Previous in Forum: Colour code for 110/220 volts?   Next in Forum: microprocessors
Close

Comments Format:






Change Mode
Close

Subscribe to Discussion:

CR4 allows you to "subscribe" to a discussion
so that you can be notified of new comments to
the discussion via email.

Close

Rating Vote:







Add Vote
8 comments
Rate Comments: Nested
Anonymous Poster

SideWinder 3D Pro Joystick

09/28/2009 10:14 AM

Hey gurus out there.

I want to use an old SideWinder 3D Pro joystick for a project, but cannot find anything on the pinouts. its a d-sub 15 pin connector. I have seen basic pinouts, but this joystick has 8 buttons, the basic pinout only shows four. So I'm afraid it may not work out ideally.

So four questions, would the pinout work? or can anyone find the pinout specifically for this joystick (I've looked anywhere I could think of online)?

Three, can anyone point me in the right direction to build an analog joystick from scratch? Or buy one cheap?

websites would help as well.

Thanks
Reply
Interested in this topic? By joining CR4 you can "subscribe" to
this discussion and receive notification when new comments are added.

"Almost" Good Answers:

Check out these comments that don't yet have enough votes to be "official" good answers and, if you agree with them, vote them!
Dances with Trees
Guru
Hobbies - Car Customizing - Dances with Trees Canada - Member - because I can Hobbies - CNC - too much fun Hobbies - Target Shooting - paper shreader

Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 769
Good Answers: 10
#1

Re: Joysticks

09/28/2009 11:23 AM

I have one of those around here some place, I really should dig it out...

__________________
 Kevin "Dances with Trees" Willey
Reply
JohnDG
Guru
United Kingdom - Member - Not a New Member Hobbies - Musician - New Member Hobbies - Fishing - New Member

Join Date: May 2006
Location: Reading, Berkshire, UK. Going under cover.
Posts: 9684
Good Answers: 468
#2

Re: Joysticks

09/28/2009 11:33 AM

This wiki article suggests that you can only use all eight buttons if you have a 3D Pro specific driver. Otherwise, the 3D Pro reverts to emulating a 'normal' 4-button-with-analog-joystick type, using the standard game port pinout.

__________________
 "Love justice, you who rule the world" - Dante Alighieri
Reply
Anonymous Poster
#3
In reply to #2

Re: Joysticks

09/28/2009 2:57 PM

Cool thanks for the help... now I just hope the old thing works.
Reply
Anonymous Poster
#4

Re: SideWinder 3D Pro Joystick

09/28/2009 6:51 PM

SO using this joystick, what would be a good way to test and read this output when its not interfaced with a computer?

DDM? read in to ARM processor that is interfaced with computer? oscilloscope?

any ideas?
Reply
JohnDG
Guru
United Kingdom - Member - Not a New Member Hobbies - Musician - New Member Hobbies - Fishing - New Member

Join Date: May 2006
Location: Reading, Berkshire, UK. Going under cover.
Posts: 9684
Good Answers: 468
#5
In reply to #4

Re: SideWinder 3D Pro Joystick

09/29/2009 2:52 AM

If it really emulates an analog joystick, you should be able to check the joystck output with a DMM on the 100K or 200K scale. Output pins as from previous link - but it doesn't specify which pin the common of the variable resistance is - may need to suck it 'n' see. More information here.

__________________
 "Love justice, you who rule the world" - Dante Alighieri
Reply
Chankley
Power-User
United Kingdom - Member - New Member Engineering Fields - Transportation Engineering - New Member Technical Fields - Marketing/Advertising - New Member Hobbies - Target Shooting - New Member

Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: South coast of England
Posts: 411
Good Answers: 36
#6

Re: SideWinder 3D Pro Joystick

09/29/2009 4:37 AM

On a Soundblaster compatible soundcard the 15 pin d-sub provides for connections for 4 potentiometers and 4 switches as per the diagram below. The interface also carries MIDI in and out. I don't know how the extra buttons are implemented on the Sidewinder but I would guess they either use MIDI or a resistor chain from one of the spare pot inputs.
Reply
Pineapple
Power-User

Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 302
Good Answers: 4
#7

Re: SideWinder 3D Pro Joystick

09/29/2009 11:36 AM

4 buttons are digital on/off. All other extra buttons are analog. They'll give you different resistant when button is pressed. Open up the joystick will give you more detail. You'll be able to see and read the resistant on the resistor. You can try measuring also.

__________________
 Pineapple
Reply Score 1 for Good Answer
No more "Almost" Good Answers.
Anonymous Poster
#8

Re: SideWinder 3D Pro Joystick

10/01/2009 10:48 PM

Thank you for the responses, most of which seem to help. Just so people know its not going into a soundcard. Its being used to control a turret. But thanks for the help
Reply
Reply to Forum Thread
Have a Different Question?
8 comments

"Almost" Good Answers:

Check out these comments that don't yet have enough votes to be "official" good answers and, if you agree with them, vote them!
Copy to Clipboard

Users who posted comments:

Anonymous Poster (3); Chankley (1); Dances with Trees (1); JohnDG (2); Pineapple (1)

Previous in Forum: Colour code for 110/220 volts?   Next in Forum: microprocessors

Advertisement

Got Something to Say?
Ask a Question
Start a Discussion

Search this Forum
Engineering Projects:
Go

CR4 Sections
Aerospace
BioMech & BioMed
Chemical & Material Science
Civil Engineering
Communications & Electronics
Education and Engineering Careers
Electrical Engineering
General Discussion
Instrumentation
Manufacturing
Mechanical Engineering
New Technologies & Research
Software & Programming
Sustainable Engineering
Transportation

Site Directories
Forum Directory
Blog Directory
User Group Directory
RSS Feeds

CR4 Rules of Conduct
CR4 FAQ
Site Glossary

Who's Online (72 right now)
Show Members
Advertisement