"Sega 32X System Dongle" [Archive] - Retrogaming Roundtable

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Zadoc

01-16-2007, 10:57 PM

http://www.goatstore.com/info.php?id=351955

No one seems to have any clue what these were for, but if you bought a 32X and didn't have a Sega CD, you were supposed to put it on the end of your Genesis. If you don't, nothing happens. If you do, nothing happens. But at least you can say that you have an official Sega dongle.

I am pretty sure that this was supposed to add more system memory to the Genesis and allow 32X games to run smoother with the scaling.

Cryomancer

01-16-2007, 11:31 PM

any pictures? I'd be interested in seeing what this thing looks like / where it goes on and all that. I'm a sega cluster enthusiast.

Zadoc

01-16-2007, 11:42 PM

any pictures? I'd be interested in seeing what this thing looks like / where it goes on and all that. I'm a sega cluster enthusiast.

I can't find a pic. It came with the 32X and it goes where the Sega CD goes. It looks like a little nub.

Jorpho

01-17-2007, 12:14 AM

Maybe it's some SCSI-like termination thing that would have come into play if Sega released more devices?

Maxx

01-17-2007, 12:16 AM

I have one that came with a used Genesis 2. Before this thread, I had no idea what it was.

NFG

01-17-2007, 01:14 AM

It's just a terminator, and was never required on any system I ever saw. Perhaps it would increase the stability of marginal systems, but it was unecessary in my experience.

carslayer

01-17-2007, 01:42 AM

I have one of those. It came in the box when i bought my used 32X. It is basically a little peice of plastic that fits in the expansion port, only it is a little bigger and has some sort of chip inside. It's connected to a model 2 genesis wich does not work unless that little port thing is in there. without it, it cannot play 32X or Genesis carts. the power button flashes once when you turn it on then refuses to do anything else, sitting at a blank screen. I always assumed it was just to have a connection between two of the pins, like those little jumpers in hard drives wich say whether its a master or slave. ill try and post a picture later.

Zadoc

01-17-2007, 03:22 AM

Push Upstairs

01-17-2007, 03:28 AM

I had a 32X+Model 2 setup work without this piece.

Lemmi_Is_God

01-17-2007, 05:46 AM

please someone post a pic, i have no idea what you guys are talking about :D

a picture is worth a thousand words ;)

Sweater Fish Deluxe

01-17-2007, 12:50 PM

Not in this case since the picture will just be of a little black plastic rectangle about 3/4" thick. I think that like those little metal clips that came with the 32X, this edge protector was another RF shield to protect against interference. The 32X was surely an FCC nightmare, especially at a time when a lot of people still used RF connections, and they apparently made Sega jump through all sorts of hoops with the thing.

...word is bondage...

bangtango

01-17-2007, 01:10 PM

I have the original piece that this thread is talking about and it is completely useless. I've never needed it when playing the system.

jajaja

01-17-2007, 01:34 PM

Do you need a Sega CD to use the 32X?

mailman187666

01-17-2007, 02:39 PM

only to play 32x cd games, which there is only 4-5 of.

Ze_ro

01-17-2007, 03:55 PM

I have one of these, and my 32X works perfectly fine without it. I've taken it apart, and there are no chips in it whatsoever... all it does is connect a few pins on the expansion port. My guess is that it's meant to improve the grounding for FCC approval.

--Zero

shopkins

01-17-2007, 04:35 PM

I don't even have this thing and my 32x still works. I might have thrown it away.

jajaja

01-17-2007, 04:47 PM

only to play 32x cd games, which there is only 4-5 of.

Ye, would be hard to play CDs in a cartridge slot hehe. I thought there for a sec that you might need Sega CD to use the 32X in general, like the 32X was connected to the Sega CD and shared some of its hardware. Thanks :)

Mr Mort

01-17-2007, 06:34 PM

carslayer

01-17-2007, 08:50 PM

If I hook up my 32X to my Genesis (model 2) without the dongle, my Genesis locks up when I turn the power on, regardless of wheter I'm playing a Genesis or 32X game.
Once I plug the dongle in, everything works fine.

Thats EXACTLY what happens to me. i have links to some pictures (sorry about the blurryness) cause im still not sure how to post them.

