RetroCastle USB IO Issues

[spbarney]

Hey y'all,

Short time lurker, first time posting. I finally committed to the MiSTer FPGA, and got all the necessary objects from Ivory over at RetroCastle.

Right now I am running into an obstacle: my USB keyboards are not recognized by the MiSTer. So far, I've tried multiple ports and multiple different keyboards that don't seem to be recognized by my RetroCastle 2024 Dual RAM Digital IO Board.

I also have used three different power sources via USB-C: the USB-C to barrel adaptor Ivory provided to connect to the original DE10-Nano AC adaptor, and two different USB-C AC adaptors capable of sending minimum 5V 3A to the device.

Kinda at a loss at the moment; I also tried to see if the 8bitdo USB Bluetooth adaptor I bought worked, but it too is not getting any power. I have reseated the micro-USB bridge to see if that would solve anything, but so far, no luck.

I'm gunna try and reseat the Digital IO board again and see if that might be the issue but until then, if anyone has any advice, I'd really appreciate it!!

Thank you!

[Malor]

So far, I've tried multiple ports and multiple different keyboards that don't seem to be recognized by my RetroCastle 2024 Dual RAM Digital IO Board.

I haven't used that specific Digital IO board, but mine has what looks like a USB-A port, but is actually the SNAC port. It uses the same connector so that it's easy to find cables, but it's not a USB signal.

The Mister has only one USB input normally, a small connector on the main board. It's generally best to buy a USB hub to go with that, because that port is fragile, and if it gets messed up, the whole Mister is useless. Most USB hubs come with a U-connector. You screw the USB hub on the bottom, giving you four or five USB ports, and then connect the hard U connector to bridge the single port down to the hub. This removes all strain from the fragile connector, and puts it on the cheap (and easily replaced) USB board instead.

I also have used three different power sources via USB-C: the USB-C to barrel adaptor Ivory provided to connect to the original DE10-Nano AC adaptor, and two different USB-C AC adaptors capable of sending minimum 5V 3A to the device.

The AC adapter that comes with the unit often gives problems, because it's only 2 amps. The general recommended supply that's known to be good, at 4 amps, is the Mean Well GST25A05-P1J. Note that this applies only to the DE-10 Nano, other boards like the Mister Pi are handling power input differently.

There's no point in going past 4A, because the Nano has robust protection circuitry, and simply will not transmit more than that.

You can also often power the board via a port on I/O daughterboards, but I'm unclear on how that works. I'm just using the old standard Meanwell and the regular barrel connector on the main board. If someone else chimes in with more knowledge, pay attention.

[neogeo81]

I have read somewhere that there was an update and that some keyboards with usb dongles don't work anymore.

[neogeo81]

So far, I've tried multiple ports and multiple different keyboards that don't seem to be recognized by my RetroCastle 2024 Dual RAM Digital IO Board.

I haven't used that specific Digital IO board, but mine has what looks like a USB-A port, but is actually the SNAC port. It uses the same connector so that it's easy to find cables, but it's not a USB signal.

The Mister has only one USB input normally, a small connector on the main board. It's generally best to buy a USB hub to go with that, because that port is fragile, and if it gets messed up, the whole Mister is useless. Most USB hubs come with a U-connector. You screw the USB hub on the bottom, giving you four or five USB ports, and then connect the hard U connector to bridge the single port down to the hub. This removes all strain from the fragile connector, and puts it on the cheap (and easily replaced) USB board instead.

I also have used three different power sources via USB-C: the USB-C to barrel adaptor Ivory provided to connect to the original DE10-Nano AC adaptor, and two different USB-C AC adaptors capable of sending minimum 5V 3A to the device.

The AC adapter that comes with the unit often gives problems, because it's only 2 amps. The general recommended supply that's known to be good, at 4 amps, is the Mean Well GST25A05-P1J. Note that this applies only to the DE-10 Nano, other boards like the Mister Pi are handling power input differently.

There's no point in going past 4A, because the Nano has robust protection circuitry, and simply will not transmit more than that.

You can also often power the board via a port on I/O daughterboards, but I'm unclear on how that works. I'm just using the old standard Meanwell and the regular barrel connector on the main board. If someone else chimes in with more knowledge, pay attention.

Do you even know what the retrocastle build is? why are you talking about USB hubs if this is a finished product with 4 USB ports included?

[neogeo81]

Hey y'all,

Short time lurker, first time posting. I finally committed to the MiSTer FPGA, and got all the necessary objects from Ivory over at RetroCastle.

Right now I am running into an obstacle: my USB keyboards are not recognized by the MiSTer. So far, I've tried multiple ports and multiple different keyboards that don't seem to be recognized by my RetroCastle 2024 Dual RAM Digital IO Board.

I also have used three different power sources via USB-C: the USB-C to barrel adaptor Ivory provided to connect to the original DE10-Nano AC adaptor, and two different USB-C AC adaptors capable of sending minimum 5V 3A to the device.

