The DIY MiSTer Handheld

[@EriolGaurhoth]

Someday I’d love to see a MiSTER handheld with 4 shoulder buttons, an analog stick, and 6 face buttons, mainly because what sets MiSTER and Analogue Pocket apart for me is the ability to play PS1, N64, and Saturn games. But this is certainly an amazing start!

[@Idelacio]

@@EriolGaurhoth This. This is exactly what I want to see from controllers too. Ditch the stupid paddles and stick six buttons on the front!

[@hypersonic8917]

A handheld MiSTer is my dream console and this is the first I’ve seen that actually looks usable. Can’t wait to watch this project evolve a little before I leap to build one.

[@whatskenmaking]

I think most people are going to wait - and unless you really want one right now, I would completely agree with that. You won't have to wait too terribly long before the Model 02 - it will greatly simplify the build

[@jacobs4808]

This is awesome. It will be interesting to see how this project evolves and compare it to the portable mister Taki is cooking up with Retro Remake whenever that gets revealed.

[@whatskenmaking]

I'm sure Taki's will be a much more polished device with everything integrated into a single - but maybe this works as a holdover until his is ready

[@scotchnichols]

The TapTo/Zaparoo slot is a beautiful addition to this wonderful first build. Well done! I'm looking forward to seeing your next iterations.

[@ManiacalMoogle]

Yeah that's a fantastic idea

[@BrunoFonsecaPT]

Brilliant! Really looking forward to see how this (already solid) design will be improved. Thanks for your work and generosity!

[@Rafa-Silva-Alt]

Awesome project, even for an initial design, you pretty much hit home with this one, and nailed most of the problems already.

[@ThirdSpectrum]

The Tapto addition is very clever, I can see other people using it like a gameboy cartridge slot for other iterations.

[@caracolmaker]

Me encantan estos proyectos. Gracias por el doblado automático a español.

[@SkylerLinux]

I must admit, that balance is real impressive

[@WalrusFPGA]

This looks excellent. Love the TapTo inclusion, SNES controller integration, and the form-factor you managed with it. Looking forward to seeing the upcoming build video and future revisions to the design! Happy holidays

[@volo870]

I wanted to convert a dead laptop to MiSTer. Now I know where to steal some ideas. Thank you.

[@ccricers]

A clamshell handheld. Not enough of those out there.

[@volo870]

@@ccricers Not a handheld. I intend to gut a big heavy luggable magnesium laptop. Those were popular in mid 2010s as "desktop substitutes" for offices. These are so bulky - there is plenty of space inside for all the electronics. Would be awesome for emulating rare Japanese computers that no sane person can afford to buy.

[@OCDRex11]

Great, I'll just add this to the other 9 handhelds I never completed, lol. Really great build. The origination always sets the path in motion. I'll be curious who will strip down a QM Tech board and see how thin they can get a build to be. Well done!

[@whatskenmaking]

Ha, that was actually on my to-do list!

[@RamonHernandez]

This is one of the most impressive projects I've seen in a while. Respect!

[@Raddlesnakes000]

This is great Ken, you've done a great job creating a foundation for others to build upon. I'd love to see how much could be desoldered, decoupled and moved around to make it as thin as possible!

[@stonededge]

Very nice work! I've always wanted to make a MiSTer handheld, but I've been sucked into the compute module world for a while. Nice job!

[@cruiserusa]

Well done sir! Can't recommend enough this channel.

[@PixelCherryNinja]

Amazing Ken. You're a darn genius!

[@whatskenmaking]

Thanks! Appreciate the callouts in your videos on this project!

[@VAZ-2108-Longplay]

I love it! my favourite part is the diamond orientation of ABXY buttons (X to B distance is shorter thant Y to A). It may be a silly but I like this a lot. Modern controllers and handhelds use square like orientation (X to B distance is the same as Y to A). I like a lot the way it feels, so I beg you to never change that in this project.

[@whatskenmaking]

I like that configuration as well. Since I'm using the SFC controller PCB, I had to go with it in this version of the project

[@synthiecat5879]

I was so waiting for this video :) Going to watch it later at home, thanks for making, Ken

[@MrKiebitz]

A really genius idea! I am looking forward for what to come for Mister handhelds. :)

[@JoshRBuchanan52]

I love this so much. I'm not knowledgeable enough with electronics to improve on this, but I definitely want to build one of these myself. I need to put my 3d printer and soldering skills to use.

