Where can we get PS2 type game controllers with serial ports?

[waialua359]

We have one that we used for the 2003 competition called a Saitek P120. It had 4 buttons and a thumb moving "x" keypad instead of a joystick.

I called circuit city who had them but only with a USB port.

Any suggestions?

[DarkJedi613]

My only suggest would be eBay.

Its difficult to find controllers with game ports now.

[Andrew Blair]

Do you mean a controller with a GamePort? The controller inputs we use are of the Gameport type, a 15 pin connector, as versus the serial port, which is 9 pin.

[Not2B]

The PS2 contoller adapter white paper is comming...

The printed curcuit boards are done and built, and the whole thing is working off the OI power.

The paper has been written.

I just need to get the Geek Team to post it. Really - I've seen the paper. It exists. Really. Off the shelf PS2 controller into the Geek Team box, into the IO.

I can't figure out how to get them to finish proofreading it and post it. Of course, they DID have finals this week....

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by Andrew Blair

Do you mean a controller with a GamePort? The controller inputs we use are of the Gameport type, a 15 pin connector, as versus the serial port, which is 9 pin.

Yes, I meant the 15 pin gameport.

Thanks.

Anyone?

[dude__hi]

We're trying somthing similar. We plan a wireless airplane control to drive the robot and we have some unique ideas for the rest of our controls..

[John Gutmann]

I know you meant to say 15 pin gameport, but I am just asking in general. Aren't the PS2 controllers already serial ports? But just not in a DB-9 configuration.

[Jared Russell]

There are hundreds upon hundreds of serial port standards. RS-232 and USB just happen to be the most common.

Even if the PS2 uses a serial connection (and it does), you will need some sort of conversion hardware, as the DB15 gameport is actually a parallel interface (which can be made to act serially with clever programming).

[John Gutmann]

Originally Posted by Abwehr

Even if the PS2 uses a serial connection (and it does), you will need some sort of conversion hardware, as the DB15 gameport is actually a parallel interface (which can be made to act serially with clever programming).

I am not talking about for hooking it up, I was just wondering because I saw it somewhere but I wasn't sure.

[EricRobodox]

Is the white page going to be up soon? i have been waiting since i read about it 3 days ago on this thread. I really really want to see it, because after comp season i want to build a robot to raise money for the American Cancer Society that will work with a ps2 controller, that way little kids can stear it and understand how it works. Thanks.

[Not2B]

I'm asking them again tonight.

We have totally stopped using the joysticks (never took them out of the box this year.) and we are only using the off-the-shelf PS2 controller.

OK, while we are waiting to get the white paper up, here's a funny for you -

One of the geek team people said we can't run the rumble pack, because we can only pull 40 micro-milli-amps. It's our newest unit of current. The micro-milli-amp.

[Joe J.]

The PS2 Adaptor White Paper has been posted by our geekTeam.

White Paper

[Jack Jones]

Perhaps the easiest way is to buy USB game pads - eg. Logitech Dual Action $21 @ Best Buy. - then wire directly to the pots and switches using a cable from an old set of joy sticks - those white ones thaey put in the kit will do nicely.

Clamp the low side of the pots to ground to make them true voltage dividers.

Expect to read a range from 44 to 210. Correct that to 0 - 254 in software - a look-up table is recommended to do that - you can tweak the table to fit your acceleration requirements.