First a hi and then some advice and info

Porta Potty · Post by **Porta Potty** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:35 am

Good Morning all (well it is 7:30am in the uk)

I have been a fan of retro consoles for years and currently have most of the sega and Nintendo stuff (Nomad MultiMega Snes 32X etc).

Having just bought Ben's book and browsing this excellent forum I am inspired to build a sort of portable Snes.

I have a sunvisor monitor which is a 7" widescreen which I used to use in my car I know it's massive but I have decided to make my first system mains powered.

This leads me to a few questions

1. You say the Mini Snes is best but in the UK they are rarer than rocking horse s*it and will it play Pal games ?????????

2. If I tear apart the screen I have and post pics could you tell me whether it wil be usable ?.

3. The Screen needs 12 volts will it be ok to input 12v into the Snes (Will the regulator cope ok ?). This would be the easiest way for me as it matches the screens native voltage.

I have not tried anything like this before but have soldered plenty in the past and I want a new challenge

Many thanks in advance

Porta Potty

grossaffe · Post by **grossaffe** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:47 am

For the most part, people use 3rd party SNESes for portables nowadays. I think the RetroDuo is one of the more popular ones.

Anyways, are you sure that you want to use a widescreen for your portable system that outputs to 4:3? There's a good chance the image will be stretched to fit, which may make your viewing experience less pleasant than a correct resolution screen. If you're happy with that, then that's fine. What kind of video input does this screen take? If it has composite input it should work just fine. RGB should also probably work, but i'd check with someone else on that first since I'm in NTSC territory.

DK · Post by DK » Wed Aug 13, 2008 3:11 am

The Snes Mini is NSTC only I'm afraid. Don't know fo any mods or hacks that can change that. You'd b better off using a Retro Duo if you want a small portable but with a couple of compatibility problems or use a normal Snes if you want total compatibility.

If you need some help with portablising the Snes, I think Bacteria is doing one for his Multi System portable and he's glad to help anyone.

Porta Potty · Post by **Porta Potty** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 4:06 am

grossaffe wrote:For the most part, people use 3rd party SNESes for portables nowadays. I think the RetroDuo is one of the more popular ones.

Anyways, are you sure that you want to use a widescreen for your portable system that outputs to 4:3? There's a good chance the image will be stretched to fit, which may make your viewing experience less pleasant than a correct resolution screen. If you're happy with that, then that's fine. What kind of video input does this screen take? If it has composite input it should work just fine. RGB should also probably work, but i'd check with someone else on that first since I'm in NTSC territory.

Thanks for the reply

I have tried the screen on my Radica and I am happy with the results so I hope to use it in the build.

The monitior accepts a composite signal and the case has holes drilled in it for speakers but none were fitted so I am not sure how to get the signal amplified and controlled. The screen comes with pushbuttons and has a menu screen where you can alter the volume so I guess I can use the snes outputs and somehow connect it to the screen board and use the software to control it ?????.

I will post up some pics of the screen when I get home but it looks simple enough.

I plan to use a standard UK PAL SNES and incorporate the standard controller into the case.

I know the machine will be quite large but I would like to attempt something simple first to get the basics before making a full blown portable.

I was thinking along the lines on a lunchbox or something for the case.

Anyways thanks for the advice given so far peeps

Porta Potty · Post by **Porta Potty** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:25 pm

I have uploaded a few pics

Here http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?p=302263#302263

But it's in the wrong section

Very sorry Admin Peeps

eurddrue · Post by **eurddrue** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 1:37 pm

right now stand up and say I promise to finish this portable. It really pisses me off when newbies come make 10 posts then never check again.

Porta Potty · Post by **Porta Potty** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 2:02 pm

eurddrue wrote:right now stand up and say I promise to finish this portable. It really pisses me off when newbies come make 10 posts then never check again.

I promise to finish this (Not so) Portable portable.

Once I commit to something I will finish it come hell or high water.

I have the Snes Stripped down and I am working on making it turn on using the remote.

I am measuring up for a couple of project boxes now to put it in and maybe later after I have learnt a lot more make my own case and then build a better portable.

Having read Ben's book I assume there are no real differences between te mini Snes and a UK PAL full size one?

