If your game does not seem to be communicating with Dexter, try these troubleshooting steps:
- Enable service switch
- Go to disc test menu
- Choose the frame decoder test
- There is both a single frame test and a step forward test. Start with the single frame test.
- If it doesn't show the frame, Dexter probably is not receiving commands
- If it does show the frame, but the decoder frame number is wrong, it needs the decoder adjustment which is a trim pot with screw slot on the frame decoder board (beware, there is more than one screw slot so make sure you are adjusting the right one!)

Here are some pictures of the game's cables correctly plugged into Dexter for reference:

One additional note:

If the frame decoder test is successful, but the game still gets stuck at the boot screen, your slam switch may be bent or disconnected. You MUST have a normally closed switch (or just a wire to ground) on the slam switch input, or the game will not start.

This is not a Dexter-specific issue, but it's likely to come up in some cases where the cabinet didn't already have a working player.

I've posted a video with setup, troubleshooting and adjustments for MACH 3:



Most of it applies both for Dexter and for the original PR-8210 player. Hopefully it will be a useful reference for "normal" behavior, and for some common problems you may encounter.