DARKSOFT [OLD VERSION] STV Cartridge instructions and trouble shooting

[Darksoft]

Have they tried loading the game without the selector?

good point.

 

[Breakerpc]

No, because that was not possible at the time. 2-3 games are ok.

 

[arc11]

I found a solution to my problem.

The multi-STV cart doesn't work with original BIOS JAP :
EPR-17740A (Japan 95/02/20)

A friend came and tested with his modbios, and all games that were not recognized (cartirdge error) now all work normally.

The md5 of the bios that works fine is :
7c21887580b46519e3d7e50a53e97e91

There is no sticker on the eprom, I don't know precisely which one it is, but it ends with the string "ST-V MOD V1.11"

 

[Mitsurugi-w]

I found a solution to my problem.

The multi-STV cart doesn't work with original BIOS JAP :
EPR-17740A (Japan 95/02/20)

A friend came and tested with his modbios, and all games that were not recognized (cartirdge error) now all work normally.

The md5 of the bios that works fine is :
7c21887580b46519e3d7e50a53e97e91

There is no sticker on the eprom, I don't know precisely which one it is, but it ends with the string "ST-V MOD V1.11"

Hmm strange as most games were modded to be region-free but good to know your solution for future customers.

 

[arc11]

It's not a region problem
I don't have an error message about the region.

On the game list I posted earlier, the cartridge is not recognized (title not shown at the top of screen after reset).
If I put the original cartirdge in place (not multi), the cartridge is recognized (title at top).

Most of the games are made for jap region anyway, so jap bios works for most.

I suppose most of your customers use the "mod bios" right away (since you can select your region).

I chose to keep the original hardware (mother board and multi STV cart)...

Maybe some kind of protection mecanisms are not completely emulated by multi cart and conflict with the original BIOS, and these checks are removed from the "mod bios" ?

You could try some more tests with original JAP BIOS ? And at least add it to your user manual.

Thank you

 

[Mitsurugi-w]

This cart has been out for years and I'm pretty sure most of those carts are running on original bios. I did all beta testing with the standard USA bios. Yours is the first I've heard of an issue with the bios.

I doubt its a protection issue. I'm wondering if your bios revision is an early one.

 

[arc11]

from the mame bios list :
epr-17740 - Japan STVB1.10J0950131 95/01/31 v1.10 - Found on a early board dated 02/1995
epr-17740a - Japan STVB1.11J0950220 95/02/20 v1.11
epr-17951a - Japan STVB1.13J0950425 95/04/25 v1.13 - There's also a 100% identical mask ROM version: mpr-17951a
epr-17952a - USA STVB1.13U0950425 95/04/25 v1.13
epr-17953a - Taiwan STVB1.13T0950425 95/04/25 v1.13
epr-17954a - Europe STVB1.13E0950425 95/04/25 v1.13
epr-19854 - Taiwan STVB1.14T0970515 97/05/15 v1.14


The EPROM is the v1.11.
Not the latest, but not the earliest either

 

[Geddon]

Noob question. What are the 4 big pin headers for? One is covered is most pictures I see. I got a board in the mail. Seller doesn’t know how to package shit so of course it was damaged. Some of the pins are bent on one of those connectors. I’m assuming I don’t need them for anything so might be ok, if the board works.

 

[ShootTheCore]

Noob question. What are the 4 big pin headers for? One is covered is most pictures I see. I got a board in the mail. Seller doesn’t know how to package shit so of course it was damaged. Some of the pins are bent on one of those connectors. I’m assuming I don’t need them for anything so might be ok, if the board works.

The pin headers are what you use to select the game you want to play.

The stock setup uses jumpers on those pins to select a title, but @stt1 sells a separate LCD selector that connects to that pin header.

FS: Sega ST-V multicart game selector with LCD screen

Also, @twistedsymphony sells a nice 3D printed case for the LCD selector.

 

[Mitsurugi-w]

I think he means on the ST-V pcb itself?

 

[Geddon]

Yeah on the PCb there are 4 big headers. One usually had a little pcb covering it.

 

[twistedsymphony]

What are the 4 big pin headers for?

They're just expansion headers for optional add-on boards. For instance the print-club games have a video capture board that plugs into all 4 of them. You can see pictures of that here: Metal Cage for STV boards

ST-V was originally designed to support multiple games (like MVS multi-slots) and I believe the game switcher hardware was to use those ports as well. This is just speculation on my part, I've never seen any photos of what the switcher hardware looked like, but you can see the evidence of this in test mode.

 

[Mitsurugi-w]

On that note everyone please check your ST-V pcbs and let me know if you have the SCSI controller version of the daughterboard.

 

[stt1]

On that note everyone please check your ST-V pcbs and let me know if you have the SCSI controller version of the daughterboard.

Please, explain how to detect that?

 

[Mitsurugi-w]

If you have a big daughterboard that is plugged into all four of the connectors then post some pics and we'll sort it out.

 

[stt1]

Thanks, but nope, don't have that...

 

[Geddon]

Looks like my board survived. Here is the damaged connector and pins, but this soccer game works.

 

[DJLC]

Any recommendations of which SD card to use? Would any card 4GB or Less work?

 

[Darksoft]

we recommend Samsung 4gb like this one.

 

[DJLC]

Any idea where to grab one for a decent price or another that has worked in the past.