Plug and play drive replacement adapter Idea

Portables, case replacements, mods etc, all in here!

Which connector strategy is preferred?

Drop in plug-n-play, may take a very long time to come up with something
54
55%
DVD Port substitute, requires soldering modification
16
16%
I dont care as long as i dont have to make my own FPC cable mod
28
29%
 
Total votes: 98
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keropi
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Re: Plug and play drive replacement adapter Idea

Post by keropi » Tue Oct 08, 2013 7:28 am

^ moar spoilers please!!!! :)
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megalomaniac
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Re: Plug and play drive replacement adapter Idea

Post by megalomaniac » Sun Oct 13, 2013 2:41 am

keropi wrote:^ moar spoilers please!!!! :)
ok....
i was disappointed with the amount of rework having to be performed from failed MEGAdrive installs...
while the original design had a very simplistic approach for installation, it was a bit tricky to solder for the unexperienced / unrefined...
ive taken into consideration along with feedback from emu_kidid for a design which will be a lot easier even for the unexperienced...
this new method will be 100x easier to install..... and more "beginner" friendly...
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siphoned
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Re: Plug and play drive replacement adapter Idea

Post by siphoned » Sun Oct 13, 2013 9:48 pm

@mega... are you in need of unused drives to harvest connectors from? Thought I would offer.... in case you were taking parts from semi-dead cubes to make your new adapter.
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megalomaniac
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Re: Plug and play drive replacement adapter Idea

Post by megalomaniac » Mon Oct 14, 2013 2:41 am

dead? semi-dead?
what??

im sure everything will make sense once i get a beta board built up to show the new changes and improvements...
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megalomaniac
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Re: Plug and play drive replacement adapter Idea

Post by megalomaniac » Tue Oct 22, 2013 3:38 am

i wonder if i can get an early christmas present
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badsector
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Re: Plug and play drive replacement adapter Idea

Post by badsector » Tue Oct 22, 2013 8:31 am

I wonder about that, too :D
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megalomaniac
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Re: Plug and play drive replacement adapter Idea

Post by megalomaniac » Sun Nov 10, 2013 8:56 am

update:
ive sent off the design for a small batch beta build...
should be a few weeks to get the boards back then i can begin testing and post further info about the new design...


-----------------------------------------------------------

in the meantime, ive decided to revisit the idea proposed by emu_kidid that started this thread about making a true plug and play design...ive done some research to consider the possibility and taken measurements to determine how to make it work and i really think i can complete the design to have a fully functional DVD drive also...keep in mind, the V1 design required the dvd plug on the mainboard to be removed to eliminate data conflict from having both the modchip and drive connected at the same time. This allowed the WKF/WODE to control dataflow from the SD card or the DVD drive.

A true plug n play design would eliminate most of the end users (you) heavy modification requirements and make installation really simple...but would still require some method to connect the dvd drive...Sure there are other ways to make it work if you want to cut traces, install switches, solder, etc etc, but the goal is to make something so simple my 7yr old could install it...



...so my goal is to design a complete system plug n play modification for both modchip and dvd drive

this is where the GC community can help out with feedback
please see the two boxes below determine how to respond:

Code: Select all

anyone who purchased the MEGAdrive (v1):
did you install the drive insert ??
did you purchase V1 because you wanted a functional DVD drive to supplement your WKF/WODE ??
did you purchase v1 only because you wanted an "easier" way to connect a WKF/WODE without a DVD drive??

Code: Select all

...and for those who have not purchased yet:
are you wanting a functional DVD drive ??
are you only wanting an "easier" method to connect a WKF/WODE ??
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patryc
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Re: Plug and play drive replacement adapter Idea

Post by patryc » Sun Nov 10, 2013 1:08 pm

For me I only want an "easier" method to connect a WKF/WODE :)
Not so bothered about a functional DVD drive
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deckard
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Re: Plug and play drive replacement adapter Idea

Post by deckard » Sun Nov 10, 2013 2:31 pm

The main draw for me to the megadrive was to be able to still have a functional DVD drive for audio streaming titles like Eternal Darkness, but also to be able to play my retail games through it when compatibility wasn't spot on with Swiss/WKF.
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TerryG
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Re: Plug and play drive replacement adapter Idea

Post by TerryG » Sun Nov 10, 2013 7:07 pm

It wouldn't be a deal breaker either way but I would like to keep the drive functional.
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emu_kidid
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Re: Plug and play drive replacement adapter Idea

Post by emu_kidid » Sun Nov 10, 2013 10:04 pm

I like it because for the average user it still mostly retains stock functionality/appearance on the outside. Particularly if you hit the SD slot where the unused Serial Port lives.
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siphoned
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Re: Plug and play drive replacement adapter Idea

Post by siphoned » Sun Nov 10, 2013 11:11 pm

Drive insert? YES
Functional DVD drive to supplement your WKF? YES
Sometimes I just gotta spin that disc.
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pr0ton
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Re: Plug and play drive replacement adapter Idea

