News (2/16)

Due to the constant stream of e-mail I received about broken links and webpage/file requests, I have finally fixed some areas:

• Added SMS Plus page, updated for most recent version. (1.3, 2/11/07)
• Added Genesis Plus page, updated for most recent version. (1.2a, 6/22/03)
• Added TGEmu page.
• Added Sega Saturn information page.
• Fixed header for 16-bit EPROM Emulator page.

If you do not want to build the PAL reader, there is a very low-cost alternative for dumping combinatorial (not registered) PALs. You can construct an adapter that connects a 20-pin PAL to a 32-pin socket. By reading the PAL in a device programmer as a 27C020 EPROM you will get a 256K dump which the PAL analysis software can interpret.

Please note that while this has worked in some cases, because it relies on the operation of your device programmer the results cannot be guaranteed to be accurate. One person told me about several good dumps that were made with the adapter and just a few PALs gave weird results. When all the PALs were later redumped on the dedicated PAL reading hardware the correct dumps were still correct and the bad dumps were now read properly. Keep in mind that it is just a hack.

I've gotten some requests for another batch of Action Replay USB Link boards. In the new version under developing, I have revised the board to use less parts and believe I have found a solution to prevent the problem where the Saturn can be inadvertantly powered through the Comms Link port which interferes with booting. There is enough free space that I intend to add holes for standoffs and LEDs to indicate activity. You can never have enough blinking things on a circuit, and I am enjoying the convenience of SMT LEDs now that I have had a chance to use them in some other projects.

Old News (1/15)

I have finally organized all my electronics projects and tried to update them with the current files I had. Some projects are still incomplete, but I'll try to get everything finished up in time. No more searching through the old news for dead links now.

I purchased a Wing "Lucky Girl" PCB and was able to write a trojan to extract the internal ROM, thanks to the work of a fellow MAMEdev in figuring out how the external program ROM was encrypted. It used a Z180, just like Gaelco's Master Boy, but in a epoxy block with a rather huge pin count. No batteries inside, thankfully. I may have a chance to work with more Z180-based hardware in the future as well.

The third revision of the PAL reader has had an update to fix a problem where USB enumeration wouldn't always work. Check out the online instructions for a step-by-step guide of how to modify the PCB and new PIC firmware.

Current projects under development include:

• Communications board for the PC-Engine using the new DLP-245R USB module.
• USB-based RCA Studio 2 cartridge reader.
• PAL programmer that interfaces directly with the PAL dumper.

Hope to update more often this year. :)