Genesis with very thick layer of dust and you can see the attatchment on the right side sticking out a bit:
http://www.freeimagehosting.net/image.php?c57ec41d29.jpg

bottom of genesis:
http://www.freeimagehosting.net/image.php?c3400c3465.jpg

attatchment and it's expansion slot:
http://www.freeimagehosting.net/image.php?40541aa8f8.jpg

sorry again for crappy quality, hope this helps.

Lemmi_Is_God

01-17-2007, 09:43 PM

Maxx

01-17-2007, 11:02 PM

my 32X didnt come with one, and i bought my 32X brand new in the box and none of my sega systems has one, this is why i was clueless

Then where did these damn things come from? I seen one at the pawn shop today on a model 2. I have a boxed 32X as well, although I bought it used. But the instructions don't even mention it.

Is there any other peripheral that causes this much confusion? Wait, that might need it's own thread...

Zadoc

01-18-2007, 12:18 AM

Then where did these damn things come from? I seen one at the pawn shop today on a model 2. I have a boxed 32X as well, although I bought it used. But the instructions don't even mention it.

My 32X most certianly did come with this device. Unfortunately, I have misplaced the instructions that the 32X came with.

alec006

01-18-2007, 02:12 AM

humm im still at a lost as to what it is
but being a sega fan since the genesis was released i have never seen anything like what i think i see in those pics

*still gonna wait for better pics*

nevermind i did a search and i found out what you guys are talking about

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1393
near the bottom of the page

my 32X didnt come with one, and i bought my 32X brand new in the box and none of my sega systems has one, this is why i was clueless

Some More Pics ^^

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m137/darkknux_2006/IM000919.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m137/darkknux_2006/IM000918.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m137/darkknux_2006/IM000917.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m137/darkknux_2006/IM000916.jpg

I believe i got these pics from here in 2005,anyway i checked the copy of the 32X Manual i have and it dint show that piece.

MarioMania

01-18-2007, 02:54 AM

Why is it needed anyways.....

Zadoc

01-18-2007, 03:52 AM

Why is it needed anyways.....

We are all unsure.

carslayer

01-18-2007, 10:57 AM

We are all unsure.

Well, after seeing those pictures of it's insides, and seeing that there ARE jumpers, i am assuming that certain Genesis 2 models (only a few, like maybe older ones) didnt function with the 32x without the cd drive for some reason so this was included in later 32x packages to solve the problem. Im just assuming now, i really have no idea. Ill take a look at the box and instructions for my 32x to see if it's mentioned.

Sweater Fish Deluxe

01-18-2007, 12:05 PM

Well, after seeing those pictures of it's insides, and seeing that there ARE jumpers, i am assuming that certain Genesis 2 models (only a few, like maybe older ones) didnt function with the 32x without the cd drive for some reason so this was included in later 32x packages to solve the problem. Im just assuming now, i really have no idea. Ill take a look at the box and instructions for my 32x to see if it's mentioned.
Well, it would more likely be the later Genesis 2 sysems that would have a problem. Very late in the Genesis's life Sega streamlined the chipset even further, though they didn't change the outer design at all, internally it was more like a Majesco Genesis than the earlier Genesis 2. You guys who need this dongle thing for your systems to work with the 32X, try turning the systems over and see if the aluminum shielding inside extends all the way to right side of the case (right side when the system is upside-down that is, i.e. the opposite side form the expansion port), you should be able to see it through the went holes on the bottom. The original Genesis 2s take up the entire inside of the case, but the redesigned ones are a couple inches smaller leaving an empty space on that side. I suppose it's possible that the cheaper and more unified chipset in those later Genesis 2 systems need to have some special jumpers crossed for use with the 32X.

It still sounds a bit odd, though. When you don't have the 32X connected, does it matter whether this dongle is there or not?

Those later Genesis 2 systems also have a better video encoder chip, from what I understand which is even outputs s-video, I think, though of course the s-video signal isn't passed to the AV port.

...word is bondage...

madman77

01-18-2007, 01:07 PM

I bought my 32x new from TRU on clearance for $20 I think and I don't remember it coming w/that piece.

Cryomancer

01-18-2007, 06:22 PM

Yeah, I got mine from TRU back when they were new and don't recall this peice either....of course i forgot about the genny 2 spacer as well. I DO remember the metal clips though.

