Retrode Forum

hey guys ive had added some schematics ive found to my OSH Park account so anyone can purchase a board that isnt otherwise on sale, i cant verify if these all of these adapters are correct perhaps someone here can look them over anyway here is the link hope it helps.

OSH Park - RazorX (https://oshpark.com/profiles/RazorX)

if anyone has any other schematics or gerber files such as the pico or turbografx-16 plugin please feel free to post them here and i will add them.

hope this helps you guys

Thanks for posting these boards.

I was thinking about waiting and asking someone else to check the boards, but I decided to just order some.

Instead of using OSH Park (which honestly make great PCBs from what I hear), I decided to use DirtyPcbs.  Not only do I get more boards for less (between 9 and 12 for $25, instead of $34 for 3 from OSH), if none of them work then I'm out less money than OSH Park wanted.

All I did was upload the "n64GBx.brd" file which is hosted here: http://www.retrode.org/plug-in-adapters/

I suppose that now I get to have the fun of locating some N64 and GBx slots.  Broken GBAs are pretty cheap these days, I hear...

If these boards end up working properly, I'll be very happy.  I will also post the link to them on the DirtyPcbs page and be willing to sell my extra boards on the cheap.

let me know how it goes

added prototype nes plugin

Just ordered one of these, to see if it will work properly:
http://www.dx.com/p/repair-parts-replacement-gba-game-cart-slot-for-nds-lite-37787

The above slot will try to keep you from plugging in GBC and GB games because the DS Lite doesn't work with those.  I'm pretty confident I can snip some plastic from the slot and make it work.  I don't need this to repair a DS Lite - I just need the cartridges to plug in!

I also ordered an old N64 GameShark, so I can de-solder the slot and re-use it on the adapter PCB.

Makes me wonder who DragonBox is working with in order to manufacture the slots for the Retrode and the adapters.

yeah id like to know that, also thats a nice idea you have using that instead of taking one out of a gba let me know how it goes

Quote from: RazorX2014 on 18/Aug/2015 05:04:37 AM
added prototype nes plugin

WARNING
PCBs ordered from OSH Park are 1.6 mm thick, which most probably does not fit into the NES 72-pin connector this prototype requires.

(Added:) I urge anyone who wants to build a prototype using my design to carefully read all information I posted along with it, including the schematics files. See: http://forum.retrode.org/index.php/topic,282.msg1873.html#msg1873

See also my reply (http://forum.retrode.org/index.php/topic,304.msg2023.html#msg2023) further below.

this board doesnt slot into a nes connector it slots into the mega drive/genesis connector on the retrode

Quote from: androda on 20/Aug/2015 12:46:41 PM
...
I also ordered an old N64 GameShark, so I can de-solder the slot and re-use it on the adapter PCB.
...

I'm pretty sure that you could just use one of the master system edge connectors from tototek (http://www.tototek.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=22), both 50 pin and if I remember correctly, both 1.6mm thick.

Quote from: RazorX2014 on 21/Aug/2015 12:01:13 AM
this board doesnt slot into a nes connector it slots into the mega drive/genesis connector on the retrode

Dear RazorX2014,

I am the very author of the NES plugin prototype board, and I assure you that it does slot into both the Retrode and a NES 72-pin connector.

The board has two edge connectors on opposite sides. The one for the Retrode is shorter, hence a corner needs to be cut out of the board, giving it a thick L-shape.
You need two such boards per NES plugin prototype - one plugs into the Retrode, the other into the NES connector. The pair of boards must be connected by wires and resistors as described in the schematics I posted along with the board design.

You would know all this, had you taken a look at those schematics¹.
The information you posted on OSH Park is thus incomplete and misleading for potential buyers of the NES plugin prototype PCBs.

I demand that you remove the NES plugin prototype board design from OSH Park, because the PCBs produced from it by OSH Park will be useless².

