Mirai converter problems

[Mathius]

Hey all! I just received a Mirai type converter today. I can't seem to get it to work. Only one time after a lot of shifting, and moving did it fire up. And, that was out of hundreds of tries! Are these converters notorious for this? I know my Turbografx is fine. It reads turbo chips without any issues. And the PCE Hu Card I am using looks pristine. The only thing I can think of is the Hu Card "lock-in" mechanism that slides out when the power switch is flipped brushes up against the huey a bit causing it to shift a little. I tried pulling up on the card to let it slide by untouched, and that was the only time it fired up. But, I have been trying the same tactic all evening and nothing is happening. Any help

[TheClash603]

I have one of the purple converters, and it takes me a lot of tries to get the thing to work.  Only PCE Hu game I have is Street Fighter, but it is a pain in the ass to get working.

[Mathius]

I have one of the purple converters, and it takes me a lot of tries to get the thing to work.  Only PCE Hu game I have is Street Fighter, but it is a pain in the ass to get working.

This is my first PCE Hu Card too. The amazing Download!

[kattare]

Mathius, you might still try that DeOxit contact cleaner on the PCE huey.  It shouldn't be that hard to get it goin'.  When I tested it prior to shipping it was "slide the card into the converter, slide the converter into the tg, flip the power switch on... and boom R-Type came up"  ... It's only been rarely that I've had issues with my kisado-style converters.  I think the DeOxit DN5 is about $15 at radio shack, or can be had elsewhere on the net for around that.

[Mathius]

Mathius, you might still try that DeOxit contact cleaner on the PCE huey.  It shouldn't be that hard to get it goin'.  When I tested it prior to shipping it was "slide the card into the converter, slide the converter into the tg, flip the power switch on... and boom R-Type came up"  ... It's only been rarely that I've had issues with my kisado-style converters.  I think the DeOxit DN5 is about $15 at radio shack, or can be had elsewhere on the net for around that.

Radio Shack was closed by the time I got off work tonight. Also, I figured I didn't really need any now since I got it to fire up right as I was leaving for work. Can contact pins on the hueys be oxidized without any visual cues? This copy of Download has been well cared for before I bought it. The pins are nice and shiny. But, I will go out tomorrow to the store and pick some up anyway just in case that is the issue.

I actually just got it going again, and I am listening to the Download title screen music as I am typing this.

[SignOfZeta]

The Mirai is the "new" converter, right? The one that was $90 or whatever and came out years after all the other ones? I would suspect the HuCard you have. Until you get another PCE card I guess we can't know for sure.

[kattare]

Heh, I hate to admit it, but before I found DeOxit I used to use fine grit sandpaper on non-working hueys (and other system carts) ...

of about 250 - 300 hueys that've passed through my hands, I've had several (15-20?) that refused to work even after an alcohol cleaning.  Of those all but one has been brought back to life after a sandpaper (or now, DeOxit) treatment.  Since I picked up the DeOxit, I haven't had to go back to the sandpaper once.  ;-)

[Mathius]

The Mirai is the "new" converter, right? The one that was $90 or whatever and came out years after all the other ones? I would suspect the HuCard you have. Until you get another PCE card I guess we can't know for sure.

Yes, those are the new converters that were sold by TZD before they went the way of the Dodo. They look almost exactly like the Kisado type. Not sure if they work the same though. And, yes it most definitely could be the PCE Hu Card unfortunately. In a week or two I should have another PCE game or three to confirm. I trust Kattare's asessment on the issue. He's a good egg.

[Mathius]

Heh, I hate to admit it, but before I found DeOxit I used to use fine grit sandpaper on non-working hueys (and other system carts) ...

of about 250 - 300 hueys that've passed through my hands, I've had several (15-20?) that refused to work even after an alcohol cleaning.  Of those all but one has been brought back to life after a sandpaper (or now, DeOxit) treatment.  Since I picked up the DeOxit, I haven't had to go back to the sandpaper once.  ;-)

Yeah, I have seen Luke Morse on You-Tube use that trick. That's one tricky trick though! I don't know if I trust myself enough to not ruin the card.

[Mathius]

Also, does anyone know if the PCE Arcade Card is compatible with this type of converter? I have heard the Arcade Card can have issues with some converters.

[Necromancer]

Also, does anyone know if the PCE Arcade Card is compatible with this type of converter? I have heard the Arcade Card can have issues with some converters.

That's the type of converter that I have, and I have no troubles using my Arcade Card.  Well, no troubles excepting usual converter finickiness and having to reseat HuCards often.

[SignOfZeta]

Back in the day I knew two people that had the "Barney" converters. They weren't called Barneys by anyone I knew back then, possibly because they were all brown. I never saw a purple one, or heard them called Barney's until I started coming here a lot.

Anyway, both of these people had these converters, and the "diving board" type (prices on converters ranged between "free w/game" to $20 at the time) and both of them couldn't play Mad Stalker on them. It would crash after the opening, I think. I also remember people on the Turbo Mailing List saying that Sapphire wouldn't run past stage 2.

The Kisado was famous for not having this problem, and your converter was made well after the Kisado, so I would think they are probably fine. As Necromancer said though, expect finickiness, as with any cart based system. All these earlier, problematic converters did was exacerbate the inherent finickiness of the PCE card slot anyway. Just a teeny amount of voltage drop messes them up.

[turbogrfxfan]

yeah I use a telegames converter and sometimes it takes a few times to get it to work.  I have the same amount of trouble if its my arcade pro or a regular pce hu card.  its just the way it goes with a third party part.  If it really bothers you get a mod.

[Mathius]

Also, does anyone know if the PCE Arcade Card is compatible with this type of converter? I have heard the Arcade Card can have issues with some converters.

That's the type of converter that I have, and I have no troubles using my Arcade Card.  Well, no troubles excepting usual converter finickiness and having to reseat HuCards often.

Thanks! Good to know.

[Mathius]

Back in the day I knew two people that had the "Barney" converters. They weren't called Barneys by anyone I knew back then, possibly because they were all brown. I never saw a purple one, or heard them called Barney's until I started coming here a lot.

Anyway, both of these people had these converters, and the "diving board" type (prices on converters ranged between "free w/game" to $20 at the time) and both of them couldn't play Mad Stalker on them. It would crash after the opening, I think. I also remember people on the Turbo Mailing List saying that Sapphire wouldn't run past stage 2.

The Kisado was famous for not having this problem, and your converter was made well after the Kisado, so I would think they are probably fine. As Necromancer said though, expect finickiness, as with any cart based system. All these earlier, problematic converters did was exacerbate the inherent finickiness of the PCE card slot anyway. Just a teeny amount of voltage drop messes them up.

Guess I lucked out by getting a newer converter. Thanks!