Adaptors

[Muzer]

Sorry I haven't been around for a while. I'll update the first post with the plugin on the front page now.

[jabara_sun]

Well...I have tried to find JP to US SMS converter but I can't find any merchandise.
So,I can make that by comparing JP and US SMS pinouts.
But maybe that's not the point.

You should indeed be able to build an adapter with a suitable cartridge socket. As you say, the pins are in a different order, but route them through to the correct pins on a megadrive edge connector (no point making a JAP > US/PAL master system adapter, it would probably be a bit unstable), and the retrode should be able to read it.

Some useful links:
Various Sega pinouts
where to connect the signals to on the megadrive cart

If you build one, let us know

Thank you very much for showing some useful informations!

I made this table via above links.Is it correct?
(European - Japanese Master System connector & MasterSystem - GameGear converter <I can't understand how to read this.)


   
      
         
   
      
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         

MD Edge	MD Signal	SMS Edge	SMS Signal	JSMS Edge	JSMS signal
A1	gnd	21	GND	B21,B22	GND
A2	+5v	1	+5V	B1	+5V
A3	a7	32	A7	A8	A7
A4	a10	12	A10	A11	A10
A5	a6	31	A6	A7	A6
A6	a11	10	A11	A12	A11
A7	a5	30	A5	A6	A5
A8	a12	33	A12	A13	A12
A9	a4	29	A4	A5	A4
A10	a13	7	A13	A14	A13
A11	a3	28	A3	A4	A3
A12	a14	6	A14	B18	A14
A13	a2	27	A2	A3	A2
A14	a15	11,36	M0-7,A15	B19	A15,A15
A15	a1	26	A1	A2	A1
A16	a16	49	MC-F		NC?
A17	a0	25	A0	A1	A0
A18	gnd	20	GND	B21,B22	GND
A19	d7	14	D7	A22	D7
A20	d0	24	D0	A15	D0
A21	d8	-
A22	d6	15	D6	A21	D6
A23	d1	23	D1	A16	D1
A24	d9	-
A25	d5	16	D5	A20	D5
A26	d2	22	D2	A17	D2
A27	d10	-
A28	d4	17	D4	A19	D4
A29	d3	18	D3	A18	D3
A30	d11	-
A31	+5v	35,46	+5V,Reset	B1,B2	+5V,CSCN4
A32	gnd	19	GND	B21,B22	GND
B1	N/A	-
B2	N/A	-
B3	N/A	-
B4	a8	8	A8	A9	A8
B5	a9	9	A9	A10	A9
B6	a17	5	M8-D		NC?
B7	a18	-
B8	a19	-
B9	a20	-
B10	a21	2	Wr	B6	Wr
B11	a22	4	Rd	B5	Rd
B12	N/A	-
B13	N/A	-
B14	N/A	-
B15	N/A	-
B16	/C_OE	-
B17	/C_CE	13	CE	B10	Mreq
B18	N/A	-
B19	N/A	-
B20	N/A	-
B21	N/A	-
B22	d15	-
B23	d14	-
B24	d13	-
B25	d12	-
B26	N/A	-
B27	N/A	-
B28	/LDSW	-
B29	/UDSW	-
B30	N/A	-
B31	N/A	-
B32	/CART_IN	-

[KenM-64]

Would this Snes to Nes adapter work on the Retrode
I would get a Retrode if it will work for me thanks for any advice.

[Retrode64]

Would this Snes to Nes adapter work on the Retrode
I would get a Retrode if it will work for me thanks for any advice.

Will Absolutely Not Work.

[KenM-64]

Would this Snes to Nes adapter work on the Retrode
I would get a Retrode if it will work for me thanks for any advice.

Will Absolutely Not Work.

You are right, wont work.
I done some more research on that adapter and it only emulates the Snes controllers
and has av jack on the side of the adapter.

[Ness and Sonic]

Something I wouldn't mind knowing. Since Stone Age Gamer is sold out of the Master System adapter, I'm wondering if this might be an acceptable alternative: http://www.stoneagegamer.com/powerbase-mini.html

[Matthias_H]

Something I wouldn't mind knowing. Since Stone Age Gamer is sold out of the Master System adapter, I'm wondering if this might be an acceptable alternative: http://www.stoneagegamer.com/powerbase-mini.html

No. Won't work.

