Unofficial Pi Position Q&A & Support Thread

[troubydoobydoo]

Just the two roms. It's included in the zip file.

Some people have added a few others. You can read about that on other threads.


I sent my board in for repair and testing and just waiting to get it back. I think my issues are understood.

1. Corrupt image on my sd card. (I was told). They burned a new one for me using windows software instead of how I did it on my Mac.

2. Bad Raspberry Pi 3B+. They did a simple swap of a Pi 3B unit and this worked. Weird.

3. I had a broken port on the Pi Position board they fixed.

They tested for me so am ready to try this in my cab when I get it.

I'm going to test my components further as well.

 

[troubydoobydoo]

While waiting, i bought a new Raspberry Pi 3B. (not the plus version).

This is the same type that Arcade Jason's wife tested on my sent back unit. And video proof it worked.
So I burned a new SD card I had with Win32 Disk Imager (same as they have), put into this new Pi 3b, then tested it.
So NOW it goes to the rainbow splash screen immediately. So thats different. Does this on the Pi Position image now.

Trying to get the game itself to show on my HP monitor but havent been able to figure it out yet. Trying different settings in the config.txt file.
I think its booting though...at least....otherwise the rainbow screen would not show up.

Just would like to see an image.....and I have a different SD card that has a working Retrobox install working...I was able to play Pole Position on that. It works on this same hardware setup.

As far as the corrupt SD card theory, I hear if you power off the game by just unplugging power, it could corrupt the image. Hasnt happened to me yet on this one but maybe it did on the previous cards I used. Unsure.

 

[troubydoobydoo]

Solution found if you want to display Pi Position on and LCD using the HDMI port....

Ignore previous posts. I finally figured it out. I am not a programmer and don't know Rasp Pi language but got lucky and found a post on a thread and you have to add a command "framebuffer_priority=2" to use the HDMI port to connect to an LCD through a VGA converter and still have the sound come through the cabinet wiring connected to the Pi Position. Here is the config file that worked for me:

# For more options and information see
# http://rpf.io/configtxt
# Some settings may impact device functionality. See link above for details

# uncomment if you get no picture on HDMI for a default "safe" mode
#hdmi_safe=1

# uncomment this if your display has a black border of unused pixels visible
# and your display can output without overscan
#disable_overscan=1

# uncomment the following to adjust overscan. Use positive numbers if console
# goes off screen, and negative if there is too much border
#overscan_left=30
#overscan_right=30
#overscan_top=10
#overscan_bottom=30

# uncomment to force a console size. By default it will be display's size minus
# overscan.
#framebuffer_width=1280
#framebuffer_height=720

# uncomment if hdmi display is not detected and composite is being output
hdmi_force_hotplug=1

# uncomment to force a specific HDMI mode (this will force VGA)
hdmi_group=2
hdmi_mode=16

# uncomment to force a HDMI mode rather than DVI. This can make audio work in
# DMT (computer monitor) modes
hdmi_drive=2

# uncomment to increase signal to HDMI, if you have interference, blanking, or
# no display
#config_hdmi_boost=4

# uncomment for composite PAL
#sdtv_mode=2

#uncomment to overclock the arm. 700 MHz is the default.
#arm_freq=800

# Uncomment some or all of these to enable the optional hardware interfaces
#dtparam=i2c_arm=on
#dtparam=i2s=on
#dtparam=spi=on

# Uncomment this to enable infrared communication.
#dtoverlay=gpio-ir,gpio_pin=17
#dtoverlay=gpio-ir-tx,gpio_pin=18

# Additional overlays and parameters are documented /boot/overlays/README

# Enable audio (loads snd_bcm2835)
dtparam=audio=on

[pi4]
# Enable DRM VC4 V3D driver on top of the dispmanx display stack
dtoverlay=vc4-fkms-v3d
max_framebuffers=2

[all]
#dtoverlay=vc4-fkms-v3d

dtoverlay=pi3-disable-bt
dtoverlay=disable-bt
dtoverlay=vga565-3

framebuffer_priority=2

dpi_output_format=421907
enable_dpi_lcd=1
display_default_lcd=1

dpi_group=2
dpi_mode=87

dpi_timings=320 1 16 30 34 240 0 2 30 22 0 0 0 60 0 6400000 1

dtoverlay=pwm-2chan,pin=18,func=2,pin2=19,func2=2
dtparam=audio=on

dtparam=i2c_arm=off
dtparam=i2s=off
dtparam=spi=off

Ok, FINALLY!!!

