not work correctly from factory default settings. I was advised that this should only be done with an oscilloscope, and "pot tweaking" was inadvisable.

(I put a new laser in a Mega CD 2, and whilst it worked.. there was some squealing.. need to adjust pots)

Mega CD 1 and Mega CD 2 use different models of laser I think..