Competition Pro Retro Joystick USB Adapter

[Markus Gritsch]

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].

The schematic is very simple:

After prototyping the circuit on a breadboard

I soldered the parts onto a perfboard

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

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

[szczys]

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

[voidptr]

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://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 !

:-)

[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? ... 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.

[ian]

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

[Markus Gritsch]

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.

[ian]

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 :)

[Markus Gritsch]

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

[ian]

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 :)