Wireless RF remote add ons

[whiskthecat]

PCBs and all components except the RF module are from USA. Hopefully the RF modules aren't complete crap.

Looks like my hand reflowed QFN is good to go. Got a programming setup built and it recognizes the IC. Now I just need my damn NES.

[Anapan]

Eager Lizard crying while he waits for his Damn NES!

[whiskthecat]

Low gain receiver boards arrived and assembled. Now I really want my NES

[flagoss]

A good way to setup a controller for either player1 or player2 is to hold a button when switching the controller on. Hold A to set it to player1 or Hold B for player2. If you hold no button, it take the last know setting.

[whiskthecat]

Well my NES is nowhere to be found. I gave up and ordered another one from nearby. Should be here in a few days.

Flagoss we still have the problem of the receiver not knowing if it is plugged in to player 1 or player 2 port. I think for now I will just set player one on a different frequency than player 2 and each controller/receiver will be set permanently in software. I'm more concerned with just making sure playability is good first.

[flagoss]

You could put a switch on the receiver to select between Channel 1 and 2. Or we could only solder a jumper on the pcb to permanently choose the channel.

[whiskthecat]

Great news guys. Both the boards I designed worked on the first revision woot!
There was a bit of a scare when neither the controller or the receiver worked after initial flashing with my 1+year old hex file, but it turns out flashing a hex file compiled for a different part number MCU doesn't tend to work out so well *facepalm*
Luckily the source compiled with no complaints on the cheaper and smaller chip I am using now.

Unfortunately, it seems the coin cell out of my old prototype controller has bitten the dust. I would have expected much longer standby time than a year but who knows what might have happened as it has been sitting in a big messy parts box and I originally pulled the coin cell out of a wii that could have came from 2006 for all I know.

I plan to re-run all the numbers on power consumption anyways to verify everything is okay. After that I'll make a few changes to the board to increase manufacturability and then put in an order for probably around 100 boards. I think I am going to just go with having 2 different frequencies hard coded into the firmware and give the option for purchasing one or the other.

Until then I have 2 boards left that I haven't assembled that can be used for testing purposes. I will probably keep one to verify 2 players at the same time works well but the other is up for grabs with KalessinDB having called initial dibs.

[Anapan]

Congrats! Exciting and great news! KDB is a very worthy owner of the test model. I definitely wanna get in on a small lot of 1st runs. I'd sure like to get rid of my snakes of controller extenders, and I'm very interested in how the remotes deal with a Bliss Box 4P. Mine hasn't arrived yet, but I was late to get in on the 1st production run.
Glad the battery-lizard was not disappointed - low battery was all

[flagoss]

Do you plan on releasing the firmware and schematic to public or you plan on only selling boards?

[KalessinDB]

Woooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!

Even if I'm not unpacked at my new house yet, I'll be unpacking an NES to play with this for sure.