PSX Blaster (USB Comms Link)

[Administrator]

If you filed the ends square it may be alright.
Nope. You need one like this: http://www.mouser.hk/ProductDetail/Hiro ... B8EzaRSg==

http://www.digikey.com.au/product-detai ... ND/1024563

[Tommy]

Should we still expect prebuilt blasters to become available? If so then what's the relative timetable versus PSIO? Will one become available before the other?

[Dedok179]

Designed for serious PlayStation developers, programmers and game enthusiasts.
* Only available from PSXDEV.NET *

100% Open Source Hardware and Software^

Last updated: 03/JULY/2013

Here is the USB Comms Link that the scene has been needing and wanting for such a long, long time...
The old work log for the PSX Blaster SIO Comms Link has been put away for safe keeping.

What is it?
This is basically just an Xplorer cartridge, but instead of using the LPT (parallel) port to connect to the PC, you can use USB (1.1) at a speed of 1 Megabyte per second. This will let your PC communicate with your PSX. So, you can upload your program (PS-EXE) into the PSX's RAM, and allow it execute. This is exactly how the original Psy-Q blue dongle worked seen here. The hardware and software is open source and can be edited and improved by anyone. Overall, the PSX Blaster is a development tool to make PSX games, and without it, you will not be able to run your games, code or programs on a real PSX.

Planned Features:
- Extremely fast USB link from the PC to the PSX at 1 Megabyte (1024 KB) per second,
- Supports VRAM dumping and RAM dumping,
- Supports RAM editing / memory snooping,
- Supports virtual hard disk imaging (IE: you can stream files from your PC HDD over USB instead of the PSX CD-ROM)
(Notice: Features may change at any given time as the PSX Blaster is an open source project in development)

No soldering required. Just plug the PSX Blaster into your PSX's PIO port, plug it into your PC over the included USB cable, setup the drivers, development environment (IE: Psy-Q) and you're ready to start uploading your games and programs to the PlayStation 1!

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PSX Blaster Version 1.0 (FT245RL)
This design has been scratched.
You may download the EAGLE PCB design files below and do what you like with it. Note that it has never been built nor tested. No software exists for it either, so it is useless. Do not attempt to build it. It is for learning purposes only.

Version 1.0 PCB Dimensions: 70mm x 55mm.
We originally planned for Version 1.1 to be 50mm in height by moving some IC's to the back, changing the regulator and changing the 128 KB DIP Flash to SMD or PLCC. We will leave that up to you to do...

PCB Image 1: http://i.imgur.com/HBW3K.png
PCB Image 2: http://i.imgur.com/cdSwJ.png

EAGLE Schematic and Board file: psx_blaster_FT245RL.zip

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PSX Blaster Version 2.0
New designs are planned to be released soon...

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^subject may change at any given time.

Is the project dead?

[danhans42]

Think Shadow said that it wasnt being developed any more.

There are two USB solutions, I have a xplorerusb that uses an atmega32u4.

Solution for the Action Replay :- https://github.com/gpoteau/CommLinkUSB
Solution for the Xplorer/Xploder :- https://github.com/gpoteau/XLinkUSB

I use the xplorer version. It works great for uploading EXE's but the console mode doesnt work currently and I am unsure if greg is working on it any more.

EDIT: I said that the above was open source, which it is not.. the compiled binaries for the client/arduino are available - but no source.

[Administrator]

Yeah that project ended years ago unfortunately.

Would be nice to make one that "just works" with CAETLA and USB via PSEXE.COM or CATFLAP. If 'Greg' is still interested in developing one, I'd be happy to work with him on it based off of his design.

[danhans42]

I have asked Greg if he is still intending to work on it, as I last spoke to him over a year ago.

I would love this to get some traction.. we have other devices these days such as the ESP32 which has Wifi and Bluetooth, as well as supporting upto 4/8mb PSRAM.. could have a simple webserver for EXE upload and more.. I dont remember Greg saying what platform he used to code the Atmega side of things, but if he used Arduino it could be fairly simple to port over and improve.

[szalay_1]

Hi !

I want renew the PSX Blaster project. (if someone interest)
I did re-edited from the old, and changed small things...(nothing else)

Also looking for I/O connector for Blaster.
I really appreciate any help.

[szalay_1]

PCB is ready for soldering the parts.

[danhans42]

Cool,

What are your plans for the software client and ROM? Interesting stuff.

[szalay_1]

Tanks @danhans42

Well I am not programmer, i know something about but not enough..
i just hardware design, and soldering skills (by my real job)
But i have talked with our Gregory
quote :
The Blaster need firmware and end user software, only Shadow can help with those. I really would like to work on this project, as I at 80% to finish with CommLinkUSB.

Best regards,
Gregory POTEAU.

So do you see who can help for renew the PSX Blaster project and testing etc..
This is the PSXDEV ?

[danhans42]

I'll add my bit...

Not sure how you can do it as I am not 100% certain that circuit will actually work with any of the standard ROMS and I am not entirely sure how you would bang out the Caetla protocol over a USB Fifo - there isn't anything in there to latch the data. USB isn't great at that kind of communication.

That being said, hope someone does get it working - it looks quite simple to build and also doesnt rely on a PAL/GAL.

I remember Trimesh looking at this kind of thing a few years back on Assemblergames and I think he sidelined/gave up on it.

Gregs approach is much easier to make, especially the xlinkusb - just a shame it isn't finished or open sourced so someone else could finish it/port it whatever.

[szalay_1]

I see.. yes it's true.
I thought same, the circuit will actually work or not
I hope it turns out soon.

[Administrator]

This PCB does nothing. It's won't work. It was just some idea we had years ago. It needs a lot of programming to get it to work as intended, and that is so long as the PCB was designed correctly. It's not even tested. We threw it together in 2-3 days based off of a concept in OrCad.

[szalay_1]

Yes i know Matt told me..
I ordered from him PIO connector, when i get in my hand i will try it.
It was worth a try once no ?

[Dedok179]

Yes i know Matt told me..
I ordered from him PIO connector, when i get in my hand i will try it.
It was worth a try once no ?

Did you manage to test? And what is the result if it turned out.

[Dedok179]

Did you try to recreate it?

[szalay_1]

привет

Here is the current result :/

Took me half years, til get the PIO connectors from Cybdyn.
Currently I don't have time to assemble..
I will ASAP to do and post here the result.

[Dedok179]

привет

Here is the current result :/

Took me half years, til get the PIO connectors from Cybdyn.
Currently I don't have time to assemble..
I will ASAP to do and post here the result.

This can not but rejoice . The question remained whether any software was written for this hardware at all.

[szalay_1]

No one built this hardware ,no one tested.
Shadow wrote:
"It needs a lot of programming to get it to work as intended"

[szalay_1]

Getting starting..

001.jpg

002.jpg

003.jpg