Build a Virtual Boy link cable?

[e5frog]

I recently got my first Virtual Boy and have been looking into building a programmable cart myself and perhaps buying a FlashBoy. After looking around in several places I found some info about the link port and after checking eBay I noticed there seems to be none to find...

 

I started thinking - what would fit? Are there any connectors of that size, is it really necessary to take it apart and put another connector in there?

 

The connector seems to have about the same spacing as the connector on a Fairchild System cartridge, and that one works OK with a PC ISA bus connector... but it seems there aren't enough room for it's thickness in the link connector.

 

USB! It even fits over the connector, and even if the fit isn't 100% it seems to touch the connectors 1:1 - only thing is that there should be a connector on the other side as well. So why not take two USB-connectors, strip off the plastic, cut off the metal and piece (solder) two of them together?

 

Only thing is that the four connectors in the USB-cable aren't very "springy" and neither are the connectors in the V.B. connector but perhaps the ones in the USB connectors could be bent just a little to make a better connection or use the more springy type from a USB female connector. Perhaps the outer shield of the female USB-connector would also be a good fit if the outwards bent area in the top is cut off. Yes, that's probably the way to go, two female connectors pieced together perhaps fitted in the outer shield metal of one of the female connectors.

 

I'll see if I can get two cheap ones and test it...

Modifying a cable seems more appealing to me than to modify the V.B.-unit.

 

 

Unfortunately I only have one V.B. so even if I build a working cable I don't have much use of it, and to be honest, even if I had two V.B:s I'd have a hard time persuading someone in the family to play with me.

 

EDIT: Found a description on how to make one from a SNES/N64/Gamecube A/V cable, don't know if it's cheaper or easier:

http://www.emuunlim.com/VirtualE/spec001.htm Same thing seems to be hacked to: http://www.vr32.de/modules/workshop/?02

Edited January 5, 2010 by e5frog

[DaytonaUSA]

It's been done before. Check out the main virtual boy fan site.

[e5frog]

Which one is the "main virtual boy fan site"? Link?

 

BTW: I noticed USB cables are $0.99 on eBay, free shipping.

[e5frog]

I ordered five of those USB-cables, plan is to remove the black plastic from the connector, remove the metal-shield, sandwich to connector parts together, perhaps grind a little for a snug fit, glue them together and see if the resulting connector will fit in the metal-shield and repeat the process then put a piece of TP cable in between, maybe 1m could be enough length...

 

Another option is to put a TP female right on the connector, epoxy everything together and use a plain TP-cable as a link, then I could easily check which lengths of wires work with the current game/s.

[DaytonaUSA]

www.vr32.de

 

They have a tutorial on how to do it.

[e5frog]

Yes, I linked to that in my first post as well as the original version of it. But a (well two) N64 video-cables are more expensive than four USB-cables so I'll try and make it with USB...

 

I'm also curious on how to connect it there are a few different sources.

The one on this page has everything connected up (except 5V):

http://www.goliathindustries.com/vb/VBDiagrams.html

 

If it's correct (how will I know?) I guess I'll go for that one, it has sync in and sync out connected to eachother but on vr32.de they connect pin 6 to pin 6 as sync? and no connection on pin 5...

[DaytonaUSA]

Yea, I couldn't help ya... I never had myself that obsessed with the console to do the mod to be honest, none-the-less found a friend who liked it enough to play with me in 2 player matches of back cramping video games.