Galaxy Ranger Virtual Library - Images and information on the major components

Galaxy Ranger - Owners Manual (33 pages)
Galaxy Ranger - Galaxy Ranger Conversion Manual (1 page)
Galaxy Ranger - Schematics (20 pages)
Galaxy Ranger - NTSC / Demodulator info (3 pages)
Galaxy Ranger - DIP Switch Settings

Galaxy Ranger - ROM Images (for games with the Hitachi LD Player and proper hardware)
Galaxy Ranger - ROM Images (for games with the Pioneer LD Player and proper hardware)
Star Blazer - ROM Images (for games with the Pioneer LD player and proper hardware)

Compatible Laserdisc Players - Sega / Hitachi VIP-9500SG, Hitachi VIP-9550 (1), Pioneer LD-V1000 (2), Pioneer LD-V1001 (2)

Hitachi VIP9550 - Owners Manual (15 pages)
Sega / Hitachi VIP9500SG - Owners Manual (12 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 - Schematics (27 pages)
Pioneer LD-V1000 - Cleaning the Optics (1 page)
Pioneer LD-V1000 - Changing the Laser Tube (3 pages)

(1) The Hitachi VIP9550 is compatible with Galaxy Ranger and Astron Belt 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 a Galaxy Ranger with the proper hardware and disc (Star Blazer disc).  When using the LD-V1000 / LD-V1001 in Galaxy Ranger, pins 7 and 17 must be crossed on the ribbon cable going from the disc player to the main board.

Laserdisc Pressing - Galaxy Ranger / Star Blazer has two different disc pressings.  There is a Sega-labeled double-sided disc that contains both Galaxy Ranger & Star Blazer title screens on both sides (both sides are identical), and there is a Pioneer-labeled single-sided disc with only a Star Blazer title screen.  The Sega-labeled disc is used with the Pioneer laserdisc player and corresponding hardware/software.  This disc can be used with the Hitachi laserdisc player and corresponding hardware/software; however, the introduction/attract mode will not display properly.  All other frames & content between the two discs are the same.

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.

Interchangeability - Astron Belt can be played in a Galaxy Ranger cabinet by changing the laserdisc and the EPROMs, provided you have the correct EPROMs and disc for that particular hardware setup.  See the Astron Belt / Galaxy Ranger Service Bulletin for more info.

POTs & DIPs - There are 13 POTs and 4 DIP switches on this board.  Here are their descriptions:

- VR1    Horizontal Sync / Blanking Time Adjustment
- VR2    Horizontal Sync / Blanking Time Adjustment
- VR3    Vertical Sync / Blanking Time Adjustment
- VR4    Vertical Sync / Blanking Time Adjustment
- VR5    Black Level Adjustment (laser video brightness)
- VR6    Red Gain
- VR7    Green Gain
- VR8    Blue Gain
- VR10  Image Quality Adjustment (resolution control for laser video)
- VR11  Hue Adjustment (tint control)
- VR12  Color Level Adjustment
- VR13  White Level Adjustment (contrast control)

DIP switches 1, 2, & 3 should be in the OFF position.  DIP switch 4 should be in the ON position.  DIP switch 4 determines whether to accept composite negative or positive going sync from the logic boards.  Since the logic produces a negative going sync, the DIP switch is left ON.  (ON = Negative Sync  OFF = Positive Sync)  For more info on the NTSC / Demodulator, download the NTSC / Demodulator bulletin.

Booting Issues - If your Galaxy Ranger is not booting and/or the laserdisc player plays straight through, check pot VR-3 on the NTSC decoder.  This pot is an adjustment for the sync between the main PCB and the laserdisc player.  The PCB must match its timing to the incoming video from the laserdisc player.  If the sync is too far off,  the PCB can't communicate with the LD player and it stops functioning.  If your game is suffering from one of the symptoms, try adjusting pot VR-3 with the game running.  Once the main board can communicate with the laserdisc player, the program will start and the attract mode will begin to play.