Supergun help

[palese]

I am green on this whole thing so can someone tell me if this is a gamble or a good starting point?


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...159375137&rd=1

[Blur2040]

I mean, since you're in the US, I don't think you're going to want that. You could use the power supply...but you'd have to get a power cable that would work in the US....(the auction says the power supply would take 100-240 volt input)

The problem is though, that you'd have to convert that RGB scart that it outputs into something like S-Video that would be usable on your TV. As I understand, that's pretty hard to do...or at least expensive...

But let's let someone else chime in....

[retro]

That is hideous.

It is way too small and flimsy for a start. You'll need a nice non-conductive area to put the PCB, preferably on mounts (not that you wouldn't anyway - well some SGs you can put em on top). Is the JAMMA connector fixed onto it? That's not a great thing, either.

You're basically paying for a 1 slot MVS and some flimsy little box. Not good at all.

If you want to play JAMMA only, then invest in a more rugged SG. If you want Neo games, its ok I guess, but its not worth it for you.

[palese]

Thanks guys.

[Blur2040]

The MVS board isn't even included...

[D-Lite]

I hear the MAK guns are pretty good, but obviously not for US folks. They are very compact and many people prefer that.

[the_steadster]

To avoid starting a new topic, what would be needed to be done to create a RGB SCART supergun - I'm thinking of doing one and making my own controller, then getting an MVS.
I'm thinking Prices and chips needed

[D-Lite]

To avoid starting a new topic, what would be needed to be done to create a RGB SCART supergun - I'm thinking of doing one and making my own controller, then getting an MVS.
I'm thinking Prices and chips needed

Prices in US $$
- JAMMA harness $10-20
- Case $5-10
- 2 x DB-15 connectors (for Neo Geo sticks, relatively standard) $3
- SCART socket $5-10
- Power supply $30
- RGB potentiometers $5
- power switch (DPDT style) $4
- RCA mounts for audio $4

That's about it. You won't need any chips or anything like that since you can use straight RGB.

So, $64-84 for parts. Of course you'd need equipment too.

[the_steadster]

Great, cheers - Sounds like a good project for me to do one day. Just out of interest, how much does a 1 slot MVS board go for these days?
And what kind of power supply would you use? i have an old ATX power supply which proved too weak and puny for my computer - could i use that?

[D-Lite]

Great, cheers - Sounds like a good project for me to do one day. Just out of interest, how much does a 1 slot MVS board go for these days?
And what kind of power supply would you use? i have an old ATX power supply which proved too weak and puny for my computer - could i use that?

About $100 for a 1-slot. An ATX should be OK for you. As long as you have about 5A on the +5V and about 1A on the +12V.

[the_steadster]

well according to the label its 15A on +12 and 2.5-30A on +5.

Finally, before i bugger off n get hunting for a cheap MVS - Any region protection on the carts - have heard about the universe bios - would this be worth getting?

[D-Lite]

well according to the label its 15A on +12 and 2.5-30A on +5.

Finally, before i bugger off n get hunting for a cheap MVS - Any region protection on the carts - have heard about the universe bios - would this be worth getting?

2.5-30A? Well, yes, it's probably enough, but since it's ATX (switchable), you may have an issue on that. You'd be better off with an AT PSU.

No Neo system, MVS, AES, CD, or Pocket has region protection. All carts play on all systems (within format of course), and play in the language of the system. The Unibios is nice because not only does it allow you to set the region of the console (US, JP, or Eur), but gives you a built-in cheat database. For the $25 it's a steal. And since nearly all MVS boards have a socketed bios anyone can install the chip (only the MV-1C and MV-1B have soldered bios chips).

[the_steadster]

Great, cheers for all your help.

[AntiPasta]

steadster: you might be able to shave a few quid off the parts by, like me, going for a rather minimalist Supergun:

- JAMMA connector
- butchered console RGB lead (use a multimeter) wired straight to the connector
- AT power supply wired straight to the connector
- old PC speaker, you guess, wired straight to the connector
- and an old arcade stick hacked to wire the individual buttons + directions directly to the pins on the JAMMA connector

Basically, all I had to buy was the JAMMA connector, everything else I had lying around the house :p

[the_steadster]

steadster: you might be able to shave a few quid off the parts by, like me, going for a rather minimalist Supergun:

- JAMMA connector
- butchered console RGB lead (use a multimeter) wired straight to the connector
- AT power supply wired straight to the connector
- old PC speaker, you guess, wired straight to the connector
- and an old arcade stick hacked to wire the individual buttons + directions directly to the pins on the JAMMA connector

Basically, all I had to buy was the JAMMA connector, everything else I had lying around the house :p

Am thinking of something along those lines - except I'd connect the audio through a pot to the TV

[D-Lite]

steadster: you might be able to shave a few quid off the parts by, like me, going for a rather minimalist Supergun:

- JAMMA connector
- butchered console RGB lead (use a multimeter) wired straight to the connector
- AT power supply wired straight to the connector
- old PC speaker, you guess, wired straight to the connector
- and an old arcade stick hacked to wire the individual buttons + directions directly to the pins on the JAMMA connector

Basically, all I had to buy was the JAMMA connector, everything else I had lying around the house :p

You cheapo. Christ, drop a few bucks on a case at least so you don't get electrocuted by dangling wires!

[AntiPasta]

No chance of electrocution with 12V at most - but I do have to keep some of the loose wires out of the way when I hook it up, the thing's not exactly finished yet. My next idea is to make a Saturn pad decoding circuit that would allow me to hook up my Virtua Stick, oh the sweetness :D

[Calpis]

Hehe, that'd be cool. If I knew PIC I'd write a SNES pad decoder, a discrete circuit would be too painful.

[AntiPasta]

Saturn is actually not that hard, that's why I asked you about the 2-bit binary counter circuit - basically, the lines are multiplexed with 2 selection pins, but that's all.

[retro]

No chance of electrocution with 12V at most - but I do have to keep some of the loose wires out of the way when I hook it up, the thing's not exactly finished yet. My next idea is to make a Saturn pad decoding circuit that would allow me to hook up my Virtua Stick, oh the sweetness :D

*sigh* it isn't the voltage its the current.

You should have been in our shop when a floppy drive shorted. Within 10 seconds there was thick black smoke. the power leads melted.

You can NEVER take safety precautions too seriously when constructing something like this. You're talking about something that has mains voltage (even just within the PSU), so needs earthing. A PSU can go psycho on you, and when its exposed, it can be dangerous - even in a casing it could catch fire.