LOB64 is an interface thought up by Life of Brian and mainly worked on by Mario. Several benheck members also contributed ideas.

What this is is a universal multiplayer port for Nintendo 64 portables. It has audio and video signals as well as controller signals. This port should be installed in most N64 portables (ESPECIALLY if you go to MGC or the ModRetro ComiCon event). It's very simple.

All that's required on your part is to include the port with the pins connected to the right places. It's very simple.

We decided to use ethernet ports because they have just the right amount of pins and can be found in lots of places. Ethernet ports and cables look like this:


You can get these from old laptops, ethernet cards, old computers, busted routers, or you could find one online. Just get one, and make sure it has 8 pins, not 4.

Now, here is the pinout for LOB64:
1. Composite Video
2. Left Audio
3. Right Audio
4. GND
5. Player One Controller Data
6. Player Two Controller Data
7. Player Three Controller Data
8. Player Four Controller Data

Here is a visual schematic: (updated 5/22/10)


Note that the controller's data line is connected to the N64 and the port at the same time.

Here's how it works. One portable has a cartridge in and is sending out the video and audio signals, and receiving the controller signal from the other portable. The "master" portable is like an N64, controller, and TV, and the "slave" portable is like the second player controller and another TV.

I installed LOB64 in my portable. Here is the port, on top of my N64 portable:


About connecting cables. A regular ethernet cable can be easily modified to be a crossover cable for two players. All you have to do is re-direct the Player One Controller Data line from the slave portable to the Player Two Controller Data port on the master controller.


For three or more players, something called a Klobio Box must be used. Rekarp, Brian and Mario are still working on that, but it just switches the Player One Controller Data lines from players 2, 3, and 4 and puts them on the correct spots for the master portable. A video amp must be included in it, because sending a video signal 4 ways over long CAT-5 cable will result in a very dark picture.

Please consider putting this in your next N64 portable, and if you're ever going to MGC or ConiCon, it's a MUST. Come on! It'll be awesome.

Alright, that's it, I'm putting lob 64 on my n64p

Awesome guide mario

May I just nod in approval at this point?

Yes, great guide Mario. Hopefully this will spur other modders to include LOB64 support in their portables. And the more the better - they don't do any good without another portable to connect to! It has also been mentioned that the LOB64 port could also be used for video-out (with an adapter).

In the event that I ever build an N64p, I will certainly be including the LOB64 interface.

Stickied!

Yay! Thanks, Triton! Hopefully if enough people put this in their portables, we can have some REAL fun at MGC.

I'll put this in mine so I can use it when I come to MGC next year. It has to sound harder than it is.

why not just use a player 2 port to have fun at mgc?

But where's the fun in that?

Why not just bring a TV and an unmodded N64? The whole LOB64 thing came about not because it was absolutely needed, but because it's fun and will be really cool when seen in action.

/Bangs head and rocks out.

Agreed good work yall.

That k-box sounds like a pain/ Just put two ports on and make it daisy chainable.

so how about a lodgenet n64? would that plug into a lob64 port? I believe palmer was checking in on those things...

You tooz.

Have you done any more research on the Klobio Box? What kind of video amp is needed and how expensive is it? How do you hook it up?

does anyone here even own a lodgenet n64?