Power Base Converter resets and acts odd

[David J.]

For some reason when I play a SMS game, via the PBC... the system will reset or lockup. It can be as I'm starting a game up, or if I'm fifteen minutes in the game, do I need the screw for the back?

[David J.]

And my SMS pad that I got in the mail acts funny. When I press left on the D-pad it doesn't always register. For a while it will, and then it will just quit. WTH?

[Joe Redifer]

Your PBC contacts may need a bit of cleaning, just like any dirty carts do from time to time. However with the PBC there are even more contacts inside of the thing. Hire an expensive technician to disassemble the Power Base Converter for you. Notice that the boards inside are put together like a cart inserted into a slot. Take it apart and clean them (pencil erasers on the contacts work pretty well). Have the expensive technician put the PBC back together. Forget to pay the technician and he will leave, sad. It will be amusing for you and all others in the neighborhood. Your PBC should work fine... or at least better.

I haven't used the screw since back in 1990 at the latest.

Oh, and take apart the SMS pad and clean/inspect the contacts as well.

[David J.]

OK, my SMS pad is now fine The contacts are clean and fine. I took it apart and reassembled and tested it many times. I think it's the Genesis system and/or PBC - go figure.

I played it with some SMS games and it crapped out. But then it started working with SMS games sometime later, which I thought was great. So feeling brave, I tried it with a Genesis game. Sonic 2 to be exact, and got to the second act of Casino Night Zone before I decided nothing was wrong with the pad, as I got sick of playing anyway. The D-pad would have crapped out way before I got to that point in the game anyway.

[David J.]

Turns out, I have to plug the pad in very tight, well it's not that tight or hard. As for the Power Base Converter, I think it's a POS, or maybe the Genesis 1 is dying - it acts up once in a while, and more often than it should.

[TheGZeus]

Digital things acting up is never a good sign.
They work or they don't, more or less.
Analog is simpler in that respect, often times something can go wrong and you can still finish your task, just not as well.

[Joe Redifer]

I'm sure the problem is an analog one (bad contacts somewhere, crapped out capacitor, etc).

[David J.]

Well, the pad is OK, I just have to plug it in a bit tighter, and maybe clean my contacts some more.

But the PBC is junk and resets and glitches. I play a game like Penguin Land, Asterix, Air Rescue, hell ANY game I own for the SMS and I'll get glitches like crazy. I was guiding the egg through the level, it fell, and instead of breaking it crashed, and the egg turned into graphic garbage and the sound made an annoying scrreching sound.

[TheGZeus]

How clean are the PBC contacts?

[David J.]

Pretty damn clean. I took the WHOLE thing apart, reassembled it, cleaned it, and it still acts up.

My games are clean as a bone also. At some point I'd consider buying a Master System, but that's a battle for another day, way far away. And in the US, SMS consoles are expensive, in poor shape and I don't want to buy another SCART lead.

[Joe Redifer]

Try disassembling it again, inserting it and playing like that. But this time, use a wad of paper to push the PBC "back" in the cart slot, or maybe forward. Does that help?

[evildragon]

that's what i did for my 32X in a model II genny without the bracket, a wad of index paper XD

[SegaMan1972]

I was on Ebay a month ago and got suckered into buying a cosmetically perfect Power Base Converter - the thing looks brand new. It came in its original box, with all documentation and parts (thumb screw and 3-D Glasses cord dongle). In anticipation of getting the Power Base Converter, I also won four classic SMS games to play. I finally got it, plugged it in, and I can get the titles of the four games to come up, but the second I press "B" on my Genesis controller, it crashes and glitches. Son of a B****! I just spent $24 on a non-functioning piece of crap. I dissasembled it, cleaned all contacts, same problem - I tried both Sega Cards and Carts - My 1601 Genesis plays all 16-bit carts perfectly, and none of the games I have require an original SMS controller (The list of games that required a SMS controller is contained in the PBC manual). I even plugged the guts of the PBC into the Genesis without the outer casing to ensure good contact - no change in the problem - I think I just bought an expensive shelf trinket. At this point, I'm at a loss - My only hope, I think, is to find a functioning PBC and transplant the guts into my like new unit's casing...:daze:

[David J.]

I'm either going to buy a Tototek converter, OR a Master System console, but that'll be a long while from now.

