Just bought my first Duo-RX, have a WH-301 question and other comments

[beigemore]

Hi, I'm new to the forums.  I was wanting to buy someone's Duo-R they had for sale several days back but it took forever to get my account approved to respond, so I missed out on that.  So anyway, I just bought a Duo-RX off eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190388759803) and am really looking forward to playing it!  The one I got on eBay doesn't seem to be a bad deal, considering the Duo-R here was $215+game shipped, and the one I got on eBay was like $260 something shipped with a shell, RGB mod, multitap (box looks like it could be 3rd party?), arcade card and a couple games.  I also won an scart splitter, an scart to yuv (component) cable with RCA stereo audio output, and also and scart breakout box that is just scart in on one side and scart out on the other side but has stereo RCA connectors coming out of the adapter to extract the audio signal.  I'm not sure if this guy's mod job will need an amp for the cleaner video signal, so I'm just going to try the scart to yuv/stereo adapter first (PCE -> SCART splitter -> SCART to YUV/stereo cable -> TV) and see how that works.  If it's crappy, then I'll probably look into getting one of those powered SCART to YUV converter boxes.  I'd like to know your opinions on this since everyone here is more in tune with console pricing and RGB mods on this stuff than I am.

I used to have a TG16+CD (CD didn't work, just used the base for saves and composite) but I'm guessing I sold it a few years back or something.. really kind of weird because I don't remember selling it, but it's gone, as are most of my games, but it looks like I decided not to sell my favorites as they're still floating around here, like SF2, Dragon's Curse, Nekketsu Dodgeball, and Salamander.  I also have a WH-301 converter that I used for playing the PCE cards on my TG16.  The picture on the WH-301 box shows it being used to play US games on the PCE, so my question is, will this work for playing my US games like R-type and Space Harrier on the PCE, or does the converter not get around the region block on the japanese console?  I'm having a hard time finding a definitive answer on this, as anything I can find related to the WH-301 is people asking about playing PCE cards on TG16.

Thanks.

[Arkhan]

nice find!  Definitely a solid price.  That duo-tap is legit btw.

euh, I *think* that region converters don't work the other way around for US on Japanese consoles.  There is a hardware region lock on the system, so your games will refuse to be played.

Also, the WH-301 wont even fit in your Duo anyways. 

[tru]

Also, the WH-301 wont even fit in your Duo anyways. 

With some careful cutting of the shell of the converter and removing the hu-card door, it will work... it is what I have done to mine...

Also, you are correct, US hu-cards will not work on a Japanese system...

[nat]

The block is not in the Japanese system, it is in the US game cartridges. IIRC there are one or two US carts that don't have the region lockout code (Night Creatures, and something else) that will work on a JP system w/ region converter.

[Arkhan]

ooohhhh

good to know

in any event, the upside is, PCE games are cheaper than TG games.

[SignOfZeta]

There is a somewhat simple one wire mod that you can do do your system and then use your adaptor to play US games on a JP machine. The adaptor will have to be hacked up a bit to fit, of course.

Fiscally speaking, it might make more sense to sell the converter on eBay since some idiot will probably give you enough money to pay for a switch mod.

[beigemore]

Ok, so if I'm understanding this correctly, the PCE and TG16 cards have a couple pins switched, which is what the converter I've got takes care of.  Will the mod you're talking about take care of the pin switching and the region block at the same time, or is that more like two different mods?

[SignOfZeta]

The one you can use in tandem with the converter is a single wire mod that disables the region lock. Basically, the PCE can't detect that the US card is trying to lock it out. You'll still need the converter to switch the pins around.

What I was talking about when I said you should sell your converter is a much more complex mod. People here will do it for $50-60, something like that. You do this in conjunction with the one wire mod. You will be able to switch regions with a single switch that can be located almost anywhere, as opposed to a big ugly converter sticking out of the machine.

[Arkhan]

as opposed to a big ugly converter sticking out of the machine.

hey man, don't diss on purple barney. 


If you don't want the converter, definitely hock it.  Some epic numbnuts will see it and drop enough for a switch mod, and a buncha games.  and then your Duo-RX is ready for anything.

[Necromancer]

Welcome aboard.  That's a pretty fair deal for an RX with a new lens, RGB mod, Arcade Card, tap (which is an official NEC tap, by the way), and games.

[RoyVegas]

Some epic numbnuts will see it and drop enough for a switch mod, and a buncha games. 

On behalf of the epic numbnuts clan, I approve this message.  If it's a boxed barney adapter or an original Kisado I'll happily pay to much for it.   

Welcome Aboard!

[beigemore]

Thanks for the info guys.  I'm really looking forward to getting all of this hooked up.

In regards to my converter... it has the original box (no paperwork?  I never got any) and is brown instead of purple, and it has the left front corner cut off to make room for the TG16's power switch.  I'll probably just do that and sell the converter and get it modded after I play with the Duo for a bit.

Here are some pics just because:

[Arkhan]

LOL, A Brown Barney!

[beigemore]

Wow, the guy in Japan shipped the Duo-RX on April 19th and I it arrived this morning on April 21st.  That was crazy fast.  Everything is in good condition.  The console has been cleaned very well but does have some slight discoloration around the power button, but other than that, everything is awesome.

[Arkhan]

Wow, the guy in Japan shipped the Duo-RX on April 19th and I it arrived this morning on April 21st.  That was crazy fast.  Everything is in good condition.  The console has been cleaned very well but does have some slight discoloration around the power button, but other than that, everything is awesome.

Yes they usually get those bastards on a plane and over to the US quite fast with EMS.  Worth every penny if you are an impatient spaz like me.


The discoloration around the power button is likely due to greasy fingers constantly pressing the button and leaving oilies around the button.

You could put a little retro brite on it with a cottonswab, UV light it for a day, and probably be good to go