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Ben Heck's Nintendo PlayStation Update at Portland Retro Gaming Expo Nov 22, 2016

Show notes

Join Ben as he leaves the workshop behind and goes on a journey to Portland's Retro Gaming Expo! There's little Ben loves more, and this time he's on the hunt for a copy of Road Rash for the Sega Genesis / Megadrive! Though with some happy distractions, Ben gets another chance at the Nintendo Playstation console and discusses the Commodore 64, Nintendo 64 disk drive and the collecting of retro hardware and games with fellow Youtubers. Will Ben manage to repair the Nintendo Playstation and play Super Boss Gaiden? Does he manage to find a copy of Road Rash? You'll have to watch and find out! What's your favorite retro gaming console, or game? Let Ben and the team know on the element14 Community!

Ben Heck's Virtual Boy Part 1: Teardown Nov 17, 2016

Show notes

Ben's seeing double this week with a retro virtual reality console that was ahead of its time, the Virtual Boy (codename VUE) by Nintendo. The technology behind the Virtual Boy was ahead of its time, and didn't prevent some of the dizzying problems that still affect VR today, as Ben quips "It's like a trip to the eye doctor!". Of course, this means Ben has to take it apart in a traditional teardown to find out what makes the Virtual Boy tick, inside we find a 32bit processor and graphics chip combined along with some very clever mechanical decisions. Unfortunately, as clever as the mechanics are, this hasn't prevented failure and Ben has to design and print a part using Autodesk Fusion 360 to help repair it. Though, now that it's repaired, it's time to improve it! Make sure you catch the next episode, meanwhile let us know what you think of VR technology on the element14 Community!

Ben Heck Reverse Engineers Game Boy Printer Nov 10, 2016

Show notes

A Game Boy printer is used to teach reverse engineering and how data transmission works. The printer is taken apart and hooked up to a Tektronix oscilloscope. Signals are captured, reverse engineered, and replaced with new signals.

Ben Heck's Atari Junk Keyboard Part 2: Stepped Tone Generator Nov 03, 2016

Show notes

In this episode Ben and Felix set out to make an Atari Punk Console which is a popular circuit that utilizes two 555 timer ICs or a single 556 dual timer IC. When they're done they will be able to make beautiful music using the classic sounds of the Atari 2600.

Ben Heck's Atari Junk Keyboard Part 1: Enter the Matrix Oct 27, 2016

Show notes

The team begins working on an Atari Junk Keyboard, a version of the Atari Punk Console that combines 555 timers to make a simple circuit that makes Atari-like music and sound effects. Instead of using sequences to repeat Atari-like sounds they decide to make a whole keyboard of the sounds.

Ben Heck's Multi-System Retro Controller Oct 20, 2016

Show notes

The team builds the ultimate retro gaming controller using an ESP8266 WiFi Module, a transmitter controller, and a receiver on the game console. Universal support includes Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Sega, and Atari.

Ben Heck's PlayStation 4 Slim Teardown Oct 13, 2016

Show notes

Ben tears apart a Playstation 4 Slim and compares it to the teardown of the recently released Xbox One S. Once he’s torn the PS4 apart it can be put together as a tablet or laptop.

Ben Heck's Halloween Superhero Wearables Part 2: Assembly Oct 06, 2016

Show notes

The team completes Karen’s SuperHero Costume to give it speakers, EL(electroluminescent) Wires, IC2 connected accelerometer sensors, a Parallax Propeller, and an Arduino Mini Microcontroller. Karen transforms into Captain Tangent!

Ben Heck's Halloween SuperHero Wearables Part 1: Development Sep 28, 2016

Show notes

Karen daydreams about being a Superhero . Can Ben transform Karen into Captain Tangent using accelerometers to detect speed, magnetometers to detect orientation, a microcontroller, and speakers that make sounds for punches and kicks?

Ben Heck's TI Launchpad Plant Booster Sep 22, 2016

Show notes

Ben builds a light compensator to supply indoor plants light when the sun isn’t able to provide enough light for them. He uses a Texas Instrument MSP430 Launchpad Development Board, a TI BOOST-AD7042, a DS1307 real time clock, and a grow light.

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