Search found 18 matches

by Drakoz
Wed Apr 08, 2015 7:34 pm
Forum: Tech Forum
Topic: USB Converter for MS Sidewinder 3DPro, PP, and FFP
Replies: 293
Views: 918954

Re: USB Converter for MS Sidewinder 3DPro, PP, and FFP

If you are good at soldering, it is perfectly reasonable to attach a 30 AWG wire to that pin. But we are talking professional soldering, and using something like a fine tip Metcal or Weller iron. Something I wouldn't hesitate to try myself, but not something I'd suggest unless you solder a lot in yo...
by Drakoz
Wed Apr 08, 2015 7:44 am
Forum: Tech Forum
Topic: USB Converter for MS Sidewinder 3DPro, PP, and FFP
Replies: 293
Views: 918954

Re: USB Converter for MS Sidewinder 3DPro, PP, and FFP

Just use an Exacto knife to scrape the soldermask off. Then solder a wire to the exposed via pad. If you can clean out the hole (for the via), you can solder a 30 AWG wire into the hole, but I'd suggest just scrape the soldermask off the surface and don't try to clean out the via. But the bigger que...
by Drakoz
Sun Sep 28, 2014 6:39 pm
Forum: Tech Forum
Topic: USB Converter for MS Sidewinder 3DPro, PP, and FFP
Replies: 293
Views: 918954

Re: USB Converter for MS Sidewinder 3DPro, PP, and FFP

Ah, thanks. You found the detail I couldn't find. Yes, and this is why PJRC provides their own boot loader and software. I did some more looking into it and found this: https://www.pjrc.com/teensy/datasheets.html At the bottom of the page it says: "Atmel uses a different bootloader called "...
by Drakoz
Sat Sep 27, 2014 10:23 pm
Forum: Tech Forum
Topic: USB Converter for MS Sidewinder 3DPro, PP, and FFP
Replies: 293
Views: 918954

Re: USB Converter for MS Sidewinder 3DPro, PP, and FFP

(OK, I retyped this after comparing the schematics myself.) The schematic for the Teensy 2.0 board can be found here: https://www.pjrc.com/teensy/schematic.html I compared the Teensy board vs. the A-Star 32U4 Micro board you mentioned, and they seem schematically to be the same. The A-Star does not ...
by Drakoz
Sat Sep 27, 2014 10:03 pm
Forum: Tech Forum
Topic: Reverse Engineering the Force Feedback Pro
Replies: 309
Views: 1041687

Re: Reverse Engineering the Force Feedback Pro

Make sure the two caps (C1, C2, the 1nF caps) were installed in the correct place. They are listed as optional in the schematic, but I found the FFB does not work without them. I think those that have gotten it to work without these caps were lucky - because their circuit added enough capacitance by...
by Drakoz
Tue Nov 05, 2013 5:05 pm
Forum: Descent Multiplayer
Topic: How do I play in 2013
Replies: 60
Views: 19406

Re: How do I play in 2013

Hey Birdseye. Glad to see you still messing with Descent. I hope you got some of the mouse stuff worked out. FYI, my Logitech G700 mouse I mentioned above - I said the pads have more stiction so it doesn't slide as well. After a couple months, the mouse pad has "polished" the pads enough n...
by Drakoz
Fri Jun 21, 2013 7:48 am
Forum: Descent Multiplayer
Topic: How do I play in 2013
Replies: 60
Views: 19406

Re: How do I play in 2013

I just replaced my Logitech ball mouse with a new Logitech G700. The old ball mouse is like 15 years old. I have two of them and they both still work fine and I still like them just fine for gaming. Why did I get a new mouse? I wanted something with more buttons for ARMA. The G700 delivers on that. ...
by Drakoz
Fri Jun 21, 2013 7:13 am
Forum: PTMC Cafe
Topic: Anyone Playing DayZ or Arma III Alpha
Replies: 2
Views: 1724

Re: Anyone Playing DayZ or Arma III Alpha

I played some DayZ last year, but didn't get into it long term. Too many things to do. But, earlier this year I got a new PC and started playing a lot of ARMA 3. Still under the name Drakoz. More recently, I'm going back to ARMA 2 and playing with United Operations (http://www.unitedoperations.net/)...
by Drakoz
Fri Jun 21, 2013 6:59 am
Forum: PTMC Cafe
Topic: Death Announcement - Bama
Replies: 90
Views: 26548

