MoreThanGames BJL Kit

[busterm]

This is my simple little review of the MoreThanGames BJL Kit.

 

Up until recently I never really had much interest in BJL modding my Jaguar. Already having Protecter SE, Battleshphere Gold, and 2 Skunks I never had the need or want to do such a thing.

 

However recently I picked up an Atari Flashcart off ebay from the UK. It supposedly has a Fight For Life Beta on it, weather this is a beta or the exact same as the retail I personally cant tell. I'll let more advanced user of the community make that decision. So having no real interest in the rom thats currently on the cart I went hunting for a method to extract it and upload to AA and JSII.

 

In order to do this I found out that I needed a BJL Modded Jaguar as the Flashcart is the only item that can occupy the cartridge port. As luck would have it MoreThanGames just so happens to sell a very inexpensive kit.

 

With out asking any questions I went ahead and ordered the Kit off there website. The MoreThanGames BJL kit arrived about 10 days later.

 

The kit included

-eprom with the latest BJL image and 4 games preloaded (jagtrist,jagmania,painter,gorf)at least that was the 4 on my eprom

-rom socket

-2 resistors

-10inches of ribbon cable

-2 inches of shrink tubbing

-Switch

-CD Rom with instructions, sources, and programs

 

The instructions on the cdrom are also on there website

http://morethangames.a8maestro.com/bjl/index.htm

 

Following the instructions, I first had to clip pin 22 on the Jaguar rom, I used a pair of cuticle cutters for this job. Thankfully the wife was not in the room or I probably would of got yelled at =P

 

Next I tined all the pins on the socket and then carefully aliened them all except pin 22 which I was to bend outwards. After hitting each pin with the soldiering iron to bond the connection to the Jaguar Rom I then proceeded to connect the resisters one to each pin 22 and the both connecting at the same point on pin32.

 

Simple task really only took me about 10 mins. Instead of feeding the wire for the switch out the back and around like shown in the instructions, I decided to remove about 2 inches of the shielding along the side of the rom for easy access in the future. I did follow his advice and applied Hot Glue over the resistors and wire contacts to prevent them from coming loose in the future.

 

The most difficult part of the mod was mounting the switch on the Jaguar housing. I though about mounting it on the top of the unit but doe the the thickness of the switch its impossible to do if you want it flush. At least I could not find any area with enough clearance. So following the instructions I mounted it on the side about 1/4 inch below the the screw joint. I used an old soldiering iron to wedge out the hole in the casing as I didn't want to risk using a drill and the case slipping.

 

 

I have to admit this mod was pretty simple in all it took me about an hour. Most of that time spent mounting the switch. Its really is a simple kit that anyone with basic soldiering skills should be able to do with out a hitch. Its well worth the $25 for anyone interested who doesn't want to invest in Protecter SE, Jaguar CD, Battlesphere, or a Skunk.

 

Here are a few pictures I took along the way for any interested

 

 

 

 

Edited April 10, 2010 by busterm

[Zerosquare]

-eprom with the latest BJL image and 4 games preloaded (jagtrist,jagmania,painter,gorf)at least that was the 4 on my eprom

There are a few undocumented goodies. Try pressing "6" on the BJL screen. Try "5" also

 

By the way, if you want to be able to use BJL without having to insert a cartridge, take a look there.

[Starcat]

That's a really nice review.

Congratulations on your BJL Jag, too.