Raspberry Pi MSX Clone first test and groupbuy initiative.

On his website user luppie posted a test with the Raspberry Pi MSX Clone, a HAT (Hardware Attached on Top, a type of addon board) specially designed to make it possible to use real MSX cartridges with your Raspberry Pi.

If you are interested in a Raspberry Pi MSX Clone HAT to use your real cartridges on a Raspberry Pi, the MSX Information Network still offers a groupbuy for which you can register through their MSX Pi Extension board group order form.

The groupbuy will close on January 23th, which gives you 10 days to place your order.

Relevant links:
MSX Info Net- Groupbuy
YouTube video

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Commentaires (30)

Par Albert77

Rookie (21)

14-01-2019, 06:23

Why is this pcb so expensive? It does not look so complicated..

Par turbor

Champion (454)

14-01-2019, 08:44

Small batches of custom PCBs are always more expensive then big volumes.

Par luppie

Paladin (854)

14-01-2019, 12:02

It is not only the cost of a small batch, but also the added Tax and shipping costs.
A single HAT cost € 45,- excl. tax, shipping from Brazil and customs clearance costs. The groupbuy initiative is ment to keep the shipping and clearance costs as low as possible.

Par Albert77

Rookie (21)

14-01-2019, 16:48

Ok
Still an expensive hat.. It could be allot cheaper to produce them here...
The Gerber files are PD.. And if you find the correct pcb company an empty board would cost around €5
Excluding the needed parts.

Par hamlet

Scribe (3406)

14-01-2019, 17:47

This is a pretty good idea Albert77! I wonder why luppie did not think that way. Please name the company that can provide us 20 assembled boards until the fair and I am happy to get them for that bargain of 5 Euro each. Oh, I had forgotten the parts. And the time to assemble them.
I think the price is still fair. And if you do it more cheap, you are my man!

Par Albert77

Rookie (21)

14-01-2019, 18:20

I can see what I can do got allot of handy equipment at my work I could ask some colleagues to help me getting started

Par Ana

Supporter (7)

15-01-2019, 00:42

10 empty boards are worth 10 euros.

That plate can be produced in Europe at a cost of 20/25 euros plus shipping costs, already for the public price ...

Producing in Brazil to send to Europe is very expensive, for a board that is not difficult to assemble

Par Albert77

Rookie (21)

15-01-2019, 06:27

For the company I work at the batch is to small lol

Par smx

Resident (43)

15-01-2019, 17:31

Is there any possibility of connecting 2 Joystick?
I think about GPIO if there are available Pins or USB Arduino 2 Joystick if not (https://github.com/mcgurk/Arduino-USB-HID-RetroJoystickAdapt...).

Par djh1697

Paragon (1508)

15-01-2019, 22:55

Is the cartridge loaded into the Pi, or does it support I/O such as the Carnivore 2, Sunrise IDE etc?

Par Albert77

Rookie (21)

16-01-2019, 17:06

I did some research 10 pcbs (empty) 70 euro... My colleague can help me with the smt soldering and I can do the tht soldering so a estimated guess would be around 20 to 25 for an assembled board... Excluding postage costs...

Par hamlet

Scribe (3406)

16-01-2019, 17:48

I'm in for two boards. Please let me know when you're start your project.
This group buy is meant for all the people who are need the board for developing and all the early birds of course. I already bought two boards from Victor which are come in a very good quality and working fine. I'm sure it will be possible to produce them cheaper in cheaper here. But that's a start for all hard core MSX lovers who need to get their hands on the PI-MSX. In my opinion this will be the future in MSXing.
Thanks for the investigations, Albert77!

Par psxdev

Resident (40)

16-01-2019, 21:23

Pcb less 5 euros each
74hc595 0.39 euros each
74lvc4245 0.96 euros each
74hc04 0.30 euros each
74hc373 0.96 euros each
Led and resistor inexpensive
Conclusion you can get whole less than 10 euros in material

Advice make it yourself

Par hamlet

Scribe (3406)

16-01-2019, 22:15

You can even build your own iPhone. No need to pay hundreds of dollars.