Nicola

01-18-2007, 07:01 PM

...and never saw one in Italy, as far as I can remember.

Zadoc

01-18-2007, 10:26 PM

Okay... so, who here has 32X instructions that show this peice?

I remember mine having the instructions. I even called Sega to make sure I did it right because my first 32X didn't work out of the box and I had to send it back to Sega.

I also remember the peice in question being called the "enhancer" or "preformance booster" or some such thing.

Jorpho

01-18-2007, 10:46 PM

I also remember the peice in question being called the "enhancer" or "preformance booster" or some such thing.

Ahh, so that's it! It is a component of the Blast Processor!

madman77

01-18-2007, 11:26 PM

If nobody else digs theirs up, I think my boxed 32x is one of the few Genesis items that I have here at my apartment. I'll dig around tomorrow if someone hasn't checked their manual by then.

Richter

01-19-2007, 12:08 AM

the unit i bought from a person here came with it, no instructions though :-/

http://members.cox.net/richter4/000_0102.JPG
http://members.cox.net/richter4/000_0103.JPG

hopefully those are a bit more clear

Zebbe

01-19-2007, 12:47 PM

The 32X was surely an FCC nightmare, especially at a time when a lot of people still used RF connections, and they apparently made Sega jump through all sorts of hoops with the thing.

But the 32X doesn't work with RF. Only with composite or SCART. :?

Sweater Fish Deluxe

01-19-2007, 01:37 PM

But the 32X doesn't work with RF. Only with composite or SCART. :?
Beginning with the Genesis 2, Sega abandoned built in RF converters and instead had the converters built into the RF switchboxes themselves. That streamlined the system design, but interference was still a problem. Besides, in the US, the FCC says that devices can't interfere with other RF devices either.

...word is bondage...

Ze_ro

01-19-2007, 01:59 PM

The instructions aren't much help here anyways. I can't find mine at the moment, but the only mention of the dongle was on a seperate addendum card, and all the card said was to insert it in the expansion slot if you don't have a SegaCD... it gave no other explanation, although the message was printed in about 10 different languages.

I guess Sega found out there was a problem with the design and started including them with 32X half-way through production.

--Zero

lordnikon

01-19-2007, 02:28 PM

I have one of these things. I had no idea what the thing was for, or where I got it from. It was just in a box with my AC Adaptors and cables for various consoles. I plugged the thing into the side of my Genesis thinking it was some sort of "dust cap".

FABombjoy

01-19-2007, 02:49 PM

I also remember the peice in question being called the "enhancer" or "preformance booster" or some such thing.

That would certainly get more kids to plug it in than if it were called the "Bus terminator", "Happy pulldown module" or "RF buster"

nebrazca78

01-19-2007, 04:24 PM

But the 32X doesn't work with RF. Only with composite or SCART. :?

I don't know if you live here, but in the U.S. the 32X works with a standard Genesis model 2 RF adapter.

goatdan

01-19-2007, 10:39 PM

Someone emailed me telling me about this thread, and I guess I don't have too much to chime in with other than what I said in the item description is pretty much true. We got these out of 32X consoles that we sold, as we at one point had a whole bunch of them and we opened up all the boxes to make sure everything was complete, and we plucked these out as they were about one in every three consoles and we wanted everything to be similar. I couldn't find any information on them, so we just kept them in a bag for a couple years.

Then randomly, someone here asked me if I had one and I said sure, do you want it? And that's how they became listed on the site.

My belief is it is some weird FCC compiance thing, but I really have no idea. If anyone wants one, I've got probably a half dozen or so left ;)

Zadoc

01-20-2007, 01:58 PM

I guess Sega found out there was a problem with the design and started including them with 32X half-way through production.

Can't be. Mine was a very early version, purchased just after the launch. Most likely is that later the FCC gave in and Sega stopped shipping them.

Ze_ro

01-21-2007, 03:07 AM

That would certainly get more kids to plug it in than if it were called the "Bus terminator", "Happy pulldown module" or "RF buster"

Welcome to the planet EM, ruled by the evil forces of FCC. Grab your dongle and prepare to terminate some busses in your quest to destroy the harmful interference that is plaguing the land! Do you have what it takes to match impedences with the most ferocious, crosstalkin' baddasses around and ground them once and for all? Hurry before the evil FCC forces your friends to comply with the insidious Part-15!

