Difference between revisions of "Joystick Y-cables"

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[[Image:Joy-Y.jpg|thumb|Joystick Y-cable]]
 
[[Image:Joy-Y.jpg|thumb|Joystick Y-cable]]
  
These were made by 3rd party vendors as a replacement to the original [[Amstrad JY-1/JY-2 joysticks|JY-2 joystick]] for the Amstrad CPC computers.
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Y-cables for [[Digital Joysticks]] were made by 3rd party vendors as a replacement to the original [[Amstrad JY-1/JY-2 joysticks|JY-2 joystick]] for the Amstrad CPC computers.
  
 
In order to push sales of Amstrad's own joysticks, Amstrad designed the CPC with one joystick port only which had two common signal pins. The idea was to sell one joystick which forwarded the second common signal to a built-in joystick port, to which the second joystick could be connected.
 
In order to push sales of Amstrad's own joysticks, Amstrad designed the CPC with one joystick port only which had two common signal pins. The idea was to sell one joystick which forwarded the second common signal to a built-in joystick port, to which the second joystick could be connected.
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For example, if Player 1 moves UP-'''and'''-RIGHT then UP and RIGHT are shortcut with each other. In result, without the diodes, Player 2 would automatically move UP-'''and'''-RIGHT whenever trying to move UP-'''or'''-RIGHT.
 
For example, if Player 1 moves UP-'''and'''-RIGHT then UP and RIGHT are shortcut with each other. In result, without the diodes, Player 2 would automatically move UP-'''and'''-RIGHT whenever trying to move UP-'''or'''-RIGHT.
  
The diodes are, of course, needed only on one connector (eg. Joystick 2 only). The schematic with diodes on both Joystick 1 and 2 connectors is a bit overcomplicated.
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'''Caution:''' The CPC+ has some kind of built-in Y-cable with only 8 diodes. But, for properly supporting the included 2-button joypads it would require 12 diodes.
  
 
== See Also ==
 
== See Also ==
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== Examples ==
 
== Examples ==
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
Image:Amstrad joysplit.jpg|Y-box with 5 diodes
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Image:Amstrad joysplit.jpg|Y-box with 5 diodes (looks incomplete)
 
Image:Joy-Y.jpg|Joystick Y-cable
 
Image:Joy-Y.jpg|Joystick Y-cable
Image:Joystick.jpg|Schematic with TOO MANY diodes
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Image:Joystick.jpg|Schematic with 14 diodes (supports 3 buttons)
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Image:Js1.jpg|Schematic with 10 diodes (supports 1 button)
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Image:CPC Plus Joystick Port.gif|CPC Plus with 8 diodes (supports 0 buttons)
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Image:LindyJoystickYcable.jpg|Y-cable for CPC from Lindy
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
[[Category:Hardware]] [[Category:Peripherals]] [[Category:DIY]]
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[[Category:Input Device]][[Category:DIY]]

Latest revision as of 12:07, 19 December 2010

Joystick Y-cable

Y-cables for Digital Joysticks were made by 3rd party vendors as a replacement to the original JY-2 joystick for the Amstrad CPC computers.

In order to push sales of Amstrad's own joysticks, Amstrad designed the CPC with one joystick port only which had two common signal pins. The idea was to sell one joystick which forwarded the second common signal to a built-in joystick port, to which the second joystick could be connected.

As the quality of the Amstrad joysticks was lousy, using an Y-cable together with other joysticks was the preferred solution.

Technical

Basically, Pin8 needs to be swapped with Pin9 for the second joystick. However, the cable should also contain diodes in order to prevent conflicts between the two joysticks.

For example, if Player 1 moves UP-and-RIGHT then UP and RIGHT are shortcut with each other. In result, without the diodes, Player 2 would automatically move UP-and-RIGHT whenever trying to move UP-or-RIGHT.

Caution: The CPC+ has some kind of built-in Y-cable with only 8 diodes. But, for properly supporting the included 2-button joypads it would require 12 diodes.

See Also

Joystick Splitter (an article from an english magazine, describing how to make a Y-cable)

Examples