Solved Time Crisis 3 Link Malfunction 1

[Jon-A-Tron]

Hi all.
I've had this problem ever since I got this Time Crisis 3 a couple of years ago. Both sides work as single players but I can never get them to link to play 2 players.
I have 5 sets of the Namco 246. 2 don't work at all. Of the other 3, 2 are the same revision (larger more rectangular than the other one).
I have tried all combinations thinking that maybe they won't link if different revisions. All the results are the same.
I have set the clock on all machines to be the exact same. I have used the link cable successfully on 2 PlayStation 2's with no issues. I have cleaned out the link cable ports with contact cleaner.

On the test screen I can see that the left screen displays as player 1 and the right screen player 2. They both say (on 2) in the link section.
All settings in both are the same and highlighted green as default except the warning option with highlights green for off on the left but red for off on the right.
Not sure if this is an issue which would cause them to not connect.

Any ideas I'm all ears.
Cheers
Jon

 

[gunblade]

what revision io boards are on each side?

 

[Jon-A-Tron]

what revision io boards are on each side?

I'm not sure. I'll have a look tonight and take a picture of them. I'm sure they were exactly the same though. I checked that one of them has a link on a connector and the other one didn't. Which is one of the things I have read about from others with similar issues.

 

[Jon-A-Tron]

So the io boards are the exact same. V291.
But I have figured out the issue.

The security dongles are different. One is TST2 and the other is TST3.

If I boot one off the TST3 then remove it and boot the other one off the same TST3 then I get the link function and no Link Malfunction 1 error message in test. You can play the game linked for about 5 minutes before the one without a dongle crashes and beeps at you. I have also tried to put the TST2 dongle in after the game has booted with the TST3 but it does the same after 5 minutes.

So I just need to find a TST3 or TST2 dongle and I should be good.

 

[Alpha1]

Cheap in US

time crisis 3 arcade security dongle working #137 | eBay UK

Part#b-t 999999999 1030.

ebay.us

Expensive but over here https://ebay.us/m/3Tk4tK

 

[Alpha1]

@VIDEOTRONICSUK has them!

TIME CRISIS 3 DVD & SECURITY DONGLE

TIME CRISIS 3 DVD & SECURITY DONGLE

www.videotronicsuk.com

 

[Jon-A-Tron]

Thanks Ol but the US one doesn't deliver to UK and VideotronicsUK don't have them in stock.

 

[Alpha1]

Bugger. There's more on US eBay but all more expensive than the other one.

 

[gunblade]

is this what you need?

 

[Jon-A-Tron]

is this what you need?

Yes. I have both TST2 and TST3. I've only tested the switch method with TST3 but I believe it would work with either as long as they are the same.

 

[gunblade]

I have a couple of the TST2 if you want one

 

[Jon-A-Tron]

I have a couple of the TST2 if you want one

Yes please. I'll send you a message 👍

 

[VIDEOTRONICSUK]

Thanks Ol but the US one doesn't deliver to UK and VideotronicsUK don't have them in stock.

hello

i have 2 pcs in stcok disc & dongle