PS2 AND DC

[Shieldwolf]

I know there has been a lot of talk on the threads about connecting a dc to your control panel, but could connect your ps2, dc, and pc all to the same set of controls? I have no skills at this stuff so it's more of a question of curiosity.

[Frostillicus]

I wouldn't see why not .  If you want them all hooked up at the same time, I'm sure the diode method would work for the P-S2 as well as the DC.

I just have the DC and PC hooked up but the diode method works flawlessly.

[SNAAAKE]

Converter would be easier.
IF you do diode method then I-pac for pc then  2 ps hacked pad for ps2 and 2 others for dc.

now converter would be a lot easier.
just hack 2 ps pads and use for ps2,dreamcast using converter,and pc using converter as well.

This is the "easier" solution imo.

[Shieldwolf]

Two things:
1 I'm usigg a hangstrom encoder not an ipac, but that shouldn't really matter.

2 Could you explain the converter a little more snake.

[jr76]

I'm currently building a panel to use with Dreamcast/PS2/Xbox.
I'm basing it on these plans
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jdpyle1/arcade_sticks.htm but am changing a few things. Instead of using different project boxes for each console, I'm using a parallel printing switch for each player. They are four-way switches so once I complete this, players will be able to select Dreamcast/PS2/Xbox/Mame. I don't think I'll have to worry about diodes with this setup.

[Shieldwolf]

JR76,

that sounds amazing!!!!
Can you send me pics and or directions for dummies?

[Dave_K.]

JR76,

that sounds amazing!!!!
Can you send me pics and or directions for dummies?

I'd wait until he finishes it...others have had problems using switchboxes in this manner.  Hope he does succeed though.

[jr76]

If I get it to work, I will post pics and directions. I don't see what the problem would be though, from what I can tell the switcher box isn't anything but that, an unpowered switcher. It's just making a physical connection, the same as unplugging a 25 pin connector and plugging it into a different one. Am I wrong?

[jr76]

Connecting to the parallel box should be no problem. I was out of town last week and all my parts I ordered came in so I was able to do a quick test this weekend.

I soldered up a dreamcast controller and connected the wires to the swticher. I used Printer cables and it didn't worked. I don't know why, but here is my theory.

When you strip open a parallel printer cable, there are about 20 stranded cables on the inside. I mapped out these wires to there respective pin by using a continuity tester. All the printer cables I striped had the same color scheme so I assumed that the wires would map to the same pin. I was wrong, this isn't the case! For example, I had on cable where the brown wire mapped to pin 5. On a bother cable, the brown wire mapped to pin 15.

So I wired up my on db25 connectors. I was in a hurry so I just did button A on the DC controller. I set up another db25 connector and hooked a button up to it. Connected the db25's to the switch box, put in a copy of Street Fighter X, and it worked! Ryu was kicking everytime I pushed the button.

Conclusion, if people were having problems with the parallel cable switchers, I don't think it was due to the switches, I think it was because of the cables! I will be soldering my own db25 connectors instead of mapping 8 different sets of printer cables!

[Sephroth57]

cool im glad youre making progress, im interested in doing this but im a newbie at this so hopefully you can make some easy directions or you would make them and sell em to me =)

[BombProofPlane]

diodes the best just turn on the console or pc and you play no screwing with the connectors

[Shieldwolf]

so did it work?

[jr76]

My setup did and does work. I don't have any delay either. My control panel looks like junk, I plan on building a nicer one and documenting on how I did it. Once I do, I'll let everyone know.

I would be interested to see instructions on how to do the diode thing. While I'm using a selector, it would be cool to just turn a console on and go. However, what if you have two consoles on at the same time?

[Shieldwolf]

So what's the final verdict? Any chance we'll see some plans soon?