Atari joysticks to PC?

[trekking95]

So I picked up an Atari 2600 joystick and a quickshot stick today. Since I don't have a Atari is there a way to use them on a PC?
I have seen the $40 USB adapters but is there another way?

Also the Atari plugs look just like computer monitor plugs, does that help?

[GregD]

It cannot be plugged into the serial port on the pc.  You will need a USB adapter for it.

[trekking95]

It cannot be plugged into the serial port on the pc.  You will need a USB adapter for it.

Anything else than serial?

[paigeoliver]

Ok, more specific. It doesn't plug into ANY port on your PC.

You could hack a gamepad or use an Ipac or something as well.

Any reason you want to use this stick on PC? It was always sort of terrible. I started using Genesis gamepads on my atari as soon as I figured out that worked.

[monkey puzzle]

I would just buy a cheap 2nd hand gamepad and hack that. Once you get the pcb out it's easy to see where to connect the wires to. Then you can just solder the other end of the wires to a 9-way male plug. Very cheap and easy.

[trekking95]

Any reason you want to use this stick on PC? It was always sort of terrible. I started using Genesis gamepads on my atari as soon as I figured out that worked.

Just to have one. 

[trekking95]

Would a Tron Atari stick work on a computer?

[alfonzotan]

I tried wiring a DSUB9 cable to an I-Pac4 and then plugging in Atari controllers.  Never got it to work and eventually disconnected those wires.

The Legacy Engineering Atari USB joysticks work pretty well, but they need to be connected via a powered USB hub (or directly to the computer).

[ark_ader]

I remember seeing a 2600 controller to Centronics interface...

http://www.volny.cz/sumbera/lpt_joy.html


Quick Google provided this, but I bet there are others.

[SavannahLion]

Would a Tron Atari stick work on a computer?

No. No Atari console stick would work directly with a PC. They just happen to use the same jack but the communication is different. That's why there are USB adapters and wiring diagrams for the parallel port.  The DE9/DB9 connector was super common and appeared at damn near everywhere. Doesn't mean any of it was truly compatible.

Listen to advice here. This has been asked and answered before so most of us know.

[Spacedueler]

I read about these but don't have one:
http://home.comcast.net/~tjhafner/2600-daptor.htm

You can read up on them here:
http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/181321-announcing-new-2600-controller-usb-adaptor/page__hl__adaptor

I wired a db9 connector up to my U-HID interface and it worked nice with both the 2600 joysticks and paddles.

[trekking95]

Yes? No? Maybe?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-2-0-9PIN-RS232-PORT-SERIAL-CONVERT-ADAPTER-/300554260545?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45fa6e1041

[Gray_Area]

I tried wiring a DSUB9 cable to an I-Pac4 and then plugging in Atari controllers.  Never got it to work and eventually disconnected those wires.

The Legacy Engineering Atari USB joysticks work pretty well, but they need to be connected via a powered USB hub (or directly to the computer).

If you're using a hub, you mean, right? Because mine work just fine plugged in direct. Actually, I'm thinking of selling them. Interested trek?

[alfonzotan]

I tried wiring a DSUB9 cable to an I-Pac4 and then plugging in Atari controllers.  Never got it to work and eventually disconnected those wires.

The Legacy Engineering Atari USB joysticks work pretty well, but they need to be connected via a powered USB hub (or directly to the computer).

If you're using a hub, you mean, right? Because mine work just fine plugged in direct. Actually, I'm thinking of selling them. Interested trek?

Yes, direct works fine.  Passive (no AC power) hubs don't work, which is pretty ridiculous, but...

[alfonzotan]

Yes? No? Maybe?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-2-0-9PIN-RS232-PORT-SERIAL-CONVERT-ADAPTER-/300554260545?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45fa6e1041

My guess is no, but they're cheap, so might be worth a try.

[trekking95]

Yes? No? Maybe?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-2-0-9PIN-RS232-PORT-SERIAL-CONVERT-ADAPTER-/300554260545?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45fa6e1041

My guess is no, but they're cheap, so might be worth a try.

What makes you think no?

[Nephasth]

I'm going to throw RetroZone out there again. It's cheaper than the $40 adapters you were looking at, and it's an adapter for a gamepad not just a serial/usb adapter.

[trekking95]

I'm going to throw RetroZone out there again. It's cheaper than the $40 adapters you were looking at, and it's an adapter for a gamepad not just a serial/usb adapter.

So why does it look just like a serial to USB adapter?

[SavannahLion]

Yes? No? Maybe?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-2-0-9PIN-RS232-PORT-SERIAL-CONVERT-ADAPTER-/300554260545?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45fa6e1041

Repeat after me....
The Atari controller port is not the same as the PC serial port.

Therefore....
Any serial to USB adapter WILL NOT WORK.

They may look the same but internally they are very different. So any "cheap" serial to adapter you buy for this purpose is a waste of money.

Please listen to the advice here. It's been discussed multiple times.

[alfonzotan]

Yes? No? Maybe?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-2-0-9PIN-RS232-PORT-SERIAL-CONVERT-ADAPTER-/300554260545?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45fa6e1041

Repeat after me....
The Atari controller port is not the same as the PC serial port.

Therefore....
Any serial to USB adapter WILL NOT WORK.

They may look the same but internally they are very different. So any "cheap" serial to adapter you buy for this purpose is a waste of money.

Please listen to the advice here. It's been discussed multiple times.

Yep.  Serial port != Atari port.

[trekking95]

Yeah okay, I will have to get the Atari to USB adapter.
But they are so expensive! 

[Spacedueler]

The more expensive ones like the 2600-daptor will also control the Atari paddles. The one at RetroPort looks like it will only work on the joystick. If you don't intend to use any paddles, save the money and get that one. If you like to hack things, the cheapest usb gamepad will give you your 4 directions and a fire button to solder/wire too:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Joystick-USB-2-0-Game-Pad-Controller-for-PC-/260754213640?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cb6298b08

Or get a head start on making your own:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=114744.0;all#lastPost

If you want to have paddles someday, get the 2600-daptors, or the U-HID from Ultimarc.

[trekking95]

The more expensive ones like the 2600-daptor will also control the Atari paddles. The one at RetroPort looks like it will only work on the joystick. If you don't intend to use any paddles, save the money and get that one. If you like to hack things, the cheapest usb gamepad will give you your 4 directions and a fire button to solder/wire too:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Joystick-USB-2-0-Game-Pad-Controller-for-PC-/260754213640?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cb6298b08

Or get a head start on making your own:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=114744.0;all#lastPost

If you want to have paddles someday, get the 2600-daptors, or the U-HID from Ultimarc.

I don't really care about the paddles as I am going to buy the spinners for my arcade.

Anyway what is there to it with hacking the gamepad?
Also a thrift shop in the area has a logitech usb x-box type controller for a $1, would that work?

And what do the U-HID things do?

[Spacedueler]

I don't really care about the paddles as I am going to buy the spinners for my arcade.

Anyway what is there to it with hacking the gamepad?
Also a thrift shop in the area has a logitech usb x-box type controller for a $1, would that work?

And what do the U-HID things do?

First hit on 'gamepad hack' Google search:
http://www.got2getalife.com/DesktopCP/usbhack.html

I like the writer's opinion on time vs. money - you have to like to hack. There's plenty of tuts on gamepad hacks - just search. Not all gamepads will have the solder pads like the one in the above link. If I saw a Logitech controller for a dollar I'd buy it just to have a spare - buy it!

The U-HID is a nice controller interface for your control panel. It will control your spinners and your buttons. Check it out at Ultimarc.com - A Mini-pac opti is similar. Groovy Game Gear has similar controls.