DIY HARDWARE GUIDE

CDTV Keyboard on Arduino Getting Started

Parts, wiring, firmware, and setup instructions for this RetroSpy configuration.

Downloads

Download the latest RetroSpy release. It contains the desktop application and controller firmware.
Download the Arduino IDE only if you need to program your own Arduino board.

What You Need

One of the following boards:
- Arduino Uno
- Arduino Nano
- Pre-programmed Arduino Uno from the RetroSpy store
USB cable to connect the Teensy to your computer
A RetroSpy CDTV cable.
- 5-Pin Midi Cable
- Two 5-Pin Mini DIN to Standard MIDI DIN Adapter Cable like these
- 5-Pin Mini-DIN Pass-through Breakout Board
- Wires connect to the breakout board, like these

Instructions

Wiring – No Soldering Required

It is possible to solder jumper wires onto each wire of the extension cable like some other platforms, but since the we are dealing with a standard port type, we can build a cable with no soldering required. NOTE: Most of the time the direction of the breakout board doesn’t matter, just plug the controller into one end and the extension cable into the other.

Take the extension cable, wires and Breakout Board you have acquired and put them together in this configuration:

Hooking it up

Download and install the latest release of RetroSpy.
Install the latest Arduino software, download the Windows Installer option. If you are not programming your own board you can skip this step.
Hook up the RetroSpy cable to your Arduino according to this pinout.

CDTV Pin Arduino Digital Pin

1 GND

2 4

3 3

4 Not Connected

5 Not Connected
Plug the controller into the RetroSpy cable.
Plug the RetroSpy cable into the console.
Plug the USB cable into the Arduino.
Plug the other end of the USB cable into the display PC.

CDTV Pin	Arduino Digital Pin
1	GND
2	4
3	3
4	Not Connected
5	Not Connected

Program the Arduino

If you purchased a pre-programmed board, skip this section and continue to the RetroSpy application setup.

Install the Arduino IDE and connect the Arduino to the computer.
Open firmware/firmware.ino from the latest RetroSpy release.
In the firmware options, enable MODE_AMIGA_KEYBOARD. Leave only the mode required by this guide enabled.
Select the correct board and serial port in the Arduino IDE.
Choose Upload. Wait for the IDE to report that the upload completed successfully.

Selecting a RetroSpy firmware mode in the Arduino IDE — Enable the controller mode required by the guide.

Uploading RetroSpy firmware from the Arduino IDE — Upload the firmware to the connected Arduino.

Use the RetroSpy application

Connect the programmed board and power on the console or controller adapter.
Launch the RetroSpy desktop application from the latest release.
Select the serial port used by the board.
Select CDTV Keyboard on Arduino Getting Started and choose a skin.
Choose Go, then press controller buttons to confirm that the display responds.

Troubleshooting

No serial port appears: Reconnect the USB cable, try a data-capable cable or another USB port, and restart the application.
The display opens but inputs are wrong: Confirm the selected controller type, firmware mode, and every pin connection.
The controller stops working on the console: Disconnect the RetroSpy board and retest the extension cable. Look for a short, reversed connector, or damaged splice.
Still stuck?: Contact RetroSpy support and include the console, controller, board type, firmware mode, and a clear wiring photo.