Recent Posts

Didn't know about the Tubular site, will be looking through that.

Just acquired a Sharp 32F641 which is borderline exactly like the Sharp 32F540 which IS on the database.
https://crtdatabase.com/crts/sharp/sharp-32f540

Though I am still trying to figure out what the distinction is between the two, so far its got mint image quality. Right now I've got it going through a wakabavideo vga -> composite/s-video transcoder.

In the process of upgrading cables and adapters.

Well now THAT is damn cool.
What will be the first subject of this fancy project?

drill go brr
 

Mourix recently did some revisions on the open source Genesis FeRAM cartridge that can be found here:


https://github.com/soniccd123/Genesis-FeRAM-Cart

Which I think I have forked here:

https://github.com/pinballjim/Genesis-FeRAM-Cart

(the file is also attached)



Tested and fits in vintage Sega Genesis, 32X, and Electronic Arts shells.

 

Dumping the readme here as a backup:

This PCB layout has been modified to be universally compatible with Sega Genesis, 32X, and Electronic Arts cartridge shells. The file Cart_FeRAM_Holes.zip has been confirmed working with an order from PCBWay and with original shells.

All credit goes to Mourix for alteration of the existing PCB design. I simply measured holes and begged.

Original project can be found here:

https://github.com/soniccd123/Genesis-FeRAM-Cart

Unedited readme from original project is below.

Genesis FeRAM Cart
A open Sega Genesis cartridge PCB with save feature

This projects uses a 27C322 4MB EPROM Chip and a FM1808 32KB FeRAM as save storage. It was developed in KiCAD and tested in real hardware.

In the actual state, this cartridge features:

Suports Genesis and 32X software
ROM Support for up to 4MB
Save support for all ROM sizes (Selection for <2MB/4MB by jumper)
32KB of FeRAM for saving
No need for battery for saving
Rudimentary ROM bank switch (Permits multiple games on same ROM)
This project is possible thanks to TmEE (NESdev Forums, SRAM wiring schematics) and Rene Richard (db-electronics on GitHUB, KiCAD libs for the Genesis cart connector).

Component List:
U1 74HC74;
U2 FM1808B;
U3 74HC139 (or LS);
U4 27C322 (May use other 27CXX memories with some minor modifications);
R1, R2, R3, R4 1K Resistors;
SW1 4 channel DIP Switch;
C1, C2, C3 10nF Capacitors;
How to use:
Bank Switching: The user may write multiple roms to the same EPROM, the DIP switch controls which area of the EPROM is read by the Genesis/Mega Drive; The minimum bank size is 256KB. Each of the switches connect a memory address line between the system and the EPROM: when the switch is on, the respective address line is controlled by the Sega Genesis; When off, the EPROM adress line is pulled-up and cut from Genesis control. the address lines are A20, A19, A18, A17 (considering LSB as A0). To select the desired bank, turn the switches on and off acordingly to the begining address that the ROM occupies in the EPROM.

Examples:

ROM_x begin at 0x100000 -> Switch just A19 off (pull-up);
ROM_y begin at 0x180000 -> Switch A19 and A18 off;

This technique may not be compatible with save supporting Genesis software.

How to make multirom file: Just use the CMD command "copy /b rom_x.bin + rom_y.bin + rom_z.bin rom_result.bin" to join them to one file. One may join how many ROMs he wants to, just be shure that the result file is smaller than the total size of the EPROM and that the ROMs fit correctly to each desired bank to make software switching possible.

JP1 jumper: This jumper is the result of some tests with varied sized Save RAM suporting software. This jumper is necessary for software bigger or smaller than 2MB to correctly save and detect the FeRAM. For software bigger than 2M, one must connect (with solder blob, 0K resistor, etc) the >2MB part of the jumper; for smaller or equal to 2MB software, one must do the same with the <2MB part of the jumper.

Other than that, just write to your EPROM and happy playing!

If you book the goat, the goat will do a good job

This should be fun to follow because I barely understand what I'm looking at, and its one of your projects which rarely disappoint!

Well, while I'm waiting for other crap to happen on my current vector project these crazy boards arrived- all the way from France!



Drew, posting over on "the other site" has blazed this trail ahead of me (and itnis from him that I learned of this very cool project) and has documented his journey already.
As such, I will merely be regurgitating some of those those efforts mostly, but as I am trying to maintain the original CRTs and am working with items hopefully slightly improved because of his communication with the developers of these boards my project will wind up slightly different and I'll aim to go into more detail.

The gent I communicated with, Sebastien, has been excellent with his help facilitating this.
I was a bit concerned about sending so much $$ to the other side of the planet, to someone I don't know, in a country that was making it difficult to ship anything to me, but it turns out that this is a legitimate project run by brilliant and trustworthy fellow enthusiasts.

Per their recommendations, I bought parts for the PCs required to run these machines and as I get around to assembling them I will give some detail about them going together and how they work with these boards.

The idea is that these pcbs and add-ons (which they are developing for various original arcade driving machines) when connected to an original cabinet with a PC will allow the user to run practically any driving game you have seen, from virtually every platform you have used, and still utilize the forcefeedback, buttons, wheel, pedals, and shifter of that original machine properly.

There ARE limitations to this of course, as the realities of 270 vs. 360 games, shifter switch type differences, pedal styles, indicator light outputs, etc. cannot be ignored obviously, but the developers kept this in mind to add as broad an implementation as possible with what they built.

I am told that the user manual included on the hard drives I got with these happens to be in French.

This should prove to be an interesting one.

2049 joy

Welcome!
There are plenty here who still use CRTs in their projects (me included) and there are lots of resources for utilizing them, depending upon your use case and ultimate goals.

A few that come immediately to mind-

https://tubular.atomized.org/

https://crtdatabase.com/

If you have questions just ask!
I'll help if I can but others know more than I.

Bobby

Windows 2000 Professional, w/ MaLa front end(!)

Just joined. Simply interested in CRTs.