Turbografx-16/PC-Engine Component (YPrPb) Interest Check

turbokon · 05/15/2013, 10:27 PM

So I have been talking to bluebmw on the possibility of mass producing the component mod pcb and he give me the ok. Now I just need thesteve's blessing as this is based off his design with a few tweaks of my own. The board I already built and installed on my turbografx16 has pots at red & blue inputs in addition to the Y output. With the pots I was able to adjust the red & blue mixing and the lumina until it looked good on my TV set. I designed the board with these adjustment I made. The board will be 1.8" by 1.275" so it will fit in an Express/GT also.

Here are some screen shots and video link of the component mod in action on my sony 52" LCD HDTV:)

Video of Street Fighter & R-type

I just want to check to see if there are enough interest out there before I have these made. Also I'm planning on pricing these boards between $25 to $40. I will need to look into what's the most efficent and cost effective way for me to solder all these components on. Let me know what you guys think.

MotherGunner · 05/15/2013, 11:40 PM

You know me bro. Count me in!

OldMan · 05/16/2013, 01:07 AM

Nice to see the adjustment pots added

(R4, R6 and R17, right?)
Let us know how many you would have to sell at those prices to break even. (Even if you order extra boards/parts)
I'm sure they will sell, but it may take a while.

FWIW: I hate soldering smc parts. Since you were interested in the gotee method, look up "toaster oven soldering". That might actually be easier...

Keith Courage · 05/16/2013, 04:30 AM

You already know that I will most likely need 4 of them

jelloslug · 05/16/2013, 09:00 AM

I'd buy it.

turbokon · 05/16/2013, 10:24 AM

Quote from: TheOldMan on 05/16/2013, 01:07 AMNice to see the adjustment pots added (R4, R6 and R17, right?)
Let us know how many you would have to sell at those prices to break even. (Even if you order extra boards/parts)
I'm sure they will sell, but it may take a while.

FWIW: I hate soldering smc parts. Since you were interested in the gotee method, look up "toaster oven soldering". That might actually be easier...

That's right, the pots are at R4, R6 & R17. However I still need thesteve's buy in to finalize the design. There might a reason why thesteve didn't origanilly incorporated pots at R4 & R6 in his design such as high voltage offset, etc.

Before I finalized on a price, I will have to consider the upfront cost for the boards/components and any equipment I might need such as a "toaster oven".

Also this mod might not work on some TV sets. I have three HD LCD TVs, two sony's and one Samsung. The mod didn't work on my Samsung but works fine on my sony's.

csgx1 · 05/16/2013, 11:20 AM

I'd possibly be interested in a few.

Duo_R · 05/16/2013, 11:47 AM

Possibly interested in a couple

seieienbu · 05/16/2013, 12:22 PM

I might be interested, depending on how hard the installation is.

xcrement5x · 05/16/2013, 03:05 PM

Is this board specifically for the Turbo hardware, or could it be used for other devices with RGB accessible?

For example, could I put on in my LaserActive?

FiftyQuid · 05/16/2013, 03:34 PM

Screenshots look good.

Is this something that could be installed into a TG-16 docking station to improve on the basic White/Red/Yellow RCA plugs?

turbokon · 05/16/2013, 04:21 PM

Yeah you can, just tap the into the corresponding expansion bus pins, on the dock side for the r, g, b & sync.

FiftyQuid · 05/16/2013, 08:12 PM

Quote from: turbokon on 05/16/2013, 04:21 PMYeah you can, just tap the into the corresponding expansion bus pins, on the dock side for the r, g, b & sync.

So will this thing come with an install manual explaining how to do this?

For the noobs around here, not me.

turbokon · 05/16/2013, 09:47 PM

Quote from: FiftyQuid on 05/16/2013, 08:12 PM
Quote from: turbokon on 05/16/2013, 04:21 PMYeah you can, just tap the into the corresponding expansion bus pins, on the dock side for the r, g, b & sync.
So will this thing come with an install manual explaining how to do this? For the noobs around here, not me.

Of course:) I will throw something together.

roflmao · 05/16/2013, 09:54 PM

Would this be a project someone who is looking to get into electronics ought to tackle, or should they already know what they're doing and are experienced with a soldering iron? I had trouble replacing the caps on my Express and ended up sending it to Beemer to complete. Is this trickier than that? Wow, way to be redundant.

turbokon · 05/16/2013, 10:03 PM

I would say you would have to have some soldering experience already. Not only you have to install the component board but you have to install the output methods such rca jacks, mini-din's or regular din connectors and you'll have to think about the sound output too if you're modding a tg16 or PC-Engine systems. There are existing guides for those mods already here and else where.

Duo_R · 05/16/2013, 10:23 PM

Practice on a spare video card tapping pins of similar sizes. If you had a tough time with caps I would avoid because that is considerably easier.

roflmao · 05/16/2013, 10:54 PM

Groovy - Thanks for letting me know. Probably going to pass for now.

GohanX · 05/17/2013, 10:24 AM

This is awesome. I've already got a RGB mod, but having native component would be mo awesomer.

xcrement5x · 05/17/2013, 03:29 PM

Quote from: turbokon on 05/16/2013, 04:21 PMYeah you can, just tap the into the corresponding expansion bus pins, on the dock side for the r, g, b & sync.

