USB to Serial PSX cable
This cable connects a PSX to a computer.
You can then interact with the following to upload/download binary data, peek/poke, hook r/w/x, launch executables, etc...
- Unirom booted from a cheat cart
- Unirom booted from a memory card
- Unirom booted from a CD
Suitable USB/Serial adapters :
- An FTDI FT232RL module OR
- An Arduino Uno that supports 3.3V serial OR
- A Raspberry Pi 0,1,2,3,4 OR
- A Raspberry Pi Pico OR
- A CP2102 or CP2104
If you have this stuff lying around, this can help :
- A PSX SCPH-1040 serial cable, or half a cable
- A dead PSX motherboard that has a serial port, or just the SIO socket
- Dupont wires
- Component AV Multi Out cable
Connection
You only need 3 wires from the PSX : Tx, Rx and Gnd.
PSX pins | FTDI pins
2 | GND
8 | TX
5 | RX
Which controller can be used
FTDI FT232RL
Connect PSX SIO pins 2, 5, 8 to the FTDI's Tx, Rx and Gnd. Done.
3.3V Arduino Uno
Some arduino unos have a jumper to use 3.3V instead of 5V levels. You can use such a board with an additional resistor, like so :
Sources : http://www.psxdev.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=760&p=19081
Raspberry Pi
Either over your local network or via a direct lan cable setup, you can use a rpi if you have one lying around.
Plug the PSX's serial output Rx/TX/Gnd to the GPIO14/pin 8 (Tx), GPIO15/pin 10 (Rx) and pin 6 (Gnd).
See here for the full solution : http://wiki.arthus.net/?psxdev-rpi_serial_over_network
Raspberry Pi Pico
The new controller by Rpi foundation can be used to with the Pico-uart-bridge firmware :
https://github.com/Noltari/pico-uart-bridge/releases
Use GPO 0/Pin 1 as Tx, GPO 1/Pin 2 as Rx and GPO 3/Pin 3 as Gnd :
CP2102 / CP2104
The CP2102 and CP2104 are reported to work at least in /slow mode (115200 bauds).
Others :
- CH341 is reported to work in /slow mode (115200 bauds)
From the PSX to the controller
Method #1 : Half SCPH-1040 cable
Hack the cable, connect things and voila :
Sources :
http://www.psxdev.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=349#p2592
http://www.psxdev.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=497#p3556
Method #2 : Salvaged PSX serial port + full SCPH-1040 cable
Use a salvaged PSX SIO port from a dead motherboard, and use your precious serial cable without destroying anything :
Source : http://www.psxdev.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=744&sid=ff1cc884ceaaa4267404e61e81130320#p6524
Method #3 : Dead or spare PSX motherboard + full SCPH-1040 cable
Same as above except you don't even have to hack the SIO port off the motherboard, just solder your wires directly underneath the SIO port.
Sources : https://thp.io/2020/psxserial.html
Method #4 : Component AV Multi Out cable adaptor to serial I/O
Component AV Multi Out cables contains all 12 pins; cutting the extra plastic of a component AV Multi Out Cable makes it fit perfectly on the Playstation's serial I/O port. The extra pins sits open within the serial I/O port.
A photo displaying how it looks like when connected:
One may cut the extra borders of the metal case with a mini saw blade, leaving a bit of base for it's lower part to remain connected; here is a photo displaying how it looks like with it on:
A photo displaying how it looks like, when connected with it's AV Multi Out enclosure:
A photo displaying the adaptor dowside-up:
Source : Anonymous