Picoboot installation in a Panasonic Q! Get even more out of this rare console!

The Panasonic Q is a Japan only version of the Gamecube with DVD playback. Its aluminum shell and backlit controller ports make it highly sought after by collectors, but they are known for having fragile plastics that break easily. On this episode of Fix it Friday, we resurrect a Panasonic Q by installing a picoboot modchip!
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Parts:
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Music:
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[@bricklock1942]

It’s crazy to see how right when I see one of your Panasonic Q NTSC region switching videos, you just manage to upload another video on it. I seriously respect you for successfully modding this amazing device

[@LIRetroGaming]

Thanks, I appreciate it! Documenting this information is very important to me

[@thesteammachine1282]

@@LIRetroGaming Looking at it, is it correct to say that a Panasonic Q has higher temperatures than a normal gamecube ? I just dont see enough holes for air to pass trough fast enough.

[@thegametinkerer]

Good work. I love the pico mod as it allows you to still use actual media.

[@LIRetroGaming]

Yeah, that is definitely one of the best parts about this mod

[@Creamen]

Again a wonderful video. Love your t-shirt

[@LIRetroGaming]

Thanks! I’m glad that my videos were helpful!

[@cliveoliver6679]

Another great video.i used your other disassembly video to take apart mine a while ago,to fit new dvd rails and tray,and after filing some of the 3d printed rail parts(they were a bit rough in areas),and rebuilding it a few times it all worked fine. I also did a soft mod and fitted the sp card and use the japanese windwaker disc with swiss in the memory card adapter to force it to boot into the swiss menu and can play any region games. Im no good at soldering so left the clock battery as is,but would like to fit a removable battrey tray like on my standard gamecube,but id still have to partly disassemble it again to access the battery. Anyway,just recently the dvd is not displaying an image.sound out through optical port is fine. I have it hooked upto my amp: gamecube digital out via kaico,for display and sound,and also on another channel on my amp,it is connected via the yellow composite cable for dvd image. So,i put it in gamecube mode via the composite output,and the gamecube image is still there,so its not the cable,or the panny Q composite output fault. I then used a cd/dvd lens cleaner disc,(as i cant be bothered to take it apart the clean the lens again),but still no dvd image. So any idea what could be the fault? Could it possibly be capacitors dying on the dvd board? My last dvd image/display testing resort is to try the s-video output connected to my scart adapter which has an s video input socket,and then plug that into my older scart fitted t.v. Any help greatly appreciated and keep up the great work,cheers clive😊

[@RadioMartyT1B]

Thanks for another great video.

[@robertstewart8704]

Wow just wow what amazing work👌

[@LIRetroGaming]

Thanks! This was a fun project to complete

[@garys6322]

@Long Island Retro, will you be doing a video showing how to install a flippy drive into a Panasonic Q?

[@vulcanitu2578]

I get the feeling that the Qs are way more prone to failure than the regular gamecubes

[@LIRetroGaming]

Yes, the brittle plastic and complex design makes it much easier for these to fail

[@triforcelink]

I modded mine with picoboot and sd2sp2 a few months ago, and it’s working great… for the most part. Sometimes when I turn it on, it just sits on a black screen, or goes into the normal GameCube boot sequence (I have it set to go into swiss by default) I’m also using d terminal cables with it to get component out.

[@LIRetroGaming]

I wonder if it would behave differently if you tried holding a button for Swiss as I have it. There might also be an intermittent connection on the board

[@woodsmal]

I installed a Picoboot in a Cube the other week and now - thanks to your video - I know I can do the same to my Q. I had read that the drive mechanism in the Q is the same as that used in a handful of Panasonic DVD players (XV10, XP30, XP50). Do you know if the remotes from these devices work with the Q ?

[@LIRetroGaming]

That’s a very interesting question but I don’t know if those remotes are compatible

[@kyles8524]

The Panasonic Q isnt actually rare its just expensive.You can get them on ebay whenever you want cause theres always tons of them on there if you feel like coughing up a bunch of money.

[@LIRetroGaming]

That’s fair. Either way it’s not something the average person has in their collection

[@kyles8524]

@@LIRetroGaming I would but Im not shelling out like 800 dollars lol, I would rather spend that on an arcade machine

[@LIRetroGaming]

Definitely better to spend 800 on an arcade cab

[@Capoiera07]

I'm not sure how you came to that conclusion. A console that had a lifespan of 2 years and only shipped 100k units worldwide is VERY rare. The reason it's often for sale at high prices is BECAUSE it's rare. As LIG stated, it's very prone to damage, which makes it even more unlikely to find a working one. You are claiming that the availability of it has something to do with its rarity. It doesn't. It's not really a matter of opinion. It's fact. The Q is a very rare console and that's why it's expensive. People know that which is why working ones are so high priced. If it sold a couple million units maybe your theory would make sense but it didn't.

