Retrofit RF wireless tech into old IR systems -NES Satellite

game-tech.us · Post by **game-tech.us** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 3:02 pm

I want update the satellite with RF technology, but i'm not sure where to start. Does anyone know if its possible to just swap the IR communications with RF? My ultimate goal is wireless NES controllers, but this would be easier and quicker to achieve if its as easy as connect up a transmitter and reciever to the right traces inside the satellite components. Like these maybe.
My thought is you can still use your favorite nes controller, just from about anywhere within your house.
A battery upgrade would also be expected and easy to implement inside the satellite.

socram8888 · Post by **socram8888** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 3:55 pm

You can buy some RF transceivers (transmitter+receiver) and use some PIC or AVRs to control them

For example:
PIC16F628 (it has two internal clocks, so you won't need additional parts) on the controller, and another PIC (PIC16F877 clocked with NES CPU frequency, for example) on the NES to control both gamepads

And remember that you should also implement a way to switch from RF to wired controllers, in case you want to use, for example, a NES zapper

Or you can buy simply a NOAC that uses RF and mod it (I'm unsure if that exist, but you can try searching on the net)

game-tech.us · Post by **game-tech.us** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 7:43 pm

If i'm thinking correctly I dont need controllers at all, they already exist in the satellite transmitter and reciever. Already pulled some datasheets for some of the chips in each module, trans has a tmp42c70 and the reciever has a tmp42c60p, both 4bit mirco-controllers. What i'm saying is the satellite already has "protocol" in place for communicating, I just want to change the method (from IR to RF) not the language it uses to communicate.
I'm starting to wonder if those need to be dumped in order to be sure of what pins are used for data in/out. Maybe just retracing the IR LEDs traces will lead me to the right pin?

Post by **lidnariq** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 12:49 pm

Chances are nontrivial that the output and input to the micros may be pre-modulated, so you may need a system that can transmit the original IR 38kHz modulation in RF rather than just the 1kHz signal in the middle. At worst, one of the two expects/produces modulated data and the other expects/produces demodulated data and you'll have to replace them anyway.

game-tech.us · Post by **game-tech.us** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 3:38 pm

Sounds way over my head at this point, but how do I go about finding out if it will work or if I need new controllers?

Post by **Memblers** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 7:54 pm

Didn't that company 'Messiah' make some kind of wireless NES controllers? Maybe you could pull the the parts out of those, and wire it into the satellite's housing(s). Maybe the receiver was built into their system, I don't know.

NESHomebrew · Post by **NESHomebrew** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 10:52 pm

Memblers wrote:Didn't that company 'Messiah' make some kind of wireless NES controllers? Maybe you could pull the the parts out of those, and wire it into the satellite's housing(s). Maybe the receiver was built into their system, I don't know.

Unless you bought the limited edition controllers that came in tins with the receivers, you couldn't use them with a regular NES. The messiah has the receiver built in. And since the console sucks, I wouldn't be willing to buy one just to tear it apart and see if the wireless component can be isolated from the main components.

game-tech.us · Post by **game-tech.us** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 7:29 am

Not only is the console crap, but it still brings a lot of coin on ebay. Also a pair of controllers with the reciever to use with a NES just sold for almost $80! But yeah i've been looking into it...

peppers · Post by **peppers** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 7:41 am

perhaps the receiver half of this project could be rewritten and modifyed to be used on the nes

game-tech.us · Post by **game-tech.us** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 2:20 pm

Went ahead and ordered a set of messiah nes wireless controllers with the receivers, maybe they will lead to an easy wireless retro fit project or kit for nes controllers or the satellite etc.

Xious · Post by **Xious** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 4:06 am

akaviolence wrote:Went ahead and ordered a set of messiah nes wireless controllers with the receivers, maybe they will lead to an easy wireless retro fit project or kit for nes controllers or the satellite etc.

Keep us all posted dude! This would be an awesome mod for the FC with its 3ft cords, although P-II may be a b!tch (i.e. analogue mic signal).

game-tech.us · Post by **game-tech.us** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 4:36 pm

Well got the NEX wireless controllers with recievers and it doens't look good, glop tops.
But the RF board looks like a complete module supplied from someone else. The RF chip is nRF2401.
Anyway, this won't help me with my project i'm afraid.