Konami Racing Jam - Progress!

SilverDuck

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Ok, it's been awhile since I've had free time to mess with my Konami Racing Jam games, but I decided to get them out and work on them some more. I know several of you have this game, and have the same issues we do.

First off, I've solved the dreaded "RTC SELF CHECK ERROR". As some of you know, we were able to get the machine working with the "Japan RTC Chip"...but it gave an issue with the shifter. It needed a clutch, a 6-speed shifter, and some of the text on the game was in Japanese. I've solved this. I have the North American RTC Chip in my hand. I installed it, and yes...it works. The shifter is normal, the text is in English...all is well.

I want to get someone to pull the data off my chip, and make it available to others with this same game.


Secondly, I need to network my two games. Mudhen, I'm looking at you. Give me a brief tutorial on linking my games. I tried to do it, but I'm just getting errors. Teach me....teach me.

Thirdly...one of my machines reboots at random times. Sometimes you get 2 minutes, sometimes 10 minutes. No warning, just reboots. I ran a ROM check, no errors. Where to look? Power supply? NOTE: As long as I am in the OPERATOR TEST mode, it stays on forever. It only reboots during game play.
 
I can dump the chip pretty easily, as could channelmaniac or any of a dozen guys around on here. Where are you located? Someone local may be able to do it quickly w/ a laptop to keep you up n going :)

For the reboots, check the PS voltage is close to 5.1-2v, and that the game eeproms are all seated correctly.
 
Random RAM errors, power problems, issues with dirty connections... hard to say.

As for the chip, send it this way and I can back it up for you. I have a couple of NVRAM chips left here too.
 
Swap power supply with the working machine, see if the problem is gone? If not, cry?
 
Can that timekeeper chip be "Re-programmed"? Can my Japan chip be reprogrammed with the north american data?
 
Is your board socketed for the timekeeper chip? If not, get it socketed, and I can provide you with a new timekeeper chip.
 
Yeah, they can be reprogrammed. I agree on checking the ps first. Also loose connections, bulging caps, the usual suspects.

Ksaun - definitely get it socketed. These through holes are tiny, dont even try it without a rework station.
 
Ok Racing Jam owners....here's the deal. It's taken me a LOT of time, effort, and money. I even had to do a few "favors" for some gentleman in San Fransisco that I'm not proud of. But, I realized that for progress, someone needed to step up and get it done. (That, and I wanted these damn machines to work so I can sell 'em)

So. Here is the situation. I have the chip. I have the North American RTC chip. I don't want to just "give away" the time, effort, and money I've invested. I also don't want to make a profit. I'm not looking to shake you guys down. I just want to regain a fair share of what I've spent. The more of you that are willing to buy a chip, the cheaper they will be.

Here's what I need: Everyone that is interested in a chip, reply here with how many you need. After I get an idea of how many chips we need, I'll decide a fair price per chip. I'll keep everything here for all to see, no shady dealings via PM and other crap.

So, please reply with how many chips you need, and we'll get this going.
 
So far...I have

ksaun61 - 1 Chip.
Mudhens - 2 chips
mikdawg - 1 Chip


Who else?

If we need 4 chips....cost will look like this: [estimated]

$22 for the blank chip
$30 for the programming
$5 for shipping.

$57 per chip.

If more people buy, the cost will shrink.
 
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FYI, everything needed is now in MAME. I dumped the RTC from a working Euro Racing Jam Chapter 2 last year and found it resurrects Racing Jam 1 also.

I can also confirm the euro image in MAME will work in a US boardset as the controls are the same (unlike the JP version).

I have one timekeeper left if anyone needs one.
 
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