NES Advantage to PCE/Duo controller hack

[wilykat]

I have looked at the controller board from NES Advantage and it does have a 4021 shift register chip used for NES system, no weird propriety chip. The rapid fire and slo-mo option are controlled by different logic chips.

I have mapped out what I need to change to make it work with PC Engine.  The player 1/2 switch will not be used since PC Engine uses propriety chip to multiplex up to 5 controllers to one line. There isn't any schematic so I can't even tell how it switches from one of the port to one wire to console. 

I thought I had a small PCB to work with for making hookup but I can't find it and local stores are already closed for the night so it'll have to wait before I can start wiring it and test to see if the original rapid fire and slo-mo will work unmodded.

Maybe in the future I'd hack a cheap 2/3/whatever tap and replace the original 1/2 switch with one that has required poles.   I am guessing it controls 4 data lines from the controllers? A 4p2t switch to map from the controller's 74157 through the switch to player 1/2 pins of the tap chip.  It wouldn't be very effective in games that are simultaneous multi-player like Dungeon Explorer but only with one player at-a-time games.  (how many games has one player taking turns via tap anyway?)

[wilykat]

Removed the original chip, made a quick board with the new chip, got it wired up, realized I have another issue: no mini DIN plug to connect to a console.   

I'd rather not take a apart a controller for a cable, even a lowly 2 button PC Engine controller with no rapid switch that is piss-yellow from age and sun.  (hmmm maybe I will  )

While I sat glaring at the lack of usable spare parts to finish my mod, I decided to see about the artwork.  Bondo filling in the Advantage's grooves and the 1/2P switch is easy. Polishing it smooth again is easy. But I'd need to figure out to get textured look around like most other controllers.  Oh and the label?

Feel free to laugh at my art skill. Not everyone can be good in all categories.  I can be good with soldering iron.  I can call out even the shyiest feral cat to come purring at me. I can cook damn good food. But I am shit with art.


Something like this.  Medium gray label background, purple accents around the stick to match regular Duo-R controller, purple speed marking and I/II buttons, and white label for Select, Run, and Slow button.

If only I paid more attention to art class rather than mashing clay like a Godzilla or splashed paint like Jackson Pollock.

[wilykat]

Some update.  I am almost done wiring the board.



Lucky the cable fits a standard 0.1" pin spacing and I got lots of those so I can easily put the controller cable back when I get a new permanent one.

[GohanX]

You can grab mini din cables off eBay, they work great as extension so would probably be fine for your application.

[wilykat]

That's what I did but it'd take a week for them to arrive.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/141790074786  regular serial cable for cutting up.  About 50 cents cheaper than other one
http://www.ebay.com/itm/231074472504 which is extension.  Both are fairly cheap and it's off white so it should match Duo-R

I did a final check of all the wiring and then plugged in my modded stuff.  IT WORKS!  Both variable speed rapid fire and slow mo worked.

For this mod to work on NES Advantage, just remove the one 4021 chip, it's the one closest to the controller wires.  I also removed the original controller wires as well.  Since the pinout of both chips don't match, you will need to fashion an adapter or do what I did and assemble a separate board with the new chip and jumper them to the original holes.  The space above the PCB is limited so any adapter built would have to be mounted on the bottom instead.  Dumb Advantage did not have solder pad on top or through via plating, only solder pad on bottom so you'd have to solder the adapter like a SMD on the bottom.

4021 hole |	function	| 74157 chip
1	button A/I	2
4	UP	3
5	DOWN	10
6	LEFT	13
7	RIGHT	6
13	Start/Run	14
14	Select	11
15	Button B/II	5
8	GND	8
16	+5v	16

and for wiring from the chip to the DIN cable

DIN pin |	function	| 74157
1	+5v	16
2	data 1	4
3	data 2	7
4	data 3	9
5	data 4	12
6	clock	1
7	enable	15
8	GND	8

Mine is wired with ground and V+ to the chip, then down to the PCB holes.  Also some cable may have shielding, make sure it's tied to ground.

Now to give my controller a facelift. Need to get bondo, very light grey paint, and for the buttons and stick dark grey.  And to find someone who can make better artwork than I can!

[Desh]

This is a cool idea!  Good work.

[toymachine78]

I like this. The shell needs to be painted flat black doh.

[wilykat]

I like this. The shell needs to be painted flat black doh.

Black? yuck it may work with black Duo or TG-16 but not with Duo-R 

[spawnshop]

What's the progress on this?
It looks like a fun project!

[wilykat]

It works but I haven't done any controller painting or decorating.