Why is my Dreamcast not working?

[onkyo_emu]

Just got it today. Powers up and fans/leds come on, but no video out. Using RF switchbox that came with. Any way to troubleshoot between the DC and the box.

 

Does anyone have DC pinout information for the av port?

[msaeger]

Did you get an A/V cable too ? If you did you could try hooking that up to a VCR just to test it (I'm assuming your TV doen't have video in)

[onkyo_emu]

I've got everything. HDTV, regular tv, vcr.

 

Just no a/v cable for the DC.

 

 

Just wondering if there was an easyway to T/S the system. I think I'll have to find and AV or S Video cable tomorrow.

 

Oh well. . .

[msaeger]

I would try and find the A/V cable you're gonna want that anyway RF modulators suck.

[Dones]

Sorry to ask the obvious but have you made a visual check of your cable connections? It still happens to me from time to time.

 

I have seen a few used DC a/v cables lying around at discount bins at Electronics Boutique for less than $5. Another idea is getting one of those universal cables that include hookups for all mayor consoles (including the DC) so that at least you can still use the cable if it turns out your DC unit is malfunctioning.

 

Did you get a VMU with your Dreamcast? Take the batteries out of it, plug in a controller and turn on the machine. If you hear a loud beep then that's a good sign of life.

[onkyo_emu]

No VME, I just got the 14.99 special that ebgames.com had 2 weeks ago.

 

I did a visual check and tore apart the RF box and did a continuity check from the pins all the way to the board. I just hope that the output from the DC isn't bad. I don't have an o'scope at home, so there's really no quick way to check. I think there's one Gamestop in my neck of the woods that supposedly has 4 of the AV cables.

If not, I've got the return the DC and hope that ebgames will send me another. Then I have to ask for credit for the return shipping, (oh well.)

 

I just hate it when stuff doesn't work when it should. 100% guaranteed my ass. I "guarantee" that they just have a bench tech with ONE av cable and ONE controller swapping units in and out with a common hookup.

 

That's if they go that far. It's probably more like, "Ship 'em out and deal with it if they get returned."

 

I want this thing to work!

[onkyo_emu]

@Dones

 

Got a link for the universal?

 

Thanks

[Dones]

Liksang has them:

http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?category=...oducts_id=2599&

 

I bought one of these on ebay a couple of months ago but I didn't find any today.

[onkyo_emu]

I'll try the $4.00 version at Gamestop and go from there.

 

 

Thanks for the link.

[onkyo_emu]

Got a new RFU at Gamestop for 2.99

 

Works like a champ.

 

Now, onto that SNES project. . .

[Video]

I believe I have an extrea SVideo cable for Dreamcast laying around here. Drop me a line and if I find it I'll drop it in the mail for you.

[Rockin' Kat]

I really don't like universal power supplies personaly, you can really mess things up if a switch gets bumped, and depending on the design, some of them invite a lot of noise into the system.

[Rockin' Kat]

I really don't like universal power supplies personaly, you can really mess things up if a switch gets bumped, and depending on the design, some of them invite a lot of noise into the system.

 

cource I could always read things right the first time and note you're not talking about universal Power cables are we?(which I should have figured since the DC doesn't use an external P/S anyway) but universal video cables instead....

[onkyo_emu]

I've got the system up and running, but the RFU really is a piece of garbage.

 

Video, I may take you up on your offer. Let me know if you find it.

 

Now I just have to get this thing to play the games. I'm going to pick some up this morning at EB since I can't seem to figure out the Dreamcast burning mystery.