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Hi all,

Could really use a big push in the right direction.

I want to demux a Mega Drive/Genesis 6 button controller into separate outputs to be used in a DB9 to DB15 adapter. So I want separate individual signals for all outputs, up/down/left/right/start/B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B6 +5V and gnd etc.

I know the MD controllers use a multiplexer to combine outputs, just need some info on how I would go about separating them all?

My desire is to fabricate a simple adapter that allows one to use Mega Drive controllers on an arcade supergun with Neo Geo style DB15 connector.

Any help greatly appreciated.

if you read C, here's how devkitSMS reads MD PAD input (port 1 only)
the central point is to toggle TH between reads.

(info taken from https://segaretro.org/Six_Button_Control_Pad_(Mega_Drive)#Technical_Information - but weren't accurate - ignore rows 4 and 5)

I wonder if I could use a PIC to read inputs, and spit them out as separate outputs on the other side..?

That will be the least painful way to do it if there's enough IO on the PIC or other MCU for both input (7 pins) and output (4+4+2 ?).

Hi Frank_fjs,

Why you need Mega Drive 6 button controller ?
I think Saturn Controller should be better, it has many joystick out there.
I made Saturn Controller to Neo Geo Adapter.

Hi Tomy,

I like the idea of a Mega Drive controller due to:

- Perfect button layout for SFII
- Cheap and easy to obtain
- DB9 connectors are cheap and easy to obtain

I've just received the prototype for my supergun. Many improvements have been made to the design since but for a first revision I'm quite happy with it.

20180118_204830.jpg (4.18 MB)

20180118_204846.jpg (3.79 MB)

20180118_203308.jpg (3.72 MB)

20180118_203214.jpg (4.52 MB)

Frank_fjs wrote

I like the idea of a Mega Drive controller due to:

- Perfect button layout for SFII
- Cheap and easy to obtain
- DB9 connectors are cheap and easy to obtain

I've just received the prototype for my supergun. Many improvements have been made to the design since but for a first revision I'm quite happy with it.

I see. I like MD 6 buttons controller too. But I like Saturn one more than it. You already made the adapter ?

No, I haven't even starting working on the adapter, have just researched at this stage.

I'm interested in this, too. If you find a solution, please post it here. It would be great if the code was for atmega8. Someone from assemblergames made a decoder for the ps1 controller:
https://assemblergames.com/threads/hooking-psx-controller-to-atari-lynx-success....
Maybe he can help you, but he hasn't logged in since last year.
Also, maybe talk to the guy from raphnet.net?
He makes all kind of adapters and shares the schematics, all based on atmega8. In my opinion a snes or ps2 would be better, or a saturn one, as the controllers are more common,

Author	Message
Frank_fjs Joined: 19 Aug 2011 Posts: 115 Location: Australia	Mega Drive 6 button controller to Neo Geo Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 1:19 am
	Hi all, Could really use a big push in the right direction. I want to demux a Mega Drive/Genesis 6 button controller into separate outputs to be used in a DB9 to DB15 adapter. So I want separate individual signals for all outputs, up/down/left/right/start/B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B6 +5V and gnd etc. I know the MD controllers use a multiplexer to combine outputs, just need some info on how I would go about separating them all? My desire is to fabricate a simple adapter that allows one to use Mega Drive controllers on an arcade supergun with Neo Geo style DB15 connector. Any help greatly appreciated.

sverx Joined: 05 Sep 2013 Posts: 3827 Location: Stockholm, Sweden	Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:48 am
	if you read C, here's how devkitSMS reads MD PAD input (port 1 only) the central point is to toggle TH between reads. (info taken from https://segaretro.org/Six_Button_Control_Pad_(Mega_Drive)#Technical_Information - but weren't accurate - ignore rows 4 and 5)

Frank_fjs Joined: 19 Aug 2011 Posts: 115 Location: Australia	Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 11:59 am
	I wonder if I could use a PIC to read inputs, and spit them out as separate outputs on the other side..?

TmEE Joined: 31 Oct 2007 Posts: 853 Location: Estonia, Rapla city	Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 7:35 pm
	That will be the least painful way to do it if there's enough IO on the PIC or other MCU for both input (7 pins) and output (4+4+2 ?).

Tomy Joined: 22 May 2005 Posts: 7 Location: Hong kong	Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 12:05 pm
Tomy Joined: 22 May 2005 Posts: 7 Location: Hong kong	Hi Frank_fjs, Why you need Mega Drive 6 button controller ? I think Saturn Controller should be better, it has many joystick out there. I made Saturn Controller to Neo Geo Adapter.

Frank_fjs Joined: 19 Aug 2011 Posts: 115 Location: Australia	Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 12:54 pm
	Hi Tomy, I like the idea of a Mega Drive controller due to: - Perfect button layout for SFII - Cheap and easy to obtain - DB9 connectors are cheap and easy to obtain I've just received the prototype for my supergun. Many improvements have been made to the design since but for a first revision I'm quite happy with it. 20180118_204830.jpg (4.18 MB) 20180118_204846.jpg (3.79 MB) 20180118_203308.jpg (3.72 MB) 20180118_203214.jpg (4.52 MB)

Tomy Joined: 22 May 2005 Posts: 7 Location: Hong kong	Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 1:20 pm
Tomy Joined: 22 May 2005 Posts: 7 Location: Hong kong	Frank_fjs wrote I like the idea of a Mega Drive controller due to: - Perfect button layout for SFII - Cheap and easy to obtain - DB9 connectors are cheap and easy to obtain I've just received the prototype for my supergun. Many improvements have been made to the design since but for a first revision I'm quite happy with it. I see. I like MD 6 buttons controller too. But I like Saturn one more than it. You already made the adapter ?

Frank_fjs Joined: 19 Aug 2011 Posts: 115 Location: Australia	Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 1:38 pm
	No, I haven't even starting working on the adapter, have just researched at this stage.

gorgyrip Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 80	Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 9:50 pm
gorgyrip Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 80	I'm interested in this, too. If you find a solution, please post it here. It would be great if the code was for atmega8. Someone from assemblergames made a decoder for the ps1 controller: https://assemblergames.com/threads/hooking-psx-controller-to-atari-lynx-success.... Maybe he can help you, but he hasn't logged in since last year. Also, maybe talk to the guy from raphnet.net? He makes all kind of adapters and shares the schematics, all based on atmega8. In my opinion a snes or ps2 would be better, or a saturn one, as the controllers are more common,

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