Ben style making-of the Blackbox

Post by **Sparkfist** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:02 pm

What kind of controller ports are those you have designed into the PCB? I'd guess they'd by NES/SNES as they have 6 leads, but I'm not sure.

vb_master · Post by **vb_master** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:17 pm

Sparkfist wrote:What kind of controller ports are those you have designed into the PCB? I'd guess they'd by NES/SNES as they have 6 leads, but I'm not sure.

One is for flashing, the other is for something else, I don't know what the other one does.

Post by **Skyone** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 10:55 pm

They're both DB9 slots, one for a controller port, one for flashing the Propeller.

Post by **SpongeBuell** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:34 am

you may want to consider having different ports, so they cannot be mixed up accidentally. Then again, make it idiot-proof and someone will make a better idiot

Post by **Sparkfist** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 5:47 am

SpongeBuell wrote:you may want to consider having different ports, so they cannot be mixed up accidentally. Then again, make it idiot-proof and someone will make a better idiot

That last line I hear from a friend that constructs robots (just the bodys) and press machinery.

As for the PCB, wouldn't it be best to have the programming port be a serial/USB? Reason I say this is that the programmer for the Propeller uses either of those and either for now it might be best to keep with that as it would keep things simple... Well with the USB you'd need another chip so, guess a serial port would be best.

And I know that the differences between a serial and a DB-9 are really consmedic. However I don't think you (VB_Master) or iam7805 have an adapter that will go from female serial to female DB-9 on the programming cable. On thinking about it, is there enough room to squeeze a serial port in there without having to chaget he design?

That's it for now.

P.S. iam7805, just curious as to the state of the controllers. PM me.

Extreme_Jesus · Post by **Extreme_Jesus** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 6:59 am

Well done, im impressed

Im glad that you've got it working so far, it was an awsome idea to beginin with, but you've gone futher than most people who set out to build a console

What kind of modifications (if any) would need to be done to the schematics to change the AV output from NTSC to PAL?

XPCportables · Post by **XPCportables** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 7:10 am

just a flip of the switch on the back.

blackbox_dev · Post by **blackbox_dev** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:44 am

Well, there is no switch yet, but the change just has to be done in code.

vb_master · Post by **vb_master** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 10:41 am

iam7805 wrote:Well, there is no switch yet, but the change just has to be done in code.

So is the board ok with all the vias? I can possibly etch one today?

Oh, and since it's double sided, you can't use sockets (this is at least on my homemade board, you should be able to use sockets on a SparkFun board).

blackbox_dev · Post by **blackbox_dev** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 11:40 am

Yup, looks great!

vb_master · Post by **vb_master** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:36 pm

iam7805 wrote:Yup, looks great!

I noticed a problem with the board, you can download the updated one at the BlackBox forums.

shmagoogin77 · Post by **shmagoogin77** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:48 pm

first i just wanna say this thing is freakin sweet

not to put a damper on anything
but on side note:
couldnt parallax sue u for selling a console that uses their propeller chip??

NES_fanatic · Post by **NES_fanatic** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:49 pm

That's really cool. Does it play my boot music?

vb_master · Post by **vb_master** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:50 pm

shmagoogin77 wrote:first i just wanna say this thing is freakin sweet
not to put a damper on anything
but on side note:
couldnt parallax sue u for selling a console that uses their propeller chip??

No...

scherzo · Post by **scherzo** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 1:50 pm

No, that would be like getting sued by Domino sugar because you used their sugar in the cakes you sell.