Bally Astrocade on FPGA

[Macro]

been a little slow, my cab that was meant to be 'just put it together' needed a bit more than that, possibly because it has been sitting around a long while!

joystick now rebuilt (you can use that in a tank, very solid!), monitor now shows something, so just light board and PSU to finish and I can try the FPGA in the cab and confirm what changes are needed (V2 PCB is laid out almost, added a 5v regulator so you can safely power the DE10 from the cab PSU and a third audio channel for when I get around to looking at WoW. but may also need to make some other changes if anything does not actually work in the cab.

 

[bonehead]

This project is well worth the wait. We know it will be perfect once it’s finished Mike!!!

 

[Arch]

Thanks for the update! Much appreciated. And good luck with the cab!

 

[Arch]

Hi again! Still excited about this project!

 

[Macro]

Everything is tested and seems OK other than the sound output is low (as I expected)

I have the parts to add a pre-amp to the setup and if that works then I need to layout the updated PCB (which also includes space for a DC-DC converter so the DE10 can be powered from the 12v line of the cab)

just need to find time to build and test the final bit

 

[Arch]

Cool, thank you for the update and for keeping the project going!

 

[Alpha1]

Everything is tested and seems OK other than the sound output is low (as I expected)?

I have the parts to add a pre-amp to the setup and if that works then I need to layout the updated PCB (which also includes space for a DC-DC converter so the DE10 can be powered from the 12v line of the cab)

just need to find time to build and test the final bit

Amazing work!

 

[ataridude74]

Are there any updates yet

?

I'm still looking forward to the day I can turn on Gorf without mortal fear of U15 failure...

 

[Macro]

This is still progressing slowly! - With the filter change I made it now seems to be loud enough in a cab without needing a pre-amp

I have built another one and put it in a cab that is going to be used on-site, so that will help see how reliable it is.

meanwhile, David O has a set of PCB's and instructions for the filter changes to see how he gets on with it.

however. I did discover that it doesn't work without a SDRAM expansion card fitted, 32Mb is fine, so for the moment you will need one of those. I will have to try and figure out why the DDRAM version stopped working, because with that it will work on a plain DE10-Nano

Version 2 will still happen, as I want to add a DC-DC convertor, probably buffer all of the DE10 lines for safetly and add some mounting holes so I can screw it to the cab!

I do have a few more V1 PCBs which with the filter mod seem to work OK if anyone with a DE10 Nano and a memory card fancies a try.

 

[bonehead]

Hi Mike,
I don’t have a nanao but happy to trial these for you in my cab.
How much would the parts I need to use your board cost me?

As you know I’m not to technically minded but willing to give it a go????

Thanks
Steve

 

[bonehead]

Brilliant work by the way????

 

[matuga]

I've sent a pm
Of course I'd like one!!! Please let me know were to pay.

Matthew Garrett

 

[Arch]

Great to see progress! Really looking forward to the WoW version.

 

[Macro]

Less technical people should probably wait for V2 to happen, which will hopefully be this year since I should now know everything needed!

for V2 I am also planning to add the connections for WoW, RR and Space Zap - although (of course) they would not have been tested in any way. Ideally, the parts of the circuit dedicated for games will be shown in silk print, so you just populate the bits you actually need.

If anyone near Diss has a WoW, RR or Space Zap can they PM me (unless anyone wants to sell me a RR or WoW cheap ...)

 

[Macro]

Just making up a new test loom so I can test real Gorf cages and the MiSTer version on the test bench without keep having to crawl into the back of the cabinet.

I'm not sure if Aaron realised that his little slice PCBs make ideal ranking and joystick light testers

Macro2022-08-15 21:04:15

 

[Hurray Banana]

Ha ha excellent

 

[Funhouse71]

...in the true spirit of arcade upcycling

 

[Arch]

Any news on this, Macro? Really hoping for a solution for Wizard of Wor!

 

[Macro]

Too many projects, not enough time or money!

things keep getting in the way (like work, bills and all the other things we all know about)

I also had to learn Wordpress for a new job this year (so my website at macros-arcade.com has now been converted, seemed the easiest way to learn it!)

I'm currently building a couple of the Gorf ones and so far the new filters I have used have solved the sound problem I was having)

I also did start to do the new PCB, but used 74245's for buffers and have now decided that is a bad idea, as a fault on the TTL could drive 5v down the line to the DE10 (besides, I am not sure that these are even needed anymore) - so V2 will probably not have them, and V3 will if they turn out to be needed after all!

so project not dead, just waiting, besides I need to travel to somewhere like Arcade Club to be able to test WoW, Roto, Space Zap etc. since I only have a Gorf cab!

s

The two boards in their current state of assembly!

Macro2023-01-25 21:39:12

 

[eccentric-nut]

I also had to learn Wordpress for a new job this year (so my website at macros-arcade.com has now been converted, seemed the easiest way to learn it!)

Looks really good, much more user friendly on my tablet.

eccentric-nut2023-01-25 22:32:10