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Post by Tom Maneiro on Jan 13, 2011 22:08:12 GMT -5
Is this your only computer with a parallel port? If U/D don't work, then something is terribly wrong. I would say it's the ground, but I dunno In the gigahurtz range? Yes. My other three parport-enabled boxes are waaaaaaaaaaaaay below 1GHz (225MHz, 133MHz... and 40MHz )... and none of them can't run BasiEgaXorz anyway (well, the 40MHz does... almost ) I'm having problems with the pin header connectors - for some stupid reason, the port connector extensions are not making good contact if they're fully plugged in. Checking continuity on the board reveals no shorts... and GND seems to be fine. I really would like to avoid soldering the parport connector directly to the board, but we will see. Ayway, i will be doing another board tomorrow, most likely... i still have enough parts and solder
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oompa loompa
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Post by oompa loompa on Jan 14, 2011 0:07:27 GMT -5
Well another way to test this is to directly connect the pins from the parallel port to GND. e.g. with the PC disconnected, just stick a wire to GND in the DB25 connector on the LAKABAJO adapter, and just short the D0-D7 pins of the DB25, and test the "button" movement on a game
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Post by Mairtrus on Jan 14, 2011 8:50:17 GMT -5
Have you tried to upload something yet? Because, in the test utility, the buttons seems to work whenever they want, i.e: Run Sonic 2/3 (without the GG), with the cable in the first controller port, and try to spindash(the DOWN button is released after a two or three taps), or walk along the screen at constant speed (same behavior with RIGHT/LEFT buttons).
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Post by Tom Maneiro on Jan 14, 2011 11:57:18 GMT -5
I've tried the uploader, and it just sits there in the GG code input screen - nothing happens AT ALL It DOES detect when the console is powered ON, but nothing else... I will try the direct GND->Data "button test" later... (My domain is back, so expect pictures of my mess...)
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oompa loompa
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Post by oompa loompa on Jan 14, 2011 21:59:22 GMT -5
Also make sure the parallel port mode in the BIOS is set to bidirectional
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Post by Tom Maneiro on Jan 16, 2011 18:41:21 GMT -5
Got some progress.... I've built my second LAKABAJO board: Left: the new V2 board (codename "Emiya" ) Right: The old V1 board that never worked right despite having no shorts, no missing connections and no nada (codename "Shinpaku") This time i've ditched the pin-header connector for the LPT extension bracket since it was causing a lot of conection problems, and instead soldered directly the DB25 connector to the board with some wires. Triple-checked every joint, bridge, wire, pin... everything! Oh, if you're wondering about the decoupling caps, they're carefully placed INSIDE the sockets - you wanted SHORT wires, right? On to software testing! The hardware test option was still acting funky ( no U/D working at all UP does not work, but DOWN does , all other keys wonky or not working too). Tried uploading something... C:\lakabajo>lakabajo -g 0 -i test.ram Devster's LAKABAJO RAM Program Upload Utility v0.1.2 (May 4, 2010)
Game set to: SONIC 1 Filename to upload: test.ram File Size: 131073 The console must be power cycled
Turn off the power to the console. Make sure SONIC 1 is attached to the Game Genie on the console. Turn on the power to the console. Waiting for Game Genie to start up... Woohoo! NTSC Console Detected! Entering Game Genie code for SONIC 1 ... *** A timing error occured ...4 out of 5 times that i've ran the uploader i got that - the 5th time either it got stuck waiting for the GG to boot, or trying to detect the console region. Tried with -c (use 100% CPU) and -o (skip console power detection - already with the GG on the code screen) switches, but got the same results. I've even switched my parport in BIOS from ECP to Bidirectional... with no changes at all! In the TV, i see that sometimes the GG code cursor moves one or two letters, but that's all. The last thing that i will check is my parport cable... i suspect that this sucker may have one or two shorts, but still... Maybe this HP is so shitty that isn't LAKABAJO-capable?
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oompa loompa
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Post by oompa loompa on Jan 16, 2011 19:02:01 GMT -5
Uhm... where is your LAKABAJO connected on your Genesis? It would need to be on port 2 . I recommend using a male db9 connector rather than hard soldering the wires, since it makes things easier to debug. Later when it works, you can ditch the whole dongle thing and hard wire Also try shorting some of the pins on the parallel port connector on the LAKABAJO side to test the buttons. This is so we can rule out that your LAKABAJO is working and it definitely is the parallel port on the PC edit: And I dunno, the -c option in the utility seems to make things worse sometimes . There should be lots of movement when the PC is entering in the GG codes
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Post by Tom Maneiro on Jan 16, 2011 19:45:59 GMT -5
It's on Port 2, where it should be.... Well, i don't have a male DB9 plug at hand in my Unlimited Parts Box... need to buy like 3 or 4 tomorrow Tried shorting pins 2 and 3 to GND on the parport connector: pin 2 works. Pin 3 doesn't (and all another pins seem to be mostly working). Funny, my pad connector ribbon looks like it has a short or something (tried checking with the multimeter between the ribbon plug and the pad socket, and surely something funky is happening there between pin 1 (UP) and pin2 (DOWN)) Ah, well, another thing to check tomorrow - those shorts weren't there when i soldered the ribbon but anything goes, i suppose. Any plans for port 3? Although i suspect that the GG doesn't work with that... Anyway, it's enough for today
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oompa loompa
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Post by oompa loompa on Jan 16, 2011 20:03:12 GMT -5
Ah. Just keep checking your connections over and over again with a multimeter. Sometimes you won't always get continuity when you touch the multimeter probe onto solder - I dunno why it's like that, maybe too much flux in the solder or too many impurities? I dunno, just keep checking and checking again. I think you're almost close to getting homebrew on the real hardware . Sometimes it's just one short that can make a big difference. I'll try to get a port 3 version later. Port 3 has a totally different pinout from the front ports.
