Dreamcast Laser Temperamental even after pot adjustment.

Hello, I got my first Dreamcast yesterday, had to do a PSU PCB repair (few traces etc) because it had cracked, but all is well now in that department. Only the laser before I adjusted was terrible, it would play games but on Code veronica music would cut-out dialogue wouldn't play, black screens, so I adjusted the pot and it fixed a lot of those issues, it's much faster at loading and seems more stable, but then some dialogue would cut out and I could hear the laser making noises even though I already loaded the part of the map I'm in so the laser shouldn't be doing anything, so many more adjustments later it's a lot better but I do still get the odd dialogue skip. The drive is a lot quieter then it was and I plan to make even more so with some White Lithium Grease.

My question is can I replace this laser? or is there a optimum voltage I should be going for on the POT adjustments & are they're any other recommended adjustments such as moving the laser closer to disc? Missing dialogue is really ruining the story for me.

 

You can replace the laser and it's the best way to go, I'm afraid.
After a while, even after tweaking and all, a laser is just worn out and must be replaced.

You can also replace your drive with a GD-EMU.

 

GD-EMU takes the fun out of the Dreamcast imo. Is there anywhere to get a replacement laser?

Thanks.

 

Ebay, I guess, or buy another cheap DC.

 

If you search ebay there are several sellers of Dreamcast laser modules. I can't recommend one because I've never bought one myself.

Keep in mind that Dreamcast has had more than one GD-reader brand/model, and you need to get the right one.

 

Yes there are several on eBaY US not UK, but since the new Global Shipping Programme I should be able to order. Dreamcast's here are a lot more money from £40 upwards including postage most of the time.And how do I even tell what laser I got? I found the drive assembly info which is Samsung 610-7292 but there is only 1 sticker on the laser and the digits are so long, when googled nothing comes up. Can anyone tell me where to look?

 

The correct optical pickup for the Samsung drive in a DC is SOH-R48G - you might be able to use other SOH-R48 variants, but it's possible they will have problems with focusing, since the rest position of the lens is higher on the R48G to compensate for the plastic cover on the GD-ROM drive. In particular, the ones used in tray-loading CD-ROM drives are unlikely to work properly.

 

Thanks for the info. It seems impossible to buy aside from dodgy websites at stupid prices of $40 for 1 laser. Never though it would be so hard to find parts, then again I should of seen it coming considering Sega stop manufacturing
early.

Is this even legit? http://uk.alibaba.com/product/299776904-Video-Game-Parts-SOH-R48G-Laser.html

 

The photo is an SPU-3200, which is the optical pickup used in the Yamaha drives. I've been told you can use a SPU-3200 in place of the SOH-R48G, but not the other way around - I've never personally verified this, though. As I'm sure you know, the Samsung pickup is rectangular. and doesn't have the rounded edges that the SPU-3200 does.

So it would probably work, but it's not actually the right part.

 

Thanks for the help I appreciate it. I have contacted them to see if they know its compatibility with the Samsung GD Drive. And my laser seems to have rounded edges right at top lens, but the metal around the laser is rectangle.

 

There are basically three different types of drives:

The original Yamaha drives (these are generally 5V, and found in VA0 machines):
http://wiki.assemblergames.com/lib/...k=a645f0&media=wiki:sega:dreamcast:yamaha.jpg

The Samsung drive:
http://wiki.assemblergames.com/lib/...=4c44ad&media=wiki:sega:dreamcast:samsung.jpg

Later Yamaha drives (typically 3.3V, same top plastics as the Samsung)
http://wiki.assemblergames.com/lib/...0d1&media=wiki:sega:dreamcast:late_yamaha.jpg

If you want, I can try swapping one of the Yamaha pickups into a Samsung drive and see if it works - but it might take me a couple of days to find the time.

 

Mine seems to be the Yamaha 3.3 lens here's a picture I took

Weird to see a Yamaha laser with a Samsung disc assembly, and I think I got a Yamaha pickup in this drive, not sure o.0

 

That seems to be a SPU-3200 - maybe it was already swapped by someone?

 

Nope as there was 2 warranty stickers intact that I had to remove. What laser do you think I should be going for?


What about this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-SPU-3...0-Sega-Dreamcast-Optical-Pickup-/360471382615

 

It looks right - Although I am a bit surprised that seller doesn't know who made the products they are selling (the SPU-3200 is NEC, not JVC).

 

That puts me off even more. I also need to know for sure if it's the right laser, this is frustrating, especially when my pre-production of Toy Commander will be coming soon.

 

OK, I just did some experiments.

The Yamaha and Samsung pickups are electrically interchangeable - you can plug either of them into either control board and they will work. Mechanically, the Samsung drive has a wider slot in the plastic frame and a different top cover. The overall result is that you can freely swap boards, but you can't replace a Yamaha pickup with a Samsung. You can put a Yamaha pickup into a Samsung drive (still using the original control board) and it works.

If you try to swap the Samsung pickup into a Yamaha drive, it's physically impossible to install - if you swap over the plastics, too, then it works.

 

Awesome thanks, I can go either with another Samsung laser or Yamaha which is dam sight better than just one laser!

Thanks again.

 

Ah, one other thing I forgot - don't try to plug a VA1 GD-ROM unit or control board into a VA0 chassis - the VA0 used 5V signalling and the later ones used 3.3V so you run the risk of damaging them if you swap them over - the GD-ROM chassis is marked with 3.3V and the locating pips are in different places, but be careful not to swap the boards over since they are mechanically interchangeable but not electrically compatible. I assume you have a 3.3V unit, since all the 5V drives I've ever seen have been Yamaha.