NEC PC Engine Wireless Receiver & Joypad Vs. USB2PCE showdown review.....

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Finally got ahold of a brand new PC Engine-based NEC Wireless Receiver & Joypad combo set recently. Considering that it was released by NEC themselves back in 1992, it has the newer NEC logo on both the receiver unit & wireless joypad controller indeed. What's interesting about this wireless receiver is, it's a "wireless" PCE multi-tap with up to five wireless joypad controllers supported maximum. Since the receiver itself uses the "older" IR (Infared based wireless scheme protocol/standards of the early 1990s era), am not sure how much lag it has compared to the more recently 2022 released USB2PCE controller adapter with it's built-in support for the more robust and better RF (Radio Frequency) 2.4Ghz wireless spectrum/protocol + Bluetooth support as well.

Each NEC wireless joypad is powered by four "AAA" batteries with 6v altogether (it still works if using four rechargeable "AAA" Ni-MH based batteries with 4.8v powering it up also). By selecting which number 1 through 5 on the wireless joypad itself, it's most useful with the PCE gaming titles that support the traditional wired-based multi-tap like with Bomberman, Bomberman '93, Bomberman '94, Bomberman Panic, etc.

The responsive rate of the NEC IR wireless receiver is quite impressive considering it's using 33 year old dated technology which was considered "state-of-the-art and cutting edge" for it's time -- you have to give NEC's hardware wizards proper credit/kudos for doing the best that they could with the current IR technology limitations at the time.

Of course, NEC never did sell/release it's 1st-party manufactured PCE Wireless receiver + joypad combo setup for the American TurboGrafx-16 & Turbo Duo gaming audience/market whatsoever and thus remains as an exclusive "Japan only" released PCE peripheral accessory to this very day. At the very least and as a consolation prize at best, the NEC wireless receiver + joypad combo is 100% compatible with the American-based Turbo Duo console from the "get-go" (a "positive plus" in my book) which is NEC's redeeming & saving grace closure/finality. It's rather ironic in that you have to go out of your way to source one though in the end if you already have/own a Turbo Technologies Incorporated (TTI) released Turbo Duo in your gaming console collection -- so be it.

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Using an 8Bitdo PCE 2.4Ghz wireless controller with a USB2PCE adapter hooked up to the PCE's solo controller port, it does open up the possibility of using other 8Bitdo-based gaming controllers + the ability to use a PS4 Dual Shock 4 controller as well -- how cool is that? Plus you can use the USB2PCE adapter with the TurboGrafx-16 console with a proper PCE-to-TG-16 controller cord adapter for greater versatility & usage for the best of both worlds.

With a certain "button press combo," you can enable 6-button controller layout for those certain PCE gaming titles that do support that particular setup + even change the turbo firing rate (with three levels of auto-fire changeable "on the fly" if it needed be) if using the 2-button endowed 8Bitdo PCE wireless controller. By hooking up an USB hub with five USB ports to the USB port of the USB2PCE adapter, up to five 8Bitdo PCE USB wireless dongles can be inserted along with up to five 8Bitdo PCE wireless controllers being supported (yes, buying into this peculiar setup isn't exactly cheap nowadays but it can be done).

It's awesome with what new hardware hacks can improve upon the venerable and cult-following popular PCE & TurboGrafx-16 gaming consoles, especially nowadays in the 21st century. NEC couldn't have foreseen/predicted the future with it's PCE Wireless receiver & joypad combo being superceeded and eclipsed by the advent of the USB2PCE adapter & a bevy of classic retro 8Bitdo gaming controllers to supplement retro gaming consoles 30 years later "down the road."
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PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[ulao]

it does open up the possibility of using other 8Bitdo-based gaming controllers + the ability to use a PS4 Dual Shock 4 controller as well -- how cool is that?

There is also the Bridge for use of other console controllers.
https://youtu.be/RnOe7hrpgdc