Idea for building wireless Atari controllers?

[SlowCoder]

I'm not an electronics expert, though I do understand some aspects, and I know how to use a soldering iron.

 

I have a React wireless PS2 controller set (2 controllers, one receiver for both). The controllers operate on 2 AA batteries. Physically, I'm guessing the receiver could be refitted with serial-style connectors to plug into the Atari.

 

My questions:

Is the controller voltage for the PS2 different than that of the Atari?

Would the Atari's power be able to drive the wireless receiver?

What would be the best way to mod the Atari controller to accept the wireless board and batteries?

 

I'd be willing to experiment, with the hardware if you guys could give me some pointers on where to begin. Ideas are definitely welcome.

 

I suppose I'd start by determining the pinout of the Atari controller ports, and the PS2 controller ports, and build a serial connection off that pinout. Anyone here able to provide that information?

[GroovyBee]

 

http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/166727-gb-xc1-playstation-controller-interface/

[SlowCoder]

 

http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/166727-gb-xc1-playstation-controller-interface/

Sorry, I don't think that's the same idea. What I'm trying to do is incorporate the wireless aspect of my React controllers into an Atari joystick. Not make my PS2 controllers work with my Atari.

 

However, I was reading around, and have already run into a snafu. It appears that the PS1/2 uses intelligent signals with their controllers, whereas I'm sure the Atari is not as smart. I don't know if there's a workaround for this? Here is the information I have located on this: http://store.curiousinventor.com/guides/PS2

[GroovyBee]

However, I was reading around, and have already run into a snafu. It appears that the PS1/2 uses intelligent signals with their controllers, whereas I'm sure the Atari is not as smart. I don't know if there's a workaround for this? Here is the information I have located on this: http://store.curiousinventor.com/guides/PS2

 

I think converting the data to PS2 format (as an intermediate stage) isn't necessary when RF microcontroller boards like the ez430 RF device from Farnell (electronic parts supplier based in the UK) are available :-

 

http://uk.farnell.com/texas-instruments/ez430-rf2500t/board-target-wireless-ez430-rf2500/dp/1740341

 

You'll need to get to grips with MSP430 assembler or "C".

[SlowCoder]

However, I was reading around, and have already run into a snafu. It appears that the PS1/2 uses intelligent signals with their controllers, whereas I'm sure the Atari is not as smart. I don't know if there's a workaround for this? Here is the information I have located on this: http://store.curiousinventor.com/guides/PS2

 

I think converting the data to PS2 format (as an intermediate stage) isn't necessary when RF microcontroller boards like the ez430 RF device from Farnell (electronic parts supplier based in the UK) are available :-

 

http://uk.farnell.com/texas-instruments/ez430-rf2500t/board-target-wireless-ez430-rf2500/dp/1740341

 

You'll need to get to grips with MSP430 assembler or "C".

This one went a little over my head. I understand technology, as I have been in IT for a few years, but I've not done much at the electronics level. I see this MSP430 is some sort of system for developing wireless technology, which appears at first to be a step in the right direction. But as I *attempt* to read the Development Tool User Guide (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CCUQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffocus.ti.com%2Flit%2Fug%2Fslau227e%2Fslau227e.pdf&ei=nxNWTNLHO8OB8gbEhtGjBA&usg=AFQjCNFqplgTZCQDmuXR7ziyx3YPYNnxHg), it mostly flies right over my head.

 

Can you provide, in layman please, how this will help me?

[GroovyBee]

Can you provide, in layman please, how this will help me?

 

Basically its a PCB with a microcontroller connected to an RF data packet handling chip. A software communication "stack" is provided to interface them together. You'd need two to of them to complete your project. You'd also need to write your embedded application code on the microcontroller.

[SlowCoder]

Can you provide, in layman please, how this will help me?

 

Basically its a PCB with a microcontroller connected to an RF data packet handling chip. A software communication "stack" is provided to interface them together. You'd need two to of them to complete your project. You'd also need to write your embedded application code on the microcontroller.

 

Not sure if you were trying to be funny or not, but I actually DO understand that!

[yuppicide]

I had an idea to build not a wireless controller, but a wireless adapter that would turn any controller (or paddles or driving controllers) into wireless.

 

It would be a small adapter that plugs into the 2600. Another small adapter plugs into your joystick.. or maybe have one that sits on your table and has two plugs in 1.

 

I had someone here who worked in the wireless field and thought that we might have been able to make them fairly cheap. We were going to test out 900Mhz units, but for $1 or $2 more we could just get 2.4Ghz chips. We'd have needed to check their latency response time.

 

I lost contact with him. He said he'd contact me once he wasn't so busy at work. That never happened.