Left handed joystick and com port

[Metspitzer]

I have one of these that uses the old com port type connector.
http://www.amazon.com/Left-handed-ergonomic-joystick-rotational-handle/dp/B000WYG4XG
Is there a connector that will convert this to USB? Plus I am not
able to tell what type connector this one at Amazon uses. (If it is
USB, I may reorder the same one.

BWT my mobo has a connector marked COMA. The pins on the expansion
slot adapter look like they match, buy the connector is too wide to
fit into the socket. If I could make what I have plug into my ComA
port this would work too.

If not, can someone recommend a USB left handed joystick?

This is for Skyrim (and maybe Quake 3 again). I don't do flight sims
so any buttons or sliders on the base are useless. I want as many
buttons as you can operate with your thumb. Being able to twist the
handle left/right is useful too.

http://imgur.com/a/rzJwu#2

 

[Paul]

I have one of these that uses the old com port type connector.
http://www.amazon.com/Left-handed-ergonomic-joystick-rotational-handle/dp/B000WYG4XG
Is there a connector that will convert this to USB? Plus I am not
able to tell what type connector this one at Amazon uses. (If it is
USB, I may reorder the same one.

BWT my mobo has a connector marked COMA. The pins on the expansion
slot adapter look like they match, buy the connector is too wide to
fit into the socket. If I could make what I have plug into my ComA
port this would work too.

If not, can someone recommend a USB left handed joystick?

This is for Skyrim (and maybe Quake 3 again). I don't do flight sims
so any buttons or sliders on the base are useless. I want as many
buttons as you can operate with your thumb. Being able to twist the
handle left/right is useful too.

http://imgur.com/a/rzJwu#2

You can order USB to serial port adapter dongles. I have
two on my computer right now. One goes to my old UPS.
One goes to the dialup modem (backup networking scheme,
no longer working).

Example of one here. They may not all be created equally,
in terms of working right. Read the reviews before buying.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812200169

You have to ask yourself though, whether this is the right
approach or not. Consider, from the OS side, whether the
support is even there, to get external gaming devices working
or not. On an older OS, it probably works, but I'm not sure what
the support is like on the shiny new OSes. That should be investigated
as well (whether someone got their joystick working on Windows 7 etc).

My two adapters, have a driver which does something called a
"virtual com port", and using that driver, I made one adapter
COM3 and the other COM4. I don't know what happens there, if that
driver is missing.

Paul

 

[Metspitzer]

You can order USB to serial port adapter dongles. I have
two on my computer right now. One goes to my old UPS.
One goes to the dialup modem (backup networking scheme,
no longer working).

Example of one here. They may not all be created equally,
in terms of working right. Read the reviews before buying.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812200169

You have to ask yourself though, whether this is the right
approach or not. Consider, from the OS side, whether the
support is even there, to get external gaming devices working
or not. On an older OS, it probably works, but I'm not sure what
the support is like on the shiny new OSes. That should be investigated
as well (whether someone got their joystick working on Windows 7 etc).

My two adapters, have a driver which does something called a
"virtual com port", and using that driver, I made one adapter
COM3 and the other COM4. I don't know what happens there, if that
driver is missing.

Paul

Actually, after thinking about it (and trying to locate one), that is
not really a com port. It was a special game port.

 

[SC Tom]

Actually, after thinking about it (and trying to locate one), that is
not really a com port. It was a special game port.

That was going to be my answer, that it's not a COM port, but a game port. If your MB is an older model, it may have an
input for it. Then you could get an adapter (some boards had one that took up an open expansion slot in the back), or
make one, for that. Or go with a game port to USB adapter like this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-F3U200...7RIV/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1322342055&sr=8-2

 

[Paul]

That was going to be my answer, that it's not a COM port, but a game
port. If your MB is an older model, it may have an input for it. Then
you could get an adapter (some boards had one that took up an open
expansion slot in the back), or make one, for that. Or go with a game
port to USB adapter like this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-F3U200...7RIV/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1322342055&sr=8-2

I couldn't find a spec for that joystick. Most of the adverts
said the interfaces was "a cable" I couldn't verify the
interface type. If it said "game port" in the specs, I might
have ended up with a different answer.

This is the problem with Game Port right now. Native USB
is a better bet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_port

"Microsoft discontinued support for the game port with Windows Vista."

