I Paid £40 For a FAULTY Anbernic RG350 | Can I FIX It?

This Anbernic RG350 Handheld Emulation, erm, thing, was purchased from eBay for £40. It was sold as faulty, with a prior repair attempt and not powering on...
Let's have a look and let's try and fix it!
Hope you enjoy!
Steve
PS. I'm not an expert in repairs at all. I do this for fun, and it may not be the best or safest way to go about repairing broken stuff. I'm pretty good at melting plastic though. Please don't copy me - I'm an idiot.
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[@StezStixFix]

Stupid Anbernic RG350

[@nihatharmankaya7949]

big master steveeeeeee

[@davidrobertson5700]

But yet we take our hats of for Steve for being Steve, Make new vids every day. Can you fix ECUs for cars and Van's too ?

[@storm_filter]

"it's much more difficult than it looks". my hands are shakey af, I can barely use an exacto blade. you do this stuff under a microscope, incredible. cheers

[@MrSlackrick]

To stop the legs from going bye bye when de/soldering those sockets, leave the mating plug in. It holds the pins in place whilst you're busy melting the plastic.

[@TravisFabel]

And if you do happen to have the pins go bye-bye, they are just standard straight square through pins that you have in a lot of other connectors.

[@Loki-]

I'll melt your plastic while I hold your legs. 😉

[@andyfairman7812]

I came to the comments to say the same thing. :)

[@davidrobertson5700]

Totally agreed, it also makes a heat sink to sack the heat away asap which helps to stop melting plugs all wonky. Everyone above still needs to shout cheers to Steve, he is brilliant. Signed A vehicle electrician

[@imaginitivity7853]

I thought he'd just do an online connector and avoid any issues

[@Chezilla]

The soundtrack is always spot on 🤌 love the retro wave tracks.

[@patrickwrx]

So glad you had the properly sized knob covers, no one wants to touch uncovered knobs

[@ThumpertTheFascistCottontail]

That's what *_she_* said.

[@DamienCooley]

I just want to thank you for giving me the courage to attempt some 'harder' soldering fixes than I ever have done. I recently replaced all the capacitors on my arcade monitor to fix a horizontal width issue, and the only reason I attempted it was because I saw how patient and thorough you were with your fixes. It also showed me how easy you make it seem, and how I am going to need some magnification and better tools if I do more soldering in the future. You rock sir!

[@mercuraz]

Comes down to practice, dude. You gain confidence by doing it.

[@narsakucanada154]

A few years ago I repented to God then begged for help, "I was until then an Atheist." I then had a dream of Jesus coming before God and he spoke of the Tabernacle in perfect context, "A word I didn't know existed.", and what I felt from Jesus when I held him was unlike anything I've ever felt before - A lifetime of Love every second - It brought me to sobbing and it changed my life, forever. I've had other experiences since, "Several witnessed", one was seeing a bright orb of light pass across my face in the dark, hours before a major surgery the second I gave up in my heart. Know that God and Jesus ARE real and that they Love us. Let go of your hatred and Imagine yourself holding the people who've hurt you. Tell them you Love them. Always have hope, I believe that prayer, following God's laws & Love is the answer, and through that, Truly becoming humble, merciful, welcoming, giving and forgiving, To All.

[@PhillRobinson]

I have so missed this guy

[@TrasherBiner]

The other usb c port is OTG (for things like external wifi dongle etc). I have opened the RG350 in and out and repaired it many times (it's also labeled on the case right on the port). Really psyched that you are fixing one. I think you overpaid for it though, as 40 quid is pretty much the price of it new.

[@infin1ty850]

I love the way you flowed my UN into this weeks rap. I don't care about anyone that complains, that is seriously one of the highlights of my week.

[@TravisFabel]

I don't think anyone that watches this complains about his singing...

[@megagarrym6318]

Hi Steve, You've inspired me to have a go! T'other week I successfully replaced a USB-B female thingy on a faulty audio interface(A Focusrite Scarlett Solo since you ask). I know you could probably do that in your sleep but I'm happy with it. Thanks for giving me the kahunas to to try it. The audio interface is now back in use!

[@bufordmaddogtannen]

Just replace the connector with a pigtail one, and optionally add a dab of hot glue to keep the wires on the PCB. At least you won't risk ripping the pads the next time you need to unplug the battery. I would have used two heatshrink tubes on the batter wires, but that's me not wanting to risk setting the house on fire... 🤣

[@AG-cg7lk]

The moocow would have worked if you'd added some leaded solder first. I have the same desoldering station and it sometimes struggles with lead free solder.

