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Hardware > GBA cartridge connector

#72633 - jvadillo - Mon Feb 20, 2006 5:42 pm

Hello all!

I am trying to start a new hardware project using GBA Flash Cartridges as storage media for a data logger.

However, it is quite difficult to find the manufacturer of the GBA cartridge connector. Does anyone know where can I find/buy such connector?

I plan to produce about 100 units per year, so a savaged connector from an old gameboy is not a solution ...

Bye,

Juan Ram?n
www.jvadillo.com

#72635 - Fatnickc - Mon Feb 20, 2006 6:21 pm

If you're using the GBA cartridges just as storage, and not because they can be run on GBA, you should really look at other types of storage, which are much cheaper.

#72768 - jvadillo - Tue Feb 21, 2006 4:39 pm

The data stored in the cartridge is planned to be visualized in the Gameboy Advance. Otherwise, I would simply use an SD card.

By the way, after doing some research in the internet, I have found two places to buy the connector:

www.mcminone.com. Part number 83-2285 - Price $3.63/ud

www.gaminggraveyard.com. Part number GBY-00001 - Price: $6.99/ud

Juan Ram?n

#72793 - tepples - Tue Feb 21, 2006 8:38 pm

You might try asking Lynx where he gets the GBC connectors.

Or you could try implementing an SD interface through the Game Link port.

Or you could use a SuperCard SD.
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#73216 - Joat - Thu Feb 23, 2006 11:00 pm

There is a homebrew library supporting a number of different types of mass storage devices for the GBA / DS. Google for chishm FAT and you should find it.

A gbamp is a nice, cheap choice, $20 or so for the GBA cart.

Then, on your custom hardware, you could use a CF socket and the 14 pin or so microcontroller interface (8+3+2+1 data,address,control,is_inserted, IIRC) on your logger hardware. As a bonus, your customers could also copy the data to a PC without a seperate reader or cable (well, they'd need a CF reader, but that's one less part you have to build).

Otherwise, as long as you're willing to buy lots (100s), you can probably get GBA connectors quite cheap, as tepples suggested, ask lynx.
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