--Zero

Push Upstairs

01-21-2007, 04:20 PM

Ya know, that would work as a story for just about any space shooter.

"Grab your dongle" LOL

NEOFREAK9189

01-21-2007, 10:03 PM

I never got that devices
and I got mine from back when they were new

Rabid Peanut-Butter

01-23-2007, 10:00 AM

Zadoc

01-27-2007, 03:45 AM

My unit came with the dongle (I bought it new from a Wal-Mart I think) and I came across my instructions last night. To verify what someone else mentioned, there was no mention of the dongle anywhere.

Also to verify what someone else mentioned, the instructions for the "dongle" were on a seperate card.

scorch56

01-27-2007, 06:22 AM

Okay... so, who here has 32X instructions that show this peice?

I do. Didn't ANY of you guys see me trying to sell my "100% COMPLETE" boxed 32X on evilBay a few months back? It never sold and I'm glad it didn't frankly. Anyways.. mine has that dongle in it. There is a separate sheet (about the size of a paperback) that came in the box along with the fold-out manual and another pack-in sheet that warns about NOT using the 32X on a CDX (hehe.. after it's already illustrated in the main manual), not plugging a power base conveter into the 32X (..duh!) and it talks about the EM shield plates and about how "using stereo A/V cables with a 32X that is connected to Genesis models 1600, 1601, 1610, 1611, etc... may not output any audio (whatever that means).

Anyways.. the sheets in 6 or 7 languages.. has an illustration of the dongle by itself and on the other side.. shows 2 pictures of how to attach it to a model 2. On the front side it says:

Using a Genesis/Mega Drive not connected with a Sega CD/Mega CD

Before connecting the Genesis 32X/Mega Drive 32X, attach the 32X Extension Unit to the expansion slot of your original Genesis model/original Mega Drive model or new Genesis model/Mega Drive II.

Note: If the Sega CD/Mega CD is attached to the Genesis/Mega Drive, the 32X Extension Unit is not needed.

Back side (with the attachment diagrams):

1. Remove the expansion slot panel and inner cover from the expansion slot on the rear of the Genesis/Mega Drive. (Some models may not have an inner cover.)

2. Attach the 32X Extension unit to the expansion slot.

.. end of story.. there you have it! So officially.. it is referred to as a "32X Extension Unit". There is no mention of WHY you have to have it.. or what purpose it serves; and it's NOT mentioned or illustrated in the equipment listing in the main manual fold-out. Almost like an afterthought.. but my boxed 32X DID come with one.

IT'S SUPER RARE!!! Actually.. reading this addendum and looking at the diagram.. what I find intriguing and probably even MORE elusive is this little "cap" they show covering the expansion slot pins.. nestled underneath the actual port cap itself (referred to in the instructions as the "inner cover")! Who the hell has ever seen one of those? I haven't.

Melf

01-27-2007, 09:09 AM

This sounds like it'd make a great article.

scorch56, any chance you could scan both sides of that dongle sheet?

Ze_ro

01-27-2007, 03:44 PM

what I find intriguing and probably even MORE elusive is this little "cap" they show covering the expansion slot pins.. nestled underneath the actual port cap itself (referred to in the instructions as the "inner cover")! Who the hell has ever seen one of those? I haven't.
I've seen those on a bunch of Genesis' over the years, and my Genesis 2 has one. It's just a red piece of plastic that fits snugly over the edge connector which says "DO NOT REMOVE" on it, with static electricity logo. Why they bothered putting this on there is anyone's guess... it's just plastic, so it doesn't provide any EM shielding or anything like that. I guess the point was to make sure dumbasses didn't accidentally zap their system with static electricity, but I would think the outer cover would do the job fine.

--Zero

Wavelflack

01-27-2007, 04:09 PM

I don't know if you live here, but in the U.S. the 32X works with a standard Genesis model 2 RF adapter.

That's because the model 2 RF adaptor converts composite to RF. The 32X has no RF output.

swlovinist

01-27-2007, 05:20 PM

I agree that this piece was for certain genesis 2 systems to make it playable with the 32X. I have two boxed systems and one has it and one does not. I have always played mine without it, but it is becasue I have the whole Genesis 32X/CD jumbled hookup.

nebrazca78

01-27-2007, 05:44 PM

That's because the model 2 RF adaptor converts composite to RF. The 32X has no RF output.