I need to short out the power switch and the reset button

eurddrue · Post by **eurddrue** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 2:22 pm

speaking of which, I promise to finish my n64 portable through hell or high water, or having your mom put your portable money in a bank account.

mothatrucka · Post by **mothatrucka** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 2:27 pm

eurddrue wrote:speaking of which, I promise to finish my n64 portable through hell or high water, or having your mom put your portable money in a bank account.

Until you actually finish a portable, you are one of the n00bs of which you gripe. Come to think of it, I am as well, but at least I've got the electrical done on mine. lawl.

Porta Potty · Post by **Porta Potty** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 2:29 pm

eurddrue wrote:speaking of which, I promise to finish my n64 portable through hell or high water, or having your mom put your portable money in a bank account.

That sucks

But I look after my own pennies

(well the OH does

)

eurddrue · Post by **eurddrue** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 2:33 pm

yes mothatrucka my older cousin reminds me every time that I get on....
but I am currently earning funds by fencing, I'm pretty sure that I'm working minimum wage, $100 a mile. Yes I'm still a n00b, but I'm making progress.

DK · Post by DK » Wed Aug 13, 2008 3:07 pm

mothatrucka wrote: Until you actually finish a portable, you are one of the n00bs of which you gripe. Come to think of it, I am as well, but at least I've got the electrical done on mine. lawl.

Since when was that the rule Motha? I've still not made a portable after being here for 2 years and I'm sure as hell not a noob. Geez, I'm sure one or two of the Mods haven't made a portable yet.

The status of Noob is given to somone of little knowledge of the forums subject and I'm sure the portableless Mods know a tad more than you do

mothatrucka · Post by **mothatrucka** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 3:44 pm

DK wrote:
mothatrucka wrote: Until you actually finish a portable, you are one of the n00bs of which you gripe. Come to think of it, I am as well, but at least I've got the electrical done on mine. lawl.
Since when was that the rule Motha? I've still not made a portable after being here for 2 years and I'm sure as hell not a noob. Geez, I'm sure one or two of the Mods haven't made a portable yet.

The status of Noob is given to somone of little knowledge of the forums subject and I'm sure the portableless Mods know a tad more than you do

First and foremost, I took my definition of n00b from Eurddure. You don't like it, take it up with him. As for any mods not having any portables, how does that matter? At least they aren't constantly spouting bogus info or claims.

As for the "portableless Mods" (truly, are there any?) knowing a "tad more" than me, you're really talking out your arse here, and frankly, I won't stand for it. Bogus claims always piss me off. Aside from the obvious you don't know me, you've never met me, how do you have any right whatsoever to make assumptions like that about me?

I'll take pity on your absolutely BS claim and explain a few things, though. First and foremost, I've been fecking around with electronics since I was five or six. Over 20 years, now. I've had a soldering iron in hand that long. I grew up working in a hardware store, where in order to keep my job and get raises, I had to extensively study electrical and electronics principles.

I am currently employed by a theatre as head tech. I make the magic, as it were. I got that job by being able to easily and correctly do the electronics work required for the special effects in the productions we do. Every damned day I work, I'm making something from bits and pieces. I supplement my income by building and repairing computers. I also repair game consoles. Yes, I dropped out of HS and didn't bother with a GED or any further education. That doesn't make me the ignorant copulate you think I am, though. Instructors will all tell you that the best way to learn is by doing, and man, have I done.

I suggest you take your fecking assumptions and keep them to yourself in the future. You aren't the all-knowing little crap you seem to think you are.

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 4:05 pm

DK wrote:If you need some help with portablising the Snes, I think Bacteria is doing one for his Multi System portable and he's glad to help anyone.

Yes, indeed; and the system I did/doing is a full-sized PAL SNES board. See my website.

Yes, you can take in 12v to the 7805 on the SNES; or as I did, 7.4v

ShockSlayer · Post by **ShockSlayer** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 4:10 pm

bacteria wrote:
DK wrote:If you need some help with portablising the Snes, I think Bacteria is doing one for his Multi System portable and he's glad to help anyone.
Yes, indeed; and the system I did/doing is a full-sized PAL SNES board. See my website.

Yes, you can take in 12v to the 7805 on the SNES; or as I did, 7.4v

Partially asking this myself, can't you directly input 5v where the 7805 is and bypass the regulator completly? How much did the snes draw again?

(I think our pal triton ran it off double a's once, atleast, whoever did it had the same sense of humor I think!) (HAH HERES PROOF IT CAN BE DONE YAY ZZZZZZ)

SS