The White North Retro TPG

[ChanceKJ]

Introducing the WNR-TPG! A fully featured and upgradable tool used for calibrating your arcade, classic computer, and television CRT display collection. Created by die-hard arcade and console gamers, the WNR-TPG is a premium tool for the beginner, advanced user, or anyone in between. Designed around the classic Nintendo DMG Gameboy shell, the WNR-TPG is compatible with all aftermarket gameboy shells, buttons, rubbers, and uses the existing TPG to CRT adapter cables you may already have. Running off standard AA batteries the WNR-TPG gets over 20 hours of battery life and is upgradable with off the shelf DMG USB-C Li-Ion packs. 20 on screen tests Including 16 default user selectable patterns and 4 burn in-screens the WNR-TPG also includes over the air Wifi updates for new code improvements and user customizable test patterns so you can load your own pattern screens or a picture of your dog. Easily navigate the on-screen menus and interactive burn-in screens using the standard D-pad and buttons we all know and love. The integrated help menu will also teach you what patterns are best to use for each test and avoid wasted time trying to hunt down a user manual.

On release the WNR-TPG will be available as either a standalone board, or packaged with a standard set of buttons and shells allowing you to customize your TPG look. Want a clear shell and glow in the dark buttons? Check. Want something sleek all matte black and stealth? Absolutely. Want a custom printed shell with your company logo or favourite game characters? You got it. White North Retro will be partnering with existing aftermarket console and handheld brands around the world to bring you a ton of customization options. Price TBD, (but will be at or below the existing market offerings). Shipping 2023. WhiteNorthRetro.ca

Features:
-ESP32 based microcontroller
-12,000+ colors
-20+ hours of battery life
-256x224@60hz 15khz
-256x224@50hz 25khz
-Device power indicator With Low Battery Warning
-Compatible with both Standard and Medium Res
-Colour Inversion switch for Sanyo Monitors
-Physical RGB Cutoff switches
-WiFi Updates
-Custom Test Patterns
-Web Interface
-RCA Component outputs
-Discrete bench power inputs
-Standard arcade monitor header
-Negative and positive sync
-Composite sync
-Easy to use interface

Standard Test Patterns:
-Gradient
-H-Bleed
-Bleed
-Solid Red, Green, Blue, White, Magenta, & Yellow

-Grey Bar
-100 IRE
-Overscan
-Dots
-Circles
-SMPTE
-Interactive Dot

Standard Burnin Patterns:
-Plasma metaballs
-Mystify screensaver
-Falling blocks
-Rug pattern

 

[alfonzotan]

Beauty eh

 

[callanbrown]

Excited to see a more feature rich TPG! Little dismayed it doesn't include 31khz, why not go all the way?

I'll certainly buy one if the price is right!

 

[advans13]

eerily similar design cutout to crafty's TPG, i also thought about making one maybe i will make mine in a old toaster case!

 

[ChanceKJ]

eerily similar design cutout to crafty's TPG, i also thought about making one maybe i will make mine in a old toaster case!

Only thing it shares is a similar DIP bank on the top, (thats a standard part) and Molex pinout. We wanted people to be able to keep existing cables as a standard. Arcade Jason's upcoming TPG uses the same too as far as we know.

Excited to see a more feature rich TPG! Little dismayed it doesn't include 31khz, why not go all the way?

I'll certainly buy one if the price is right!

We're looking at adding 31khz support.

Price will be, We want cool, helpful stuff on the market, not your money. Jeff and I both have well paying day jobs. This was the philosophy with our HB-001 Data East pin noise filters. Price will be competitive, cover our costs, and tack a little more for R&D support for a few more cool projects we have in the pipeline. We will also enforce third party vendors who cary them to stick to the price we choose is fair.

 

[KaBoom1701]

Impressive.

 

[SNESNESCUBE64]

Just a bit of feedback, with the unused dip switch, make it boot straight to the last test pattern used when enabled. What makes the craftymech one so great is that it is small (fits in the toolbox I take on service calls) and straight to the point. It boots to a pattern and I can quickly get to what I need without having to go into menus. For arcade monitors, you don't need anything fancy, just boot to a pattern.

Also, this is just a personal preference, instead of RCA jacks, a DB15 for VGA would be useful.

 

[ChanceKJ]

Love the idea of a "Last Screen Used" setting.

Ideas like this are why we're excited to have over the air updates.

 

[johnczerwinski]

Interesting

Composite video?

 

[Charles Kline]

 

[jeffro11]

Competition is bad? Thank you for your input.

 

[jeffro11]

Interesting

Composite video?

No, just RGB. The RCA jacks are 0.7vpp and the header is amplified for arcade monitors.

 

[SNESNESCUBE64]

-RCA Component outputs

This could be a bit confusing: are you referring to the actual connector (RCA Jack/Phono connector) or are you referring to YPbPr, commonly referred to as component video? If it can't support YPbPr and it will not be implemented with certainty, then I would reword it to say "RCA Connection Option" to avoid this confusion and possible returns.

I honestly like the idea of a more "feature rich" test pattern generator, but at the end of the day it is going to come down to price. It's definitely not for me, I already have Sencore that can do more and a Craftymech in my toolbox that I take with me on service calls. For the arcade market, you don't need the upgradability, thousands of colors, or menus. But with this product, I feel like it could do well with console and PVM scene if it supports those consumer signals like YPbPr and composite being that it has "gamer" vibes to it. You might have a difficult time penetrating the arcade market where people are either using old tools or the bare minimum no thrills kind of tool, although if it is cheaper then I'm sure people would go for it.

 

[callanbrown]

Yeah if this has 0.7Vpp RGBS and YPbPr this will be a hit with the PVM crowd. Essentially a console-less 240p test suite is what the world needs! Might want to reserve a dip switches for RGBS/component and sync-on-green.