Upcoming mods in 2015

[retromod]

2015 will be THE year for retro consoles.

I just completed a new mod to allow CRT feeling on modern TV sets. This will be shipped with all highend models of our product lines and will be part of the AV Plus/X mod delivering the best AV picture in PAL universe and best game feeling on modern TV sets.

In the pipeline are the RGB console mod's. Intellivision and Coleco are quite easily to mod for RGB as the consoles support it out of the box - this will be quite low hanging fruit as all required information is in the internet for up to 20 years (!). The prototype boards are currently in dev phase. Next are the Atari consoles 2600, 5200 and 7800. All of the RGB mod's are coming with CRT emulation mode of course.

Real Surround and USB joystick mod will be in between. HDMI will most likely start with the Atari 5200 consoles and later with others depending on progress.

For Videopac I will deliver a replacement power supply, several mods like atari joystick support, AV Plus/X and stereo/surround. MegaDrive will be fitted with 3D Audio, CRT emulation mode.

Other mod's will be: OSD mod, AtariVox, Highscore for Atari devices and game library mod with USB or SDCard (specially the AtariVox, Highscore and Library mod will replace/obsoletes several known existing add-ons with a quite cheap solution).

[retromod]

Happy New Year! We started with the AV Plus/X mod offerings today. Upgraded two Atari 2600 Light Sixers with the first modul's available.



The console now offers mono, stereo and stereo/surround (single selectable) and normal/CRT emulation mode as well. All controlled on the left bottom of the console by two nicely implemented switches. The USB power supply mod completes the package allowing to use standard 5V power supplies which also prevents damage if not handled properly.

Finally this is the most advanced Atari 2600 console in the world!

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Atari-2600-Light-Sixer-mit-AV-Plus-Stereo-Surround-USB-Mod-und-exkl-Joystic-/251768124506?pt=DE_Konsolen&hash=item3a9e8cb45a

[zapiy]

Fantastic work fella.

[retromod]

Currently working on OSD mod. this mod is essential for switchless implementation in the future. It allows to offer an on-screen menu to select config parameters e.g. Mono/Stereo/Stereo+Surround, CRT Emulation on/off, 16:9/4:3 view, pause mod and several other options you need.

It will be implemented in SMD to lower production cost and size and available for nearly all console (as it supports composite and RGB output).

The light sixer model above will be updated to this technology as well so getting rid of the switches on the bottom.

[retromod]

With completion of AV Plus/X, OSD/Switchless mod there are some needs to not simple combine those mods instead create one all-in-one solution.

The outcome is:



[size=140]the all-in-one mod (called "EX" Mod).[/size]

It is a combination of nearly all existing unique mod's. Due to the integration and dependencies to each other the price is less than implementing each single mod itself.

Features:
- hooks to the new version of the AV Plus, Stereo/Surround mod modul
- includes "real" pause mod to hold games and force tv set to screensaver mode
- switchless OSD menu. Simple set options of console by joystick at any time. Activated by holding "select" switch for a few seconds or switch on console without cartridge inserted
- remote control of console by two methods (configurable by OSD menu)
  a) by using standard CX24 or CX78 to control pause by two-button function (aka Druid Pausemode)
  b) by using new enhanced CX40 joystick with "Select", "Reset", "Pause" and auto-fire
- CRT emulation mode for TFT screens (fully controlled by OSD)
- save and restore previous settings
- allow mono/stereo/surround mode (controlled by OSD)
- produced in SMD with enclosure

price is rather low. for example the current permanent offer of our contractor (see online shop or ebay, amazon) including one completely refurbished Atari 2600 "Light Sixer" (like brand new thanks to my own refurbish process) with CX40 Joystick, new power supply, Atari game, manual, AV Plus/X (best AV plus CRT Emulation), Stereo/Surround, Silver Funktionkeys, Orange backlight Power LED, one Game, Silver cartridge slot for 150 EUR currently will be most likely increase by 10 EUR with the above mod. The enhanced CX40 with orange buttons for Select, Pause, Reset and Auto-Fire for full control of the console will cost additionally 25 Eur.
It is professional altered and looks like designed by Atari itself.

So a real fair trade for THE best Atari 2600 console ever with the most unique mod's worldwide!

Expect similar mods for Atari 5200, 7800 and Coleco Vision consoles. The final functionality will vary of course due to already implemented options on each console (like pause on Atari 5200).

Next milestone will be the Coleco and Intellivision RGB mods, followed by Atari one. Here I will use one mod for different systems which uses different custom chip variations for different type of output signals. Not the already known RGB mod originally invented by Texas Instruments.

[retromod]

started pcb layout for Coleco and Atari 2600 by using SMD parts it gets really small.
looking forward to the final result as a smaller size also allow easier installation.

[retromod]

After several redesigns of the PCB to minimize the size, it seems the SMD parts are not the real answer to the sizing issue. So a mix between standard DIL and SOIC is the way to go. The advantage of DIL is finally having a leg on both sides of the PCB whereas the SMD requires additional contacts to reach some components on the other side.

I completed the Megadrive mod which is now based on 3 single boards plugged together. Advantage is to strip functionallity down on demand for cheaper versions of a console and also to share boards for different systems.
The megadrive mod contains a switchless OSD menu for screen configuration, new surround audio mod, enhanced RGB output (much better than stock output), best TV compatibility due to SYNC fix, stereo output with higher volume on TV recreated from audio chip (and not from headphone plug), CRT emulation, 50/60hz, eng/jap mod.  I will start with megadrive 1 offerings, followed by a cheaper megadrive 2 console. Delivered in a nice white box.

