Compatible Laserdisc Players -
Sega / Hitachi VIP9500SG,
Hitachi VIP9550 [1],
Pioneer LD-V1000 [2],
Pioneer LD-V1001 [2]
[1] The Hitachi VIP9550 is compatible with Astron Belt and Galaxy Ranger as well as the Sega / Hitachi VIP9500SG. The
player must be set to 9600 baud with DIP switch settings: 1-up 2-up 3-up 4-up For
info on the Hitachi Command Set, check the Hitachi Command Set page.
[2] The Pioneer LD-V1000 / LD-V1001 will only work in an
Astron Belt with the proper hardware and disc. When using the LD-V1000 /
LD-V1001, pins 7 and 17 must be crossed on the ribbon cable going from the disc player to the Astron Belt main
board. LD-V1000 uses 120V power (USA). LD-V1001 uses 100V power
(Japan).
Sega / Hitachi VIP9500SG - Owners Manual (12 pages)
Hitachi VIP9550 - Instruction Manual (15 pages)
Pioneer LD-V1000 - Operating Instructions (7 pages)
Pioneer LD-V1000 - Interface Guide (24 pages)
Pioneer LD-V1000 - Service Manual (81 pages)
Pioneer LD-V1000 - Provisional Service Manual (27 pages)
Pioneer LD-V1000 - Cleaning the Optics (3 pages)
Pioneer LD-V1000 - Changing the Laser Tube (3 pages)
Laserdisc Pressing - Astron Belt has two different disc pressings. There is a
Sega-labeled double-sided disc and a
Pioneer-labeled single-sided
(metal-backed) disc. The Pioneer disc was shipped with games using the Pioneer
LD-V1000 or LD-V1001 laserdisc player and corresponding game PCBs. The
Sega disc was shipped with games using the Sega / Hitachi VIP9500SG laserdisc player and corresponding game
PCBs. The disc content is the same on both pressings.
Conversion Cards - Various products have been developed over the years to allow replacement/upgrade of the laserdisc player.
Dexter is the newest product. Unlike the other products below
which convert to a newer laserdisc player model, no player or disc is needed with Dexter. The Dexter board is a drop-in
replacement which poses as a laserdisc player and plays the video for the game digitally, from a custom file format. Dexter
accepts the original commands from the PCB through the original interface cable. Dexter has been
going in and out of production multiple times, per demand, via pre-order process only.
LaserCon is a laserdisc player conversion card that allows the game to use
newer supported Pioneer players. LaserCon is no longer in production.
The LaserAce conversion card allows the game to use a variety of different Pioneer and Sony
laserdisc players. LaserAce is no longer in production.