I have tested wires, and lengths that work in the past, so I know what i'm doing, and what works best!
Bacteria's project: "Project Unity"
Re: Bacteria's project: "Project Unity"
Yes, I know.
I have tested wires, and lengths that work in the past, so I know what i'm doing, and what works best!
I have tested wires, and lengths that work in the past, so I know what i'm doing, and what works best!
I am the Bacman
Re: Bacteria's project: "Project Unity"
Obviously you know what you're doing. That wasn't ever a question in my mind.
Just thought you may have missed/not considered the ribbon route since it can be a easier to manage and is more presentable
Anyway, this thing is a monster and I can't wait to see it completed
Just thought you may have missed/not considered the ribbon route since it can be a easier to manage and is more presentable
Anyway, this thing is a monster and I can't wait to see it completed
Re: Bacteria's project: "Project Unity"
No problem!
------------ a few updates to bring this topic up to date
Got the MegaDrive finished the other day, working nicely, complete with region switch.
------------
The SMS system was done also a week or so ago, ready to install on the Atari 7800 board, due to limited space. Worked and got that working too.
------------
Well, rigged up the Atari 7800 controller into a NES controller, didn't take long at all. Problem is for some reason it isn't working, spent an hour or more this afternoon trying to work out the problem. It works when you manually press the button contacts of the Atari controller board, but not in the Master Controller. I notice the Atari controller has two resistors to the two action buttons, going to take a while to see what the issue is; tomorrow. Hopefully it's something simple to resolve. I know there is nothing wrong with the Master Controller, tested on the MegaDrive a few moments ago and all was fine. Must be something to do with the Atari's groundings.
-----------
As with all troubleshooting, taking the controller to work in stages, until get to the root of the problem. The ground on the controller goes to the d-pad in the usual way, however there are also two resistors that then feed to some of the lines to the console, some of which are for the buttons 1 and 2; pretty sure that's the root of the issue, but need to work out what resolves it; job for today - find enough alternatives for working out a problem and one method ends up working normally!
-----------
Success!
Basically, had to treat it like two separate groundings, one to d-pad and other for the action buttons. Tested on Galaga and works fine. I'll finish off the cartridge unit, and then test with another game just to make sure (Asteroids, as it uses d-pad properly not just left and right). I can then get the SMS board installed, cart in place, and i'll make that video and get it uploaded; will be a fairly short but sweet video though, as a mid-update.
Next system, as indicated, will be Amstrad GX4000, simply because it's the last cart system to go into the shelf. The TurboGrafx is a credit card sized cart so will need to squeeze in elsewhere.
Decided I might just use the switch for selecting GBA after all, so as to keep the last slot in the system free; i'll work out once and for all then if I can have the Jaguar working, just for the one game I like on that system, or if there is no way at all of installing it, in which case plug'n'play will be the option, made into cart units. TBC. After that, I can work on the casing.
------------ a few updates to bring this topic up to date
Got the MegaDrive finished the other day, working nicely, complete with region switch.
------------
The SMS system was done also a week or so ago, ready to install on the Atari 7800 board, due to limited space. Worked and got that working too.
------------
Well, rigged up the Atari 7800 controller into a NES controller, didn't take long at all. Problem is for some reason it isn't working, spent an hour or more this afternoon trying to work out the problem. It works when you manually press the button contacts of the Atari controller board, but not in the Master Controller. I notice the Atari controller has two resistors to the two action buttons, going to take a while to see what the issue is; tomorrow. Hopefully it's something simple to resolve. I know there is nothing wrong with the Master Controller, tested on the MegaDrive a few moments ago and all was fine. Must be something to do with the Atari's groundings.
-----------
As with all troubleshooting, taking the controller to work in stages, until get to the root of the problem. The ground on the controller goes to the d-pad in the usual way, however there are also two resistors that then feed to some of the lines to the console, some of which are for the buttons 1 and 2; pretty sure that's the root of the issue, but need to work out what resolves it; job for today - find enough alternatives for working out a problem and one method ends up working normally!
-----------
Success!