Re: Death Announcement - Bama

Very sad news indeed. Bama was one of the many contributors to the Descent community that made it really worth being a part of. It seems like ancient history now - the LAN parties, playing at Sick_one's asylum, the beta period for Descent 3 and the run up to the Descent 3 $50K tournament. But, remem...
by Drakoz
Thu Mar 04, 2010 3:39 am
Forum: Tech Forum
Topic: USB Converter for MS Sidewinder 3DPro, PP, and FFP
Replies: 293
Views: 918954

For me I stopped etching PCB's years ago and just send everything to a cheap proto house like Sunstone.com. I don't mean to discourage people etching their own PCB's. I just mean don't be afraid to use the cheap quick turn houses. Most the cost in etching and drilling your own PCB is time, and if yo...
by Drakoz
Thu Oct 29, 2009 12:51 am
Forum: Tech Forum
Topic: USB Converter for MS Sidewinder 3DPro, PP, and FFP
Replies: 293
Views: 918954

I bought parts to build a 3DP-Vert rev 2 months ago and finally built one a couple weekends ago. Ugh, it took all day - mostly due to the mechanical work of cutting the perf board and the plastic case because Radio Shack doesn't have that nice board designed for the case anymore. But it works great....
by Drakoz
Wed Dec 24, 2008 3:03 pm
Forum: Tech Forum
Topic: M$ Sidewinder 3D Pro on USB
Replies: 389
Views: 223580

No, that's a standard PC joystick. Any commercially available Game port to USB converter will work for that stick. Read through the early part of this thread and you'll find a few links to the kind of converter you need.
by Drakoz
Fri Dec 12, 2008 1:09 pm
Forum: PTMC Cafe
Topic: Custom game controller?
Replies: 10
Views: 2203

Regarding pots vs. hall effect sensors. One of the things that made the Sidewinder 3DPro (and other MS joysticks) so great is they used an optical sensor to detect the position of the stick. No pots to wear out. I kind of got spoiled by this using my 3D Pro for so many years. The buttons or plastic ...
by Drakoz
Fri Dec 12, 2008 6:19 am
Forum: PTMC Cafe
Topic: Descent 2 Redbook Audio
Replies: 9
Views: 12744

Oh, Interplay's web site has 16 MP3 downloads on their Descent page. The titles match the list of songs in Dakatsu's post above.

http://www.interplay.com/support/support.php?id=104
by Drakoz
Fri Dec 12, 2008 3:07 am
Forum: The DBB Marketplace
Topic: 3dpro Joysticks NIB FS
Replies: 13
Views: 18959

OK, ya, really old post, but I just came back to the DBB and I have to ask....

Readyman, are these still left over from the pile of sticks you got at the Descent 3 Tournament in Vegas? That was you, right?
by Drakoz
Fri Dec 12, 2008 3:00 am
Forum: PTMC Cafe
Topic: Custom game controller?
Replies: 10
Views: 2203

Professionally made? Do you want a really cool game controller for yourself, or a product you want to sell. I'll answer as if you want something really cool for yourself mainly. Because this is a pie in the sky question, I'll give a pie in the sky answer. Check out web sites on DIY flight sim contro...
by Drakoz
Tue Dec 09, 2008 7:38 am
Forum: PTMC Cafe
Topic: Descent 2 Redbook Audio
Replies: 9
Views: 12744

Dakatsu, what Descent CD is that track listing from? I don't know any Descent CD that had 16 tracks for the Redbook audio. Kida, the 12 track version you are looking for is from an original release Descent II CD. The 8 track version you refer to is from the Descent I & II Definitive Collection C...
by Drakoz
Mon Dec 08, 2008 2:13 am
Forum: Descent Old Skool
Topic: How old is everyone and how long have you played Descent
Replies: 213
Views: 58458

Man, I didn't realize so many of you were so young. Some of you have been here for all eternity, and you are still in your twneties today. :D I haven't been around the Descent scene for years, but I sure miss it, especially Thursday nights at Sickone's Asylum. I started playing D1 in '94 when I was ...