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Post by Tom Maneiro on Jan 16, 2011 20:26:15 GMT -5
At least it's no RoHS solder Rechecked for (n+1)th time the LAKABAJO<->parport plugs... everything is fine. Found some weird stuff (AKA unexpected shorts) on the Genesis pad ribbon cable. So, i'm now pretty much confident: my boards are fine (and i now have a spare, yoohoo!) List for tomorrow: 1) Fix my parport custom cable (or find any computer shop over here that still sells printer cables, pick one and hack it) 2) Build a DB9-male extension bracket. 3) Finish quadruple-checking every single wire, solder blog, plug, pin, capacitor and cosmic rays on my LAKABAJO setup 4) ... 5) PROFIT!
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oompa loompa
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Post by oompa loompa on Jan 16, 2011 22:07:23 GMT -5
Oh wait, I didn't mean male db9. I mean a female db9 to connect directly to port 2, unless that's what you're doing already?
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Post by Tom Maneiro on Jan 19, 2011 19:52:52 GMT -5
Again, got some progress... I've rebuilt my parport cable, removed the internal pad connector ribbon (that was already FUBAR because in a "D'OH" moment, didn't noticed that i severed the cable with one of the motherboard screws... this explains why U/D didn't worked at all), soldered it to a DB9-female connector, and plugged it directly to the Genesis (i had to remove motherboard off the shell, of course!), and..... - After some fiddling with the boards (including a good cleanup with alcohol), i've got the V1 board (Shinpaku) to work with the hardware test (this very same board was acting funky - the uploader said that the console was ON even when not powered on! But looks like it wanted some love, er, bath time). All butons work... although there are a lot of bad syncs too (BTW: Playing SFII:TNC with a keyboard via LAKABAJO sucks!) - I'm still stuck at the "Entering Game Genie codes" phase because of those bastard timing errors! (and now the uploader fails to detect my console type on most runs!) Even tried switching the console to PAL... with no luck - And i've finally discovered that there is no real need to remove the motherboard off the case - plug a DB9 male connector directly into the pad socket - it works as long as you don't stupid things like moving the cable with the console powered on Bah, i'm too lazy, but looks like i will need to build yet another board or something... either that, or the uploader proggy absolutely dislike Hell-et Packard portables with ATi/ALI chipsets
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oompa loompa
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Post by oompa loompa on Jan 19, 2011 20:45:00 GMT -5
Oh finally some progress Make sure you have the -c option turned OFF when running the console program. This can actually make things worse. The timing errors are due to your computer . Your computer is not fast enough to run LAKABAJO. Try to watch the Task Manager and see if anything's hogging CPU time.
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Post by Tom Maneiro on Jan 19, 2011 21:35:51 GMT -5
I'm using no stinkin' -c (trying it didn't help at all, anyway) Not fast enoguh? NOT FAST ENOUGH!??!There is (was) absolutely nothing draining my precious 2.8 gigahurtz (i did the tests with no programs open at all, not even an antivirus), so... Maybe EMI issues? Should i bring the tinfoil box and the FCC guys? Also i've noticed that the bad syncs are pretty high (zero at boot, then it skyrockets after the TMSS screen), for some reason... I've checked again and again and again the flip-flops, and there was nothing wrong with the wiring...
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oompa loompa
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Post by oompa loompa on Jan 19, 2011 22:30:34 GMT -5
I'm using no stinkin' -c (trying it didn't help at all, anyway) Not fast enoguh? NOT FAST ENOUGH!??!There is (was) absolutely nothing draining my precious 2.8 gigahurtz (i did the tests with no programs open at all, not even an antivirus), so... Maybe EMI issues? Should i bring the tinfoil box and the FCC guys? Also i've noticed that the bad syncs are pretty high (zero at boot, then it skyrockets after the TMSS screen), for some reason... I've checked again and again and again the flip-flops, and there was nothing wrong with the wiring... Oh, *cough* *cough* 2.4ghz not fast enough. Too bad there's no overclock option on your HP . jk, you HP should be plenty fast enough. It was working on my 500mhz machine. I believe it is your wiring, despite your attempts . Give me some numbers. Like, in a ten second period, how many good syncs and bad syncs do you get in the Game Genie screen? Especially check IC2A pin 5, IC2B pin 11, and pin 10 of the parallel port. Actually, every wire on those flip flops are important, so quadruple check. Or, if the adapter has gone into latch-up mode, unplug the connector from the Genesis, and from the parallel port, and then replug everything back. First, connect the Genesis, and then the parallel port
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