[@sosdosautomaticos]

Crazy job brother, one more subscribe, thank you for this vídeo!!!

[@LIRetroGaming]

Thanks man, I appreciate it!

[@andrewrodriguez9640]

Can I get an idea where the battery located at on one of these?

[@LIRetroGaming]

It’s near the controller ports, just like a normal GameCube

[@currytigre]

So is there a reason you didn't just move the resistor from R5 to R6? Since right before you said on a US board R6 has the resistor and R5 is left empty.

[@LIRetroGaming]

That would have also worked, but the solder bridge was easier

[@currytigre]

@@LIRetroGaming So if you bridge R6 and don't bother to remove the resistor from R5 the system doesn't care and just defaults to English. Is that correct?

[@damian9303]

Then I struggle to understand what the point is of such a rare system if you bypass it’s function of reading discs (not just game discs but audio discs also)?

[@LIRetroGaming]

Did you miss the part where the dvd spindle motor is broken? Until I find a replacement, it won’t do anything. The modchip does not disable disc loading either, so eventually its original disc loading feature will work

[@skymaster1221]

I purchased a Panasonic q last year and it was listed as a junk console. It didn’t seem to be in too bad of shape when I received it. Everything seems to work besides the dvd spindle motor. I’ve changed out all of the ribbon cables that weren’t functioning. I can see and hear the laser trying to read the disc as well so I don’t think it’s the lasers problem. Would you be able to provide any tips or guesses of what the problem might be?

[@LIRetroGaming]

The laser potentiometer might need an adjustment. If you search through my Panasonic q videos, I have filmed this repair before

[@skymaster1221]

@@LIRetroGaming I will have to buy a multimeter but I’ll give it a shot. Thank you very much!

[@skymaster1221]

@@LIRetroGaminggot the multimeter today. The GC laser resistance was at 480 ohms and I turned it down about 100 and then 80 ohms the second time. (I believe this is the correct terminology) Any tips on where I could possibly buy a replacement motor or the entire dvd system? Any help would be much appreciated! :) I’m also thinking of just adding a sort of picoboot/raspberry pi thing as a last resort. I would like to keep this as original as possible but I’m desperate haha

[@clairoux.matthew]

Does anyone happen to know the size or where to find a replacement magnet for the spindle?

[@LIRetroGaming]

I have spares. Message me at my website and I’ll send you one for the cost of shipping

[@clairoux.matthew]

Sent!

[@woodengamer]

Really need to pull mine off the shelf and get it running. I haven't fully dug into it to see what the problem with the drive is yet.

[@LIRetroGaming]

Would be good to see yours working! Hopefully my videos can help

[@ItachiRyu]

mind linking the wire youre using?

[@LIRetroGaming]

Sure thing XINGYHENG 20pin Wire Rainbow... www.amazon.com/dp/B01JNXLGF2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

[@ItachiRyu]

@@LIRetroGaming thanks appericate it.

[@renesav]

hey, i have a broken digital out ribbon, any idea where i can get one instead of buying another panasonic Q?

[@LIRetroGaming]

I know that replacement flex cables can be purchased, but I don’t know that specific part number yet

[@LIRetroGaming]

There’s a Facebook Panasonic q forum that might help

[@renesav]

@@LIRetroGaming ok thx ill check it out

[@renesav]

So i found a ribbon cable but its the same problem, when outputting digital out, its flickering pixels, like a bad connection, but i got anotyer unit that the power supply was burned so i swapped board... and its the same, swapped the digiyal out adapter, same thing, its like the pixel have static like flashing and bad connectivity.. im loat for words, swap board, ribbon, digital out adapter... composite work fine.. so weird

[@renesav]

Any chance i can show you a video? Might have a better idea

[@Chriva]

Didn't expect to see such a stock looking mb in there. Is it really just a glorified gamecube?

[@LIRetroGaming]

Yeah, surprisingly it is just a standard cube for the most part. I have converted a GameCube motherboard to work in a Panasonic Q. The original board was totally destroyed

[@StarGazerTom1991]

@@LIRetroGaming Should do a video on that, if you haven't already. Wouldn't mind seeing what the process for that.