I've got an old (but still excellent) M$ Sidewinder Precision Pro joystick. It has only got a gameport connector on the end and I want to convert this to USB. I know it is possible firstly because it is a digital joystick (I think) but more importantly because M$ have already done it. They started shipping the Precision Pro with a gameport to USB adaptor as shown below: The cable cannot be bought on its own (which is a shame) but on the plus side it looks as though there is no circuitary inside the adaptor so it shouldnt be difficult to fabricate. Belkin make a similar cable specially for the sidewinder joystick: linky but I cant find anywhere in the UK that sells them. They are really cheap which backs up the theory there is no circuitary inside them. I don't think the gameport to usb adaptors that can be bought from Maplin will work since it states will not work with digital joysticks. Looking onto the end of the gameport cable not all the pins are present. Pins 1 -4 are there, then a gap and then pin 7 by itself. On the bottom row pins 10 - 12 are present and then pin 14 on its own. If any one can suggest a circuit to get this going it would be much appreciated.
there is a lot of silicon inside those. A lot. USB was designed to be cheap to make devices for, hence why a cable can be bought so cheaply. as for compatability, as long as the adaptor supports an analouge stick with digital buttons it should work fine. Try ebay and froogle, the useual places.
In what, the adapters? There's none! Gameports have digital input pins for the buttons. Click a button and 5v is sent along one of the pins. All they did for digital joysticks on those old gameport connectors was encode all the data onto a single (I think) pin and have the driver read it as a digital signal just like it would USB. Digital signals are nothing but on and off...so a gameport pin for a button works fine. At least, I think that's how they work. A gameport to USB adapter for those should do nothing more than route the pin to USB. Or if it's not that simple, then the joystick is smart enough to send analog data if plugged into a gameport and digital if plugged into USB. Either way, there's no silicone in those adapters. You'd have some sort of converter box, it's not economical or easy to jam ICs into connector housings.
Well, you're wrong in a couple places. I SINCERELY doubt you would have boolean pins like you are saying, how would you represent a position on the joystick? Without some sort of serial streaming or whatever you want to call it, that's impossible. USB is a lot more than just serial too, considering there are a ton of devices on the same bus. Almost all adapters have some sort of circuitry in them, and even if it's small you can fit a lot in there. If you open up a calculator, you'll notice in all the cheap ones instead of finding ICs you'll just find globs, which can be put almost anywhere. You have to see my serial to USB converter, it's see through so you can see the circuitry inside. I've got this mental image of a dude trying to "jam" ICs into a connector haha. And a "gameport to USB adapter" would have to do a LOT more than just route pins. I wish USB was that easy, I'd have made tons of USB devices by now. Sorry if this came off callous, it's just one of the few questions I can answer. Anyways, good luck with your project.
the adaptor is actually inside of the joystick. You will HAVE to use some sort of microprocessor based converter. Essentially, with the adapter, there is most likely some internal connection that allerts the joystick that the adapter has been connected, and the internal electronics switch to USB. If you'r joytick didn't originally come with a little dongle like that, you will need a full adapter (froogle: http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=usb+gameport+adapter&hl=en&lr=&sa=N&tab=ff&oi=froogler ). Now, why didn't you try a simple google or froogle search in the first place?
no. you can test this for your self - plug in the adapter without it connected to the joystick and nothing happens. when you plug in the adapter with the joystick connected it recognises it. there are silicon intensive converters though, like http://www.pccables.com/70609.htm . however the sidewinder (and some logitec sticks too) dont need them. the digital control circutry inside of the stick connectes directly to USB thrugh 2 unused pins in the DB15 connector
OI! They're not unused, they're MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) in/out pins and they are serial. Don't you go dissin' the MIDI man
some adaptors, like one i had for a sidewinder game pad (old one) was definatly active. some times, like with mice, the circuitry is in the device. Now if his joystick is too old to be bundled with the adaptor odds are it won't work (just like the mice). so you definately want an active convertor.
