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HELP Hacking USB Gamepad
bsktbllmn23:
I am officially starting my cab build! Wanted to get the CP done first, so I decided I would try my hand at a gamepad hack.
Here are some pics, I have read a lot of different how to's but I have not seen anything quite like these. They have 1 USB connector, but 2 Gamepads attached. Controller 2's cord goes into the Controller 1, and then out to USB.
It shows up in Windows as a "Dual USB Gamepad" and works just fine in Mame and my other emulators. I just dont know if you all can tell what might be different when trying to solder these into my buttons and joysticks.
I have read about some gamepads NOT having 1 common ground. From what my very limited knowledge can tell me, this is one of those that DOESNT have a single common ground, as some of the contacts seem to have a different trace for ground... but again, I am very early in this process and could be wrong.
Thanks in advance for any help. :cheers:
CoryBee:
That is definitely a unique controller, and corresponding PCB. All of the chinese gamepads I have use "special" ground like you speak of for the "up" & "right". The rest of the buttons use the common ground. It should be as simple as soldering wires onto those little silver pads and touching it to the common ground to see if it produces a proper button press. I bet though that it will only be the directional pad that has a "special" ground. If I am right then the "Up" button will show up as "down" . Also "right" will be "left". I go over my findings in my bartop arcades build in my signature.
After typing that I found my post on it.
--- Quote ---I found that if i connect the common ground to the Right button pad it would register a Left button press. Same with Up, it would produce a Down button press. Bothered the ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- out of me. So I just scraped off some of the board off where the ground is that they share and soldered my own pad for the "secret ground". I haven't the slightest reason why, I have guesses but not sure at all. If someone knows please inform me of this.
--- End quote ---
bsktbllmn23:
1. You are absolutely right!
2. Your build is awesome, and I've been watching it closely to learn.
I have my multimeter out, and I guess I just don't understand how to read what I'm getting, or at least how it corresponds to how I'm going to gave to wire this pcb.
I will look back at your post and see what I can learn from the wiring part, thanks Cory
CoryBee:
Well there's your problem. A multimeter is USELESS for testing a gamepad. :banghead:
Also, thank you for the compliment. I really liked how my work turned out with barely any tools or woodworking skills.
All you need to test a button press is to touch one wire from the little pad that corresponds to a button and the common ground. I go pretty in depth on my two build logs, the punch out and goku ones about that damn "secret" ground :angry:
I was thinking about making a video about this issue as well, these controllers I buy are only $3.75 a piece. They have 14 buttons (including the directional pad) so they are very useful when you don't want to drop more than 10 dollars on 2 controllers for mame.
Anyways, good luck with your weird dual gamepad controller(s) ;)
bsktbllmn23:
Excuse my ignorance, but I'm still learning.
If I touch a wire to the "ground" labeled in the picture, and touch corresponding pads... And id they come up in control panel correctly, this is a common ground.
And I will have a second one for the ridiculous up and right buttons...