32x problem

[j_factor]

I just got a 32x and it's a little problematic. Still images (I guess moving images too), particularly images with large bits of one color, have this really bad "shimmer" to them... it's like, rolling colors. This happens whether it's a 32x game or a Genesis game.

I'm guessing that the cable that connects the 32x to the Genesis is bad... any thoughts?

[Obviously]

Something sort of like this happened to me once when I didn't have the connecting cable from the Genesis to the 32X plugged in far enough, so it might be the cable.

I also had messed up and staticy images when I tried to use the 32X without clipping the RF shields in so if you don't have the RF shields this might be the problem.

I always have trouble getting the blasted thing to work again if I take it out.

[Joe Redifer]

How are you hooking the 32X up to Mr. TV? Composite? RGB? RF? S-Video? Component?

[Chris Marsh]

Something sort of like this happened to me once when I didn't have the connecting cable from the Genesis to the 32X plugged in far enough, so it might be the cable.

I also had messed up and staticy images when I tried to use the 32X without clipping the RF shields in so if you don't have the RF shields this might be the problem.

I always have trouble getting the blasted thing to work again if I take it out.
I wish I had that cable, so I can play 32X again (I lost the cable).

[j_factor]

Joe - it's composite.

Something sort of like this happened to me once when I didn't have the connecting cable from the Genesis to the 32X plugged in far enough, so it might be the cable.

Well, I tried fiddling with the cable, and it just made things worse. Distorted the colors, and/or caused a rolling picture. So the "rolling colors" thing seems to be the best I can get out of it.

One question though.. with that connection cable, I noticed that on one of the plugs, the pins are recessed like with most such hookups, but on the other plug, the pins stick out a little. Is that normal? If so, is there supposed to be one plug designated for the Genesis end and one for the 32x end, or are they interchangeable?

I also had messed up and staticy images when I tried to use the 32X without clipping the RF shields in so if you don't have the RF shields this might be the problem.

Huh... I thought the RF shields were only for use with a Genesis 1?

[j_factor]

Ok, I just read a 32x FAQ and it mentions that the connection cable is supposed to be bulbous on one end. Mine isn't -- except for the aforementioned slight difference, there is no difference in appearance between the two plugs of my connection cable (and they're not bulbous). Also, the cord part is blue in color, so I'm thinking it's probably a homemade cable. Which I wouldn't care about if it worked well.

And to complicate things, I'm using an X'Eye. X'Eye has the same A/V out as Genesis 2, but its cartridge port is such that the 32x won't fit all the way in if it has the spacer on it.

Hmm..

[j_factor]

I just found a good archive of a Sega.com page from 1996. Under 32x Troubleshooting, a page titled "Abnormal Picture, Partial or Missing Graphics" gives me the following tidbit:

Make sure the Expansion Unit is inserted onto contact board on the side of the Sega Genesis unless the Sega Genesis is connected to a Sega CD (remember that the 32x model #84000A does not need an Expansion Unit). To check the model # of your 32X look on the base of the 32X. You will see a silver strip with the serial #. Right above the serial # you will see the words model #.

That's.. the first I've heard of that. My 32x model is #84000 (not A). To reiterate, I'm using an X'Eye, and obviously, it doesn't have the expansion port on the side, but then again, it does have a Sega CD. Hmm.

Looking further, Sega.com's own 32x installation pages make no mention of this expansion unit. Also, with regards to the connector cable, it just says, "Plug one end of the Connector Cable into the A/V Out on the back of the Sega Genesis and the other end of the Connector Cable into the back of the 32X where it says A/V In." That seems to contradict the FAQ I read that states that the two ends of the cable are physically different.

FAQ in question: http://db.gamefaqs.com/console/32x/file/sega_32x_installation.txt
Sega.com Support archive: http://web.archive.org/web/19970630071029/http://www.sega.com/support/troubleshoot/

[Obviously]

One question though.. with that connection cable, I noticed that on one of the plugs, the pins are recessed like with most such hookups, but on the other plug, the pins stick out a little. Is that normal? If so, is there supposed to be one plug designated for the Genesis end and one for the 32x end, or are they interchangeable?

