Hyperkin NOAC ==> Portabilizing Failed.

Tibia · Post by **Tibia** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 3:18 pm

I picked up something on Amazon recently, called the Hyperkin FC Superloader. It was under $20 shipped, and it just arrived today. It's some kind of NOAC thing. I ended up going with this for several reasons: it was cheap, and I already have an SNES.(I'm just waiting for my aunt to mail it back.) Anyway, I got it, and since I don't have any games for an NES, I opened it up to take a look at it. Please excuse the poor pic quality. My better camera is on loan.

Here's the box and a controller. That box is about 5 1/2" square by about 1 5/8" thick. Not very big.

There's not a whole lot inside, either. One board for power switches and controller ports, one board for cart slot (where the little black blob is), and one board for power in/av out. The controllers are NES type connections, but the reviews say the original controllers don't work. The light gun is supposed to, though. I haven't heard of any games that don't work.

Huh. I guess my next step is to go pick up some games and give it a go. I don't know if I'll portabilize it or not. I want to do a portable, but I've been thinking about a plug-and-play instead. In any case, I can't afford a screen at the moment.

Sharp Sapphire · Post by **Sharp Sapphire** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 3:36 pm

To my knowledge, thats a rebranded Yobo FC Game Console.

Website · Post by **Life of Brian** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 3:37 pm

Looks like you could put the cartridge slot just about anywhere you'd like if you made it into a portable.

Tibia · Post by **Tibia** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:18 pm

Sharp Sapphire wrote:To my knowledge, thats a rebranded Yobo FC Game Console.

Thanks. That kind of pleases me, actually. I've got some Yobo accessories for my N64, and I'm happy with them, so maybe this will hold up as well.

Life of Brian wrote:Looks like you could put the cartridge slot just about anywhere you'd like if you made it into a portable.

Yeah, I figured that. With all the ribbon cable, I could just do cold connections to splice in more, too. I'd like to do a portable, but the only thing really holding me back is a screen. I'll have to keep an eye out for something cheap. My finances aren't in the best of states.

In other news, I swiped some games from a friend, and it's not a bad little system. It played the three games I have (Yoshi, Robin Hood, Rescue Rangers), but I had to jiggle the wires to get a decent connection without sound problems. It has some controller issues, such as the turbo button messing with the start button, but for the price, I'm happy with it. I can always just take the turbo button out and tape over the hole.

Tibia · Post by **Tibia** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 7:31 pm

Well this post officially starts the progress of my first portable. After much deliberation, I've decided to use my Hyperkin and a Zenith X-Box screen. I've gutted the screen and confirmed that I can grind down one side of it to get it to fit in my case. I also realized I truly have no idea what I'm really about to do.

However, that's never stopped me before, and I'm sure if I do enough reading, I'll find the info I need.

This is the first mock-up of the system. The case is from a dead CD drive. That's my Hyperkin, just crammed in there. I'm going to solder in some cart slot supports, then spray the whole inside with a coat of automotive underseal to prevent any shorts. After that, we shall see.

lovablechevy · Post by **lovablechevy** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 9:15 pm

awesome! i can't wait to see your progress!

WhatULive4 · Post by **WhatULive4** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 9:40 pm

Man, those things look sooo easy to portabilize.

*considers future project

17daysolderthannes · Post by **17daysolderthannes** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:46 pm

Yobo doesn't really design or manufacture anything, they just contract Japanese companies to make US compatible products. In other words, every Yobo product is probably designed by someone completely different, so you can't really say one product will be good based on previous product performance. Also, Hyperkin is actually another Yobo-like company that rebrands Japanese consoles. The console that resembles that Hyperkin and the more similar Yobo FC is actually a Gametech Neo Fami with a US 72pin. That said, I have a Yobo FC and I like it a lot, though I haven't used it since I got my FC Twin.

Tibia · Post by **Tibia** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:50 pm

My 25w iron doesn't get hot enough to have soldered the supports in, so they're bolted in. No biggie. I've done some reading, and I do have a question: Is it really that damned easy? Solder three wires for composite vid, left and right audio, then two more for power?

Admitedly, I haven't done the LED mod because I'm not sure I need it. (and I can always do it later.) Seriously, though, it was so much harder wiring the boat trailer. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like the case is going to be the hardest and most time-consuming thing about this.

WhatULive4 · Post by **WhatULive4** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:12 pm

Tibia wrote:Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like the case is going to be the hardest and most time-consuming thing about this.

If you are planning to do a good job, the case will be the hardest and most time-consuming job.

lovablechevy · Post by **lovablechevy** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:34 pm

most definitely... sometimes i wish i could convince myself to not care about what the case looks like... ugh... i could have been done a long time ago.

Tibia · Post by **Tibia** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 11:19 am

Well, I've decided to make it more complicated. The components in the Hyperkin are held together by that ribbon cable that looks like garbage bag ties. I was planning on replacing it with regular computer ribbon cable. This morning, though, I broke some already. It's now got me thinking how necessary this whole piece is. Here's a scan of the back, labeled according to my tracing.

<a href="http://s291.photobucket.com/albums/ll28 ... =power.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll28 ... /power.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

The 9V in seems to go into a 7805 regulator. Does this mean that I can use 7V batteries to the screen, then tap into the output on a 7805 on the screen straight to the red cable?

I'm also wondering about the audio and video outputs themselves. There are some resistors and capacitators on those traces. How necessary are they? Can I go straight off the main mobo to the screen? Or can I put resistors, etc in a line?

To sum up all my questions quickly, I'm wondering if I can do away with this whole piece. Any input is greatly appreciated.

Website · Post by **Life of Brian** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:36 pm

Aside from using the 7805 to get 5v for your system, then I think it's worth a try going without the board. It doesn't look like anything too important is on there. If you're hesitant, perhaps you could photograph the other side of the board for us?

Tibia wrote:Is it really that damned easy? Solder three wires for composite vid, left and right audio, then two more for power?

Yup. Takes some of the mystery out of electronics, doesn't it?

Tibia · Post by **Tibia** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 11:10 pm

There's a few small resistors and capacitators on the AV out lines. I can't make out the ratings without a magnifying glass. How likely is the audio or video signal coming straight off the NOAC to be more input than the screen can handle?

I must say, now that I know it's really not that complicated, I'm wracking my brain to make this unique. Of course, that means more difficult, but what do we learn if we aren't challenged?

khaag · Post by **khaag** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 11:48 pm

Well the caps and resistors are probably used for filtering the video and audio lines to get a cleaner picture and better sound. If you're gonna get rid of the board, I'd keep those in there.