Sega Mega Drive Switchless Region Mod Install Guide - Consoles Unleashed

7/10/21 22:02 Sega Mega Drive Switchless Region Mod Install Guide | Consoles Unleashed
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SEGA MEGA DRIVE SWITCHLESS REGION

MOD INSTALL GUIDE
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https://www.consolesunleashed.com/guides/sega-mega-drive-switchless-region-mod-install-guide/ 1/23
MEGA DRIVE
MEGA DRIVE II
SATURN
SONY
PLAYSTATION
This is a general installation guide that covers installing a switchless region mod into a
Sega Mega Drive. It can be used for any chip code and all Mega Drive board variations
that might be encountered when doing this mod. This guide currently includes Mega
Drive revisions NTSC-JVA1, PAL VA4 & PAL VA6. Any other board revision that has
drastic variations to what is shown here will be added over time.
This mod will make the Sega Mega Drive fully region free, allow games to run in 60Hz,
and display their original Japanese titles and language.
Mod Pinout
Solder Maps
If you are using a deadbug kit, i.e., seperate components, you will only need to connect
what is shown in the pinout for the paticular code used.
Language & Video / Power & Ground
The language and video rate jumper settings on the mainboard are what determine the
region of the Sega Mega Drive console. These jumper settings are easily overridden by
cutting the connections and then supplying +5V or Grounding in varying ways.
JP1-2 (Language) JP3-4 (Video Rate)
50Hz/EN (Europe) +5v Ground
60Hz/JP (Japan) Ground +5v
60Hz/EN (North America) +5v +5v
There are three different arrangements of jumpers in the Mega Drive. VA0 to VA4 which
are horizontal and not sequential, then VA5 which is vertical and sequential from bottom
to top, then there is VA6 which is vertical and sequential from top to bottom.
(IMAGE OF JUMPERS HERE) (IMAGE OF REGION SETTINGS HERE)
1 – First remove the capacitor that is connecting across the jumper if there is one.
2 – Cut the traces between the power/ground side and video/language side of the
jumpers (red lines on images).
3 – Solder LAN and VID (Before 5V and GND)
4 – Solder 5V and GND.
Mk1 Mega Drive VA4 (IC BD M5 PAL VA4)
Mk1 Mega Drive VA5/VA6 (IC BD M5 PAL)
Reset Button
For the PIC chip to control the regions of the Mega Drive it needs to take the signal from
the reset button and then rout it accordingly. This is done by cutting the line going from
the reset button and putting the PIC chip in this path. The PIC chip will then determine
how the reset button is pressed and then send out any required signal. A quick press of
the reset button will mean the PIC chip will send out a normal reset as if the reset button
line was not cut. If the reset button is held, the PIC chip will send out signals to change
the region and language and not send out a normal reset signal.
1 – Cut the reset button trace on the underside of the motherboard (red line on images).

2 – Solder RB to the reset button pin.
3 – For RL, solder will need removing from the vias before soldering (blue circles in
images). Scrape away the green solder mask from the small pad to reveal the copper
underneath. Solder RL to this. For best results use the tip of a scalpel and view under
magnification. The area should be shiny before soldering.
LED Installation
This is the most difficult part of a Mega Drive switchless mod install but it is entirely
optional. Without it though, the region of the Mega Drive will be difficult to determine.
Two Types of Top Case LED Fixtures
Removable Bezel and LED
This is the easiest LED to remove because the bezel cover that is holding in the LED can
be unclipped. The LED will then come straight out.
Fixed Bezel and Sealed in LED
This is more difficult because the LED will need cutting out from the underside of the
top case. The metal legs of the LED will be in the way when cutting the hole. Once the
hole is large enough, the LED can be removed.
Removing the Old LED
Remove the wires connecting the motherboard to the top cover. Removing from the top
cover requires bending the metal legs of the LED up and then pulling the plastic
connector off. The connection to the motherboard will require desoldering.
Cutting the Hole