The pins are identical for both sides on mine, I'll try seeing if it works both ways in the morning.

[j_factor]

I think I just solved the expansion port mystery. From the GOAT store:

Sega 32X System Dongle Used $2.00

No one seems to have any clue what these were for, but if you bought a 32X and didn't have a Sega CD, you were supposed to put it on the end of your Genesis. If you don't, nothing happens. If you do, nothing happens. But at least you can say that you have an official Sega dongle.

[Joe Redifer]

I have one of the first 32X's on the market and a Genesis 1. It works fine with or without the Expansion Kit thing. But my Sega CD is always hooked up anyway. Your Wondermega or whatever it is will have no need for such a device since it doesn't have any expansions. Also, it does not matter which way you hook the cable from the Genesis output to the 32X input. It works the same both ways. Wires are wires and there are no chips or resistors in the wire to make any directional difference. But to me it sounds like this wire is the cause.

[Obviously]

It's not that the wires themselves are diffrent... he was wondering if the pins were longer on one side than the other which would possibly not make it work right if you had it plugged in the wrong way Bur it seems they are the same size, at least they're supposed to be.

[David J.]

I wonder what his Dongle looks like?

[lordofduct]

I have a couple dongles at home... it looks like the cover that goes over the SegaCD expansion port on the side of your genny... it just has more beef to it in that it has a female cartridge slot on it that crosses the lines to inform the 32x that there isn't a segaCD connected. Once placed in the slot it looks no different then the regular cover.

Your cables sound 3rd party, if not homemade. And they 'could' be causing the distortion.

What is most likely happening though is there isn't appropriate shielding. When the 32X is taking apart you'll see it is made of 2 PCBs... one horizontal with the audio chips, video component encoder, cartridge slot and other midrange chips on it... then there is a vertical PCB that is what plugs into the genny. On it is the VDP and main processors. They are very close to the 6800 and a multitude of other high frequency components on the genny and have to be adequately shielded.

I don't know where everything is located on the X'eye... but I could bet you that IF you are using the shielding plates they aren't adequately doing the job due to design features and is something you'll have to put up with.


Now I say its probably the shielding because they'd royally have to screw up that cable for it to be causing problems. I built a genny 1 to 32x cable out of sewing needles and crap wire and it worked great... so someone who went a bit more professional then that shouldn't of done such a bad job as my sewing needles.

[Melf]

I wonder what his Dongle looks like?


That just sounds wrong on so many levels. :p

[j_factor]

I don't think it came with any shielding... I don't even remember what the shields look like. Do they attach snugly or are they pretty removeable?

[j_factor]

Well I finally got to try it with a different kind of Genesis.. and the problem's not there. So I guess X'Eye is just situated in such a way that the RF shields are necessary. Or something.

[landstalkerx]

You could try putting some thin metal around it as sheilding, with the X' Eye. Who knows aluminum foil might even work.
I don't think it came with any shielding... I don't even remember what the shields look like. Do they attach snugly or are they pretty removeable? The shielding that it came with consisted of small and thin metal pieces (aluminum, I think) that fit into the cartridge slot, on either side of where the 32x connects to the genesis.

[ronaldQ]

Hi there ppl,

I too have an issue with the 32x cable similar to this

j_factor: 01-28-2006 02:45 PM

Joe - it's composite.



Well, I tried fiddling with the cable, and it just made things worse. Distorted the colors, and/or caused a rolling picture. So the "rolling colors" thing seems to be the best I can get out of it.


I make-shifted an adapter for the MkI MD to the 32x using a 8 pin din and a 9 pin mini-din
and
all I get is scrolling pictures and words (a tiny sega!)

I've tried the MD MkII RF cable and a/v cable but neither work!

So any news on this front?

[evildragon]

you didn't get all the wires correctly.. the 32X only cares about the RGB data, and that includes the sync (it also is an audio passthrough too).. It sounds like the sync isn't making it to it..

