Can we get .gtp/.gbp gerber layers included with the release packages?

The link to the wiki is in the Main Mister and has lots of great information for making the boards. I think it could help people find the right information more easily if the readme.md in the Hardware section sent people to the wiki first.

So, last week I damaged the FPGA on my DE10 board by accidently supplying a ESD shock to the button housing of the OSD menu on the IO board. The shock killed both GPIO pins for the OSD and USER buttons. I was using the IO board 5.5

I'm wonder if there is any protection that we can put in, maybe a diode somewhere?
Maybe this is a user issue, as we take that risk by using a bare PCB not in a case, but I figured I should report the issue and at least make a suggestion for someone who is more knowledgeable than me.

There's a strange small solder pad on v2.9 SDRAM PCB. (please see the picture I attached.)
Is it intended? If it is, what's the purpse of this small pad?

My Mister's toslink audio out doesnt work in my dac with correct cables.

In my opinion there is not enough thermal relief on GND pins of SDRAM chips.
Same for GND connections of 2.54 header...

The I/O board should be revised to add voltage to SCART PINs 8; 18 and 16
so it gets on spec and allows for automated AV selection

This would mean using unused pins on the DB15 connector for voltages and modifying the MiST cables.

This would allow automated AV features (assuming you switch to an updated MiST SCART cable) as per official SCART specifications

This way MiSTer could:

• Automatically turn on your TV
• Automatically switch your TV set to the AV channel on sets that support it (most sold in Europe since the mid 90s)
• Force force the use of specific signals over the same RGB cable (for instance switch from RGB to composite without changing the cable)
• Force 4:3 or Widescren aspects ratio (should someone ever need that)

More details regarding those specifications and features are available here:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,77370.msg806492.html#msg806492

and

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,77370.msg830465.html#msg830465

可以使用AS4C32M16MSA-6BINTR
而且芯片便宜

I use io_brd_6.1 on my MiSTer Setup with this external DAC for better audio.

To minimize the need for cables and power supplies I had the idea to merge the DAC's circuit into the io board. Before I start creating a pcb for modding io_brd_6.1 I wanted to ask if this may eventually be added to io_brd_6.2. By merging the circuit into the io brd R6 (75R), the AMS1117 regultor and its components and the coax-parts become obsolete. Here is my Dropbox folder containing my scans and datasheets.

I don't know or have Altium, so I'd like to know if it would be possible to export the io_brd_6.1 to eagle or if the DAC circuit could be included in the next version of the pcb, maybe with an addional switch to toggle between native audio and DAC output.

If this may be rejected, I plan to create an addon-pcb that may be positioned here and using the existing pads:

For prerequisites I stripped the DAC and drew its schematic:

I would love if I could load a STEP or STL file of the boards and their components in one of the many free CAD programs out there to begin designing 3d printed cases and accessories. Unfortunately this currently requires extremely expensive premium software to even export these, and there are tools online like altium2kicad but they are not very functional. I realize that moving to open source PCB design tools is undesirable however can some of the paywall-locked features like STEP/STL export from the Altium format be at least provided for us here?

Thank you!

The Wiki typically describes old versions of most addon boards and there doesn't seem to be a BOM, so it's a bit of a drag to find out which exact components are needed. Also it would help if the design files (schematic/layout) would be stored in Altium ASCII format so there would be at least a chance that more affordable EDA tools could import them.

Is it possible to modify this board to use pogo pins instead of soldering ?

Something like this: (examples)

https://thepihut.com/products/pogo-a-go-go-solderless-gpio-pogo-pins

Or this:
https://pinout.xyz/pinout/zero4u#

And the last one ( I promise :) )
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pico-learber-board/notixed-turn-your-pi-zero-to-usb-device

Cheers!

It would be great to be able to look at a schematic without having to install PCB software. Altium?

Hi,

My USB board is busted. The component over the U2a (NCP380LSNAJAAT1G) is burned and I can't find another to buy.
There's any equivalent component that will work?

I've not used my MiSTer for a few months (been busy PC gaming instead of retro). It's just been sitting on my desk in all the time unpowered with the same SD card in since the last time I used it, not taken it out to update or make any changes.
Today I decided to boot it up again as I got some new ROMS I wanted to try out, I switched the MiSTer on and nothing happens. Well, nothing that should happen.

