As mentioned in the video, the jumper near the HDMI port should be bridged. I believe this will be done by default on all kits before sending them out from this point on (17th Dec 2022) but it's worth double checking yours. Also it is worth testing the HDMI with different devices before bridging switch SW2. For example, plugging this into my HDMI AV receiver created issues, but removing the receiver from the chain and plugging directly into the TV worked fine. I'd only recommend bridging SW2 if all else fails as this will introduce flickering in SMS borders (or at least it did with my VA0 GameGear, not sure about VA1) Please also check BennVenn's website for more updates (links are in the video description)

I don’t own a GameGear, but if I did I would seriously consider this modification. Thanks for showcasing it.

Really enjoyed this. Nice mod. I am editing (still editing 🙄) part 2 of my GG recap. Your additional mod suggestions are excellent. Does the third-party sound board do anything special or is it just a drop-in replacement? Never mind, I'll wait for the video. LOL. That end clip sounds just like me when recording any face-on-camera clips. Ignore that... I retract that - I never swear. 😐

I found that on all my TVs if I input a DVI signal then it will take the audio from one of the analog audio inputs, my Philips uses the VGA audio jack and my LG TV uses the AV jacks.

How's the scaler for lag? I keep seeing them at really good prices locally and consider for my setup. I have one of their HDMI switchers and it's fantastic.

@TheRetroChannel

Жыл бұрын

I haven't properly tested it for lag but it feels very low, maybe under a frame if anything. But that's only with the HDMI in and embedding audio, haven't checked the analog inputs yet.

Did I see a snes folder on your ever drive for the gamegear? What have you managed to run on it, I saw a lot of folders for different things

@TheRetroChannel

Жыл бұрын

Nothing. I use the same sd card for many different systems. I really need to get some more sd cards 😅

It should've just had av out to begin with like the damn nomad.....

Cool product, but the execution is kinda sloppy. The price is really good though, credit where credit's due. That FPGA board alone would cost me around €20 on AliExpress, sans shipping. So $30 for the FPGA board + interface board is pretty sharp. Especially considering the fact they also had to invest in development of the firmware, and this thing serves a small niche market, meaning it won't generate a huge revenue. However: Out of focus, badly lit, low-res pictures in the installation manual, typo's on the website. This doesn't inspire confidence. One can't help but wonder how that's reflected in both the product design (see below for a partial answer), and overall competence when it comes to aftersales support. Silkscreen not lining up correctly. Important labeling falling outside the PCB area. Both rookie mistakes that should've been caught in the board design phase. The fact that it's an off-the-shelf FPGA development board (Sipeed Tang Nano 9k) clumsily sandwiched to the custom interface board via header pins, rather than a custom designed PCB that would obviate the need to angle two boards for clearance. Which could perhaps also be solved by making the custom board smaller and sit atop the FPGA board instead, assuming the MicroSD card slot on the bottom has sufficient clearance. Mention on the website that they're not including the OSD yet, but will offer a firmware update later. All of this indicates an early prototype rushed to market, rather than a finished product. No audio over HDMI. Well, technically it's DVI, which doesn't carry sound. But since it uses the HDMI form-factor, I'm not sure what's possible there according to the specifications. The website mentions both "no audio" and "no audio yet", which is a bit confusing. But if it's possible to combine video and audio then alright, this gets a pass, as it's probably fixable in firmware. Bringing us to the final item on this list: no protection circuitry to stop the FPGA from frying itself while trying to power the GG when you plug in the USB port post-install. Which begs the question, what about firmware updates? Are we supposed to desolder the power from the GG every time there's a firmware update? Isn't this inviting disaster? Because some customers will inevitably forget this step. This looks very much like an early prototype to me. It's a nice proof of concept, but sooner or later they will release an updated version that fixes most of these problems. Or a competitor will release a similar, but better designed board, not clumsily built around an off-the-shelf FPGA devboard, but using the FPGA chip directly. I'd say, best wait a bit and see what becomes available a little down the road. Still, despite my criticism, I do appreciate the proof of concept. I'd just have preferred them to develop/refine this a bit further rather than rushing it out of the door in its current state.

@bennvennelectronics

Жыл бұрын

As you mention, at close to cost price for the kit this is more of a passion project that I wanted to do for myself, and made them available in the store. To answer a few of your criticisms... Installation manual - Yup, thrown together quickly and assumes you're competent enough to follow basic instructions and fill in any gaps. It does offer enough information to install the kit, please let me know if you feel i've missed something critical which will stop you installing your kit. Silkscreen - Agreed. Proto's lined up, then there was this one particular VA1 board which had a cap where the top right of my pcb sits, so last minute I chopped out that area and shifted the pcb. The silkscreen didn't move with it. A pic of the PCB with pads labeled was provided to correct that. The Gowin 9k FPGA... They were $6 a piece when i started this project, when it was time to get boards produced, the IC's shot up to $32 a piece. With the supporting regulators, clock, etc, the kit price would have been upwards of $60. The Dev boards were still $19 ea in bulk so that's the path we chose. It's not ideal, but it is economical and it works. If the price comes back down, we'll release the stand alone PCB which will be much more refined. Audio over HDMI requires a $10,000/year license plus a per unit fee. Not an option on a cost price product. The FPGA can support audio, legally, we can't. If you decide to code your own firmware, the HDMI group allows prototypes to use full HDMI without a license. Read into that as you please. Protection circuitry on the USB socket - The blanket statement of 'don't connect the USB' is safest. Better than saying disconnect 5v to the board before connecting, or ensuring the GG is ON before connecting, both of which are OK and suggested when updating firmware (instructions will be provided with the firmware). Others have powered the entire GG through the USB socket so I guess it can be done without damage but the trace size on the tang board on the 5v rail really can't support that kind of current, so that's up to you. The GG has also been powered via HDMI from a TV, again not recommended but its been done without fail. You're welcome to drop by our discord and have a look around. All of what you've mentioned has been discussed already. Plenty of support going on there for all our products if you feel a typo in the store somehow reflects on customer support.

Say ga not seega. You are pronouncing it wrong.

@TheRetroChannel

Жыл бұрын

Oh thank you so much for letting me know. Now can you please go back and tell every Australian advertiser between 1984 kzread.info/dash/bejne/ZnyWu9t8mpbNfKg.html and 2000 kzread.info/dash/bejne/pIOeuKSloqWpg7Q.html that they're also pronouncing it wrong, that would be great. You'd think Sega Japan would have said something if it bugged them before allowing the release hundreds of commercials for their systems over 16 years. Good thing you're finally here to correct us.