Compatible Laserdisc Players -
Sega / Hitachi VIP9500SG,
Hitachi VIP9550 ⁽¹⁾,
Pioneer LD-V1000 ⁽²⁾,
Pioneer LD-V1001 ⁽²⁾
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)
(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, pins 7 and 17 must be crossed on the ribbon cable going from the disc player to the Galaxy Ranger main
board. LD-V1000 uses 120V power (USA). LD-V1001 uses 100V power (Japan).
Laserdisc Pressing - Galaxy Ranger / Star Blazer has two different disc pressings. There is a Sega-labeled
double-sided disc that contains both "Galaxy Ranger" and "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 and 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.