better analog stick

stuntpenguin007 · Post by **stuntpenguin007** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 3:54 pm

Hey I've broken like 3 n64 controllers now and I was looking into replacing the n64 analog stick with an xbox analog stick. I found what pins do what on the xbox controller but I just can't figure it out on the n64. there are 5 grey wires and one white wire connecting to a pcb that has the mechanical sensor for when you move the analog stick. could someone help me find the points for the n64 controller?

thanks

Neildo_64 · Post by **Neildo_64** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:52 pm

Nintendo brand controllers use photodiodes for tracking the analog stick movement. Pretty much every other joystick uses potentiometers (like the xbox stick). In short, you can't use any other joystick on a 1st party (Nintendo brand) N64 controller. However, you can use a third party controller and swap analog stick to just about any joystick you can find, as most third party controllers use pots, instead of photodiodes. Good luck with your project.

stuntpenguin007 · Post by **stuntpenguin007** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 3:50 pm

thanks. I've been playing around with the n64 controller for a while and I've found that connecting certain points on the chip thing can make it go up down or sideways but sometimes it decides to switch directions on me

even If i figure it out I still have to work on joystick sensetivity. I'll keep working on this project but I'm not sure if I'll get very far.

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Thu May 01, 2008 3:34 am

Simple rule applies - if you use an official Nintendo 64 controller you can only use the supplied joystick. Use any third party 64 controller and you can use any pot joystick - as mentioned times before. There are 4 connections on 6 pins on the joystick, 2 for ground, 2 for VCC data, one for H data and one for V data. The joystick on an Xbox is likely the same as in a PSone controller, only different tops poking through the controller casing. Look in my thread (current one) for what wire does what on a joystick.

stuntpenguin007 · Post by **stuntpenguin007** » Sat May 03, 2008 3:43 pm

yeah I don't really want to use a 3rd party controller...
I was looking at my old mouse that had basically the same setup as an n64 joystick and I dont think this would work very easily. does anybody know how the photodiodes work in detail? I was thinking that if the photodiodes worked by rapidly making connections between the points I might be able to do almost a rapidfire setup, but with the joystick. If that sounds random I thought it rapidly made connections because of all of the holes in the wheel sensor things.