Atari console and controller, hardware questions

[Brad Lee]

Im finalizing my design on an Atari 2600 module for my cabinet such that Ill be able to use real joysticks(already done) as well as paddles and/or driving controls.

Ive got the joysticks part done, it just required some male DB9 connecters that I extended to my Ipac.
Now for paddles and driving controls- Are these analog pots, or are they optical like a mouse? Ive seen pages saying both things. Did they start out oen way and get changed to the other? Also, is the only difference between paddles and driving controls, that one spins freely 360' and the other has a ~270' range? This is what leads me to beleive that it IS a pot

On the console itself, what controls were on the box, and were they toggles or momentary? I think there were 2 different models(at least)
One had 4 switches:
 Power | B/W | [cartridge slot] | reset? | select?
and the p1 and p2 difficulty were little slide toggles on the back of the box
The other I think had all 6 on the front so they looked the same(the silver round levers)
I think the power and B/W were on/off toggles, and reset/select were momentary, but I cant remember if they all were spring loaded to 'return to positiion'
Can someone check out their old 2600 and let me know whats what and whats where?

[Felix T Cat]

From Left to Right with label Top/ Bottom

Power
ON / OFF

TV Type
Color / B/W

Left Difficulty
A / B

Cartridge

Right Difficulty
A / B

Game Select

Game Reset

The last 2 are normally up and press down then spring return to up position. The only 2 on mine that spring return.

Hope this helps

[Brad Lee]

Excellent, thanks!

[telengard]

Im finalizing my design on an Atari 2600 module for my cabinet such that Ill be able to use real joysticks(already done) as well as paddles and/or driving controls.

Cool, I did something similar but quite small ( it's all in a small project box ).  I use it with emulators.

Ive got the joysticks part done, it just required some male DB9 connecters that I extended to my Ipac.
Now for paddles and driving controls- Are these analog pots, or are they optical like a mouse? Ive seen pages saying both things. Did they start out oen way and get changed to the other? Also, is the only difference between paddles and driving controls, that one spins freely 360' and the other has a ~270' range? This is what leads me to beleive that it IS a pot

Yep I believe the *non* Indy controllers ( 270 deg ) are pots, there is a mouse hack for them.  I was hoping
I could just hook them up to the Optipac but I don't think it's possible.  

I will say there is nothing like playing Yar's Revenge and some of these other classics with the real
thing!

[paigeoliver]

The Paddles can hook up to the joystick port, although you may have to switch out the pot inside (it IS a pot though, and ANY pot based controller can interface through the joystick port if you change out the pots to ones that PC sticks use).