Connecting a PS1 to Modern Computer via PSXSERIAL

[Sirrico]

Hello all! In setting up my PS1 workstation, I have acquired an SCPH-1001 and restored it to working condition. As you know, the 1001 contains a Parallel I/O port and a Serial I/O port. My next step in setting up my development environment involves connecting my Playstation to my computer, and I've come to confusion.

I do understand the following (from the FAQ's section of this site):

(you will need a) ...Comms Link device such as the PSX Blaster, or PSXSERIAL adaptor...

Firstly, I cannot locate a Blaster for sale anywhere online, so I turn to the Xplorer, which is 18.40 USD. The cheaper alternative is the Serial I/O cable (5 USD), but I do not quite understand how I would go about connecting this to my computer.

So my question is, should I spend the extra money for an Xplorer, or should I buy the Serial cable instead? And if I get the Serial cable, what sort of card do I buy for my computer in order to connect the two?

[LameGuy64]

For now, just go for an Xplorer/Xplorer FX as you can do advanced things with it such as RAM/VRAM dump/upload, PC file streaming, and other useful things that are not possible with a serial link cable... However, you'll need a PC with a parallel printer port to connect the cartridge to.

[Sirrico]

Such as this?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 3VR1E42912

[LameGuy64]

That might work but wait for others to reply as I haven't tried any of those though.

[Shadow]

There was someone here who got Psy-Q working under Windows 7 with CATFLAP using one of those PCI cards.
I beleive it was Orion_ and gadget via http://www.psxdev.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=226

I myself have tried to do this, but I use PSEXE.COM for uploading my PS-EXE's and not CATFLAP.
All my batch files use it so I can't change over and I just find it much neater and easier to use
In the end, I never got it working.

The Xplorer is the best thing to use at the moment, followed by building a generic PSXSERIAL adapter.
The "PSX Blaster" was a product we were working on like PSIO.
It's not completed yet but there is a working prototype
Another option is to buy a development kit, but I will only sell them to people who are serious about PSX development.

[Sirrico]

...Another option is to buy a development kit, but I will only sell them to people who are serious about PSX development.

Haha, maybe one day, as I'm not fully committed yet. By development kit, do you mean the Yaroze?
Anyhow, it seems as though I will go the Xplorer route. Thank you all very much!

Now about that homebuilt generic adapter...

[Shadow]

No, not the Yaroze. A DTL-H2000.

The "generic adapter" is just a 3V TTL RS232 MCU with Transmit and Receive wired to the PSX.
You can use 5V, but it's not recommended. Any higher and your PSX serial line is fried.
Search the forums and you will find the information you need

Here is a head start: http://www.psxdev.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=349

[Sirrico]

Again, much thanks to all the help.
One final question:
The Xplorer listed here claims to run in PAL (as it ships from France). This is of no consequence to my USA locked console?

[Greg]

They say it's a Xplorer FX, but they ship instead a Xplorer v2, not a FX, I bought from Charliediscount on Amazon in jun 2014, but they still claim selling a xplorer FX.

You can change from PAL to NTSC in the menu.

[Sirrico]

They say it's a Xplorer FX, but they ship instead a Xplorer v2, not a FX, I bought from Charliediscount on Amazon in jun 2014, but they still claim selling a xplorer FX.

You can change from PAL to NTSC in the menu.

Contacted the seller to be sure, and they only sell the Xplorer v2. The rest of the listings on that page do not sell to America, or are way too expensive right now. If anyone knows a good place to buy an actual FX here in the US, I would be forever thankful.

EDIT: Spent the last of my paycheck to have one ebay'd from the UK, picture shows an FX. Woo! I'm almost convinced that it was the last available one in the world.