right, i dont ever do build logs but i tend to start a project then get side tracked and it gets left for a while so hopefully this will motivate me to continue for longer and finish! Warning, lots of pictures!!
Ive done a few gbz's (never shown them off) and i enjoy building them more then playing them now! recently built a gameboy advance for a change, https://www.sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=5339 but had an old broken pocket for a while and have really liked the size but the issue has always been the screen.
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The 3.5" screens are hard to fit but now i have become a fan of SPI screens this has given me more options. VeteranGamer linked me to a few, I tried a 2.8" but it was too narrow, could see the bezel on top/bottom so decided to try a 3.2", this was to wide but after taking out of its surround it now fits (tightly)
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I cut the pcb board down, could not find a button layout to wire the teensy to so had to wire it up similar to how wermy did in his original build and scrape into the traces. I also planned on laying down different pads for the x/y buttons but due to the size i again had to do it like wermy did with the copper tape.
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The x/y buttons i planned on using the same size as the a/b buttons but when i looked at the front I would have drilled into the Nintendo logo. I had ordered a few button caps for the rear buttons and originally thought they were too small for the front too but after a long time testing I decided they actually looked ok, the problem was they had no lip so had to print out a little disc to attach to it
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I started to assemble the front half trying to layer everything on top and low level as space is at a minimum. I got the 3d printer bug so decided to print a bracket to hold the pi zero so it holds it in position so the sd card sticks out the side and also with screw posts, (pictures now not attaching so will update again soon).
**update, youtube vid:
Last edited by Lpoolm on Fri Jun 01, 2018 6:50 am, edited 2 times in total.
Didnt want to use tacktile switches so decided to fit in mini actuator micro switches as they feel and sound nice when pressed, also wanted to fit them on the side. Have been able to fit a 2500mah battery ino the battery bay too and with a fake hollowed out cartridge in the top this will give me space for the powerboost and usb hub.
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Thats about all ive done so far, will be looking at hooking up the switch and powerboost and usb next.
maybe a bit late, but something like this might also have been an option for the X & Y
(i was planning on using it in a GBC build, until that got shelved)
also again a bit late (but may be off use in a future build)
you could have still used the 2.8" LCD and just had a custom surround that covered the edges
Cooper270987 tracked down this dude that makes custom surrounds
thanks, i like them flex button pads, think i will order them for a few other ideas.
just had a test fit, it seems I am going to struggle to close it with the teensy, so looks like i need to go down the gpio route.. ive read the guide although sounds ok im not looking forward to it!
Nice to see a pocket build, i'm looking forward to the progress. SPI screens are really a great alternative to the composite screens too!.
thanks, The screens are not really that much cheaper but clarity wise I feel they are so much better, maybe there will be some slow down/break up on certain games but I am yet to find it!
Right so after realising when i tried to put the halfs together even without the audio and usb hub that it was not going to fit I needed to remove the teensy. I did dread it but decided to have a quick read up on here on the guides and happily stumbled across tinkerBoy thread https://www.sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic ... 0&start=20
I downloaded it wired up my controls to pi and worked straight out! Then just needed to redo the setup for my screen and I am good to go again!
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I have test fitted and its tight but the top now attaches to the rear, I will also now will be able to use a smaller usb hub now i dont need to connect the teensy which is good!
Only after I had completed the front or so I thought did I realise I had forgotten to add the charging port anywhere? I have now managed to fit it at the bottom next to the headphone jack where the original one went but once again Not all of my pictures will upload, ramdomly? so I will need to attach that at another date.
Slowly getting there, will update again soon..
Been stumped for a while on the audio used the same setup on my previous builds using usb audio but i couldnt get it to work, not sure if something blew? So I tried slowly replcing all the parts and try again and still could not get any sound, so decided to go to the alternative pwm audio which I always used to use and it worked straight off, then was the task of shortening all the wires to make it fit in specific places, luckily the amp could fit on the front side of the board (which meant taking the controller apart again!!)
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The next problem I had was due to where the L and R buttons are the volume wheel which was going to be a tight squeeze was never going to fit in, I remembered reading one of rodocops builds and he mentioned he does not use volume wheels anymore so he was very helpful in giving me instructions on how to miss the volume wheel off and use buttons to adjust.
My only issue which I will look at further down the line is volume only adjusts ingame so when the splash screen starts it is very loud as is the navigation in menus, but I am sure this can be adjusted it is just not my priority!
It is all coming together now my only stumbling block is wireing up my L and R buttons, I cant seem to work out which is the negative and which is the active pin. A bit more googling needed!
Once this is sorted it will be a case of wire mnagement to close it up and finished!
Yeah, the volume can be annoying on boot not using a volume wheel, what I have done is just use a splash screen with no sound, or you can lower the volume in the emulation station menu as well.
EDIT, oops, just remembered you are using those weird 3 pin switches. I feel like ground will likely go in the middle, and the signal on one of the outside pins. (it won't hurt to try, and it t doesn't work swap the wires)
Yeah, the volume can be annoying on boot not using a volume wheel, what I have done is just use a splash screen with no sound, or you can lower the volume in the emulation station menu as well.
EDIT, oops, just remembered you are using those weird 3 pin switches. I feel like ground will likely go in the middle, and the signal on one of the outside pins. (it won't hurt to try, and it t doesn't work swap the wires)
yer, i was thinking i would remove the splashscreen sound then adjust the volume in emulation station, once i get it all together!
I decided to use these switches on the back, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-x-Ultra-Mi ... hash=item0 purely as i like the sound! I think i need to use the end pins but will give them another go later!
thanks for your input.