[@edz]

Some sneaky editing there - especially the Gordon the gopher and Fu**. Stupid infinite lives! 😂

[@infin1ty850]

All of the Ambernic devices are built in China and are surprisingly good quality for the most part. If you end up keeping the device, it makes a really great retro handheld. I've gone through several different models, and landed on using my Steam Deck at home, but the RG353V is my absolute favorite portable.

[@StezStixFix]

Yeah, it does seem well made and seems to play almost anything. I really like it! So I'll probably keep it 😬

[@Loki-]

RG353V looks slick, but it would be 1000% better if it folded closed. Gba SP was the best size for any portable system and it had competitive games in its time. But now we need that bigger screen and bigger selection, but we still need that screen protecting folding action!

[@markweaver1963]

I paid £ 40 for mine brand new and so far no problems, I find it amazing just how many price variations there are on products like these. Makes you wonder how much they actually cost to make?

[@Deadguy2322forreal]

About three-fiddy.

[@Frank-Thoresen]

I think 40£ is too much for a broken one

[@Dukefazon]

9:52 - Pro tip if you need to solder something small, like this connector that is encased in plastic that can melt, has multiple legs that needs to be straight: Keep something plugged in, that can help with the legs' alignment and the whole structure is less likely to melt out of shape. Have you checked polarity before putting back together the new battery+terminal thingy? I know you checked polarity on the board but I don't remember you checking the orientation of the plug and how it would correlate to the other side of the plug with the wires.

[@jeffrobertson3411]

@11:00 the most anticipated and most satisfying solid. ever.

[@dooddrones6521]

You need to fix that battery wire. You just made a ticking timebomb with that. Never leave the leads of the battery exposed like that, and definitely never heatshrink them together. Doesn't matter if they're different lengths. One day that cable will be flexed in a way that will cause them to short

[@therealavolpe]

Yeah you'd think he would have thought that - it's dangerous to present a hazardous solution..

[@Adam-wl8wn]

Mate when I saw him do it and then leave it I started feeling really panicky and anxious 😂

[@janskeet1382]

I saw this but no anxiety, he does not live here. Good job as well. I don’t want my make up brushes washing PCB’s with IPA. And he does hardware and I write software. Capulet and Montague. I’m only here for the ASMR when he solders. He is kinda sweet but no. Get that fixed. A short and a LiPo battery? As Mercurio said, “Ask for me tomorrow and I will be a grave man”

[@Tiz147]

I phoned the police immediately after seeing him do this. With any luck he'll be in custardy as we speak.

[@jatsajatsa]

​@@Tiz147 He'll be wanting some rhubarb then?

[@bobapthorpe]

Gotta say, I really appreciate the commitment to the bits. The diagnostics and repairs are great and all but the absolute commitment to the bits - priceless!

[@NinjaxWizardGoVroom]

Sitting in my car waiting for my daughter to get out of dance class and loving the videos. Watching from California

[@NowInAus]

I’m impressed with your bodging in this one!

[@SilverSergeant]

Your videos have rapidly become one of my daily rituals!!! Keep them coming.....

[@Boogie_the_cat]

That's cool that seller was up front about the prior repair attempt. Not everyone (hardly anyone, in fact) has the balls to do so. My cat forgot to tell me that she tried to repair my boxer shorts by putting them in her dirty litter box, in top of some poo. True story, although it would have been weirder if she could talk. The end.

[@blarghblargh]

A technique I found works well for desoldering multiple leads at once is to solder a thicker copper wire to all the leads, then use a larger iron tip to dump heat into the copper wire, so all the solder melts at once. I learned this technique after ripping some pads straight off a keyboard PCB while trying to get a through-hole controller IC unsoldered. From the video I saw that I learned the technique from, using some kapton tape to hold the copper wire down while you solder it in place can be a ton of help, to keep it perfectly flat against all the part leads. It was useful for me, while pulling the copper wire flat on the other end w/ tweezers/pliers.

[@simon_96]

Oh boy he heat shrink two unwrapped battery wires together

[@TravisFabel]

At different lengths and then constrained them with heat shrink

[@maxeriousbrooks9807]

Yea I would of used three pieces if heat shrink there to be safe as well I had to back up the video they were offset thou so it should be fine

[@tezup]

Steve, when you said "..and it knows how to use them", I knew I could die happy.

[@ken6454]

Great videos. I've noticed how many times you've had to take things apart again!

[@hackelite01]

Dont recommend using flux with mooing de-soldering gun. It gunks up the filter Use new solder to pre tin, then get solder hot with de-soldering tip then suck it up. Also tip was not the right size. Love your videos. I have struggled with the desoldering until changed to this method.