[ronaldQ]

Thanks evildragon.

So the signals out of the MD used by the 32X are just the R-G-B and Sync?

I'm assuming ground as well, but what about that too?

I would just use a normal stereo a/v lead on the 32X out to the t/v - straight forward.

So, no composite video, no audio-stereo sound L/Rv and no 5VDC from the MD.

Sounds easy enough.

Proof is in the pudding, as they say.......

[evildragon]

i did say the audio does need to be passed through too.. but composite video, and the 5v are not required from the MD to the 32X..

(well, the audio doesn't HAVE to be passed through, but it is if you want sound :p )

[Joe Redifer]

If you are going from a Mega Drive/Genesis 1, the audio does not need to be included. The audio comes out of the Mega Drive/Genesis headphone jack. The only reason to pass the MONO audio signal from the MD/Genesis 1 DIN-8 into the 32X is if you want a MONO output from the 32X. Who the hell wants that? MONO is worse than AIDS.

[ronaldQ]

Hi joe,

now thats funny,

no offense meant to HIV people though.

Yes EvilDragon, I know- I'd use the stereo jack out of the MD MkI to RCA for sound.

Although there is some talk about the 32X processing sound too?!?

If it works I'll think about making a cable that feeds the stereo out jack into the 32X input. See how it goes.

[evildragon]

Hi joe,

now thats funny,

no offense meant to HIV people though.

Yes EvilDragon, I know- I'd use the stereo jack out of the MD MkI to RCA for sound.

Although there is some talk about the 32X processing sound too?!?

If it works I'll think about making a cable that feeds the stereo out jack into the 32X input. See how it goes.
I've made the discovery that the 32X sends the audio into the Genesis via the cartridge port (pins B1 and B3)

[Joe Redifer]

Do not feed the stereo headphone jack of the Genesis into the 32X or you will most likely get some crazy feedback.

[evildragon]

No you won't.. It's perfectly fine to feed the headphone jack into the 32X... (the 32X doesn't mix at all, the audio connections on the 32X are simple point to point, check the circuit on them)...

(remember, the Genesis does the mixing itself)

(also remember: I modded my Genesis with a 9-pin mini DIN so I can use regular patch cables, and I grabbed the stereo sound from the headphone connectors solder pads)

[ronaldQ]

hey guys, slow down so I can follow.......

So no feedback problems?

Okay, Evil Dragon, you put a minidin 9pin socket into the MkI and sourced the stereo from the stereo jacks solderpads, like a bypass kind of thing!?!

So , sound is not a huge issue, it's mainly getting a reasonable picture.

I tried the rgb and sync in to the 32X from a MD MkII on a CDII and all I got was a flickering eratic image of the SEGA CD startup image, kinda looked like a loose wire problem, but no amount of wire wiggling could fix it!?!

[Joe Redifer]

Maybe you have one of your pinouts backwards.

[evildragon]

can you take a picture of this? it really sounds like a sync problem.. make sure your taking the sync from the "Composite Sync", not the "Composite Video".. (putting Composite Video in the 32Xs Composite Sync input will wreck havoc on the 32X's "overlay" circuit)..

[ronaldQ]

I'm pretty sure it's sync and not comp video.

If I have put comp video in would that fry the overlay circuit?

[evildragon]

I don't think it would fry the overlay circuit, but it sure would cause problems with other parts of the circuit, for that "session"..

The overlay circuit also decides if the console is allowed to run on the "console" it's on top of.. (if it's an american 32X, obviously feeding it 50Hz is a no go)

[Joe Redifer]

One of the other guys on this forum was able to build his own Genesis 1 to 32X "cable" just by connecting the pins with wires. Worked. But the pinout he was looking at was backwards as I recall, and mirroring of one of them fixed it.

[evildragon]

I'm going to be doing the ultimate hack soon..

Make it so no passthrough cable is required, AT ALL... Now, ask me how THAT's gonna work :p