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Any chance this will work with a HD-VC9900

Open rfancella opened this issue 4 years ago • 37 comments

Dear sirs, Is there any chance to get this working with a HD-VC9900. This device appears much like a GBS device only it outputs directly to HDMI.

rfancella avatar Dec 14 '20 18:12 rfancella

Well I ve read that this should work, but you would need an extra adapter to inject the audio into the hdmi signal.

vandoeselaar avatar Dec 14 '20 18:12 vandoeselaar

I can confirm that it works fine. As for audio, there is no interface for it exposed on the board as far as I know, so you're limited to just video.

adgenet avatar Dec 16 '20 07:12 adgenet

Is the instructions for this the same as with a GBS8200 including the clock generator? The chips look like they are in the same location. So all wires to the same pins on the same chips for both boards?

rfancella avatar Jan 07 '21 22:01 rfancella

Using this image as reference I can tell you that:

  • The pins for the installation of the esp8266 and clock generator are the same
  • The capacitors cited in the hardware mod guide have the same markings and position

As for the audio input I could not find a picture where the heatsink on the HDMI chip has been removed, so I can only speculate that audio injection might be possible depending on which IC they have used. If you can send pictures of it (and maybe the IC left of it) I can have a look, still best-case scenario you will have to solder a couple of wires onto tiny legs, which might be tricky.

mrjackv avatar Feb 05 '21 21:02 mrjackv

Using this image as reference I can tell you that:

  • The pins for the installation of the esp8266 and clock generator are the same
  • The capacitors cited in the hardware mod guide have the same markings and position

As for the audio input I could not find a picture where the heatsink on the HDMI chip has been removed, so I can only speculate that audio injection might be possible depending on which IC they have used. If you can send pictures of it (and maybe the IC left of it) I can have a look, still best-case scenario you will have to solder a couple of wires onto tiny legs, which might be tricky.

I have just bought one and removed and scraped off the IC, the device is a MS9282 by MACRO SILICON, according to the tiny bit of information I have it is capable of audio input, but I cannot find any information on the chips pinout or a datasheet.

Anybody got any ideas? I have seen a company selling this board with an addon board that seems to allow audio as well so it must be possible https://gamescare.com.br/produto/gbs-control-digital-gamescare-scaller-1080p-hdmi-nativo/

james194zt avatar Aug 21 '21 21:08 james194zt

Given that there is no available datasheet, I've looked at some reference photos (1) (2) As shown in the block diagram, an ADC is needed to convert from analog audio to I2S, for instance with the ES7240 chip in (2).

I am quite curious of the chip right below P13 on the upper left corner (according to the reference image), could you check the markings if it has any? P13 looks awfully like a 4-pin jack connector, maybe they copy-pasted the ADC on the pcb as well.

If that's not the case the only option is to add a daughter board with the I2S ADC and solder some fine wires to the feet of the MS9282 chip. (If this is the case I am very skeptical that the pre-assembled board has audio) On which feet to solder on is another problem, from (1) it is possible to see that they are in the 1-10 region, but it would be best asking someone with a device with that chip (Used for Wii2HDMI and AV2HDMI among other things) to trace out the pins.

mrjackv avatar Aug 24 '21 08:08 mrjackv

@mrjackv Yes I was curious about P13 as well can find no reference to its use anywhere on the net, the 4 pin connector only appears to have 3 tracks connected to that small chip next to it via a couple of resistors, looked suspiciously like it could be an unused audio jack port possibly as it has the right amount of pins technically.

I tried to look for that small chips datasheet a few days ago before I posted but had no luck, the markings on the chip are R16A L27LN again could not find any sort of datasheet as to what it is.

I noticed the the MS9282 in the block diagram has SPDIF, I wondered if you could interface an SPDIF capable device in over this directly? My use for this board was that I was hoping to retrofit it into a PHAT PS2 to give it native HDMI basically so I know it has an SPDIF.

Looking at reference photo 1, it has 4 pins leading to that small chip from there each audio pin off that small chip goes to a resistor and a capacitor. This is EXACTLY the layout of this chip, the only difference is that the pin location is the opposite side to the chip in the picture to where the audio connections are going, but is this definitely the same chip? There seems to be multiple models in that range so maybe it is similar, but not identical and maybe that difference changes the pin layout. There is also a diode that connects to pin 1 of that chip that is missing, I assume it will likely need this installing as well to activate it although it doesn't exist in photo 1 compared to this board.

james194zt avatar Aug 26 '21 16:08 james194zt

Audio is no problem. Already soldered it when i used the VC9900 to connect an old sega master system II to a new oled with hdmi only.

