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Playstation Controllers are not built the same? — Parallax Forums

Playstation Controllers are not built the same?

akayakay Posts: 7
edited 2007-07-09 03:46 in BASIC Stamp
A while back I read a couple of articles in Nuts&Volts interfacing a Sony PS2 controller to a Basic Stamp2.
I built the circuit & things worked fine using an original Sony PS2 controller.
I decided to try the identical circuit and software using a HipGear PS2 controller without much joy.sad.gif

The debug window using Jon Williams September 2003 circuit and code returns an, "Unknown. No repsonse," message and· psxId and psxStatus registers both hold the values $FF.

I haven't been able to find any useful documentation describing the HipGear controller. Does anyone out there know what the difference between a original Sony PS2 controller and a HipGear PS2 controller is?confused.gif

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Comments

  • Jon WilliamsJon Williams Posts: 6,491
    edited 2004-07-27 09:52
    I don't know the specific differences, but I also found that not all PSX controllers are created equal....

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    Jon Williams
    Applications Engineer, Parallax
    Dallas Office
  • steve_bsteve_b Posts: 1,563
    edited 2004-07-27 11:07
    I think the difference lays between Sony's controller and aftermarket controllers!



    Those aftermarket ones have those "rapid fire" buttons on them sometimes...so you could imagine a bit more circuitry.· Different parts to do roughly the same thing!

    Try an actual sony controller.· Should be able to get a PS1 controller for less than $10 from fleamarkets or pawn shops!

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    Steve
  • akayakay Posts: 7
    edited 2004-07-27 15:31
    You're right about the rapid fire button, Steve. This controller has extra buttons: "turbo" and "cancel".
    I'd really like to find out what's going on and use this particular controller. It's got a 2.5" lcd display built right onto it, and it was cheap too @ $29CND.·That would make it the perfect robot controller if only it would talk properly.
  • Jon WilliamsJon Williams Posts: 6,491
    edited 2004-07-27 17:21
    Perhaps you could contact the manufacturer directly for connection specs.

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    Jon Williams
    Applications Engineer, Parallax
    Dallas Office
  • steve_bsteve_b Posts: 1,563
    edited 2004-07-27 17:33
    Have you disected it yet?

    Take your time and pull'er apart and if you have a multimeter....use the resistance setting to find out which connection go to what in the controller!

    I don't have one of these controllers, so don't know what additional hardware is inside.· But these are pretty easy for reverse engineering.

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    Steve
  • akayakay Posts: 7
    edited 2004-07-27 17:52
    Thanks Jon,·I'm waiting on a reply from the manufacturer.

    Steve, I'm pretty sure the pin connections are identical to the original Sony pad, otherwise it couldn't work with the PS2 console.

    I wonder if there is a subtle difference in I/O level voltage requirement between the two or some kind of extra timing requirement needed.

    Attached is·a picture of the pad.

    At least hooked up to a·mini-cam receiver, the lcd works nicely.
    P7271655.jpg
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  • steve_bsteve_b Posts: 1,563
    edited 2004-07-27 21:17
    You're right....it would have to have the same pinouts to work with the console.·

    I'm unsure what the circuit is you are trying to plug....do you have a URL to it?



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    Steve
  • akayakay Posts: 7
    edited 2004-07-27 21:53
    Hi Steve,

    in fact I do have a URL to it. smile.gif

    It's http://www.parallax.com/dl/docs/cols/nv/vol4/col/nv101.pdf
  • nuradilanuradila Posts: 18
    edited 2004-07-28 04:02
    whoa.. cool!! how abt x-box? can it work as well?

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    ..:: aDiLa nUr ::..
  • Jon WilliamsJon Williams Posts: 6,491
    edited 2004-07-28 05:54
    X-box uses USB

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    Jon Williams
    Applications Engineer, Parallax
    Dallas Office
  • akayakay Posts: 7
    edited 2004-07-28 18:21
    Got a response from the company. They won't release any technical specs... period. You would think they are protecting nuclear secrets!
  • Jon WilliamsJon Williams Posts: 6,491
    edited 2004-07-28 18:23
    This may be a requirement from Sony. Sony developers for PlayStation products pay a hefty fee for development info.

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    Jon Williams
    Applications Engineer, Parallax
    Dallas Office
  • Velvet LeopardVelvet Leopard Posts: 47
    edited 2004-08-11 04:37
    Hewwo, all.· Sowwies for bringing up an old post, but I read this and just had to try it.· I have lots of old PS controllers.· I saved the nuts and volts document from the replies.· I would like to know if this work with a Basic Stamp II.· Also, what kind of mods would I have to make to accomodate a "Dual Shock" PS controller.· (The one with two analog sticks.)· Thank you for your help.
  • Jon WilliamsJon Williams Posts: 6,491
    edited 2004-08-11 06:36
    Yes, the code that Aaron originally wrote, and then I updated, works fine on a stock BS2.