Years ago, we got the Game Port "for free". It was supported on
the Super I/O chip on the motherboard. The yellow-orange connector
above the three audio connectors, shows what used to be available. They
don't do that any more. For a while, the connector was also placed on
the faceplate of sound cards, and I have a couple CMI8738 based cards
with the connector on the faceplate.

http://www.recycledgoods.com/product_images/r/487/s_p_25639_1__16069_zoom.jpg

Page 4 of the doc here, shows how they converted the potentiometer
position of the joystick, to digital. Instead of an ADC converter to
get the joystick position, they used a timing scheme. I wouldn't
expect a USB product, to be doing something that crude any more.

http://flint.cs.yale.edu/cs422/doc/art-of-asm/pdf/CH24.PDF

It would seem Microsoft is ensuring the landfill gets loaded
with old game controllers... Maybe that's to pump up the
sales of Microsoft's current line of controllers.

Paul

 

[Metspitzer]

That was going to be my answer, that it's not a COM port, but a game port. If your MB is an older model, it may have an
input for it. Then you could get an adapter (some boards had one that took up an open expansion slot in the back), or
make one, for that. Or go with a game port to USB adapter like this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-F3U200...7RIV/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1322342055&sr=8-2

Thanks.

That is what I was looking for, but reading the comments, I don't
think I am going to gamble on whether it will work with Win7. I may
have to just get another joystick.

 

[SC Tom]

I couldn't find a spec for that joystick. Most of the adverts
said the interfaces was "a cable" I couldn't verify the
interface type. If it said "game port" in the specs, I might
have ended up with a different answer.

This is the problem with Game Port right now. Native USB
is a better bet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_port

"Microsoft discontinued support for the game port with Windows Vista."

Years ago, we got the Game Port "for free". It was supported on
the Super I/O chip on the motherboard. The yellow-orange connector
above the three audio connectors, shows what used to be available. They
don't do that any more. For a while, the connector was also placed on
the faceplate of sound cards, and I have a couple CMI8738 based cards
with the connector on the faceplate.

http://www.recycledgoods.com/product_images/r/487/s_p_25639_1__16069_zoom.jpg

Page 4 of the doc here, shows how they converted the potentiometer
position of the joystick, to digital. Instead of an ADC converter to
get the joystick position, they used a timing scheme. I wouldn't
expect a USB product, to be doing something that crude any more.

http://flint.cs.yale.edu/cs422/doc/art-of-asm/pdf/CH24.PDF

It would seem Microsoft is ensuring the landfill gets loaded
with old game controllers... Maybe that's to pump up the
sales of Microsoft's current line of controllers.

Paul

And since it's "compatible to Windows 95/98 and DOS" it's going to be even harder to make it work with Win7, or even XP.

 

[SC Tom]

Thanks.

That is what I was looking for, but reading the comments, I don't
think I am going to gamble on whether it will work with Win7. I may
have to just get another joystick.

This one appears to be ambidextrous:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006B84V...e=asn&creative=395093&creativeASIN=B00006B84V

I've used CH joysticks and gamepads in the past with mixed feelings. Mostly, they were accurate and easy on the hands,
but their older (gameport) ones didn't hold up too well. But then, I used them mainly for flight war games and such.

Here's another:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

and the specs for it:
http://www.logitech.com/gaming/joysticks/devices/302

I've used Logitech also, and they were good, and well built.

But if I needed a new one, I would probably buy this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Hercules-2960706-Thrustmaster-T-16000M-Flight/dp/B001S0RTU0

and specs:
http://www.thrustmaster.com/product.aspx?ProductID=153&PlatformID=5

I have an old T'Master Top Gun Fox 2 Pro that is a few years old, and still feels and functions like it was new. I don't
see it mentioned anywhere, but the Top Gun has a tension adjuster that I find useful. Unfortunately, I can't find
anything about a left-handed Top Gun.

 

[Searcher7]

I have one of these that uses the old com port type connector.http://www.amazon.com/Left-handed-ergonomic-joystick-rotational-handl...
Is there a connector that will convert this to USB?  Plus I am not
able to tell what type connector this one at Amazon uses.  (If it is
USB, I may reorder the same one.