[@helmargesel3972]

Thanks for sharing your handheld design

[@AnVuong-wf5ck]

Looking at this awesome diy project like this make me want to learn PCB design more and more

[@tomaswolsink7620]

What a great project, this looks amazing.

[@geofreypejsa54]

Ken this is super awesome. Good job!

[@vitorbotossi]

Thank you Ken! Well done!

[@ingusmant]

Have you considered making a custom PCB that already has the controller, charger and battery control built in? It would really simplify things.

[@whatskenmaking]

Yes - Model 01 is just the initial design to get something out in the wild. Keep an eye out for Model 02

[@hideokojimajr]

So cool. My dream portable mister has an oled display, 6 face buttons, two analog sticks, and 4 shoulder buttons. And no nfc stuff.

[@osn19]

We absolutely want a 7 inch 4:3 display !!

[@whatskenmaking]

It would have to be the XL edition. Although... a version that large *would* provide plenty of room for a 37W battery 🤔

[@osn19]

@whatskenmaking I'll be your first client :)

[@JustSomeGuy009]

Would be cool to see something like this eventually with the refinement and dimensions of a retroid pocket 5

[@DavidFilskov]

Impressively "simple". Great work!!

[@whatskenmaking]

Thanks... it will get simpler over the next couple of months!

[@DavidFilskov]

@whatskenmaking Awesome! :) - perhaps even a bit of ergonomics/grips.

[@TheAbsinthomane]

This is so awesome ❤❤❤

[@PixelCherryNinja]

Thanks Ken 😮

[@splugereport]

Love this. I'm old and love handhelds but even the analog pocket's screen is too small for me to enjoy.

[@international806yachting]

Wow!!! Thanks for sharing.

[@Aberusugi]

Great job!

[@KrystianMajewski]

Shout-outs to Fred!

[@whatskenmaking]

Fred is an amazing creature - survived snake bites, bouts of cancer, and lost an eye in the process.

[@st3ddyman]

What a great project. The TapTo module will be wanted by at most 1% of users. If that came out, you would have more space on the case for input / output and possibly even a second battery. Would be awesome with an OLED screen because the one you used looks washed out and old.

[@hideokojimajr]

For me, the excitement around tapto is baffling. One of the whole reasons I am into mister and ODEs is to reduce the amount of plastic crap I have.

[@whatskenmaking]

The washed out screen is primarily due to my camera - I didn't do a great job with color correction in this video

[@whatskenmaking]

Yeah, people love it or hate it. I really like it as a mechanism for battling the 'paradox of choice' phenomenon that I talked about in my TapTo review video

[@Bitlascado]

Excelente, salve para Brazil

[@EricMiner]

Ken where is the analog stick?

[@BringerOdeath77]

Does this have video out so hyou can maybe connect it to a tv or maybe usbc video out making a dock?

[@ewkerman4185]

What heat sinks did you use?

[@whatskenmaking]

Ah, forgot to put that in the parts list - it's in there now - github.com/whatskenmaking/DIY-MiSTer-Handheld/wiki/DMH-01-Parts

[@X862go]

WOW very nice!

[@Uplinkpr0]

I love it but it needs a 7-8in oled screen i think i saw a 8in 4:3 on aliexpress.

[@whatskenmaking]

I have a couple of larger 4:3 LCDs (not OLED), but they are very large for something in this form factor. I do have another project with that screen coming soon though

[@j.walker6845]

I wonder if a portable mister with a mini crt is possible.

[@jimbotron70]

Technically yes, if you still find one.

[@HisVirusness]

Very nice.

[@whatskenmaking]

I forget - did you play the first prototype at VCFMW?

[@HisVirusness]

@whatskenmaking Yes, I did

[@ManiacalMoogle]

Bravo 👏

[@ninetendopesaitama2107]

You should have put an analog stick on the left. N64 is the main reason. Nevertheless amazing work you have done. ☮️

[@whatskenmaking]

Just on the left side? Do you think a Switch analog stick would be good, or does it need a larger one?

