Wiring cartridge reader to usb

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Flowlance
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Wiring cartridge reader to usb

Post by Flowlance » Wed Jun 15, 2016 2:55 am

Hello!
Was wondering if it was possible to wire the cartridge sd card reader to act as a usb storage device instead of just extending the sd card reader on the Pi Zero. This way I can leave the boot sd card in the Pi, and have the ability to swap cartridges. Different games on different cartridges, or something like that :D
I assume it's just a couple of configuration changes to make Retropie read roms from a storage device.

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Re: Wiring cartridge reader to usb

Post by Thijs852 » Wed Jun 15, 2016 4:55 am

Hi,

I don't know if it is pissible to read roms from usb, but it has a usb mode that let's you transfer roms fron usb to the internal storage. I was planning to use the cardridge as usb device to transfer roms and leave the boot inside the pi.

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Re: Wiring cartridge reader to usb

Post by Fleder » Wed Jun 15, 2016 5:32 am

You would have to edit the settings where every emulator has its rom folder located.
And you would need auto mounting, which might be implemented already.
But it sounds pretty doable from my point of view. At least for smaller roms.
No idea how PSX Roms would perform, but i guess pretty bad, because of the slow performance of USB.

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Re: Wiring cartridge reader to usb

Post by SidSilver » Wed Jun 15, 2016 5:45 am

is it possible to use a Teensy LC as SD-Card to usb adaptor and plug the usb to the usb hub ?
I have a Teensy LC already and won't need it because I'll use the Helder's full options PCB for gamepad.
It seems to be very nice to have a stable sd card with the OS and juste the games and the save files on the cartridge SD Card.

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Re: Wiring cartridge reader to usb

Post by Fleder » Wed Jun 15, 2016 5:51 am

SidSilver wrote:is it possible to use a Teensy LC as SD-Card to usb adaptor and plug the usb to the usb hub ?
I have a Teensy LC already and won't need it because I'll use the Helder's full options PCB for gamepad.
It seems to be very nice to have a stable sd card with the OS and juste the games and the save files on the cartridge SD Card.
Uhm, i am not sure if you can programm the teensy to act as a card reader. This is way above my capabilities.
But why not simply buy a SD Breakout Board? Those are 1$.
Or one of those things here: https://www.amazon.com/5Gbps-Super-Spee ... +sd+reader

This would be better than wasting a 15$ Teensy on this small task. Plus a smaller footprint.

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Re: Wiring cartridge reader to usb

Post by Flowlance » Wed Jun 15, 2016 5:55 am

The default retropie functionality copies roms from usb to the sd card automatically. It doesn't seem to be a problem to disable this feature and load roms directly from usb:
http://mardell.me/blog/how-to-load-roms ... -retropie/

I don't mind configuring the path for roms of every single emulator. It's a one time thingy :D
I'm more interested in the wiring from the cartridge adapter to Pi Zero though. Anyone have information how this is done?

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Re: Wiring cartridge reader to usb

Post by SidSilver » Wed Jun 15, 2016 5:58 am

Fleder wrote: But why not simply buy a SD Breakout Board? Those are 1$.
Or one of those things here: https://www.amazon.com/5Gbps-Super-Spee ... +sd+reader

This would be better than wasting a 15$ Teensy on this small task. Plus a smaller footprint.
Yes you're right.

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Re: Wiring cartridge reader to usb

Post by Fleder » Wed Jun 15, 2016 6:07 am

Flowlance wrote:I'm more interested in the wiring from the cartridge adapter to Pi Zero though. Anyone have information how this is done?
Does this help?
https://raspberrypi.stackexchange.com/q ... aspberrypi
Again, your best friend is the SD Card Breakout Board.

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Re: Wiring cartridge reader to usb

Post by Flowlance » Wed Jun 15, 2016 7:27 am

Fleder wrote:
Flowlance wrote:I'm more interested in the wiring from the cartridge adapter to Pi Zero though. Anyone have information how this is done?
Does this help?
https://raspberrypi.stackexchange.com/q ... aspberrypi
Again, your best friend is the SD Card Breakout Board.
I will try that when I have time, thanks :)
This is the one I want to wire though, it should be the same. http://store.kitsch-bent.com/product/kk_gb_zero_b

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