Toshiba E740 Pda + Ps2 Controller an Unholy union...

[tormented1]

Hi all
I'm new here and decided to join the forums after reading about the IPAQ 3600 that bacteria did.
I alway wanted to play the games on a pda with a Gamepad
but always couldn't find the right Pad there Zeta's but they were impossible to find, there were the Bluetooth pads which cost too much + you gota have bluetooth adapter, so after I read Bacteria's writeup I've decided it was time..

So I got myself a Toshiba E740 Pda for fairly cheap and a cheap ps2 gamepad:


An unholy duo that will be (If i'll wont mess up the pda with my soldering).

here is the pda after I've soldered some wires:


So after I've soldered a few wires to the tiny little joystick I've discovered
a problem, I've tested the wires by touching each wire to the ground, the problem is that each direction is diagonall instead of left or right if i want
to go straight i have to combine three wires (two direction and one ground)

anybody have any idea how i can fix it ?

[tom61]

The e740 has whats known as USB host. If you buy the VGA/USB adapter 'Expansion Pack'(see eBay), and install this driver, then you can plug in a USB gamepad. Some of the PSX to USB adapters will also work.

The Toshiba's method of checking for button presses is so slow as to make the buttons useless for most games. Wiring directly to the pad and buttons on it will only give you a more convenient grip to horrible controls. So, hacking it together with a USB gamepad would be a lot easier and will yeild better game-playing ability.

[tormented1]

Thanks tom61!

And here I was stupidly trying to solder to the buttons..
It didn't even occur to me that such thing exists (and I specifically wanted the E740 for it's host capabilities).
Well since it's supposed to be ultra cheap I will solder to the USB host part
of the PDA, and try out with a simple Gamepad that I have.

Again soldering very small wires...

[bacteria]

Hi all
I'm new here and decided to join the forums after reading about the IPAQ 3600 that bacteria did.

Excellent, I am pleased my project created interest and you are "having a go" at a mod of a PDA.

If you manage to make the system work decently, are you intending to strip apart the joypad and make a case to fit everything, or just keep them separate? (a combined system would be better I think).

[tormented1]

Hey bacteria.
It's nice to know that people are interested in this project.

Yes I'm going to strip the cases of the two items and try to make one big case like a PSP.
The main case will be made of 4mm wood (cause 5mm perspex is hard to work with just a dremel).
And after tom's advice I think the whole construction is going to be easier.

[bacteria]

5mm perspex? No, use 2mm, that is what I used. It is strong enough for a project case and easy to dremel. I just bought 6 more A4 sheets from e-bay for about £12.50 (about $25), cheap enough if you look at the various sellers about. If you need to reinforce the plastic (you shouldn't need to) you could put struts between the front and back of the case to make it rigid.

Make sure everything is working fine before you start to design the casing, otherwise you might make the casing too big or too small.

Good luck!

[Bass Creator]

you need to make a whole un the case for the adapter so you can unplug and plug it in

[bacteria]

I think the idea is to keep the adapter plugged in permanently, as he intends to make a case and mount the controls around it with the PDA screen in the centre.