TMS-RGB Colecovision RGB mod install guide! The best option for playing Coleco on a modern display
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 พ.ค. 2024
- The Colecovision is one of the best consoles from the 2nd generation of video games, but it's really hard to enjoy these games on a modern display. On this episode of Fix It Friday, we will walk you through the installation of the new TMS-RGB mod, which adds RGB to your Colecovision!
Parts:
mobiusstriptechnologies.com/p...
Installation service:
ruggerscustoms.net
More detailed info:
tms-rgb.com/
We now have an online store for modifications and repairs! www.1uprestorations.com
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As someone who grew up on these systems...
You call the controllers ‘Not so great’
We called that ‘extra variable of gameplay’ 😂
It's not a bug, but a feature, eh?
Great video and nice work! That's the closest I think I've ever heard anyone pronounce my last name on the first try, hehe. The last syllable is like "done"/"dun" instead of the name "Don", but otherwise you were spot on.
Sticking the RF module off to the side (like the PAL version of the Colecovision) is a brilliant idea to be able to reuse the existing hole without losing composite-modability. I still haven't closed up my own system since I recorded the install videos, because I was looking for a no-compromises, no-cut solution and I think you just discovered one. Awesome job!
Thanks so much Nicholas! Your Colecovision RGB mod was really well put together and I am very impressed with the results. I have been having a lot of fun with it and introducing my son to some old classics. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what other projects you are working on in the future!
If you don't have a step bit, you can always put the drill in reverse to drill the hole. It will take longer but it's less aggressive on old plastic.
Cool, it's good to know other techniques like that!
@@LIRetroGaming Figured that one out when I shattered the acrylic on my first arcade control panel build. Right at the very end of the project, the bit dug in and snapped the cover. I realized reversing worked and was more gentle. Later I tried reversing on a Odyssey II composite mod and it worked like a charm.
Nice video, glad people are opening the console the proper way without ruining the front panel.
So many mods for this thing are available. (5v memory, ESD protection for controller ports, socket all the memory, controller, and bios chip, replace bios with nodelay, composite out, etc) its a fun system to completly rework. I would definitly recommend a desoldering gun, saves hours of time.
Only thing id love to find, is aftermarket repair for the joystick buttons when the metal tab switch breaks due to stress.
I should have shown this in the video, but my personal system has almost all of those mods, excluding the bios mod. It’s a really fun system to work on
Very well done video. Just got a ColecoVision from an antique store with the Atari Expansion Module! 🙂
Looking into this mod or another that will allow me to output to HDMI since I don't have a RGB monitor available and I'm not interested in getting another converter box hanging off the back of the display unit.
Again, excellent work showing the procedure on how to do this. Very much appreciated.
Hey man, great video. Any chance you could share what drill bit you are using and where you got it? Thanks.
Please put up links to purchase the RGB plugs and cables too.
You have perhaps instalation video you can share on the second one you did? I like composite video/RGB and replace the rf box to the corner like you did. Also where you got the parts from. Thanks
Just finished watching am ready to mod . I have 2 questions: what cable are you using to connect to the television, and also where did you get the actual board you have on the md-90 connector? I followed the links but it seems to be for just the connector
Thanks
The RGB cables were from retrogamingcables.co.uk, and the pcb for the md-90 connector is here: github.com/db-electronics/MD-90SM-breakout-kicad
You can use oshpark to make those pcbs for you
Hi. Where did you get that breakout board for the back of the 9 pin mini din?
You can find the breakout here and have it printed by PCBway: github.com/db-electronics/MD-90SM-breakout-kicad
Okay, here's what I don't get. The 8-pin DIN connects to... what, exactly? All I'm seeing is SCART, and no American television sets use that standard. Are there other options available?
im using a retrotink scart to component converter. are the cables you use just a passthrough? basically what im asking is, when i make my own 8 pin mini din to scart cable, is it just a passthrough or does it need to be resisted and caped?
The 8 pin mini din cable that I used is passthrough - you should not need to add any resistors/caps to any of the wires going into the SCART head
Fantastic video! I have heard that the expansion port didn't work anymore after the mod, but it seems you have a work around. It seems you do mods as a business? Yeah, no?
yes this mod does keep the expansion port functionality. And yes, my website is 1uprestorations.com
@@LIRetroGaming Nice! I’m in Japan. Obviously I will pay for shipping, but are you fine with dealing with the custom form? It’s not complicated.
Yes I have done international repairs and mods as well, so that is no problem
Could you tell me where you got the mini din breakout board and also the mini din connector?
Here is the din connector www.digikey.ca/products/en?keywords=md-90sm
And here is the breakout PCB github.com/db-electronics/MD-90SM-breakout-kicad
Are you required to remove the composite mod to get a working unit? My composite mod is similar to yours and it works great so I left it in place. I cannot get the RGB board (Purchased from Mobius) to work hardly at all as the picture is distorted. I have double checked continuity at all points on the board. I also used two kinds of 9 pin mini din connectors and two different 9 pin mini din scart cables both with and without the resistors. I am thinking of scrapping the 9 pin and going with the 8 pin solution but the scart cable is another $50 shipped from the UK seller...
