Old PC Joystick Not Recognised

[Fiery Phoenix]

Hope you can help

Dug out my old CMS Super 8 - but it is a 15 pin connector

I only have a DB9 adapter so purchased a 15 pin one off Ebay

Fits perfectly, but when plugged into the USB port of my PC it is not recognised

So unsure if it is the old joystick that is the problem or the adapter that I purchased - don't want to purchase another adapter if it is the joystick at fault.

Any ideas or a way to check which is at fault - I don't have another 15 pin controller to check unfortunately

[Daedalus]

Hmmm, I've never heard of those sticks, but it looks like a digital action stick for the PC gameport. These won't work with the basic Amiga 15-pin adaptors, because those adaptors are made for analogue joysticks. Digital PC controllers like that are still analogue in terms of how they communicate (the circuitry emulates an analogue joystick with just 3 positions on each axis), so the Amiga will see it as an analogue controller, whereas I assume the game you're trying to use it with expects a true digital stick.

You can check that this is indeed the case by using a joystick testing program that supports analogue joysticks. There are a few around, e.g. AnaCal and ControllerTest. Another indication that this is the case is that the buttons of analogue sticks are typically wired to the digital direction inputs on the Amiga, so pressing the different fire buttons on that stick should correspond to movement.

An adaptor would be possible to build, but it would be more elaborate than the basic ones commonly available. I don't know if such a thing exists. Alternatively, if you didn't mind modifying old hardware, you could replace the cable with a 9-pin one and bypass the analogue circuitry in there, converting it into a more traditional digital stick.

[mark_k]

The CMS web site lists Rockfire USB-Nest DB15-USB converter which has a mode switch. Does your converter have a mode switch?

[Fiery Phoenix]

Apologies should have made it clear

Not using this on an Amiga - the joystick is plug into my PC to play via WinUAE

The old joystick has that 15 pin connector so I purchased a USB adapter on ebay - fits perfectly but not recognised as a new device in the PC

Tried Device Manager - add legacy hardware - after I plugged it in. No joy

Just didn't want to purchase a new adapter if it is the joystick at fault

I was looking at the Rockfire - but went for the one off Ebay as only £5. No switch, just basically the connector with a USB end

[Fiery Phoenix]

Pics of joystick, inside joystick and cable

[Daedalus]

Ha, that's different then The adaptor should still show up in Windows I would have thought - the USB device functionality is all in the adaptor.

[Nobby_UK]

I had one of those 15 pin to USB adapters --- It did nothing

*** Additional ***
It is embossed:
Microsoft for Sidewinder 3D Pro Plus only

[Fiery Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Nobby_UK

I had one of those 15 pin to USB adapters --- It did nothing

Few Amazon reviews for a similar looking device saying the same thing.

I dusted down my old PC running XP and tried it on there - same issue!

Splashed out on Mayflash 15 adapter, with a digital / analogue switch - hoping this works! Will update here once it arrives (expected 15th Feb)

[Daedalus]

I have a couple of Mayflash adaptors and they've always been spot on, so it should do the job for you I reckon.

[Nightshft]

I have a "Logilink ua0052c" 15-pin Joystick adapter and it works fine. When I plug it in, it immediately shows up as a "2 axis 8 button gamepad" in Windows.

As already said, when such an usb adapter isn't recognized by windows, it's definitely the devices fault and not the joystick, as those were quite passive electronics back then.

I guess you could even test the adapter and mimic a joystick by connecting resistors/potis to the correct pins of the adapter. However I've never tried that out so far

[NoX1911]

Maybe try an USB diagnostic tool to see if there's any response at all when connecting the stick. Or try a Linux LiveCD (e.g. Manjaro) and check if it does something there (check kernel log).

If you can manage to get the Vendor/Device ID of the stick further investigation should be much easier.

[Fiery Phoenix]

My adapter arrived and my PC recognised it straight which was a start

Also when I plugged my CMS Super 8 into it, they was recognised also

Bad new - just could not get it to calibrate. Tried the P, W and S switches (gamepad, racing wheel and joystick) all to no avail.

All the fire buttons work fine, but the crosshair is shaking in the test screen and soimetimes not even in the centre - maybe just a busted joystick!