Kinda at a loss at the moment; I also tried to see if the 8bitdo USB Bluetooth adaptor I bought worked, but it too is not getting any power. I have reseated the micro-USB bridge to see if that would solve anything, but so far, no luck.

I'm gunna try and reseat the Digital IO board again and see if that might be the issue but until then, if anyone has any advice, I'd really appreciate it!!

Thank you!

I use a 3A Pi Power Supply which powers enough to have all 4 USB ports used without issue.
You shouldn't power the mister in any other way then over the USB C port as stated in the article page of the retrocastle mister.

This is a known issue with keyboards and not an issue with this particular build.

[spbarney]

Hey y'all,

Short time lurker, first time posting. I finally committed to the MiSTer FPGA, and got all the necessary objects from Ivory over at RetroCastle.

Right now I am running into an obstacle: my USB keyboards are not recognized by the MiSTer. So far, I've tried multiple ports and multiple different keyboards that don't seem to be recognized by my RetroCastle 2024 Dual RAM Digital IO Board.

I also have used three different power sources via USB-C: the USB-C to barrel adaptor Ivory provided to connect to the original DE10-Nano AC adaptor, and two different USB-C AC adaptors capable of sending minimum 5V 3A to the device.

Kinda at a loss at the moment; I also tried to see if the 8bitdo USB Bluetooth adaptor I bought worked, but it too is not getting any power. I have reseated the micro-USB bridge to see if that would solve anything, but so far, no luck.

I'm gunna try and reseat the Digital IO board again and see if that might be the issue but until then, if anyone has any advice, I'd really appreciate it!!

Thank you!

I use a 3A Pi Power Supply which powers enough to have all 4 USB ports used without issue.
You shouldn't power the mister in any other way then over the USB C port as stated in the article page of the retrocastle mister.

This is a known issue with keyboards and not an issue with this particular build.

Thanks for this info! I checked with the discord as well and was suggested an Anker USB hub to connect to one of the USB ports on the Digital IO, as that bypasses the problem myself and others have.

I am gunna get it now and provide an update on this to close the loop

[TheJesusFish]

Hey y'all,

Short time lurker, first time posting. I finally committed to the MiSTer FPGA, and got all the necessary objects from Ivory over at RetroCastle.

Right now I am running into an obstacle: my USB keyboards are not recognized by the MiSTer. So far, I've tried multiple ports and multiple different keyboards that don't seem to be recognized by my RetroCastle 2024 Dual RAM Digital IO Board.

I also have used three different power sources via USB-C: the USB-C to barrel adaptor Ivory provided to connect to the original DE10-Nano AC adaptor, and two different USB-C AC adaptors capable of sending minimum 5V 3A to the device.

Kinda at a loss at the moment; I also tried to see if the 8bitdo USB Bluetooth adaptor I bought worked, but it too is not getting any power. I have reseated the micro-USB bridge to see if that would solve anything, but so far, no luck.

I'm gunna try and reseat the Digital IO board again and see if that might be the issue but until then, if anyone has any advice, I'd really appreciate it!!

Thank you!

I use a 3A Pi Power Supply which powers enough to have all 4 USB ports used without issue.
You shouldn't power the mister in any other way then over the USB C port as stated in the article page of the retrocastle mister.

This is a known issue with keyboards and not an issue with this particular build.

It’s not just keyboards. Bluetooth and Wifi dongles also often don’t work (but will work fine in plugged into a hub).

[neogeo81]

Hey y'all,

Short time lurker, first time posting. I finally committed to the MiSTer FPGA, and got all the necessary objects from Ivory over at RetroCastle.

Right now I am running into an obstacle: my USB keyboards are not recognized by the MiSTer. So far, I've tried multiple ports and multiple different keyboards that don't seem to be recognized by my RetroCastle 2024 Dual RAM Digital IO Board.

I also have used three different power sources via USB-C: the USB-C to barrel adaptor Ivory provided to connect to the original DE10-Nano AC adaptor, and two different USB-C AC adaptors capable of sending minimum 5V 3A to the device.

Kinda at a loss at the moment; I also tried to see if the 8bitdo USB Bluetooth adaptor I bought worked, but it too is not getting any power. I have reseated the micro-USB bridge to see if that would solve anything, but so far, no luck.

I'm gunna try and reseat the Digital IO board again and see if that might be the issue but until then, if anyone has any advice, I'd really appreciate it!!

Thank you!

I use a 3A Pi Power Supply which powers enough to have all 4 USB ports used without issue.
You shouldn't power the mister in any other way then over the USB C port as stated in the article page of the retrocastle mister.

This is a known issue with keyboards and not an issue with this particular build.

It’s not just keyboards. Bluetooth and Wifi dongles also often don’t work (but will work fine in plugged into a hub).

That's because retrocastle uses newer USB ports with higher voltage.