DescentBB

Posted: **Thu May 15, 2008 2:26 am**

I can't reach Grendels Site anymore, i was hoping to find the updated version of his zip.

Grendel, what happened?

Posted: **Thu May 15, 2008 5:31 pm**

I don't know

It's hosted on Koolbears server -- KB, are you listening ?

Edit: http://koolbear.com says \"Account suspended\"

Posted: **Sun May 18, 2008 9:12 pm**

KB is looking into the matter.

Posted: **Sun May 18, 2008 11:39 pm**

It's back ! Thx KB.

Not updated yet, almost there tho..

Posted: **Fri Jun 06, 2008 3:26 am**

Hi Grendel,
Great job!

I'm new here, from china.
I'm trying to build one by myself to let my FFB working again.The last improved version, it using ATting461 seems easy to build. and I'm planning to program that chip by myself.So I want a copy of the Hex image(I just build one for myself, and going to use the 16MHz Crystal).

Thanks a lot!
ahjinle

[Mod edit] Obfuscated the email address. Will send the image later today.

Posted: **Fri Jun 06, 2008 3:09 pm**

Is the Force-Feedback part of the FFP supposed to work with this latest prototype? I've built one and my SWP and FFP joystick & buttons work fine but the FF never turns on/Activates so it never centers the JS.

Any ideas?

Posted: **Fri Jun 06, 2008 3:38 pm**

Grendel wrote:Just to clear this -- the converter in the current state does not support force feedback effects for the FFP and probably never will. Here's why:

Most gameports back in the day were located on a sound card sharing some pins with the cards MIDI interface. M$ added pin 12 to the FFP (MIDI TxD) and uses MIDI channel 6 to issue FF commands. It's too much work trying to reverse engineer the commands, add a MIDI interface to the 3DP-Vert (that's probably not possible anyway, since the MCU is pretty busy bit-banging the USB port) and modify its USB code to have a fully featured FF device. A limp stick is all you will get, sorry (I think. I never tried to plug power in..) Personally I prefer this -- I'm already busy with the game, I don't need to fight with the stick as well

Posted: **Sat Jun 07, 2008 11:37 pm**

eh, i have an old school FFP and it has a power cable and one that hooks up the the comp.. when only the power is plugged in, i grab the stick and it centers right away.. dunno if you have that kind of stick, but if it has separate power, it should at least center

Posted: **Sun Jun 22, 2008 3:30 pm**

I released the rev2 project archive. You can find it here, look for the link \"Project archive 2008-06-22\" near the bottom of the page.

Posted: **Tue Jun 24, 2008 5:36 am**

It took slightly longer than expected, but thanks for the effort. Grendel, you are THE man!

Posted: **Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:09 pm**

Are the Zeners reversed in REV_2?

Posted: **Sat Jun 28, 2008 11:52 pm**

Not sure I understand the question -- they are the same way as in rev1, (+) side to ground. The ring on a diode marks the (-) side.

Posted: **Sun Jun 29, 2008 12:27 am**

My mistake. I realized after my post nothing had changed in the USB section. Looking on the internet I was lead to believe the cathode was positive and that threw me.

Posted: **Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:49 am**

Can I still use the parallel port AVRISP to program the Rev 2 board (ATTiny 461)?

If so I will use PonyProg since AVR Studio doesn't support STK200/300 programmers. What fuse settings should I use in PonyProg?

Cheers

Posted: **Fri Jul 04, 2008 6:45 pm**

blackadder1000 wrote:Can I still use the parallel port AVRISP to program the Rev 2 board (ATTiny 461)?

Yes. Make sure you use the latest version for tiny461 support.

blackadder1000 wrote:If so I will use PonyProg since AVR Studio doesn't support STK200/300 programmers. What fuse settings should I use in PonyProg?

These should work:

Posted: **Tue Aug 05, 2008 2:13 pm**

Here's a couple of pics showing how I soldered the Dsub to the board.