The Atari all-in-one board is currently in layout phase. It uses another CPU having more memory as it requires some additional functionality for remote control of the console (like 3 different pause methods: by 2nd joystick button, by OSD menu and by a joystick having select, pause, reset and start implemented (stock controller). The whole console looks like a standard version but having implemented the greatest and modernst mod's around the world. Starting from USB mod (also preventing heating and deadly chips on power on), OSD, remote management of console, CRT emulation, best AV mod, 3 different pause options, audio output: mono/stereo/stereo and surround. backlight power indicator.

I'm currently testing the new Atari 5200 AV mod which will work with a standard PAL tv (so no need for NTSC). included will be an european power supply. OSD menu and CRT emulation together with stereo/surround is planned. Most likely two 2600 compatible joystick ports will be implemented on the 2 port models. It may be required to build a 5200 joystick tester to get all the joysticks (currently about 50 in stock) verified 

Next goal after the Atari 5200 are the Coleco and Intellivision RGB mod's including CRT emulation and Stereo/Surround. Schedule date for those is april/may... I'll cross the fingers.

Finally the upcoming mod's will be higher integrated on later revisions by consolidating the used chips into one single MCU.

[zapiy]

Flipping awesome and your on fire.

[retromod]

We are currently review all our mod's and there will be soon some changes on all of our products:

1. there will be no cinch connector anymore, AV mod's are only delivered with SCART plug. Cinch will be optional only. This saves an adapter and reduce complexity as many customers with modern TV sets connects the cinch cable to the wrong plug.
 
2. We will drop 9V power supplies if possible and only deliver 5V power supplies (also known as USB mod) for consoles. This requires modification of the consoles but has some advantages: on Atari 2600 devices you'll prevent the ugly power supply flaw leading to dead custom chips and the component itself does not overheat anymore. So living much longer than before. It is cheaper getting a valid 5V power supply than a special 9V so price will not change. the classic lines and cheap models will be still shipped with 9V power supplies only.

3. splitting the mods into "low", "middle" and "high" price ranges. So standard mods will get "low" classification. "middle" contains all pre "OSD/All-in-One" mods.  "High" defines the latest mod's  which will be in long term the standard across all consoles. Specially as the long term goal is to simplify the all-in-one mod's which renders the "middle" classification obsolete.

4. some rare items like joystick replacement sticks, special adapters etc. will be only offered in our own shop. There will be soon some advertising for the shop with a discount option making it more attractive than on Amazon or eBay.

5. more focus on european countries, so more english offers on ebay.uk and more country specific offers like the 7800 international power supply kit or Coleco power supply with 100-240V connector. We currently sell more and more items outside of germany.

[zapiy]

Good shouts..

[retromod]

this weekend will be pure fun. Working on 20 consoles in parallel, 10 megadrives, 10 Atari 2600 Light sixers.
all will be prepared for the next gen of mods. hopefully pcb arrives soon.

but beside implementing the pcb's there is a lot to do. Starting from cleaning, refurbishing of housing, painting and verification of each component prior to modding. Also the accessories like joystick, power supplies must be prepared. And for the sega megadrives we need the right boxes as well including inlays.

the atari's will get the latest and greatest all-in-one board with OSD which also requires some firmware modifications from the sega megadrive version. specially as 3 different pause mods must be implemented and tested.

beside that some coleco power supplies and stick replacement parts must be completed. And a white Atari 2600 Darth Vader and Jr edition is waiting for it's final design  (which will be the upcoming "stormtrooper edition" but the final name must be changed for trademark reason to "White Edition").





the clou is the inlcuded Nunchuk adapter which is modified to work with 9 pol joystick port of Atari. It combines a one-hand joystick with the possiblity to control the console remotely as latest OSD mods will be included.

The junior design might be altered by painting the switches silver. the nunchuk will be white/black similar to the console, too.

[Shadowrunner]

Great idea using the Wii nunchuk! A good thumbstick and one button is all you need, and if you can get it wireless that's even better. Very cool

[retromod]

New pictures, now from the prototype

[retromod]

And here my weekend work... prepared 10 Atari 2600 Woodgrain Light Sixer to be ready for the arriving "Ex"-Mod.


fresh consoles carried over from storage

Within all of these consoles 3 very special one! I noticed that afterwards and sorted them out. I will not mod them finally as there are too rare. They have yellow surroundings and letters, a manufacturer plate from Sunnyvale or Hong Kong and internally differ due to changes on the mainboard. According to historical sources these are "promotional versions". Only a few hundreds were built for special persons to promote a new model.
I have no box but the letter on top would be "not for resale, promotional only". One is in very good shape, another in bad one and the last one is really heavy used.


note the yellow text and surrounding instead of orange

[retromod]

the first batch of "EX" mod PCB arrived today.



the smaller pcb's will be replaced in future versions by software only implementation on the mainboard of the mod. the big one is the sega megadrive mod. It is designed to reflect different configurations by not be fully assembled. the atari 2600 pcb's are on it's way and hopefully available next week. Expect the best MegaDrive and best Atari 2600 in video, audio and integrated features. Next step is to build the first prototyp out of these PCB's having one full blown sample for production. Currently only the quick and dirty prototypes out of development boards exists.