Atari_Falcon Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Hello, is it possible that Atari released two different version of the CX-78 joypads? One with two different fire buttons and one where both work the same? I now have 4 joypads at home, which work perfect on the 2600 and on the 7800 only one (left) fire button will do its work. I don't really think they are defective and as they all came with Atari 2600 junior console, maybe Atari built cheaper ones for that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atarifever Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 (edited) Hello, is it possible that Atari released two different version of the CX-78 joypads? One with two different fire buttons and one where both work the same? I now have 4 joypads at home, which work perfect on the 2600 and on the 7800 only one (left) fire button will do its work. I don't really think they are defective and as they all came with Atari 2600 junior console, maybe Atari built cheaper ones for that... So does the right button not work, or does it do the same thing as the left button? A non-working button would seem unlikely for an offical product. That's the sort of thing you usually see with a pirate, where the button is just put in there to fill the hole in the "universal" mould they use. That's my experience anyway. If they both do the same thing, I can see that being an offical release. Edited February 8, 2011 by Atarifever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari_Falcon Posted February 8, 2011 Author Share Posted February 8, 2011 In 2600 mode the button 1 does the same as button 2. In 7800 mode only the left button works, button 2 will do nothing. It is strange that 4 joypads (from 2 different atari 2600 junior consoles) fail in exactly the same why, isn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peedenmark7 Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 Hello, is it possible that Atari released two different version of the CX-78 joypads? One with two different fire buttons and one where both work the same? I now have 4 joypads at home, which work perfect on the 2600 and on the 7800 only one (left) fire button will do its work. I don't really think they are defective and as they all came with Atari 2600 junior console, maybe Atari built cheaper ones for that... could it be that 2600 games in general utilize nly one button where as some 7800 games use both? I ran into a snag after I got some cx78 joypads , then ordered the 12' extension cable from best , i had full steering , but no firing capabilities. I finally deleted the ext. cable. called best and asked them why they sent me a 2600 cable for my 7800. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari_Falcon Posted February 16, 2011 Author Share Posted February 16, 2011 Yes sure the 2600 uses only one button, but I can use any firebutton on the cx-78, while on 7800 only the left works and right does nothing. When I open the joypads they look alright. I think they might have used cheaper cables for the 2600 version where not everything is connected... maybe... I will check this one day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kool kitty89 Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 The 7800's odd joystick interface was specifically designed (albeit somewhat unnecessarily) to allow both buttons to be detected as the normal fire button on the VCS (or one of the buttons on the SMS or Genesis), but that wouldn't explain why button 2 doesn't work for the 2 button 7800 games. (maybe they went cheap for the 2600 specific joypads and opted for wiring both buttons together rather than the bit of added circuitry and pull-up resistors needed for the 7800 2-button hack) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari_Falcon Posted February 16, 2011 Author Share Posted February 16, 2011 The 7800's odd joystick interface was specifically designed (albeit somewhat unnecessarily) to allow both buttons to be detected as the normal fire button on the VCS (or one of the buttons on the SMS or Genesis), but that wouldn't explain why button 2 doesn't work for the 2 button 7800 games. (maybe they went cheap for the 2600 specific joypads and opted for wiring both buttons together rather than the bit of added circuitry and pull-up resistors needed for the 7800 2-button hack) That is what I think! There are cx-78 joypads around which are not wired for the 7800 but will work on ST/2600/8-bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GroovyBee Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 I suspect that you have a problem with your 7800. To double check can you open up your joystick and take a photo of each side of the button PCB? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenorman Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 I had a CX-78 pad that did exactly the same thing that you are describing. I ended up sending it back and the new one worked fine. I don't know if it was an official release, but I would sure suspect that it was a common manufacturing defect. The 7800 was obviously fine because my prolines as well as the replacement CX-78 worked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the.golden.ax Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 Yeah, I'd love to see the inside. FYI, the 7800 cord has nine wires, and 2600 only uses eight. So there are some slight differences. AX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kool kitty89 Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 I suspect that you have a problem with your 7800. To double check can you open up your joystick and take a photo of each side of the button PCB? He already mentioned that normal 7800 controllers work fine for 2 button games, just not the joypads that came with the 2600 Jr, so that wouldn't seem to be the case. Yeah, I'd love to see the inside. FYI, the 7800 cord has nine wires, and 2600 only uses eight. So there are some slight differences. AX I think the VCS/A8 sticks use 6 wires for gnd, 4 directional switches, and the fire button. (the other 3 are for 5V and the 2 POT lines) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mitch Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 The controller likely either has a bad resistor or a bad wire in the cable. The bad wire being the more probable of the two. Mitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fibrewire Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 Is there any diagnostic tool that show a picture of the joystick in question and "light up" the button pressed, like the built in keyboard test on the XL and XE? