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Smoscar's GEM Build + DC Controller
Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2019 8:54 pm
by smoscar01
This is my first Kite build and I have to say, I can't believe how straightforward it was. If I can successfully make one then anyone can.
Tools used for the build:
- Soldering Iron
- Flux paste
- Dremel
- Exacto knife
- Screwdriver
- Pliers
PCB & Pi
Case mods
Put together
Time to play
PS: Many thanks to Kite for this build and for his support via email!
Re: Smoscar's GEM Build
Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2019 4:16 am
by smoki86
Nice work! Did you reuse a case you used for satris board? I noticed the cutouts on the sides
Re: Smoscar's GEM Build
Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2019 10:25 am
by smoscar01
smoki86 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 03, 2019 4:16 am
Nice work! Did you reuse a case you used for satris board? I noticed the cutouts on the sides
Good eye!, it is indeed a reused case
I tried to do the VMU without any custom PCBs a while ago, just like how wermy did it, but I was never able to fully close it. So I already had back part of the case with the L/R holes in it
Re: Smoscar's GEM Build
Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 9:29 pm
by smoscar01
I finally finished my Dreamcast controller. Mostly by following wermy's videos and some other resources I found online.
I even added a
Controller Mode to the Retropie menu to rotate the screen (figured I already had too many scripts running when booting it up).
It uses a small micro USB cable that you pull out to plug in to the GEM.
Controller Mode:
PS: Thanks
kite and
wermy for inspiring us all
Re: Smoscar's GEM Build
Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2019 3:55 am
by kite
Very nice!
You could also have like a power bank or something inside it and it will charge when docked
How did you achieve the screen rotation? Just editing the config.txt?
The USB connector is an OTG, so you can either power the controller itself with it, or if you also pass in 5v it will charge the Gem (if any of that makes sense, basically the USB port on the Gem is already protected so you can't do anything bad to it by drawing or supplying power to it).
Re: Smoscar's GEM Build
Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2019 8:37 am
by smoscar01
kite wrote: ↑Thu Apr 04, 2019 3:55 am
Very nice!
You could also have like a power bank or something inside it and it will charge when docked
How did you achieve the screen rotation? Just editing the config.txt?
Yep, just some
sed magic to toggle the display rotate and then reboot the system.
kite wrote: ↑Thu Apr 04, 2019 3:55 am
The USB connector is an OTG, so you can either power the controller itself with it, or if you also pass in 5v it will charge the Gem (if any of that makes sense, basically the USB port on the Gem is already protected so you can't do anything bad to it by drawing or supplying power to it).
Oh good to know, I will try fitting a boost converter inside the controller and do the memory card batteries like on
wermy's video
Re: Smoscar's GEM Build + DC Controller
Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2019 5:50 pm
by smoscar01
I am finally done putting together the controller with a memory card battery like
wermy did in his video.
Since I am overclocking the GEM to get better frame rates, I added a mini cooling fan that's pointing straight to its battery:
Here are some pictures of the process of building the memory card:
I added an Adafruit PowerBoost/charger in the DC controller to make this work. It is wired to an enable switch to turn it on/off, a female micro usb for the power input, a male micro usb port for the 5V power output, and wired to a couple pins in the memory card connector to charge the battery in it.
I had to shave off the left trigger for the PowerBoost to fit it in the available space:
Finally, the controller's cable connector is plugged to a Multiuse pcb2 from
raphnet.net that intercepts the commands sent by the controller and turns it into a regular HID gamepad controller.