5200 Trak-Ball to 2600 Joystick adaptor!

[SoundGammon]

I asked Dan Kramer if it be possible to use the Trak-Ball as an interface for a 2600 joystick.

 

My idea is to either put a 9-pin jack on the Trak-Ball or a use an extension cable!

 

Here's his answer:

 

I think you are asking are there signals inside the CX53 5200 Trak-Ball that could simulate a joystick for 2600. The answer is yes, the four outputs of the A3 chip I think are the right ones, two per axis, pins 6 & 7 for RIGHT & LEFT; pins 9 & 10 for UP & DOWN. You could dig up a CX22 schematic to examine which wires in a 9 pin cable would be correct to hook up to.

 

 

[0078265317]

cool

[SoundGammon]

I've just ordered 4 of these to start the project!

 

I'd like to wire it to use the Sega Genesis control pad to be able to use the second firebutton.

 

Anyone have a diagram that I could use?

[Lynxpro]

Just don't frak up an awesome CX53 over it.

[SoundGammon]

Here's the schematic to the Trak-Ball, I believe I use the 4 outputs for the joystick.

 

I'll use 1k resistors to ground on each test point to ground so I won't short anything out!

[0078265317]

Why not just use a 2600 trackball?

[SoundGammon]

Be hard to plug it in to a 5200!

 

My idea is to be able to use a 2600 joystick on a 5200.

 

Plug the trak-ball into the 5200 then plug the 2600 joystick into the trak-ball and enjoy!

[0078265317]

I thought you meant the other way. Anyhow a masterplay clone does the sam thing. Allows me to use 2600 sticks.

[SoundGammon]

Masterplays are hard to come by and expensive!

[0078265317]

But get a clone then.

[Lynxpro]

But get a clone then.

 

 

His mod negates it.

[0078265317]

 

 

His mod negates it.

 

what mod? And a clone in the first place means no need for this mod?

[BigO]

Just stumbled across this old post while looking for something else. Since the OP didn't report back, I thought I'd comment with my experience for anyone looking at this down the road. 

 

The outputs of the 4538's would be equivalent signals to what trackball joystick emulators use as joystick signals. I tried to pick these signals off to add joystick emulation capability to a CX53 enhancement kit I built years ago.

 

The attempt was essentially a failure. The retriggerable one-shot configuration results in a minimum pulse width that is too short compared to a typical JS emulator, so the movement is choppy and you have to spin the ball really fast to get it to steady out. If you want a workout, it might be fine. Otherwise, you'd have to change the RC timing component values in the circuit to get it to behave as a workable joystick emulator. If I recall correctly, I looked into externally paralleling in some components to change the timing and I found that I'd have to actually break into the circuitry. As I was going for easily reversible, no-solder adaptation, I bailed on that idea. (I don't like playing JS games with a trackball anyway).

 

 

[jsoper]

I'd mimic a masterplay circuit if it was me.

 

Lift R21 and R22, then run the two axis signals to the commons of a DPDT switch.  One side of switch goes back to resistors so trackball works as usual.

 

Other side goes to analog outputs of CD4052 chips.  They slap in 10k, 250k, or 500k ohms between axis and ClearLine based on 2600 stick direction signals on the 4052 digital inputs.  

 

Firebuttons can be put in parallel between joystick and trackball.  Use genesis controllers when you want the second fire button. 

 

If you're feeling really crazy, also add 2600 paddle support for epic Kaboom and Breakout games.  You need to connect to the other side of the paddle pot.