Virtual Boy Multicart?

[Bruce Tomlin]

That's pretty expensive compared to pcbpool.com

It's not, the cart uses a 0.8mm board (regular is 1.6mm) which they don't do as standard, it's an expensive 'special order'. Also, pcbpool's 4 day service is 1.5 times their normal price + courier shipping from Ireland to the UK is about $40.

Oh, I didn't realize the VB used a half-thickness board.

[Richard H.]

Oh, I didn't realize the VB used a half-thickness board.

Yes, it's a bit weird like that, nothing on it is 'standard'. It would have been so much easier if it was 1.6mm with a connector edge like every other cart in the world.

 

I measured the original at 0.6mm, but 0.8mm works better when soldering the connectors as they tend to get a bit bent outwards when removing them. The extra 0.2mm saves having to hold each pin down while I solder.

[PsychedelicShaman]

Any updates on the flash cart?

[Richard H.]

Any updates on the flash cart?

I've been on holiday, but I'm back now and still trying to track down the write anomaly. I suspect bad FLASH.

 

I'm in the process of breadboarding the whole circuit, which means getting hold of DIP versions of all the chips.

[PsychedelicShaman]

Any updates on the flash cart?

I've been on holiday, but I'm back now and still trying to track down the write anomaly. I suspect bad FLASH.

 

I'm in the process of breadboarding the whole circuit, which means getting hold of DIP versions of all the chips.

 

Cool. Thanks for the update!

[Richard H.]

Well, I built the breadboarded version, programmed the FLASH and it verified OK in my chip programmer, but it doesn't work on the actual VB for some weird reason.

 

Which leads me to ask, are the VB ROM images direct dumps or have they been altered / padded in some way for emulator use ?

[KR155E]

no, afaik they aren't altered in any way.

[Troma]

I still check this thread almost daily! Anxious for updates! Did you hit a brick wall?

 

Thanks for the hard work on this project... I am interested in the results!

[Richard H.]

Did you hit a brick wall?

Yes

 

I've left it alone for a bit while I have a re-think.

 

Don't worry though, I've thrown way too much cash at it to give up now !

[MAULER]

THATS FUNNY, I JUST DUG OUT THE VIRTUAL BOY TODAY!

 

there are strange forces at work here.....

 

i called nintendo to ask why i dont get video on mine. though, i think it's the ribbon cable that is infamous for seperating from the board. they said they get calls to this day and have to shoo us away to websites.

if i get it a workin (tool on the wayhere in the states, it's a 3 day weekend, and i hate those damned triwing screws)

i's be interested in getting a multicart myself. If you want toproduce them, i can assist you in the graphic art stuff.

[Richard H.]

there are strange forces at work here.....

Too right !

 

The last thing I tried was programming the FLASH in my chip programmer (verifying twice) and then soldering it to a bare board without any of the other components, just the VB connector and the necessary pins hardwired - still nothing

 

BTW the 2 types of FLASH I've been using are Intel DT28F160S5 and DA28F320J5.

[Richard H.]

OMG IT WORKS !!

 

After a chat with Pat from www.projectvb.vze.com, the problem turned out to be a mixture of bad ROM dumps and lack of padding. Padding is something you have to do on the VB when the ROM image doesn't fill all of the FLASH, I'd wrongly assumed I didn't need to do this

 

That guy really know's his stuff where the VB is concerned.

 

 

Anyway, I'm doing one more revision as MicroChip have released the larger USB chip, which means I can cut down the design to just 2 chips + get the downloading faster (it's way too slow at the moment)

[Troma]

OMG! Yay!

[PsychedelicShaman]

Great news!

[bones]

Three cheers, excellent news! Looking forward to placing an order!

[christianscott27]

I know that must feel awesome to have found a way forward, keep it going! I cant wait to see the finished product in my VB!

[Richard H.]

I'm sending off the layout files for the next revision board this week, takes about 5 days to get them back.

 

All being well, I should then be able to send a few carts out for testing.

[nintendo]

I'm sending off the layout files for the next revision board this week, takes about 5 days to get them back.

 

All being well, I should then be able to send a few carts out for testing.

 

I'll test one of those for you.

[KR155E]

uh nice, i'd be willing to test it too.

how about a short preview on planet virtual boy?

[bones]

You can sign me up for testing, happy to help

[Matt Fisher]

I'm willing to make the sacrifice as well, and you should already have my address from when I tested your Vecflash-CV interface. Just looking to make things easier on you, you understand... I would also be willing to forward to another tester here in the States if that was your plan.

[Tempest]

I can't believe this is becoming a reality. Now if only those protos would surface...

 

Tempest

[Richard H.]

I need to iron out some bugs in the firmware this week, but in the mean time here's some pics of the cart assembled.

 

(Cutting the case to fit the USB connector was pretty tricky, I ended up ruining 4 until I got it right)

[+remowilliams]

I need to iron out some bugs in the firmware this week, but in the mean time here's some pics of the cart assembled.

Awesome!

[KR155E]

SEXY!

i'd love to get my hands on a test cart.

now that it's working i guess i'm gonna post a news article about it.