Exertainment GOMOD - updated!
I recently obtained this in a lot on ebay and both the seller and myself were/have been stumped on what exactly it is. My first impression is that it is an external version of the graphic overlay module that attaches to the underside of the SNES. However, in trying to hook it all up, I failed to make the unit, SNES, and bike all talk to one another. I even contacted LifeFitness to see if they could dig into it and the representative told me, "Sorry, I asked around the office and nobody knew anything about Exertainment items. That stuff is ancient!" and I was like, "Your mom is ancient..." jk, but seriously, it was frustrating that they couldn't help.
I first tried plugging the SNES A/V into the inputs labeled "game system" and then the A/V cables from the "out" to the video inputs on my TV. No go...then I tried the system with "in" and to the TV with "out" and I got picture and sound to come through. I could control the game with the controls on the bike but only because that cable was plugged directly into the SNES. I also tried the RF out and didn't get any picture at all. Oddly enough the phone jack looking end that usually plugs into the standard module under the SNES was too small for this module's input and wouldn't even stay in place. I then thought maybe the other end of the cable that plugs into the bike might be the right one, but that end was too big. So I was never able to get the bike to interface with the unit.
Any thoughts on what this is or how to properly hook it up? (By the way, the A/C adapter is what is in the white box).
Update 6-24-15: I recently bought another copy of MBR (because that's how I do) and the seller threw in a manual for free that wasn't in the original listing! This is ironically the first MBR manual I have gotten because I'm cheap and don't want to spend a lot on a CIB copy. As I was absorbing the glorious exertainment information I came across mention of the Graphics Overlay Module on page 31. So I set out to give this GOMOD thing another try.
I hooked everything up as I thought it should go, this time using a standard telephone cord to connect the GOMOD to the XMOD (which I didn't think of before for some reason). The power supplies you see are for the LC3500X bike, SNES console, and GOMOD. The SNES is connected to the bike as normal with the ethernet-sized plug into the bike and the smaller than a phone cord sized plug into the front of the XMOD and the controller plug into the controller port. The green phone cord daisy-chains from the back of the XMOD into the side of the GOMOD. The SNES A/V plug connects to the "Game System" input on the GOMOD. There are then RCA cables that run from the VCR output into the GOMOD input. Then, RCA cables go from the GOMOD output to the TV's input. Just look at this mess of cables! With the complicated setup and mess of cables, it's no wonder this thing was never ordered by people!
This resulted in a positive outcome of actually seeing a picture on the TV.
According to the manual (and me because I tested it) you can only use this with the Program Manager and it allows you to watch TV, or in this case a VHS, through the VCR. By pressing the left shoulder/trigger on the bike controls you are able to toggle between the Program Manager and whatever you're watching, in this case the Donkey Kong Country promo VHS. The program will then display your workout stats on screen as you watch your show.
The graphics of showing your workout stats are pretty basic for what this is and seems like too much of an inconvenience in hooking all this up, but now we all know what this is and how it works! Yay!
I first tried plugging the SNES A/V into the inputs labeled "game system" and then the A/V cables from the "out" to the video inputs on my TV. No go...then I tried the system with "in" and to the TV with "out" and I got picture and sound to come through. I could control the game with the controls on the bike but only because that cable was plugged directly into the SNES. I also tried the RF out and didn't get any picture at all. Oddly enough the phone jack looking end that usually plugs into the standard module under the SNES was too small for this module's input and wouldn't even stay in place. I then thought maybe the other end of the cable that plugs into the bike might be the right one, but that end was too big. So I was never able to get the bike to interface with the unit.
Any thoughts on what this is or how to properly hook it up? (By the way, the A/C adapter is what is in the white box).
Update 6-24-15: I recently bought another copy of MBR (because that's how I do) and the seller threw in a manual for free that wasn't in the original listing! This is ironically the first MBR manual I have gotten because I'm cheap and don't want to spend a lot on a CIB copy. As I was absorbing the glorious exertainment information I came across mention of the Graphics Overlay Module on page 31. So I set out to give this GOMOD thing another try.