Definitely interested in picking up at least one then, maybe a couple more for other systems like my Genesis and Saturn as well. Hmm, or maybe the easier thing to do with consoles like that since the pins can be tapped right off the external connector is to build a box that takes the inputs and converts to component from there.

Duo_R · 05/17/2013, 03:44 PM

If going external just use a RGB scart to component adapter works great.

turbokon · 05/17/2013, 06:44 PM

Quote from: guest on 05/17/2013, 03:29 PM
Quote from: turbokon on 05/16/2013, 04:21 PMYeah you can, just tap the into the corresponding expansion bus pins, on the dock side for the r, g, b & sync.
Definitely interested in picking up at least one then, maybe a couple more for other systems like my Genesis and Saturn as well. Hmm, or maybe the easier thing to do with consoles like that since the pins can be tapped right off the external connector is to build a box that takes the inputs and converts to component from there.

This was designed to work specifically with NEC systems. I haven't tested this design on a genesis. Will give it a try. I suppose you can have it enclose in a box or some sort but that's not part of the game plan at the moment.

turbokon · 05/19/2013, 12:03 PM

I tested this with a sega genesis and surprise, it doesn't work. Well it work for the first few second anyway...

I made some more tweaks. This is the final design I'm going with. I eliminated R7 & R8 and therefore I was able to decrease the form factor even more. New board size will be 1.564" x 1.225".

BlueBMW · 05/19/2013, 05:16 PM

Just a thought... you may want to add holes to your solder lands for the inputs and ouputs. Might make some installs eaiser with a hold to solder wire to instead of a pad.

turbokon · 05/19/2013, 08:27 PM

I thought about adding the holes but I decided to go with the pads. Boards are on its way to be made. Fingers cross:)

BlueBMW · 05/19/2013, 09:55 PM

Awesome!

alexkidd401 · 05/20/2013, 10:08 PM

I'd be very interested in component cables for my Turbo. How hard would something like this be to install? I'm not the most savvy with these kinds of things lol

turbokon · 05/20/2013, 10:13 PM

With the manufactured pcb, I think it will be simpler then the region mod.

turbokon · 05/28/2013, 09:09 AM

Boards are being made as we speak. Should be ready for release in few weeks.

bartre · 05/28/2013, 12:25 PM

hmm, any idea on a final price?
also, any idea if i could shove this in my IFU without too much trouble?

turbokon · 05/28/2013, 01:18 PM

It will probably be $32 shipped. It should fit in an IFU. How much trouble depends on the individual. I will have a separate guide for install with all the different setups and systems.

bartre · 05/28/2013, 11:16 PM

alright, and are these going to come populated, as a kit, or as the bare board?

turbokon · 05/29/2013, 05:51 AM

The components will be soldered on.

turbokon · 05/31/2013, 05:44 PM

So the boards arrived today. Now the tidious task of soldering on the components.

BlueBMW · 05/31/2013, 08:28 PM

Those look awesome!

GohanX · 05/31/2013, 10:32 PM

Super Tiny! And awesome!

turbokon · 06/01/2013, 01:48 AM

Well poop, found some incorrect traces.

BlueBMW · 06/01/2013, 08:29 AM

Quote from: turbokon on 06/01/2013, 01:48 AMWell poop, found some incorrect traces.

Is it something you can just cut / jump? Ive seen tons of electronics with factory "corrections" that involve cut traces and extra wires and components tacked onto things

turbokon · 06/01/2013, 11:38 AM

Yeah, I assembled a couple of boards with cut traces and a few jumped connection. Still not working. I get some sort of image flashing now and then. Seems like I got a sync problem. Back to the drawing board.

turbokon · 06/02/2013, 09:19 AM

I got one board to work!!! I received some bad SMD caps.

Bernie · 06/02/2013, 11:47 AM

Looking forward to seeing this completed.

compil3r · 06/03/2013, 12:02 PM

Great, I want one too! Count me in!

turbokon · 06/03/2013, 09:32 PM

So the board will look like this when its assembled. I'm still trying to fix a few snags and working on a few details.

compil3r · 06/03/2013, 10:53 PM

Quick n00b questions: this can also be used as rgb amp? If not, is that proyect dropped? (that board was planned too)

Thanks!

turbokon · 06/03/2013, 11:00 PM

No it can't. It mixes the rgb coming from the hu6260 and converts it to component (YPrPb).

turbokon · 06/03/2013, 11:02 PM

Yeah the rgb amp for a different project bluebmw and thesteve were planning on doing. I think they decided to scrap it for now and this component design was born.

BlueBMW · 06/03/2013, 11:43 PM

Its possible at some point we may make a custom PCB for one of the popular RGB amp designs. Its not totally dropped, just sidetracked ;)

compil3r · 06/03/2013, 11:59 PM

Great, I'll keep an eye on the rgb amp project too. I have a commodore 1084 monitor and since I could connect a sega megadrive to it, now I want EVERYTHING in RGB

Thanks for the quick reply guys!

KalessinDB · 06/04/2013, 09:49 PM

Loving this.

Gonna hafta get a duo though, the standard TG16/TGCD setup I've got just won't work right for this.

turbokon · 06/04/2013, 09:57 PM

Quote from: KalessinDB on 06/04/2013, 09:49 PMLoving this.

Gonna hafta get a duo though, the standard TG16/TGCD setup I've got just won't work right for this.

The component board will work in all nec systems, even the turbo express and pce gt.