[InternalPrimate]

I (after a week of doubting it) can now whole-heartedly recommend the Tototek Converter. I bought the most expensive one ( Master System/MarkIII Kit with plastic case) and shipping is only a few dollars if you choose the cheapest method. All comes out to $31.80. Not bad in my opinion.

And, of course, there are less expensive options.

[Zebbe]

What reason may it be to choose that one before the Power Base Converter, if you have the model I Mega Drive? Price? Physical size?

[Joe Redifer]

What is the 3D glasses cord dongle? Can you post a picture of that please? I bought my PBC new and it did not come with such a dongle. Anyway try taking sandpaper to the contacts (all of them, make and female) on your PBC, even the ones inside the unit as it has two boards which come apart.

Also, the Tototek version can't play card or 3D games, right? Useless.

[David J.]

The Tototek one is fine for me since I don't really care about 3D games, and the only card game I want is a european title, and it's much more common on cart form anyway. And there's like three Mark 3 games I want, so it's fine by my standards.

[Zebbe]

David J.: How can you live without the totally Cyber feel of Space Harrier 3-D and Zaxxon 3-D? They offer an experience not of this world!

[David J.]

Well, if all goes well, I am trading a SNES console for a SMS1, so if I want to play 3D games, I can. :D

[Joe Redifer]

The SMS will be too dark in RGB without building an amp. Better to run them through the Genesis.

[evildragon]

I was on Ebay a month ago and got suckered into buying a cosmetically perfect Power Base Converter - the thing looks brand new. It came in its original box, with all documentation and parts (thumb screw and 3-D Glasses cord dongle). In anticipation of getting the Power Base Converter, I also won four classic SMS games to play. I finally got it, plugged it in, and I can get the titles of the four games to come up, but the second I press "B" on my Genesis controller, it crashes and glitches. Son of a B****! I just spent $24 on a non-functioning piece of crap. I dissasembled it, cleaned all contacts, same problem - I tried both Sega Cards and Carts - My 1601 Genesis plays all 16-bit carts perfectly, and none of the games I have require an original SMS controller (The list of games that required a SMS controller is contained in the PBC manual). I even plugged the guts of the PBC into the Genesis without the outer casing to ensure good contact - no change in the problem - I think I just bought an expensive shelf trinket. At this point, I'm at a loss - My only hope, I think, is to find a functioning PBC and transplant the guts into my like new unit's casing...:daze:
Being how the PBC is a passive device, (has no logic), the problem is either the Genesis or the controller...

[Elusive]

Okay, this is as good a place to put this as any: tell me about the power adapter for the SMS1. Is it the same as a MD1? I know it shares the same AV-Out port, not sure about the power though.

edit: Got my greasy mitts on a 3010 system, apparently it's the model with Snail Maze as the default built-in game.

[Joe Redifer]

That's the best model. Why? Because that's the only way you can get Snail Maze (Game of the Year EGM # 1). And who wants Alex Kidd or Hang-On built in? You want those on your shelf so that people are impressed at how awesome you are when they come over. It also helps get the chicks wet when those games are on your shelf instead of hidden inside the console itself.

The AC Adapter can be used on both the Genesis and the SMS and I've never had a problem. The SMS adapter uses slightly lower wattage if I recall.

[David J.]

So Joe, how would I build that amp?

[Joe Redifer]

Hell I dunno. Same way you'd build the TurboGrafx amp I guess. Not fun. Not fun at all. Best to use a Genesis if you want good video.

[evildragon]

ask this forum: http://nfggames.com/forum/index.php?act=idx

they know that kinda stuff..

[Joe Redifer]

Beware though... they don't like people asking questions. ANY questions.

[evildragon]

Beware though... they don't like people asking questions. ANY questions.
now you know that's not true.. they just don't like trolling, and even getting yelled at from that takes a lot (namely, that one person no one talks about)

[Elusive]

Forgot about my SCART splitter's little problem. After plugging DVD player, new SMS1, Mega Drive, Saturn and Dreamcast into the splitter, I turned on the Dreamcast. The power light on the SMS1 came on simultaneously, but only the Dreamcast's video was displayed (rather than previously when the Mega Drive and Saturn would share a signal). Oops.

Now all I get when turning on the SMS1 alone is a black screen, no Snail Maze or anything :(

[David J.]

I bought an SMS console, and NO complaints, except from Penguin Land but I think the game itself is a bit glitchy.

[Joe Redifer]

It is easy to complain about Penguin Land since the game sucks. I am glad I paid only $1 for it.