DescentBB

No news yet, I'm still commited tho (what else should I do w/ those 28 CPU's.. ) Financial situation will clear up next week, so stay tuned !

Please appologize for the lack of updates recently.

Right now I have to come up w/ the funds for the boards and misc. parts (still got 28 CPU's )-- unfortunately I have some major changes going on in real life (including moving) that keep me quite busy and my money level pretty low for a while. I should be back up to "normal" operations by mid december.

I do appreciate the offers to pre-pay the converter but I think it makes logistics a nightmare. Thanks for your patience,

G.

we dont want excuses Gren we want results. get on with it already!

-Rook

Perhaps a donation fund is in order then?

Where are you moving? Staying in the Pacific NW?

Grendel,

I had asked you about these converters recently and never gotten a reply. Are you just too busy, or don't you talk with me?

Diedel

Diedal READ the thread

Grendel wrote:Please appologize for the lack of updates recently.

Right now I have to come up w/ the funds for the boards and misc. parts (still got 28 CPU's )-- unfortunately I have some major changes going on in real life (including moving) that keep me quite busy and my money level pretty low for a while. I should be back up to "normal" operations by mid december.

I do appreciate the offers to pre-pay the converter but I think it makes logistics a nightmare. Thanks for your patience,

G.

Genghis wrote:Where are you moving? Staying in the Pacific NW?

Yes, moving to Corvallis

Diedel wrote:Grendel,

I had asked you about these converters recently and never gotten a reply. Are you just too busy, or don't you talk with me?

Diedel

Too busy, sorry. Saw the PM a couple days after you sent it and figured I'd better post an update..

Pugwash wrote:Diedal READ the thread

Listen, can't you properly spell English? It should read "Diedal REDA dah threda!"

G,

Had any luck with a board manufactuer? I might be able to come up with some options!

email me specifics, I might even be able to get one of the guys at work to create a gerber file for the board.

koolbear at gmail dot com ....


KB

I started modeling an enclosure for this today, I'll see if I can get it done this week, maybe I can even get a few of these made using a sterolitography process


I guess we could mold a pyro on it

KB

T'would be dope. I'm still waiting to play D3 on my laptop

On it.. W/ KB's help this may get moving fast soon

Edit: KB, the USB connector should be type B, not type A. I used the type A in my 1st proto since I had that broken memory drive on my desk when I was building it..

and it also should be a 15 pin joystick port, not a VGA port.(DB-15 instead of the mini-sub D15)

KoolBear wrote:I guess we could mold a pyro on it

KB

i would pay cash money right now for a molded plastic pyro.

oh really.. I have a model of one that I did in 3dsmax a while back.

fliptw wrote:and it also should be a 15 pin joystick port, not a VGA port.(DB-15 instead of the mini-sub D15)

I know that's just the connector model I had handy

The j-stick connector is too large to be placed where it is currently located too. It'll need to be rotated 90 degrees and placed along one of the long walls if you want to let peeps purchase that Radio Shack Box.

I was thinking maybe I can get a few boxes specially made Here's a cutaway of what I have today.



Also received a quote today for the board, I requested they quote two panels instead of the one, current estimates place 15-20 boards on a panel.

My Precision Pro bit the dust last night now all I have is my sons' old sidewinder 3D Pro, I need this converter! AAARRRGGH NO Descenty over the holidays! Can't imaging getting a new stick!

Maybe I'll email Microsoft and see if they have any old ones in stock! Sheese I used to have a contact now where was his name ...

KB

KoolBear wrote:My Precision Pro bit the dust last night now all I have is my sons' old sidewinder 3D Pro, I need this converter! AAARRRGGH NO Descenty over the holidays! Can't imaging getting a new stick!

Maybe I'll email Microsoft and see if they have any old ones in stock! Sheese I used to have a contact now where was his name ...

