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Post by gliptitude on Feb 6, 2013 20:39:14 GMT -5
Separate posts here because I can only attach one image file per post and I have 4 images. That shouldn't be, unless this was just suddenly changed on Proboards recently that I don't know about. TrekMD was posting multiple images in the nature thread a few days ago. Well I'm just using the "attach file" button in the compose message screen. The "insert image" function is only for images hosted elsewhere on the internet. These inserts are not limited to one per message. But my images are just on my desktop, so I can't just insert them. |
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Post by desfeek on Feb 6, 2013 20:53:02 GMT -5
Many, many retro systems used the DB-9 connector, including the Sega Genesis. You can find all sorts of fun combinations of controllers.
From my limited knowledge, the reason some controllers do not behave the same on certain systems is that the 9 pins all correlate to specific inputs, specified by the machine. For example, a 3-Button Sega Genesis controller will work fine with a Commodore 64, but some keyboard functions stop working with one plugged in. It's because the controller is triggering (or even blocking) the inputs normally used by the keyboard. This is not dangerous (as far as I'm aware) to experiment with, and can produce some fun results.
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Post by desfeek on Feb 6, 2013 20:55:50 GMT -5
The Vectrex has very strange inputs. This is why many homebrewers create custom boards (with Vectrex specific-inputs) for homebrew Vectrex controllers. Also, the controller port itself is shaped differently than most DB-9 connectors, so people generally just use Sega Genesis cords and shave a little rubber off two sides of the connector. EDIT: I just more thoroughly read this thread, and I don't see why you couldn't rewire an existing board to correctly match a Vectrex. I think I've heard of that. Sorry for repeating information you all already knew  I will say that I've never heard of experimenting with controllers causing an issue. The controller doesn't input electricity of its own, so it's not going to short anything out. However, DO be cautious not to bend the 9 pins in the 'female' end of the DB-9 port. If a controller's a tight fit, don't force it. |
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Post by VectorX on Feb 6, 2013 20:59:12 GMT -5
That shouldn't be, unless this was just suddenly changed on Proboards recently that I don't know about. TrekMD was posting multiple images in the nature thread a few days ago. Well I'm just using the "attach file" button in the compose message screen. The "insert image" function is only for images hosted elsewhere on the internet. These inserts are not limited to one per message. But my images are just on my desktop, so I can't just insert them. Oh, thanks, that's probably it then. I just always use Photobucket without thinking |
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Post by desfeek on Feb 6, 2013 21:00:43 GMT -5
I always use tinypic to host decent message board photos, but photobucket works too.
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Post by gliptitude on Feb 6, 2013 22:58:01 GMT -5
The Vectrex has very strange inputs. This is why many homebrewers create custom boards (with Vectrex specific-inputs) for homebrew Vectrex controllers. Also, the controller port itself is shaped differently than most DB-9 connectors, so people generally just use Sega Genesis cords and shave a little rubber off two sides of the connector. EDIT: I just more thoroughly read this thread, and I don't see why you couldn't rewire an existing board to correctly match a Vectrex. I think I've heard of that. Sorry for repeating information you all already knew I will say that I've never heard of experimenting with controllers causing an issue. The controller doesn't input electricity of its own, so it's not going to short anything out. However, DO be cautious not to bend the 9 pins in the 'female' end of the DB-9 port. If a controller's a tight fit, don't force it. Yeh, it's just weird to me I've heard so many ppl talk about not being able to do anything with a Vectrex, because of a broken controller, when basically there are several games fully playable with a C64/2600 controller. Just looking at it, and some schematics of C64/Vectrex controllers, it does look pretty straightforward in some respects, and that the main difference between this C64 stick and the Vectrex 1-4 buttons, is that the inputs are routed to different pins (among the 9 in the socket). I also dismantled a Vectrex control panel today, (it was in really rough shape with loose stick and already exposed screws). The analog assembly looks delicate and particular, but most of the circuit looks otherwise pretty comprehensible... I do think that I could combine this (crappy damaged) anolog stick with this C64 stick substituting for the 1-4 buttons, to produce a very rough Vectrex dual stick controller. I would swap around a couple of the wires in the C64 to get the right orientation. I don't see any resistors (or any anything really) in the C64 controller. But the Vectrex has some. I do still worry that there is an electrical hazard in combining the two. Even if the controller isn't producing electricity, it is still in circuit with the console, and designed to work a certain way. Again my electrical knowledge is near nothing. |