Basically, had to treat it like two separate groundings, one to d-pad and other for the action buttons. Tested on Galaga and works fine. I'll finish off the cartridge unit, and then test with another game just to make sure (Asteroids, as it uses d-pad properly not just left and right). I can then get the SMS board installed, cart in place, and i'll make that video and get it uploaded; will be a fairly short but sweet video though, as a mid-update.
Next system, as indicated, will be Amstrad GX4000, simply because it's the last cart system to go into the shelf. The TurboGrafx is a credit card sized cart so will need to squeeze in elsewhere.
Decided I might just use the switch for selecting GBA after all, so as to keep the last slot in the system free; i'll work out once and for all then if I can have the Jaguar working, just for the one game I like on that system, or if there is no way at all of installing it, in which case plug'n'play will be the option, made into cart units. TBC. After that, I can work on the casing.
I am the Bacman
Re: Bacteria's project: "Project Unity"
Some updates - here is what I ended up with inside the NES cartridge for the Atari 7800's controller. It works.
This was the Atari 7800 console board, before adding on top the SMS system. Used some plastic spacers so the SMS board can sit on top, and for extra protection, had before attached thin card under the SMS board so no shorts.
The SMS board is installed, and as per pic, you can see the Atari and SMS game carts secured into place on the last shelf in the system. I had hoped to get the SMS onto the left side however the wires wouldn't reach.
This is going to mean the GX4000 system (next one I tackle) will have to go on the left, and as the wires will be too long, i'll have to use shielded/grounded cable for the cart pin connections; will have to do that for the TurboGrafx too.
You can see in the photo below how tight space is getting now. I have to get a GX4000 board and also TurboGrafx board in there, there is about 30-35mm height to play with roughly. My plan, is to have both console boards connected to the top of the system casing, under the bank of switch's cables, that should be ok. As to boards, I have two options, a UK TurboGrafx and also a PCengine, the PCengine is a far smaller board so might well end up using that, if space gets too tight.
I need now to check my system is visually ok, connect the SMS voltage to the system, and do some testing - no reason all's not well, but i'll know conclusively when i've done the testing later in the afternoon.
This was the Atari 7800 console board, before adding on top the SMS system. Used some plastic spacers so the SMS board can sit on top, and for extra protection, had before attached thin card under the SMS board so no shorts.
The SMS board is installed, and as per pic, you can see the Atari and SMS game carts secured into place on the last shelf in the system. I had hoped to get the SMS onto the left side however the wires wouldn't reach.
This is going to mean the GX4000 system (next one I tackle) will have to go on the left, and as the wires will be too long, i'll have to use shielded/grounded cable for the cart pin connections; will have to do that for the TurboGrafx too.
You can see in the photo below how tight space is getting now. I have to get a GX4000 board and also TurboGrafx board in there, there is about 30-35mm height to play with roughly. My plan, is to have both console boards connected to the top of the system casing, under the bank of switch's cables, that should be ok. As to boards, I have two options, a UK TurboGrafx and also a PCengine, the PCengine is a far smaller board so might well end up using that, if space gets too tight.
I need now to check my system is visually ok, connect the SMS voltage to the system, and do some testing - no reason all's not well, but i'll know conclusively when i've done the testing later in the afternoon.
I am the Bacman
Re: Bacteria's project: "Project Unity"
I am the Bacman
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fastbilly1
- Site Admin
- Posts: 13775
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Re: Bacteria's project: "Project Unity"
Still, one of the most impressive feats I have had the pleasure of watching develop.
Re: Bacteria's project: "Project Unity"
Thank you!
I'm working to try and get this project finished by the end of the month, apart from maybe a few ancillary things like controller overlays, etc. On target so far!
I'm working to try and get this project finished by the end of the month, apart from maybe a few ancillary things like controller overlays, etc. On target so far!
I am the Bacman
Re: Bacteria's project: "Project Unity"
Literally hundreds of wires in this unit, probably used over 200m of cable. Can't cable tie, wires are all over the system!
I am the Bacman
Re: Bacteria's project: "Project Unity"
Got my Amstrad GX4000 console and controller down from my loft, and opened up the console. Read through the notes i'd put into the reference section a while back, as provides a good reminder. Just as well, as the console can input 5v or 11v between two power ports.