Try this guy on eBay. I got about 12 3DPros from him over the last two years -- all NIB $11.25 shipped The 3D Pro Plus might be what you are looking for, ask him for the type number to see if they work w/ the native USB converter.

Thanks G,

Let's see I'll need at least one 3DPP to hold me over until the ol'dreaded 3Dp to USB converter is done!

Wow: ordered the rest of the parts for 30 boards at digikey about 2 hours ago -- just got the message that the order shipped

I have posted this elsewhere on the DBB but Sickone has adjusted a radio shack USB convertor to work specifically with a 3D Pro he changed out one resistor to make the hat work correctly. This was the time he convinced his work to give him a new laptop

now if we could break into his dimension then we could get an answer

Believe me -- the RadioShack converter runs the 3DP in analog mode. You wouldn't want that.

So how long until I can get one of these? Ive got some xmas money I need to burn, and something that makes my 3dpro work on my current comp would be a very nice thing to get.

Parts will come in today, KB is looking into getting a layout done this week. Seems that the board manufactor may have some lead time (2-3 weeks). I'm starting to put converters together as soon I got all parts at a rate of maybe 3-4 a day, more on a weekend ..

Please forgive me, I finally finished the relaying out the schematic this past Tuesday. Grendel had a nice layout but we couldn't import the data and I'm a mechanical type

During the conversion process I found a few errors most likely misspellings for you Mob. A little late I know anyway next week I'll have the schematic to Gren to review and once that happens and he's happy with the schematic and layout then he just needs to turn the valve on!

Sergeant Thorne wrote:You might even think about marketing this outside of D3. Old controller... upgrade to new computer with no gameport... "whatever will I do?!"... Seriously.

I realize it is probably a rare need, but a rare need among as many computer users as there are in the U.S. alone could still be worth looking into.

This project is a really cool thing to have. I have a Gravis Blackhawk Digital Pro that works *really* well for D3 (also using the keypad for slide, flare, Counter meas., bank, headlight, and afterburn.) Works so nicely!!!

D you suppose there could be a version for this for laptops? Ro would it be too complicated and dependant upon the brand, etc.?

d3jake,

I can't see why it wouldn't work for a laptop, is has 2 bulkhead connectors. 1 for the joystick and the other is a Type B USB connector

KB

Great, as soon as I own a laptop with a USB port I'll order one!

You might want to talk to Grendel to see for sure if it'll talk to your joystick. From what I gather, the commands are a tad big different.

The converter is designed to \"talk\" to the Microsoft SideWinder 3D Pro only (Digital OverDrive protocol). It is possible to rewrite the software (and probably change the hardware) so the converter would talk to different sticks (eg. the Logicrap Wingman series) but I don't really have the time (or drive ) to do that, sorry.

Edit: and yes, it works on any USB port, including the ones on laptops.

Cue chorus of vocalizing angels.

Are there enough parts to handle 1 more request? Sorry for the late reply Grendel, but I first heard about this project of yours only 2 days ago. It's a long story, but I haven't touched Descent since '99, but hopefully all of that's about to change.

The reason I'm in need of a 3DP -> USB adapter is because my motherboard (Abit NF7-S v2.0) doesn't have a game port, nor is it compatible with my old ISA game cards. My story probably isn't much different from the rest of the folk who are interested in your adapter. Well, aside from the \"not playing for 6 years\" part, perhaps

Sky

Actually, my need for 6 has kind of diminished since June. Can I reduce my order to 4?

k

Awesome! Thanks, Grendel. Being one of the lucky few to use your adapter has me really pumped.

Btw, do you have a final price for the adapter yet? Perhaps some people are waiting on the final price before committing to more than 1. Just a thought.

Sky

Put me down for one and let me know where/how to send the money. =)

Ok.

moved

Looks good Gren!
Cant wait! I have 6 used 3dpros (sick one fixed the hat on these way back when) and 4 NIB! I'm totally ready for Core Decision.

RM

Count me in on 1 adaptor please, Gren.

Fus