Now that my bench setup has a WORKING SD CARD, a WORKING Raspberry Pi 3B, and good power, I THEN went back and looked at page #9 of this thread and realized I forgot to comment out a few lines that the other poster did....like disabling DVI output, etc...So I meticuously copied it verbatim......and booted this rig up and NOW this Pi Position is working on my HP monitor at my desk....Its just a Raspberry Pi 3b and the SD Card...with an HDMI cable...no audio right now and no Pi Position yet as its being shipped....but this is a great move forward for me. I can now test my game when it arrives.

I had to end up using that Win 32 Disk Imager. Dont know if the Mac version of the Raspberrry Pi Imager could have worked but I needed to just go try what I know worked for people and this is what it entailed.

Well, I hope reading all this helps someone else. .

I did the SD Card config edits on my iMac but used a Windows laptop for the actual sd card imaging.
And to help others in diagnosing their own Pi 3's, if you do not get that rainbow splash screen when plugged into an HDMI monitor, the unit did not boot off the card.
The rainbow splash means it read data on the sd card and produced that default image. So the lack of that rainbow image means SD card issues...so you can stop there and go address the card problem, then come back and see if it comes up. (lesson I learned throughout this process).

 

[mbkart3]

Hi there, I am new to all this. Just picked up a Pole 2 cab that is void of any boards. Does anyone have an extra Pi Position they would be willing to part with. They are sold out.

 

[COOKCOVEN]

Question on the Pi Position PCB. I just got a PP cockpit it is missing the PCBs and both AR-ll boards. Can I just run a switching power supply with the isolation transformer to power the game and monitor. And must the AR-ll boards be present to make the game audio function correctly? Or is there another way to do this that I'm unaware of. Thanks for any guidance you ca give

 

[Vectordreams]

Question on monitor fold over. Is the overscan setting what will help with this issue? It is only the top half of the screen and I tested with my tgp and it displays just fine.

 

[KBMAN]

IDK, but I have the same issue, and it's annoying AF. The board should have been tested more thoughouly before going mainstream!

 

[Vectordreams]

I started playing with the overscan settings and that has nothing to do with the issue. I found on page 9 of this thread that G07 have this issue and that is the chassis I am using. What are others using that have a successful image?

 

[vancouver]

Hi There,
Brand new to the group! Looking forward to contributing. I picked up a well-used Pole Position. Sound and Video worked, however, there's a fairly significant "graphics glitch" in the original setup. So,,, I ordered a PI POSITION along with a Raspberry Pi and microsd card. I can't seem to download the image from the main site as it's saying there's a currupt file. Would anyone be willing to mail me a microSD card with the images on it so I can test this?? Happy to pay $35 to anyone that can drop one in the mail for me. Thanks!

 

[JohnV]

Hi There,
Brand new to the group! Looking forward to contributing. I picked up a well-used Pole Position. Sound and Video worked, however, there's a fairly significant "graphics glitch" in the original setup. So,,, I ordered a PI POSITION along with a Raspberry Pi and microsd card. I can't seem to download the image from the main site as it's saying there's a currupt file. Would anyone be willing to mail me a microSD card with the images on it so I can test this?? Happy to pay $35 to anyone that can drop one in the mail for me. Thanks!

Did you download the image from the link in the description of this video?

 

[vancouver]

Did you download the image from the link in the description of this video?

I did... And when I download the "2021updaterev2 (1) (3).zip" file and try to open it,,, it says "the disc image file is corrupted"....

