"homemade" HuCARD for translations / homebrews/ repros

[ichigobankai]

Hi everybody.

Few years ago i've made some hucards.
Some members have bought them through ebay.


Now, a new version is available.
Much more "sexier" than the old one.


Two colors available black and white.
It's nearly a flashcard.
Can handle 1Mo/8mbits roms (depends on your soldered tsop eeprom)

They are 2 parts :
- the pcb "card"
- a laser cutted polypropylene mask, must be glued on the bottom side to achieve the right thickness.
Without it, the card can not work properly (as it does not make contact).

-

2 mask sizes available :
- "short", the card can be reprogrammed (with the mask glued)
- "full", the card can not be reprogrammed

The adapter is fully compatible with the GQ4x and Willem programmers.


TSOP eeproms compatible:

• 39SF020 (2Mbits /256ko)
• 29F040 (4Mbits / 512ko)
• 39SF040 (4Mbits / 512ko)
• 29F080 (8Mbits / 1Mo)

PS. Just in case :
for a 384ko game you'll need a 512ko eeprom
and for a 768ko game you will need a 1Mo eeprom.

Be careful, soldering skills are required : you'll need to solder TSOP chips!/b]


IMPORTANT *** UPDATE 02/2016

Concerning "MASK" (the polypropylen part)
Now you send to fab YOUR mask as it takes too much time to fab & ship them (takes 1 month last time to fab them...I prefer to stop)
Files are avaible on the bottom of this post (ready to send to fab)
You can make mask with Ponoko (USA), Formulor.de (Europe/Germany),...


Prices :

"DIY" CARDS (you will have to solder the tsop eeprom part),
price for pack of 5 cards. (no mask)

• x5 white card : 19$
• x5 black card : 24$

PRE-SOLDERED CARDS,
price for 1 card (no mask).

• x1 white card + 512ko : 6$
• x1 black card + 1Mo : 7$
• x1 white card + 512ko : 7$
• x1 black card + 1Mo : 8$

• Mask only : 1$ -- not available --
• Adapter : 8$

Prices are without shipping
Can be with or without tracking, insured...

FILES TO FAB THE MASK PART
- Card "long"
HuCARD_cache-UNIVERSEL-courtProg.eps.zip

- Card "short"
HuCARD_cache-UNIVERSEL-long.eps.zip

- 1 complete sheet 384 x 384mm / 15.100x15.100 inches (7 "short" and 21 "long")
hucard_pcb_21long%2B7courts.eps.zip

ps. Files are EPS Illustrator files.

Ponoko website  (USA/New Zealand):
ponoko.com/
Choose Delrin (0.032 inches)or PETG - Clear (0.039 inches) as material
(Acrylic seems not to have right thickness)

On Formulor* (Europe based on Germany)
formulor.de/
Choose Acrylic (1mm) or Polypropylen (0.8mm)

Payment : PayPal
- 120 cards of each color in stock
- laser cutted masks are made in Germany (on demand). Fab takes ~10 days.

Due to forum restrictions/rules, instead of a prepared rom set this is a little soft to prepare your rom before flashing it.
Download: HuCONV_v1.5.zip
Backup: wayback://ultimate-consoles.fr/HuCONV_v1.5.zip
(detect header, region and removed them/make region free)

No install, just unzip and drag your rom.pce on the icon to get your prepared rom.
Make in python 7 (if somes want the .py file, PM) - Compiled for windows (.exe)

For GQ4x users, I've made some lines to add at your customdevices.txt (or create it if you do not have it)

Code Select Expand

;*****************
;*    HuCARDS    *
;*****************

Name="29F080*HuCARD",ID="01D5",Class="29F040B",Category="FLASH",MFG="AMD",CodeSize="1048576",Adapter="HuPROG Adapter / ICHIGO 2015 - ultimate-consoles.fr";
Name="29F040*HuCARD",ID="01A4",Class="29F040B",Category="FLASH",MFG="AMD",Adapter="HuPROG Adapter / ICHIGO 2015 - ultimate-consoles.fr";
Name="SST39F040*HuCARD",ID="BFB7",Class="SST39LF/VF040",Category="FLASH",MFG="SST",VCC="5V",Adapter="HuPROG Adapter / ICHIGO 2015 - ultimate-consoles.fr";
Name="SST39F020*HuCARD",ID="BFB6",Class="SST39LF/VF020",Category="FLASH",MFG="SST",VCC="5V",Adapter="HuPROG Adapter / ICHIGO 2015 - ultimate-consoles.fr";(just copy/paste)

At last, i've made a little video (but in french sorry):

[NecroPhile]

Please read the rules: posting of rom/iso links is grounds for immediate permanent ban.

Neato cards, though.  I kinda wanna buy some, even though I'm far too dumb to actually flash and solder an eeprom.

[ichigobankai]

damn, sorry 

[Dicer]

Those are neat for sure, but my soldering skills are not what they once were...

