Adapter for MAPLE (Release)

[megavolt85]

Code: Select all

#define MEM_SCK	 LL_GPIO_PIN_3
#define MEM_MISO	LL_GPIO_PIN_4
#define MEM_MOSI	LL_GPIO_PIN_5
#define MEM_Port	GPIOB

#define SPI_CS	  LL_GPIO_PIN_15
#define SPI_Port	GPIOA

[RazorX]

Code: Select all

#define MEM_SCK	 LL_GPIO_PIN_3
#define MEM_MISO	LL_GPIO_PIN_4
#define MEM_MOSI	LL_GPIO_PIN_5
#define MEM_Port	GPIOB

#define SPI_CS	  LL_GPIO_PIN_15
#define SPI_Port	GPIOA

what is:
#define MEM_Port GPIOB
#define SPI_Port GPIOA

if there not something i have to deal with then i have everything wired up correctly on two boards using the arcade firmware and neither work, the pc doesn't detect any vmu's on either and the dreamcast barely picks up the board and when it does it also shows no vmu's.

[megavolt85]

MEM_SCK+MEM_Port=PIN_3+GPIOB=PB_3
SCK=PB_3
MISO=PB_4
MOSI=PB_5
CS=PA_15

[RazorX]

MEM_SCK+MEM_Port=PIN_3+GPIOB=PB_3
SCK=PB_3
MISO=PB_4
MOSI=PB_5
CS=PA_15

yeah that's exactly how i've got it setup on the two boards i have and vmu dumper doesn't detect any vmu's on either and neither does the dreamcast when the controller decides to show up.

[RazorX]

ok quick update:
i shortened the controller cable and it's now showing up on the dreamcast and staying there but still no vmu, i also redownloaded and reflashed the ArcadeStick firmware but no luck.
the buttons on my board do seem to work because when i'm in the bios on the vmu page it does move left and right when i press them but again it shows no vmu present.

setup is:
M25PE16 STM
1 CS -> PA_15
2 MISO -> PB_4
3 WP -> +3.3V
4 Vss -> GND
5 MOSI -> PB_5
6 SCK -> PB_3
7 Reset -> +3.3V
8 Vcc -> +3.3V

10K Ohm Resistor from PB_4 to +3.3V

update
ok so if i connect and disconnect a few times in vmu dumper i can finally get it to show something and it says:
Detect 118 VMU
SPI ID 11 63 2A
and lists 1 to 39 in the vmu list and i was able to read vmu 1 and load it up in vmu explorer and it said it needed formatting so i did and then saved it and wrote it back to the chip using vmu dumper but when connecting it back to the dreamcast i see just see the controller but no vmu.

[s_d_a_i]

Yes, most of the boards I've tried lost the controller or even send wrong button information continuously, the vmu memory shows correctly in 2 of almost 20 different boards so for me it is not being a great success at all. I've tried CKS32, original STM32 and other clones as well, once they lost communication with the DC it is never recovered except replugin it again. Combinations of different caps from the 3.3v rail and the 5v rail seem to help in some cases, inline inductance seems to help in other cases, ferrite beads make no difference from what I tested with the oscilloscope except from some high frequency noise peaks. No single solution fixes all the problems.

[megavolt85]

I think first of all we need to replace the voltage regulator, it looks like it creates a lot of noise

[RazorX]

i've shortened the cable on mine to like 12cm long and that has it showing up all the time on the dreamcast now but i still can't get the vmu to show up using the arcade stick firmware

[s_d_a_i]

But as I said on previous posts, I think answering to the DC with a lower bitrate will help to improve stability a lot, the DC detects the falling edges so no need to transmit at the current speed, lower reply speed may be the solution for the instability.

[soniccd123]

Hey megavolt, awesome project as always, got the parts and built an adapter and it works wonderfully.

I would like to ask, there is someway that I can use the adapter just as VMU? without any controller plugged? Because i'm out of VMUs (my last one is oficially dead) and here in my country they are very very expensive. Was thinking if it was possible to make a small board and put it inside my dreamcast controllers or even the dreamcast itself, so the VMUs are always ready to be used.

Does the adapter have function show the VMUs without the controllers attached? This is the only thing I would need to make it work

Besides that, great work!!!