Wireless RF remote add ons

[whiskthecat]

Update: low gain receiver boards are now on their way. Designed to fit inside a usb flash drive sized enclosure. Took some cramming to get it all in there No hardware included for channel selection on this first revision. I'm still hoping I can think of a slick (as in not overly complicated) way to do it all in software.

[KalessinDB]

Awesome! Glad to hear it, keep us updated!

[samsonlonghair]

Help me understand this from a consumer standpoint. Does the consumer buy a kit and then solder that to an NES controller, or does the consumer buy an NES controller with your board already installed?

[Anapan]

Maybe if the sending boards had tiny dots in a matrix that were only bridged with solder, and the receiving boards had a wide dip with an included printout for the equivalent binary/hex setting? This is all very cool!

[whiskthecat]

Help me understand this from a consumer standpoint. Does the consumer buy a kit and then solder that to an NES controller, or does the consumer buy an NES controller with your board already installed?

I was planning on both options being available. If not through me directly at least via other modders who buy the kit and offer their service to install it as Anapan had mentioned.

Maybe if the sending boards had tiny dots in a matrix that were only bridged with solder, and the receiving boards had a wide dip with an included printout for the equivalent binary/hex setting? This is all very cool!

I considered that too but then I can imagine myself misplacing the "1st player" controller or always grabbing the "2nd player" one on accident and then having to go through the task of opening the controller and soldering things, which a lot of people won't even be able to do. If some kind of mechanical (dip switch or solder bridge) option is used it will have to be in the receiver as the biggest problem that exist is that the receiver has no idea whether it is plugged into "1st player" or "2nd player" port. If this info was known the controller could just default connect to the highest open port in software.

[whiskthecat]

Receiver enclosures for both high gain and low gain versions have arrived. It looks like I will have to modify the connector on the high gain version but it shouldn't be too much trouble. I'm expecting transmit boards this weekend. The cable on the receiver can be cut to a shorter length or left stock from the donor controller. ;D

[KalessinDB]

Awesome connector there. I imagine the low gain version should be plenty for use in a normal sized living room?

[whiskthecat]

Well I am a little worried (for no good reason really) about the internal antenna laying flat as opposed to standing up. During all of my 100+ft testing no effort was made to orient the internal antenna, so who knows which way it was facing, but regardless the range was so good I would not expect problems in any normal sized room. The high gain version was mostly for fun. I just couldn't resist the fancier looking rubber ducky antenna. For when you have to play your NES on a jumbotron from across a stadium or something.

Even if it does turn out to be a problem it won't be that big of a deal to place the low gain version on it's side instead of flat down.

[whiskthecat]

Transmit boards have arrived and I've assembled one, but unfortunately I don't currently have my development tools setup to actually test it or even install it. The install will just consist of desoldering the colored wires and replacing them with metal pins through the holes on the transmit board and into the controller board. The good news is that it all physically fits inside the controller despite multiple sub mm clearances. More waiting for things to ship...

[KalessinDB]

It always seems to be a waiting game, especially if you go the cheap way and order components from China. Not saying you are, that just happens to be my life currently

Looking forward to seeing it all wired up!