Snes console using raspberry pi

[mattyg8]

Hi im looking at turning my old broken snes console into a emulator using a raspberry pi and original controllers

I have recvieved my raspberry pi and installed the latest retro pie image

Ive ordered the RetroPie GPIO Adapter and plan or wiring it to the original controller ports on the snes console.

I was hoping on using the reset button on the snes console to exit the emulators and games which I believe can be used by the button on the adaptor

Im wondering if its possible to use the on off switch on the snes console?
Obviously I would need to get the raspberry pi to shut down properly first?

[Anonymous]

Hey Matty,

You could probably use one of these: http://lowpowerlab.com/atxraspi/

And wire the power switch to it.

[Anonymous]

Though, the snes has a toggle switch and not a push button. The board I linked above is designed to work with a push button switch. I’m not sure if it could be modified to suit your needs. Maybe someone with more knowledge can help.

[mattyg8]

I will have a look into it…im still waiting for the RetroPie GPIO Adapter and will probally get all that wired up before i tackle the power button

[mattyg8]

this is the version of the console i will be using…i will try open it up tonight so i can have a look inside

[mattyg8]

One question with installing the retro pie image 1.7 will I need to download anything else to get the snes controllers to work with the goip adapter I read somewhere bout installing SNESDev.

Also with future updates to emulation station and the emulators and retro pie image will I have to reinstall the whole image again or can i update the individual files

thanks

[petrockblog]

To use the RetroPi GPIO Adapter you just need to enable SNESDev via the RetroPie Setup Script that also comes with the SD-card image.

With respect to updating an existing installation have a look at https://github.com/retropie/RetroPie-Setup/wiki/How-to-Update-an-Existing-RetroPie-Installation.

[mattyg8]

[quote=2569]To use the RetroPi GPIO Adapter you just need to enable SNESDev via the RetroPie Setup Script that also comes with the SD-card image.

Wrr to updating an existing installation have a look at https://github.com/retropie/RetroPie-Setup/wiki/How-to-Update-an-Existing-RetroPie-Installation.
[/quote]

Thanks for that I will keep people informed with how i got as im sure there will be a few questions along the way :D

[Anonymous]

Good luck!

Also, as an American, I’ve always been bummed that our version of the SNES was so ugly compared to the version everyone else got. That thing looks awesome.

[mattyg8]

yeh i didnt even realise there was different types on Snes consoles lol

[mattyg8]

Im looking at adding a micro usb exstension cable from raspberry pi to a hole in the back of the console, I plan on splicing the vcc line in the usb cable to the switch on console so that I can use the snes swtich to turn it on and off

Is it possible to send command sudo halt to shut down raspberry pi from within emulation station? or via pressing of buttons on controller?

this is so that it shut downs properly first

[mattyg8]

any one?

[petrockblog]

Emulation Station offers an option for shutdown in the menu. That option runs the shutdown command.

I think that the approach of the power switch offered by http://mausberrycircuits.com/ is what you would like to have. There are also other sources to get the same functionality, e.g., http://www.pi-supply.com/product/pi-supply-raspberry-pi-power-switch/, http://lowpowerlab.com/atxraspi/.

I hope that helps!?

[karloss]

I just cut the power line on my usb cable and added a switch to it..still need to shutdown cleaning in Emulation Station, but can cut power to the pi no problems after..just do that and wire it to the snes power button…

[mattyg8]

[quote=2622]I just cut the power line on my usb cable and added a switch to it..still need to shutdown cleaning in Emulation Station, but can cut power to the pi no problems after..just do that and wire it to the snes power button…[/quote]

Cheers, did you make a slot in the back of the console for the cable to come out r did you have some sort of interface

[mattyg8]

Hopefully the last question

the original snes has a led light that goes on when the console is switched on, id like to incorporate an led to do the same thing, whats the best way to go about this

[karloss]

im not using a snes, i am building a table, but the theory should be the same.

[mattyg8]

ohk no problem thanks

[mattyg8]

Ok so I ended up wiring the snes ports directly to the gpio pins and the controllers work perfectly

Id like the use the reset switch as the exit game button by using a momentary switch

Ive looked at the retro pie adapter page and it uses pin 11 as a escape key

so do all i need to do is run both points on switch to pin 11 or does one go to pin 11 and the other to either the ground or is it the 3.3v pin

[petrockblog]

The button on the adapter goes to the 3.3V pin. You can also see this in the middle of the schematics at https://www.petrockblock.com/download/retropie-gpio-adapter-schematics/.

[mattyg8]

ok still not getting it to work

I believe I need to setup with a pull down resistor?

this is how i have wired it up

[petrockblog]

Hmm, this should work. Pressing the button pulls the button pin high.

[mattyg8]

Yeh I will have to have a proper look on the weekend…its the last thing i need to do

what setting should I select
SNESDev 1 poll controllers only
SNESDev 2 poll button only
SNESDev 3 poll controllers and button

[mattyg8]

also ive just seen this:

press and release three times: send “ESC”
press and release five times: shutdown
is this to do with the button? is it possible to have so the button will just escape after 1 press

[petrockblog]

[quote=2693]Yeh I will have to have a proper look on the weekend…its the last thing i need to do

what setting should I select
SNESDev 1 poll controllers only
SNESDev 2 poll button only
SNESDev 3 poll controllers and button
[/quote]
If you want SNESDev to poll your controllers (if you use the same pins as the RetroPie GPIO Adapter) and the button, then use the option “poll controllers and button”.

[petrockblog]

[quote=2694]also ive just seen this:

press and release three times: send “ESC”
press and release five times: shutdown
is this to do with the button? is it possible to have so the button will just escape after 1 press
[/quote]
Currently, there is not a config file for SNESDev, but you have to change the source and re-compile SNESDev: You would have to change the line at https://github.com/petrockblog/SNESDev-RPi/blob/master/src/SNESDev.c#L250 to

uinput_kbd_write(&uinp_kbd, KEY_ESC, 1, EV_KEY);
usleep(50000);
uinput_kbd_write(&uinp_kbd, KEY_ESC, 0, EV_KEY);

Then you would call make clean followed by make. You would then have to copy the binary into the according directory: sudo cp SNESDev /usr/local/bin/ After a restart of the RPi (or just the SNESDev service via sudo service SNESDev restart) the changes should be effective.

[mattyg8]

Ok so I will have to change 250

uinput_kbd_write(&uinp_kbd, KEY_R, 0, EV_KEY);

and add in

uinput_kbd_write(&uinp_kbd, KEY_ESC, 1, EV_KEY);
usleep(50000);
uinput_kbd_write(&uinp_kbd, KEY_ESC, 0, EV_KEY);

I have no idea how to change the sourcec and re-compile

what does make clean followed by make mean

[mattyg8]

its ok the switch I was using was broken so I replaced it…atm I will just leave it so it exits after 3 pushes and shuts-down after 5

by using this method to exit the emulator and to shut down will it allow for emulation station to write saves as it would if you use f4 to exit emulationstation?

[petrockblog]

You would need to configure RetroArch accordingly in /home/pi/RetroPie/configs/all/retroarch.cfg to enable the autosave function.

[mattyg8]

[quote=2745]You would need to configure RetroArch accordingly in /home/pi/RetroPie/configs/all/retroarch.cfg to enable the autosave function.[/quote]

thanks

[braedon]

How dk you wire the controller ports to the gpio pins? I have the original controller port board still intact in my snes. Id like to use that but theres not alot I can find for help

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