Regards,
Wannado

¹ In particular, the .sch file associated with the .brd file contains a piece of text describing this, and I even drew a picture below it. All in the "info" layer (97). (Added:) It's also explained in the description text of the .brd file.
² I just tried and failed to force a 1.6 mm PCB edge into a NES connector. It's far too thick.

wow you didnt have to demand lol just ask

The N64/GBx boards have shipped now.  It'll be anywhere between 10 days and 8 weeks (:\) before they arrive.  Yay shipping.

The boards are here!
I got 11 of them (yay for 'protopack' meaning somewhere between 9 and 12 boards).
Having examined them, they're certainly not the fanciest things on earth - no gold-plated slot contacts or anything.  But it looks like they were fabbed correctly and they slot nicely into the Retrode.
See attached (wonky angle) picture.

Now I need to do some quick research and see if the GBA slot I ordered will work properly (pin orientation/order).  Looks like I will need to modify the bottom of the GBA slot, as there are two prongs sticking out.  I intend to epoxy the slot in place once it's soldered - no need for reinforcement underneath.

Edit:
Looks like the GBA slot will work - now I need to find time today to solder and test it.  Note that you need to snap off two plastic tabs which keep you from plugging in the older GBC and GB games.

Is anyone interested in a bare adapter board?  Or would you guys prefer that I order the GBx slots and solder/epoxy them down before selling?
/Edit

The board works with the GBA slot!

I just backed up my tiny GBA collection (3 games).

If people are interested, I'd be willing to buy more GBA slots, solder/epoxy them, and sell GBx boards.  I haven't done the N64 one yet.

nice work i like the black pcbs too :D

I'm urgently looking for GBx cart slots to produce more GBx Plugins... does anyone have a good source? :/

Has anyone tried the Virtual Boy PCB yet? Does it just need a VB cart slot soldered to it, or does it need the custom pin setup from the original wired design?

Quote from: EvilDragon on 17/Apr/2016 02:43:45 PM
I'm urgently looking for GBx cart slots to produce more GBx Plugins... does anyone have a good source? :/

The only place I've found is eBay these days.  They used to be on dx.com, but ran out of stock and have since disappeared.

I have enough PCBs and slots to produce 10 GBx adapters (which also have holes to accept an N64 slot).  Anyone want one?  I would test them with my own games after making and before sending.

I already have a GB one, but I could sure use a DS plugin, as I don't have a DS dumper yet. :P

Okay, got the GB-Cartridge slots, now I'm only missing N64 joypad connectors.
In worst case, I'll produce N64 plugins without joypad connections.

@androda

I would be interested in one of your GBx adapters. I'm assuming when you say it has holes to accept an N64 slot, I would just need to get an N64 cartridge connector and solder it in? How much would you charge for it and how would I pay?

Also, how much would you charge for just one of the extra boards that you have without the GBA connector?

@Joxer_the_Mighty

Yes, the adapters have the mounting holes for an N64 port.  I already added one to the first adapter that I made (but with no N64 games to test with, I don't know whether the N64 slot works).  Also of note: I never got around to epoxying my GBx adapter, and it works fine. Surprisingly sturdy.

I think I would want $12 per GBx adapter board plus whatever shipping method you want to pay for.  Each individual extra board would be $3 (price I paid plus 60 cents).  The blank boards come with the necessary resistor pre-installed.

I have 10 blank GBx/N64 boards available (nothing but the resistor soldered at the moment).

I'm located in the USA.

If you'd like to buy any, send me a direct message here (and I'll try to check back in a few days  :)  after there was no response in the first few weeks I didn't expect anyone to be interested)

Note: If anyone else is interested, send me a personal message.  If there's enough interest, I could try to scrounge up some more GBx plugs (hard to find these days) and make another order for boards.

Just a quick note:
More N64, SMS and GBx-Plugins are currently in production and should be finished in November.

However, the N64 doesn't have the connector ports, as they seem to be almost impossible to get in quantities less than 10,000.