Irken (MiSTer) JAMMA Expander

[AlxUnderBase]

Is it really good to go through the whole 31khz boot sequence on a 15khz monitor?

31khz games doesnt work . only loads but the screen is rolling like in the menu when you load a 31khz game . How i managed to make it working to load is i changed on the video mode and sometimes ive put on try sync and menu game screen loads perfectly , but ive found this is not necessary since expander detects the rezolution by himself . Try to see how acts Daimakaimura or Final fight , i don't know how to explain the monitor acts , only i can film and show you .
15khz games working perfectly . I tried :

Twin Bee
Robokid
Return Of Ishtar

these working perfect
____

these i need to show you how screen monitor does

Daimaikaimura
Final Fight

____

Cho Ren Sha - CHOURENSHA68K.HDF

only loads but screen is rolling even i syncguard off or try sync or something

____

Work with mister.ini that i used previously too (same as the one from irkenlabs site)

[x68000]
vscale_mode=0
vscale_border=20
;video_mode=800,16,64,80,240,1,3,14,12380 ; #DOS set using vmode 3 in dos, and these ARs:
video_mode=800,54,104,80,240,1,3,14,12380 ; moving to the left
custom_aspect_ratio_1=781:277 ; GOOD for 800x240 Top cut off, width good
custom_aspect_ratio_2=790:230 ; GOOD for 800x240, a little too wide Top and bottom good
vga_scaler=1

my mister.ini use the settings based on this video :

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZlMqJ0-LRk

 

[Dloop]

I understand you are playing the games that allow 15khz, but the x68k boot sequence is 31khz hence the rolling. And I was just asking if you can’t damage your equipment like this?

 

[AlxUnderBase]

I understand you are playing the games that allow 15khz, but the x68k boot sequence is 31khz hence the rolling. And I was just asking if you can’t damage your equipment like this?

No , no damaging the equipment since the syncguard is ok

 

[Dloop]

No , no damaging the equipment since the syncguard is ok

Hey @invzim , is this correct? In that case it feels calmer. But again then I would assume no picture instead of rolling picture? I’m new to this so sorry for the questions

 

[invzim]

@Dloop, yup correct, AFAIK - I don't have a ph.d in CRT . SyncGuard blocks the sync signal, but does not cut RGB, so you will get gibberish on a lot of CRT's, but the sync circuit itself should be OK.

 

[Dloop]

Glad to hear

 

[neokoen]

@Dloop, yup correct, AFAIK - I don't have a ph.d in CRT . SyncGuard blocks the sync signal, but does not cut RGB, so you will get gibberish on a lot of CRT's, but the sync circuit itself should be OK.

Is it possible to change the SyncGuard settings to allow 31kHz for those that use a tri-sync monitor?
(not just for case above but eg. also for running tate games on a horizontal screen in 31kHz if one is too lazy to rotate the monitor)

 

[invzim]

Is it possible to change the SyncGuard settings to allow 31kHz for those that use a tri-sync monitor?
(not just for case above but eg. also for running tate games on a horizontal screen in 31kHz if one is too lazy to rotate the monitor)

Yup, it's just not documented on the web - with the latest firmware you can set syncguard to fit your monitor,

• 15kHz/JAMMA (default)
• 15/25 Auto
• 25 kHz/EGA
• 31 kHz/VGA
• Tri-Sync
• Off (no guarding of sync)

 

[alamone]

Ordered one and waiting for it to arrive. Looks to solve some of the issues I have with MiSTercade: keyboard support for the JAMMA inputs so I don't have to keep remapping the controls, especially with new cores coming out all the time, and a configurable sync blocker (not sure if MiSTercade has similar functionality).

 

[invzim]

Sooner or later, chips will be available again so more units can be produced - in the meantime I’m tinkering with an updated revision.

I guess a USB hub could be useful, any other essential features I should plan for? Focus is still for it to be an arcade solution for people with arcade cabinets..

 

[Dloop]

Sooner or later, chips will be available again so more units can be produced - in the meantime I’m tinkering with an updated revision.

I guess a USB hub could be useful, any other essential features I should plan for? Focus is still for it to be an arcade solution for people with arcade cabinets..

Easy access to snac port for playing light gun games on arcade?

 

[invzim]

Easy access to snac port for playing light gun games on arcade?