I hooked everything up as I thought it should go, this time using a standard telephone cord to connect the GOMOD to the XMOD (which I didn't think of before for some reason). The power supplies you see are for the LC3500X bike, SNES console, and GOMOD. The SNES is connected to the bike as normal with the ethernet-sized plug into the bike and the smaller than a phone cord sized plug into the front of the XMOD and the controller plug into the controller port. The green phone cord daisy-chains from the back of the XMOD into the side of the GOMOD. The SNES A/V plug connects to the "Game System" input on the GOMOD. There are then RCA cables that run from the VCR output into the GOMOD input. Then, RCA cables go from the GOMOD output to the TV's input. Just look at this mess of cables! With the complicated setup and mess of cables, it's no wonder this thing was never ordered by people!
This resulted in a positive outcome of actually seeing a picture on the TV.
According to the manual (and me because I tested it) you can only use this with the Program Manager and it allows you to watch TV, or in this case a VHS, through the VCR. By pressing the left shoulder/trigger on the bike controls you are able to toggle between the Program Manager and whatever you're watching, in this case the Donkey Kong Country promo VHS. The program will then display your workout stats on screen as you watch your show.
The graphics of showing your workout stats are pretty basic for what this is and seems like too much of an inconvenience in hooking all this up, but now we all know what this is and how it works! Yay!
Comments
Have you opened it up yet?
Like, taken off the outer case to see what's inside? No. I didn't feel the need to since I apparently don't have the cables to make it work any way. Why?
Just thought it might shed some light on exactly what it should be doing.
Gotcha...maybe I'll open it up and post a picture when I get home from work
was there a model number anywhere on it? well open it up and take a few pics ill check my bike out later tonight and see if I can help ya out but I don't remember having that part either.
The only part numbers I found on it are GOB-500070 and GK41-X0002-0002. I didn't find anything on them when I googled the part numbers.
This part is definitely not on either my 9XS or 3500x which is why I feel like it's some sort of external module for one of the 3500 series bikes.
Originally posted by: 8BitPinkMist
Just thought it might shed some light on exactly what it should be doing.
Picture added!
I'm pretty sure that was an extra accessory for TV's that didn't have composite hookups could in conjunction be set up to output RF. I believe the SNES composite would plug in the back as it was sitting on top of the main box and the phone jack would connect from the main box to that box with the RF to the TV. The in/out Composites on the front were probably there additionally to connect through a stereo as many devices gave that capability back then. You will have to get the graphic overlay module and plug it all in.
So if it is for RF tvs , why not just use the RF adapter with the SNES in the first place? I tried hooking it up like you said but there isn't a cable that I'm aware of the patches the SNES, GOMOD and the standard overlay module together and then hooks into the bike. Do you remember where you saw this advertised as an accessory? Like a catalog or something?
I'm sorry about that, Must be for something different then. I never saw it in any catalog I saw it at a friends house nearly 20 years ago, he had that whole setup as his mom used it (collected more dust to be honest) and that component in the pictures sat next to the TV. It has the same inputs/outputs as an RF Splitter so I just assumed it was Their own version of one. Do you have any serial numbers off the thing? Maybe if you were to have someone dump those eeproms on the board to take a closer look it might give hints to exactly what it did.
I do think you're onto something with it being a separate component. I just don't get why the phone cord cable thing doesn't fit. I did try hooking it up like you said with no luck...do you still keep in contact with that friend?
Originally posted by: Abstract3000
Sorry man that sucks, As for the friend we had a falling out many years ago, both his parents passed within the next few years I overheard he took it pretty hard and then he just moved away and never seen or even heard about him in nearly 15 years or I would ask for you. As for the phone jack is it the correct size or is it an Ethernet jack? (just curious) and as I was asking before Is there a serial or model number on it? As well any numbers are on the PCB board as many times you can look up the patents/part numbers to get an insight as well.
I posted the numbers I could find further up in this thread (GOB-500070 and GK41-X0002-0002). I also googled them, but couldn't really make sense of the patent that I found...