rosewood - retrostuff.org

A new home for my UV solder masks: 15 ml amber glass jars with airtight plastic lids.

From the beginning, there were problems with the syringes, which often dried out or leaked from the top. Although the masks have now expired, they still cure and are too good to throw away.

Update to the 𝐂𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐨𝐨 𝐂𝐑𝐏-𝐍𝟎𝟔𝟖𝟏𝐅 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 article:
- Inspection and battery replacement

retrostuff.org/2020/11/01/c...

Philips CDM 12.1T Laser Sledge Replacement - retrostuff Philips CDM 12.1T laser sledge replacement guide. Also suitable for CDM 12.1, VAM 1201 and VAM 1202.

The CDI 450 has a different mechanism (retrostuff.org/2021/07/27/p...). As for the 220, only the first three generations (which are typically found in North America) have a CDM 9. Later generations had 12.4 and 12.1.

All right. If you ever encounter any issues with capacitors in Philips CD-i players, please let me know. (So far, only issues with Marantz CDI3x0 are known.)

I only count mine in dozens ;)
Well done! Did you at least find a capacitor that was faulty or outside the specifications?

1. Back of the linear PSU board.
2-4. The switching PSU is a Sanken SSG030-05A, whose LED flickers irregularly when switched on.
For now, I am only providing photos of the inside (three different screws hold it together) and will begin analysis/repair at a later date.
4/x

Pioneer COI-V10 – two power supplies.
The fuse holders on the linear PSU board were a bit loose and brittle, so I had to replace them. I also cleaned it with ColorCoral – you can really see how dirty it was from the before and after colours.

3/x

The CD-i board is original Pioneer hardware and not an evolved Kyocera board (as in the Nikkodo/BMB units). The release date is not yet known, but it must have been in the second quarter of 1996 (according to chip markings). The battery still powers an area with SRAM and RTC.

2/x

First impressions of the Pioneer CD-I AUTOCHANGER COMMANDER COI-V10:
CD-i PCB, A/V PCB, I/O PCB, a switching PSU and a linear PSU (transformer, power PCB, power switch PCB). Of course, these are not all of the PCBs; there must be at least three more at the front of the unit.

1/x

New article:
Grundig CDI 110E Information and Repair

retrostuff.org/2025/12/01/g...

I finally upgraded some discs from my PC-FX full set:
Super PC Engine Fan Deluxe Vol. 1 & 2
(the last photo shows what I had before, just the discs and inserts that someone else had cut out of the mooks)

CD+Gs are the best test discs, as you don't just hear reading problems, you can also see them immediately with the sub-channels.

Ah, the set is great, I just had to buy it. However, I can't remember ever having used it seriously...

That's right, it's the first known CD-i hardware from Pioneer. A controller for these huge LaserDisc Karaoke autochanger systems.

Random stuff from Japan (last parcel for this year):
Pioneer CD-I AUTOCHANGER COMMANDER COI-V10
Super PC Engine Fan Deluxe Vol. 1 & 2
Hudson Soft Super Joy Card (HC-691)
IBM USB Portable Diskette Drive (06P5222)

Replaced the laser sledge and cleaned and greased the CDM. The focus error is now gone and the discs are reading perfectly again. As a finishing touch, I added a drop of UV lacquer to the spindle.

6/6

NVRAM+RTC Solutions for Philips CD-i Players - retrostuff NVRAM+RTC solutions for Philips CD-i players: 8 KB Timekeeper, 32 KB SmartWatch RAM socket and others.

Update to the 𝐍𝐕𝐑𝐀𝐌+𝐑𝐓𝐂 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐂𝐃-𝐢 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 article:
- Added FRAM replacement for the 32 KB (SmartWatch) SRAM chip.

retrostuff.org/2021/12/31/n...

NVRAM+RTC Solutions for Philips CD-i Players - retrostuff NVRAM+RTC solutions for Philips CD-i players: 8 KB Timekeeper, 32 KB SmartWatch RAM socket and others.

If you remove the top hat or cap hat completely, you can use it to attach the clock crystal and battery. There are currently two PCBs available; I opted for the open-source version (see retrostuff.org/2021/12/31/n...).

Reworked the Timekeeper with the PCB by @cabridiy.bsky.social and thoroughly cleaned and greased the tray loader. The CDM has not been touched yet, but appears to be defective. The repair is a story for another day...

5/x

Cleaning up the rework, removing the Timekeeper and installing a new socket (and cleaning up again).

4/x

On closer inspection, the Grundig CDI 110E mainboard appears to have been converted from a Mono IV NTSC mainboard with an RF modulator. The soldering is somewhat rough.

3/x

It didn't come with a DVC, but with something much better: a DVC eject mechanism that I've never seen before.

2/2

New family member: Grundig CDI 110E (470/82? – it has a brandless OEM ROM like the TaliLaser 2000)

1/2

Elecom JC-AD2 for NEC PC-98

Spital Sangyo PROGRAMABLE JOY-CONT PJ-01 for NEC PC-98

WonderSwan family photo

Random stuff from Japan:
Espgaluda II Black Label with Xbox 360 face plate
バンダイゲーム機パーフェクトカタログ (Bandai Game Console Perfect Catalogue) G-MOOK 224
Spital Sangyo PROGRAMABLE JOY-CONT PJ-01 for PC-98
Panasonic KXL-830AN
Benesse Pocket Challenge V2

Samba de Amigo Maracas Controller (サンバ DE アミーゴ マラカスコントローラ) HKT-9700 for Sega Dreamcast

3/3

Samba de Amigo Maracas Controller (サンバ DE アミーゴ マラカスコントローラ) HKT-9700 for Sega Dreamcast

2/3

Samba de Amigo Maracas Controller (サンバ DE アミーゴ マラカスコントローラ) HKT-9700 for Sega Dreamcast

1/3