Simple Region Switch fo SS

[saturnin]

As I stated sometime ago, I own two Sega Saturns, model-1 and model-2. I already own an Action Replay 4M cardridge, but I decided to try and make a Region switch in one of them as I want to play imports on two machines.

I don't have much experience with soldering, but still I menaged to mod my Sega Master System II with a Led mod and etc. so why not?

The problem occured when I started searching online for tutorial. Most of guides were for NTSC machines, and from others I didn't really understand what I'm supposed to do. I always thought that simple region switch (not 50/60 Hz one) consist od soldering cables to jumpers on MB and then to a switch.

So, could you guys provide me with any link to some kind of "tutorial for noobs" or anything like that? I visited gamesx and mmonkeys site's but still... couldn't figure it out. The switch I want to do is PAL <-> NTSC-J or all three regions if that's possible.

Serials of my SS:
model-1 (AD51101088)
model-2 (169050299)

[zyrobs]

Adding a region switch is similar to the 50/60 switch, the difference is that there are 4 jumper pairs for a total of 16 possible combinations, or which the three relevant regions are:
1 for Japan,
4 for USA,
12 for Europe (8+4).
So you cannot do it with only one switch, unless you use some kind of triple throw switch and figure out the correct pinout.

Frankly given the amount of cables that require soldering, it is more efficient to either keep using an action replay, or get a modchip and user region patched backups, or even install a region free bios (this one latter can be difficult without the right tools however).

[saturnin]

Hmm... so no easy option then. That's too bad. Well, I guess I'll get another AR+ or study mmonkey guide harder.

Anyway, thank You for providing this information

[zyrobs]

Technically it is easy if you don't mind having to add 4 switches (or a rotary selector) and soldering ~10 or so cables.

[saturnin]

By the way, does modchips support region free feature? I saw ones that use ribbon cables and I consider buying one.

[zyrobs]

No, modchips only bypass the security ring. Region protection is elsewhere in the system.