I guess it depends on how you take the term "work with". The 32X may not output RF but it definitely "works" with a RF adapter. And as stated earlier, late model Genesis systems don't output RF either, right?

Wavelflack

01-27-2007, 08:42 PM

Anything can "work with" RF, given that you have an appropriate converter. Your Genesis can also run on 50,000 volt AC power...if you have a big enough transformer to step it down to 9VDC.

I think what was being discussed was the native output of the system.

Zadoc

01-28-2007, 02:27 AM

I do. Didn't ANY of you guys see me trying to sell my "100% COMPLETE" boxed 32X on evilBay a few months back? It never sold and I'm glad it didn't frankly. Anyways.. mine has that dongle in it. There is a separate sheet (about the size of a paperback) that came in the box along with the fold-out manual and another pack-in sheet that warns about NOT using the 32X on a CDX (hehe.. after it's already illustrated in the main manual), not plugging a power base conveter into the 32X (..duh!) and it talks about the EM shield plates and about how "using stereo A/V cables with a 32X that is connected to Genesis models 1600, 1601, 1610, 1611, etc... may not output any audio (whatever that means).

Anyways.. the sheets in 6 or 7 languages.. has an illustration of the dongle by itself and on the other side.. shows 2 pictures of how to attach it to a model 2. On the front side it says:

Using a Genesis/Mega Drive not connected with a Sega CD/Mega CD

Before connecting the Genesis 32X/Mega Drive 32X, attach the 32X Extension Unit to the expansion slot of your original Genesis model/original Mega Drive model or new Genesis model/Mega Drive II.

Note: If the Sega CD/Mega CD is attached to the Genesis/Mega Drive, the 32X Extension Unit is not needed.

Back side (with the attachment diagrams):

1. Remove the expansion slot panel and inner cover from the expansion slot on the rear of the Genesis/Mega Drive. (Some models may not have an inner cover.)

2. Attach the 32X Extension unit to the expansion slot.

.. end of story.. there you have it! So officially.. it is referred to as a "32X Extension Unit". There is no mention of WHY you have to have it.. or what purpose it serves; and it's NOT mentioned or illustrated in the equipment listing in the main manual fold-out. Almost like an afterthought.. but my boxed 32X DID come with one.

IT'S SUPER RARE!!! Actually.. reading this addendum and looking at the diagram.. what I find intriguing and probably even MORE elusive is this little "cap" they show covering the expansion slot pins.. nestled underneath the actual port cap itself (referred to in the instructions as the "inner cover")! Who the hell has ever seen one of those? I haven't.

Please let me know if you're willing to scan the instructions.

I don't think it's rare at all. For example, the GOAT Store has several in stock. Also, I have seen tons of these in the wild, and finally, the 32X sold very well at launch, and all early models came with the 32X Extension Unit.

Sweater Fish Deluxe

01-29-2007, 06:00 PM

I think what was being discussed was the native output of the system.
No, what was being discussed was this expansion port cover/shield/dongle thing, which most likely exists because the FCC thought the Genesis/32X put out too much radio interference otherwise. Interference that might impact not only an RF converter built into the system, but also an external one like you'd use with the 32X or for that matter totally separate RF devices as well.

...word is bondage...

Wavelflack

01-29-2007, 07:18 PM

I was quite obviously referring to the specific post I addressed, and not the the thread as a whole.

Good grief.

scorch56

01-30-2007, 03:05 AM

I'll hook up my scanner (haven't used it in ages) and scan both sides of the thing real soon. When I bought my boxed 32X it was a refurb unit. It looks brand new, and I'm sure it came with all of the stock equipment of the time. Like I said.. there's absolutely NO mention of the actual function of the thing anywhere. It sure as hell looks like some of the SCSI terminators I've got laying around.. to think of it (Ahhh.. SCSI.. what a PITA). It would be nice to have an official statement by Sega as to what it's for.Theories aside.. maybe it will become the next "console mystery".. much like "Why do SNES' go yellow?" I say alien technology. As far as this goes.. it's a government mandated listening device.

"You think everything's a conspiracy Hippy."