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimo Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 No Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Propane13 Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 Is there any diagnostic tool that show a picture of the joystick in question and "light up" the button pressed, like the built in keyboard test on the XL and XE? Yes, the Ninja Golf hidden Joystick test does what I think you're looking for: http://www.digitpress.com/eastereggs/78ninjagolf.htm -John 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phattyboombatty Posted August 2, 2017 Share Posted August 2, 2017 Thought I would bump this, as I have had some difficulty finding a 7800 diagnostic program to test my joypad buttons. My CX-78 d-pads have the exact issue described by Atari Falcon and Tenorman. I just pulled them out after storing them for a year or two, and I'm surprised to learn that this could be a cable issue. I'm going to test the resistor values, but my cheap multimeter might not be accurate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+sixersfan105 Posted August 2, 2017 Share Posted August 2, 2017 Thought I would bump this, as I have had some difficulty finding a 7800 diagnostic program to test my joypad buttons. My CX-78 d-pads have the exact issue described by Atari Falcon and Tenorman. I just pulled them out after storing them for a year or two, and I'm surprised to learn that this could be a cable issue. I'm going to test the resistor values, but my cheap multimeter might not be accurate. Did your CX-78's used to work fine with both buttons 1 and 2 prior to the storage hibernation? Or has only Button 1 ever worked? I have it on good authority from a German fellow that Atari did, indeed, release two versions of the CX-78: one for the 7800 (Buttons one and two have different functions for 7800 games and both act as the same "Fire" button for 2600 games played on the 7800) and one for the 2600 Junior. On the Junior model, Atari opted to disable Button 2 altogether, which is why people have had issues trying to use these crippled Gamepads on a 7800 (not knowing it's a 2600 versions CX-78). The good news is this is reversible, as Atari disabled Button 2 in production by pulling a resistor. Hope that helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trebor Posted August 2, 2017 Share Posted August 2, 2017 Thought I would bump this, as I have had some difficulty finding a 7800 diagnostic program to test my joypad buttons... 7800 Utility Cart. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phattyboombatty Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 (edited) Did your CX-78's used to work fine with both buttons 1 and 2 prior to the storage hibernation? Or has only Button 1 ever worked? Thanks for the reply. As far as I recall, both buttons worked fine back when I got them. I just dug out my other CX-78 and it works perfectly. I will have to check the resistor values on each game pad and compare. It's interesting what you say about this hearsay information I could see that happening with the 2600 distribution, but it's hard to believe that they would make such a minor change. It seems more likely that they would come off the assembly lines all exactly the same. But what do I know? Edited August 4, 2017 by phattyboombatty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+DrVenkman Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 7800 Utility Cart. 7800Utility.PNG That would be a lot more useful if we had a good, flexible and readily available 7800 SD cart. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masschamber Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 there were definitely cx 78's with the button disabled form the factory, atari cut 1 leg off of the resistors, or atleast that's how the ones I bought arrived 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassGuitari Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 there were definitely cx 78's with the button disabled form the factory, atari cut 1 leg off of the resistors, or atleast that's how the ones I bought arrived I wonder why Atari Corp. bothered to do that. The standard 2-button works perfectly fine on the 2600 and XE. Would the second button have somehow screwed with ST compatibility or something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masschamber Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 I wonder why Atari Corp. bothered to do that. The standard 2-button works perfectly fine on the 2600 and XE. Would the second button have somehow screwed with ST compatibility or something? probably has something to do with the quality control of atari corp being terrible, I mean I've found US consoles shipped in European boxes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trebor Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 probably has something to do with the quality control of atari corp being terrible, I mean I've found US consoles shipped in European boxes Mitch would probably like to chat with you about the US consoles shipped in Euro boxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+sixersfan105 Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 I definitely find it interesting, as it was clearly done purposely. Maybe so you couldn't use a 2600 CX-78 on a 7800? Perhaps they thought this would lead to more 7800 CX-78 a la carte (non-bundled) sales? Pretty weak reasoning if you ask me but just a thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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