15 replies to this topic

[Cur]

Got an old Sidewinder 3D pro laying around? Or had one in the past and wish you had one again? (they're like $20 on ebay, bargain!)

Still think its superior to that modern logitech stick that you're currently using?

Wish that horrid Serial port would either Still exist on you're modern PC..... and was actualy compatable with Win7?

Well dream no more! This mod will allow you to plugin that old Sidewinder via USB so you're able to enjoy melting slag with it once more! AND.... dispite how it may picures may look... its so easy to do that a Girl did it..... so that means you should be able to do this too no sweat, right?


What you will need:

1x Teensy Board - $19
1x PBC15F $7.50
1x Breadboard & Wire Kit $14
2x 1kOhm resistors
2x .001uF capacitors
1x Mini USB Cable $5

This File
Teensy Loader

Small piece of fine sandpaper
An old shoebox/tissue box to act as housing untill you're able to move it to a better enclosure.

http://i.imgur.com/WzMsr.jpg


Once you've got everything, grab the Breadboard and Wire kit.
You want to plug in the wires exactly as you see them. Try to have the wires layed out on the board exactly as you see them, as they're set out to avoid touching pins from the PBC15F.

http://i.imgur.com/fIseV.jpg


Now grab the Capacitors and Resistors, and a random wire from the wire kit. Use the wire to help measure where to cut the excess off.

http://i.imgur.com/EJFcH.jpg

Then plug them in.


http://i.imgur.com/oTREw.jpg

Once all the wires, capacitors and resistors are in place, grab the Teensy board and slot it in.

http://i.imgur.com/hbvCv.jpg


Grab the PBC15F and the sandpaper. If you were to try to slot it in now you'd notice the corner hits the teensy board, so we're going to fix this! Gently start sanding away at the corner untill there's enough room for them both to fit on the breadboard nicely.

http://i.imgur.com/Hsfnc.jpg

Once everything fits nice and snug... time to program it!

http://i.imgur.com/JYhjd.jpg

Grab you're mini USB cable and plug it into the teensy board, then plug the USB into you're PC's 2.0 USB slot.

Download the Teensy Loader program, and this file


The teensy board should have a small red light on it start flashing - this means everything is good!


Press the button........................ Do it.

http://i.imgur.com/mpAri.jpg

Now open the Teensy Loader application.


Then go...

File -> Open

Browse to the file you downloaded (3DPro32u4.hex) then click open.

Down the bottom left should then show 3DPro32u4.hex, 11% used

Then go, Operation -> Program

It should show a message saying the programming has been completed successfully.



Unplug you're new toy from the PC. Put it somewhere safe in make-do housing untill you can work out something more permnant. This is what ive done, as ive got 2 cats that love jumping up on my desk, and i dont want BBQ Feline for dinner.

http://i.imgur.com/yawHE.jpg


Plug in you're sidewinder into the new coverter that you've made. You should notice the light on the teensy board dim considerably, and start blinking like a maniac in responce to movement being made on the stick.




One last thing to do before you're set to start gaming with it again! Good old Calibration! lol!


My Computer -> Control Panel -> Hardware and Sound -> Devices and Printers.

http://i.imgur.com/hWBrl.jpg

The SideWinder 3D Pro should now be showing up in the list of connected devices

Rightclick it -> Gmae Controller Settings. Select the Sidewinder, then go Properties again.

Go to the settings tab.

Click Calibrate, and follow the steps.

You're all done! Enjoy!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Special Thanks:

Origional conversion thread: http://www.descentbb...=250537#p250537

Detlef from DescentBB for pointers along the way

Wolf74 from NGNG Teamspeak for how to modify the wiring slightly to accomodate the 16th pin on the PBC15F

Edited by Cur, 27 February 2012 - 04:00 PM.

[Sug]

Wouldn't a Serial to USB adapter, or a serial pci card work?

[Cur]

most of USB to Gameport adapters (rockfire, superjoy7) specificly do not support the Microsoft Sidewinder 3D Pro, so a custom converter is needed.

Windows Vista and 7 both have serious issues detecting a gameport card.

IE i tried to get my sidewinder working with a Xi-Fi Pro Fata1ity soundcard with the gameport/midi adapter plugged in, and it just simply would not detect anything plugged in at all. Right drivers, windows just sucks.

Same stick, custom converter, works like plug and play, dont even need to install drivers.

Edited by Cur, 27 February 2012 - 03:49 PM.

[2sl0w]

Wow this is awesome thank you!

[Twisted Power]

Microsoft Makes them and has drivers for it. (Look at the dust, Havn't used it OR my joystick since mw4).