BWT my mobo has a connector marked COMA.  The pins on the expansion
slot adapter look like they match, buy the connector is too wide to
fit into the socket.     If I could make what I have plug into my ComA
port this would work too.

If not, can someone recommend a USB left handed joystick?

This is for Skyrim (and maybe Quake 3 again).  I don't do flight sims
so any buttons or sliders on the base are useless.  I want as many
buttons as you can operate with your thumb.  Being able to twist the
handle left/right is useful too.

http://imgur.com/a/rzJwu#2

I have several controllers that work with the game port under XP. And
several that don't. It can be a crap shoot sometimes.

What's your operating system?

I know you are not building an actual control panel, but a good place
to ask for plug-n-play left handed joystick recommendations is here:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php

You have to decide if you want to use your game port or USB.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

 

[Metspitzer]

This one appears to be ambidextrous:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006B84V...e=asn&creative=395093&creativeASIN=B00006B84V

I almost ordered that one today, but it does not have a twist axis. I
am not sure I would even use it, but I want it.
This one does seem like a pretty good choice.

This is actually the one I wanted to try, but they have been
discontinued.
http://www.amazon.com/Saitek-ST290-Programmable-Joystick-Throttle/dp/B0000AW9RE/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t
Having a stop for your hand rest on my left handed "gameport" one
really is a plus.

 

[SC Tom]

I almost ordered that one today, but it does not have a twist axis. I
am not sure I would even use it, but I want it.
This one does seem like a pretty good choice.

This is actually the one I wanted to try, but they have been
discontinued.
http://www.amazon.com/Saitek-ST290-Programmable-Joystick-Throttle/dp/B0000AW9RE/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t
Having a stop for your hand rest on my left handed "gameport" one
really is a plus.

That was why I recommended the Thrustmaster T-16000 (besides the quality and durability). It has a rest for the left
hand and thumb, and the twist handle. It's a little more expensive, but I looked it up and I bought mine 2006, and it
works as well today as it did then. That works out to about 50 cents a month ;-)

 

[Metspitzer]

That was why I recommended the Thrustmaster T-16000 (besides the quality and durability). It has a rest for the left
hand and thumb, and the twist handle. It's a little more expensive, but I looked it up and I bought mine 2006, and it
works as well today as it did then. That works out to about 50 cents a month ;-)

Ok
I ordered one.

Thanks

 

[david]

You can order USB to serial port adapter dongles. I have two on my
computer right now. One goes to my old UPS.
One goes to the dialup modem (backup networking scheme,
no longer working).

Recommend buying one with the FTDI chip in it, FTDI chip is much better
supported.

 

[SC Tom]

I have one of these that uses the old com port type connector.
http://www.amazon.com/Left-handed-ergonomic-joystick-rotational-handle/dp/B000WYG4XG
Is there a connector that will convert this to USB? Plus I am not
able to tell what type connector this one at Amazon uses. (If it is
USB, I may reorder the same one.

BWT my mobo has a connector marked COMA. The pins on the expansion
slot adapter look like they match, buy the connector is too wide to
fit into the socket. If I could make what I have plug into my ComA
port this would work too.

If not, can someone recommend a USB left handed joystick?

This is for Skyrim (and maybe Quake 3 again). I don't do flight sims
so any buttons or sliders on the base are useless. I want as many
buttons as you can operate with your thumb. Being able to twist the
handle left/right is useful too.

http://imgur.com/a/rzJwu#2

How'd the joystick you ordered work out for you?

 

[Metspitzer]

How'd the joystick you ordered work out for you?

It didn't work at all. I had already finished the Skyrim's main quest
before the joystick got here. I tried to hook it up and try it, but
when I tried to assign the joystick to movement it didn't work.

Although I am still playing Skyrim, I really don't have the
determination to even try to find out why. It really would seem
easier to play the game with left hand joystick and right hand mouse,
the keyboard works.

 

[SC Tom]

It didn't work at all. I had already finished the Skyrim's main quest
before the joystick got here. I tried to hook it up and try it, but
when I tried to assign the joystick to movement it didn't work.

Although I am still playing Skyrim, I really don't have the
determination to even try to find out why. It really would seem
easier to play the game with left hand joystick and right hand mouse,
the keyboard works.

Well, bummer! It must be a driver issue, I would think. Unless the stick or the USB port is bad (odds are, not).