How To Region Mod the TG16?

[Shawn]

Hey,

 

Anyone got some info on how to Region MOD the TG16 to take both USA and JAP HU Cards?

 

Shawn

[djmips]

Damn my curiousity. I had to find out. And so I did the googling for you... heh.

 

It turns out that the main difference is that the 8 bit data bus on the card is reversed. So what you need to do is have a way of switching the data bus between the two configurations. I found a decent site but the illustrations were hosed so here is an archive.org link instead.

 

http://web.archive.org/web/20051216185246/...com/TD-Mod.html

 

 

From http://nfggames.com/games/pce/

 

Secret 14:

Japanese games don't check what region the hardware is from, but American games do. There are several US-released games that don't do this check, however. This is why only an adaptor is needed to run JP games on the US system, but a JP system has to be modified to play US games AND it needs the adaptor.

Edited January 6, 2007 by djmips

[djmips]

It doesn't look like the easiest mod to make because the pin spacing appears to be small.

 

One tip I picked up from all of the PS2 modding was the usage of a razor blade held between the pins (when soldering to small pins) this allows you to work towards the blade without fear of bridging to that side and at the same time it acts as a heat sink which can protect the electronics. Nevertheless it isn't the easiest thing to do and requires some practice.

[NE146]

I just bought one of those $20 adapters and that allowed me to play jap hu cards on my TG16 with no problem.

 

That being said, I bought it probably around 1990 or something.. who knows if they're still made

[djmips]

Secret 11:

The Kisado adaptor was not made in Japan, it was made by a Canadian who cleaned out the entire supply of connectors from a sewing machine manufacturer - connectors that just happened to be identical to the HuCard connector in the TurboGrafx + PC Engine.

 

 

It was called the Kisado adaptor. I had seen one on eBay for $199

 

 

A quick search of eBay shows one selling in Nov 06 for $433 !?

 

 

EDIT - > A web search shows the only current supplier that I could find. They seem to have a device for playing Japanese games on US console. Look under NEC->PC Engine-> Accessories.

 

http://www.consoleclearance.co.uk/

Edited January 6, 2007 by djmips

[Shawn]

With the price of the adaptor and the time needed for the mod I think I'm just gonna leave me tg16 as is. Thanks for the info none the less guys

[Uzumaki]

An used Coregrafx is probably cheaper anyway.

[EmOneGarand]

Heres a site with images though its in german.

 

http://mbrandel.vizionaires.net/?page_id=48

[EmOneGarand]

An used Coregrafx is probably cheaper anyway.

I think the main problem is how much resellers are selling US Duo's for, it's so much cheaper to buy a Japanese unit but then your stuck not being able to play US Hucards

[SnapCraft]

Thread back from the dead!

 

I have spend a long time trying to find help on this and I can only find bits and pieces. This site below was good, but around page 3 there is no text!

 

http://turbografxmod.synthasite.com/how-to-region-mod-your-turbografx.php

 

I was able to pick up a spare TG16 for cheap so I thought I'd just re-route the pins and make that my "Japanese" system. From what I gather, I clip pins 15-23 skipping #18.

 

Then route:

15 to 23

16 to 22

17 to 21

19 to 20

20 to 19

21 to 17

22 to 16

23 to 15

 

Is this right? Thanks

[+grips03]

I used this:

 

http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/pce/region.htm

 

based on:

 

http://playoffline.wordpress.com/mod/pceswitch/

 

Mouser had the parts. I was able to fit this and a rgb mod in my white pc-engine. Turbo has plenty of room.

 

dave

Edited November 16, 2010 by grips03