(EDIT) It is printed on the piece (it came with my joystick BTW) Microsoft sidwinder devices only made in china 98427. I assume 98427 is the cerial number?

(EDIT 2) 98427 is the part number, you can buy the USB online, I saw it going for about $20ish.

Edited by Twisted Power, 28 February 2012 - 07:38 PM.

[Cur]

Heya Twisted.

I have seen that converter before, i did a massive mission before deciding to build the converter i had as i'd determined it was theo nly way to get it to work.

Here's why that converter is a nogo for me

http://www.ebay.com/...=item2ea4e34df6


Look at the supported/not supported list, the part number for the 3D Pro i have is 63545.


Can you confirm the sidewinder you've got, and works with that converter is the 3D Pro - the one in the pic at the bottom in my first post? Im thinking you may have a different model, like this one?





I'm fairly certain it needed its own converter as the 3D pro is an odd mix of analog and digital sensors/components, so its not realy a "standard" stick?

[Twisted Power]

It should be the same as first post, is this it?



I use a vitural joystick driver for all my devices. (I have like a n64 controller to usb and stuff) It seem like it is just a driver problem and you're device setup fixes it? It does look realy good though the way you did it. But you may just be able to use a joystick emulation program that reads the data. If I don't use it mine, not all the buttons on my controller works. I'm running windows 7 64bit. You should be able to use Vjoy or PPjoy (PPjoy requires vista/7 Pro or Higher. NOT the home versions or you can't do it. I think somthing to do with changing permisions for singed drivers or somthing.

Edited by Twisted Power, 29 February 2012 - 08:35 PM.

[Cur]

Ahhh, ok. Weird they seem hard to find (Like the ebay one, there only was one listed like that type and it said no-go to the 3d pro)

Reckon you'd be able to find/dig up a link for a place that sells those converters so i can put it in my origonal post as another option then?

[Twisted Power]

Well they are no longer in production, the only thing I could tell you to do is have them search for "microsoft 98427 USB". Then they can buy a used one. They are going to be hard to find, so if they can't, then they can just use your setup :-)

[Chapel976]

Cur, on 27 February 2012 - 03:48 PM, said:

most of USB to Gameport adapters (rockfire, superjoy7) specificly do not support the Microsoft Sidewinder 3D Pro, so a custom converter is needed.

*edit, nevermind, just read the whole post...

why not just get the OEM Gameport to USB adapter?
that's what I use (the little teal cable with the DB-15 to USB thing on it)
works great.


that reminds me... I should probably tape mine up so it doesn't ever disappear...

Edited by Chapel976, 01 March 2012 - 08:11 AM.

[Phos]

That ergonomic stick is the Precision Pro, which has a different pin out than the 3D pro. The thing is that for less than the price of this adapter you could have a Cyborg V.1 stick. No throttle, but all I want is a lefty stick for movement so YMMV. Anyone have one of these?

But yeah, you aren't kidding about these sticks being durable.

[R4IDER]

Has anyone tried the MS Sidewinder 3D Pro with the "98427" USB adapter? Are custom drivers needed?

Thank you.

[EGG]

Hi, I have a 3D Pro with one of the USB adaptor boards detailed in the first post. I haven't plugged it in for a couple of years but it worked fine when last used.

I also have two Precision Pro's. The USB adaptor that comes with with them is little more than wires from what I remember, the actual gizmo to switch between usb/gameport output is built into the Precision Pro, and so you cannot (I've tried) use these adaptors with the 3D Pro.

Edited by EGG, 29 July 2012 - 07:08 AM.

[R4IDER]

Thank you. From what I'm reading, it looks like I will have to pick up a Precision Pro [with USB adapter] -- if I want to stay with Microsoft; or I may have to try the Logitech Extreme 3D Pro.

RIP Sidewinder 3D Pro.

[bax5000]

Hi!

Thirst i have to say: sorry for my english! it is not my native language.

i have searched the web for a long time to find a solution to use this joystick on a laptop with win7 (my wife loves playing Quake 2 with the Sidewinder).
Now i have all the parts but also a problem

i have the Bread Board SYB-130 ( http://i00.i.aliimg....ee-Shipping.jpg ) and do not know how to wire this. it looks different and i dont see the "+" and "-" rows.
can you please tell me how to use this board?

thanks in advance!

[BustaHead]

Anyone know why invert y axis on the options screen does not work???

I have several MS sidewinder joysticks and with my usb version i want to play like a flight simulator with pulling back on the stick to move cross hairs up and push forward to move crosshairs down.

checking the invert Y axis does nothing, is there some other way to do this???