[@joeclifford183]

I would’ve just wired up a tail with a new connector to the board and the battery so the connector is in the middle. Like the connectors from led down lights. Would’ve been a fair bit janky though. And definitely wouldn’t have made an entertaining video. You make my week when I see a new video from you mate.

[@Bourbon_Blue_Devil]

I gotta say, your videos are one of my favorites!! Keeping doing what you do!!

[@captcraig777]

I actually own this console. I love it. Glad you could fix this! Great job!

[@christianattfield133]

That battery connector fix is a bodge for the ages. Top 5 for sure.

[@gower1973]

I think they sell knob covers at Boots 😂

[@andrewpeat6342]

My favourite patreon rap so far let's all give VOS a 👏👏👏

[@amesec]

When he forgot that ribbon for the screen and than remembered, I loved that. :D

[@adzthewise]

Also freaked at not isolating the battery wires from each other!!

[@EastCoastScott]

Best intro ever for pateron support!!

[@charlesgreen5408]

Mines dead too - watching for tips!

[@ivanhoe68]

you deserve so much more subscribers, it`s just a blessing watching your videos man!

[@simonbaldwin69]

I had that one in my watch list for a while, I even had a offer sent to me!

[@stevennewit5729]

Dave looks remarkably well, considering.

[@sobertillnoon]

Wow, that was def a "me move" at the end there.

[@drewbreezy5854]

I have a 351p...the gba emulation is really solid. Worth the $80 price for that alone.

[@Allerick178]

Thank Steve for the great video.

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Frederick! 👍

[@kiphakes]

Been thinking about getting one of these random Chinese consoles for some retro gaming action on the go! This looks fun!

[@StezStixFix]

Yeah, it's actually pretty cool. Seems to play almost anything. It's certainly better than I thought it would be! 😁

[@montypythonish]

Another success. If you run out of things to fix you could always do a useful bits to have vid showing your spares and doner boards and why you keep them. Thumbs up again

[@AlmostCoolGuys]

Breaking things while tryin to fix thing is the biggest shadow over me while I work. I felt that leg snap in my soul. Solid fix tho

[@KDBAO]

Your videos literally make my day. Big love for the big Ste.....and Dave of course.

[@I_RacooN_I]

Wonderful.. thanks Steve.

[@johnlangfield3532]

Use the right USB-C port to charge the device. The left device is for USB dongles or USB gamepads

[@kevb1816]

Get the OpenDingux Adam image for it, much nicer UI and works very well. I got my mate to resin print new thumbsticks for mine as the stock ones are a bit crap….

[@aaronblyth345]

Still impressed by the fiddly earphone fix, wrong video I know but still impressed haha

[@AtomMachinerule]

Nice repair.. you should flash the Adam image as it runs better performance with the emulators plus its in english too. I would have used hot glue after soldering the connector down imho. 😅

[@Nimmbin]

Awesome fix. Great video as usual. You give confidence to those of us out here who hesitate to at the very least.. Give it a go. Thanks for sharing 😁

[@Yourmomgoestocolledge]

Damn been gone for a month and you're over 100K! HELL YEA DUDE!

[@robertjung8929]

i would replace that coil, with missing piece of ferrite it will saturate sooner putting more strain on the mosfets.. such a coil is pretty common and cost like 50 cents.

[@darkbyte2005]

14:18 56bps v42 bis connection... lol. great video

[@UBERKalti]

Having to search for a connector that fits. Yet having knob covers to size at hand. 10/10

[@mattnicholls1992]

I literally repaired my r350m, which is the same as this. If the console is left with no charge in it for a long period of time it is unable to charge. I'm guessing something to do with it being completely dead so the charger can't charge it below a certain volt or whatever. Instead of buying a new battery again I used my charger for my RC cars which you can set the charge rate lower. Literally had to remove the connector and wire another end of so it worked with my charger then swap it back over . It managed to get enough charge into battery to boot on the system to charge via USB C. Literally the lipo they use is annoying that this happens to it.

[@Mullspeed]

Keep an eye on the battery, they don’t like dipping below 3v. That was why the charger started at very low current until the battery reached 3v

[@wass77]

seeing a new video from you appear on my sub list is always a treat 😋

[@linuxares]

yay new Stezstix! Btw I would say that connect you put on looks studier.

[@sifrost6869]

As always highly entertaining, very well put together!

