Cloning the Gamecube component cable

[citrus3000psi]

Anyone know where to find the PlutoIIx HDMI fpgaconfig software?

PM sent

[leonk]

Thank you!

[citrus3000psi]

Finally some progress on my final hdmi design. This board sits directly on the qsb and keeps the data lines short as possible. From there you can put the hdmi port wherever you want to. After I do some more testing I'll release the design.

[bobrocks95]

Nice upgrade from the prison TV!

Hope it fixes 480p component for those in the very niche market of HDMI + component cables.

[Ikaruga11]

Hope it fixes 480p component for those in the very niche market of HDMI + component cables.

What does that mean

[andykara2003]

I think it means that he'd like it to be able to output not only HDMI but also the analogue GCvideo version of component?

[citrus3000psi]

Nice upgrade from the prison TV!

Hope it fixes 480p component for those in the very niche market of HDMI + component cables.

Yep got a little bit of an upgrade. Had some blown caps on the power board. Got it for free

Hope it fixes 480p component for those in the very niche market of HDMI + component cables.

What does that mean

My last design did not play with official component cables. I don't have these expensive cables; so I was never able to test. BobRocks was one of the first people to try my board with them and found that they don't work. I still don't have component cables to test with but its an assumption the shorter data lines will fix the problem.

I think it means that he'd like it to be able to output not only HDMI but also the analogue GCvideo version of component?

Close, I do have another board (untested) that outputs the analoge signals. My plan is that you will be able to stack them if you wish and have both RGB & HDMI

[andykara2003]

Close, I do have another board (untested) that outputs the analoge signals. My plan is that you will be able to stack them if you wish and have both RGB & HDMI :P

Nice :) So do you anticipate that the Wii's HDMI image will be exactly the same quality/image type as the Gamecube's GCvideo quality? I guess it would have to be wouldn't it?

[bobrocks95]

Whoops, sorry for posting something that cryptic in hindsight.

Citrus's older design worked fine with component cables in 240p/480i, but if you used them in 480p you got a ton of visual noise and distortion. With an HDMI mod, I'm not sure why you'd want analog 480p, but maybe you'd want to hook it up to a CRT for GBI, which would still work fine.

[citrus3000psi]

Close, I do have another board (untested) that outputs the analoge signals. My plan is that you will be able to stack them if you wish and have both RGB & HDMI

Nice So do you anticipate that the Wii's HDMI image will be exactly the same quality/image type as the Gamecube's GCvideo quality? I guess it would have to be wouldn't it?

I think a lot of people want to know that question. I'm going to mess with the Wii next.

[Ikaruga11]

Wii's component output is so underwhelming that it's probably a better idea to use HDMI from WiiVideo and convert it to analog for use with a CRT.

[andykara2003]

Interesting idea - would that be possible without degrading the image or introducing lag I wonder?

I can say for sure that the Wii's component isn't underwhelming when used on CRTs - must be a flat panel thing. If a component mod was shown to significantly improve the output I'd probably get it anyway. I guess it's not possible to get the improved component mod + HDMI mod in the same console?

[citrus3000psi]

Interesting idea - would that be possible without degrading the image or introducing lag I wonder?

I can say for sure that the Wii's component isn't underwhelming when used on CRTs - must be a flat panel thing. If a component mod was shown to significantly improve the output I'd probably get it anyway. I guess it's not possible to get the improved component mod + HDMI mod in the same console?

Yes its possible, unseen has mentioned the idea to me. But I don't think I have the skills to pull something like that off.

The other option is to use two fpgas, which would work. Getting both to fit in the wii could prove difficult.

On another note. I messed with the Wii last night. I was fighting a video mode not supported issue. Problem is the QSB connected to the vias. I'm going to bite the bullet and and have flex cables made. Cheapest I've found so far is from dirtypcb at 98 bucks for 10 for a 100mm x 100mm design. These flex cables are small so I will probably get 10 pieces out of a panel. I'm looking for the cheapest price. This is my first flex pcb being sent to a fab, so its likely to have mistakes. I am however matching Marshall's design (Thanks Marshall) from the ultrahdmi. So hopefully it will work without revisions. But if anybody knows a cheap fab house for flex pcbs, please let me know.

[meneerbeer]

Interesting idea - would that be possible without degrading the image or introducing lag I wonder?

I can say for sure that the Wii's component isn't underwhelming when used on CRTs - must be a flat panel thing. If a component mod was shown to significantly improve the output I'd probably get it anyway. I guess it's not possible to get the improved component mod + HDMI mod in the same console?

I am however matching Marshall's design (Thanks Marshall) from the ultrahdmi. So hopefully it will work without revisions. But if anybody knows a cheap fab house for flex pcbs, please let me know.

Out of curiosity, what are you matching?

[citrus3000psi]

Out of curiosity, what are you matching?

Matching might be the wrong word. More like using his flex cable as an example because its soldered to .5mm pitch IC as well.

[parodius]

I finally went the Zeldaxpro route. Had to wait a bit so that he receives some stock of his black 2.0, and I finally received it this morning.
Worth every penny, I can reuse my OSSC IR remote with it to navigate the menus which is very convenient
Now going to ask for a refund from badassconsoles.

[meneerbeer]

Out of curiosity, what are you matching?

Matching might be the wrong word. More like using his flex cable as an example because its soldered to .5mm pitch IC as well.

I thought it was more than 0.5mm but I could be wrong. Not that it really matters.