Post by pr0ton » Mon Nov 11, 2013 11:59 pm

Code: Select all

anyone who purchased the MEGAdrive (v1):
1. did you install the drive insert ??
2. did you purchase V1 because you wanted a functional DVD drive to supplement your WKF/WODE ??
3. did you purchase v1 only because you wanted an "easier" way to connect a WKF/WODE without a DVD drive??
1. Not yet, soon..
2. YES
3. No, with MEGAdrive it is pretty easy now.
DOL-001&DOL-101 <- PAL
Lupin3rd
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Re: Plug and play drive replacement adapter Idea

Post by Lupin3rd » Thu Nov 14, 2013 7:48 am

Drive insert? YES
Functional DVD drive to supplement your WKF? YES
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badsector
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Re: Plug and play drive replacement adapter Idea

Post by badsector » Thu Nov 14, 2013 8:13 am

1. Not yet, but I will
2. Yes!
3. Not only because of that, but it was a reason.
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MockyLock
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Re: Plug and play drive replacement adapter Idea

Post by MockyLock » Thu Nov 14, 2013 9:48 am

I'm a bit late but let's answer !

did you install the drive insert ??
-Not yet, still in Texas :)
did you purchase V1 because you wanted a functional DVD drive to supplement your WKF/WODE ??
-yes
did you purchase v1 only because you wanted an "easier" way to connect a WKF/WODE without a DVD drive??
-No
Puppetmaster
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Re: Plug and play drive replacement adapter Idea

Post by Puppetmaster » Mon Nov 18, 2013 4:04 pm

did you install the drive insert ??

-Yes

did you purchase V1 because you wanted a functional DVD drive to supplement your WKF/WODE ??

-Yes i want to preserve my Cube as original as possible.

did you purchase v1 only because you wanted an "easier" way to connect a WKF/WODE without a DVD drive??

-To be honest i am not shure if i would ever try to solderder a FFC to my Cube. So the MegaDrive was perfect for me.
The MegaDrive Solution is not completely easy to install but can imho be done by an average technically skilled Person.
But an easier (perhaps completely solderless) method is always welcome.
I think every easier method will attract more people and make the GC Community grow.
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megalomaniac
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Re: Plug and play drive replacement adapter Idea

Post by megalomaniac » Fri Nov 22, 2013 2:46 am

thanks for all the feedback thus far...

...and to keep everyone updated, the next gen MEGAdrive test boards arrived...
ill get em ready for testing and post some more info soon...
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dilav
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Re: Plug and play drive replacement adapter Idea

Post by dilav » Fri Nov 22, 2013 7:11 am

anyone who purchased the MEGAdrive (v1):
did you install the drive insert ??
-Yes

did you purchase V1 because you wanted a functional DVD drive to supplement your WKF/WODE ??
-Yes, I wanted the system to look/function stock-ish.

did you purchase v1 only because you wanted an "easier" way to connect a WKF/WODE without a DVD drive??
-No, I wanted a clean install.
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megalomaniac
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Re: Plug and play drive replacement adapter Idea

Post by megalomaniac » Sat Nov 30, 2013 1:15 am

MEGAdrive V2
plug n play solution


MEGAdrive V2 is the original V1 plus an adapter board with a DVD connector to alow plug n play* functionality for WKF/WASP/Wode.
This design is intended only for anyone who wants to use a drive replacement modchip and has no intent to connect a DVD drive at the same time..
one more time: no intent to connect a DVD drive at the same time....it is physically impossible due to the lack of space to fit a DVD drive...
however, MEGAdrive V2 can simple be removed and the DVD drive inserted back to it normal position when the user wishes to play a title via DVD..




Going back to page 1 of this thread i stated i had no intention to scrap GC dvd drives only to create a board with the DVD plug to make this nice and easy solution. I still hold this same opinion.
While the DVD drives will be "sacrificed" to remove the plug to support the V2 design, no drives will be scrapped since an "unreleased" version of MEGAdrive will feature these plugless drives with a whole new concept design for connectivity to the drive replacement modchip...
this "unreleased" version will be targeted for those who wish to have both a DVD drive and a drive replacement modchip at the same time...


more to come..
for now enjoy the photos and video...







* Soldering may be required for lidswitch and pin29 switch


Image

Image

Image

Image


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Benni
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Re: Plug and play drive replacement adapter Idea

Post by Benni » Sat Nov 30, 2013 9:50 am

UUHH!
NICE!
Price?
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keropi
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Re: Plug and play drive replacement adapter Idea

Post by keropi » Sun Dec 01, 2013 10:20 pm

amazing once again!!! kudos
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hailrazer
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Re: Plug and play drive replacement adapter Idea

Post by hailrazer » Sun Dec 01, 2013 11:35 pm

Beautiful. Nice job !!
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Ashen
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Re: Plug and play drive replacement adapter Idea

Post by Ashen » Mon Dec 02, 2013 3:13 am

Holy Sheetballs thats sexy. Where did you find a source of drive connectors at? or are you salvaging them? I've got around 10-15 here if you want them.
Lollipop
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Re: Plug and play drive replacement adapter Idea

Post by Lollipop » Mon Dec 02, 2013 3:33 am

That's an awesome little device you have there. Nice work mega
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