Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Sega Nomad mods

  1. #1
    Cherry (Level 1) duo_r's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Posts
    319
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default Sega Nomad mods

    Recemtly picked up a Nomad here and started doing some mods to it. Work done so far:

    • enabled SMS mode (play Sega Master games)
    • JP region mode (hold A when booting up)
    • LCD swap with new 3.5" screen
    • Modded battery pack with Lithium ion battery - 5+ hours gameplay
    • new green power LED, turns orange when low
    • s-video output

    The new thing that I did today was add a controller port for player 1 (Nomad only has a port for P2). This means it is the ultimate portable home console. Here is the video of the first run:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92thd3L04HY

  2. #2
    Pac-Man (Level 10) theclaw's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    2,217
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    1
    Thanked in
    1 Post
    Xbox LIVE
    theclaw135
    PSN
    Eonclaw

    Default

    TONS of options in there. A few less orthodox.
    Yeah very few fun uses for switching to JP mode powered on. To play US Streets of Rage 2 in Japanese without region force cheat or similar is an odd exception. Its lockout occurs after boot.

    One issue is how replacement LCDs handle PAL related stuff. 50hz mode on some becomes grayscale without a fix. (I briefly had a Nomad affected by that, but never got it fixed)
    Last edited by theclaw; 07-15-2012 at 03:20 AM.
    Lum fan.

  3. #3
    Cherry (Level 1) duo_r's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Posts
    319
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Yeah I had the PAL mode hooked up to start, but it was really annoying to see the screen change every time I paused the game so I disabled. The screen would go B/W temporarily but then return to color after. Since I don't plan on playing PAL games I decided to disable the hold start option.

    Quote Originally Posted by theclaw View Post
    TONS of options in there. A few less orthodox.
    Yeah very few fun uses for switching to JP mode powered on. To play US Streets of Rage 2 in Japanese without region force cheat or similar is an odd exception. Its lockout occurs after boot.

    One issue is how replacement LCDs handle PAL related stuff. 50hz mode on some becomes grayscale without a fix. (I briefly had a Nomad affected by that, but never got it fixed)

  4. #4
    Cherry (Level 1) duo_r's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Posts
    319
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Ok some finished pics of the additional mods.



    Here you can see the P1 controller port, and also the physical reset button. Also the brightness wheel was replaced with an on/off switch for the LCD, for improved battery time when hooked up to a TV. The reset button is resessed enough that it won't be accidentally pushed. You have to give it a good press with your finger.







    And here you can see the S-video port and also the LCD buttons to control the brightness and screen settings:




  5. #5
    Pac-Man (Level 10) theclaw's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    2,217
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    1
    Thanked in
    1 Post
    Xbox LIVE
    theclaw135
    PSN
    Eonclaw

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by duo_r View Post
    Yeah I had the PAL mode hooked up to start, but it was really annoying to see the screen change every time I paused the game so I disabled. The screen would go B/W temporarily but then return to color after. Since I don't plan on playing PAL games I decided to disable the hold start option.
    OK save it for later. Can always find space for a micro switch.
    Lum fan.

  6. #6
    Pretzel (Level 4) APE992's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Chico, CA
    Posts
    999
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    APE992

    Default

    Put in a delay for the PAL/NTSC mode. There is a "switchless" mod using a PIC microcontroller that will do just that. If you need one programmed I can do that for you.
    Last edited by APE992; 07-23-2012 at 11:31 AM.
    I fix things. You name it, I'll work on it. Want something modded? Recapped?

  7. #7
    Cherry (Level 1) duo_r's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Posts
    319
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    So you have to hold start longer to kick in? Yes that sounds awesome please drop me a PM.

    Quote Originally Posted by APE992 View Post
    Put in a delay for the PAL/NTSC mode. There is a "switchless" mod using a PIC microcontroller that will do just that. If you need one programmed I can do that for you.

  8. #8
    Insert Coin (Level 0)
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Brisbane, Australia
    Posts
    41
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Looks very nice! I also added the LCD menu controls to my Nomad. How did you go about the reset button? Is it a simple switch grounding pin 10 on the ribbon connector? For that I did the 4071 GATE via start/mode switch.

    I really should do the SMS trick, how hard was that?

  9. #9
    Cherry (Level 1) duo_r's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Posts
    319
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Reset button - was sourced from an old computer that I had, it was just a simple pushbutton switch. I actually pulled the reset pin off the cartridge port, I already had to do work in there so it was no biggie. Yeah OR Gates are nice, but I didn't have one and also like having a physical button like my Genesis console.

    SMS mode - just one wire and two solder points. One of the points is to a very small IC. I used very thin kynar wiring and it wasn't bad. You just need to make sure you don't short the pins next to it after the install. It really wasn't that bad. Confirmed it worked by playing SMS on my Everdrive MD flash cart.




    Quote Originally Posted by omp! View Post
    Looks very nice! I also added the LCD menu controls to my Nomad. How did you go about the reset button? Is it a simple switch grounding pin 10 on the ribbon connector? For that I did the 4071 GATE via start/mode switch.

    I really should do the SMS trick, how hard was that?

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 15
    Last Post: 07-22-2016, 08:08 PM
  2. WTB NOMAD: 130 USD for your MINT and complete SEGA NOMAD.
    By Coryoon in forum Buying and Selling
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 07-31-2006, 08:12 PM
  3. Selling My Sega Nomad, NES, SNES, Great NOMAD Package!
    By Parpunk in forum Buying and Selling
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 06-09-2006, 09:39 AM
  4. My Sega Nomad, NES, SNES on EBAY Great Nomad Package!!!
    By Parpunk in forum Buying and Selling
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 06-08-2006, 08:58 PM
  5. Sweet SEGA Nomad find/Nomad questions
    By jgenotte in forum Classic Gaming
    Replies: 21
    Last Post: 10-27-2004, 12:38 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •