Hardware Oldies Game Boy Color Atomic Purple IR Issue

[supernintendo128]

I've known about this issue since I was about 15 or so. My brother and I bought Game Boy Colors off eBay, his was Kiwi Green and mine was Atomic Purple. We try to trade high scores in Super Mario Bros. Deluxe but my GBC has this issue where when I go into the "Trade" screen and waits for an IR signal from another Game Boy, it keeps erroring out, essentially soft-locking the game unless I time my B press just right.

At first I thought my unit was defective. So I ordered another one, also Atomic Purple. And guess what? Same issue. Then I realized it works fine when taken outdoors in natural light.

Fast forward to today and I'm playing Wario Land 2 on my GBC. Then I remember the issue I had with the IR transceiver. So I put in SMBD and try to start a trade, and of course it still has this issue. I can't find it documented on the internet. Is this an issue inherent with the Atomic Purple GBCs or did this issue develop overtime? Was it a fluke that I got two Atomic Purple GBCs with the same issue? Was this an issue back in the day? Did the world change so that stray IR beams are everywhere indoors now?

 

[master801]

My far fetched guess would be because of the shell color (translucent vs opaque).

 

[emmanu888]

Feels like that Mission Impossible game would be a really good way to test IR functions, whether its an OEM shell or an aftermarket shell. Maybe some shell colors makes it harder to use IR if the game uses it.

 

[icegod]

You most likely did, but did you try switching games, to make sure it isn't the game causing the issue?

If you're comfortable enough, you can open up the case, and remove the little black plastic before the IR sensor, see if that changes anything.

 

[tech3475]

My far fetched guess would be because of the shell color (translucent vs opaque).

That shouldn't be an issue because there's a little black 'window' on the top to allow for IR communication:

This is why the IR requires the consoles to have them placed opposite each other so they face each others IR transceiver:

Note: I couldn't find a picture with 2 GBCs on Google images, but it still illistrates my point.

@OP are you able to show us a picture of you trying to use IR with the 2 GBCs?

 

[Vixi]

I never had this issue with multiple GBCs, none of them were Atomic Purple
I seem to remember Mystery Gift was a bit flakey for a couple of kids in my class at school. One of them had Atomic Purple iirc.

 

[supernintendo128]

You most likely did, but did you try switching games, to make sure it isn't the game causing the issue?

If you're comfortable enough, you can open up the case, and remove the little black plastic before the IR sensor, see if that changes anything.

Pokemon Pinball stays on the "Sending" screen for about 3 seconds before timing out. That's the only other game I have with IR support as far as I know (though I kind of want Mission Impossible to try out the TV remote function on my Trinitron).

That shouldn't be an issue because there's a little black 'window' on the top to allow for IR communication:
View attachment 561307

This is why the IR requires the consoles to have them placed opposite each other so they face each others IR transceiver:

View attachment 561308

Note: I couldn't find a picture with 2 GBCs on Google images, but it still illistrates my point.

@OP are you able to show us a picture of you trying to use IR with the 2 GBCs?

Unfortunately I only have one GBC and one copy of Pokemon Pinball, and I don't know anyone else with a GBC (my brother and I live hundreds of miles apart now). If I meet someone in the area with a GBC and Pokemon Pinball I'll report back.