I also have some pics of that.

As the sega outputs an analog audio signal an the ms 9282 only accepts digital inputs, you need an adc converter.

Vitalic66 avatar Oct 13 '21 14:10 Vitalic66

ADC converter: https://digilent.com/reference/pmod/pmodi2s2/start

Desoldered in and out jacks.

20210625_123222

Desoldered 2 pulldown resistors R66 R67 and connected 4 wires to ADC board.

red = MCLK Masterclock white = LRCK left right channel select orange = SCLK Serial Data clock green = SDOUT Serial Data Out

Set the jumper in MASTER position. Tried slave first as i thought MS9282 is master, but it's other way round.

20210625_123433

Vitalic66 avatar Oct 13 '21 15:10 Vitalic66

@Vitalic66 Wow thanks for sharing the solution. Only one problem... the Pmod I2S2 is expensive. Do you think it is possible to use the much cheaper PCM1802 or PCM1808?

PCM1802 Datasheat: https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/pcm1808.pdf PCM1808 Datasheet: https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/pcm1808.pdf

jamesoft145 avatar Oct 25 '21 06:10 jamesoft145

@jamesoft145 PCM1808 works fine for me:

  • SCK pin 4

  • DOUT pin 5

  • LRC pin 6

  • BCK pin 7

  • FMT 0

  • MD0 1

  • MD1 1

rafer22 avatar Oct 27 '21 03:10 rafer22

As mentioned before, any i2s2 adc converter will work if you connect the 4 pins right.

It is also important to look for the right masterclock, as it comes with 24576 mhz.

The pcm1808 e.g. supports this clock.

Vitalic66 avatar Oct 27 '21 06:10 Vitalic66

Just a heads up, I fitted my HD-VC9900 with a PCM1808 board that you can find for cheap on aliexpress, and it worked a treat. Only annoyance was the heatsink was larger than on Vitalic66 pic so I had to remove it and reattach it later with thermal double sided tape.

Ryoandr avatar Dec 03 '21 21:12 Ryoandr

hey,
I was tempted to build this as it directly outputs hdmi but disregarded the fact that the VC9900 was missing a YPbPr input.
Since both cards have similare/same chips, is it possible to wire some red/blue/green connectors similar to the yellow YPbPr connector on the 82x0 boards ?
I'm still waiting on the oscilator and i2s2 adc converter, but I should receive the scart rgb connector soon enough to test / start modding the board, which is the main reason I got this board for, but covering YUV component would be awesome too :D

LawnMo avatar Dec 19 '21 14:12 LawnMo

@LawnMo yes, you can wire like 82x0. Just need 75 ohm and 200 ohm (*3) for getting YPbPr input

rafer22 avatar Dec 19 '21 14:12 rafer22

@LawnMo yes, you can wire like 82x0. Just need 75 ohm and 200 ohm (*3) for getting YPbPr input

Thanks for the fast reply, I really appreciate it, do you know by any chance how/where I should hook YPbPr to ? I couldn't find good enough pics to look up where the traces go ^^ (any help appreciated as I'm not that savvy in electronics, as soon as I finish mine, I'll try to get this HD-VC9900 variant added to the wiki or write a dedicated tutorial for it, passing on the knowledge for others to build this ;) )

edit: nevermind, after a friend pointed at the datasheet, it seems like the 7525 just sort what signals it gets on the same pins, so RGBS is fine, no need to solder to any pins (thanks for the resistors values tho 👍 )

LawnMo avatar Dec 19 '21 14:12 LawnMo

@Ryoandr

Could you post a picture how you wired op you're pcm1808?

I tried this mod on mine, but now I have no HDMI output at all anymore!

mafradon avatar Jan 15 '22 10:01 mafradon

@Ryoandr

Could you post a picture how you wired op you're pcm1808?