I think one of the thing I noticed from one of the prototypes is that his ground plane was significantly bigger on his prototype. In the version he is selling his ground plane is rather just a few traces here and there instead of a pour wherever possible. That is probably a good thing to consider to do as well, as it should make soldering a bit easier.

[Seraphic]

Are people still waiting for BAC to ship something?

[citrus3000psi]

Sneak peak of what Unseen and I have been working on. RGB+HDMI on single FPGA.

Code: Select all

Design Summary Report:

 Number of External IOBs                          60 out of 68     88%

   Number of External Input IOBs                 18

      Number of External Input IBUFs             18
        Number of LOCed External Input IBUFs     18 out of 18    100%


   Number of External Output IOBs                42

      Number of External Output DIFFMTBs          4
        Number of LOCed External Output DIFFMTBs    4 out of 4     100%

      Number of External Output DIFFSTBs          4
        Number of LOCed External Output DIFFSTBs    4 out of 4     100%

      Number of External Output IOBs             34
        Number of LOCed External Output IOBs     34 out of 34    100%


   Number of External Bidir IOBs                  0


   Number of BUFGMUXs                        5 out of 24     20%
   Number of DCMs                            2 out of 4      50%
   Number of MULT18X18SIOs                  14 out of 16     87%
   Number of RAMB16BWEs                     14 out of 16     87%
   Number of Slices                       1742 out of 1792   97%
      Number of SLICEMs                     79 out of 896     8%

(.......)

All constraints were met.


Generating Pad Report.

All signals are completely routed.

Total REAL time to PAR completion: 20 secs
Total CPU time to PAR completion: 20 secs

Peak Memory Usage:  628 MB

Placer: Placement generated during map.
Routing: Completed - No errors found.
Timing: Completed - No errors found.

[Link83]

Sneak peak of what Unseen and I have been working on. RGB+HDMI on single FPGA.

Wow thats fantastic! I had been dreaming of a combined RGB+HDMI board -thanks citrus3000psi and Unseen
(This board AND an FFC cable for an easier install - wow, you have been busy!)
Do you think it might be possible to fit this board in both the GameCube and Wii?

[citrus3000psi]

Sneak peak of what Unseen and I have been working on. RGB+HDMI on single FPGA.

Wow thats fantastic! I had been dreaming of a combined RGB+HDMI board -thanks citrus3000psi and Unseen
(This board AND an FFC cable for an easier install - wow, you have been busy!)
Do you think it might be possible to fit this board in both the GameCube and Wii?

After this board is confirmed working, I will design a different footprint for the Wii with a flexcable. The code should just need minor changes.

[leonk]

RetroRGB kind of touched on this in his last podcast and I was wondering about this as well, why would anyone want RGB out from a console that is capable of outputting 480p?

I don't believe most commonly used RGB display devices support 480p RGB input (PVM or XRGB). So a gamer will need to either play in 480i or 240p. Right?

The HDMI port of course will be 480p and be optimal video quality output.

[andykara2003]

I was wondering this myself - might HDMI and component be the 'holy grail'?

[citrus3000psi]

RetroRGB kind of touched on this in his last podcast and I was wondering about this as well, why would anyone want RGB out from a console that is capable of outputting 480p?

I don't believe most commonly used RGB display devices support 480p RGB input (PVM or XRGB). So a gamer will need to either play in 480i or 240p. Right?

The HDMI port of course will be 480p and be optimal video quality output.

I have a pioneer PDP V402 which takes 480p RGB. You will be able to output CSync or H/V. So VGA monitors will work. I'd imagine most people will be using RGB for the GBA addon.

I was wondering this myself - might HDMI and component be the 'holy grail'?

It will output both Component and RGB.

You will be able to choose which output via the OSD or a master input pin. I plan on building a component cable that will plug into the multiout that will trigger this pin and force component mode.

[andykara2003]

Wow this really is phenomenal, nice one!

My Metz takes 480p via RGB scart as well. I usually input VGA to that socket via VGA-to-scart cable.

The existing signal path is:

GameCube/Wii component to Crescendo rtc2200 component-to-VGA transcoder to the TV via VGA-to-scart cable.

Even though the transcoder is very good, I wonder if a direct path using 480p RGB from this mod would give a better image than my existing setup?

[FinalBaton]

RetroRGB kind of touched on this in his last podcast and I was wondering about this as well, why would anyone want RGB out from a console that is capable of outputting 480p?

I don't believe most commonly used RGB display devices support 480p RGB input (PVM or XRGB). So a gamer will need to either play in 480i or 240p. Right?

The HDMI port of course will be 480p and be optimal video quality output.

PC crt monitors certainly take 480p via RGB. But granted they don't accept 240p.

Some multisync CRTs however do take both 240p and 480p via RGB. Mine does, and it doesn't accept component so I'm definitely interested more in RGB.

[leonk]

PC crt monitors certainly take 480p via RGB. But granted they don't accept 240p.

Some multisync CRTs however do take both 240p and 480p via RGB. Mine does, and it doesn't accept component so I'm definitely interested more in RGB.

Also : can't the Framemeister accept 480p over the DSUB connector?

So the RGB output is only for users that have display devices that support 480p or game on PC CRT's (not sure how many gamers play multiple consoles on PC CRT as opposed to OSSC/XRGB/PVM/Modded TV for RGB) What about audio? You pass it to desktop speakers? Doesn't sound very living room friendly.

But it's always good to have more options.

[Ikaruga11]

So this supports HDMI + YPbPR + RGB (CSync?)? Great news.

[BuckoA51]

Indeed, super interested in this!

[andykara2003]

So in this case a 480p RGB signal will be better than a 480p component signal right?