The Blog

Sega Mega Drive Shelf Quick Look and Neighbours

Nix McRetro // 2nd September 2013 // Categories: Sega, YouTube

Sega Mega Drive Shelf Quick Look and Neighbours

Neighbours, everybody needs good neighbours. So why do mine play bongo drums? I live under a very thin roof/floor and my neighbours are inconsiderate. Please suggest some ways to get back at them! I don’t know what happened to the overview video, so there’s a cool dev unit from the... Continue reading

Catastrophic Multimeter Failure with Aiwa Sega Mega-CD Updates

Nix McRetro // 2nd September 2013 // Categories: Repairs, Sega, YouTube

Is there anything I won’t put on video? Probably a few things, although apparently my multimeter probes falling to pieces isn’t one of them! We’ve also got some more Aiwa Mega-CD investigation, a few complaints about my equipment and, naturally, a random cat at the end. The red multimeter probe... Continue reading

Cleaning Game Cartridge Slots with Isopropyl Alcohol and a Card

Nix McRetro // 1st September 2013 // Categories: Hacks, Repairs, YouTube

Ah, the trusty old Mega Drive 2! This is one I’ve already modified with a couple of switches around the back, but today I’m going to give its cartridge connector a good clean. After twenty-odd years, you can imagine how much rubbish might have collected inside that slot. In the... Continue reading

Bob Parker's AnaTek Blue ESR Meter: Assembly and Testing

Nix McRetro // 31st August 2013 // Categories: Guides, YouTube

Here are the final steps of assembly and testing of my new Bob Parker Blue ESR meter from AnaTek. It can measure many capacitors for their equivalent series resistance (ESR) while they are still in the circuit! The low test voltage (below 100 mV) helps keep ordinary semiconductor junctions from... Continue reading

Cleaning Game Cartridges with a Pencil Eraser / Rubber

Nix McRetro // 31st August 2013 // Categories: Guides, Repairs, YouTube

“Throw out your isopropyl! Pencil erasers are here!” Well, perhaps not literally, but I thought I’d demonstrate another cleaning method I’d been playing around with. This time it’s a Super Nintendo cartridge, Super Mario All-Stars, with some rather filthy contacts. Have a look at the difference between the two sides.... Continue reading