[Gredler]

This makes me so hopeful to someday have a hucard game I worked on. Wow, these are awesome. I might buy some just to have them in-case we actually finish our homebrew effort

But man, I just hope these are only used for the power of good, I kinda wish they only came in extreme colors like neon orange to match the turbo color scheme, or purples/reds/teals to match PCE.

Whatever they are, I think this is awesome.

[xcrement5x]

Very very neat!  Thanks again for your hard work on this, the improvements are stellar.

[SignOfZeta]

I have to have some of these.

I can solder tiny stuff no problem, but I'm %99 sure I'll never be able to flash them and I'll probably smash my head against the wall so many times trying that I'll lose my ability to solder.

The technical folks that make this kind of thing always say how easy the software side of things is, seemingly aware that not everyone is immersed 24/7 in computer crap. Hopefully this won't be one of those cases.

[Psycho Punch]

Man if the components were soldered I would be all over it. I'm the inverse of SignOfZeta, no problem with software but a hand too shaky to solder lol.

Good luck with your sales!

[IvanBeavkov]

These look cool. I'm curious how do you print the labels? Also, what do you use to glue the card and mask together?

[SignOfZeta]

Man if the components were soldered I would be all over it. I'm the inverse of SignOfZeta, no problem with software but a hand too shaky to solder lol.

Good luck with your sales!

If you flash them, I will assemble them.

[CGQuarterly]

Those black hueys look badass.

[esteban]

Gorgeous.

[ichigobankai]

Thanks guys !

Actually *I can*  presolder eeprom (i've got some soldering skills, a reflow oven, solder paste) but i do not have stock on eeprom and no specific stencil for the oven for the card (to place the solder paste on the right place).
I will make a quote if you're interested. (with each type of eeprom soldered)

The label is "just" a sticker.

[wilykat]

Looks wonderful. I would be all over this if I could program a decent game, I could assemble a very limited autographed and numbered run then watch everyone go nut on eBay trying to be the highest seller while undercutting other seller by $0.01 cent

Alas my programming skill got left behind when C64 was all but extinct outside Commodore clubs and forums.  I tried to take up ASM on Atari 2600 and I was able to produce something static but never developed beyond that.

It is hard to teach new trick to this 41 year old dog!

[Psycho Punch]

Man if the components were soldered I would be all over it. I'm the inverse of SignOfZeta, no problem with software but a hand too shaky to solder lol.

Good luck with your sales!

If you flash them, I will assemble them.

Hey if you're serious and geographically close that could actually be a nice partnership, unless ichigo decides to presolder flash chips.

[ichigobankai]

I've bought a stencil for my reflow oven (will arrive in few days)
So I could sell some cards pre soldered.

For the moment i've got only some 39sf040 (max 512ko) eeprom in stock (~50)
Prices will be adjusted accordingly.

[Gentlegamer]

brb making Magical Chase bootlegs

[ichigobankai]

Like this ^^

[NightWolve]

That's nicely done, much prettier than the original I think!

[HailingTheThings]

Woah, that's a cool image, where'd the art come from?

[ichigobankai]

I do not remember perfectly, maybe from deviantart.

[HailingTheThings]

I see, I see. <3

[Gentlegamer]

Like this ^^

You could sell that to collectards for $1000 I bet. Someone apparently paid $700 for the "deluxe" Tobias PCE Works Dracula X bootleg.

I'm not even kidding.

[ichigobankai]

I really hope you're kidding !
That's really a huge amount of $ (even converted in €)

"Real" collectors must (should ?) know what is legit/real and what is not

[Gentlegamer]

I really hope you're kidding !
That's really a huge amount of $ (even converted in €)

"Real" collectors must (should ?) know what is legit/real and what is not

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Akumajo-Dracula-X-Rondo-of-Blood-Deluxe-Edition-PC-Engine-Castlevania-Japan-/121772174395?&_trksid=p2056016.m2516.l5255

[ichigobankai]

Holly shi*... !

[esteban]

^ That's nicely done, much prettier than the original I think!

I agree!

Quite nice.



ASIDE: How long before Tobias plans a few HUCARDs based on this new development?

[LMS]

This is awesome work ichigobankai!

[sirhcman]

You could sell that to collectards for $1000 I bet. Someone apparently paid $700 for the "deluxe" Tobias PCE Works Dracula X bootleg.

I'm not even kidding.

Oh, and the rondo x was bid up by yours truly.  And whos gonna pay for it? NOT THIS GUY! 

[Gentlegamer]

Well that's a relief.

[Phase]

those black ones are really cool, great solution for overpriced games and homebrew, maybe you should stick to black only so repros are easy to spot, and leave white (or black) to home brewers.

