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DMD extender working on No Fear with 4.3" composite monitor

Rus121

Rus121

Registered
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Joined
Jul 21, 2011
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Teesside
I finally managed to have a mess around with the dmd extender and managed to jam a 4.3" composite (£15, amazon) monitor in the score card location (glass just barely slides over it). David (aka Dr. pinball - the creator of the dmd extender) has been great with everything and i couldnt recommend him and his most awesome dmd extender enough. Had some issues mounting the monitor due to the backside having a large bulge, but the dremel and some sticky pads soon sorted that. Anyway, heres some pics and a crappy phone vid showing its operation: (will get some more up with a custom background for the output text soon)

nofeardmdex.jpg

russcore1.jpg

th_video20130326145047-1.jpg
 
Looks amazing, might have to give that a go too.

I was going to create a new post, but may as well put this in here:

EDIT:Cali fixed broken video link because it was too cool to lose.
 
Thanks a lot to Russ for being patient and sticking with it - sorry we couldn't get his Tron working, but it's just too damn modern! The mini screen looks great.

Huge thanks to videobrain - he was extremely patient and helpful whilst we got the TFTC working. Data East/Sega machines have different timing signals to Bally/Williams but we got it sorted. The projector looks quite astonishing!

Anyone interested in an Extender please get in touch.
 
Seriously, this mod appears to have so much untapped potential but both of those are awesome. I can see the real benefit to the apron screen because it is where I want to be looking when something serious is going on. The projected image is just fantastic, TFTC has such create animations that they can entertain the people waiting and makes such a great visual. TAF and CFTBL also have good animations so would look great.

How may screens do you think we can run? Apron and projector?

DrPinball, I have wanted one from the start but now I need one, forget saving for my wedding, give me a price.
 
Not to worry about Tron, theres plenty of mods out for that one already. I do have a lotr now though, so if you want me to try out the dmd log again i will do so tomorrow night and send you the details. Perhaps it may work with that machine? Thanks again for everything. Cheers!

2013-03-26 20.09.59.jpg
 
Unfortunately you can only run one screen at once - you can't run the apron screen as well as another, sorry. However, I am able to drive another screen using a different interface on the Raspberry Pi, but that development is a little way off as yet.

Drop me an email at info@drpinball.co.uk if you're interested. They're £55 including UK delivery and you'll need to supply a Raspberry Pi (model A works which is cheaper) and a video cable.
 
Rus - can you post the amazon link to the screen your using in the apron please mate. Is it one of the in car ones? Also some info on how you've got the frame image on the display with the extended DMD. I quite fancy doing something in my BSD.....will it display in red on the DMD extender like it does on the main DMD?
 
DrPinball said:
Unfortunately you can only run one screen at once - you can't run the apron screen as well as another, sorry. However, I am able to drive another screen using a different interface on the Raspberry Pi, but that development is a little way off as yet.
Click to expand...

I'm just running it from composite, pretty sure you could use one of these splitters to send the signal to two screens.

sku_2711_3_small.jpg
 
**** I want one and I ain't even got a DMD game!! They're seriously great mods guys. I'm buying a DMD game just so I can have one. FT video mode would be sweet on the projector.
 
Here you go fella: Not who i got it from but its the same monitor and cheaper:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Monitor-Sup...JQ/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1364330231&sr=8-13

The instructions for the image editing/placement can be found here:
http://www.drpinball.co.uk/docs/DMD Extender v0.4.pdf

Yes, it will display in red, but i havent got around to colour changes just yet. I did however mess up my first go at the image as i saved the image in an incorrect format. Apparently GIMP (*sniggers*) image editor works well, but the image you see on the last pic i posted was done by David. Just downloaded GIMP so im having a mess around.....
 
ronsplooter said:
Nice one mate, have you de-cased the screen or just stuck it in as is for now?
Click to expand...

No, just pulled the stupid mounting from the back (crappy plastic ball joint) and dremel'ed the base flat so i could use sticky pads to fix it to the apron. Some small screws were used as standoffs in the topside of each corner and those too were held down by sticky pads. Its a tight fit, but it can also be decased if you desolder the connections (easy) from inside. I plan on making a more aesthetically pleasing mounting at a later date, but for now it looks good and is solid in place.
 
Holy crap* Dr, you even have a proper manual.
Plus the kit includes the custom OS on an SD card, a power supply cable and mounting pads... I am not use to this level of support for a commercial product.
Checking out the cheapest cost of a Raspberry Pi now but with the monitor Rus has linked to, it looks like an apron screen could cost less that £100 which is a bargain.
 
Calimori said:
Holy crap* Dr, you even have a proper manual.
Plus the kit includes the custom OS on an SD card, a power supply cable and mounting pads... I am not use to this level of support for a commercial product.
Checking out the cheapest cost of a Raspberry Pi now but with the monitor Rus has linked to, it looks like an apron screen could cost less that £100 which is a bargain.
Click to expand...

It's probably worth mentioning that I had to build a bespoke 12V power supply and power lead for Russ!! This was a bit of homemade board that I did for £10 (I think).
 
That is a good point, I know where there is 12v just inside the door but I am using that for some under lights. Need to think how to power the apron but am researching cheap projectors. Raspberry Pi has been bought and an email sent to you.
My Fiancee chose a bad time to go visit her parents.... :p
 
Calimori said:
That is a good point, I know where there is 12v just inside the door but I am using that for some under lights. Need to think how to power the apron but am researching cheap projectors. Raspberry Pi has been bought and an email sent to you.
My Fiancee chose a bad time to go visit her parents.... :p
Click to expand...

Ahh yes, just found your email in the Junk folder :eeek:
 
Yep forgot to mention that, i since immediately realised it when i found the video splitter mentioned by videobrain earlier and went to install the two monitors (so i may yet need another, hah!)Its a regulated psu as i had issues trying to power on the monitor from the games unregulated 12v supply. I believe it was £10 as David says and well worth me not blowing the monitor up and it takes its power from the vacant power socket on the extender itself so i was more than happy to pay it.
 
Well I've ordered a screen from Amazon. David are you ok to make me up a power board the same as the one you did for Rus? Happy to pay the extra tenner :)
 
ronsplooter said:
Well I've ordered a screen from Amazon. David are you ok to make me up a power board the same as the one you did for Rus? Happy to pay the extra tenner :)
Click to expand...

If I was a proper business man I'd say the price had gone up to £20 :eyebrows: But I'm not... so it hasn't! No problem - it won't look as professional as the extender itself though.
 
Dont be tempted to run the monitor off the unregged 12v from the machine. It appears that i killed my spare one doing that.
 
I'm expecting the boards by 10th April - as soon as I have them in I'll let you know. Cheers.
 
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