SNES Controller Hack..Need Help

sc1103 · Post by **sc1103** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 4:14 pm

Im near the end of completing my SNES handbuilt exactly following Ben's book, but I cannot get the custom controller to work! 4 Times I have entirely redid the PC boards, but I cannot get the buttons to work. Twice I have only had the left button on the right, B i believe, work at all, but even then it sends a left button to the SNES. Can anyone help or can somebody here do it for me in exchange for parts + $$$ or some NES or arcade (joysticks, pushbuttons, etc) stuff? Ive already checked for common stuff like solder shorting out another pin, general miswires, etc. Thanks

Metroid fan · Post by **Metroid fan** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 4:19 pm

Were the ic's in the right configuration?

sc1103 · Post by **sc1103** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 5:55 pm

Yes I made sure to check that first...I had them backwards the first time

jedi knight · Post by **jedi knight** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 6:17 pm

Do you have your wires going into the right spot on the ic?

sc1103 · Post by **sc1103** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 7:20 pm

Yes...I checked everything...i think its just I suck at soldering and somewhere one of my wires is either making a cnonection where it shouldnt or some solder is somehow connecting two of the copper squares...even though i made sure there wasnt. Anybody interested in making one of these for some $$$?

darkarrow52 · Post by **darkarrow52** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 6:18 pm

I REALLY suggest just grabbing some third party controller. (You know, a NORMAL one, not some joystick) The majority of third party ones shouldn't require that much hacking or whatever.

sc1103 · Post by **sc1103** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 6:56 pm

I plan to look over this one more time before I move to a more drastic measure...etching my own custom PCBs. I found a site that allows you to use laser/thermal printers to create the masks, and then Ferric Chloride or a similar solution to actually etch the board. Ill probably redesign the boards slightly in order to make it easier to add componetns and run connecting wires. Anybody interested? This would make the SNES handbuilt much easier for those following Ben's design.

I REALLY suggest just grabbing some third party controller. (You know, a NORMAL one, not some joystick) The majority of third party ones shouldn't require that much hacking or whatever.

Can you elaborate? I'm following Ben's design for the handbuilt to a T, as I actually ordered a CNC cut case and everything...I may try my hand at designing a case for a later portable but I want to get the experience now. As a result, I would still need to design custom controllers, but if this removes the entire ordeal with the two shift register chips, I would be extremely interested.

darkarrow52 · Post by **darkarrow52** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 8:45 pm

Ahem, I would like to state that I have VERY little experience with handhelds, other than playing the ones that Nintendo has released, and ripping apart systems and controllers. However, I believe that you could indeed just rip apart a third party SNES controller, which in many cases should just include the [INSTER BOARD NAME HERE] board.

Last night, I ripped apart a very, VERY cheap 3rd party SNES controller, and the only thing you would have to do is split it. Obviously, you can use the buttons from a normal SNES controller, and you would be set.

I believe you could get along without the shift register chips, as everything you need is right there. The only problem with having a normal SNES controller is splitting it, and wiring the two sides together, and with the case of MY controller, would be difficult, although not impossible by any means.

Of course, you can't really take anything I say as reliable, as I have yet to build a handheld. I do believe that the entire "custom controller" Ben has in his book is nearly pointless if you can grab a 3rd party controller and messed around with it.