NESp from the book

[Jon]

I just got started on the NESp from Chapter 7 of Ben Heck's book. So far I have removed the RF box, expansion port, power switch connector, and re-soldered the capacitors to make the motherboard more flat. I'm surprised I haven't broken anything or burned the board, reading over Ben's book has helped my soldering skills a great deal. This is about all I can do until the parts ship in.

[ChrisKoopa]

just a quick tip : don't work on tinfoil

[Jon]

I wasn't, just set the piece there for the picture. That was my splatter guard for the desoldering iron.

[jackfb13]

Not bad, the first time I tried to work on ANYTHING electronic it seemed like it broke just by looking at it wrong. After a while I realized that working on anything conductive is a bad idea.

[Jon]

Luckily, this isn't the first time for me. I do have a little experience from wiring electric basses. Trust me, I've destroyed plenty of electronic stuff in the past.

The packages came in from Mouser, Ben Heck, and ebay (psone screen) today. I still need to get some screws, aluminum siding, and some nylon spacers.

[Life of Brian]

Wow! Ben's still selling the kits? Cool.

Keep us posted!

[Jon]

Will do, but I'll try to make updates when I get a fair amount accomplished. What do you guys think of the SNES buttons with the NESp? A little out of place, but buying 2 new controllers just for their buttons will cost about $13-15 locally.

[Twilight Wolf]

That actually looks really cool! The SNES buttons give it a unique touch.

Keep up the good work!

[Metallica Man X]

Those are really nice...I actually like them better than the ones Ben intended to go on (that must be some kind of sacraledge) Keep at it!

[Jon]

Thanks guys, I'll stick with the SNES buttons.

I'm at a standstill right now, I'm just about done wiring the d-pad portion of the NESp. On page 158, it shows I need a .1uf capacitor and a 1uf capacitor. I have re-read the chapter many times and it doesn't show where I get these parts from, nor does it show that I need to buy these in the book or online. Any help there?

[XCVG]

Thanks guys, I'll stick with the SNES buttons.

I'm at a standstill right now, I'm just about done wiring the d-pad portion of the NESp. On page 158, it shows I need a .1uf capacitor and a 1uf capacitor. I have re-read the chapter many times and it doesn't show where I get these parts from, nor does it show that I need to buy these in the book or online. Any help there?

Pretty much any dead piece of electronics. Or, if you aren't a scavenger like me, your local Radio Shack should have some. If all else fails there's always Digi-key (and Mouser, and Electronix Express, and this, and that...)

[Jon]

Thanks - but why isn't this in the "buy this for this project" part of the book or the internet, or mentioned elsewhere in the book?

Any suggestions on the electronics? I have a couple of old computers, a TV, and a few VCR's and DVD players. This hacking thing is mighty fun.

[themadhacker]

try all the electronics. chances are, you'll find the parts you are looking for in at least one of them.

[Jon]

Thanks, I found most of the parts last night! Although I wasn't able to locate a 1.0µF capacitor, so I just got one from radio shack. There is a lead on each end, rather than both being at the bottom. How can I tell which is positive and which is negative? There are no arrows on the capacitor.

Here is what I got:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... ustRatings

[XCVG]

That one is non-polarized, meaning it doesn't matter.