Controller Problems

[Searcher7]

I've been having difficulties with controllers and I'm about to go back to hacking a Sidewinder, but I wanted to ask once again how others dealt with the problems I'm having.

Perhaps I'm not soldering correctly, but every now and then one of the inputs of the Hydrogen controllers I have stop working. What seems to correct it is re-soldering the corresponding lead to the solder point on the PCB.

As tiny as these things are, it's a royal pain and since I'm trying to finish up some control panels for friends this just won't do.

My problem with the MiniPACs I have is that stripping and working with those tiny wire strands that make up IDE cables is still something I have to figure out. But as of now I have no way to connect the MiniPACs to the controls I have.

So basically it seems as though side winders hacks are faster and more reliable than the other third party options, but correct me if I'm wrong.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks a lot.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

[BobA]

An ipac or keywiz is the most reliable way to interface to your control panel.    Hacked control pads would not be my first choice.

[bkenobi]

I would just go with GP-Wiz40's, KeyWiz's, or Ipac's.  Make sure you spend the extra $10 and get the screw down terminals.  They are definitely worth it.  You could buy them yourself and solder them on later, but if you buy from RatShack, you will spend more than the difference in the controllers.