Blinking Light Win Question

[evil_ash_xero]

Just wondering if anyone here has gotten this? I'm looking into getting an NES front loader, for the HDMI mod, but I want it to be reliable.

I remember seeing this mod, a while back, and it seems like a cure. I do remember it being a bit too tight. Have they worked that out?
I don't think it would be too big of an issue, since I just use Everdrives, anyway. But still.

Any feedback?

[Woozle]

I just installed both hi def NES and blinking light win on my front loader. Works great, no issues whatsoever.

Connector isn't too tight, I would say it's similar to my top loader.

[BazookaBen]

I made a thread about it already, but yeah, it's great. Games work instantly and never reset. It's such an awesome feeling after 30 years of struggling with the original connector.

The current model isn't too tight, but I do wish it was angled slightly upwards instead of 90 degrees so it would be easier to get my finger under it. But it's by far a worthwhile tradeoff. Highly recommended for a NES owners

[mvsfan]

As someone whos had both connectors, Rev 1, and Rev 2, (I was a part of Kickstarter) the first connectors were way too tight and it was hard to get the game out.

But V2 Fixes that issue, and is fine. Its now rather easy to get your game out, and the blw works just fine. No more blowing on carts or tossing them across the room!

[evil_ash_xero]

Sounds great.

I'll really getting nostalgic, and want to see one of the old toasters, around again. But I don't want to ever have to deal with it's connector problem. That was a part of my childhood, I don't want to revisit.

[tjstogy]

I just got a v2 but it's impossible to take games out without a pair of channel locks. I wonder if I got a lemon. Fortunately, I mostly use an ever drive so it's not a big problem. One side benefit of the blw is that knocking into your NES mid-game doesn't screw everything up any more...

[Voultar]

In the past week, I've installed 6 V2 Blinking Light FTW's.

4 of those 6 had a really "comfortable" grip on the cart, making it relatively easy to remove the cart without using channel-locks.

2 out of the 6 maintained an ungodly Darth Vader grip on the cartridge.

In my experience, it's really hit or miss.

[tjstogy]

In the past week, I've installed 6 V2 Blinking Light FTW's.

4 of those 6 had a really "comfortable" grip on the cart, making it relatively easy to remove the cart without using channel-locks.

2 out of the 6 maintained an ungodly Darth Vader grip on the cartridge.

In my experience, it's really hit or miss.

I'm not surprised.... my everdrive is literally stuck in mine- and I just bought it (for $36.67)

.....but could be worse, Bible Adventures could be stuck in there instead...

[Guspaz]

In the past week, I've installed 6 V2 Blinking Light FTW's.

4 of those 6 had a really "comfortable" grip on the cart, making it relatively easy to remove the cart without using channel-locks.

2 out of the 6 maintained an ungodly Darth Vader grip on the cartridge.

In my experience, it's really hit or miss.

That explains my experience. I bought a BLW, and it had a death grip. I could not get games out, it was crazy hard. People here scoffed at me, saying I was imagining things. Now it would seem that I just got unlucky and got one with a death grip.

I broke it trying to loosen the pins (I got the grip loose, but then games barely worked), and they've been awesome about that and replaced it for me. I've got the replacement part sitting here, but I haven't had a chance to install it yet. Hopefully it's not another death grip unit!

[tjstogy]

In the past week, I've installed 6 V2 Blinking Light FTW's.

4 of those 6 had a really "comfortable" grip on the cart, making it relatively easy to remove the cart without using channel-locks.

2 out of the 6 maintained an ungodly Darth Vader grip on the cartridge.

In my experience, it's really hit or miss.

That explains my experience. I bought a BLW, and it had a death grip. I could not get games out, it was crazy hard. People here scoffed at me, saying I was imagining things. Now it would seem that I just got unlucky and got one with a death grip.

I broke it trying to loosen the pins (I got the grip loose, but then games barely worked), and they've been awesome about that and replaced it for me. I've got the replacement part sitting here, but I haven't had a chance to install it yet. Hopefully it's not another death grip unit!

Nice, thanks for the update. Sounds like they stand behind their stuff. I'll contact them

[Shoryukev]

Is there any advantage to this kit over having the pins adjusted on an original 72 pin? When my NES was RGB modded by Yurkie it came back with all the pins moved so that they make better contact and I no longer have to push the cartridge down to make it work. I'd imagine eventually my pins will loosen on their own....whereas this wouldn't?

I'd also be curious to see how much the cartridge is allowed to move side-to-side in the tray versus the original. The only time my NES doesn't load the game is due to the fact that when I pushed it in it wasn't aligned quite right, and shifting it to one side or the other always fixes it.

[mvsfan]

With the blinking light win, Having to do all of those tricks like moving the cartridge to the side a bit, pulling it out a bit etc, are not nessecary. All that is eliminated provided your games are clean.

It uses a regular card edge connector, like a toploader does. you just plug the game in and it works.

[BazookaBen]

I'd imagine eventually my pins will loosen on their own....whereas this wouldn't?

Yeah, basically, this cartridge connector won't wear out for the same reason your Genesis, SNES, and N64 cartridge connectors haven't worn out yet.