[xcrement5x]

Like this ^^

Yeah, this is nice too! I think the stickers chop made used the main image from the soundtrack and they look pretty cute too

[Trenton_net]

These look pretty nice! Too bad it requires specialized tools and soldering skills to use. If there was someone offering pre-made cards (as nice as the sample pictures), I'd be interested for sure. Especially since it opens up the door to interesting homebrews and translations.

[JoshTurboTrollX]

These look pretty nice! Too bad it requires specialized tools and soldering skills to use. If there was someone offering pre-made cards (as nice as the sample pictures), I'd be interested for sure. Especially since it opens up the door to interesting homebrews and translations.

I'm with you on that.  Any chance we could get something like that for reproductions or homebrew games?

[Alt-Nintega]

These look good! Nice Job! 

[ichigobankai]

Thanks ;)

I've made a little update on my script ton prepare rom before flashing.
Now it makes 2 roms :
- 1 for JP console
- 1 for US consoles (as their datas lines are reversed)

I'm waiting some tests from a friend (because i've only got Japanese consoles) before releasing it.

+ I will put the prices for hucards pre soldered (not preflashed)

For any question PM me.

[roflmao]

ichigobankai, these are awesome!

[ichigobankai]

Thanks !

I've put the price for pre-soldered cards and an update of my little soft (to prepare rom before flashing).
Now my soft makes 2 files, one for JAP consoles (***[PCE].bin) and one for US consoles (***[TG16].bin)

[LostFlunky]

Thanks !

I've put the price for pre-soldered cards and an update of my little soft (to prepare rom before flashing).
Now my soft makes 2 files, one for JAP consoles (***[PCE].bin) and one for US consoles (***[TG16].bin)

It looks like you may want to edit this, as it currently looks like I can buy 5 presoldered white 512k cards for either 8 or 9 dollars or 5 presoldered black 1M cards for either 9 or 10 dollars.:   

PRE-SOLDERED CARDS,
price for 1 card.

    x5 white card + 512ko (+ mask*) : 8$
    x5 black card + 1Mo (+ mask*) : 9$
    x5 white card + 512ko (+ mask*) : 9$
    x5 black card + 1Mo (+ mask*) : 10$

[Trenton_net]

Seeing as how I'm a somewhat technical person, I looked into what it would take to get a full setup since it sounds like an interesting project to try. Please correct me if I am forgetting something:

- GQ4x programmer is probably $80-$120
- The actual cards (Pre-soldered if you can't solder) $8-$10 per pcs.
- Masks (Not sure if these come with adhesive or if you need to manually crazy glue these yourself).
- Adapter for programmer (No pre-soldered version available?). Comes free with order? Not sure.
- Color printer, if you plan to print labels for your cards. Does a pre-made template exists? Or can you use a thermal printer to print directly on the cards?

I could probably swing most of that, but my biggest problems would be soldering the programmer adapter kit together, and worrying about label printing since I have no idea how  that is done. There doesn't seem to be any information on how the original samples were produced. This is a super nice product, but it sounds like unless you plan to make it a side business it might be too much money/work for people to get going. And for that matter, if someone does decide to make it a side business, you have to compete with others who are thinking about doing the same thing.

[ichigobankai]

Thanks Lost Monkey ^^

@Trenton.
Masks are the plastic part glued on the bottom to achieve the right thickness. With each card comes a mask. You just have to choose the short or long version. Short is reprogrammable after paste whereas the long one can not be reprogrammed.

For the label, yes i've got a template.
I will add it tomorrow (a photoshop PSD file, made at 600dpi)

The original project was not for "classic" people, but for those who already have soldering experience and materials. My only main goal was to make a nice "low cost" hucard.

So :

-  the mask are not adhesive, use strong fast-drying glue.

- The adapter if fairly easy to solder, it's dip type (through hole).
It comes in kit to be much more easy to ship
Not included with the cards.

- label : adhesive photo paper.
I'm using this : http://tinyurl.com/Sigel-waterproof-film
A little bit expensive, but very high quality.

[SignOfZeta]

For those interested in a 3rd party review of these things, I have some on the way. I'll be sure to let everyone know what I think.

[EvilEvoIX]

Amazing quality!

[RNSpeed]

Excellent, those cards pcb's looks awesome

[cr8zykuban0]

god damn, those hucards are sexaayyyy!!!!

[Psycho Punch]

For those interested in a 3rd party review of these things, I have some on the way. I'll be sure to let everyone know what I think.

Any impressions for us?

[garrethohman]

How can we just buy these already made from you?

[HailingTheThings]

How can we just buy these already made from you?

*slaps wrist with ruler*

No.

[SignOfZeta]

For those interested in a 3rd party review of these things, I have some on the way. I'll be sure to let everyone know what I think.

Any impressions for us?

In a minute...

[Gredler]

In a minute...

Liar! Take this to fighting street!!


;)


Honestly, I am so very excited to hear your opinions. I might pick some of these up with the hopes of finishing our home-brew and putting them on these cards.


 Thanks!