Just a heads up for anyone looking for an easy way to play virtual boys on regular monitors!

Their site about the Virtual Tap mod (VGA and RGB)
http://furrtek.free.fr/virtualtap/

Currently asking Furrtek to get myself an order in, if this works it’ll be awesome!

furrtek wrote:
Only the VB really worked for me.

I wonder if that’s because the VB lets you adjust the IPD, and that you actually have to have the IPD set “wrong” to see it right. I also wonder if the VB could be used to “correct” your eyes to make other 3D displays work better by adjusting the IPD gradually over a period of time.

Technically speaking, it could be done on my board with just an additionnal wire and maybe a larger CPLD. Might try proposing it for people who are sure that the effect works for them.

If it ends up being cheaper than two of the standard boards, I would seriously consider getting one or two.

I’m getting one of these soon! Is there anyone in the US that I could pay to install it into my Virtual Boy while retaining full VB functionality? (Got a runnerpak ribbon cable fixed unit)

I got a nice package from france a while ago.
The VGA Version works great so far.
I tried it on a shitty Projector on the house wall.
Picture was aprox 3 meters. Very cool 😀

Anyway, I noticed, that for some reason there are a few pixels cut from the bottom. Is this supposed to be?

Otherwise awesome work!
With two projectors I could propably even project a 3D anaglyph picture.

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So my nice new NTSC RGB VirtualTap has arrived! However it seems as I should have done my research- the only output wiring diagram I can find is for a SCART connector, which I don’t use being in Canada/North America.

Google hasn’t been helpful in looking for other options, so can any video-format savvy folks help me out? Thanks.

TerryJ wrote:
So my nice new NTSC RGB VirtualTap has arrived! However it seems as I should have done my research- the only output wiring diagram I can find is for a SCART connector, which I don’t use being in Canada/North America.

Google hasn’t been helpful in looking for other options, so can any video-format savvy folks help me out? Thanks.

Are you saying you have an NTSC display with RGB inputs, but it doesn’t have SCART, and you don’t know the pinout? A make/model, or even a photo of the back, would help…

Or are you just trying to come up with some way to display the signal the converter is generating? You can get 15KHz RGB (aka arcade CGA) to YPbPr/VGA/HDMI converters at the usual online retailers.

@furrtek
do you consider also a scart PAL version?

I ask because in this very case PAL 50Hz would make sense.
The VB also works with 50 Hz so we could display it native.

The funny thing is, in 2005 or so, I always wondered why the official Nintendo Video Boy and I also think the other DevBoxes with TV Out had only PAL. This was also mentioned in the IS documents for this stuff.
Back then I was just not realizing the thing but yeah Nintendo just did it in PAL and just ditched any Pre or Post Processing with that move. So a Dev (back then) in the US would need a Multi Norm TV to display it correctly.

I haven’t gotten around to wiring mine up just yet.

I’m thinking I’d like to use a header instead of soldering individual wires. What pitch/size header would I need, and what awg wire should I be using?

Since these are no longer being offered by the creator has anyone else started manufacturing these kits? I would still love to pick one up!

I think Mobius Strip Tech (the person who made the FURGB boards for Voultar) has kicked around the idea of taking up this project and making boards. Perhaps if enough people show interest to him, he may make them on request. I don’t have any personal knowledge, that’s just what I remember him saying.

He’s got a website and an active Twitter account. I’m new here and don’t know the rules on linking. I don’t want to link and possibly get in trouble, but you should be able to find him via a search for his name.

Thanks brumbie. I have already been in contact with mobius (figured I would see if anyone else was already making them. Last I checked mobius was having issues sourcing ribbons for the project. I will check in with him again in a month or so!

Can the Virtual Tap be wired using a header? If so, what size/pitch header would I need?

Or should I just solder directly to the board?

And what kind of cable/wire should I be using?

nmalinoski wrote:
Can the Virtual Tap be wired using a header? If so, what size/pitch header would I need?

Or should I just solder directly to the board?

And what kind of cable/wire should I be using?

Not as-is – there are no vias large enough to handle header pins on the Furrtek board. The board has solderable pads, but they are large enough to handle easily.

I use Kynar wire for my installations.

I have designed a small PCB to use a miniDIN8 connector that will accept the needed signals for RGB output from the VirtualTap board. I’ve already used it on my own VB with complete success, and an waiting for a small order of them to be delivered soon for a fellow member who asked me to recap, fix, and modify good VB.

Can you explain this PCB further as to what it does. You say receive the rgb signal and attach to mini din 8 connector. I have a few rgb virtual taps and was having someone install a mini din 8 connector but what does the PCB do?

ubersailer wrote:
Can you explain this PCB further as to what it does. You say receive the rgb signal and attach to mini din 8 connector. I have a few rgb virtual taps and was having someone install a mini din 8 connector but what does the PCB do?

The PCB acts as a convenient breakout board for the important signals (Red, Green, Blue, Sync, Blanking, GND) so that an installer need not solder directly to the miniDIN8 pins themselves, but rather to conveniently-sized and -placed vias. It’s nothing earth-shattering, but it is very convenient.

@ RetroDan: Is it very complicated to install these parts? Is it possible to buy these parts from you and you send them together with an installation guide/ manual?

BigDen wrote:
@ RetroDan: Is it very complicated to install these parts? Is it possible to buy these parts from you and you send them together with an installation guide/ manual?

*thoughtfully* In terms of difficulty, I would say that, without my parts, the VirtualTap install is probably a 5/10, with 1 being very simple and 10 being for highly advanced solder monkeys only. With my parts, I would say that drops to perhaps a 2.5/10.

I wouldn’t mind selling my boards and the parts, though I’m not sure enough people would want it to make it worth my while to have them made. Wouldn’t mind being proven wrong, though.

Depending on the price, I would be very very interested 😃 So that means with your parts someone gets a full set to play th VB on a screen? Or are the Furrtek-parts also necessary?

BigDen wrote:
Depending on the price, I would be very very interested 😃 So that means with your parts someone gets a full set to play th VB on a screen? Or are the Furrtek-parts also necessary?

Furrtek’s parts are absolutely required. Mine just make the VirtualTap installation a little bit easier.

In addition, you would need to make, buy, or modify an RGB cable to make use of the VirtualTap as per normal, though I may yet design a proper SCART connector board a la Tim Worthington.

depending on price i would be interested as well