Basically until I know if I can get the add-ons for my Ipaq project I can't do more on it (just a few days, now long). I could finish the briefcase on my Nintendo 64 Advance, (will do soon), but thought I would start a new project in the interim - modding a GP2x.
Objectives:
* Better battery life (poor on the GP2x with only 2 x AA's). Maybe dual power (not decided yet).
* Use a PSone screen to give about 50% more screen area.
* Better buttons for control and laid out better.
* Interchangeable joystick and D-pad (inspired by Ben's Xbox contoller) - best of both worlds then.
* Rotateable screen (to play some MAME games properly).
* Easier to hold and use (adult hands again!!).
The GP2x does not have (perfect) tv-out, a chap on the GP2x forum is trying to improve it. Output from the GP2x is only s-video; you can of course combine the signals yourself or use an adapter to make it composite, but let's face it, composite is not good in most cases.
Using the instructions from sam_thornley's post, http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?t=20158 I did his mod to make the PSone screen (PAL) take s-video directly.
The below two pics are sam_thornley's from his posting, all credit to him for these:
I had to use my dremel to make the ends of my slim pliers thinner, so they could grip the component so I could remove it after using a hot soldering iron. (in pic is the part removed - tiny!).
Removed, came from here:
Wired up the capacitor, put a piece of electrical tape under where the capacitor was going to sit and put a blob of hot glue under capacitor to secure it in place.
I am using the PSone screen from my old BigBoy Advance project, once I a ready I will remove it from the casing (and bin the old case). Rather than destroy the GP2x tv-out cable, I cut an old s-video cable and used its cabling.
I hooked up the PSone screen to the PSone mains power; connected both the (Y) Luminance ground (red wire) and the (C) Chroma ground (blue wire) to the ground on the PSone screen and the Luminance wire to the Composite in on the PSone screen.
Test rig: GP2x, PSone screen
Screen samples below - a bit better than composite, a definite improvement (eg lettering is better, colours a bit better); however there is a slight flicker, just slight - can this be resolved with a higher capacitor rating than 220uf?? Any ideas? It isn't a problem, it would be nice to have a nice 100% static screen.
(Psycho Pinball, via MegaDrive emulator):
Test screens:
I will pause this project to complete my Ipaq, then back to it (or maybe both at the same time?).
More updates will follow in next days....
For batteries, might I suggest the Sony InfoLithium L batteries? What I used for my SNESp were actually cheap knockoffs, but they work great!
