Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uwm.edu!dogie.macc.wisc.edu!vms.macc.wisc.edu From: kleemann@vms.macc.wisc.edu (Brad Kleemann) Newsgroups: sci.electronics Subject: Re: Atari VCS Paddle Controllers Message-ID: <2743@dogie.macc.wisc.edu> Date: 30 Nov 89 16:33:07 GMT Sender: news@dogie.macc.wisc.edu Organization: University of Wisconsin Academic Computing Center Lines: 25 In article <17437@dartvax.Dartmouth.EDU>, sean@eleazar.dartmouth.edu (Sean P. Nolan) writes... >Hi ho... > >I recently dug our old Colecovision system out of a closet, replaced its sick >parts (the job cost $.39 --- there is some merit in playing with electronics >all day instead of studying!), and plugged it into my TV here at school. One of >the "Expansion Modules" I have is an adapter so you can use Atari VCS >cartridges in it. However, I don't have the "Paddle Controllers" that came with >the Atari machine. > >My question: does anybody know what the mechanism/pinouts of these doohickeys >is? It's certainly not worth my going out and buying anything over $10, but if >it's simple I might as well slap a pair together. They are simple. The paddle controllers use two player boxes for each DB-9. Each of these little boxes contains a pot and switch. I'd have to open mine (again) for details. The joystick boxes use one DB-9 per player. They contain 5 switches. 5 volts is also available (either pin 7 or 8 I think). I think the pots go to pins 5 and 9, but I can't remember if they are tied high or low. Atari computers also use these. I've used them to control my direct digital synthesis signal generator from my atari 400. I bet you can find some old paddles at a garage sale, probably with a cheap VHS too. --Brad Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com