So, connected up 5v from a heatsinked 7805 to the correct terminals and nothing, even the console light didn't come on. Ok, connected my 7.4v PSone power supply then to the 11v line, as years ago when I made a GX4000 portable (the only one ever made, which fried after all testing done, when closed the case the last 1mm and it shorted the video chip on the battery and fried the video chip!), anyway, seemed reasonable that the voltage line goes into the on-board 7805 (hence why it could take 5v input instead to power the system, right?) and the system booted but the video scrolled diagonally and looked horrible as a result; the sort of thing you can get when you're using the wrong region. I knew this wasn't right as was using SCART (the GX4000 comes with SCART as standard). Tried using the setup on my larger television rather than the old CRT one, and it didn't even see a signal present. Rats!
Ok, nothing to lose now really, figured i'd have to pay another £20-£30 for a replacement console, so tried the system on 12v instead using a battery pack with AA cells. It worked great! Audio and video working great! I guess when the system said it needed 11v it meant it! Not sure though why the 5v connection didn't work, might be a fault on the console board maybe; and also, I had my old GX4000 working on 7.4v batteries - never mind, not important, this board seems to want to work on 12v so that's easy enough, i'll use that.
Before getting the console board installed into the Unity system, i'm going to have a go at the EPROM cart mod, ie : http://www.made-by-bacteria.com/forum/v ... =150&t=723
I don't know if the EPROMS I have work, got Doug a year ago to program them for me, after i'd used the program in the guide above to covert the ROMS into the right format. What I wanted was a few CPC games that were never released on the GX4000 to see if could get working on the GX4000; hence main reason for the EPROMS. Amstrad were lazy in that regard, with only a couple of exceptions where GX4000 games were GX4000 games, the rest were pretty much ports of their CPC games to that format; and was a reason the console failed, as GX4000 carts cost £25 each, whereas CPC games on cassettes cost about £5; for the same game.
If that works, great, if not, no issue; spent about £30 on a gamble risk with the EPROMS.
I'll post how that goes on, after giving it a go, i'll get the GX4000 console into the Unity system.
So, connected up 5v from a heatsinked 7805 to the correct terminals and nothing, even the console light didn't come on. Ok, connected my 7.4v PSone power supply then to the 11v line, as years ago when I made a GX4000 portable (the only one ever made, which fried after all testing done, when closed the case the last 1mm and it shorted the video chip on the battery and fried the video chip!), anyway, seemed reasonable that the voltage line goes into the on-board 7805 (hence why it could take 5v input instead to power the system, right?) and the system booted but the video scrolled diagonally and looked horrible as a result; the sort of thing you can get when you're using the wrong region. I knew this wasn't right as was using SCART (the GX4000 comes with SCART as standard). Tried using the setup on my larger television rather than the old CRT one, and it didn't even see a signal present. Rats!
Ok, nothing to lose now really, figured i'd have to pay another £20-£30 for a replacement console, so tried the system on 12v instead using a battery pack with AA cells. It worked great! Audio and video working great! I guess when the system said it needed 11v it meant it! Not sure though why the 5v connection didn't work, might be a fault on the console board maybe; and also, I had my old GX4000 working on 7.4v batteries - never mind, not important, this board seems to want to work on 12v so that's easy enough, i'll use that.
Before getting the console board installed into the Unity system, i'm going to have a go at the EPROM cart mod, ie : http://www.made-by-bacteria.com/forum/v ... =150&t=723
I don't know if the EPROMS I have work, got Doug a year ago to program them for me, after i'd used the program in the guide above to covert the ROMS into the right format. What I wanted was a few CPC games that were never released on the GX4000 to see if could get working on the GX4000; hence main reason for the EPROMS. Amstrad were lazy in that regard, with only a couple of exceptions where GX4000 games were GX4000 games, the rest were pretty much ports of their CPC games to that format; and was a reason the console failed, as GX4000 carts cost £25 each, whereas CPC games on cassettes cost about £5; for the same game.
If that works, great, if not, no issue; spent about £30 on a gamble risk with the EPROMS.
I'll post how that goes on, after giving it a go, i'll get the GX4000 console into the Unity system.
I am the Bacman