Broken power base converter?

Awhile back I got a power base converter off ebay, I got it untested. I plugged in my genesis 3-button controller, but it wasn't very responsive, button delay if it responded at all. I assumed it was the controller. I recently bought a Master System controller, figuring that was the problem, but it doesn't work at all, no button responds. I took apart the PBC and thoroughly cleaned it, but to no avail.
Is it broken? Can it be fixed? Any ideas?

Thanks in advance,
- John

 

Do you have this issue with Genesis games? If so, it's the console not the PBC.

 

A few SMS games can't use Genesis controller. PBC is really simple, all it does is make SMS cart fit Genesis slot and adds a pause button, nothing else. Odds are your Genesis is the problem as someone said.

 

The genesis works fine without the pbc attached. The games and controllers are both perfectly responsive. Maybe I should try another Genesis.

 

I tried two different different games; Penguin Land: Only the jump button on the Gen controller worked while the MS controller didn't work at all. Outrun: The Gen controller works OK some of the time, and the MS controller doesn't work at all.

 

jlosacco, all I can think is that there is problem in your Master System control.I get recently 3 Master System controls and they were old and dirty, wherewhere none of them worked perfectly. After a good maintenance in them, all three working like new in my Power Base Converter. (I don't have a real Master System)


The problem of one was dirt, used contact cleaner to remove dirt from contacts of the board, and paper to remove the dirt from rubbers of the buttons.
Nothing more than the standard procedure.
And the other problem was a broken wire that did he work only one of the buttons.
And the third not working no button, but the problem was only dirt, after cleaning the contact rubbers he returned to work as never before.


What version of your Sega Genesis?
Is there any compatibility issue with the PBC depending on the Genesis version?
Their genesis controls should work perfectly, but there may be compatibility issue with games that have you tested.
I still think there is some problem in your SMS controller.
If you do not have an real Master System to test the SMS controller, then you could try performing a maintenance on it with multimeter, a simple screwdriver, clean contact (or isopropyl alcohol) and maybe a soldering iron, if it is necessary.


For me worked perfectly, try this if possible and good luck!

 

Ok, I've tried a few more games and they seem to work ok with the genesis controller. I think it might just be my MS controller. I'll try opening it up and thoroughly cleaning it. I'm not sure which Gen1 I have. I'll have to open it up and look. Thanks for all your help!

 

Hopefully it's a VA1-VA6 and not the piece of junk VA7. Those have horrible sound quality and have a motherboard similar to the model 2. VA1-6 are perfect, with the VA6 having the bass issue fixed and better video output. Although the modem port was removed from the VA6, all of the circuitry and even the holes for the DB-9 port are still there, meaning you just need to cut some plastic and solder a new connector in.

 

Funny enough this is the ONLY Genesis that I haven't modded(AV and s-video) so that's why i haven't opened it. It's got the modem port though, so it's not a VA7 thank god.

 

Why would you do the pointless AV and S-Video mods when you can get Composite cables for the same price as RCA jacks and the system supports something better than S-Video natively? The Genesis supports RGBS via RGB SCART and RGB JP-21 cables. Currently, this gives you the best picture possible out of a Genesis and the 50Hz color issue isn't there in RGB mode. It looks just as good as emulators.

These are about $20 and to use them here in the USA, you need a SCART to Component (has compatibility issues on some HDTVs), a SCART to HDMI converter, RGBS to VGA converter, an upscaler (XRGB, DVD0, or anything with an RGBS input), or a TV with RGBS inputs (PVMs, multi-format TVs with an RGB SCART input, etc.). Don't fall for the S-Video is best trap, it's not that great outside of Atari 2600/5200/7800.

 

I know you're right, I was just experimenting at the time. It was one of my first mods. I still like that I get stereo out of my Gen1 now.

 

Not everyone has nice RGB monitor, some modern TV that takes VGA will not work with 15KHz RGB signal, and people may prefer the scanlines of CRT TV which do not have HDMI. Good upscaler costs a lot (over $300) so without HDMI, without upscaler, and without component, S-Video is often the best available video supported.

Just a thought. I'm using one TV, an LCD TV because I don't have the room for a good PVM for older game consoles. I do plan to eventually get all capable systems RGB modded, for now it's only GC, Wii, XBox, and PS2 that has component (yes you may hate me for GC component) and at present, no PS3, PS4, 360, or XBox One. Half of the systems I have are on S-Video and are capable of RGB if someone sends me a free upscaler. The other half are too old to support RGB (3 Atari systems, Intellivision although RGB mod exists, Colecovision, Odyssey, and C64)

 

Sadly, most modern HDTVs/monitors do not support 15KHz RGB via a VGA port. They already dropped S-Video and are starting to drop VGA. The SCART to HDMI converter I use on my HDTV is pretty good. It even supports S-Video over SCART. Looks great with my Genesis Model 1 VA6/Sega CD Model 1/32X combo mess and my SNES. It cost me ~$60 and I bought it directly from amazon.com. I plan on getting a cheaper DVD0 upscaler in the future which uses BNC connectors for RGBS and outputs it via HDMI. The model I looked at goes for ~$150-$200 used.

I don't hate you for GC component since the DVI version of GCVideo gives you true digital, 480p, DVI-D over HDMI and true digital audio over TOSLINK. It also has built-in scanlines, a line doubler for making 240p/480i games display on a 480p monitor/HDTV, and it even works on the DOL-101. It is much better than the official component cable, which is only capable of analog YPbPr, 31Khz RGBS, RGBHV VGA, and digital audio over TOSLINK. Why go Digital to Analog to Digital (inside HDTV) when you can have digital all the way? (I don't mean this in an insulting way so if you get offended, I apologize in advance)

The ColecoVision natively supports YPbPr component video but there is no way to output it without a mod.

The Intellivision can be modded for true digital HDMI as well as RGBS.

I've heard of an RGB mod for the Atari 7800 but I can't find much information other than it was designed for one of the Atari computers and it happened to be compatible with the 7800. I'd say stick with S-Video until an HDMI board is finished for it.

The C64 only supports S-Video so I hope you are using that instead of RF or composite video. It sadly lacks RGB output and would need a similar method to the Tim Worthington's NESRGB board and Kevtris's NESHD board.

Not sure about the Odyssey. If it is the original (the very first game console) you're talking about, there is no color so RGB might not be possible at all. Maybe composite or S-Video but I'm not sure about that.