Is this what I think it is!?!?!?!

[17daysolderthannes]

http://www.tototek.com/pio/main1/SUBMENU/Probuy.php?CategoryID=10&Description=HARDWARE

is that USB compatible flash carts I see? I thought those were a myth! Someone either confirm this or slap me in the face, quick!

[Tanegashima]

There was a guy selling USB compatible flash carts here back in January I believe. So they're not a myth.

I'll be glad to slap you...

[Dirt Ball Gamer]

Yeah I eventually plan on buying those carts for megadrive and pc engine and a controller adapter for megadrive.

[108 Stars]

Maybe I am blind, but I see no USB-flashcart there....all I see is parallell and USB, with USB only for power supply.

NeoFlash has announced USB flashcarts for ridiculous prices ages ago but never delievered afaik.
But I do know a Tototek USB cart is in the making...

[tomaitheous]

http://www.tototek.com/pio/main1/SUBMENU/Probuy.php?CategoryID=10&Description=HARDWARE

is that USB compatible flash carts I see? I thought those were a myth! Someone either confirm this or slap me in the face, quick!

I still don't see USB *only* flash carts in that link. The USB cable there is for the power and parallel is the interface. If parallel is such a problem, then buy a USB eeprom/flash programmer and use a donor cart.

I just picked up a donor cart "College Football 95" for $0.99. Has battery backed SRAM too.

[David J.]

So as for that Tototek USB... will is support SD or something?

[108 Stars]

Uhm, I am not sure. Sorry. I just know it is in the works and will probably be released next year.

[Joe Redifer]

How do you use a donor cart? Wouldn't you physically have to replace the EPROMS? And wouldn't said EPROMS need to be flashed anyway (via parallel)?

[tomaitheous]

How do you use a donor cart? Wouldn't you physically have to replace the EPROMS? And wouldn't said EPROMS need to be flashed anyway (via parallel)?

There are lots of USB only flash/eeprom programmers. But yeah, you'd have to remove the original DIP rom and install a LIF(low force insertion) or ZIF(zero force insertion) sockets. I'd recommend the LIFs as they are cheaper. It's a fun hobbyist project :D Imagine... all those $0.99 loose Genesis cartridges out there :o

[Phantar]

I have one of those, this definitely is a Parallel Port-Flash Cart that uses USB as a power supply only (why, I have no idea... lazyness, I guess...)

[Afcs46]

There are lots of USB only flash/eeprom programmers. But yeah, you'd have to remove the original DIP rom and install a LIF(low force insertion) or ZIF(zero force insertion) sockets. I'd recommend the LIFs as they are cheaper. It's a fun hobbyist project :D Imagine... all those $0.99 loose Genesis cartridges out there :o


Can you post pictures of your cart & programmer?

[TmEE]

http://www.hot.ee/tmeeco/EEPROM/INACT.JPG
http://www.hot.ee/tmeeco/EEPROM/INACT2.JPG
http://www.hot.ee/tmeeco/DWNLOADS/MPCPSHIT.RAR

My programmer + cart :)

the USB is for power simply because nearly all PCs have USB ports and because LPT port doesn't give you +5V power output.

[Afcs46]

I know your MPCP. I've opened that .rar a few times, but... I don't have courage to build it, it's too much for me. Although, I'm desperate to find a way to run roms on real hardware...:(

[Christuserloeser]

The flash carts Tototek sells are great! Unlike the photos suggest, you can get them with cartridge case and they they are a steal for what they do.

[Afcs46]

yeah, I know, but my budget is very low :? and Tototek carts are too expensive for me.

[17daysolderthannes]

The flash carts Tototek sells are great! Unlike the photos suggest, you can get them with cartridge case and they they are a steal for what they do.

what all do you need to load games from a CD-R in the Sega CD though? What does that "utility disc" actually do?

[tomaitheous]

Can you post pictures of your cart & programmer?

The programmer is a Batronix USB unit. It only supports up to 40 pin chips (the $150 model) :?. The carts are just regular Genesis carts that you remove the rom from and solder in a replacement DIP flash.

Desoldering the original rom can be a pain. If you cut the pins from the chips itself and remove the chip, you can use needle-nose pliers to pull on the stub/pin while heating up the solder of the pin hole. I recommend solder in a LIF so that you can pop in/out the replacement flash with ease.

At least the Genesis carts use DIPs. SNES carts tend to use SOJ which is more work and requires some modification and DIP adapter.

[TmEE]

or you could wire a MD cart to Programmator adaptor...

[tomaitheous]

or you could wire a MD cart to Programmator adaptor...

I don't remember the specifics, but programming a flash rom over a cable longer than 1 inch can lead to problems (rate of error goes up).

I'd rather not take the chance and just have the chip removable. Or build the programmer onto the cart itself, but then that kind of gets away from the idea of having a simple rom programming setup for your average hobbyist (we're talking USB only project here).

TmEE: Have you tried out those relatively cheap USB to parallel tiny boards? It's a low cost all-in-one MCU that converts USB back into parallel data for interfacing with non USB components/projects. It doesn't add a parallel port per say to the PC, just converts the USB serial data back into parallel data for whatever custom device. Getting away from DOS and parallel PC hardware is such a reasonable sounding idea - not to mention higher compatibility with newer systems for others replicating your schematics/design.

[TmEE]

I've programmed chip on 20cm cables, and no trouble... at least not with CMOS components on the programmer side...

I've have no access to these USB to Parallel thingies locally, and since I don't do any Win programming USB won't be useful for me (unless I get info required for doing direct I/O on generic USB hubs...) I have LPT right there, even on my new 1 year old PC... I have tried to start messing with Windows, but the whole idea of having something sitting between me and the hardware makes me very unmotivated...
I made my device mainly for myself, whoever wants to make one, can do it, I offer unlimited support too.
And I'm too poor to buy things, that's why I make things myself :P

[Phantar]

Problem around here is that you hardly get any new PCs with a LPT port any more. It's comparativle slow and considered outdated. serial ports (aka COM) are vitually gone as well.

The Tototek flash card is fickle as hell as well, since it actually won't work with every LPT-port as well! So far, the adaptor has only worked with 1 out of 4 PCs I've tried it with (and yeah, I tried every possible configuration on every single one of them!). By the way, other than what Tototek claims, I didn't manage to get the adaptor working in EPP printer port mode at all! (ECP only)