Dreamcast Revision: VA1 - PAL
Dreamcast Motherboard Revision: "IC BD KATANA MAIN VA1 MADE IN JAPAN 837-13778, SEGA 1999 171-7965E SEGA"
DC Digital Revision: 1.3a
Vendor: A distributor in the United Kingdom
Hi,
I have just purchased 3 DC Digital units from a distributor in the United Kingdom and have been tasked with installing the DC Digital on 3 Dreamcasts all VA1s - All PAL Versions.
I have attempted to install the DC Digital mod and I have failed to get a video signal from the DC Digital.
I am 99.9% certain that the soldering I have done on the flat flex cable on the top side of the Dreamcast motherboard is not at fault.
I have confirmed the soldering joints from the Video Framebuffer IC (315-6258) are good by checking under the microscope as well as checking for continuity from each of the used pins on the Video IC to the resistor array packages on the ribbon cable. (N.B. The termination resistors for the video signal are packaged in RN2, RN3 and RN4). For good measure I have verified the resistance values on each of the resistors in arrays RN2, RN3 and RN4. I have also measured the continuity from the other side of the array packages back to the copper on the other end of the flat flex connector. (Jump 8 is good as I have tested the resistance from the joint to the other side of the SMD resistor)
A similar rigorous check has also been applied to the Audio IC (315-6232), with Jumps 5, 6 4 and the jump to the capacitor being good.
I have very carefully and patiently inserted the ribbon cable into the flax flex connector onto the DC Digital Board mounted onto the bottom side of the chassis mounted above the lower shield (provided sticker has been applied to the underside of the DC Digital board).
In some instances the ribbon cable makes a very mild but noticeable "click" with the connector lock open, I then have closed the ribbon cable lock. This is the only connection that I am uncertain about being good.
I have soldered the two wires for the Maple bus sniffing and an additional wire for the reset. Again, continuity confirmed with inspection under microscope and with a multimeter.
Upon powering up the Dreamcast there is no HDMI Signal Detected by my TV.
The Dreamcast console is outputting a composite signal and the Dreamcast operates as it should using the composite cable.
The DC Digital is creating a WiFi access point, so can I reasonably assume that the flat flex cable is properly seated within the connector? (And that the board at least is connected to 3.3V rail and GND ..?)
It it worth noting that I am somewhat experienced in this modification as I have done one console before which worked perfectly so we can rule out the TV being at fault, I just followed the instructions and checked through the soldering meticulously to make sure the solder joints were good and there were no shorts.
The only conclusion I can draw is that there is an issue with the board (potentially the FPGA needs to be "re-flashed"), with the WiFi working the indications are that the ESP Chip is operating as it should.
I will await any advice before proceeding.
Thanks in advance!
Dreamcast Motherboard Revision: "IC BD KATANA MAIN VA1 MADE IN JAPAN 837-13778, SEGA 1999 171-7965E SEGA"
DC Digital Revision: 1.3a
Vendor: A distributor in the United Kingdom
Hi,
I have just purchased 3 DC Digital units from a distributor in the United Kingdom and have been tasked with installing the DC Digital on 3 Dreamcasts all VA1s - All PAL Versions.
I have attempted to install the DC Digital mod and I have failed to get a video signal from the DC Digital.
I am 99.9% certain that the soldering I have done on the flat flex cable on the top side of the Dreamcast motherboard is not at fault.
I have confirmed the soldering joints from the Video Framebuffer IC (315-6258) are good by checking under the microscope as well as checking for continuity from each of the used pins on the Video IC to the resistor array packages on the ribbon cable. (N.B. The termination resistors for the video signal are packaged in RN2, RN3 and RN4). For good measure I have verified the resistance values on each of the resistors in arrays RN2, RN3 and RN4. I have also measured the continuity from the other side of the array packages back to the copper on the other end of the flat flex connector. (Jump 8 is good as I have tested the resistance from the joint to the other side of the SMD resistor)
A similar rigorous check has also been applied to the Audio IC (315-6232), with Jumps 5, 6 4 and the jump to the capacitor being good.
I have very carefully and patiently inserted the ribbon cable into the flax flex connector onto the DC Digital Board mounted onto the bottom side of the chassis mounted above the lower shield (provided sticker has been applied to the underside of the DC Digital board).
In some instances the ribbon cable makes a very mild but noticeable "click" with the connector lock open, I then have closed the ribbon cable lock. This is the only connection that I am uncertain about being good.
I have soldered the two wires for the Maple bus sniffing and an additional wire for the reset. Again, continuity confirmed with inspection under microscope and with a multimeter.
Upon powering up the Dreamcast there is no HDMI Signal Detected by my TV.
The Dreamcast console is outputting a composite signal and the Dreamcast operates as it should using the composite cable.
The DC Digital is creating a WiFi access point, so can I reasonably assume that the flat flex cable is properly seated within the connector? (And that the board at least is connected to 3.3V rail and GND ..?)
It it worth noting that I am somewhat experienced in this modification as I have done one console before which worked perfectly so we can rule out the TV being at fault, I just followed the instructions and checked through the soldering meticulously to make sure the solder joints were good and there were no shorts.
The only conclusion I can draw is that there is an issue with the board (potentially the FPGA needs to be "re-flashed"), with the WiFi working the indications are that the ESP Chip is operating as it should.
I will await any advice before proceeding.
Thanks in advance!