Yes, it is possible to keep composite video and also use the TMS RGB mod. If you watch toward the end of the video I show a configuration with composite and the 9 pin mini din. It definitely sounds like something must be wrong but it’s hard to say without actually looking at the board
@@LIRetroGaming I went ahead and used your link to order the same 9 pin mini din connector from Digi-key. I was using a standard connector but I just sourced a break out board for the type you used so it may have been my soldering on the other connector...
OK cool, keep me posted and I hope everything works out with the new parts!
I get the title screen for the Colecovision but when I plug in the game all I get is static.
I do not have the TMS-RGB mod. I just have the Console5 standard composite A/V mod. I tapped into audio inside the RF box as illustrated in the Console5 instructions. Doing it this way audio is very quiet when using either the Expansion Module 1 or the Opcode Super Game Module. I have been told this is fixed by tapping the audio from C88 as you did here. Do you think removing L9 is beneficial with the composite mod also?
Removing L9 might clean up the noise on composite video as well. I definitely saw an improvement with RGB.
@@LIRetroGaming I might try removing it, see how it looks! Thanks!
@@LIRetroGaming Well, that was a fail on all fronts. I removed L9 the picture looked worse, i put it back. no problem there. I hooked audio to C88. the audio was not louder. I wasn't sure if I should use the supplied capacitor from the console5 kit. I did use it, now i cant get audio even when i put it back as it was... Could I have fried C88 or the other cap in the mod kit... I should have left it alone... I need some help please!
Would love to buy a modded system? Any suggestions? I fee
Like if I attempted this I’d ruin it, rather have a prp do it
So I have a few questions. My ColecoVision is modded already very similar to the first example. With the 3.5mm jack to get composite video (RCA jacks). Could I leave that mod intact so I can still play Expansion Module #1 (Atari 2600) games? Then just make a second hole beside it for RBG? How would that work, would I just plug both outputs into my TV and it would use one for Atari and the other for ColecoVision?
Is the RGB Mod compatible with HD Retrovision Genesis cables?
I know there is an RBG mod out there for 2600, could that not be applied to the Expansion Module #1 itself to get RGB from it as well?
Yes, this mod is compatible with HD retro cables. You can also keep the composite video modification for compatibility with 2600 games. Unfortunately it is not possible to get RGB from the expansion module, so composite is the only option for 2600 games
Do you know of anyone that's done this mod on the Coleco Adam Computer? I have one that I'm trying to mod / restore, but the Colecovision boards have a different layout.
This mod should work on the Adam, but I don’t know anyone who has done it. You should contact ruggerscustoms.net - there is a good chance that he has done it already
Why is this only in 480p when it was recorded/uploaded in 2020?
Because I was using a cheap camera at the time. Sorry for that
Question: Why keep the RF shield at all? The mod makes it unnecessary, yes?
You are correct, in this case it is unnecessary and I left it there at the request of the owner of this system. Sometimes the shield also is used as a heat sink and in those cases it should remain in place
@@LIRetroGaming Thanks for the answer. Do these things really get hot enough to necessitate a heat sink, though? I thought the early 80's that wasn't really a thing yet.
It depends on the console. some chips can get hot enough to require a heat sink. This was definitely true for 8 bit computers like the C64. The N64 is another example - the rf shield is mandatory as it cools down the main chips
I have my (pal) ColecoVision modded with composite, using a similar very simple home-made pcb. I'd like to build the RGB mod in it as well, however I'd like to keep composite as well, in order for the Atari expansion to keep working. Does anyone know if that would work? If I don't connect the composite plug (I used a jack plug as well, great solution!) it won't drain any current, so it won't interfere with the RGB mod I assume. But I'm not sure.
Anyone tried this?
Yes, I have tried this and it works! The composite will work for the Atari expansion and doesn’t interfere at all with the rgb
@@LIRetroGaming thanks mate! RGB kit ordered right away 😊
Can an Rgb modded Colecovision still be used with a Super Game Module?
Yes, it will still work with the super game module
@@LIRetroGaming great, that's awesome, thanks for the info 👍
it is possible to install it on the PAL version?
Yes I think so. You should contact Ruggers customs as they can confirm it for sure. The different clock speed of the PAL system should not matter in this case
How do these mods work with an F18A card?
That’s a good question and I have not tried that yet. However my friend Jim at ruggerscustoms.com most likely knows
It does not, the F18A doesn't output the component video signals necessary for this mod to work.
Is there a way to get the atari expansion to use the rgb?
No, unfortunately not. That’s why I kept the composite video and the RGB in my personal Coleco, so that at least the Atari expansion video would be composite
@@LIRetroGaming so is it like that for all expansions including the adam?
Yes
@@LIRetroGaming oh okay is there rgb for the 7800?
Not yet. S video is the best option for now for the 7800
Connecticut Leather Company!!!
The way you open it, that's the way the manual says you should open it.
Yet another American console with unused extra space inside.
Not really unused. Designers at the time thought it was a good idea for the console to house the controllers. Without that feature, they could've made it half the size.