Inside of a Ridge Racer 5 Box & Discussion on rigging

[subbie]

Well. Last week I got my self a RR5 PCB w/ Software but sadly nothing else that's required to play it. So while bored yesterday I took the thing apart to take some up close pictures of everything.

For the full collection of pictures (44 img, 119MB total) go to this link
- http://www.megaupload.com/?d=NGEBH102" -

For a few snips of the good stuff, click an image below


















--- Rigging ---
*See next post*

[subbie]

So, rigging.

Sure for anybody with a race cab this might be a worthless discussion but for silly folks like me or people who want to rig something playable at home with out the cab they might find some use to this.

Anyways I want to look into means of scaling down RR5 to make it more manageable. The issues so far are a) the large all in wonder PCB, b) the VXXX STR PCB (something I still need to buy), & C) the drive wheel & pedals. After some talks with uncletom, goofing around with my RR5 and checking the wire diagram, I think the RR5 PCB can possibly be replaced with a stock 246 b (or maybe c *) and sega JVS IO. 256 is out of the question (see *). I wont know till I buy one but I think even further it might be possible to rig a PS2 Force feedback wheel for the drive setup. The only outstanding issue is the VXXX STR PCB (i put xxx since the number seems to slightly change based on what game's program is burned into the surface mounted rom). There really isn't any way around it with out building a custom PCB (considering, but out of the question atm). for the moment I'm kind of stuck with my RR5 waiting till I get one of these. I guess I'll probably try snagging one of yahoo in January. =/

(*) System 246 C / 256
Thanks to a tip from a user here on the forum, I found out that a sizable collection of early 246 games are not compatible with the 256. It's not so much the game's don't boot but that they seem to use some part of the CD/DVD Drive hw that the 256 does not support. So the games that fit this category tend to hang at a loading screen. As for which games it's pretty much Tekken 4 and earlier. Check out the 246/256 software chart in my signature for more info on what games don't work on a 256.

The unknown question is how are they with a 246 ver C PBC. I personally don't know since I don't own one (yet) but since they are an all in one pcb (ps2 & namco io) like the 256, there is a chance they might not work. =/ If someone knows, i'd love to hear if it's an issue or not.

[uncletom]

Great thread.

Sounds like you have some testing to do. I would try to get an STR Motor board and use that with any Happ, or Konami brand force steering, instead of going with home equipment.

Also, I see that you have two internal PSUs, one for the 5V and another for 12V. This means that you feed your box 110VAC. My box has a different setup, I feed my box 5 and 12 volts from an external PSU.

Drawing of my system 246A (USA type)
http://neo.dyndns.tv/Wiring_Left.jpg"

And a clip of me testing it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5LpEFKIu4k"

[uncletom]

Connections of the Motor board:

J101 (8-pin left, only 3 pins are used (see Wiring)). Drawing says "STVR-OUT", "POWER" och "GND". To mainboard.

J102 (small 3-pin down middle/left) steering wheel pot.
J103 (3-pin left) are +5 +12 & GND (input)
J104 (6-pin left) serial com with mainboard.
J105 (3-pin up/right) 100VAC in.
J106 (2-pin down/right) variabel output to DC-motor.

[uncletom]

Does anybody have pics of a System 246 B, to compare with the 'A'-type please?

[defor]

Personally, I'd actually say the 246A Driving set was designed AFTER the 246A:

-Same COH-30000 (GH-004) Sony board
-Namco board is based on a similar design to the 246A chassis, but is far more integrated- while both feature the JVS Data on the Namco board, there's no VGA/Audio board attached- it's all integrated, as one would see on a 246BA or 246B
-I've seen the JVS I/O board (FCA PCB) for sale separately, but instead of the internal header, it uses the normal USB-B jack- the board has the placement area for this jack even... I'm curious if later driving games used a 246B (as we've seen) + FCA PCB to equal the same parts.

My main test would be to solder a USB-B jack to the FCA PCB, then fire RRV up on a 246B with it connected.

It's an interesting machine, especially in that it takes AC directly (man I want the chassis just for the internal psu's), but it should be identical to all other 246's in compatibility.

[subbie]

Something I should probably note is that my RR5 unit is japanese (RRV1,Ver.A). The internal PSU seem to be something that only happened on some RR5 units. Most of the Wangan's i've seen lack the PSU but they've also all been USA/Euro models.

I will snag a STR-PCB off yahoo next year. I'd have one already if not for me dragging my feet in hopes of bypassing it (but I doubt that now).

Also, a mod moved the topic from galery to Q&A. While I guess the rigging does kind of fit there, this was more an open end discussion then an actual Q&A/"HELP ME!" thread.

Does anybody have pics of a System 246 B, to compare with the 'A'-type please?

Here is some internal pictures of a BR3 taken by defor (It's another Sys 246 A unit)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/defor/sets ... 413385987/"

Guru has some of the 246, just look for "PCB pics"
http://guru.mameworld.info/system246/index.html"

Personally, I'd actually say the 246A Driving set was designed AFTER the 246A:

-Namco board is based on a similar design to the 246A chassis, but is far more integrated- while both feature the JVS Data on the Namco board, there's no VGA/Audio board attached- it's all integrated, as one would see on a 246BA or 246B

It would seem that way but I kind of think maybe both where made at the same time. I think the PCB BR3 is a byproduct of games still being Jamma based at the time then full on JVS like they are now. It's JVS IO setup is similar to System 11/12 pcbs (single power port). Since RR5 required a dedicated cabinet it didn't need any of the Jamma interface and went with an all in one box setup. There are a lot of similarities in the Namco Daughter board between the two units.

