Saturn Problem

[Tempest]

I seem to be having a problem with my Saturn. I have one of the first models (the one witht the oval buttons), and it doesn't seem to like the last few Saturn releases. When I try and play Burning Rangers or Magic Knight Rayearth it takes about 4 or 5 trys to load it (it will usually say no CD is inserted or unknown format), and when I actually get them to load it will usually mess up sometime during the game (failing to load a scene or skipping alot). The Saturn seems to also be making alot of noise which worries me. I haven't had this trouble with the normal Saturn games, just the final couple of releases.

I'm wondering if my Saturn is either dying (bad CD drive) or if the earliest Saturns aren't compatible with the last few releases. Magic Knight Rayearth was bought brand new (still shrinkwrapped) so it's not like the disc is scratched (Burning Rangers is also fairly mint). Is it possible I got a bad CD? But if that was the case I imagine it wouldn't load at all which leads me back to my version theory. Anyone know for sure?

Tempest

[Raedon]

You need to open the unit up and adjust the Laser strength. You will see the small POT in a hard to reach place behind the lens (where the laser tracks, it's hard to see.) This is also how you can get a Saturn to read CD-RW's. adjust this clockwise (I think) and try it out.

Although this won't hurt the unit if you adjust the POT the wrong way and to far the unit will get errors on every game.

[Tempest]

Whoa! Slow down there! How much do I turn the pot and which direction? Is this something that usually happens to older Saturns and why would I only be having trouble on the later games?

And where is this pot? I don't see it. Do you have to take the cover off?

Tempest

[Raedon]

Whoa! Slow down there! How much do I turn the pot and which direction? Is this something that usually happens to older Saturns and why would I only be having trouble on the later games?

And where is this pot? I don't see it. Do you have to take the cover off?

Tempest

lol.. ok, the POT is hidden (yes you will need to open the saturn) you can see it if you look threw the track that the laser and lens ride on. It's a brite orage or blue if i remember correctly. Don't turn it by much, just a little then test it. You will need a little screwdriver to do this btw. This is just something that happens to all CD-ROM devices over time.. the laser strength drops over time, I'm just assuming thats the problem. There are no documented cases of these games not working on older systems. I'm guessing the manufacturer did a piss poor job of authoring the CD's and the laser is having problems reading them because of poor laser strength.

[Tempest]

It could be that the last few releases used a cheaper CD. I'll try adjusting the pot tonight.

Tempest

[Tempest]

Well adjusting the laser makes it recognize the CD every time, but it still craps out on me durning random parts of the game. I'm convinced that it's not the CD but it's the Saturn itself. I guess I'm in the market for a new Saturn.

Tempest

[Raedon]

well, there pretty easy to come by.. try to get a good system 2..

[Six Switch]

What is all this about pot in your Saturn?This is too screwed up for me... :D :shock: :roll:

[rbudrick]

I've been looking for replacement lenses for the Saturn for some time. Anyone know who sells em?

-Rob

[Tempest]

That's a pretty specific part, you might want to try Sega themselves. But I think you'd be better off getting a new Saturn for the price a replacement lense would run you (and of course installation would be a bitch).

Have you had problems with your lense before? Could that be my problem?

Tempest

[Raedon]

if that was your problem nothing would work right. And you can't just get a lens, you can get a new cd-rom drive but that costs 39.99.. you can get a new saturn for less.

[FABombjoy]

I doubt you'll be able to find the laser assembly very easily or cheaply. I'd try to find someone that has a saturn with a bad power supply or something else. That's what I did when my Saturn went south. Parts tend to sell for more than bad consoles.

In fact, Saturn power supplys kinda suck. That's the first thing I'd check if I had a bad console. It could cause all sorts of random stability problems. Of course, if you don't have the equipment, it's tough to check. Plus, it's a switching P/S, and has high voltage dancing around it in strange places.

I would also hesitate to randomly adjust things on the laser assembly (unless you're just going to scrap it). The laser gain is probably not the issue with your console, and without an oscilloscope & proper voltage specs you'll have a tough time getting the setting right. If you feel like experimenting, dab a little paint on the potentiometers so at least you know where they were.

[Raedon]

adjusting a laser on a cd-rom isn't like adjusting the gain line off a HD spindle and head.. It's not something you need an oscilloscope for. (nor is it like adjusting a head on a VCR, which you would need an oscilloscope for.) Adjusting a cd laser is like adjusting a tape deck head.. no biggie..

[rbudrick]

raedon,

Where do you get these for 39.99?

-Rob

[Raedon]

hmm.. my bad.. I thought modchip-sbox.com had some but the just have DC gd-roms, ps1 and ps2 lasers..

[FABombjoy]

Adjusting a cd laser is like adjusting a tape deck head.. no biggie..

So how do you know when you've got it adjusted properly?

[Raedon]

easy, the unit works agian 8)

[Anonymous]

Incidentally, this is the same method you use to get the xbox to read CDRs and CDRWs...

[FABombjoy]

easy, the unit works agian 8)

Hmm... I see the point of misunderstanding. In an earlier post, you mentioned "laser strength", which I took to mean as laser voltage (voltage gain er something was what went around in my head), which is why I was hesitant to just adjust by trial and error (since you can fry the laser doing that). I believe you're referring to the focal gain adjustment??? Which, of course, as long as you mark the original setting is pretty harmless to mess with.

Hey Tempest, look for a control marked F.GAIN (or F.G. or F.O.) and screw around with that and see what you get :)

When all else fails, read the book:

http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/whole/F_cdfaq.html

[Retronick]

I've been looking for replacement lenses for the Saturn for some time. Anyone know who sells em?

-Rob

So... I know this is 10 years after the fact... But if you've still got that Saturn kicking around, I found a lens for it: http://www.amazon.com/OPTIMA-6S-JVC-SEGA-Laser-Lens/dp/B003XRK92Q

Was learning how to adjust the POT and decided if that didn't work to find a new lens... So there ya go! If you run with this, let me know if it works (or if you're even still interested after a decade).