New Life Games Tech Forums

Was not sure exactly where to post this, but this seemed to fit here?? I have a Bally Mastercom-220 card reader set up and would like to change the scrolling message on the card reader itself. I have a character map for the 250, but;
1. Im not sure if its the same,
or
2. Where to find the starting address in the HEX for the message.

Does somebody out there have some info that they could share or is the a 'instruction' guide somewheres to be found?

Thanks!!

Have you tried the chip in it?  I usually look for the message that comes on the display then change it to what I want using my eprom programmer then erase and program the flash chip. "welcome to Wayne's"

Thanks,
Wayne

I tried, sort of? Maybe you can help with this. Is the message stored on the mastercom proc board or on on the board with the actual display readout? I cannot find the key to open the cover for the display; in either case, the only prom I have read so far is on the proc board, a AMD AM29F010. The sticker on it has:
IGT WMS Reel
Arist  Sigma
Atronics (6E2D)
SRS0566 DMK

that is likely it.  Read it with a programmer, save the file,  and look through the file to find the welcome text, then try changing it save as a new file, erase and reflash then try it.  If you don't get successful results, I 'll look for one of mine.

Thanks,
Wayne

Cool- thanks! Looks like I'll have to aquire a better burner. The one I have is old, stand-alone, I think the mfgr is out of buisness so I cannot locate any software to interface... At least i'm looking at the right prom though. It still reads it, however I have to scroll through all of the address locations until I find the one I'm looking for. I have attached the character map that I have, maybe you can tell me if this is even right? The message starts out with JOIN ..... so I have been looking for at least a 4A then 4F ect. Thanks for all your help so far :-)

I just try the original, look for the words that come up on the display, change them, reflash the chip and away I go.  On my programmer, you can change the hex code or the letters, whichever you click on.  see pics

good luck,
Wayne

Thanks- I ordered a better programmer with PC interface last night as well as some spare ROMS just in case. Thanks much- I'll let you know how I make out!
Mark

Holy thread revival, Batman! :30- :30- :30-

So, here's a question:

When I look at the data in a Hex editor, I can find the string I want, but it's always in nonconsecutive order. For instance, the word INVALID is the string I'm looking for, but it shows up like this (I've highlighted one possible match):

l.om Fse wPleaINVAait.LINELID.N.ST DOWY.UNANDBIGURCONF

As you can see there are other possibilities in that string that could make up the word I searched for. How do I determine what characters are the ones contained in my search string?


 

You would really have to disassemble the program to understand how the programmer is pulling the data out.
Remember you start with source code....compile...Link... and you then get machine code. So allot of the garbly gook intermixed could also be inserted by the compiler and runtime libs.

Not sure why it looks so different in his software, though.

I checked that addresss, also, nothing there to speak of (that I could read, anyway!).

You could download my software and use it without the programmer, or email me the file and i'll try it.  I'm at my cottage for a few days, on dial up here. Email me if you need ....

Thanks,
Wayne

Brichter,

Your eprom looks corrupt.

Try this Hex Editor and see what you can see.

Ed

I grabbed a copy off the web, and it works for me as in your picture. The hex editor in the picture I posted is apparently crap (internet freeware), and I found the setting in my burner software that makes it readable, pic attached.

If you look to the above the edit window where the icons of pages are (set of 4, with 8, 16, 32, and 64 above them), I needed to click the one for 64. It's called "double word swap", I think it's related to the way the data is arranged in the EPROM.

Would anyone be willing to burn me a few as I have no programmer
I have 3 I would like done would pay for the trouble
pm or email if anyone can help.
Thanks...Tim

I sent you a P.M.

W

Wayne, Thanks I got it and sent reply

Sorry im so late to get back- I got the burner and fixed myself all up- thanks to all for your help!

Quick Question: I edited the bin file and the checksum has changed. Will this cause any problems, and if it will, how do I get around it?

Should work fine as long as you stayed within the boundries.  If it doesn't work then you put too many letters in.

Thanks,
Wayne

I have 10 different mesages that I put in and never had a problem so long as you do like ^^ he said

Cool. I'm within the boundariesof the original messsage, so shouldn't have any issues.

Success.


http://www.youtube.com/v/6-gs6NJJm2A&hl=en&fs=1

looks great, Thanks for posting the video. I changed the flashing line also.

Thanks,
Wayne

Good job Brichter! :3-
In the end, which hex editor worked best for you and which free-ware one was junk?

I used the software that came with my ChipMax 2 burner, once I figured out how to make it display the contents of the chip correctly! (double byte word nibble swap, or some such gobbledygook :5-)

Are you having trouble with HxD? It allows the user to change the way the data is displayed, etc.

Nope, didn't have any problems with it at all, it was just easier (only had to open one program instead of 2  :96- ) to use the burner software once I figured out the display setting.

Kind of a relevant question I have is...what is used to power these? Voltages and such... :103-
And how are they connected to a machine?
A couple guys are asking me how this is set up really... :88-
Any help on this would be very good... :131-

The mastercom I got comes with a big power pack.   It plugs into the reader with an RJ45 jack.  :89-

How did Brichter get the system to recognize his card?   I just noticed the video and it's nice that the message changes when he puts his card in.    I'm going to be in the market for another mastercom 250 if their cheap enough. 

I'm pretty sure all he did was change the "REINSERT" message to "HI BILL" ...lol
The same message that played the 1st time comes up again really - when he pulls the card out.

Stick the chip in your reader and look for the "REINSERT" line and
change it to "HI MUNCH!" with the alphanumeric numbers & letters.

I think if the message is too long though, it won't work.
You might not be able to fit the "!" exclamation point after "MUNCH".
It won't hurt to try though...you can always remove the exclamation point.

lol! That's Cool!

Yup, there's nothing that allows the reader to recognize my card, and it will say "Hi, Bill!" no matter what card I insert. :89-

Sure would be fun to get hold of the backend software for these...  :200- :5- :71-