JVC X'EYE - This works?! (Warning, might make you cry :)

[Topy44]

And while I wait for you guys to help me get my Sega CD Model 1 up an running again I'm fixing up another console that has been desperately waiting for some attention: A JVC X'EYE, which looks like it has seen a warzone or two.

http://www.t44.org/xeye1.jpg

This is _after_ my first rough cleanup! Its covered in a thick crust of mouse drippings and general dirt. Smells like a public toilet. This is not loose dust, I already removed that, this is thick encrusted nasty stuff. It also has a few bumps around the edges, and its missing all its case screws. However, surprisingly: It works! Connected it up and it jumped right back into live!

The case is now taking a bubblebath in dish-soap in my bathtub... I will post an "after" picture later. :) Also need to find some fitting screws to hold it together...

[Lanzo]

Dude seriously it amazes me how things get like this. But if it works I would just keep it like that, thats one badass x'eye.

[Topy44]

Did you miss the "Mouse droppings" and "smells like toilet" part? :)
But its actually looking much better now. Pics soon.

[APE992]

Now let me see some pictures of the inside that look like the outside. I've seen some horrific looking cases that have pristine electronics inside. In this case I'd only be worried that the grime got inside the lid and destroyed the laser.

[alec006]

Oh my god that is horrible, I mean did someone drop it in some deep dirt and then throw it in a box, that's just, ew, good thing for dishwashers and soap :)

[Topy44]

The inside is, in fact, pretty much prestine. The unit cleaned up nicely.
HOWEVER, it turns out it wont read cds. It spins and tries to focus the laser, but cant get a lock. Though it MIGHT be caused by the underpowered power supply i am using, gotta find a good one later. The laser looks clean, none of the dirt got inside the drive.
I need to RGB-mod this thing though, none of my monitors like the NTSC composite signal. Black and white is not much fun.

[EDIT]
Just read that the X'Eye is supposed to have a Genesis 2 style secondary video output. Nope, not this one! Just the RCA connectors and two spots where the Genesis-style and SVHS connectors would have been!

[APE992]

Wonder who lied about that crap. The solder pads for a S-Video connector are on the board, however you'd have to look up the data sheet for the video encoder to find out what components are needed to populate the solder pads to get it working. Probably just 2x220uF capacitors and 2x75ohm resistors if its a CXA1645.

I'd try cleaning the laser's lens with a qtip (or equivalent) and rubbing alcohol. If you can see the laser fire then it's probably just filthy.

[theclaw]

The inside is, in fact, pretty much prestine. The unit cleaned up nicely.
HOWEVER, it turns out it wont read cds. It spins and tries to focus the laser, but cant get a lock. Though it MIGHT be caused by the underpowered power supply i am using, gotta find a good one later. The laser looks clean, none of the dirt got inside the drive.
I need to RGB-mod this thing though, none of my monitors like the NTSC composite signal. Black and white is not much fun.

[EDIT]
Just read that the X'Eye is supposed to have a Genesis 2 style secondary video output. Nope, not this one! Just the RCA connectors and two spots where the Genesis-style and SVHS connectors would have been!

Yep that means you have one of those revisions incompatible with 32X. Any of the few Genesis/MD models without RGB output are, it's a requirement for the 32X to operate correct.

[xelement5x]

Another note, make sure you're not using a Genesis 2 power supply to run the X'eye. Those adapters don't provide enough amperage for the system and can ruin the CD laser over time. You need a 9.5V, min 1.5A adapter to run the system properly.

[Topy44]

How can too weak a power supply ruin the laser?
I dont own a Genesis 2 nor its power supply, so that wont happen, but the one i tested it with is even weaker - but i only used that for a quick test. I will hunt down a fitting power supply at the fleamarket soon... I'm hoping the reason it didnt read CDs was the much too weak power supply.

This is what it looks like now, after a bit of a scrub. It looks better in real life, the flash highlights every speck... Anyway, still needs a little more work, but its getting there.
http://www.t44.org/xeye2.jpg

[xelement5x]

I'm not sure for the exact reasons behind how it will kill the laser, but I know under-powered power supplies are the main reason you find CDX systems that play carts and not CDs, the laser is damaged from using a Genesis 2 supply without enough amperage.

I think (don't quote me here), that it has to do with a the laser not getting enough power to read the disc properly, so then it continues to struggle to do so and eventually stops working.

Awesome work on that x'eye by the way! I normally use rubbing alcohol on my final pass when I'm cleaning up hardware, it looks so purdy when you get that slight gloss before it evaporates.

