Posted By: Sokol1
CH gameport gear + BU0836 - My "new" USB HOTAS PHOENIX - 09/09/07 09:32 PM
To explain the reason of this "mod":
The options for purchase a COTS HOTAS in local market are:
THRUSTMASTER Topgun AfterBurner 2 ~ U$ 225,00
THRUSTMASTER HOTAS COUGAR ~ U$ 670,00
SAITEK X-52 "Vanila" ~ U$ 850,00
So, I made a "new USB HOTAS" for a friend using old CH gameport gear.
Find in online "flea market", from different vendors, one CH F-16 Combatstick and one CH PRO Throttle, both gameport versions.
The Combatstick, in spite of arrive covered in dust, seemed that never it was used.
Both cost around U$ 50,00.
Then I bought one BU0836 USB Card - that arrived from "across the pound" in 9 days.
First disassemble the two controllers and remove the gameport PCB circuits, cables and connectors, and remove the trails of HAT's PCBs.
I dont bother in know how are wired in original,* find more easy adapt the wiring to BU0836 6x6 Matrix adding 1 diode 1N4148 in one each pin or every button and HAT cornet (BTW - Contrary to some simmers believed HAT in joysticks are only 4 buttons in same case, no Alien science is used in then).
Easy to do, all disassembled with some sketch on how wire the buttons in 6x6 matrix:
* EDIT - Latter I did the same conversion in one CH F-16 Fighterstick, and in this is used a 6x4 matrix, that resume the grip work in simple made a new connector for cable inside base without need of erase trails and fit diodes.
With some rehearsal find a perfect place to fit BU0836 in front of the box of Combatstick, fastened with one of the original screws, and a make a new hole in the case for BU0836 USB connector (B type).
To wire throttle into the joy I need made a dual cable - because I need 12 wires for this connection, 9 for throttle buttons Matrix and 3 for throttle axis, but original cables of CH gameport have only 10 internal wires - so the option was use a shield microphone cable to wire the throttle axis.
To connect this two cable in joystick case I use a 3 row DB-15 connector (for VGA monitor).
This model prevents connection attempt into a DB-15 gameport - that use 2 pins row - and is more compact than conventional DB-15 connector.
Inside throttle the cable wires for buttons are combined Matrix, too with one diode 1N4148 for one button pin.
The throttle potentiometer use the 3 wires microphone cable:
As CH uses a standard size/form in their HATS and buttons case, are easily interchange then.
So I swap - from owner request - the left thumb button (red) of Combatstick for the front HAT of the throttle, this HAT is difficult to reach and use for people with small hands. This exchange is easy to do, "drop in".
The diode 1N4148 in one pin of every button or HAT corner wired to BU0836 ROWS is for avoid "gosth buttons press" common in Matrix connections. Solder all this diodes is the "tedious" part of this work.
To wire potentiometers into BU0836 I use shield CDROM sound cables.
One cable cut in middle wire two pot's, and modding the original CDROM cable connector, removing their hooks, they plug very well in BU0836 pins (.25" space).
The HOTAS continue using the original CH 100k pots, that work fine in BU00836, without show spikes or glitch's.
Inside grip after wired:
Yes Mr. G, this "new" HOTAS is not more recognized by CH Manager.
However, some basic programming - like button for Teamspeak PTT, and even multiple profiles are gotten with freeware/shareware keymapers like SVMapper, XPadder, Joy2Key...
The "new" HOTAS PHOENIX USB.
windows 7 screen shot
Final cost around ~ U$ 100,00.
The options for purchase a COTS HOTAS in local market are:
THRUSTMASTER Topgun AfterBurner 2 ~ U$ 225,00
THRUSTMASTER HOTAS COUGAR ~ U$ 670,00
SAITEK X-52 "Vanila" ~ U$ 850,00
So, I made a "new USB HOTAS" for a friend using old CH gameport gear.
Find in online "flea market", from different vendors, one CH F-16 Combatstick and one CH PRO Throttle, both gameport versions.
The Combatstick, in spite of arrive covered in dust, seemed that never it was used.
Both cost around U$ 50,00.
Then I bought one BU0836 USB Card - that arrived from "across the pound" in 9 days.
First disassemble the two controllers and remove the gameport PCB circuits, cables and connectors, and remove the trails of HAT's PCBs.
I dont bother in know how are wired in original,* find more easy adapt the wiring to BU0836 6x6 Matrix adding 1 diode 1N4148 in one each pin or every button and HAT cornet (BTW - Contrary to some simmers believed HAT in joysticks are only 4 buttons in same case, no Alien science is used in then).
Easy to do, all disassembled with some sketch on how wire the buttons in 6x6 matrix:
* EDIT - Latter I did the same conversion in one CH F-16 Fighterstick, and in this is used a 6x4 matrix, that resume the grip work in simple made a new connector for cable inside base without need of erase trails and fit diodes.
With some rehearsal find a perfect place to fit BU0836 in front of the box of Combatstick, fastened with one of the original screws, and a make a new hole in the case for BU0836 USB connector (B type).
To wire throttle into the joy I need made a dual cable - because I need 12 wires for this connection, 9 for throttle buttons Matrix and 3 for throttle axis, but original cables of CH gameport have only 10 internal wires - so the option was use a shield microphone cable to wire the throttle axis.
To connect this two cable in joystick case I use a 3 row DB-15 connector (for VGA monitor).
This model prevents connection attempt into a DB-15 gameport - that use 2 pins row - and is more compact than conventional DB-15 connector.
Inside throttle the cable wires for buttons are combined Matrix, too with one diode 1N4148 for one button pin.
The throttle potentiometer use the 3 wires microphone cable:
As CH uses a standard size/form in their HATS and buttons case, are easily interchange then.
So I swap - from owner request - the left thumb button (red) of Combatstick for the front HAT of the throttle, this HAT is difficult to reach and use for people with small hands. This exchange is easy to do, "drop in".
The diode 1N4148 in one pin of every button or HAT corner wired to BU0836 ROWS is for avoid "gosth buttons press" common in Matrix connections. Solder all this diodes is the "tedious" part of this work.
To wire potentiometers into BU0836 I use shield CDROM sound cables.
One cable cut in middle wire two pot's, and modding the original CDROM cable connector, removing their hooks, they plug very well in BU0836 pins (.25" space).
The HOTAS continue using the original CH 100k pots, that work fine in BU00836, without show spikes or glitch's.
Inside grip after wired:
Yes Mr. G, this "new" HOTAS is not more recognized by CH Manager.
However, some basic programming - like button for Teamspeak PTT, and even multiple profiles are gotten with freeware/shareware keymapers like SVMapper, XPadder, Joy2Key...
The "new" HOTAS PHOENIX USB.
windows 7 screen shot
Final cost around ~ U$ 100,00.