M$ Sidewinder 3D Pro on USB

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 11:25 pm

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 !

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 12:51 pm

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.

Pugwash · Post by **Pugwash** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 3:01 pm

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

-Rook

MD-2389 · Post by **MD-2389** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 3:14 pm

Perhaps a donation fund is in order then?

Genghis · Post by **Genghis** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 10:09 pm

Where are you moving? Staying in the Pacific NW?

Diedel · Post by **Diedel** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 7:05 pm

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

Pugwash · Post by **Pugwash** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 9:16 am

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.

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 12:10 pm

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..

Diedel · Post by **Diedel** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 4:34 pm

Pugwash wrote:Diedal READ the thread

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

KoolBear · Post by **KoolBear** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 11:15 pm

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

KoolBear · Post by **KoolBear** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 4:46 pm

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

Unix · Post by **Unix** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 5:05 pm

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

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 5:33 pm

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..

fliptw · Post by **fliptw** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 6:03 pm

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

fyrephlie · Post by **fyrephlie** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 6:46 pm

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

KB

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

Ferno · Post by **Ferno** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 11:10 pm

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

KoolBear · Post by **KoolBear** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 4:41 pm

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

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 11:20 pm

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.

KoolBear · Post by **KoolBear** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 4:22 pm

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!

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 5:00 pm

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

BUBBALOU · Post by **BUBBALOU** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 6:01 pm

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

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 10:39 pm

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

Avder · Post by **Avder** » Sun Dec 25, 2005 11:16 pm

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.

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 11:56 am

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

..

KoolBear · Post by **KoolBear** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 5:35 pm

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!

d3jake · Post by **d3jake** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 9:09 pm

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.?

KoolBear · Post by **KoolBear** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 9:12 pm

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

d3jake · Post by **d3jake** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 2:01 pm

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

MD-2389 · Post by **MD-2389** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 7:53 pm

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.

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 7:39 pm

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.

Unix · Post by **Unix** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 8:25 am

Cue chorus of vocalizing angels.

Skywzrd · Post by **Skywzrd** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 2:12 pm

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

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 4:00 pm

moved

Genghis · Post by **Genghis** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:20 pm

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

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 2:23 am

Skywzrd · Post by **Skywzrd** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 4:55 pm

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

Suncho · Post by **Suncho** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:26 pm

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

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 7:41 pm

Ok.

moved

ReadyMan · Post by **ReadyMan** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 8:38 pm

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

Fusion · Post by **Fusion** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 9:11 pm

Count me in on 1 adaptor please, Gren.

Fus

M$ Sidewinder 3D Pro on USB

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