Multiple controllers to gameport

[Matt Fisher]

This is my first post, so forgive me if I am asking something that has already been covered.  I did search, but could not find the answer.  Anyway, I am going to be building a "Vector" CP and would like to connect a flight yoke, an analog joystick, and a Lunar Lander-type throttle.  I want to be able to connect these all through one gameport.  I realize that's five axes when the gameport supports four.  Can I "double up" on one of the axes?  Can I, for example, also connect the throttle to the analog joystick's y-axis pin?  I know that, even if this works, accidentally hitting the throttle while using the joystick (or visa versa) is a potential problem, but I think I can arrange the controls to avoid this.  Thank you in advance for any any help you can give.  

Matt

[Meldinov]

well, you can always use a switch

[Shifty]

You *may* be able to just use a y-splitter, but I don't know.

You could always use this automatic switch, and expand it for 3 devices. It should allow simultaneous use of all 3 devices. I haven't tried it, but it looks simple to build.
http://home.t-online.de/home/stephan.hans/tricks.htm#AUTOMATIC%20JOYSTICK%20SWITCH

[daywane]

caution.... I blew up a sidewinder with a "y" cable.
I hooked up a sidewinder and a gravis pad an lost the sidewinder forever. I later learned the manual stated never do that

[JustMichael]

Matt, you would either have to use switches to turn individual devices off or make something that reads the controls and then transmits it to the pc like it was a midi device.

[u_rebelscum]

You can double up on an axis, as long as:
a) the two POTs output the same range in ohms
b) when you calibrate, you don't move both at the same time,
c) the POTs are wired in serial

The easiest way to meet condition a) is make sure they are the are POTs and travel the distance, but you can also have one with 4x the resistance but one fourth the movement.