Saturn doesnt still read CDRs after mod chip installed

[mws2]

Hi folks,

So I recently got a Model 1 Saturn (version A) and the V3 mod chip from Sega style (http://www.segastyle.com/model1V3.html) however I'm having a little trouble getting it to play CDR's. It will play original games fine but when I turn it on with a burnt disc it spins for maybe a second like its reading the disc then just says "insert disc into tray".

Like I said it will play original games fine and the connectors are in firmly and in the correct slots (20 pin ones) but I just cant get around this it seems. The chip at least looks ok and the power input to the chip is well soldered to the 5v pin in the saturn so don't think the issue is there.

The discs themselves seem ok, they are standard 700mb memorex cdrs so not the best but could be worse. They were burnt at 16x using imgburn. I have booted them in SSF and they work fine.

Could it be the chip is broken, is there anyway to tell? Would it allow me to play original games if it was?

Also I have an action replay cart so dont think it could be a region thing either. Not to mention I of course insulated the chip with electrical tape.

Thanks

[zyrobs]

You are either burning broken images, or imgburn is doing bad burns (common problem), or the Saturns laser is too worn out and cannot see CDRs (adjust the tray and the laser pot).

Seeing as you get a message indicating that the Saturn can't see any disc at all, I'm leaning towards the laser problem.

[mws2]

Aug 26, 2014 6:40:25 GMT zyrobs said:

You are either burning broken images, or imgburn is doing bad burns (common problem), or the Saturns laser is too worn out and cannot see CDRs (adjust the tray and the laser pot).

Seeing as you get a message indicating that the Saturn can't see any disc at all, I'm leaning towards the laser problem.

Ok so I turned up the laser pot (at least I turned anti clockwise 20-30 degrees) but didnt change the outcome.

I tried using a different burner (alcohol 120) with different images also. What Im noticing is the disc will only spin once or twice at most which is where I guess it is looking for the silver ring on a saturn disc. Could it be that the mod chip is not overwriting this or still could it be a bad disc? I will see if I can get a different brand of cdrs and try that, my dreamcast has no problems with this one but thats all I can really think of left to try,

[zyrobs]

Take the top off and watch, from the side, how the laser behaves. If it moves up to the outer edge of the disc, then it is looking for the disc, and the modchip is not doing its thing. If it is just constantly looking at the inner ring, then it just cannot read the disc.

Since you get the message "insert disc into tray", the Saturn just doesn't see the disc at all.

Maybe 20-30 degrees was too much for that laser, try making smaller increments, see if it makes a difference. Optimally you'd want to measure some values with an oscillator, but without such equipment the best way is to just adjust the laser as you would a TV channel. Slowly change the values and see if it improves things, keep going as long as things get better, then dial back once things start going worse.

Also make sure the tray is not too low, that can also make a difference.

[mws2]

Aug 26, 2014 18:53:06 GMT zyrobs said:

Take the top off and watch, from the side, how the laser behaves. If it moves up to the outer edge of the disc, then it is looking for the disc, and the modchip is not doing its thing. If it is just constantly looking at the inner ring, then it just cannot read the disc.

Since you get the message "insert disc into tray", the Saturn just doesn't see the disc at all.

Maybe 20-30 degrees was too much for that laser, try making smaller increments, see if it makes a difference. Optimally you'd want to measure some values with an oscillator, but without such equipment the best way is to just adjust the laser as you would a TV channel. Slowly change the values and see if it improves things, keep going as long as things get better, then dial back once things start going worse.

Also make sure the tray is not too low, that can also make a difference.

Ok I did this and it worked!

Thanks very much, very grateful for your assistance.

[mws2]

Hmm so it looks like I may have spoke too soon. I started a game and noticed the sound wasn't playing so i tried a few other discs and now it doesn't seem to want to spin the discs at all. I disconnected the mod PCB so the drive connects directly to the saturn.

I tried winding the laser so it wasnt in its default position at start up (with the power off obviously) and it moved back to the end when I turn the power on like its supposed to. Im trying it with genuine games too.

Is it likely to be a dead laser or something else like the mechanism?

[zyrobs]

Let it cool down for a bit, then try adjusting it and the tray again.
And make sure you don't accidentally short anything out on it, the laser is of course very fragile.