Page 1 of 1

How to connect a joystick VCS 2600 to PC (db9<=>db25)

Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 9:56 pm
by Goldorak
Hello

I want to connect a joystick ATARI 2600 to my PC, but, what I have found is not so clear.
I found this but, ATARI Joystick has only 6 connectors (I have opened mine), and not 7 ...and they do not explain where is 1 and where is 9 .... same for 1 and 25 ... :shock:

http://www.jackypc.com/index2.php3?rub=articles&num=219

So please, I you have a site with nice pics .... :wink:

Thanks

Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 8:25 am
by deathtrappomegranate

Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 7:12 pm
by Goldorak
Hello

Thanks for the link but I will do it by myself. 30$ compare to 0 .... :mr.green:
I have already the 9 and 25 pins connector with 10k stuff ...

Any suggestions ?

:roll:

Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 12:39 am
by oesii
These are the standard instructions for the modification:

http://www.epanorama.net/documents/joys ... _converter

I also prefer the Stella Adaptor :)

Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 12:41 am
by oesii
Another mod with a different circuit:

http://www.students.tut.fi/~kosolah/joy ... rt-en.html

Re: How to connect a joystick VCS 2600 to PC (db9<=>db

Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2005 4:33 pm
by phsstpok
Goldorak wrote:Hello

I want to connect a joystick ATARI 2600 to my PC, but, what I have found is not so clear.
I found this but, ATARI Joystick has only 6 connectors (I have opened mine), and not 7 ...and they do not explain where is 1 and where is 9 .... same for 1 and 25 ... :shock:

http://www.jackypc.com/index2.php3?rub=articles&num=219

So please, I you have a site with nice pics .... :wink:

Thanks
Hi Goldorak,

OK, what you have there appears to be the PPJOY interface, Parallel port to Atari Joystick.

For some parallel ports the resistors aren't necessary but putting them makes the interface universal. Build the interface with or without them, it's up to you.

This interface is excellent. No latency or threshold problems like using the PC's analog joysticks with Atari emulation.

As for the port pin numbering schemes. Get a magnifying glass. At the soldering points of the connectors (or the pin insertion points) you will see that the pins are numbered. The FEMALE DB-9 will be numbered thusly

_1_2_3_4_5
__6_7_8_9

Formatting is a problem so here is a partial pinout for the MALE DB-25 but it is reverse ordered.

... _6__5__4__3__2__1
... __18_17_16_15_14

Remember, these pinouts are for the solder side of the connectors, the backsides.

My link to the PPJoy article is dead. I'll try to dig up another one. Here's a link to download the PPJOY driver (Windows only!) The ZIP probably contains the article.

http://www.simtel.net/product.download. ... p?id=75176

Incidentally there is a second parallel port to joystick interface called ATAJOY. This is the one I built but I didn't like the old Win 9x .VXD driver. Fortunately the PPJOY driver is flexible, being able to handle 8 input lines vs ATAJoy's 5 (4 joy points plus trigger).

The PPJOY driver allowed me to configure to the ATAJoy interface so I didn't have to rebuild my interface. (I'm really bad at soldering).

Hope this is enough to get you going.

Regards,

Steve

- PS. [off-topic] This interface is pretty good for playing MAME games but the Atari joystick only has one button. The PPJOY can handle a 4 way joystick plus 4 buttons (maybe it's 6 buttons, can't remember). You certainly can adapt PPJoy for a custom, but still basic, MAME controller.