a7mag3ddon Posted February 8, 2023 Share Posted February 8, 2023 I recently bought a PAL 2600 and did deluxe composite mod then purchased an Unocart to go with it, for a few weeks this has been working perfectly along with my original games, but i wasnt happy with the picture. Ive just installed the Full Tim Worthington RGB Mod and all seemed well with my original games (about 10 of them) Only thing is now the unocart will not work at all and i dont know why. Is it not compatible with RGB or something? I have tried going via my OSSC and directly into my TV but it just doesnt want to work. I have also tried running it without an SD in case its a setting stored on the card or something. Just in case it matters i flashed the Cart with the PlusCart firmware ( which is what ive been using for a few weeks without problem via composite ) Please can anyone help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a7mag3ddon Posted February 9, 2023 Author Share Posted February 9, 2023 I found the topic on the L200 mod for harmony carts/ River Raid II and Frostbite etc... I shorted it and my cart still does not work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Al_Nafuur Posted February 9, 2023 Share Posted February 9, 2023 Maybe the RGB mod is drawing more current from the regulator? So there might not be enough to "boot" the PlusCart. Multicarts typically need a bit more current than a normal standard ROM cartridge. You can check the 5V rail without a cartridge, with a normal cartridge and with the PlusCart. Maybe you have to replace the regulator or use a more powerful wall plug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a7mag3ddon Posted February 9, 2023 Author Share Posted February 9, 2023 I have changed the regulator back to a new 7805 and read the voltage from it and also at the 3.3v regulator on the uno cart and it seems fine. 5v and 3.3v solid and stable I am using the official old power supply which shows 14.5v without a load. Anything else I can check? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Al_Nafuur Posted February 10, 2023 Share Posted February 10, 2023 18 hours ago, a7mag3ddon said: Anything else I can check? since you are using a original UnoCart you might check going back to the original v17 firmware. You can use the UnifiedToLegacy17.ace file from @ZackAttack's post here: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a7mag3ddon Posted February 10, 2023 Author Share Posted February 10, 2023 I do have both latest unified and legacy already on the cart as I was testing the two. I don't have a working atari now to reflash the cart. Unless there's a way to do it directly. I was thinking about what you said about the power and was thinking of using my bench power supply to give 5v volts at s higher current to see if that works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a7mag3ddon Posted February 10, 2023 Author Share Posted February 10, 2023 Oh I just saw i can flash with the ST Link V2 programmer which I have from last year when I did my zelda game and watch. I'll try that first if I can find the hex files. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+-^CrossBow^- Posted February 10, 2023 Share Posted February 10, 2023 Are you not using the DC-DC switching regulator that came with the RGB kit? The reason that is included is to reduce the overall current draw in the system so you can power up the RGB and the 2600 using an original PSU. The original PSUs only put about .5mA or 1/2 Amp of current, and with the RGB in place I think it was too much. So the DC-DC switchers were included to be installed as that drops the current draw from the console with the RGB in place to about 320mA average current draw. So you have to use a DC-DC switcher to prevent current issues related to power in the RGB upgraded consoles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a7mag3ddon Posted February 10, 2023 Author Share Posted February 10, 2023 2 minutes ago, -^CrossBow^- said: Are you not using the DC-DC switching regulator that came with the RGB kit? The reason that is included is to reduce the overall current draw in the system so you can power up the RGB and the 2600 using an original PSU. The original PSUs only put about .5mA or 1/2 Amp of current, and with the RGB in place I think it was too much. So the DC-DC switchers were included to be installed as that drops the current draw from the console with the RGB in place to about 320mA average current draw. So you have to use a DC-DC switcher to prevent current issues related to power in the RGB upgraded consoles. I was using it, unicart didn't work, I switched back to a new 7805 Still didn't work so put the dc to dc back in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+-^CrossBow^- Posted February 10, 2023 Share Posted February 10, 2023 Well I know that both an UNOcart and Plus carts will work in RGB upgraded consoles. I use both in testing on my work bench and I know I've used them on RGB upgrades I done. So it should work. Just wanted to make sure you were still using the DC-DC switching regulator as it is required. You can install a 1A or 2A 7805 but the regulator can only draw as much as the PSU can provide so even with a higher output regulator installed, you aren't going to get that much if the PSU can't supply that much to begin with. Again, it was a simpler solution to require replacing out the regulator to a switcher to drop the current draw requirement vs making everyone upgrade both the regulator and PSUs to higher amperage output variants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a7mag3ddon Posted February 10, 2023 Author Share Posted February 10, 2023 I can try my bench power supply instead if you think it will iliminate the original power supply not giving enough current, I'm also going to reflash the cart manually via the STLink first back to the legacy UnoCart Firmware. