Joysticks with two 9-pin connectors

[prowler]

I apologize in advance for the n00b question.

I have a selection of Amiga joysticks I've collected which have been bundled with various items of hardware I've bought in connection with my hobby.

Most just have one 9-pin connector at the end of the cable, but some have two. Can somebody please tell me why this is?

[fryguy]

The only one which has two that i know of is The Bug. I believe it was mostly for the C64. Games used different game ports (older games usually required the joystick be in port one, while newer games expected the joystick to be in port 2).

I don't know if this was i good idea though, because you could type things with the joystick accidentily if it was connected to port 1 (iirc).

[Retro1234]

Different console instead of a switch I think

[Retro-Nerd]

Well, maybe some were designed explicit for the C64. There was no standard if a C64 game uses Port 1 or 2. So, manually switching the sticks was necessary often enough. I know the e.g. Quickshot professional. I works perfectly on both C64 ports with a port switch.

http://www.kultboy.com/joystick/7/

[prowler]

Originally Posted by Boo Boo

Different console instead of a switch I think

In that case, could it cause any damage to the stick or port If I were to choose the wrong connector for the console? I have no information for any of these sticks, but those with two connectors are Cruisers.

The connectors are identical (9-pin female D-Type).

Edit:

Originally Posted by Retro-Nerd

http://www.kultboy.com/joystick/7/

Thanks for the link, Retro! I feel a bit safer after reading that.

Hey, imagine the fun of playing two different games on two machines simultaneously!

[gunni]

a lot of joysticks had a second connector to use with the Sinclair Spectrum I believe...

[johnim]

some with grey connectors were for spectrums or amstrads too

[prowler]

Originally Posted by johnim

some with grey connectors were for spectrums or amstrads too

Yep, both have one black and one grey connector!

[Coltch]

Grey cable works on ZX Spectrum +2/3 (possibly CPC), black cable works with everything else - it was a case of Amstrad trying to make money as your Quickshot 1/2 wouldn't work with the new Spectrum so you had to buy one of theirs.

[prowler]

Thanks, Coltch, and everyone else who replied!
That seems to settle it.

[prowler]

I tested my two Cruiser joysticks with the two 9-pin connectors earlier this evening on my A1200 and they both work fine when connected to the Joystick port using the black connector. (They're not very good sticks, though. )

Can't test the grey connector as I have neither a Sinclair ZX Spectrum +2/3 or Amstrad CPC, but I'm not worried about that now.

[Coltch]

Take the plunge and get a Speccy +2/3 (I have a +2 linked up alongside my A1200 , although I usually get the original 48K out just for the feel of the keyboard)

[prowler]

Originally Posted by Coltch

Take the plunge and get a Speccy +2/3 (I have a +2 linked up alongside my A1200 , although I usually get the original 48K out just for the feel of the keyboard)

Never! That would be rather like buying a slide rule to go with my calculator.

[roy bates]

ive got some here with two 9 pin connectors and there for spectrums as well.

[FOL]

Originally Posted by roy bates

ive got some here with two 9 pin connectors and there for spectrums as well.

Aye, I used to have a few I used with my Speccy.
They always had a Grey lead for speccy and black lead for amiga etc etc.

[ElectroBlaster]

Yup the second grey lead is for the Spectrum +2 (Amstrad non-standardness)

Got a Cruiser sitting here right now with the second lead on it.