 

[JohnV]

I did... And when I download the "2021updaterev2 (1) (3).zip" file and try to open it,,, it says "the disc image file is corrupted"....

How are you trying to open it?

 

[vancouver]

How are you trying to open it?

I downloaded these 2 files... Then when I go to the 2021 updateZIP file and open, it downloads to 96% then gives me a screen that says it can't be opened because the file is corrupted.

 

[JohnV]

View attachment 735027

I downloaded these 2 files... Then when I go to the 2021 updateZIP file and open, it downloads to 96% then gives me a screen that says it can't be opened because the file is corrupted.

How are you trying to open it? Are you double-clicking it?

 

[vancouver]

How are you trying to open it? Are you double-clicking it?

l've tried just about everything. Double clicking, clicking the 3 dots off to the right. Just about every option known to man for opening files. Opening manually,,,, opening with Zip extractor software (like the screenshot below), everything...
Super frustrating. Which is why I'm hoping I can just pay someone to drop a microsd card in the mail to me to see if this works.
I've already paid over $700 for a Pole Position that barely works, then another couple hundred on a Raspberry Pi, Sd card... Countless hours into this thing. I'm about ready to just take this thing to the dump.
Sorry for the rant. Would just love for this to work.

 

[Vectordreams]

You need to unzip the 2021updaterev2.img to a folder. From Win32DiskImager you select the file and your SD card and write the image to the card.

Depending on the revision of the Raspberry Pi it may need a different start.elf file on the partition that can be seen from Windows.

 

[vancouver]

You need to unzip the 2021updaterev2.img to a folder. From Win32DiskImager you select the file and your SD card and write the image to the card.

Depending on the revision of the Raspberry Pi it may need a different start.elf file on the partition that can be seen from Windows.

I've quickly realized that maybe I'm not intelligent enough to do all of that. I know to most on here, everything mentioned here sounds simple. I've tried everything you mentioned. Even had 2 friends come over that have significant IT experience for big companies (one for Intel) and they don't even understand what to do...
If ANYONE out there is willing to mail me a SD card with these images preloaded on it that I can plug into the Raspberry Pi, I'll gladly venmo/paypal $40 to them. Otherwise, I have a 200 pound worthless paperweight that I've just sunk $1,000 into. Thank you...

 

[Glitch]

I've quickly realized that maybe I'm not intelligent enough to do all of that. I know to most on here, everything mentioned here sounds simple. I've tried everything you mentioned. Even had 2 friends come over that have significant IT experience for big companies (one for Intel) and they don't even understand what to do...
If ANYONE out there is willing to mail me a SD card with these images preloaded on it that I can plug into the Raspberry Pi, I'll gladly venmo/paypal $40 to them. Otherwise, I have a 200 pound worthless paperweight that I've just sunk $1,000 into. Thank you...

You can use Raspberry Pi imager, it's just a few clicks. At 0:11 in the video, choose [USE CUSTOM - Select a custom img from your computer] at the bottom of the list and select the 2021updaterev2.img file instead.

Raspberry Pi imager, can be downloaded here:

https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/raspberry-pi-imager-imaging-utility/

 

[The Gator]

I haven't been able to figure mine out yet unfortunately. It just randomly switches from game to game, it doesn't reset though, it's something with the switch input. You can unplug the switch and it still does it. I've changed the voltage, etc. and still have issues so not sure what's up.

Did you ever figure this out? I thought mine was figured out but still does this random reset just like you described like it is switching games.

Sometimes though it will stay on Pole Position 1 just restarts.

Good voltage getting to the board.

Not sure what's up.

Anyone else having this issues beside the 2 of us?

 

[LyonsArcade]

No I never figured it out. I'm going to try to hook a scope up to it and figure out what it's doing when it resets, it's pretty frustrating. Glad to hear at least one other person on the planet has the same issue. I've probably spent 20 hours trying to figure it out, but I don't really know what I'm doing, if I spent that same 20 hours working on the original pcb's I could have fixed 3 or 4 sets by now.