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    Project DCH (dirt cheap handheld)

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Projects and Themes
    cheapsimplehandheld
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    • mooseprM
      moosepr
      last edited by

      Glad to be an inspiration! If you need a hand, let me know! 😀

      want to get a tft into your project, look no further than here https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/7464/ili9341-tft-screen-guide

      A 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
      • A
        AluLagoa @moosepr
        last edited by

        @moosepr
        Thanks!
        For now I would just like to know which design i should go for. I am more inclined to the 2nd one, because of the full SNES style controller.

        mooseprM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • mooseprM
          moosepr @AluLagoa
          last edited by

          @AluLagoa individual buttons are better for action buttons, and the 5 way navigation switches are good as little joysticks so you might find you want to do a hybrid of the two

          I also made this

          https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/8614/my-take-on-a-gbz

          And this

          https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/10012/behold-the-world-s-smallest-raspberry-pi-based-gaming-device

          So I have pretty much tried all configurations!

          want to get a tft into your project, look no further than here https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/7464/ili9341-tft-screen-guide

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          • A
            AluLagoa @moosepr
            last edited by

            @moosepr
            Wow!
            I had seen those before, but didn't know they where yours. Great work!

            I am gonna go with individual buttons then.

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            • A
              AluLagoa
              last edited by

              Video of the gpio controller script working:

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              • A
                AluLagoa
                last edited by

                Still waiting for parts to arrive...

                Last time I ordered from aliexpress I got my stuff in three weeks, but this time I will have to wait 6 to 8 weeks for the stuff to arrive, and only 3 weeks have passed.

                My internship ends today, so I will have a lot of free time from now on.

                I was expecting for the parts to arrive this week, so I would have something to do, but that isn't the case.

                Feeling really tempted to buy another display for 6.5€ from a seller from my country so I can get it next week and continue with this project...

                mooseprM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • mooseprM
                  moosepr @AluLagoa
                  last edited by

                  @AluLagoa yeah shipping on AliExpress can be variable. I tend to pay the extra and go for the 20-40 day option rather than the 30-60 day one.

                  I'm still waiting for some screens that I ordered at the start of January!

                  want to get a tft into your project, look no further than here https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/7464/ili9341-tft-screen-guide

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                  • A
                    AluLagoa
                    last edited by

                    Decided to order another display from a guy in my country.
                    Should be here in the next few days, so i can go on with my project.

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                    • A
                      AluLagoa
                      last edited by AluLagoa

                      Hi!

                      Finally got everything i needed to start the project!

                      Here are some photos:
                      alt text
                      Controller board and front plate.

                      alt text
                      alt text
                      alt text
                      Testing the screen.

                      alt text
                      Back.

                      alt text
                      Front.

                      Video of it in action:

                      Now just need to make some sort of case...

                      PS: Sorry for the dog hair...

                      Cheers!

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                      • mooseprM
                        moosepr
                        last edited by

                        Awesome work! 😀

                        want to get a tft into your project, look no further than here https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/7464/ili9341-tft-screen-guide

                        A 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                        • A
                          AluLagoa
                          last edited by

                          Thanks!

                          For about 2h of work is not that bad.

                          Just did a cardboard case for it:
                          alt text
                          alt text
                          alt text

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                          • A
                            AluLagoa @moosepr
                            last edited by

                            @moosepr
                            How can i find the buttons that you used on you minimalistic build?
                            Mine are really hard to the press and kind start to hurt my fingers after a while... Yours look soft to the touch...

                            mooseprM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • mooseprM
                              moosepr @AluLagoa
                              last edited by

                              @AluLagoa yeah they are soft. The only place I know selling them now is adafruit

                              https://www.adafruit.com/product/3101

                              I randomly found mine on eBay, but the seller doesn't have any more

                              want to get a tft into your project, look no further than here https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/7464/ili9341-tft-screen-guide

                              A 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • A
                                AluLagoa @moosepr
                                last edited by

                                @moosepr
                                Thanks!
                                Adafruit wants $45 for shipping, and a seller i found in the UK wants $8 for 10 + shipping.

                                Well, when I do Version 2 I will 3D print a case, and I will try either to make bigger buttons to press on the tactile switches or use a SNES USB gamepad under the shell.

                                mooseprM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • mooseprM
                                  moosepr @AluLagoa
                                  last edited by

                                  @AluLagoa yeah adafruit shipping can be a pain.

                                  Can probably get a few hundred from China for minimal prices

                                  want to get a tft into your project, look no further than here https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/7464/ili9341-tft-screen-guide

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • A
                                    AluLagoa
                                    last edited by

                                    Possible next version of the handheld.

                                    alt text

                                    Smaller, much nice looking, possibly 18650 battery on the back.

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                    • A
                                      AluLagoa
                                      last edited by

                                      Well, trying do desolder the pins on the display was a bust... Acidentally striped one of the contacts...

                                      Lesson learned: Don't mess with something that already works.

                                      obsidianspiderO 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • obsidianspiderO
                                        obsidianspider @AluLagoa
                                        last edited by

                                        @alulagoa said in Project DCH (dirt cheap handheld):

                                        Don't mess with something that already works.

                                        Where's the fun in that? ;)

                                        📷 @obsidianspider

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                        • DD-IndeedD
                                          DD-Indeed
                                          last edited by

                                          Interesting project. Sparks up couple ideas on my head as well. Could propably build something similar from a Odroid U3 that I have lying on the drawer, so definitely gotta follow this topic. :)

                                          My soul rests, when I hear the PS1 boot music

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                                          • B
                                            barrymossel
                                            last edited by

                                            Really cool. Something like this might be next project (after my full size cab). Still have a 7 inch screen lying around and quite some arcade controls :)

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