Shinobi is a reimagined, miniaturized GBS8200 for portablizers. Like the original GBS8200, it can convert 240p and 480i RGBs to 480p/720p/960p/1080p VGA, making it perfect for connecting retro video game consoles to modern LCDs.
Shinobi PCB
1Chip SNES RGBs upscaled to 640x480 VGA, displayed on ZJ050NA-08C LCD
Recommended fabrication specs:
Note: There are multiple revisions of the ESP-06 (ESP8266 module). Only the most recent revision is compatible with Shinobi. Make sure your ESP-06 has three "Wi-Fi lines" inside the A.I. Thinker logo circle, and that three of the four corner pads are not connected to GND.
I maintain a Mouser project with most of the BOM. Thanks to biggestsonicfan for providing an equivalent Digikey cart!
You will still need to source a TV5725, ESP-06, and CH340C elsewhere. Cheap GBS8200s are available from AliExpress, eBay, DHGate, and Amazon if you'd like to harvest the TV5725 and SDRAM from one. I get my TV5725s and CH340Cs from AliExpress. ESP-06s can be obtained from Eckstein-Shop.
Update (11/3/22): ESP-06s have been relisted on the AliExpress Keli-te Store.
Update (1/25/23): TPS621351RGXR is available for purchase on TI's website.
Update (2/4/24): TV5725 and ESP-06 links have been updated.
An ibom.html
file exported via InteractiveHtmlBom is included to facilitate assembly. Thanks, biggestsonicfan!
As mentioned previously, you can harvest the TV5725 and SDRAM from a GBS-8200 if you'd like. Please note that previous advice to harvest the 0603 ferrite beads from the GBS-8200 is outdated. Use 220Ω @ 100MHz 0402 ferrite beads as called out in the BOM.
Note: There is an 0805 zero-ohm resistor (R19) in series with the output of the onboard 3.3V regulator. If you intend to power Shinobi from an external 3.3V supply, you can omit this resistor to avoid backfeeding the onboard 3.3V regulator. If you choose to remove the zero-ohm and/or U7 (TPS621351), the board will need to be powered with an external 3.3V supply during programming.
Install CH340 drivers
Bridge the prg
jumper with solder (or tweezers)
Plug USB-C into Shinobi. Note: USB-C port works in both orientations on the latest board rev.
Verify COM port (or your platform's equivalent) is enumerating
Open GBS-Control release of your choice in Arduino IDE (these steps assume you have already installed requisite libraries, etc.)
Set up Tools menu as shown, select CH340C port under Port menu, then program
When programming is complete, unplug Shinobi, unbridge prg
, and power back up to access GBS-Control Wi-Fi AP