Top

Bottom

Posted: **Thu Aug 07, 2008 10:22 pm**

so, is there any word on maybe making a do it yourself guide for those who want to do it themselves and purchase a pre-programmed chip? i'm more than willing to do this project myself, just dont know how to flash the chip, and i dont think i have the proper tools to do so either

Posted: **Fri Aug 08, 2008 2:45 pm**

Not more is needed than the pictures provided. Just think of it as a paint by numbers project. I had already built 2 before I decided I needed to know how a gameport works

As far as the chip is concerned, I can flash one of those and send it back to you on your dime

. When you've got the board built just send me the chip.

Posted: **Sat Aug 16, 2008 5:02 pm**

Anyone have a mirror of the files? the links to grendel.koolbear.com are forbidden....

Posted: **Sat Aug 16, 2008 11:06 pm**

I have some of it. Let me email KB 1st tho.

Posted: **Wed Aug 20, 2008 5:45 pm**

Page is back online.

Posted: **Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:18 pm**

Made an \"official\" schematic:

Posted: **Wed Dec 24, 2008 10:31 am**

Is it possible using the same circuit to use this joystick plz help if not!
* 2-axis joystick
* Throttle
* 4 direction POV hat
* 6 buttons

Posted: **Wed Dec 24, 2008 3:03 pm**

No, that's a standard PC joystick. Any commercially available Game port to USB converter will work for that stick. Read through the early part of this thread and you'll find a few links to the kind of converter you need.

Posted: **Wed Dec 24, 2008 6:57 pm**

Whatdoyouknow, IBM made a joystick

Drakoz is right, the 3DP-Vert is designed to be used w/ certain MS SideWinder sticks. That IBM one is either CH or Thrustmaster compatible, a regular Joystick to USB adapter should do the trick.

Posted: **Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:55 pm**

The Question to Grendel!
I use your device in current floor year. Did 3DP-Vert rev 2. itself. All work fine, for that you many thanks! I use Microsoft force feedback Pro and Microsoft SideWinder 3D Pro.
There is possibility? disconnect in this device, axis Z and U. I it is necessary only X and Y.
Not necessary me axis, do the hindrances, on X and Y. Appears the flutter and not necessary responses. As this possible do in device by means firmware or schemes.
If I not even use twist and gas in play then on X and Y axis go the unnecessary hindrances.
I it is necessary only X and Y axis in ideal quality of the response. Help the advice, Please!

Posted: **Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:28 am**

All the converter does is to read the joystick and pass the values on to USB, it doesn't change any of them. In theory you could modify the converter software to pass only the values you are interested in, you would have to change the report descriptor and report format. It will not change the accuracy of the values tho, you will get exactly the same X/Y values regardless if you pass on the other values or not. So I would advise to leave it as-is, just don't use the Rz/Slider values.

Posted: **Fri Feb 13, 2009 1:46 am**

Some experimental modifications.

Posted: **Mon Nov 09, 2009 8:48 am**

I know it's been 9 months since the last post here, but if folks are still checking this, I'm interested in one of these if the cost isn't too extraordinary. After reading some of these posts, it looks like this is probably well beyond my ability to make myself. I have a soldering iron I use to build model airplanes, and I buy my computers in parts and put them together, but I've never messed with circuit boards at all.

I just upgraded to win7 64bit and my sidewinder precision pro 1.0 (3d pro plus) will obviously no longer work. I currently use an audigy 2 ZS for my gameport, and one of these gameport to usb converters would rock. If anyone knows anyone who's selling these, I'd love an email at rob -dot- hunsinger -at- comcast -dot- net.

Posted: **Mon Nov 09, 2009 8:13 pm**

Take a look at this thread, the latest revision of the converter is very easy to copy.

I took the liberty to obfuscate your email address so ad-crawlers wont have it too easy.

DescentBB

M$ Sidewinder 3D Pro on USB

FF Sidewinder

Re:

Can we use a IBM 76H1571

The Question to Grendel!

Re: The Question to Grendel!