I decided to make a separate thread for the USB link cable.

I just successfully played TicTacToe with my VB using my computer. Sending commands through RealTerm (terminal program) out a USB port to my MCU and then into the VB gamelink port.

Right now it only works if the MCU is master and the VB is slave, or MCU is player 1 and VB is player 2.

I also tested using the linktest.VB ROM that DogP created and can get successful transmissions with MCU as master and VB as slave. See attached image.

Lots of more work to be done but it’s a good start. I’m working this project and another one in between wired link cable builds. Can’t promise when any of this will be done but I’m working on it.

Attachments:

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   img_20170808_230831.jpg
   

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   img_20170808_230843.jpg
   

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   img_20170808_224949-scaled.jpg
   

Looks good and complicated! Just let me know how much they are and how to get one 😉
This cable is even more interesting than the link cable!

TheForce81 wrote:
Looks good and complicated! Just let me know how much they are and how to get one 😉
This cable is even more interesting than the link cable!

It’s a bit early for preorders but I’ll start taking emails. This will help guage how many I should order initially. I’ll be ordering boards this week. Still some.more work to be done once I receive the first prototypes.

So if anyone is interested please PM me with your email address. I’ll start a list for the first batch.

OK, boards out for fabrication.

HYPE! 😀

I am stoked for this! I would love one of these. Must have all the VB things! lol

After this is done, there are only 2 steps left.

1. The software to play other VB users,

2. The compatible games…Bring on the games!

How easy would it be to dump carts with this?

MasterOfPuppets wrote:
How easy would it be to dump carts with this?

This USB to link port cable will double as a link to the PC for programming a cart (possible multicart) that I’m working on. It’s in the works but farther down the line. Probably end of year. Possibly farther. Need to get this working first.

DogP has said that both dumping and programming is possible:

http://www.planetvb.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=26052#forumpost26052

Yes that’s correct. You have to have a custom cart with the appropriate code. You can’t just plug in any old cart and expect to dump or program. That’s why I mentioned it would work with a custom cart I have.

HorvatM wrote:
DogP has said that both dumping and programming is possible:

http://www.planetvb.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=26052#forumpost26052

Looks really great… I hope you’re able to get these things into people’s hands. As it sounds like you’ve found out in the other thread, creating a “run” of them to sell gets very tedious and time consuming vs. just putting a few together for yourself.

I see you’re using an Atmel… not that there’s anything wrong with them, but if you’re not tied to that MCU, a PIC MCU may simplify the hardware a bit. For example, here’s the USB MCU board I made: http://www.planetvb.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=34533#forumpost34533 , using a PIC16F1455. It runs directly from 5V, has hardware USB, has an internal oscillator that’s good enough for USB, etc. Basically your BOM consists of the MCU and a few caps/resistors. It all easily fit on a single side of the board.

DogP

Thanks for the tips! I’ve used Atmel, Microchip, Stmicro, nxp, and some others. I’ll check out Microchip for review.

Yes the builds are work but don’t get me wrong, I enjoy them. I do this stuff for fun. It’s more interesting with a 1 year old. I build late at night after kids and wife go to sleep.

DogP wrote:
Looks really great… I hope you’re able to get these things into people’s hands. As it sounds like you’ve found out in the other thread, creating a “run” of them to sell gets very tedious and time consuming vs. just putting a few together for yourself.

I see you’re using an Atmel… not that there’s anything wrong with them, but if you’re not tied to that MCU, a PIC MCU may simplify the hardware a bit. For example, here’s the USB MCU board I made: http://www.planetvb.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=34533#forumpost34533 , using a PIC16F1455. It runs directly from 5V, has hardware USB, has an internal oscillator that’s good enough for USB, etc. Basically your BOM consists of the MCU and a few caps/resistors. It all easily fit on a single side of the board.

DogP

USB link cable PCBs have come in and they fit perfectly into the existing connector housings. I’ll be building the first few this week.

Attachments:

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   usblinkcable-pcbs-scaled.jpg
   

very awesome, great work man

OK, finally got back to this. Got the board up and running and I’m switching back and forth between player 1 (master) and player 2 (slave) modes via a terminal program on the PC. Streaming data to/from a VB running DogP link cable test code on a Flashboy+, and my PC. Still some kinks to work out but getting closer to putting two VBs on the network to see what the games do.

There’s two LEDs on the board. One of them glows red or blue depending on whether you’re player 1 or player 2. The other LED pulses amber if a byte is coming from the VB to the board, or it pulses green if a byte is being sent from the board to the VB. Those will stick through the connector housing to give you an idea of what’s going on with the USB link cable.

I’ll need to spin the board to make some assembly updates and fix a connector flip (doh!).

Attachments:

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Looking good!! Very excited to get one of these when they are all finished.

mellott124:
since this cable has to hook up to a computer could we have 6 ft of cable?

Morintari wrote:
mellott124:
since this cable has to hook up to a computer could we have 6 ft of cable?

It’s a 6′ cable now. Extensions should work too.

Thanks mellott124 🙂

So, how might one procure one of these awesome looking little units? And how much would they set a person back?