Just got this Genesis clone the other day, the "Electrolab MG16-R". I think I've seen it also branded as "Songa II". It comes with an internal ir receiver and two wireless controllers which work very well and the build quality is about as good as official products. For some reason though, the controllers only work with regular AA batteries and won't work with my rechargeable Ni-MH batteries. Also they have a reset button if you're too lazy to reach the console. The working range seems to be better than even the official wireless controllers. You don't even need to point them directly at the console. The console seems to work with Sega CD, but this particular one is set to NTSC-J so it displayed an error message when I connected it to my Sega CD model 2. And for some reason it doesn't fit well with the Sega CD 2. I had to remove the casing to connect the two consoles. It doesn't have factory installed region switches like the other ones I've seen, but the solder points are there. How would I go about adding the switches back in? The console also came with a bootleg 3-in-1 cart with Doraemon, Snow Bros and some dodgeball game.
man, that is so cool! It looks like it's a copy or uses the same board as the Scorpion, the Mega Drive clone that features region switches. Fantastic find and a great clone. This is why old clones are so cool. They were properly built clones unlike the shit they make now. It would be really cool to see if this thing really would work with the Mega CD. It won't work with the 32X though since the video out seems to be shitty composite only.
If you ever want to sell that I want it. As for the switches to do the region mod, just add 2 SPDT switches and removes the bridge on the right side. Then you have a all region machine. Another thing is you can make it work with the 32X. You just need to wire up a video out port like was used on the Sega Genesis on the back for the RGBS from the encoder chip. (The Sony CXA1645P.) Very easy to do if you have some soldering experience. Lastly I'm not sure since there might be parts missing for it but you may be able to add in the hidden cart slot like early models had. The solder points for the cart slot are there. You just need a right angle slot. One from a Sonic & Knuckles lock on cart should work. There might be a chip that was used missing since I see a blank spot above the slot so I don't know.
Ok, I switched the console to US mode and it works with Sega CD. The bottom shell of the clone prevents it from fitting correctly against the model 2 Sega CD. Something else I also discovered is if you hold down the Mode button and press Reset on the wireless controller, the console will power off. I guess that's why they used a power switch on the console that always springs back up. It's amazing that this was available in the 90's.
Wow! That does look incredible, very nice find! Wish my Mega Drive had a soft-off mode... Use it wisely! :congratulatory:
Does anyone know what the space above the Sony chip is for? I've seen a picture of a similar clone that has a switch in that spot:
odd. Your clone has a space there I noticed. maybe that's a 50 / 60htz switch while the other one is the region switch? I notice that the clone above uses cheaper non brand chips for some sections where as your clone uses Hitachi or Goldstar, the above clone is missing the headphone jack. It does seem to have a space for the IR unit though. Looks like you bought the extra DX model Lucky you!
I think he just took the headphone jack out for repairs or something. Someone on another forum says the switch near the back is for selecting PAL-M/PAL-N, while the switches near the Sega CD connector selects PAL/NTSC and English/Japanese.
It's simply the best Mega Drive clone out there and I saw a lot of them. By the way, I had some very old Famicom clone from 80s with "50/60hz" switch behind it, but switching it had no effect all. So you have some really great pirate work there.
Should do, possibly, by adding RGB out which could be tapped from the CXA1645 video encoder. Would be interesting, shame we don't see these in Australia!
Interesting enough, the Scorpion can use the 32X but has sync issues then crashes within a few minutes of gameplay. It's a lot of messing around to get it to work correctly, probably why no one has tried to get it 100% working.
i've seen sleeker looking ones at family follar for about 15$ still need to get one, my genesis wont play games
I added the region switches back in and it works great. I don't really want to do anything else to it in case I mess something up.
