New MiSTer Composite adapter - mAVster_MD2

[retrorepair]

I've finally completed my composite video adapter for MiSTer

I hope the name isn't too awful

We can now use Megadrive/Genesis 2 RF, Composite and RGB cables. I also added S-Video

Below are examples of RF, I'll need to add composite, s-video and rgb examples. Also I'll need to work out how to take decent pictures of a CRT as these aren't the best

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I will be offering these for sale soon, I have a few to send to developers who wanted them but almost ready for orders

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[dshadoff]

Will you be publishing schematics/gerbers ?

[retrorepair]

I will be yes.

[retrorepair]

If anyone is interested, here's the link to pre-orders (shipping 29/09): https://misterbits.fwscart.com/product_ ... 14892.aspx

Gerbers etc will follow later.

[retrorepair]

Pre-orders on this will close tomorrow (15/09) so I can make sure there is enough time to order the correct number of boards.

[amadama]

Looks cool, I just did a pre-order. How do you handle audio output (especially over RF?)

[retrorepair]

Audio comes from the MiSTer I/O 3.5mm jack. It then goes to the L/R audio pins of the MD2 connector and is also combined into mono for RF audio.

Composite video is generated on the board and the RF adapter uses this to generate the RF signal and combines with the mono audio.

From a usage point of view you plug vga and audio from MiSTer to mAVster-MD2 and mAVster-MD2 into your selected Megadrive 2 cable then into your TV

[amadama]

Thanks got it. I need new glasses, I totally missed the audio input next to the VGA port on your pics. I thought that was the RF output.
Looking forward to trying this out.
Thanks!

[Newsdee]

Doesn't this approach have the issue of missing an internal clock from the core? I.e. it would make the output shimmering even when nothing moves?

[retrorepair]

To varying degrees yes. Sometimes it's noticeable, others not at all. Composite video by it's nature will do this to a certain degree anyway.

[retrorepair]

Pre-orders have been extended until stock is out.

I've ordered enough components to run it out so there's about 9 units left.

[Tacoguy125]

Nice idea. I like the Genesis cable compatibility and I see this being useful for older CRTS and cleaner setups.
Does this offer any advantages when using component vs just a vga to component cable I use now with an IO Board?

[amadama]

This doesn't do component video, only RF, composite and S-video. Great for all the other older TVs people just throw away. I am really looking forward to getting this. My youth was spent on a Coleco Telstar hooked up to a 13" Panasonic TV with the rabbit ear antennas.

[suverman]

Audio comes from the MiSTer I/O 3.5mm jack. It then goes to the L/R audio pins of the MD2 connector and is also combined into mono for RF audio.

From what I know the analogue IO does not have a DAC, its a mini toslink. I am I missing something here?

[retrorepair]

From what I know the analogue IO does not have a DAC, its a mini toslink. I am I missing something here?

It's a combo jack, digital and analog.

[suverman]

Apologies, my bad...

[retrorepair]

Added connection diagram to hopefully help with any confusion.

[retrorepair]

Only 4 left on the preorder! Thank you to everyone who's purchased one, you've made it all worthwhile

[amadama]

Did you ever ship these out?

[retrorepair]

I did put a Tweet out but it's just occurred to me I didn't email everyone, there were numerous issues with the fabricator (one of them being a national holiday) so I've only just taken delivery of the PCBs.

I'm currently building them and expect to start shipping Friday.

[David]

Any update on this? I don’t think I’ve received any emails.

[dshadoff]

Same here.

[retrorepair]

Apologies for the lack of updates, these have finally all been assembled, tested, calibrated, packed and will be shipping over the next few days.

Thank you all for your patience.

[mattsoft]

Dang, I totally missed this! I know you are now just shipping the preorders, any idea when they will be back in stock? Or maybe other resellers will make them eventually?

[MottZilla]

Have you thought about having a cable to go from the VGA port directly to the GPIO port, negating the need for the I/O board? I think it's a neat idea having an easy solution to use the MiSTer with old TVs without RGB support.

[retrorepair]

I've had several requests to restock so will get some more boards on order.

Have you thought about having a cable to go from the VGA port directly to the GPIO port, negating the need for the I/O board? I think it's a neat idea having an easy solution to use the MiSTer with old TVs without RGB support.

I have another idea for this

[retrorepair]

Preorders are back on the webstore: https://misterbits.fwscart.com/product_ ... 14892.aspx

[dshadoff]

You mention in the summary, "In use, the VGA PWR jumper should be enabled and composite_sync=1 in your mister.ini".

Do you mean that the jumper should be set to 3.3V, or should it be 5V ?

[retrorepair]

5v ideally but 3.3v should work too.

[dshadoff]

Thanks for the clarification.

I'm having trouble getting it working, but I'm not yet sure what part of my system is the problem.
To be fair, I don't otherwise use the VGA out on my I/O card (so I never saw it 'working'), and I also had a problem (with slightly different symptoms) with the composite adapter from Antonia Villenas. The difference being that your board requires a male-male VGA cable.
I'm using this one: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07JQ1M7MW
I got the IO board from MisterAddons.com, so I wasn't expecting it to be that (although anything is possible).

I'm going to continue running some tests before asking more questions; I now have an additional DE-10 and will receive another IO board in a couple of days, so I'll basically have two of everything and can be more thorough in analyzing what's happening.