Chief Delphi - Using the Microsoft Sidewinder Controller

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- - Using the Microsoft Sidewinder Controller (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26885)

Re: Using the Microsoft Sidewinder Controller

Here are the specs for DB15 game port:

Code:

Pin NonMIDI MIDI IFI

 1   +5v    +5v  +5v

 2   A-1    A-1  Trigger

 3   A-X    A-X   X

 4   Gnd    Gnd  Gnd

 5   Gnd    Gnd  LED/Switch

 6   A-Y    A-Y   Y

 7   A-2    A-2  Thumb

 8   +5v    +5v  LED/Switch

 9   +5v    +5v  LED/Switch

 10  B-1    B-1  Aux1

 11  B-X    B-X  Aux

 12  Gnd    Rx   Gnd

 13  B-Y    B-Y  Wheel

 14  B-2    B-2  Aux2

 15  +5v    Tx   LED/Switch

Notice that pins 5, 8, 9, & 15 are special on the OI.

I would recomend hooking it up to an OI/RC that are just sitting there and looking at the dashboard. This may give you clues as to what goes where on a Sidewinder. Also, hook up an oscilliscope (if available) to the Rx/Tx pins and see what level/baud it uses and which way they go.

Re: Using the Microsoft Sidewinder Controller

Most (if not all) Sidewinder joysticks use a serial protocol that will not work with the IFI equipment. They end up using one of the button signals as a data line and another button signal as a clock. They then send a serial stream of information containing all the information about the analog & digital readings of the joystick over these pins. This is the reason that they warn you that the joystick will not work with MS-DOS - it requires a special driver to decode the serial stream, and there isn't one written for MS-DOS.