[Squeept]

I feel like I'm stalking you, Topy...

Anyway, I use a plastic restorer called Novus. I usually get it cheapest on eBay. Follow the directions, and it works wonders. That wet looking sheen mentioned? Novus makes it stay. One set of Novus is good for restoring about 50 systems. Follow the instructions and it works magic. Try to avoid the #3 polish unless nothing else is working and you're ready to throw something away, since the #3 is really liquid sandpaper.

[theclaw]

I suppose the bigger question is where did all the CDX and X'eye power supplies vanish to? Wouldn't be surprised if they're actually rarer in number today than the systems. I don't know about any other console where such a large number of users appear to have made that particular type of mistake.

[Ze_ro]

Looks like it came out pretty good!

I bought a Genesis/SegaCD (model 2) combo from a thrift store once, and they were so dirty I couldn't get the two apart. Turned out they were practically glued together with spilled Coke or something (at least, I sure hope it was Coke....). I eventually had to basically pry them apart, then soak all the pieces in soap and water to get them clean. The metal plate to connect them still has some stains on it that I couldn't get off.

--Zero

[InsaneDavid]

Just read that the X'Eye is supposed to have a Genesis 2 style secondary video output.

Sometimes the Genesis 2 multi-out is there, sometimes it isn't. I've heard that sometimes the regular RCA jacks aren't present but I've never come across that myself.


I suppose the bigger question is where did all the CDX and X'eye power supplies vanish to? Wouldn't be surprised if they're actually rarer in number today than the systems. I don't know about any other console where such a large number of users appear to have made that particular type of mistake.

Almost two years TO THE DAY when I found my JVC X'Eye for $2.00 I found a beat up JVC X'Eye power supply at the same flea market for $1.00 - different seller.

[ooXxXoo]

Just read that the X'Eye is supposed to have a Genesis 2 style secondary video output. Nope, not this one! Just the RCA connectors and two spots where the Genesis-style and SVHS connectors would have been!

I used to have a similar X'Eye revision without the Sega 9 mini pin av port years ago.. Is there anyway that you can post a pic of the rear of this unit please?..There are some skeptical folks over Sega-16 that don't believe it ...


..

[APE992]

Sometimes the Genesis 2 multi-out is there, sometimes it isn't. I've heard that sometimes the regular RCA jacks aren't present but I've never come across that myself.



Almost two years TO THE DAY when I found my JVC X'Eye for $2.00 I found a beat up JVC X'Eye power supply at the same flea market for $1.00 - different seller.

I got a "broken" one off eBay for $10 a few years ago. Lid switch needed some work.

Though it too was missing the Genesis jack and was also missing the S-Video jack. The solder pads are there and you can add it back in if you can get a jack that fits. Also needs a few components but it isn't that hard to figure out what it needs.

[theclaw]

Hmm. Has it been confirmed zero JVC X'Eyes were manufactured with the S-Video jack?

[Topy44]

Thanks for the tip with the Novus, i will try to get some of it. Its not available on eBay Germany though... I have been looking for a way to properly treat plastic. Often no matter how clean a device is, it just _looks_ old and dirty because of tiny scratches and stuff on the surface.

[Cloud121]

I'm not sure for the exact reasons behind how it will kill the laser, but I know under-powered power supplies are the main reason you find CDX systems that play carts and not CDs, the laser is damaged from using a Genesis 2 supply without enough amperage.

I think (don't quote me here), that it has to do with a the laser not getting enough power to read the disc properly, so then it continues to struggle to do so and eventually stops working.

Awesome work on that x'eye by the way! I normally use rubbing alcohol on my final pass when I'm cleaning up hardware, it looks so purdy when you get that slight gloss before it evaporates.
That explains everything right there. My CDX I got about 4 years ago just recently stopped reading discs, and now I know why. I was using a Model 2 MegaDrive AC the whole time.

[Topy44]

Hm, actually... I _can_ see one way how it could damage the laser. If the laser doesn't have enough power it might try to refocus, and years of constantly trying to refocus might damage the focusing mechanism.

However, it does sounds pretty far fetched. Has anyone ever bothered to measure what the actual current used by the SCD or X'Eye is?

[theclaw]

That explains everything right there. My CDX I got about 4 years ago just recently stopped reading discs, and now I know why. I was using a Model 2 MegaDrive AC the whole time.

I mean CDX adapters plain as day even have CDX written on them. Just sad how many systems might be potential victims for this, assuming it's really a factor. Yet I'd rather not see more CDX and Xeye units risked in order to run sufficient tests.