Par Albert77

Rookie (21)

16-01-2019, 23:49

Par Pablibiris

Paragon (1799)

17-01-2019, 09:18

Work in progress here
https://www.msx.pics/image/U4C5D

Par hamlet

Scribe (3406)

17-01-2019, 16:48

This is amazing Pablo! Did you already test them?

Par luppie

Paladin (854)

17-01-2019, 20:33

I'm a bit tired of the pricing discussion. My intention is to get interested people a HAT as soon as possible. Yes the project is open source and yes you can make it your self (if having the right skills and equipment) For al those people who like to have one medio February that is tested and working, I'll offer my services.
I don't make any profit on it, if in doubt contact Victor directly, asking him for the price to send one HAT.
So thank you for all the comments and your welcome that I spend my free time for the community.

Par Pablibiris

Paragon (1799)

18-01-2019, 13:47

hamlet wrote:

This is amazing Pablo! Did you already test them?

Not yet,Hamlet
I'm waiting one of the ICs to finish It

Par Vampier

Prophet (2374)

18-01-2019, 20:52

so does this thing allowed the dumping of cartridges which is then executed in an emulator? Or would something like the MFR/gr8net work?

Par djh1697

Paragon (1508)

31-01-2019, 18:48

Vampier wrote:

so does this thing allowed the dumping of cartridges which is then executed in an emulator? Or would something like the MFR/gr8net work?

I asked the same question? It wasn't answered? If it is running dumps from the cartridges, then you might just as well load a ROM file straight from the SD card in the Pi

Par Pencioner

Scribe (1288)

31-01-2019, 19:27

from what i understood it is the real slot, so should be usable with any cartridge. the only thing what is missing is the missing 12v which will require some external 12v psu and some adapter to add it. bit since not many of cartridges use 12v line, that is not a problem for majority of users

Par luppie

Paladin (854)

31-01-2019, 23:54

It is not running dumps, but the real cartridge.
I've tested the MFR and GR8NET, but both doesn't work right now.
The MFR does nothing and the GR8NET boots int it's initialsation screen and then hangs.

Par Ana

Supporter (7)

04-02-2019, 02:37

The project is incredible, but I consider several things:

1º if 12v feed links are missing, the upgrade involves the manufacture of new plates.

2 º at the moment the cartridges with audio chips do not sound, since it is not implemented even the control of it, as the developer is indicating.

3rd in the emulation the sound fails, as its designer also indicates ...

I see that there are many people producing plates, we should be honest and say that this is not yet finished and contribute and help the designer to solve the problems that are recognized.

Par hamlet

Scribe (3406)

14-01-2020, 06:42

Has anyone rebuilt a working prototype yet?

Par syn

Paragon (2003)

14-01-2020, 22:44

hamlet if you need one I can sell mine to you.. bought from luppie, 100% unused

Par Pencioner

Scribe (1288)

14-01-2020, 23:24

IIRC hamlet has got one. the question was not about buying i guess

Par hamlet

Scribe (3406)

14-01-2020, 23:57

Yes, I do have two or three, just wondering what happened to all the cheap builds here...

Par Robby

Master (198)

15-01-2020, 22:11

Personally, i am more curious about the support (possibilities), in relation to the bluemsx package and the Pi. In other words, are still only 64kb carts supported, and nothing more/less?
I mean, it's nice to boot a cartridge game, but for example inserting other (mega) roms, or even starting a program within msxbasic from the sdcard storage isn't possible yet(?)

Par hamlet

Scribe (3406)

16-01-2020, 08:37

AFAIK there wasn't any progress. I hoped there would be some users to build this cart, but did't get any responds.
This could be a poor mans MSXVR.

Raspberry Pi MSX Clone first test and groupbuy initiative.

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