[Cosmos]

Well it seems that I've missed the boat on all the expanded feature goodness. I purchased a unit around this time last year, now its a year later, I've had virtually no time to explore the retrode any further. At the time I was simply content to get Donkey Kong Country up and running again after they had been mysteriously pulled from Nintendo's virtual console. Now that I've played that game forwards and backwards, I wanted to see about exploring more of the obscure titles that you can't find from an official retailer.

http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/1073/1399077-1b.jpg

N64 and Gameboy functionality was a feature that greatly attracted me to this product, but as far as the website's status at the time, I found myself a little confused about what I would be buying to accomplish those capabilities. Suffice to say that something that can perform as combined solution "GBx/N64" seemed like a dream come true, however the unfortunate truth is that I'm really a novice to DIY schematics projects, especially those that merge different (complex) systems together.

I'm aware that these plugin adapters have been developed as standalone units,
(https://www.retrode.com/plug-in-adapters/)
the idea is solid, utilize the SMS port due to the similarities between the cartridge and the N64, Gameboy, (and even Virtual Boy) carts. You fine fellows over at retrode HQ made it work, I won't question the logic. My only thing  concern is, if I had to do it all myself, where would I start?

I've got an old Gameboy advance that I no longer use and even some of those Transfer Paks designed for Pokemon and Perfect Dark.  I can always purchase some units As Is online so performing some experimental reverse engineering wouldn't be a problem. Essentially,  I guess what I'm asking is how I would go about deciphering the logic behind the concept of a plug in adapter.

I'm not even sure how to even search for a topic like this, so I understand if I'm off base by making a post here. I  appreciate any redirection so I can get to studying the matter.

[flaco_dan]

I have the same question. I have also been unable to find retrode N64 or gbx plugins to purchase... I love a challenge and generally tend to believe I can do anything (with wildly varying results) but don't have much experience with electronics past resoldering broken/loose connections. Like Cosmos I have parts of old consoles I thankfully never got rid of (someday I was going to fix them...).
I see the n64/gbx combo information on the community plug-ins page (http://www.retrode.org/plug-in-adapters/) but then there's a warning about needing a voltage converter... aside from a sports game I don't have any n64 games I want to fry 
Obviously the official plug-in didn't have that problem, did it? Are the schematics for those official plug-ins available as well?
Is there a source for these pcbs somewhere that I can add components to?

Thanks for any advice or information you could provide!

[Wannado]

I see the n64/gbx combo information on the community plug-ins page (http://www.retrode.org/plug-in-adapters/) but then there's a warning about needing a voltage converter...

For 3.3V operation, the Retrode 1 needed an external voltage converter, which was plugged onto the USB cable.

The Retrode 2 has the voltage converter built in. The voltage selection switch is reachable through the SNES slot.

Obviously the official plug-in didn't have that problem, did it?

Both the initial N64/GBx combo plugin as well as the newer, separate N64 and GBx plugins have that problem - or more precisely: The N64 and GB Advance cartridges have that problem that they need 3.3V, and the plugins themselves do nothing about it. See above.

The external voltage converter was sold along with the initial N64/GBx plugin. The newer plugins came without it (at least mine did), because at that time, the Retrode 2 was already available.

[flaco_dan]

Awesome, thanks Wannado!
Does the voltage switch change the voltage for both slots or just the genesis slot?
Why did they separate the gbx/n64 adapter later? To add the controller ports?
Maybe I should wait to ask more questions until I receive my Retrode from Dragonbox... 
Sigh... still looking for that gbx adapter meanwhile!

Thanks!
Dan.

[RetrodeLuver]

Sigh... still looking for that gbx adapter meanwhile!

Who isn't? 

[Wannado]

Does the voltage switch change the voltage for both slots or just the genesis slot?

AFAIK, the voltage converter works directly on the USB power supply lines, so the switch selects the voltage for the whole Retrode - the processor, both slots, all controller ports. (Otherwise you'd have to run some 40 signal lines through the converter individually...)

Why did they separate the gbx/n64 adapter later? To add the controller ports?

I can only guess, but the combo plugin had the N64 slot on its front face, while the new plugin has the slot on the top edge, which not only makes room for the controller ports, but also enables the Retrode to keep its balance while one of those heavy N64 cartridges is inserted. Also, the new plugins have shells. More slots mean more cut-outs, more difficult assembly, more defective units, increased cost.

[Khaz]

Sigh... still looking for that gbx adapter meanwhile!

Who isn't? 

I sure am.

Has anything been made available regarding trying to build a gbx adapter on your own?  I understand if they're sold out and you're not making more, but if I can just get the full board diagram and such for it I will do whatever it takes to build my own.  I HAVE the parts I'd need...

[Matthias_H]

Sigh. It's on my agenda, but I have so little time for Retrode these days that every little thing takes forever.

Matthias