FDSemu - New FDS drive emulator, with menu and large flash

Discuss hardware-related topics, such as development cartridges, CopyNES, PowerPak, EPROMs, or whatever.

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deadbody
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FDSemu - New FDS drive emulator, with menu and large flash

Post by deadbody »

So here lately I've been finishing a project I actually started about two years ago.

I began working on it and learning Atmel AVR microcontrollers in 2013 and since then have done many other microcontroller projects. This project uses a Nuvoton NUC123 microcontroller. I have finalized the hardware design and have sent my board design off to get my first set of boards for this. Very soon I plan to begin selling them (about a month).

All the source code and hardware will be open source.

Here is a list of features I have completed so far.

- 128mbit flash (holds 256 disk sides, bigger is still possible)
- Loading and saving works properly
- USB connectivity for writing and reading flash, writing and reading disks
- Firmware update mode (idiot-proof, special bootloader mode included in case you brick it)
- Built in disk selection menu on power up
- Plugs directly into RAM adaptor
- Console app based on fdsstick console app
- Console app not based on fdsstick app but using loopy's disk manipulation code
- GUI app utilizing Qt library for portability (currently only Windows works with it)
- Button to swap disk sides, stays within currently selected game

Issues:
- Disk writing does not work with the tototek mod. Further investigation is in progress.

Here is a YouTube link to me demoing it with the menu.

http://youtu.be/zxUs1bfGqCo

Photo of first batch of boards, first board assembled.

http://i.imgur.com/JF5myO0.jpg

I am assembling the boards, and selling them. Please see http://fdsemu.com for information and purchasing.

The price is $30 now. But I still have coupon code for you...

Use coupon code for $5 off your purchase, code: nesdev4life
Code valid until 1/31/2016
Last edited by deadbody on Sat Jan 09, 2016 7:03 am, edited 7 times in total.
muckyfingers
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Re: FDSemu - New FDS drive emulator, with menu and large fla

Post by muckyfingers »

Looks pretty awesome!

Do you have a ballpark figure as to how much you will be selling them for?
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byemu
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Re: FDSemu - New FDS drive emulator, with menu and large fla

Post by byemu »

Goodjob.

I also want to make a fds emulator.but not started.
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deadbody
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Re: FDSemu - New FDS drive emulator, with menu and large fla

Post by deadbody »

Units will be sold for $50 each.
ApolloBoy
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Re: FDSemu - New FDS drive emulator, with menu and large fla

Post by ApolloBoy »

This is awesome, I'll be looking forward to its release!
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MottZilla
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Re: FDSemu - New FDS drive emulator, with menu and large fla

Post by MottZilla »

What's the deal with your NES? Did you mod it with a Famicom cartridge port? Just curious. Cool project.
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deadbody
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Re: FDSemu - New FDS drive emulator, with menu and large fla

Post by deadbody »

Yeah it is a heavily modified NES. Here is an imgur album of some pictures I took while building it, two years ago.

http://imgur.com/a/FAqCr
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MottZilla
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Re: FDSemu - New FDS drive emulator, with menu and large fla

Post by MottZilla »

Thanks for the pictures. I think I have a Famicom edge connector around here still which I intended to do something similar with at some point. With the cartridge slot attached to the lid, is it hard to take apart again?
Ice Man
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Re: FDSemu - New FDS drive emulator, with menu and large fla

Post by Ice Man »

Nice concept. I once did this with an import adapter but it wasn't the best solution. This looks better to me. Should give it a go again at my NTSC modded NES.

Nice work. Looking forward to it though.
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loopy
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Re: FDSemu - New FDS drive emulator, with menu and large fla

Post by loopy »

Pretty cool. The menu is a nice touch. That's one thing I wasn't satisfied with in FDSStick -- counting out button clicks can get impractical, it's the main reason I didn't spring for larger flash from the start.
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deadbody
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Re: FDSemu - New FDS drive emulator, with menu and large fla

Post by deadbody »

Thanks loopy. You've always been around and I look up to you and the others who have been into nesdev longer than I have, when the irc channel was going strong 15 years ago. :D

I have finished up some boards that have arrived. My software still needs a little bit more work before it is fully functional but I am providing the source and binary to the modified fdsstick software that I have used during development.

Selling them for $40 for all flash sizes, three different sizes are available... 32mbit, 64mbit, and 128 mbit, each holds 63, 127, and 255 disks respectively.

I just finished this semester so I have some free time between semesters, I will be completing (hopefully) the Qt GUI version and the command line programs.

The firmware is completed, just cleaning up the code before it goes onto github too.

Please see http://fdsemu.com for information and purchasing.
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deadbody
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Re: FDSemu - New FDS drive emulator, with menu and large fla

Post by deadbody »

Thanks for all your support! I have discontinued the smaller variations and only selling the ones with 128mbit flash, which hold a total of 256 disk sides.

A shipment of them has arrived here in Nashville, so I am updating my inventory and shipping will resume Monday, December 28th!

Also I have decided to keep them on sale for $40 each.

Firmware to be open sourced shortly, still cleaning up the code a bit.
ApolloBoy
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Re: FDSemu - New FDS drive emulator, with menu and large fla

Post by ApolloBoy »

Just went and bought one, looking forward to trying it out.
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mikejmoffitt
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Re: FDSemu - New FDS drive emulator, with menu and large fla

Post by mikejmoffitt »

Mine just arrived. Once I have a Famicom set up, or I've re-shaped the FDS RAM cart into an NES cart shape, I'll let you know how it is.
Arasoi
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Re: FDSemu - New FDS drive emulator, with menu and large fla

Post by Arasoi »

I've had mine about a week now. The updated gui is working fine, and the device is working perfectly. My only gripe is that the program doesn't register input from a 15 pin controller on a Famicom, but I was told this would be looked into for a future release. Good solid product, works as advertised with any FDS game I've thrown at it.

I think I might try to mod it into my RAM Adapter case at some point and do away with the cable.
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