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Anyone ever Direct-Connect a 49-way Joystick?
fytr:
Hi,
That's a good idea - if I eventually decide to just keep using the 49-ways for P1 and P2, or not use them at all. I want to try them first to see how they feel when playing various games (and to check that the joysticks themselves are working).
I also have a timing consideration in that I want to be able to get this cabinet up and running over the xmas break with the existing CP. I don't want to mess with CP changes right now in terms of drilling new button holes, resizing joystick mounts, etc., and I'm not sure if replacement joysticks would mount in the same locations on the cp that the current joysticks use without changes. So I'm hoping to use the existing controls for awhile and save the new CP as a future project...
Regards,
Ken
fytr:
Alright so I was able to take a few hours during the holidays to connect the 49-way joysticks that came with my Gauntlet Legends cabinet via the "Direct Connection" approach as described in the link (basically 8 switches plus common ground and +5v for each joystick). I'm using a GP-Wiz40 USB interface from GroovyGameGear. However, I've got two problems at the moment:
1. When viewing the GP-Wiz40 Properties/Test panel in the WinXP Gamepad Control Panel (the one that shows all the buttons on the device), I can see that the regular push-buttons (1-up, 2-up, etc.) display as "off"/Open when not pressed, and correctly display as "On"/Closed when pressed. However, 7 of the 8 switches I connected for the optical 49-way joysticks show up as "On"/Closed when the joystick is centered. If I move the joystick progressively further in any direction 1-4 of the switches then turn "off"/Open as you move the joystick further in each direction. This is the opposite of what I was expecting from the "Direct Connection" link above. I was under the impression that the standard Gauntlet Legends joysticks were virtually the same as the Happs49 optical joysticks in this regard.
2. Another issue is that the switch that is supposed to indicate whether the joystick is moving up vs. down is not "on"/closed by default and does not turn on whether you move the joystick up or down at all, thus, no way to tell if which direction the joystick is moving.
To ensure the problem isn't with my wiring harness or the joysticks themselves I have verified these results using two different harnesses, with all four joysticks on the panel, with the same results. I have also verified the switch that isn't functional in #2 above is okay as far as wiring is concerned to the pin of the joystick board (If I short the circuit using the + from the joystick board to the ground on the GP-Wiz40, it shows as "on"/closed).
So, I'm at a bit of a loss... Has anyone done this before with this type of joystick? Any I seeing something unusual? Any suggestions on how to proceed?
Any help is appreciated (and Happy New Year, btw!).
Regards,
Ken
arzoo:
Just an FYI: you can use LEDBlinky to set the digital restriction on the 49-way based on the game or emulator - and you don't need any LEDs :) The only minor issue is that the GP-Wiz40 interface software does not run completely silent - it will show the taskbar (regardless of FE) for a few seconds while setting the wiz40.
fytr:
LEDBlinky looks awesome! Thanks for the heads-up. I'll definitely be looking into it further as I get into the "polish" phase of things. :)
--- Quote ---The only minor issue is that the GP-Wiz40 interface software does not run completely silent - it will show the taskbar (regardless of FE) for a few seconds while setting the wiz40.
--- End quote ---
What if the the taskbar is hidden / autohide?
Thx again.
Ken
arzoo:
--- Quote from: fytr on January 05, 2010, 12:44:53 pm ---
--- Quote ---The only minor issue is that the GP-Wiz40 interface software does not run completely silent - it will show the taskbar (regardless of FE) for a few seconds while setting the wiz40.
--- End quote ---
What if the the taskbar is hidden / autohide?
--- End quote ---
The FE will still lose focus and you may see the top of the taskbar (thin line) for a few seconds.