Console stuff is definitely not within the scope of this design, there is another well-known solution that provides that stuff though 😀

 

[Dloop]

Console stuff is definitely not within the scope of this design, there is another well-known solution that provides that stuff though 😀

Well mister might expand with stv and the psx equivalent etc so it would be nice to be able to run light guns regardless on a crt cab

 

[neokoen]

Sooner or later, chips will be available again so more units can be produced - in the meantime I’m tinkering with an updated revision.

I guess a USB hub could be useful, any other essential features I should plan for? Focus is still for it to be an arcade solution for people with arcade cabinets..

USB hub for sure and while you are at it, a clean 'hard' non-cable solution for the USB-C connection to that hub, similar to what the ultimate mister USB hub uses (https://ultimatemister.com/product/usb-hub-2-1-with-cables-and-bridgeboard/). That particular hub design also has a wedge pin design for powering the hub, maybe that could be used to eliminate the power wire from expander to DE10 nano. A flat flex solution for the HDMI cable would also be nice ... (there are small PCB's with a HDMI connector and FPC connector on them and then the other side of the FPC cable connecting to the expander?)

 

[neokoen]

A similar solution for HDMI using FPC cable is also available for USB C so could be another option ...

 

[alamone]

Working good, seconding the USB Hub request - I'm using a USB extension cable + OTG hub, which is a bit messy, but I need keyboard access for navigating mister menus / etc., and Wi-Fi is useful for updating cores / etc.

I think using a ribbon cable for HDMI is overcomplicating things. On the other hand, I find that the stock 0.2m HDMI cable that's included is way too stiff. I replaced it with a 1 foot "thin" HDMI cable and it works much better with less stress on the connectors.

Also, you might want to consider putting some more protection in the package, as the cardboard was mangled pretty badly when it arrived - luckily the board was still OK.

 

[kazuo]

You can get 0.5F thin cables on Amazon that work really well, somebody recommended one earlier in the thread.

I have a network switch right behind my cabs, so I just ran RJ-45 cables to the DE-10 network ports and SSH in for updates. I've honestly never needed a keyboard but I only play Arcade cores so that might be a factor. I do wonder about added cost and complexity to adding USB hubs and other doohickeys on top of the existing design, but that's for zim to figure out, I guess!

 

[phokkun]

I've encountered an input issue where I will sometimes get stuck directional inputs when playing the Dodonpachi core. Unknown if it affects other cores, if it is a problem with the expander or the MiSTer itself. It happens in keyboard mode. Have not tested gamepad mode. (Keyboard mode is what we are "supposed" to be using for arcade cores anyway)

Either way, it's quite an annoying issue. I've already lost a handful of games because my ship kept moving left or right after letting go of the stick and got me killed.

Hi fellas, having the exact same issue as Andy here.

Sometimes, an input will stay on, typically the up direction until I hit up again. I can't quite figure out what's causing it exactly as it's happening in the midst of actual gameplay.

I'm getting a rock solid 5.00v although admittedly I haven't checked my 12v, I believe it was 11.9X, somewhere in that range.
I've tried multiple cabinets (Egret 2 and Windy 2) as I thought it was the stick or maybe a PSU problem.

I'll double check the input test tomorrow before work and even the firmware although it's new so I have made the assumption it's running the latest firmware (I know, never assume).

 

[invzim]

Hi fellas, having the exact same issue as Andy here.

Sometimes, an input will stay on, typically the up direction until I hit up again. I can't quite figure out what's causing it exactly as it's happening in the midst of actual gameplay.

I'm getting a rock solid 5.00v although admittedly I haven't checked my 12v, I believe it was 11.9X, somewhere in that range.
I've tried multiple cabinets (Egret 2 and Windy 2) as I thought it was the stick or maybe a PSU problem.

I'll double check the input test tomorrow before work and even the firmware although it's new so I have made the assumption it's running the latest firmware (I know, never assume).

12V is only for the audio amplifier, and variations on 5V shouldn't really matter either as all the logic runs on 3.3V generated on-board.

It could be a bug, it could be a MiSTer linux thing regarding keyboards in general, or it could be something with the core. I'm working on a JVS Expander (https://www.arcade-projects.com/threads/irken-mister-jvs-expander.23214/) and will go through the shared code to see if I missed something.

Is it a specific core, or one you play a lot where you experience this?

 

[phokkun]

So far I’ve experienced it on Progear, Donpachi and Dodonpachi. I’ll spend some time with different cores and see if it continues to happen. If it does I’ll edit this post to add it to the list or something.