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    Jon Williams
    Applications Engineer, Parallax
    Dallas Office
  • Velvet LeopardVelvet Leopard Posts: 47
    edited 2004-08-12 04:20
    Okee.· I got one of my "Dual SHock 2" PS controllers and an extention cable for the socket.· I ran into a problem.· My extention cable is NOT a Sony product, but a Mad Catz I believe.· It is "hot purple" in color.·· I checked the wire colors and numbers and they seem to be the same.· It has two extra cords though.· I bare silver fine braided wire, for a common ground I think and a cloth braided cord for strenth for the extention is so long.· I am a little ashamed to ask, but I don't know which end is considered the female end and the male end of the extention.· They both seem like female ends.· I got a copy of Aaron's code and I have the PDF of the controller article.· Can I get an explanation on how to use my Basic Stamp II Homework Board to test and use the code?· I am this close to getting it done.
  • Velvet LeopardVelvet Leopard Posts: 47
    edited 2004-08-12 04:41
    I forgot to post this part.· In the schematic for the PS controller interfcae, pin 7 (blue wire) has a pull up 4.7 Kohm resistor.· Pin one (brown wire) has a resistor symbol, but no labeled resistor value.· Is the 4.7 Kohm value labeled their for both resistors?????· I have the interfcae circuit complete thus far save for that resistor.· Thanks for your time and help.· You have been so generous.
  • Jon WilliamsJon Williams Posts: 6,491
    edited 2004-08-12 13:20
    Here's my latest schematic for a PSX interface.· Note that I've added a selection for inverted or direct clock.· The PSX controller uses a low-going clock pulse, so you need to select inverted when using SHIFTOUT and SHIFTIN with the BASIC Stamp.

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    Jon Williams
    Applications Engineer, Parallax
    Dallas Office
    PSX_Interface_Schematic.jpg
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  • Bruce BatesBruce Bates Posts: 3,045
    edited 2004-08-12 13:30
    Jon -

    Unless there's something new that's been added to SHIFTIN/SHIFTOUT, there is no "inverted" parameter, although many have asked for a negative-going clock
    to interface with certain SPI devices which use it.

    I just re-read your post before I sent this one. If you're implying that the inverted option is in your schematic and not part of a PBASIC command, that's not particularly clear.

    Regards,

    Bruce Bates
  • Jon WilliamsJon Williams Posts: 6,491
    edited 2004-08-12 13:49
    Sorry for being less than clear; you're right: the inversion is in the circutry and not in the [noparse][[/noparse]BASIC Stamp] command. The reason for the option is that the Javelin DOES allow the user to invert the clock signal without external hardware.

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    Jon Williams
    Applications Engineer, Parallax
    Dallas Office
  • Velvet LeopardVelvet Leopard Posts: 47
    edited 2004-08-12 21:06
    Ummmm Sorry for asking again, but in the schematic, which socket is shown?· Is the female socket the end of the controller or the socket in the console?????· Sorry I don't know.
  • Jon WilliamsJon Williams Posts: 6,491
    edited 2004-08-12 21:44
    Since I didn't want to destroy my controller, I hacked the socket from a cheap extension cable. Let me see if I can draw this out:


    (PSX Controller)
    >· >
    >· [noparse][[/noparse]PS2 Console]
    ·························*··extension

    I used the connector at the end of the extension that the controller cable plugs into (it has sockets, the other end has pins).· It will look like the socket in the attached picture.

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    Jon Williams
    Applications Engineer, Parallax
    Dallas Office

    Post Edited (Jon Williams) : 8/12/2004 9:50:42 PM GMT
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  • Velvet LeopardVelvet Leopard Posts: 47
    edited 2004-08-12 22:02
    Thanks alot.· Now I know which end to use.· They both seemed like females.· Now I can finish the circuit.·· I will post any success I have on it.
  • Velvet LeopardVelvet Leopard Posts: 47
    edited 2004-08-12 22:48
    Okee.· I hooked up the controller and made the circuit as shown in the updated schematic from above.· I downloaded the BS2 program from the reply as well.· My problem is the debug window always comes up with type = unknown no response.· I don't know what is wrong with it.· Any help?

    Post Edited (Velvet Leopard) : 8/12/2004 11:00:47 PM GMT
  • Jon WilliamsJon Williams Posts: 6,491
    edited 2004-08-13 00:07
    Okay, now you have to do some research and figure out what's going on. I've used that program many times with standard Sony controllers and I can assure you the code works (I'm VERY careful about code that I publish). If it's not working for you, then you need to work your way through your circuit to make sure that it is correct, then go step by step with the code. I know the code works (unless you modified it), so I would double-check the circuit and connections.

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    Jon Williams
    Applications Engineer, Parallax
    Dallas Office
  • akayakay Posts: 7
    edited 2004-08-13 05:38
    On the stuff I've been able to find on the web, Original Sony PS2 controllers and Mad Catz controllers have worked with the BS2. I've been able to get the BS2 and BS2SX to work with the Sony controller.

    The people at Lynxmotion claim to have got things working with wired and wireless Mad Catz controllers, although they had problems with the left joystick sampling... Jon Williams' code fixed that issue.

    I've been having problems myself to·getting non-Sony controllers to work. I suspect the problem lies·differences in required·voltage levels, possible 7.5VDC input requirements or current levels.

    I found·this schematic on lynxmotion's website... I haven't the components to test any of it on my Hip Gear controller, but Lynxmotion claims it works with Mad Catz.

    http://www.lynxmotion.com/images/data/abbsch01.pdf
  • JavalinJavalin Posts: 892
    edited 2004-09-16 19:23
    Hi,

    Jon - is it possible to get a copy of your playstation code. Also I am confused, is this for a playstation 1 or 2 controller?

    Thanks

    James
  • Jon WilliamsJon Williams Posts: 6,491
    edited 2004-09-16 20:22
    I have only tested my code with a genuine Playstation 2 controller.

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    Jon Williams
    Applications Engineer, Parallax
    Dallas Office
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  • JavalinJavalin Posts: 892
    edited 2004-09-16 20:36
    thanks Jon!
  • halfblinddadohalfblinddado Posts: 59
    edited 2007-07-09 03:46
    I realize tha this is an old thread but I have the wired conroller working well but the conroller I m using does not have an analog button but when powered up on the PS2 it is in analog mode by default. Is there a way to send a signal to the controller to switch it into analog mode?

    Thanks,

    Mike
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