[@ninetendopesaitama2107]

@whatskenmaking I guess a switch analog stick is enough. Maybe a hall sensor stick to be on the safe side. ☮️

[@ninetendopesaitama2107]

@@whatskenmaking maybe you need an analog stick on the right to be like the c buttons on the og n64 controller. ☮️

[@Doktati]

KenRulz❤

[@andreassetterlind]

Suggest consider using a tiny RP2040 microcontroller board for the controllers and other buttons because then you not only get more Raspberry fans involved too but RP2040 works great for this purpose with close to zero latency input and it makes the project even cooler for using it 😊

[@whatskenmaking]

I completely agree - I actually had some issues with the quality of the Atmel boards that I used. I'm exploring the possibility of an RP2040-based solution and possibly providing wifi through it as well

[@andreassetterlind]

@ the newer RP2350 is another interested option because it has a DSP so could also be used as a sound card

[@jacomohodnik7161]

Another one fpga is the tang nano 20k It has like, 3 or 4 cores but being it gbc, nes and snes I think is nice

[@whatskenmaking]

Yeah, that board uses one of the older GOWIN FPGAs... the same one used in the FunnyPlaying FPGBC, actually. Could be fun to experiment with - I'll check it out

[@MobileDecay]

Hello. My name is Mister Handheld. How are you today? 👋☺️

[@Doktati]

❤

[@TheMysteryDriver]

Tech Dweeb wants to make a handheld. Maybe you could give him some contacts or work together

[@whatskenmaking]

Everything is open sourced in GitHub, so anyone can jump in if they'd like!

[@jasonsdodd]

i'm not gay, but just marry me already :)

[@ThootenTootinTabootin]

How about you just let me buy yours

[@whatskenmaking]

I might bring a couple with me to sell at the next convention that I get a table at

[@mamaharumi]

Super neat. I dont know if I like the snes controller cannibalism, though.

[@whatskenmaking]

Neither do I - it's the toughest part of the build. I'm taking a different approach for Model 02

[@chrisng2746]

I’m sure u can use a retrobit anytime?

[@whatskenmaking]

Yes, you can plug any usb controller into the USB ports on the top

[@chrishof89]

How about a modern PSP like analog stick on the left below the D-pad. In my opinion the PSP Analog fits more for arcade an retro games than a normal "modern" analog stick. I once tried to build a 8 way clicky micro switch variant years ago but never had finished that Idea.

[@whatskenmaking]

I've been looking at various analog options. I think a Switch stick might be a bit nicer to use than a PSP one

[@r4dius]

Remove the nfc thing you'll have plenty of space for any buttons

[@whatskenmaking]

The NFC reader actually isn't what's taking up the button space - the battery is the bigger culprit

[@superduperdrew12345]

While this is only a prototype, a hope requiring SNES controller parts goes away. Similar to the open source devices that need a Gameboy Color CPU, these destroy old hardware to make. That's concerning for an fpga project intended to help with game preservation.

[@whatskenmaking]

Yeah, the sacrificial SFC controller is temporary stopover. We'll move past that soon

[@Idelacio]

2 to 3 hours of battery though...

[@whatskenmaking]

I know... but we have to start somewhere

[@Idelacio]

@whatskenmaking It's a fun thing all said, don't get me wrong. Sadly I don't think fpgas like this are efficient enough for handhelds, even the Pocket can only manage 5 hours tops. Still, I look forward to more from this and whatever Taki comes up with for his device.

[@jimbotron70]

On par with x86 handhelds...

[@Idelacio]

@@jimbotron70 Not exactly an endorsement. My Game Gear got better mileage.

[@jimbotron70]

@@Idelacio You sure? GG was notoriously a black hole for batteries.

[@iamdmc]

MuST be a Friday 12 days before Christmas! First day of Christmas gift: Ken makes MiSTer handheld Improvements I can see: -5.5" 1080P OLED screen (Search Wisecoco aliexpress) -headphone jack that switches from internal to headphone audio (like the ones used in game boy consoles) -HDMI-out that overrides the output to the console (can just use a 2-way HDMI switcher) -plug/unplug while playing (still haven't figured that out) -hall-effect joy-con style left and right sticks, L/R triggers Looking forward to see what comes of this! Best portable emulation handheld for sure

[@whatskenmaking]

All good suggestions. The biggest thing on my mind right now is solving the plug/unplug issue. I have an approach that works, but it complicates things a bit.

[@ak78_at]

❤