Controller Conundrum

[grolt]

Hey guys, I've seen it touched upon in several threads but never fully answered...what is one to do when they have a Turbo Tap and TG-16 controllers and then they get a Duo?  Is there an affordable Male 8-pin Mini-DIN to female 8-pin DIN adapter out there?

Also, I've heard hinting that using an extension cord or adapter between the Duo and a system can cause problems, whereas if there is nothing between the tap and the system, and instead the extension cords are between the tap and each controller, then there is less issue.  Any truth to that?

Seems silly that there isn't a more mass produced or workable option for going between TG-16 and Duo setups considering the pins all stay the same, it's just the form factor that's making the connections incompatible. 


Endless swarms of those little electric termites from DEEP BLUE upon NEC for making the controller ports different!

[Lost Monkey]

The adapters are all gone now?  I remember a German guy was selling them new for ~$10 a couple years ago.

Here is one on eBay - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Turbo-grafx-16-Pad-to-Duo-Core-Supergrafx-PC-Engine-Controller-adapter-Converter-/261940083735

Does not ship to Canada...

[grolt]

What I did was get one PC Engine pad or tap, then take it apart and disconnect the cabled.  Transferred it to the Turbo Tap and BLAM- pc engine male connector to plug into my duo, and 5 female US ports for my TG16 controllers to plug into.

You are wise beyond your years.  That's a great idea.  Does it require any soldering?

[grolt]

No sir, no soldering.  Now that I think about it, though... i'd swapped PCE Pad/Turbo Pad.  You may have to use PCE Tap/Turbo Tap for the cables to work... i don't have a tap here at work to test with so hopefully someone else can chime in.  PCE Taps are super cheap if you get one that is nice and beat up.

I opened my Tap up and it also had the same 9-pin array that's in your photo, so it looks like you should be able to swap Tap cables with controller cables [EDIT: No, you cannot just swap cables, you must change the ordering of the wires, as documented here].  That seems like the best option, thanks for the suggestion.  I'll try swapping my PC Engine controller cable with my Turbo Tap cable once I receive my Duo and report back.  Seems like doing it that way would also increase the length of the cable, since the Tap's cord length is ridiculously short.  Another question might be...is it possible to just by those kind of cables separately so you don't have to Frankenstein an old controller?

[grolt]

The adapters are all gone now?  I remember a German guy was selling them new for ~$10 a couple years ago.

Here is one on eBay - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Turbo-grafx-16-Pad-to-Duo-Core-Supergrafx-PC-Engine-Controller-adapter-Converter-/261940083735

Does not ship to Canada...

Thanks for the link.  No shipping to Canada sucks, but I'll try to sweet talk the seller if null's cable swap method proves fruitless for my Tap.

[jelloslug]

No sir, no soldering.  Now that I think about it, though... i'd swapped PCE Pad/Turbo Pad.  You may have to use PCE Tap/Turbo Tap for the cables to work... i don't have a tap here at work to test with so hopefully someone else can chime in.  PCE Taps are super cheap if you get one that is nice and beat up.

I did just the opposite to get my 3 button PC Engine controller to work on my Turbo.

[grolt]

Looks like you can bulk buy just the PC Engine cable here:

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=111727639194&globalID=EBAY-ENCA

[GohanX]

Iirc if you are using a controller cable instead of a cable from another tap you have to swap some cables around. Nat made a thread about it a few years ago, look it up.

[MotherGunner]

So much incorrect info...

[jtucci31]

Yes, you have to swap the cables within that white thing. You cannot just switch them between controllers, because they connect differently.

I just did this about 2 weeks ago or so. To have a Duo Tap work on my TGCD setup. NAT does have a great thread on it. If I were on my computer I could link to it. Maybe I'll find it.

[jtucci31]

I'm still waiting for mothergunner to explain what all this incorrect info is.

Found it. You have to switch around the colored wires. Use a needle to get them out
http://www.pcenginefx.com/forums/index.php?topic=2893.msg36307#msg36307

[MotherGunner]

Yes, what JT said.  The OP needed to hear more about modifying the tap vs controllers, not applying the correct controller info to modding the tap.

[DragonmasterDan]

Keep in mind putting an extension cable or a converter cable between a Turbo or Duo tap and the console causes the tap to act up.

So besides the convertor cables there were reverse Duo and Turbo Taps sold by Turbo Zone Direct back in the day.

[grolt]

Keep in mind putting an extension cable or a converter cable between a Turbo or Duo tap and the console causes the tap to act up.

Swapping out a Turbo Tap cable for a PC Engine Multi-Tap shouldn't introduce the extra problems that connecting an additional extension/converter cable would though, right?

Thanks for the feedback thus far, everyone.  I've updated my speculative post from earlier in the thread should anyone stumbling upon this in the future be mislead with any "incorrect info".

[wildfruit]

Keep in mind putting an extension cable or a converter cable between a Turbo or Duo tap and the console causes the tap to act up.

So besides the convertor cables there were reverse Duo and Turbo Taps sold by Turbo Zone Direct back in the day.

I never had an issue doing console>extension>tap all multi and single player games I had functioned correctly.