My main test would be to solder a USB-B jack to the FCA PCB, then fire RRV up on a 246B with it connected.

Nah, I really don't think FCA is required. I already fired the game up on my 246 B with a Sega IO and the game boots, gives a wait screen then halts at a Motor 10 error message. Following discussions on sega-naomi for other racers it seems stock Sega JVS IO can be used to run them.

If shipping cost wouldn't be so much, i'd be tempted to get my hands on a 246C and see how the compatibility is on it.

[uncletom]

Aha. Thanks for the links. But there's not much visual on the PCBs. I'll get one of my B-cases, open it and take some shots. Hopefully tomorrow in daylight.

Yes. Let's keep our fingers crossed that the B-type is compatible with RRV. I look forward seeing any results here in this thread later.

[subbie]

Aha. Thanks for the links. But there's not much visual on the PCBs. I'll get one of my B-cases, open it and take some shots. Hopefully tomorrow in daylight.

What pictures do you need of the B?

Just an open case picture or a certain part of the board? Guru has the Namco PCB & PS2 board shown. Either way it might be interesting to see what version of B you have. We found out there are 2 revisions to the B board.
http://neo-geo.com/forums/showpost.php? ... tcount=536"

[uncletom]

Well, I always... or actually *usually*, when I get some game home, I open the case, clean it from dust and stuff, and then I just take a few pictures of the inside. Piece by piece, so that I can later refer to what type/version numbers or details I need.

What I did with my System 246 A for example:

[uncletom]

Hmm.. Now I've don it. The window seems to have widened itself, and text is continuing to the right past my border.

Oops. Haha. Cheers!

[uncletom]

For your info; with "B" I mean this type of 246: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/497 ... 7678_z.jpg"

I do have a few spare on my shelfs, and I am curious about the compatibility between the RRV's "A" type and the "B" type. It would ofcourse be optimal if one could just bypass the various designated revisions, and run all 246 software on the "B".

[subbie]

For your info; with "B" I mean this type of 246: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/497 ... 7678_z.jpg"

I do have a few spare on my shelfs, and I am curious about the compatibility between the RRV's "A" type and the "B" type. It would ofcourse be optimal if one could just bypass the various designated revisions, and run all 246 software on the "B".

So far from our test it seems like you pretty much can (defor has tested a bunch of his games on the BR3 246A PCB. The only issue though is a handful of early games are 15khz only where later games are 15khz & 31khz.

The only system that has a compatibility problem from what we know are early 15khz games on a System 256. They all hang at a loading screen.

Ones we've verified that do this are...
* Bloody Roar 3
* Netchuu Pro Yakyuu 2002 Rev.B & Rev.C
* Ridge Racer V: Arcade Battle
* Tekken 4 (all revisions)

Game's we're sure suffer the same fate
* Wangan Midnight
* Vampire Night
* Smash Court Pro Tournament
* Alpine Racer 3

There is a slim chance 246c might suffer the same problems but we don't know since either of us have one yet. If 246c is fully compatible then ideally the best unit to have would be the 246c due to it's smaller size and integrated network card for link games.

[uncletom]

I think I've tried my Tekken 4 at 31k, besides the normal 15k, some time ago. I set the resolution with the DIP switches on the front. "A" has none, weirdly enough. So RRV is only able to display 15k?

[subbie]

I think I've tried my Tekken 4 at 31k, besides the normal 15k, some time ago. I set the resolution with the DIP switches on the front. "A" has none, weirdly enough. So RRV is only able to display 15k?

Sorry I should have noted that Tekken 4 is duel 15/31khz. The others are not. It still fits in the group of early 246 games that are not compatible on a 256. =P

RR5 is 15khz only.

Also of the games I listed I have the manual for Netchuu Pro Yakyuu 2002 and there is only 1 dip setting which is for the service menu.

[uncletom]

I just bought myself a fat 400W lamp. It's supposed to be plenty of light when shooting.

I wonder if I'll get a nice tan in the process...

[subbie]

lawl.

=P

Oh not sure if you saw this yet but Spectre posted what wangan does on his 246 rev.b. Interesting that it goes on to the intro video with out giving an error message first.
http://forum.arcadeotaku.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=14159"

I'll check more into this my self when I get my hands on wangan (trading spectre a game for it).

[uncletom]

I see.. Interesting. I get that same 'black screen' after attraction clip ends, as well with my Wangan disc + dongle. I thought it was due to the motor-board needing the proper ROM.

But what is a joyful surprise here is that a Sys246A game at all boots up on a Sys246B!

[purplec]

I have a 246 C I think. its the smaller of the three if I remember correct

[subbie]

I see.. Interesting. I get that same 'black screen' after attraction clip ends, as well with my Wangan disc + dongle. I thought it was due to the motor-board needing the proper ROM.

Odd. So the game won't boot at all? I find that odd because from what I could see it looked like wangan was just a software upgrade kit for RR5.

I still find it odd wangan flat out goes to a black screen and doesn't give an error message like RR5 does.

But what is a joyful surprise here is that a Sys246A game at all boots up on a Sys246B!

Eh, I could have posted pictures of my RR5 showing the test then an error message. Also Defor tested BR3 (another 246 a game) on a 246b already.

I have a 246 C I think. its the smaller of the three if I remember correct

This is what a c looks like.

If you do have it, any chance you own a copy of Tekken 4?