Bacteria's portable DreamCast handheld console - IntoDream

[bacteria]

Indeed, you will lose signal strength however it depends on the wire you use, some is better than others. It's a bit like relocating a cart slot - if you use kynar wire, over 4" forget it, IDE cable is about 6", other slim wire (like I use) over 8".

[wip3outguy7]

Incredible! (this thread makes my head hurt)

[DrCirno]

Thanks to your avatar, I now imagine Batman doing all the work on this console. Which in turn makes it more awesome.

[bacteria]

Batman? No, Bac-Man!



Going to have a stab at getting this finished tomorrow. It will take a while after that before I publicise the project, as I then need to make videos, edit existing ones, make something better to mount my camera on for the videos, various testings, etc. No rush, also no point considering the project "finished" until several games are tested and the system proven to be fine and working 100%.

Also, when it gets to release, I want to ask RacketBOY the best way we can use this project to also help this site and gain more members, hopefully interested in this sort of modding.

[AmishSamurai]

If you provide enough pictures, videos, etcetera, you could probably throw a tip to Engadget and see if they'll write an article on it. They love this kind of stuff (they practically report every time Ben Heck breathes for God's sake).

[bacteria]

That's a given - on my last projects they have got splashed all over the net, Hack'a'Day, Engadget, and a selection of others. I am sure they will be interested in this project too when complete, especially as there are only a few DreamCasts that have been made into portables as it is.

[bacteria]

Ok, good news first:

* Case shuts, barely. Held it in place with electrical tape so it didn't come apart too easily. The system will have screws to hold it down of course.

* System clearly works and in the video, the d-pad and one of the buttons shows that.

* Nice to hold, although heavy at 1.5 kg. To compare, an unmodded DreamCast console by itself weighs in at about 1.2 kg.

Bad news:

* Seem to have some interference on the video line. might be positioning of the capacitors, etc, screen a little darker than before. If problem persists, may go back to composite instead of RGB. It could be that the batteries need recharging, possible.

* The VMU is being a pain, part of the middle of the screen is not showing, as per the video. This can be fixed, hopefully without removing the DC board.

* After about 30 seconds or maybe less, the system cuts out. It may be that the batteries are under too much strain, not sure; or need recharge, or a faulty set, don't know. I guess it may be the amps as the system turns back on again afterwards, and turns off again as before. If the batteries are under too much strain and can't cope, I will have to just run the system off mains, which isn't ideal. It could also be an issue with heat as to why the system shuts off, easiest way to know if the batteries are ok, and issue is heat, is to run system with cover off and see what happens.

These are set-backs, i'm hoping after all this work that the issues can be resolved. This project has been a right royal pain in the butt from start to end, feel like binning it, but won't! If the system stops working however, I may not be able to resolve the issue now project is so advanced.

YouTube Video Link

[bacteria]

Think I may have found the problem. Me and my stupid wiring! *duh*

Looks like I connected the grounds of the three batteries together fine for a nice 6 amp system, but connected two of the positive connections of the batteries together but not to the third one, and the third one was running straight to the console by itself, not involving the other two cells!

This in effect means the system was running on just ONE set of cells, 2 amps - not surprising the system was cutting out, the protection circuit would have cut the power to stop the battery pack overloading!

That is interesting on a different level - the current needed was calculated at about 2.7 amps or thereabouts, yet a battery pack with only 2 amps managed to make it run - BTW, wasn't about 30 seconds, more like minute.

That also accounts for the screen looking ok some of the time and a bit dimmer the bulk of the time - of course it would, no enough juice!

Ok, that's fine. Just got to figure out the minute changes to the VMU needed to get it just right... and of course solder one more wire to the system to connect the batteries together properly!

Happy again, have to expect teething problems!

[Niode]

It's impressive that you got it working but damn, that thing is HUGE.

Is there no way to make this system any smaller?

[MrPopo]

He's limited by the thickness of the screen, then the thickness of the board, and finally the drive unit. I'm guessing the drive unit is what's adding a fair amount of girth to the system, since it has the moving parts for the laser.