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a7mag3ddon Posted February 10, 2023 Author Share Posted February 10, 2023 1 hour ago, -^CrossBow^- said: Well I know that both an UNOcart and Plus carts will work in RGB upgraded consoles. I use both in testing on my work bench and I know I've used them on RGB upgrades I done. So it should work. Just wanted to make sure you were still using the DC-DC switching regulator as it is required. You can install a 1A or 2A 7805 but the regulator can only draw as much as the PSU can provide so even with a higher output regulator installed, you aren't going to get that much if the PSU can't supply that much to begin with. Again, it was a simpler solution to require replacing out the regulator to a switcher to drop the current draw requirement vs making everyone upgrade both the regulator and PSUs to higher amperage output variants. I got it working by reflashing the legacy V17 firmware to the cart. Which means on my machine the PlusCart firmware i was using does not seem to be compatible. I also used my bench psu to test as well with an original cart the console draws 280ma @9v and the Unocart 270mah on the menu. Who would i report a bug in the FW to for the plus cart firmware? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a7mag3ddon Posted February 10, 2023 Author Share Posted February 10, 2023 (edited) Also, what does this mean on the RGB mod install (I closed it) JP1 open for TTL sync / closed for 75 ohm sync (recommended). Whenever I play an NTSC game now I get no video, only audio. Its a pal console but it played both types on composite. Edited February 10, 2023 by a7mag3ddon spellcheck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a7mag3ddon Posted February 14, 2023 Author Share Posted February 14, 2023 So after speaking to Tim Worthington directly about this, he thinks my Ataris video timing is slightly off and that my TV doesn't like it. This is why the PlusCart dual firmware doesn't work for me as its default is NTSC (Since got it working by using composite and changing menu to PAL) I'm going to swap out the PAL crystal with an NTSC one to see if I can get it to work that way as a last resort and will update this post once I've tested just in case anyone in future has this issue. Sadly as I have only the 1 TV I'm unable to check on another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Al_Nafuur Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 On 2/14/2023 at 11:05 AM, a7mag3ddon said: So after speaking to Tim Worthington directly about this, he thinks my Ataris video timing is slightly off and that my TV doesn't like it. This is why the PlusCart dual firmware doesn't work for me as its default is NTSC (Since got it working by using composite and changing menu to PAL) I'm going to swap out the PAL crystal with an NTSC one to see if I can get it to work that way as a last resort and will update this post once I've tested just in case anyone in future has this issue. Sadly as I have only the 1 TV I'm unable to check on another. Did you solved the issue? If not you might change the TV setting by flashing a config to the second flash sector (sector 1) with the STM32CubrProgrammer. I can provide you the necessary bin file for TV mode PAL or PAL60. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a7mag3ddon Posted February 20, 2023 Author Share Posted February 20, 2023 No i was unable to fix it. If i select NTSC or PAL60 on UnoCart with jumper i loose picture, If I play any ntsc game I also loose picture and just get sound. As I have a programmer I am happy to try anything at the moment. Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Al_Nafuur Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 11 minutes ago, a7mag3ddon said: No i was unable to fix it. If i select NTSC or PAL60 on UnoCart with jumper i loose picture, If I play any ntsc game I also loose picture and just get sound. As I have a programmer I am happy to try anything at the moment. Thank you After flashing the firmware you can upload this bin file to the second sector (0x08004000): PAL-config.bin select the bin file in the "Erasing & Programming" tab of the STM32CubeProgrammer set the start address to 0x08004000 if you newly flashed the firmware you might select "Skip flash erase before programming" press the "Start Programming" button Your UnoCart should now boot in PAL mode, but this is only for the menu. If you select a NTSC or PAL60 ROM it will not work with your PAL only TV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a7mag3ddon Posted February 20, 2023 Author Share Posted February 20, 2023 Oh sorry, I managed to fix the cart side by using composite video to change the menu tv mode to pal. What I can't get running is ntsc games via RGB using the TW Rgb mod. I'm trying to source a console that was made in UK or California to try, although Tim said I'd probably have same issue. I'm also trying to find another TV to test on too as I only have the 1 at home, oh I could try a projector that I have with HDMI input.. didn't think of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a7mag3ddon Posted February 20, 2023 Author Share Posted February 20, 2023 The last thing I tried was putting in a ntsc crystal but that made it so I couldn't see anything on screen in pal or ntsc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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