I tried this mod on mine, but now I have no HDMI output at all anymore! IMG_20211124_125307

this is how I tested it prior to cleaner install

Ryoandr avatar Jan 15 '22 13:01 Ryoandr

@Ryoandr You have to connect 3.3V to pin 2 of regulator

rafer22 avatar Jan 15 '22 14:01 rafer22

@rafer22

So it's the middle pin of the regulator?

mafradon avatar Jan 15 '22 14:01 mafradon

@Ryoandr yes

rafer22 avatar Jan 15 '22 14:01 rafer22

@Ryoandr You have to connect 3.3V to pin 2 of regulator

no, this is the 1.8v regulator. There's 3.3v on pin 3 comming from the DC-DC buck. Pin 2 would get me 1.8v

Ryoandr avatar Jan 15 '22 15:01 Ryoandr

@Ryoandr you're right, I didn't see it was 1.8V 👍

rafer22 avatar Jan 15 '22 17:01 rafer22

@Ryoandr it's hard to tell on your picture but it looks like you didn't remove R66 and R67 ? Is that optional ?

LawnMo avatar Jan 15 '22 17:01 LawnMo

I did remove them, it's just some residual solder that makes it look like caps still on

Ryoandr avatar Jan 15 '22 19:01 Ryoandr

Tried to move the ground and the 3.3v supply, but no luck.

I think I fried the HDMI output chip :(

mafradon avatar Jan 15 '22 23:01 mafradon

IMG_20220202_002216 New board came in today, and... It finally works!

Only I seem to have some issues with c-sync. But the audio works fine now over HDMI.

mafradon avatar Feb 01 '22 23:02 mafradon

So what are the upsides/downsides of this VC9900 vs GBS8800? If I want just RGB SCART > HDMI (no need for sound) is this the simplest way to go?

RedAnon avatar Jun 22 '22 09:06 RedAnon

Hello all, Been looking at this thread for a while as I am trying to gather all the parts to build a gbs-c using this board as it outputs hdmi directly. Looking to use it with a ps2 though so would need the YPbPr inputs. I know @LawnMo has already asked but I am wondering if anyone has a picture of how they wired them up. Everything else seems straightforward. Just kind of tripped up here. Thanks!

Tgood99 avatar Aug 18 '22 23:08 Tgood99

Forewarning because I'm a dumdum who knows next to nothing about electronic engineering, so if anything I did is a bad idea, pls lemme know.

I'm trying to clean up connections for both the esp8266 and the 1808. I reused 2 empty spots for pin connectors, so I could make them plug and play.

For the esp8266 I removed R45 as it only seemed to connect the 2 unused vcc pins, then I made a quick jumper from the pin on IC6 to the other end of the resistor pad (I'm out of 28awg, so I managed with 26 lol). That way I can use all 4 pins on that connector for the 8266. Only other wire needed is 5v, and that's already on its own connector. 20220819_215206

For the 1808, I was I'm not a big fan of wires dangling from resistor pads, so I wanted something a little more substantial. I made use of the unused 4 pin connector spot on the top left of the board. The first pin is 3v3, third is GND. 2 and 4 are from the nearby IC, and there was no easy way to isolate those pins, short of cutting traces. I took a 6 pin connector, pried out pins 2, 4, 5, and 6. replaced them with right angle pins that I bend inwards a little bit, pressed them in with my iron, so they would be a little more flush. I taped off pins 2 and 4 on the board, so they wouldn't bridge, then soldered in 1 and 3. It's still not 100 sturdy, but infinitely better than it was. 9900 audio

I'm planning on making a PCB design that I'll mount above with standoffs. I want it to hold the 8266, 1808, Si5351 clock, YPbPr inputs, LR audio inputs, and maybe scart, just cause. I've never done any PCB design before, so I've mostly been floundering.

If I add Scart, would I need to put in a switch to change audio sources from RCA to Scart?

I know its typically better to keep digital separate from analog, so for the 1808, just keep one side away from the rest? I'd also be sharing the SDA, and SCL lines between the esp8266 and the Si5351 clock, I have no idea what's digital and what's analog, also if it even matters with that.

Also with grounding, I would assume all would be fine, but in my experience with guitars, I know ground loops are a thing to avoid, with that, should I only have 1 ground connection from the 9900 to my pcb, cause each pin connector has a ground that I can run up to the pcb. In addition, each of the chips I'll be mounting have multiple grounds, good/bad to connect all?

Zronium avatar Aug 20 '22 05:08 Zronium