[@davidrobertson5700]

ZeeZee Top reference nice Steve. Best repair channel on this app, please make a vid every day 😊 Be well and continue the good work. Absolutely Platinum, every episode

[@dosfisdo]

Glad to know I'm still useful, Steve.

[@mipi_game]

I have a RG353V and it’s awesome! Nice video as always

[@carebears9010]

I like how you said which one is positive and negative it’s clearly marked on the motherboard 😂

[@RetroTekGuyAU]

Anbernic's are awesome, Good snag and fix for 40 quid.

[@dejalpa]

Wish I could give you an extra like for that solid 'solid'.

[@michaelcloutier2225]

Use epoxy more often for securing budges like this one. If you use just a dab of JB weld it will stay put.

[@brunosuperman]

I have the same game console. It's happens because we have to open it to access the SD card to change the firmware. I had the same problem with my one. I bought from China hundreds of those wires.

[@jurgenvalksvalkie7170]

Love your videos, very relaxing to watch and learn 🙂

[@GameRaveTV]

*takes a sip from his VO Steve Mug* Almost spit out beverage at the dial-up modem / f*ck combo! GREAT repair!

[@davidtexmex1616]

Excellent repair & quality laughs too, cheers fella 👍🏻

[@rciancia]

Stupid Cinrebna which means it's stupid frontwards and backwards. Nice fix !!!!

[@StezStixFix]

🤣🤣 thanks Ron!

[@gilianlijftogt3509]

he man, i realy like the way you go about fixing these machines. just wing it! i have a question tough. what do you do with all these devices? surely you cant keep everything... right?!?! keep melting plastic and forgetting ribbon cables. when i see someone else do it i can feel like less of a morron. greetings from the netherlands!!

[@TryItAgainTomorrow]

I would have opted to swap the direction... put the socket on the battery and then put the wired end on the device. Would have been a little leg work if you have to change the batty bat again, but would have been 'safer'.

[@artemisdarkslayer]

Love your videos, really makes me want to learn to solder.

[@danielross868]

Good video Steve. Don't get me wrong, but it sounds like you need a good holiday- you are sounding a little flat will all the stuff you have going. Everyone needs to get away now and then... 🏄Cheers. Danny from Sydney, Australia.

[@DaveWatkinsMusic]

Banging ZZ Top cover

[@jamesdavies686]

Did you heat shrink the lithium cell + and - together in one heat shrink tube?

[@nooneson1]

I love this channel so entertaining and helps learn even if it's the improper amount of goo I wish it was a little more regular/frequent tho

[@mancaveretrogaming5245]

Nothing like getting a device delivered that rattles 😂

[@StezStixFix]

🤣🤣 yeah, never a good sign is it?

[@BommeI]

What a bodge, I like it 🙂

[@GoldPunch]

Why you didnt solder the cable to board directly without using that connector?

[@WrinkledPlatypus]

I have one of those, not a bad little retro gaming device

[@mikecro1111]

Nice to see that Gordon the Gopher is out of Witness Protection. I'm sure he will have a lot of questions to answer.

[@emiliyangeorgiev966]

very entertaining video ,I love that your editing talent covers your amature sodaring skills and from,at the beginning, wtf is this guy doing, you brought me to wow this dude is cool ! you have my sub and like keep up the entertaining up dude!

[@Davidsmodelshop8021]

Love zz top in the 80's

[@spudgun795]

Good ZZ Top reference lol

[@martinbalmforth2665]

Obscure ZZ Top referrence there Steve

[@Nemesis2K]

Is it not an issue to have the battery live and neutral bare under the heat shrink?

[@danielhulan3058]

The meter of multiness that's hilarious

[@rherrera72]

Never close the hood before the engine starts and do not unplug the solder either.

[@Nobe_Oddy]

oh cool, I was gonna get one of those handhelds... but then I realized that if I just waited 3 weeks and saved a little bit more I could get the stemdeck :/

[@MrDvneil]

flow flow, retro gaming! 🎶

[@spring899]

As soon as you said its got legs , I knew what was coming 😂😂

[@simonmarsh9157]

One of my favorite raps so far.

[@criostasis]

Love the beat on this rap today. Great video!

[@honorw4125]

You made me cringe soldering that connector 😳 Leave one pad unsoldered, then when you solder one side the component wil lie flat then you can solder the other leg with the component held in place 😉 Still loved the video though 😁

[@MrToucana]

That video game in the play-list you wondered about ? 十三张麻将：98美少女 = "Thirteen Mahjong: 98 Beautiful Girls" - It's a tile matching game :-)

[@eadweard.]

I bet you get to see their fannies and everything.