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Post by kokovec on Jun 17, 2013 10:04:03 GMT -5
I will say that I've never heard of experimenting with controllers causing an issue. The controller doesn't input electricity of its own, so it's not going to short anything out. However, DO be cautious not to bend the 9 pins in the 'female' end of the DB-9 port. If a controller's a tight fit, don't force it. Yeh, it's just weird to me I've heard so many ppl talk about not being able to do anything with a Vectrex, because of a broken controller, when basically there are several games fully playable with a C64/2600 controller. Just looking at it, and some schematics of C64/Vectrex controllers, it does look pretty straightforward in some respects, and that the main difference between this C64 stick and the Vectrex 1-4 buttons, is that the inputs are routed to different pins (among the 9 in the socket). I also dismantled a Vectrex control panel today, (it was in really rough shape with loose stick and already exposed screws). The analog assembly looks delicate and particular, but most of the circuit looks otherwise pretty comprehensible... I do think that I could combine this (crappy damaged) anolog stick with this C64 stick substituting for the 1-4 buttons, to produce a very rough Vectrex dual stick controller. I would swap around a couple of the wires in the C64 to get the right orientation. I don't see any resistors (or any anything really) in the C64 controller. But the Vectrex has some. I do still worry that there is an electrical hazard in combining the two. Even if the controller isn't producing electricity, it is still in circuit with the console, and designed to work a certain way. Again my electrical knowledge is near nothing. So let me begin by saying that plugging anything that wasn't designed to work with the Vectrex into it is always somewhat of a risk. When I'm designing hardware that hangs off the joystick port I always try to be careful in not shorting the voltage supply pins. The Vec joystick port supplies Ground, +5V and -5V. The +-5V supply is for the analog joystick and the resistors do a couple of things. They limit the voltage swing to +-2.5V and the pot allows you to center the joystick. It's always a good idea to make sure that these voltages don't short together. I've done that on a few occasions and the Vectrex simply stops working. Not a good thing as it stresses out the components on the power board. That said it should be possible to convert an Atari compatible joystick with the Vectrex though you'll be missing a few butons. Kokovec |
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Post by dgo on Jun 18, 2013 1:53:26 GMT -5
It certainly is possible. However, it does include some soldering to make it work. As long as you don't short the +5V and -5V (pins 7 and 9 on the male dsub9 controller port on the Vec) you should be allright connecting the C64 controller.
The button input can be mapped direct to the Vectrex. (Since pins 1-4 from the C64 are the directional inputs and pins 1-4 of the Vectrex are the button 1-4 input that's why you are pressing the buttons of the Vec now when you move on your C64 joystick  ) See for yourself: Controller port layout C64Controller port layout VectrexTo make the (digital | on/off) C64 directional controls communicate with the (analog voltage based) Vectrex, you will need to build the following voltage divider circuit (extract from here)
Direction Control:
+5V (Pin 7)
^
| 10K
.__|__/\/\/\/\___.
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Right Button -| 3.3K |
| ._____/\/\/\/\___|
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|-------- X Direction
3.3K | (Pin 5)
._____/\/\/\/\___|
| |
Left Button -| |
| ._____/\/\/\/\___|
| 10K
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-5V (Pin 9)
+5V (Pin 7)
^
| 10K
.__|__/\/\/\/\___.
| |
Up Button -| 3.3K |
| ._____/\/\/\/\___|
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|-------- Y Direction
3.3K | (Pin 6)
._____/\/\/\/\___|
| |
Down Button -| |
| ._____/\/\/\/\___|
| 10K
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-5V (Pin 9)
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Post by 50tbrd on Sept 12, 2013 17:09:25 GMT -5
Gives me some interesting ideas.
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