New Duo-R Owner - cheapest way to get a composite AV cable (for now)

[destructive cactus]

Hello,

I'm new to the forum - I had a quick question about the easiest/cheapest way to get a DIN5 AV cable for the PC Engine Duo-R that I just acquired -just for now, as I plan to upgrade to a better video output shortly. I also have an original PC Engine and CoreGrafx and use a homemade cable that attaches to the expansion port, but that's not an option with the Duo, and for some reason my DIY cable (attaching to the DIN5 AV port) does not work, regardless of what combination of pins I try.

On ebay, the prices are crazy, and I hear that the sega genesis/megadrive cables are not wired the exact same, so stereo audio is not possible. Does anyone have some suggestions for fixing my RCA to DIN5 cable or finding a cheapo one for now?

Thanks!!

[Keith Courage]

http://gamedoctorhk.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=72_21_123&products_id=965

Shipping will probably be $6

[destructive cactus]

Thanks! Seems a lot cheaper than I was seeing elsewhere.

[Keith Courage]

Did you not try your core grafx av cable on it? It should work since they are the same.

Could be that the duo av socket needs its pins resoldered since they get cracked connections over time.

[mickcris]

Was going to make a thread about this eventually but will put it here:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00M0FXP64

Cut the yellow off and black is the video. Left and right audio are correct. Descent cable for the price with a molded din end.

[Keith Courage]

Was going to make a thread about this eventually but will put it here:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00M0FXP64

Cut the yellow off and black is the video. Left and right audio are correct. Descent cable for the price with a molded din end.

That does look like a good one. I'll have to check it out. I've been building my own for a while now. If these are good quality it will save me some time

[mickcris]

Was going to make a thread about this eventually but will put it here:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00M0FXP64

Cut the yellow off and black is the video. Left and right audio are correct. Descent cable for the price with a molded din end.

That does look like a good one. I'll have to check it out. I've been building my own for a while now. If these are good quality it will save me some time

I don't think they are too bad. The wires and pins are bit thinner than an oem cable but they seem to work well. It is quite a time saver. I put some yellow heat shrink over the black and a piece of black covering where the extra wire was cut. Should last a long time too since the din is molded. The seller is in the uk so they take a couple weeks to get here though. A US seller on eBay has a similar one but its twice as much. That was the 1st one i ordered before I found the uk seller.

[NecroPhile]

Welcome aboard, destructive cactus!

Nice user name. 

[destructive cactus]

Thanks for the welcome! And thanks for the other cable recommendation, too - that's a good find. I'll probably grab that one as well since it'll show up faster.

For clarification: I didn't have a cable for the CoreGrafx either - I just tested it by using my homemade 'expansion port' connector. I'm really not sure why my homemade DIN cable didn't work. All I know is that I hooked the duo up to power, put my Cosmic Fantasy II disc in, pressed 'run', and heard the drive spin up and saw the red 'access' LED light up ... but couldn't play it! Hehe.

Of course, the first thing I did when I got the Duo was to open it up (since I couldn't yet play it), so here are some pictures:

[mickcris]

if the din connector has cracked joints, you wont be able to see it without removing the board and looking at the bottom.  even then, it can be hard to see.  you would have to connect a cable and make sure there is no movement on the solder joints when moving the cable.

how did you wire up the din connector?  did you attach all the grounds together? If you looked at a pic like this did you account for it being the opposite on the cable side:
http://www.gamesx.com/avpinouts/duoav.htm

[destructive cactus]

I was looking at that very pinout link - I definitely didn't account for the fact that it was 'reversed', though. I did connect all grounds together. I might give it another go while I wait for the cables to arrive. Thanks!

[destructive cactus]

Yep! I definitely had the pins reversed. Everything's working now, but the cable is pretty ugly, so the extra AV cables I ordered from the suggestions really should help out. Thanks again.

[mickcris]

glad you got it working.  i still screw that up every once in a while and usually dont notice till i already have all the wires soldered on.

[wilykat]

At least it wasn't possible to start a fire or blow something by reversing pins.  I modded a cable for my computer oh about 20 years ago, got the 12v and ground flipped, turned it on.  My room filled with smoke in the short time I raced to pull the power plug and had to leave for an hour.  My biggest disaster to date, no damage fortunately other than 18 inches (about 45cm) pair of melted wires and melted plugs.