8PDT Switches and TG16 Region Hack

[benzaldehyde]

Hi all,

    Yet another question about "fun" things technical. I'm interested in region modding my TG16, persuant to the plan laid out here:

http://joyce.eng.yale.edu/~bt/turbo/files/.../country.switch

I am however having trouble hunting down an 8PDT switch. Would anyone happen to know where to find one? At least where I don't have to buy 29 of them at once! Also, I am a little worried about the safety of this modification. This isn't like a CD-based system where one just gets a "You can't load this, you archetypal bastard!" I would be worried about damaging the system, because rewiring the HuCard port is necessary. So another question is, if the switch is misaligned for the region of a game,  does anyone know if the TG would explode? I had also considered using two 4PDT switches, but then I wonder what would happen if one or both of those switches were set improperly. (zzzzt... BANG!    )  What would anyone recommend? Thanks!

PS- Thank you, Waltarzar! That RGB amp works wonderfully with the TG16. It's quite a revelation after playing through that damn RF connection the entire time!

[NFG]

I've never seen an 8-pole switch, but I hear they ARE available.  If you've got space you might consider a rotary switch, like a printer or serial select box.  If you wire up two fours and one's switched the wrong way you'll not damage anything, it just won't work.

[Guest_Benzaldehyde]

Thanks for the info. I think I may have an idea for this.

[acem77]

http://www.massystems.com/TD-Mod.html

check this mod out this will do what you wanted to do.
i use roms now on a backup device and change the rom to the mode i need. i have loaded super grafx roms on my usa duo.
all you get are the sound and music but cool.

[benzaldehyde]

Ah, yes! That's what I had been thinking about. However, I was going to expand on Lawrence's switchless Saturn mod by using two 74157 ICs to switch the 8 lines. I will now do some more research, though, as your's may be the better route. Thanks.

[NFG]

the 74157  mod won't work (I looked into it) because you can't 'float' the cartridge port.  When the PCE/TG isn't accessing the cartridge it disables it and the I/O ports 'float', they're at neither +5v or GND, they're invisible to the system.  You can't do that with the '157, it's not a tri-state device.  

L.

[matt]

A quick & easy way to get 8PDT functionality is to buy a switch with 8 poles but more than 2 positions (I've seen 8p4t ones around a lot), and make the mounting hole small enough so the slider can't move past the second position.