Side cutters, a hand drill or an electrical rotary tool can be used to cut the hole for the
new LED. Then a file can be used to smooth the edges for a neater appearance. Slow and
steady is the only way to do this without making a mess. Start in the center and work
outwards and do not go too deep to avoid cutting into the bezel.
The hole should be perfectly round and just wide enough so the new LED fits.
Wiring the LED

Cut back the LED legs to the little nodules then solder wires from the Chip to the LED.
How you wire the LED is entirely dependent on what type of LED you have.
An example of using Borti4938 code with a common cathode LED that has red on the
long outer lead and green on the short outer lead.
Chip Pin 5 (LO/50) > Resistor > Short outer lead of LED
Chip Pin 6 (LO/60) > Resistor > Long outer lead of LED
Chip Pin 7 (SET LED TYPE) > Ground point on board (COM) > Middle lead of
LED.*
*Chip Pin 7 (SET LED TYPE) and the middle lead of the LED will need connecting to a
+5V source if using a common anode LED.
Heat shrink tubing can be put over the individual wire solder connections for better
appearance and strain relief, then a further larger piece of heatshrink over all the wires to
keep them together. Do not over do this though as the wire needs to be quite flexible in
order to fold under the case top.
Once the LED and wires are soldered, the LED will need fixing into the case hole. There
are a number of ways to do this.
Hot Glue - Whilst hot glue will not be very aesthetic, it is easy to apply and can be
removed with relative ease if the mod ever needs changing.
Milliput - This is much more difficult to do well and more permanent. The milliput can
be carefully pushed into the hole and round the LED leads to create an almost seamless
surface, but it requires 24 hours to set and it is very difficult to do neatly.
Special Pins
Depending on the code used, these special pins might not be available.
Pin 4 / Reset On Mode Change – When set to (+) or a +5V source, changing the region
via the reset button or controller will have an instant affect on the video rate. When set
to (-) or ground, changing the region via the reset button or the controller will reset the
console and the new region will be set on boot up.
Pin 7 / Set LED Type – When set to CA or a +5V source, a Common Anode LED should
be used. When set to CC or Ground, a Common Cathode LED should be used.
Program Your Own
If you want to make this yourself you can get the codes from the following links.
D'force3000 (D4S)
Official web page with the download http://dforce3000.de/index.php?

p=news&t=megadrive
Borti4938
Borti4938's Mega Drive switchless mod project page at GitHub

https://github.com/borti4938/Switchless_SEGA_MasterSystem_MegaDrive/tree/mas
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SEGA MEGA DRIVE SWITCHLESS REGION

Language & Video / Power & Ground

JP1-2 (Language) JP3-4 (Video Rate)

50Hz/EN (Europe) +5v Ground

60Hz/JP (Japan) Ground +5v

60Hz/EN (North America) +5v +5v

(IMAGE OF JUMPERS HERE) (IMAGE OF REGION SETTINGS HERE)

3 – Solder LAN and VID (Before 5V and GND)

4 – Solder 5V and GND.

Mk1 Mega Drive VA4 (IC BD M5 PAL VA4)

Mk1 Mega Drive VA5/VA6 (IC BD M5 PAL)

Mk1 Mega Drive VA4 (IC BD M5 PAL VA4)

Mk1 Mega Drive VA5/VA6 (IC BD M5 PAL)

Mk1 Mega Drive VA4 (IC BD M5 PAL VA4)

Mk1 Mega Drive VA5/VA6 (IC BD M5 PAL)

Two Types of Top Case LED Fixtures

Removable Bezel and LED

Fixed Bezel and Sealed in LED

Removing the Old LED

Cutting the Hole

Wiring the LED

Program Your Own

Official web page with the download http://dforce3000.de/index.php?

Borti4938's Mega Drive switchless mod project page at GitHub

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Copyright © 2019-2021 Consoles Unleashed - All Rights Reserved

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