Dangerous Prototypes Open Source Hardware

Competition Pro Retro Joystick USB Adapter

October 18, 2011, 10:08:57 am

Hi,

this small adapter allows me to connect a vintage joystick [1] from the C64 aera to my laptop via USB.  I use it to play C64 games in VICE [2].

[attachment=5]
The schematic is very simple:

[attachment=0]
After prototyping the circuit on a breadboard

[attachment=4]
I soldered the parts onto a perfboard

[attachment=3]
and made the interconnections as always by using some isolated relay wire.  I'm quite pleased with the outcome:

[attachment=2]
Please find the firmware attached.

Have fun,
Markus

P.S.: Helpful resources about USB HID are [3] and [4].

[1] http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competition_Pro
[2] http://vice-emu.sourceforge.net/
[3] http://www.engscope.com/pic24-tutorial/ ... -joystick/
[4] http://frank.circleofcurrent.com/cache/ ... rial_1.htm

Re: Competition Pro Retro Joystick USB Adapter

Reply #1 – October 18, 2011, 06:13:36 pm

Great project, I love it. Where did you get that protoboard from?

Re: Competition Pro Retro Joystick USB Adapter

Reply #2 – October 18, 2011, 08:17:24 pm

cool project Markus !!!

i really like that "translator" pic !
we all have also all those left over human input devices sitting in the dust who were kill by multiple uncompatible Windoze updates !

i also have the same question, i saw on your projects great perfboards, are those from seeedstudio ?
are the solder ring hole things pass throught both side of the board ?

http://http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/protoboard-6cm-8cm-20mm-p-715.html?cPath=175_188

i only get really crappy perfboards from my local source, their solder rings falls like leaves in Autumn !

:-)

Re: Competition Pro Retro Joystick USB Adapter

Reply #3 – October 18, 2011, 08:36:38 pm

ITead Studio sells them for $1 :)  Flawless quality, epoxy material.  And yes, the top and matching bottom pads are connected, just like vias.

http://iteadstudio.com/store/index.php? ... cts_id=418

Try decreasing the soldering temperature if your pads lift off the board.  I solder most stuff at 250 °C with leaded 40/60 solder.  It also reduces the fumes from the burnt rosin.

Re: Competition Pro Retro Joystick USB Adapter

Reply #4 – October 19, 2011, 09:38:19 am

This is great. Any interest in turning it into a product?

Re: Competition Pro Retro Joystick USB Adapter

Reply #5 – October 19, 2011, 10:02:12 am

No, not really.  I just built this for myself, and for the fun of making it :)  When turning this into a product, several things should be changed:
* The PIC24FJ64GB002 is hopelessly over-powered (and unnecessary expensive) for this simple task.  I used it, because I have some samples of this chip laying around.  The PIC18 you use in the IR-toy would be totally sufficient, and cheaper.
* IMO commercial USB products always present a bit of a burden for a hobbyist: a) The firmware currently uses the Microchip USB stack.  Maybe it would be better to use Honkens USB stack.  Does it already support the HID profile or just CDC/ACM?  b) I think an USB VID/PID is necessary for a commercial product.  Currently they are unchanged from the Microchip USB Joystick example project.

Re: Competition Pro Retro Joystick USB Adapter

Reply #6 – October 19, 2011, 10:18:58 am

The stack does not currently support HID, but maybe some day. The VID/PID is no problem though.

In my recent experience, the PIC24 is cheaper (and easier to source) than the 18F2550 :) I am trying to move away from 5volt wherever possible because the new stuff is so much more powerful, but also cheaper at the same time.

You make a lot of amazing prototypes. This one would be cheap and easy to manufacture. If you are interested I am happy to help. You already have a PIC32 stem board coming though, so you probably don't need me :)

Re: Competition Pro Retro Joystick USB Adapter

Reply #7 – October 19, 2011, 11:28:54 am

Indeed, the PIC24FJ32GB002 is really cheap compared to the 18F2550.  I wasn't aware of this.  But what about the PIC18F24J50 you recommended here [1]?  It has USB, is cheap, and should be also sufficient for simple tasks like this one, shouldn't it?

I don't know if there is a big enough market for this kind of adapter which requires a vintage joystick with a DB-9 (DE-9) port to be useful.  What do you think?

[1] viewtopic.php?f=56&t=2547&start=45#p28888

Re: Competition Pro Retro Joystick USB Adapter

Reply #8 – October 19, 2011, 02:17:49 pm

Right on about the 18f24j50. Right now I kind of put out a free PCB. If enough people get it and build it,it is probably worth a batch of 100 :)

Re: Competition Pro Retro Joystick USB Adapter

Reply #9 – July 30, 2019, 10:14:49 am

Hi Markus,

Thanks for sharing the project. Just contacted about their shipping policy. I've ordered two items so far.

Sorry for bumping, just noticed it's an old thread.I was redirected here from Lemon64 forums.

Re: Competition Pro Retro Joystick USB Adapter

Reply #10 – July 30, 2019, 10:17:59 am

[quote author="Markus Gritsch"]ITead Studio sells them for $1 :)  Flawless quality, epoxy material.  And yes, the top and matching bottom pads are connected, just like vias.

http://iteadstudio.com/store/index.php?product_info&buyessays.cheap&?...cts_id=418

Try decreasing the soldering temperature if your pads lift off the board.  I solder most stuff at 250 °C with leaded 40/60 solder.  It also reduces the fumes from the burnt rosin.[/quote]


Also: there's an error, when I try to download the firmware file. Could you please share it via Dropbox or Google Drive? Thanks
Edit: yeah, now it's working. It was just a glitch perhaps.

Re: Competition Pro Retro Joystick USB Adapter

Reply #11 – July 30, 2019, 10:47:00 am

Downloading the firmware works fine for me.