What I am getting instead of the MiSTer bootup sequence on my TV is no signal and the addon board pulsing the red and yellow LEDs (labled POWER and USER respectively). The smaller red LED is just on.
Under the addon IO board I see the green LEDs beside the ethernet port also pulsing the first and fifth LEDs.

What is going on? Like I said, the last time I booted it up it worked fine and it's just been sitting there unpowered until today.

Here is a GIF to show what the LEDs are doing:

I'm probably overlooking it but I can't find the PDF for version 5.5 of the I/O board. Will you please point me in the right direction?

There is no part number for P1 2x20 SMD connector in schematics or pcb file. The 3D model shows a connector that is not common or easy to source, so a part number/source is needed to build this board.

Hi Sorg,
I think it is time to deprecate the secondary sd card. Today, it is not mandatory to use it, and cores that make use of it have other ways of loading ROMs. Wouldn't it be better to use another component instead? (Such as 24 bit rgb). It will also remove any user errors where they will be confused of the use of secondary sd card

Title.
It seems the gerbers for the MT32Pi Top piece are broken in some way.
When imported to jlcpcb this is the result (1).
And if you select the top or bottom after initial loading (2) you only see a corner of the pcb with a hole that isn't drilled out and not much else (3).
The main base board that actually matters appears to be fine though i think.

Pin 37 CKE is decoupled, while pin 1&3 VCC share a capacitor. I assume this is a routing mistake as all 3 pins are labeled VCC.

74LVC1G04 could probably benefit from a decoupling capacitor as well.

if there would be a socket, that would fit with the de10-nano in only one way,
or that there would be a protection circuit in case of wrong pins, there would be
no way to brick any of the boards. just saying as feedback as an user.
if you can break it, you will break it, like with the sdram board pin misalignment, into wrong pins.

The MiSTer I/O board has serious issues with brightness levels when connected to a VGA monitor

When I plug a shilded coaxial VGA cable (ie, the best quality you can get) to the dsub 15 output from the IO board to my CRT VGA monitors (I tested 2 different ones) the brightness is very dim
almost as if you did not have adequate impedance or power output.

If I connect the exact same cable (and monitors) over direct video using the same MiSTer configuration the image looks great with no brightness issues whatsoever.

This appears to be hardware issue related to the I/O board itself.

Hi,
Thanks to everyone for designing and creating this well documented DYI-system.

I just realized the relatively high prices of the 512M Alliance Memory SD modules.
Is it possible to mount only one chip in the dual PCB and add the second memory chip at a later time?

Hi

I recently contact JLCPCB service to produce PCBs for SDRAM XSD v2.5. I used this gerber file: https://github.com/MiSTer-devel/Hardware_MiSTer/blob/master/releases/sdram_xsd_2.5.zip

Unfortunately, they sent me an answer containing question and I am unable to reply to them because of lack of knowledge.
Please find below a copy of their message.

Hi Sir,

Well got your order with many thanks~

Sorry to bother you, but there is an issue that we want to confirm with you before proceeding.

As shown below, please kindly confirm that :

1.the top side is Tenting via holes

2.but the bottom side there is both "Enting Vias " and "oprning vias "

could ypu please kindky confirm that whether we can do your boards as your gerber file ??

Your early reply will be highly appreciated!

Thank you so much!

Please help me to write appropriate answer to JLCPCB service.

Thank you for your attention.

The embedded hyperlink in README.md leads to a dead-end.

https://www.pcbway.com/project/member/shareproject/?bmbid=43024

Hi,

I'm working on building my own resistor ladder for outputting various analog video signals as per the design of the "VGA" output (knowing it's not an actual VGA output) on the IO boards.

However, I am unable to measure a signal on the pins. It seems to just be a fixed voltage, flatlining my oscilloscope.

Does MiSTer require some sort of pin pull-up or down in order to detect that an IO board is attached and use the GPIO pins for their intended function?

Layer Order:L1:GTL,L2:G1,L3:G2,L4:GBL ?