DIY Build ISP Questions [Build your own upgrader dongle!]

[Chief Blur Buster]

do you have any setting + testing recommendations? thx.

Some good settings are here: http://forums.blurbusters.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=452

When checking results in games, you want to make sure your games are running high framerates (e.g. 120fps @ 120Hz) and then do an action that creates lots of panning (e.g. strafing, turning, camera panning, etc). During such full-screen high-framerate motion, you will be able to see results of your calibration.

[lebowsky]

i used 2n2222 transistors and 1k ohm resistors for my adapter

I used 2x BC548B NPN transistors and 2x 100 Ohm resistors.

thanks guys, the parts are ordered. I still have another basic question (sorry, novice): What exactly did you do with the ground pins? Are all just connected?

[dippadui]

do you have any setting + testing recommendations? thx.

Some good settings are here: http://forums.blurbusters.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=452

When checking results in games, you want to make sure your games are running high framerates (e.g. 120fps @ 120Hz) and then do an action that creates lots of panning (e.g. strafing, turning, camera panning, etc). During such full-screen high-framerate motion, you will be able to see results of your calibration.

ok il try that...thanks

[andrus96]

Good day! I want to reflash your BenQ XL2720Z V.1 way through the second LPT, but can not find MStar ISP Utility 4.3.4. Prompt where you can download the utility or you can ask for another versiey.Zaranee thanks for the advice.

[dippadui]

Good day! I want to reflash your BenQ XL2720Z V.1 way through the second LPT, but can not find MStar ISP Utility 4.3.4. Prompt where you can download the utility or you can ask for another versiey.Zaranee thanks for the advice.

you mean this?---> http://www.blurbusters.com/benq/diy-fir ... -z-series/

btw my utility did not work until i put (ftd2xx.dll) in same folder that isp tool exe is.

[Exair]

thanks guys, the parts are ordered. I still have another basic question (sorry, novice): What exactly did you do with the ground pins? Are all just connected?

Hi everyone, I have exactly the same question. I have found all the compenents in my local store and I've got the tools to build this - but not the knowledge it seems.

Maybe somebody who built it already can clarify how the GND cables must be connected (or not) with each other.

My second question is: Can I use a USB -> LPT adapter for this? I do not own any PC/Notebook with this port anymore.

Thanks!

[Teddyman]

I just put together one of these and successfully updated the firmware. To make things more exciting, it failed twice during programming before working correctly.

Here's what the beauty looks like: http://i.imgur.com/xD8Nmib.jpg

For the grounding, I soldered a wire to the metal shell of the connector and joined everything that had to be grounded to that wire with a crimp connector. Both the LPT and the VGA had 3 adjacent pins to be grounded so I just soldered a wire between those 3 to save some trouble. Note that the scheme in the pdf shows the backside of the connectors, not the side that plugs into the cable/port. Make sure you know the pinouts of your transistors.

Transistors used: 2SC1008 80V 0.7A TO-92

The strobe utility doesn't work for me yet, though I didn't go through all the steps to fix it. The debug menu on the monitor has the same adjustments so I don't think I'll even bother with the utility.

[pnum]

pins 18-25 on the printer port should all be connected to ground internally so you don't need to bridge them. I made a short jumper wire between pin 13 and 25 and another between 10 and 23 then I connected the emitter of one transistor to pin 25 and the other to pin 23. pin 24 wasn't connected to ground on my lpt port so I left it blank. I used pins 21 20 and 19 to connect to pins 5 6 and 8 on the vga connector.

[dippadui]

has anyone seen any issues after flashing...just curious.

[Chief Blur Buster]

The strobe utility doesn't work for me yet, though I didn't go through all the steps to fix it. The debug menu on the monitor has the same adjustments so I don't think I'll even bother with the utility.

It would be cool to see you get the utility working -- and tell me how you got it to work, so that the utility can be modified to accomodate your situation. Do you get "Error" or "Not Detected"? The utility is super easy to use, and will likely have more features as it gains more users. You have to readjust everytime you switch refresh rates, or when you add/remove the VT1350 tweak. Resetting to bring up the service menu and adjusting via harder buttons, can be quite a hassle.

I am thinking of creating a new utility that memorizes Contrast/Brightness/R/G/B adjustments on a per-refreshrate-basis, so someone could have separate picture calibrations for each refresh rate -- and automatically switch calibrations when switching refresh rates. 144Hz often have very different colors than 60Hz...