USB receiver for Gameboy wireless game controller (Type-A) compatible with PC (Windows/Linux) & Raspberry Pi | insideGadgets

NOTE: This is a USB Type A receiver compatible with PC / Linux & Raspberry Pi, you will also need a transmitter in the form of a Game Boy cartridge sold seperately, learn more below:

Wireless Gameboy/GBA Controller (wirelessgbc.com) allows you to use your Gameboy, MGB, GBC, GBA, GBA SP, GB Micro, DS and DS Lite as a wireless controller.

Play games on your PC, laptop, RPi, etc, or use it to play games on a NES, Super Nintendo, N64, Gamecube or Wii wirelessly using any supported Gameboy of your choice.

Read more about the receivers/transmitters below, Designed and made in Australia. Please note that this is not a Bluetooth device.

You will need a transmitter cart and receiver as a minimum to get started. You can have multiple receivers per cart and you can use the same receiver for either the GB or GBA TX cart. To pair the transmitter and receiver complete the following steps:

Hold the start button when booting the TX cart to set the channel/address (make a note of them), press A to transmit, plug in the all your receivers you wish to sync and you’ll see them blink twice with high intensity. Perform the same action on any other carts you wish to have synced, enter in the same channel/address, press A and you’re done (you don’t need to plug in the receivers).

Receivers available

USB receiver (Type-A connector)
Use cases: Play games via emulation
Supports: Any device accepts a USB HID Joystick/Gamepad interface such as a PC (Windows/Linux), Raspberry Pi (e.g running RetroPie), etc. Users have reported it works on the Game Boy core on the MiSTer and Android through USB OTG. If you are using Windows 10, you will need VBA-M if you have the v1.2 firmware.
Refresh rate: 8ms or 125 times a second (tested on Windows 7 & Ubuntu 18.04).

NES receiver
Plugs into the NES controller port
Use cases: Play NES games
Supports: Mayflash Controller Adapter for the Wiimote (Has not been tested on an actual NES). The receiver has the 2 resistors which I believe should work on all NES consoles.

Super Nintendo receiver
Plugs into the Super Nintendo controller port
Use cases: Play SNES games that don’t need the Y/X buttons (or change some of the button mappings at start up – check the “How to use” section). Play GBA games on the GBA Consolizer using a GBA as a controller. Play Gameboy games using the Super Game Boy.
Supports: GBA Consolizer, Mayflash Controller Adapter for the Wiimote and SNES PAL/NTSC.
Refresh rate: 16/20ms which is controlled by the Super Nintendo itself.

Nintendo 64 receiver
Plugs into the N64 controller port. Select button = Z button.
Use cases: Play N64 games
Supports: Also tested on the “N64 Controller Adapter for PC USB” adapter.

Gamecube receiver
Plugs into the Gamecube controller port
Use cases: Play Gamecube games that only need the B/A buttons but even more useful is if you would like to play Gameboy games on the Game Boy Player or Virtual Console games/Emulators on the Wii.
Supports: Gamecube / Wii, Brook GC to SW (Gamecube to Switch/PC Adapter)
Refresh rate: Changes between 8 & 20ms which is controlled by the Gamecube itself.

WiiMote Expansion Port receiver
Plugs into the WiiMote style expansion port and acts as a Classic Controller.
Use cases: Play Wii games, virtual console games or games on emulators. Play games on the NES/SNES Classic Mini.
Supports: Wii & NES/SNES Classic Mini (untested but should work).

Atari 2600
Plugs into the Atari 2600 controller port

Transmitters available

Gameboy TX cart
Transmitted keys: Up, Down, Left, Right, Start, Select, B, A.
Supports: Gameboy (DMG), Gameboy Pocket, Gameboy Colour, Gameboy Advance and Gameboy Advance SP.
Range: Tested indoors to be at least 8 metres line of sight.
Refresh rate: Every 2ms, the keys are checked and a packet is transmitted to the receiver.

GBA TX cart
Transmitted keys: Up, Down, Left, Right, Start, Select, B, A, L & R.
Supports: Gameboy Advance, Gameboy Advance SP, Gameboy Micro, DS (untested but should work) and DS Lite. One user confirmed it works on the Revo K101+ system too.
Range: Tested indoors to be at least 4 metres line of sight; you can increase the PPK to improve it slightly but it also depends on how the cart is oriented when playing (there can be some dead zones) and if your fingers/body is close to the wireless module.
Refresh rate: Every 2ms, the keys are checked and a packet is transmitted to the receiver.

There are some hidden options when booting – check out the How To Use section on the left.

Please note that there is no encryption or security available for this device, while this should pose no issue for home users, it would be possible for an attacker to potentially take over your controls or block your control.

The Gameboy TX cart comes in a generic clear or grey Gameboy cartridge. The GBA TX cart comes in a dark grey GBA cartridge. Each unit is assembled in house and is tested on a Gameboy Advance. The PCB finish is ENIG, Gold fingers (on the edge connector) with a 45 degree bevel to give the maximum life for insertion/removal of the cartridge. You may hear some buzzing sounds coming from the speaker which is normal, it’s just the wireless packets being sent; it seems to sound louder on an original Gameboy.