FIXED - Namco Classics Vol 1 - Video / Sync Issues, Input Issues

SCUBA King

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Picked up this board from @DeLuSioNaL29 to take a poke at.
Game wouldn't display properly, looked like streaking red / bad sync and only showing blue.
Del told me that he had recapped it already and still not luck, so I assumed bad vias in the RGB area.

Got it under the microscope and found one trace that didn't connect to the via (via is still good, trace is dead), connected that direct to Ground with jumper and the red streaking disappeared.

Found 3 other vias that should have been connecting to each other through to a plane on the back of the board. None of those vias toned back to front, none of those vias toned between eachother.

I jumpered across 1 to 2 to 3 to connect them all to each other and the colors are back and looking great.

Last problem I had was inputs. Not noticeable on Galaga or Mappy because they are L/R only, but Xevious wouldn't go backwards (down).
When I flipped into test mode the selector would drop immediately to the bottom option as if the joystick down was pegged.

I could quickly force it to accept "switch test" by holding down P1 B2 as I was entering test mode and as expected it showed that P1 down was pegged.

Strange enough, sometimes in test mode it would l work, and then wouldnt and then it was tying P1 Down to P2 down so if I hit p2 down it would flip P1 down also.

I toned out jamma edge and P1 Down was a 5v, not grounded so I kept tracking.

Using DMM to follow the path and then Logic Probe I found there were two floating pins on Filter cap array that should have been tied to P1 down and P2 down.

Reflowed with a ton of flux and new solder, and it seemed to work.

Then it started flaking out again and was tying P1 to P2, so I cleaned up the old flux and solder site the best I could and then it stopped tying them together and are working independantly.

Only problem I seem to have left now is that P1 down does not flip right away, you have to hold the direction and after around 1/2 second it will flip, all other inputs flip right away..


With some intel from @DogP I will be checking the Filter array and resistor pack just before it to see what I can find, but overall, this is 98% playable and back from the dead.
Will report back to close this one off.

**Sidenote, 2 player galaga on this board where you can both play at the same time is cool AF.
 

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For all the OCD peeps out there with me, I will also be cleaning up the jumper repairs now that I have proven out the fix with obscenely long kynar jumpers.
 
**Sidenote, 2 player galaga on this board where you can both play at the same time is cool AF.
Agreed. I also think it's clever that the player 2 ship is slightly higher up by a couple pixels so that if you overlap with player 1 onscreen there is no confusion. The hitbox remains the same for both, IIRC.

Adding to the above repair:
  • When I received it, a prior cap kit had been done but the SMD caps were installed with the legs pulled out making the caps appear like they are "hovering" above the PCB by about 1/16". This made them prone getting knocked off easily, which a few indeed had been during shipping. I ordered a new SMD cap kit and installed them properly. Had to fix a trace or two in the process near the metal heatsink. I also added the electrolytic cap on the LM1203 chip's legs, which I've seen on other Namco Vol 1 PCBs. (Some have it, some don't).
  • Originally, I had thought the issue was with the LM1203N RGB Video Amplifier chip. So I removed it, socketed it and installed a spare I had on hand. Ironically, it's the same chip used on a WG K7400 neckboard.
  • As @SCUBA King stated, I had no idea that the down joystick direction was not working. Who plays Xevious anyway?! LOL. (j/k)
I'm glad that he checked my work and was able to troubleshoot it further to get it across the finish line. Thanks again buddy!

LM1203.jpeg

Del
 
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Tested RM11 and RM17. Perfectly in spec. Leads me back to Filter array FIL12

Ran jumper directly across correct pins for p1 down (skipping filter) and it works perfectly and flips immediately.

I cleaned up test jumpers and made them almost invisible with no wire to get caught on anything between R22/23/24, added a reset button for testing and played some xevious and Mappy. Went back into test menu and still rock solid for flipping.

I'll call this one done.
 

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I've always loved both the Namco Classic Collections and wish more people talked about them. Congrats on the restoration!
 
Same.

I don't think these work properly in MAME either. If they do it's sluggishly slow so it's unplayable. (Last I checked).

Awesome work @SCUBA King

Del
I heard the same about them not being fully emulated in MAME, which makes it all the nicer to have the real deal!

I only own Vol. 2 at the moment, but mark my words I will get Vol. 1 eventually!
 
I heard the same about them not being fully emulated in MAME,

I wonder who we could convince to add this to another platform ?
Wonder who?
I wish there was another great emulation platform that already handles the Galaga Core and Pac Core...
Too bad we dont have anything like that...Ahem... (@CraftyMech )??
Just sayin...
 
I wonder who we could convince to add this to another platform ?
Wonder who?
I wish there was another great emulation platform that already handles the Galaga Core and Pac Core...
Too bad we dont have anything like that...Ahem... (@CraftyMech )??
Just sayin...
That would be sweet but it's also good to know that there is someone here who can fix these Namco boards if I ever have a problem with mine.
 
I'm not sure these game would work on the original Galaga core? They have way more animation and sprits IMHO
 
I'm not sure these game would work on the original Galaga core? They have way more animation and sprits IMHO
@KaBoom1701 stop using common sense for a minute here. Let me believe that crafty can get this up on BK for at least one weekend before you dash me hopes and dreams. 😂😂
 
I'm not sure these game would work on the original Galaga core? They have way more animation and sprits IMHO
Correct. It runs on the more modern and beefier Namco ND-1 hardware, with a 68000 processor. (Even though it still uses the same RGB amp chip that a K7400 monitor uses which I found hysterical while working on them).

The Namco ND-1 also has a security chip, which I'm not sure has been overcome yet. That's probably why it's not working in MAME. (Speculation on my part, I really have no idea why it's not working in MAME, LOL).

Here's a great write-up of the Namco ND-1 hardware. Interesting read and I recommend it:

Del
 
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