Change Dreamcast Region/Output signal with a quick solder

genetik · Post by **genetik** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 1:14 pm

On Lyris Lite, there's some info on how to change the Dreamcast region (US/JAP/Europe) and output signal (NTSC/PAL/PAL_M/PAL_N). Very easy to do just by soldering a cable from one point to another and then using the Region Changer app on the Dreamcast. I was able to successfully do the mod, even without any soldering skills. It's very nice to be able to mod a US DC so that it boots in Euro, but with NTSC output.

lawnspic · Post by **lawnspic** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 3:52 pm

Wow thats an awesome mod, and its real easy. I just wonder if that will work on my NTSC system so i can change the region to Jap so i dont have to use a boot disc anymore

genetik · Post by **genetik** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 3:58 pm

lawnspic wrote:Wow thats an awesome mod, and its real easy. I just wonder if that will work on my NTSC system so i can change the region to Jap so i dont have to use a boot disc anymore

I successfully did it on one of my Dreamcast (NTSC/US model 0). Works perfectly to change between region. Tested Under Defeat, Rez Euro version and they both boot perfectly. Didn't test the NTSC/PAL conversion since my TV doesn't support PAL.

lawnspic · Post by **lawnspic** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 4:14 pm

wow thats sweet, yeah i would just want to change the region as well. and i guess you can change it back anytime with the disc right. if so, im in

what this is really doing is letting you flash the Bios, this is one of the best mods i have seen in a while. very nice

genetik · Post by **genetik** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 4:40 pm

Exactly, you can just pop the disc back in and change it back the way it was. Very sweet mod indeed, mostly cause it's very easy to do.

iatneH · Post by **iatneH** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 6:09 pm

Very neat! Does anyone know if the region changer disc can be used without the hardware mod for US->JP? So I can boot my JP originals without using a boot disc...

And off-topic, I just thought one of the ads on the side was funny.
"Remove porn from your PC"
WTF??? I'm trying to put MORE porn ON my PC!

edit: nevermind... so you need to solder 2 wires? One for running the region changer, and one for the output format..

genetik · Post by **genetik** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 7:08 pm

iatneH wrote:Very neat! Does anyone know if the region changer disc can be used without the hardware mod for US->JP? So I can boot my JP originals without using a boot disc...

And off-topic, I just thought one of the ads on the side was funny.
"Remove porn from your PC"
WTF??? I'm trying to put MORE porn ON my PC!

edit: nevermind... so you need to solder 2 wires? One for running the region changer, and one for the output format..

No, you really need that the +12 and the R512 are linked together otherwise the cd does nothing. It just boot and any change you make will not be kept. Although since it changes the bios, i think that once you've changed it to the desired region, you could possibly remove the wire and the DC will keep working in the region you set it at.

The second wire is not necessary if you're doing a US->JP conversion. It's only for PAL DC so that it output PAL-60 instead of true NTSC.

lawnspic · Post by **lawnspic** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 7:24 pm

i cant believe it took this long for an expoit like this, at least the pepole selling chips made some money, because this is truly a DIY job. Also those solder points are large, unlike a slimline ps2 (nightmare, d0 points anyone)

Limbrooke · Post by **Limbrooke** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 3:26 am

Now all we need is for someone to make a region free bios, if that's even possible. Otherwise it's something good to check out due to sheer simplicity.

iatneH · Post by **iatneH** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 8:47 pm

I just did the mod, super easy.

I can't get the disc to work though. Made 3 coasters with both my burners using Nero, got an error saying "Cannot write audio at the address specified" or something to that effect.

Another coaster using my DVD burner when writing the .nrg file using Alcohol 120%. I burned successfully using my CD burner in Alcohol, but the disc fails to load in my Dreamcast.

Anybody who successfully burned the disc, can you rip a CDI or MDS file and host it on rapidshare?

genetik · Post by **genetik** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 8:53 pm

Here a link for the updated version 1.5.

http://jo.plaz.free.fr/DC/dcrc1.5.cdi.zip

iatneH · Post by **iatneH** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 10:33 pm

Thanks genetik, the 1.5 did the trick. Power cycled and booted Under Defeat on my US DC without a boot disc!

KBZ · Post by **KBZ** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 6:33 am

oh good, there's finaly an english translation of this mod.

I was having no luck understanding the russian and spanish versions when they came out a few weeks ago.

I'm glad I was able to get my modchips when I did cause they seem to be hard to find. But this seems like a very good (and free!) option too.

Daigoro · Post by **Daigoro** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 6:26 pm

so you would still have to insert a disc to change the region from JP>US and back again?

seems like a hassle if you play games from both regions. might as well just use a swap disc no?

or am i missing something?

ktownhero · Post by **ktownhero** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 6:35 pm

Daigoro wrote:so you would still have to insert a disc to change the region from JP>US and back again?

seems like a hassle if you play games from both regions. might as well just use a swap disc no?

or am i missing something?

My thoughts exactly.

genetik · Post by **genetik** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 6:55 pm

Daigoro wrote:so you would still have to insert a disc to change the region from JP>US and back again?

seems like a hassle if you play games from both regions. might as well just use a swap disc no?

or am i missing something?

It's more useful if you have two US/Euro Dc and switch one in Japanese. That way you have one for both regions. Also practical if you have a US/Euro one and mostly use Japanese games.

It also makes it useless (apart from a collection point of view) of paying more for an import Dreamcast. Also, I'm guessing that PAL Dc owner will appreciate booting in full PAL 60hz instead of 50hz.