memory card pinout + mod question.

[medwardl]

I found a dream cast memory card at a thrift store a while back I'm just getting around to messing with it. It is clear it has a button on it has a 6 pin connector at the top probably for the parallel connector which didn't come with it. I believe it is the nexus 4x card but I'm not positive as it has no marking on it anywhere. My question is does anyone know what the pinout is on the extra connector so i can make a usb connector for it and what software i need to interface with it?

Second question is has anyone done or considered using the method used to add an sd card to add a network card just curious. Figured it would be alot like a pc just need a usb network card and a driver to run it.

[madmax2069]

I found a dream cast memory card at a thrift store a while back I'm just getting around to messing with it. It is clear it has a button on it has a 6 pin connector at the top probably for the parallel connector which didn't come with it. I believe it is the nexus 4x card but I'm not positive as it has no marking on it anywhere. My question is does anyone know what the pinout is on the extra connector so i can make a usb connector for it and what software i need to interface with it?

Second question is has anyone done or considered using the method used to add an sd card to add a network card just curious. Figured it would be alot like a pc just need a usb network card and a driver to run it.

I have a clear 4x memory card with the 6 pin (1 row of 6 pins) connector at the top (made by Pelican accessories), I also have 2 8 page clear dark casing that just says massive memory card plus which also has a connector on top (2 rows of 3 pins). I was wondering about a cable for them as well. having a cable for both would make retrieving my backup saves back onto the cards. these might be more along the lines of a serial connection then USB, but there are adapters that convert serial into USB. but i could be wrong and they could be USB.

As for the software i do not have a clue because i bought them used and they did not come with a cable or software.

[medwardl]

After describing yours it sounds like I may have the same kind of pelican mc.

After dusting off my DC i found out it was no longer reading discs so I adjusted the drive speed and brought it back from the dead. Anyone know where I can get a new drive for it I have an October 99 model.

Plus i found what i think is a rumble pack but it has some kind of red lens
looking thing on it which i find odd unless I'm mistaking.

While I'm typing anyone have a list of mods for my unit mainly thinking hardware mods not lights or anything like that but adding additional functionality.

[madmax2069]

Plus i found what i think is a rumble pack but it has some kind of red lens
looking thing on it which i find odd unless I'm mistaking.

Yeah, that's a rumblepack i use to own one like it, that red lens has a LED under it, when the pack rumbles the light comes on. I think it was by madcatz. It didn't rumble as hard as a official one from sega or another one without the light.

After dusting off my DC i found out it was no longer reading discs so I adjusted the drive speed and brought it back from the dead. Anyone know where I can get a new drive for it I have an October 99 model.

I dont think you adjusted the drive speed, you adjusted the laser power (laser calibration). if that is what you adjusted then the laser could be starting to get weak and it will eventually fail.

You should try searching google for Dreamcast laser replacement, there is a few places that sell them. i just don't know if they would be the correct ones

The other thing is the spindle motor (that spins the GD-Rom). the brushes and Commutator can wear out and cause the brush arms to touch each other (not spinning), a dead spot can develop and cause the drive not to reach full RPM or not spin at all, or somehow one of the brushes can somehow get flipped around (disk wont spin or tries to spin and makes a hell of a noise). My DC is a March 2000 model hkt-3020 that i bought brand new.

My DCs spindle motor actually did the later like 5 years ago and one of the brush arms got flipped around on the other side of the Commutator, I took the drive apart and repaired it myself. but later replaced the motor with one out of a dead Dreamcast (fried mobo).

Its getting harder and harder to get replacement parts, so most of them are recycled from broken units.

While I'm typing anyone have a list of mods for my unit mainly thinking hardware mods not lights or anything like that but adding additional functionality.

I think you should hit up google again and search for Dreamcast hardware mods. I cant see the use of modding a Dreamcast because they have all of the functionality they would ever need without modding, the only time when i would mod mine is when the Drive fails and someone comes up with a compact flash card reader drive replacement (not the SD card reader you plug into the serial port), or a case mod. most mods are the addition of lights in the case, or a case conversion or a portable unit, none of these hardly add any functionality to it. Most of the mods that you would have to do to another system to add functionality can already be done by software on the dreamcast.

[medwardl]

this is the video that i used to figure it outhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTMSRfEqWAU he says speed but the guy in the video may be wrong. I would defiantly like to find a replacement gd drive.

[madmax2069]

this is the video that i used to figure it outhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTMSRfEqWAU he says speed but the guy in the video may be wrong. I would defiantly like to find a replacement gd drive.

Well in the beginning of the video it says calibration, he even says calibration. but yeah all you did was adjust the power of the laser (which calibrates it to be how it was new). eventually it will fail and will need to be replaced

[medwardl]

I looked at eBay and amazon but I didn't see one, any idea where I could find a new unused gd-rom drive I don't really want to take a chance with someone else's used dc no way to tell if they treated it like crap and it would make me feel better to know i had a new one. I'd look more but my doctor changed my muscle relaxers and the new ones are messing with my head a bit something called soma haven't tried these ones before tried all the others but this kind.

Thanks

[madmax2069]

I looked at eBay and amazon but I didn't see one, any idea where I could find a new unused gd-rom drive I don't really want to take a chance with someone else's used dc no way to tell if they treated it like crap and it would make me feel better to know i had a new one. I'd look more but my doctor changed my muscle relaxers and the new ones are messing with my head a bit something called soma haven't tried these ones before tried all the others but this kind.

Thanks

You have to make sure you know what model/brand of GD rom drive you have before you go and buy any sort of replacement parts.

read this http://dcforums.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=42827

Like i said they are used.
http://www.amazon.com/SPU3200-Sanyo-DRE ... B005EFV23K

http://www.gaminggenerations.com/store/ ... gle-simple

a few places sells them new but only sell them in bulk (at least that what i gather).
http://threesixtyltd.en.made-in-china.c ... R-48-.html

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/29875 ... s_for.html

here is one in Spanish http://www.chollomedia.es/epages/614882 ... s/DC_laser

If none of these will do then there is always this http://dreamcast-talk.com/forum/viewtop ... 82&start=0

[medwardl]

Couple more questions:

What switch and location would look most oem for a region mod and what gauge wire do you recommend.

Any know where I can find an orange sd card?

[madmax2069]

Couple more questions:

What switch and location would look most oem for a region mod and what gauge wire do you recommend.

Any know where I can find an orange sd card?

I would not use a switch, i would use a import boot disk, You can either purchase an Import Boot Disc like the DC-X, Gameshark, Xploder, Action Replay CDX. or burn a copy of the Action Replay CDX Demo Version. You dont need to use a mod or mod chip to play a import game. Like i said before the Dreamcast doesnt really need hardware mods to do things, most of it can be done by software.

here read this http://www.dreamcast-scene.com/guides/h ... er-region/

A little bit of google will go a long way http://www.ecrater.com/p/13056574/sega- ... er-adapter