Bacteria's portable DreamCast handheld console - IntoDream

[DNT 2.5]

Woo, unboxing video soon!

Don't you mean Re-Boxing? he is putting it in a case!

[Hobie-wan]

Don't you mean Re-Boxing? he is putting it in a case!

Nono, because it looks so nice it needs a tech site nerd to make a video for taking it out of the retail box for the first time. I was joking.

[bacteria]

Thought I would give an update on today. Spent the entire day on this - managed to move one of the fans a bit, the capacitors for the RGB lines (case didn't close), moved wiring a bit here and there; finally managed to get system to close - just. However, and here's the major pain in the butt - getting the DC drive unit installed fully into the case top - been a major annoyance - can do it but a CD catches the case as the drive unit can't quite be raised enough; having to work out how to do this. Will resume a solution today, one way or another.

Had case open and closed many times today, so hope nothing has come loose and everything still works ok - wise to test this out before trying a stratgy to get the case shut. That is my fear at the moment, no matter how careful you are, a short can happen on projects like this, or similar and instantly fry the whole system in worst case scenario.

I will probably have to relocate the ribbon cable on the DC drive board, so I can hot glue the drive unit to the case backing, at this rate, assuming that solves the issue. The problem is I need the back end of the drive unit to raise 2mm more than it does; and it is proving to be a problem - so the result at the moment is a CD is free on the spindle area but not the opposite end, so catches on the case. This has to be resolved.

Will keep you posted on progress!

[DNT 2.5]

Can't wait to see this finished! Hope it works out well.

[bacteria]

The drive unit drops in perfectly into its space in the case top, however doesn't quite get into that position raising it inside the case, hence looking at securing the drive unit firmly into the case itself, which means I may as well fill in the screw holes made before as they won't be needed.

To keep it a little easier, rather than wiring directly to the ribbon cable port, I removed a spare one from a dead board by soldering all over the pins, then when the soldering iron was placed on the large blob, all solder heated including over all the pins, thereby enabling the port to lift off with pins intact. This was wired, and at the other end, soldered the wires directly to the ribbon. This was very careful soldering indeed - enough to secure a solder joint on the plastic cable but not to damage it.

The idea is that this cable acts like an extension cable; one end to extend the existing ribbon from the drive unit and the other to pop into the drive board port.

In theory, this should work.

[Hobie-wan]

Heh nice. I'm a sucker for punishment, but I would have found a longer ribbon cable.

[DNT 2.5]

Wait? What? Why didn't you just Hot glue the two ribbon cables together? you said you had two dreamcasts?

[bacteria]

DNT - double length cable not long enough, and the side of the ribbon would be the wrong way around; plus, the connections would not be reliable that way. Needed to have ribbon connection c. 8 inches or so, as it is very awkward otherwise to get it connected to the port; and about 8 inches would stretch ok.

This isn't ideal I know, however, if it works, will be ideal in that it would be easy to open the system up in the future for repairs. Issue is I have no idea if the system will work ok with a long connector like that or not. Also, extended the six wires for the power plugs from the drive board to the drive unit.

Up to this stage, things seem working ok, including what I did to relocate the daughter board from the DC to the controller.

I am aware however that there has been a considerable amount of modding done to pretty much everything on this system, with lots of rewiring; at some point the system might say "enough is enough" and refuse to work, or work again - hopefully i'm not at this stage, although won't know until tests today - if all works fine, should have this project wrapped up today; if not, problems.

[bacteria]

Hurrah!

This works - just tested it, to the start of a game. Looks like my cheap and cheerful home-made ffc connector worked like a dream! I couldn't find any fcc cables or on ebay that were suitable (16 pin 0.93mm pitch) let alone long enough; so making my own was THE option. Turned out to work well, and very cheap to make; issue is putting a hot soldering iron to a ribbon cable, but if you are careful, you are fine.

Pic of it working although of course a still photo isn't showing the disc rotating!



Now, just need to secure the drive unit in place with hot glue, and work out a clear path for the extra wiring to fill into so the case will shut. One issue after another, huh!

[spinksy]

Great stuff mate.

I have debated making a cable extension like that before for a random DC mod I was going to do but was told if I made that ribbon cable too long it would lose signal and not work??

Keep up the good work.