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Problems with Williams 49-ways, not working in all directions.

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RandyT:

--- Quote from: quarterback on October 08, 2005, 03:39:28 am ---How about this.   What if I hook up a leaf switch that allows (or cuts) the 5v to the XD or YD connections on the GPWiz?

If pins 8 & 6 on the GPwiz are basically detecting if the 49way is sending   5v or no-5v, I could attach a leaf switch with the leaf going across the edge of the optical sensors.  When I move the joystick, the sensor-blockers will shift, pushing the leaf switch to make contact.  The appropriate info would be sent to the GPwiz and all would be good in the universe.

What do you think?  Possible?

--- End quote ---

Interesting idea, but I don't think it will work very well.  First of all, you can't just cut the 5v, it would need to be brought low through a resistor.  The mechanical challenge of mounting and getting everything to actuate reliably and at the right point would also be just shy of impossible.

If the chip is the problem, replacing it would probably be the better option.

RandyT

quarterback:

--- Quote from: RandyT on October 08, 2005, 11:00:38 am ---Interesting idea, but I don't think it will work very well.  First of all, you can't just cut the 5v, it would need to be brought low through a resistor.
--- End quote ---

Yeah, I originally thought it was 5v or no-volts, but now I realize the direction 'info' is either 5V or ~233mVolts.  Not as simple as I might have hoped :(


--- Quote ---If the chip is the problem, replacing it would probably be the better option.
--- End quote ---

Yeah, the problem is that I'm sukekekekekeee at soldering.  And even if I didn't burn up the board while trying to solder in a new chip, it could end up being a problem with the traces somewhere along the way.

Unless anybody here knows of someone who can fix/refurb these, they may be off to ebay. :(

Thanks again for everybody's help.  Any suggestions are welcome.

Major Rock Hardy:
Well, I don't know how stuck you are on DIY, but you might find a local electronics repair shop that would swap out the chip for you pretty reasonably.  Their solder skills should be very good (they do it for a living) :). 

Most shops would have a minimum charge but I'd bet that they'd knock out both joys as one charge.  And if the parts are as common as Randy suggested then they might even have them on hand.  They may cut you a really good deal since you aren't paying them to troubleshoot it, but just to swap out a couple parts (assuming you've decided the parts are the culprit). 

Or you just might wander in to one of those places and give them the sob story and if they're video game fans (good chance) they might do it for free!  Here's to wishful thinking - never hurts to ask.

quarterback:

--- Quote from: Major Rock Hardy on October 09, 2005, 10:22:27 pm ---Well, I don't know how stuck you are on DIY, but you might find a local electronics repair shop that would swap out the chip for you pretty reasonably.  Their solder skills should be very good (they do it for a living) :). 
--- End quote ---

It's true, but unfortunately I'm not 100% sure it's the chips themselves.  One of the joys chips is outputting 5v no matter whether I go right or left, but this could be because some other link in the chain is 'broken'.  The chip may be fine, but the path of 'info' "into" or "out of" the chip might be the problem, and there are a number of other components in that path. 

If I was 100% sure that the chip replacement would help, then I'd replace it in a second, but with all the other variables involved, it's just not clear that that's the solution.   If I wasn't afraid of blowing up my GPWiz, I'd probably try a couple other things as well.

And if I can figure out exaclty how to drop the 4.95V to 233mV, I still may try and rig up my leaf-switch 'add on'.  Since there are plastic parts that slide in and out in the 4 directions, I really don't think it'd be that tough to attach a switch that manually told the GPWiz that the joy was headed in the opposite direction.

I just hate to give up on these though.  I'd much rather have a Williams 49-way than a new Happ 49 way but there don't seem to be many of these available out there.

Flinkly:
they're out there, just not as much as everything else.  i've got three and now your making me worry about them.

i've seen them for sale for 35 bucks, and they go up on ebay every once in a while, so don't give up on a dream.  if it costs less than 15 bucks, i'd try the chip.

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